kab21

The logic is that rebuilding thru FA is a terrible option. There is only so much FA can do for a 65-70 win team and you can't just throw dollars at it to fix it without affecting the future. FA makes sense when you can spend like the Yankees, when you keep contracts small/short (the Willingham/Doumit/Carroll contracts) or when you are an 85 win team needing that final push.

Of course they are valuable to have but you need to think further about this. the Twins are likely to finish 20 games below .500. Even if the Twins signed both of them would they make up the difference? What happens when they turn into Derek Lowe or AJ Burnett at the end of the contract (or beginning?)? At that point the Twins won't have any payroll flexibility with 50M tied up between Mauer and two 35+ yr pitchers. That is a recipe for long-term disaster just to battle back to .500.

They've had a nice first half but in the end they are 3.50-4.00 ERA pitchers. The Twins are 12 games under .500 after 89 games. Even if they signed both they would still be under .500 and these contracts are going to look really bad when each of these pitchers is 37. That's the problem with FA.

It's actually the opposite. In the offseason there are FA's that teams will go after before trading good prospects. Trade values are highest in July when teams are desperate and there is only a couple of options available.

He played in Oakland one year. I wouldn't make any conclusions based on that.

Finally we won't have to listen to any more accolades about Chen. I finally accepted usernames trade. Now that Votto is out I can't see my team making up the ground for the last playoff spot considering there are now 3 other teams going for it. I've wondered if I should pursue a McCann for Jesus Montero (or Mesoraco) for awhile. it kind of makes sense for both sides but Montero has been very unimpressive.

How much better would the Twins be with 1-2 Mark Buehrle's or CJ Wilson's? They signed for 4/48 and 5/75 and that is the type of starter the Twins can buy in FA. They won't go after Hamels/Greinke. Trade both of them if the offer is good enough.

He has a career .847 OPS and a career high .863. this year he has a .943 OPS. He's always been a good hitter (when healthy) but he isn't this good.

Agreed. I'm skeptical of 33 yr old breakouts. combine that with his injury history and he is a prime sell high.

a lot of HR's today. Here are some of them. Arcia Goodrum Sano Kepler Benson, Hicks and Parmelee each had a pair of hits

As long as you limit the years and overall value of the contract there shouldn't be any reason to avoid productive players in their early 30's. The problem is when somebody commits to Jayson Werth or Andre Ethier. Or guys like Mark Buehrle/CJ wilson. I'm all for trading Willingham as long as the Twins are getting a nice package of prospects back.

Not the best example since Zach Lee got a 5.25M signing bonus. He was a high profile signee. Berrios will likely start in E-Town. There's a chance he starts in Beloit but I'm hoping for a mid year promotion.

I'm not an expert in pitching mechanics but my arm hurt after watching video of two of the RP'ers (Bard and either Chargois or Melatokis) shortly after the draft. I'm not sure their arms will last as a RP'er much less a starter. Others have said the same thing. That's my beef with the draft but we are talking about sandwich/2nd/3rd rd picks and most of these don't make it.

This is my question as well. At this point Blackburn is somewhere between a DFA and trading him for a C prospect while picking up the whole contract.

it looks like people are just going to complain about how much money the Twins spend (draft/payroll/everywhere). they did have the highest draft pool and they have already signed two int'l FA's. Perhaps they don't sign those prospects if they spend their whole draft budget. My disappointment has more to do with the college RP's picked. I watched video of two of them and they made my arm hurt. I doubt they make it as starters. They didn't screw up the Buxton pick, Berrios was a nice pick and Walker is a good pick that late.

I'm guessing that Berrios is pitching in the bullpen since he pitched a full HS schedule this spring and they don't want to wreck his arm. Other college/HS pitchers have pitched out of the pen the first season. He'll be a starter next season.

I completely agree and I haven't really understood the complaining about the new CBA. In previous years the Yankees/RedSox/tigers made a killing in the draft taking overslot guys even though they didn't have the best picks. It wasn't until 3-4 years ago that some of the small market teams started doing the same. Now the draft proportionately rewards the worst teams since they get the highest picks (and extra small market picks) and nobody can buy an extra first rd'er later in the draft. It sucks that the Pirates got screwed by Appel but that was the risk when they picked him. they knew he was dropping because of signability.

It depends on where the Twins are picking and who is available. This year they had a choice between Buxton and Appel. I think they made the right choice. Next year the choice at #6 (or wherever they pick) might not be as good as Appel.

Further evidence that Liriano isn't a great example of a pitcher that struggled because of TJ?

signing Doumit is fine even if you are rebuilding. Rebuilding doesn't have to be a burn it to the ground style. They signed Doumit to a cheap contract for minimal years and he doesn't block anyone. If Parmelee or Herrmann are good enough to play they will find a spot. I'm concerned that they are going to do a rebuilding where they trade for a bunch of mediocre low upside guys that are close to the majors.

There is not one move that is going to add quantity of good pitching prospects but you have to start somewhere. They drafted Berrios, signed Felix Jorge (under the radar) last year, drafted Boyd last year and if they can add a 2-3 guys like syndergaard/nicolino/corcino/Meyer(WAS) then you start to have the kind of numbers where you start adding some legitimately good pitchers to the rotation instead of the constant stream of 4/5's that have been coming up recently.

You kind of understand it but not really. What the Twins need to do is acquire a quantity of good pitching prospects. Some will bust and some will make it. I forgot to add this before but I'm against trading the best assets for mediocre rotation filler (Cecil) just because he is MLB ready.

they forced Parmelee into the OF because they had Morneau at 1B. Whether or not he is worse than Delmon is not the issue. The issue is that he is terrible in the OF. Throw him out there for an occasional start is alright but let's not throw him out there everyday.

Syndergaard or Nicolino for Liriano Corcino for Span another nice piece for Willingham and I'm liking the Twins farm system

Joe Mays before surgery 4.37 ERA 5.56 3.17 5.38 6.30 surgery He was bad before his one good year and he was bad after. He shouldn't even be mentioned as someone that didn't make it back from TJ. Neither should Liriano. He came back from TJ surgery with his man weight. Does anybody remember/have the picture in spring training? The problem was that his man weight was 20-30 lbs of baby fat because he sat around eating Ho-hos instead of doing rehab. I really wish I had that photo. It pretty much explains my dislike for Liriano and it's not a surprise that he is absolutely awful at the beginning of every season.