nicksaviking

The marketing team did the math and decided the Hunter jersey would be the biggest seller this year. They then casually mentioned to the Pohlads that if the deal was only for one year, those jerseys would then be obsolete after only one season, just in time for people to buy Buxton and Sano jerseys.

No but at least he won't have the wall to deal with. If Arcia doesn't improve, he's going to to be a liability no matter where he plays.

Actually I think Winfield was less of a gimmick, the team was pretty good in 1992. Winfield was old but just came off a really nice season with Toronto and the Twins were trying to replace Chili Davis. I would say Molitor and also Terry Steinbach felt like gimmick signings at the time, however, as far as Molitor goes, he really was one of the only reasons to even remember that era of Twins baseball. I loved his chase for 3.000 hits and he played damn well for being in his 40s. Molitor and Steinbach might have been to entice fans to a terrible product, but Twenty years later, I'm still glad they did it. I'm happy to have had those guys in Twins uniforms in what we already knew was going to be a long season.

It's a one year deal and Rosario and Buxton probably aren't quite ready, so I'm not upset. There seems to be quite an overreaction to Hunter's poor defense though. IF they put him in RF, his defense is going to be just fine. His awful -18.3 UZR last year was caused entirely by his -18.4 range factor, meaning if it weren't for his decreased range, his defense would have been decent. Clearly his range was going to be magnified in cavernous Comerica Park, if they stick him in RF at Target Field, he'll be moving from one of the parks that demands the most range from it's rightfielder to one of the parks that demands the least. Arcia's problem in RF wasn't his range, but the terrible angles he took and his confusion with the wall. His range factor was only -4.4. That should indicate one of two things; either Hunter's range problems are 4x worse than Arcia's, which sounds completely illogical, or the difference between ball parks has an extremely large impact on the perception of the outfielder. I want a young team, so I wasn't too interested in Hunter, but this is going to be far from the disaster movie it is being made out to be.

WTF! Did I blackout again?! I don't remember posting this, in fact I don't even like Jay Bruce and remember saying I wouldn't trade for him, possibly even in this thread. Please tell me there is some kind of IT issue here and I'm not schizophrenic!

I'm not sure what the next "Era" will be, but I'm guessing John would be included in the Post 72 ERA that will someday be evaluated with the likes of Steve Garvey, Ted Simmons, Keith Hernandez, Dale Murphy, Lee Smith, Don Mattingly, Alan Trammel and Tim Raines, assuming those last four don't get in on the regular ballot.

I find some of the other names speculated a bit interesting. Edinson Volquez, Francisco Liriano, Justin Masterson, Brett Anderson, Jake Peavy. Volquez and Liriano huh? So are the Twins trying a Reverse Searge? That's when you GET a couple of productive pitchers from the Pirates and turn them back into pumpkins. The article actually only says the Twins talked to Greg Ganske, the agent for Liriano and Anderson. I'd guess Anderson is the guy they'd be interested in seeing as Liriano has a QO and no other players with a QO have been linked to the Twins.

Yeah, he does seem to be the forgotten man of those great early Twins teams. I guess I never heard of any acrimony, though there may have been some. To me it seemed like a failure to recognize his value. Those Twins teams were loaded with all kinds of great but perhaps not elite pitching with Kaat, Pascual, Grant, Perry, Chance, Boswell and later Blyleven. They may have been so spoiled rotten in pitching that they didn't realize how good they had it. I do believe the team gave him some kind of community service award this year at the annual Twins award banquet.

For what it's worth, we do have pretty clear insight as to how the voters ranked these Golden Age players back in the day. Most were on the ballot for years together, though Gil Hodges was quite a bit earlier than most. In the ballots from the mid 80's through the mid 90's, the pecking order was almost always Oliva, Kaat, Wills, Allen, Boyer, Minoso and Tiant, with Ron Santo, who got in on the last ballot sandwhiched between Oliva and Kaat nearly every time. Obviously we have different numbers to look at these days, but starting in 1984, the voters appeared to always favor Oliva. His first two years on the ballot were the only two he shared with Hodges, on those Hodges was ahead. Fun side note I noticed while looking up the voting records: 1984 both Harmon Killebrew and Luis Aparicio both got into the Hall along with Don Drysdale. Harmon failed to get in his first three years (likely because voters still put a lot of weight on batting average) but made it in with the slick fielding shrotstop and the dominant righty who's career was cut short. Killebrew's career OPS was an awesome 143, while Aparicio's was a cringeworthy 82. I'm guessing that is the largest disparity between same-year HOF batters ever. Drysdale's career OPS? 45, meaing the difference between Drysdale's and Aparicio's OPS was 60% less than the difference between Killebrew's and Aparicio's. In fairness, Drysdale was a pretty damn good hitter; for a pitcher.

