clone52

Nope, Buxton, Sano and Rosario all got their first taste of major league baseball last year, so 2018 would be year 3.

Well, if they had signed Cueto, that would just push Berrios even furthur down the list of starters. Also, the Twins do gel and make a run in 2016 or 2017, they can always trade for top end pitcher mid season.

Why did the Twins need a starter on a 1 year contract when we are already complaining about Berrios starting in the minors and May being stuck in the bullpen?

I didn't say they should do nothing. I said they shouldn't spending $125 million for an Ace starting pitcher. I think the probably should have signed another reliever, but with some of the salaries out there, it might not have been worth it. I would have been fine with trading Plouffe if they could have gotten something good for him, but waiting to see how Sano does in the outfield is fine too and could turn out even better.

Good points.

Thats a good example, although they did get swept in the NLCS. Also, the Cubs have the financial resources to take more risks than the Twins are willing to take. Their projected payroll this year is $160 million. The Twins just aren't willing to spend that kind of money no matter how much the fans want them to.

So, it usually takes a few years for top prospects to gel. Look at the Royals last year. Hosmer, Perez, Moustakas was in year 5. Cain in year 6. Gordon in year 9. Even look at Twins in the past. Hunter, Miekiewicz, Jones, Koskie had to take their lumps before they really became contenders. How many World Series teams have their most of their best hitters in their first 2 or 3 years of major league experience? I doubt it happens often. I still think the Twins are 2 or 3 years away from being a serious contender and it doesn't make sense to make risky, expensive moves right now. If the young guys don't develop like we expect them to, then in 2018, we won't have 4 years and $85 million on the books for a pitcher on a rebuilding team.

Thats not really fair to Milone. If he had pitched enough to qualify, he would have had a Top 25 ERA in the American League. Its not like he's garbage out there. I do agree with you that May has more potential than Milone.

I wouldn't have a problem with using Milone in a trade. Probably have to pair him with a decent prospect to get anything back in return, though.

I'm not bashing May. How on earth did you come to that conclusion. I'm just giving my opinion of what would be the best for 2016 Minnesota Twins. I'm a huge fan of May and think he will develop into a good and potentially really good starter. I also think he is a fantastic reliever. The fact that he adds 5mph to his fastball in the bullpen might mean he is the future closer of the Twins. Just looking at 2016, the best move for the Twins is May in the bullpen. Their bullpen is a weakness and their rotation, while not a strength, isn't a weakness. There is just no logical reason to weaken the bullpen without upgrading the rotation. I have no problem moving him back to the rotation in 2017 if they need to do that. Another year in the bullpen isn't going to be detrimental to the future of May as a start if thats the road they go down.

No, I'm arguing that signing a guy like Cueto to that kind of deal isn't worth the risk when you have some high end prospects coming up in the system. Not to mention that the first couple of years of that contract would include the time when the young Twins are taking their lumps. Does a guy like Cueto put the Twins over the top when guys like Rosario, Buxton, Sano, Berrios, May, Park, etc are going through their Freshman and Sophmore slumps? Now in 2018 if the young guys have developed and the twins need an Ace to pull it altogether, I'd be in favor of big money deal to bring in an Ace. Like what the Royals did last year. Their young players had several years in the majors to develop and the Royals went all in.

Well, it would be at least 6 years. Not to mention that Cueto looked very mediocre in the American League last season. We might have been paying double the yearly cost and 2 extra years for the production of Ervin Santana.

At least quote my entire post. The argument that May is a Great reliever is only half the argument. I also pointed out that the evidence shows Milone is at least as good a starter as May is and maybe better. Why would you essentially swap equal starters in the rotation AND make your bullpen worse in the process? The only argument for May in the rotation is the hope that he could turn out to be better than he has shown so far as a starter.

