Twins Sign RHP Anibal Sanchez... No, Really

Wow and I thought the new front office had no plan.  Did I read this wrong - is he another old wily vet to pair with Hunter, Cuddyer, Morneau... Great to have a retirement home team.  -0.8 WAR last year!  And that follows a -1.2 WAR so he is improving.   My broken record keeps playing - use your young arms and quit picking up the homeless.

I sort of think last year was "check out the position players" and this year is "let's look at the arms."

 

I'm pretty sure the Twins have an idea of where their weaknesses are at the position player level, but, they've got some intriguing arms that need a look at the MLB level. 

 

I'm hoping for a fun year, which means a year in which the Twins are competitive.

What really stinks is we just don't know what the thoughts and the plans are by the new FO. I hate that, but get it. Even as intelligent and fanatic of supporters as we are, they don't "owe" us an explanation as to what they see or are doing. I don't like it any more than the rest us, but there is a part of me that agrees with your statement and wonders if they aren't looking at a "big picture" for 2018 and beyond where they are looking at continued development from the existing roster, and really like some of the pitching talent on hand, and are just waiting for time/opportunity for some "show me" performances to feel the roster has arrived.

Not painting rainbows and sunshine for a "meh" move that means little at this point, (And nobody has said this is the ONLY move they are going to make, it's only a singular move). I just wonder about their ideas of an end game here.

Why not just give him an invite to camp then?  

 

Everything about this smells like they plan to actually have him in the rotation.  There is nothing about that anyone should be happy about.

Clearly, he wouldn't have accepted.  I'm sure they tried to offer Tillman something similar, and I'm sure other teams offered Sanchez something a bit more than a minor league invite.  

The contract is structured in such a way that they have every reason to end this experiment early. 

 

on Heyman reported the agreement - which, of course is pending a physical

So there's hope - maybe they will notice that the right arm hasn't been attached to the body for the past 3 years

If he wouldn't sign a minor league deal then wish him good luck finding a major league contract elsewhere. NOBODY was going to question why the Twins wouldn't budge from that position to bring in Anibal Sanchez. 

Signing Sanchez has zero risk, thus is not bad. 

 

This being their only SP move (i.e not singing a top of the rotation pitcher, yet) is can be bad, if it is still the case by opening day.

 

The two things are unrelated.

Taking a 40 man roster spot is NOT zero risk.

What really stinks is we just don't know what the thoughts and the plans are by the new FO. I hate that, but get it. Even as intelligent and fanatic of supporters as we are, they don't "owe" us an explanation as to what they see or are doing. I don't like it any more than the rest us, but there is a part of me that agrees with your statement and wonders if they aren't looking at a "big picture" for 2018 and beyond where they are looking at continued development from the existing roster, and really like some of the pitching talent on hand, and are just waiting for time/opportunity for some "show me" performances to feel the roster has arrived. Not painting rainbows and sunshine for a "meh" move that means little at this point, (And nobody has said this is the ONLY move they are going to make, it's only a singular move). I just wonder about their ideas of an end game here.

I don't agree with the they don't "owe" us an explanation as to what they see or are doing. Why not? That kind of attitude by the FO in regards to the fans that make it all work, is disgusting.

Taking a 40 man roster spot is NOT zero risk.

If a 40 man roster spot is your only concern with this move then you shouldn't be concerned. It isn't worth zero but it also isn't anything to get bent out of shape for.

I don't agree with the they don't "owe" us an explanation as to what they see or are doing. Why not? That kind of attitude by the FO in regards to the fans that make it all work, is disgusting.

Unless you have a financial stake in the team, they don't owe you any explanation. They made a business decision based on information we are not privy to whether you like it or not. I don't like it but that's immaterial to the front office.

Then you and Mr Sanchez have something in common.

Nothing

This may be one or both (but probably neither) of the following:

1.  The Twins got a "hot tip" on a 30-1.  His father was a mudder.  Mother was a mudder. Sanchez will be like a poor teams Rich Hill.  I bet we somehow trade him for Jose De Leon at some point this year, when the rookies all hit their stride.  

2.  This is posturing to Cobb and Lynn's agents.  One of them just lost a landing spot.  This explains the 40 Man contract move.  They probably have identical crappy offers out to both of them and want to see who blinks first.

To me it's simply the roster spot. The money isn't worth mentioning in the context of not allowing a valid signing. I just don't see the allure in baseball to such veteran deference. It's almost not possible for one of the teams more talented younger arms not to outpitch him. This is a move that is utterly baffling.

I don't get all the hate.  If he shows absolutly nothing he get cut (most likely). If they want to continue to see him they send him to AAA (not like we don't have other replacement level pitchers there). If he looks good, he makes the club rather than rushing one of the prospects.  Then they reevaluate when Ervin comes back. Just another flier. 

Why are we signing Detroit Has-beens? First Rodney now Sanchez. 

The Twins are not going to sign 3 or 4 contracts like this. 

 

Slegers moved up to the 4th spot after the Santana injury.

 

I'm calling it right now.

 

Sanchez will be on the roster come opening day. 

I still think only one of Hughes or Sanchez is in the opening day rotation. I also have some level of optimism that the Twins add one more (legit good) starter.

Berrios

Gibson

Mejia

Sanchez/Hughes

Slegers but hopefully a legit good FA/trade instead

In a word, depressing. These are the kinds of moves we made back in the '90s, when we were just looking for bodies and arms because the game requires nine men on the field. I'm handicapping this year's squad at about 69-93.

Actually, this is the sort of move the Twins made just 3-5 years ago. Anyone remember the names among that motley crew of pitchers we used not so long ago? Deduno was probably the best of the lot!

Why are we signing Detroit Has-beens? First Rodney now Sanchez. 

It's revenge for the Tigers "stealing" Pelfrey from us a few years ago!

He's a 2 month fill in, no big deal.  By the way why is ENNS on the roster???