The Twins probably haven't done him any favors by not retiring his number. If I was a voter and saw that the team he spent his formative years with didn't think he was as good of a player as Kent Hrbek, I'd have second thoughts.

I think Duensing best represents the disconnect between fan expectations for ceiling and front office desire for stability. I don't think we value what Duensing brings to the table nearly as much as the team does, we see his role as expendable where as the team would be extremely uncomfortable not having the veteran lefty with a decent track record available to them. I agree the Twins keep him and don't mind paying for a safety net. Ironically, it may be his arb increase that takes Duensing out of all our speculative trade talks, other clubs likely don't want to pay that kind of money for a non-closer bullpen arm.

They indeed may try him as a starter again: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-marlins/sfl-marlins-royals-trade-20141128-story.html Suspiciously I was not cited in Mr. Rodriguez's piece and the Marlins failed to give me credit for the idea though I posted it nearly 45 minutes before the article was published. No doubt if a search history was performed on Rodriguez or GM Dan Johnson's computer this page would show up.

Right, his first couple of years I was of the opinioin that the Royals were wrong and he could be fixed, which coupled with Royal futility at the time of his arrival was not an outlandish assumption. I think he's too far gone to start now and if that velocity is kaput, he's possibly too far gone to pitch at all. I threw the question out there, but I do not have interest in Crow. Although I do like giving away two 40-man spots and taking on only one.

Right, I've never liked the hypothetical trades that also require a hypothetical extension. One long shot is barely enough to pique my interests.

Looks like Miami got Aaron Crow from the Royals for the Twins equivalent of Logan Darnell and Jason Wheeler*. Who would have been interested in that? I always thought the Royals gave up on him as a starter way too early but he struggled last year and his K numbers plummeted. *Guestimation based soley on position, handedness and close** approximation of minor league numbers. **Close is a relative term and used here loosely

No way. That contract is unmovable if he performs at any level below what he was at in 2014, which really was just barely better than acceptable.

Voter in 2000: WTF is a WAR? Puckett was lumped into the same group as Gwynn, Boggs, Yount and Brett. Those guys were always considered the best hitters of their era. This was 80's and 90's baseball, where average and hits were the mark of the elite hitters. It doesn't matter that we can look back now and say Brett was likely far better than the rest, Puckett got into that group early in his career, before 1991. Guys weren't getting in on the first ballot because of post season triumphs, they were getting in based on the milestone numbers, 3,000 hits, 500 HR and 300 wins. Puckett was the fastest player to 2,000 hits and was considered a shoe in for 3,000 which was basically the automtic pass. Missing the milestone, post season success might have gave Puckett the extra couple of votes he needed to get in on the first ballot, but without it, he still would have been in long ago. If the post season had much weight, Jack Morris likely would have gotten in and Joe Carter wouldn't have been eliminated on the first ballot. It also wouldn't explain how Ralph Kiner, who retired at the age of 32 due to injury got voted in despite playing on teams that never made the post season. Branch Rickey famously told him when he got traded to the equally sad Cubs, "We finished last with you, we can finish last without you."

I'd guess at best Minoso is behind Hodges and Kaat and likely behind Oliva for at least half the voters.

Puckett and Koufax didn't get in so much because of post season performances, they got in becacuse they were assumed HOFer's while they were playing and never had the chance to change people's minds due to on field regression. Puckett was never borderline, he was an All-Star and/or got MVP votes every year after his rookie season, he was always considered an elite player during his time. He got in on his first ballot, the voters don't let the borderline guys in on the first ballot.

Everyone remembers Tony's career being cut short, but it really wasn't cut that short. He played a long time, it's just that his final years were plagued by injuries. Had his knees cut his career short after those spectacular eight or even ten years but he was never able to play again, he likely would have gotten in, similar to Puckett and Koufax. Toughing it out likely cost him the HOF, yet it seems silly to say that as playing baseball was his livelyhood and not trying to earn a living the way he knew how would not show the same kind of character.