And how many people are complaining about the contracts of Mauer, Nolasco, Hughes and Santana right now? Thats why we're having this debate right now. I can't say you're wrong though. Maybe spending $20-25/year over 6 or 7 years for a "ace" who will be washed up 3 or 4 years into the contract would be a good move for the Twins.

First off, Cueto signed a 6 year contract this year, so the Twins weren't going to sign him for 4 or 'even' five years. He would be on the books through at least 2021. Secondly, Sano and Buxton are arbitration eligible in 2019. Rosario is eligible in 2018.. If they progress as we hope (Sano and Buxton all starts and Rosario a solid LF), those 3 combined through arbitration could easily be commanding $30 million in 2020 and $40 million in 2021. If Park is a decent DH, you're looking at $35 million and $50 million in those 2 years. Add on Cueto (or someone like that) and you'd have $55 million tied up in 5 players in 2020 and $70 million tied up in 5 players in 2021.

I'm not sure they are going to contend this year, but if they do, i think they are better off with May in the bullpen. Santana, Hughes, Gibson, Berrios, Milone and Duffey give the Twins a decent rotation. I don't see that May is a signifigant upgrade to any of them. He's not going to displace Santana, Hughes or Gibson for sure. Berrios is going to get his shot as either to start the season or when they first injury happens. That means May is only either going to beat out Milone or Duffey. Who is he better than? May has shown flashes of brilliance starting, but is exceptionally inconsistant. In 2015, Milone was a better starter than May. He did have a lower strikeout rate, but a better ERA. Duffey has shown far more than May as a starter. On the other side of it, May has shown he can be a GREAT reliever. None of those 6 starters I mention seems like they would be a good reliever. Now if you didn't have Santana and Hughes, then yes, I'd put May in the rotation. However, given the roster as it is, its pretty obvious that May should be in the bullpen.

I think May could be a good start. I know May is a Great reliever. I'm good with him in the bullpen for now.

And in 2020 and 2021 you'd have a washed up Johnny Cueto on the books. Right when you are signing those guys. Kind of my point.

Except that the Twins hopefully will need that money for Sano, Buxton, Rosario, Berrios, maybe Polanco, Trevor May, Kohl Stewart, Max Kepler, etc.

Yeah, Sano is probably more likely to handle 3B than OF, but he's pretty athletic, so I think he'll be alright in the OF. As others have said, the Twins could have traded Plouffe for pennies on the dollar this winter and given Sano the 3B job. As for the Backup plan if Sano bombs in RF, just trade Plouffe for pennies on the dollar this summer. Its not like you are going to get much less for Plouffe if you trade him mid-season. Plus, by keeping him to start the season, you have the opportunity that Sano is at least an average outfielder and you're good to go at 3B and RF.

Nolasco will end shortly. Which is why I think it wasn't a bad risk to take. Nobody was really expecting last year to happen, so that 4 year contract for Nolasco was planned to be coming off the books just as all the young guns are coming on board. Santana and Hughes are reasonably priced guys who can hopefully fill out the rotation. Paying double or triple the price doesn't guarantee success either. Cueto took a significant step back after moving to the AL last season.

A long term deal for Cueto would have been assinine for the Twins. Sure, maybe get a couple of great years out of him, then have him as a $21m anchor as he declines in his mid-thirties. Right at the time the Twins would probably be wanting to give contracts to Sano, Buxton, Rosario, Berrios, Stewart.

Because if Sano can't cut it at 3B, the Twins have NO depth at the position.

Rosario and Sano played.

The only prospects you are evaulating are Kepler and ABW. You have plenty of time to evaulate them. Give them some ABs against good pitchers and give Quentin the garbage ABs. The truth is, it makes more sense to let Kepler and ABW play daily in AAA than be bench guys who play twice a week in the majors. If Kepler or ABW do move up the majors, you need someone to play OF in AAA. Why not try Quentin. Also, for all we know they want 2 AA OFs and will choose 2 out of Quentin, Sweeney and Benson. Competition for every roster spot in the organization is a good thing.