This post is wrongly attributed to nicksaviking. He did not write this post so stop throwing rocks at him, everybody. A report has surfaced over the past week indicating that the Cincinnati Reds are exploring trading outfielder Jay Bruce if the right deal were to surface. With the Hot Stove season inching closer with each passing day, it should come as no surprise that trade rumors are floating at increasingly a rapid rate. Unfortunately, the Minnesota Twins have yet to be linked to any big name free agents or potential trade candidates. This should not come as a surprise to most Twins fans as Terry Ryan and the front office have given little indication that they are willing to go out and add any pieces to improve this team, beyond a posssible Black Friday special on the free agent heap toward the end of winter.The Reds are in a precarious position after a disappointing 2014 season that saw them finish 76-86, their worst season since 2008. Injuries could be pointed to as a reason for their ineffectiveness and failure to live up to expectations, but that is an excuse used for many teams across baseball each and every season. Whatever the reason, if the Reds are hoping to turn the tide and return to contention for the 2015 season, they will need players like Bruce to lead the turnaround. The fact that he is potentially being shopped makes little sense on the surface. In his career, Bruce has hit .251 with a .790 OPS, 182 home runs and 551 RBI. His best season was 2013 when he hit .262 with 30 HR and 109 RBI. Acquiring Bruce will not be easy and it will not come cheaply. However, looking more deeply at the situation in Cincinnati, one might be able to understand the spot the Reds are potentially facing and be able to comprehend the rationale of trading one of their most dynamic offensive weapons who is entering the prime of his career. According to Sports Illustrated, the Reds are facing an unsettled situation after next season in regard to bringing back the majority of their 2014 starting rotation. Last season, the Reds signed Homer Bailey to a long-term contract. Outside of Bailey, the other four pitchers in the starting rotation—Johnny Cueto, Alfredo Simon, Mat Latos and Mike Leake—aren't signed past next season, nor is closer Aroldis Chapman. For a team hoping to remain in contention within a division that boasts the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Milwaukee Brewers, and the rapidly improving Chicago Cubs, having a solidified starting rotation and quality depth at the position is something of a necessity. The Reds boasted one of the best starting staffs in all of baseball last season and though their 3.60 team ERA ranked in the middle of the NL, Reds pitchers held opposing batters to a league-best .239 average. Those numbers were largely credited to the starting rotation, whose collective 3.37 ERA ranked third in the NL. Needless to say, the reason the Reds were competitive had a lot to do with their quality starting pitching. If they wish to remain competitive, it will be via starting pitching and an offense centered around Joey Votto. The window for playoff contention may be closing if the team fails to keep this staff intact, so trading a player like Bruce may be a way to free up payroll and also improve the team in other areas of weakness. This is where the Twins come in. No, I have not started putting down the eggnog quite yet and yes, I am of stable mind when I stand behind this thought: The Twins should, can, and need to cash in on some of their young talent in order to acquire an established player this offseason. If there is one thing we know, it is that the Twins’ biggest area of weakness is their starting pitching and, to some extent, portions of their bullpen. So why would the Twins want to invest in an area that is in less dire straits than their starting pitching? Because they have enough assets to do so and a move like this would significantly improve a lineup, and an outfield, that drastically needs it. Not to mention, a blockbuster trade like this would create a necessary buzz around the team that would hopefully keep dangling fans interested and buying tickets. In addition, the Twins have a general manager who is willing to take a risk when it comes to adding talent. The main questions that Ryan and his staff must ask themselves, and what many fans reading this article are probably wondering is: What would it take to bring in Bruce and is he worth the price? Reports out of Cincinnati indicate that the team is looking to add a left fielder and pitching depth to their rotation and bullpen. If they were to trade Bruce, they’d also have a vacancy in right field as, so that must also be factored into any potential equation. If I were in Ryan’s seat, I would begin the discussion by offering a package of Phil Hughes, Aaron Hicks, and someone from the duo of Ricky Nolasco and Tommy Milone. I know many fans may scoff at trading Hughes after his brilliant 2014 campaign, but his track record does not offer a lot of stability and if the Twins are serious about acquiring a talent like Bruce, it will likely cost them one of their best arms. In Hughes’ case, why not sell high on a pitcher with an unpredictable future? He seems like exactly the type of pitcher the Reds would be looking to add to their already solid rotation and he would come with two years remaining on his deal and a payroll-friendly contract. Hicks has enough potential that the Reds may view him as a reclamation project and could plug him into an outfield spot with many years of control left at a cheap price. The inclusion of Nolasco would be a bit more difficult due to his poor 2014 season and the approximately $36 million left on his deal. But, like Hicks, the Reds could view Nolasco as a reclamation project with a solid track record in the National League who could be had at a reasonable price. Another potential deal I believe the Reds might strongly consider would revolve around Brian Dozier. I’d be willing to part with Dozier, Hughes, and Hicks straight up for Bruce because he has the talent to transform a lineup and is signed through 2016 with a team option for 2017 to a payroll-friendly deal. There is no guarantee that Dozier will continue to perform at the level he had this past season and his value may be at its height. Also, he is due a hefty pay raise in the coming years and with suitable replacements potentially coming up through the minors (Jorge Polanco, Eddie Rosario), the Twins could use this as a perfect opportunity to flip Dozier for maximum value. A package of Dozier, Hughes, and Hicks could even fetch a lower level minor leaguer or two in the deal, but Bruce would be the centerpiece for any such deal. In addition, the Reds have been rumored to be shopping Brandon Phillips over the past few seasons and could be looking for his long-term replacement in the near future, which would make Dozier the ideal fit in this deal. So why do I believe this would be a great deal for the Twins and their future? For one, in either deal that I have presented, the Twins would not be sacrificing any of their prized prospects such as Alex Meyer, Miguel Sano, Byron Buxton, J.O Berrios, Kennys Vargas, etc. Whether or not the Reds would be willing to trade Bruce without the inclusion of at least one of those prospects remains to be seen, but there is no guarantee that any of these players will ever live up to the hype that has been bestowed upon them throughout their minor league careers. With that in mind, why not trade for a proven commodity who is entering the prime of his career? If these stud prospects are kept, Bruce would be a cornerstone in place when the majority of these players make it to the majors. This may be one of the only times that the Twins have enough assets to get a player of his caliber without sacrificing numerous talented prospects. With Bruce in the fold, the Twins could trot out a lineup that looks like this as early as next season: 1. Danny Santana SS 2. Joe Mauer 1B 3. Kennys Vargas DH 4. Jay Bruce RF 5. Miguel Sano 3B 6. Oswaldo Arcia LF 7. Trevor Plouffe/Eduardo Escobar/Nunez 2B 8. Kurt Suzuki C 9. Eddie Rosario/Jordan Shafer CF And still have a pitching rotation of (in no particular order): 1. Kyle Gibson 2. Trevor May 3. Alex Meyer 4. Nolasco/Millone/Pelfrey 5. Free Agent starter (Justin Masterson, Brett Anderson, etc.) Under this scenario, the Twins still will be waiting on Buxton, Berrios, etc. to be making their way to the majors. Much like the Twins of the early 2000s, the time has come where if the Twins are unwilling to spend money via free agency to bring in top-flight pitchers and if they are confident in the prospects that they have coming up, they should bring up the young pitchers (with a few veterans thrown in) and grow with them as they learn to pitch at the big league level. The Twins will then have the best evaluation information as to what they truly have with these kids and it will allow the front office to take the next step into turning this franchise around as the youngsters gain experience and learn from their mistakes. Maybe the prospects crash and burn when they get to the majors and the team is back to losing 100 games again every season. At this point, who really knows for sure? At the same time, if the Twins were to begin losing 100 plus games every year because of the youth movement, they’d at least be doing it with players who are young and hopefully improving instead of cheap veterans who are on the last legs of their career. Trading for Bruce would not solve the Twins problems overnight. If anything, it would likely make the situation worse in the short-term. However, if the Twins are ever again to become a serious contender in this league it will rest on the arms of their young starting pitching that is developing in the minors and the bats of a productive lineup that can provide the starters with run support. Bruce improves the potential of any future Twins lineup immensely upon arrival and gives new coach Paul Molitor a masher who can anchor the lineup while the youngsters develop and provide stability at a position of great current concern. All that is needed now is for management to be willing to step outside their comfort zone and take a risk by making a blockbuster deal. Until then, we sit and wait as the Hot Stove adds one more coal to the fire. Click here to view the article

Perhaps the bids were the same and they're trying to sort out how to go about solving that issue.

Well to be fair, usually we hear who won the bid long before the bid is accepted, even if the selling club isn't required to disclose this information. No surprise this situation is more covert seeing as the Twins are involved.

I don't get the impression that Molitor is the type of guy who needs his hand held by a "mentor" type guy. He seems more like the kind of guy who would cut off said hand with a lightsaber and confidently tell the other guy, "No, I am YOUR father!" I for one have no problems with a novice (sort of) coaching staff. I would be just fine if there wasn't someone always telling the rest how things need to be done because that's how they've always been done.

Pretty cheap. Twins may have just thrown out a low ball offer never thinking it would win. Anyway, if the KBO ERA is a concern, it was still lower than Albers, so he must be better than the Canadian! Cheaper too, at least the posting fee portion.