Comments on: Free agent pitching options: Top-of-the-rotation starters

By: Chippy

Chippy — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 19:53:34 +0000

Have the Twins acquired a top-flight starting pitcher since John Smiley? (20 years ago!)

I understand that baseball fans like to be hopeful in the off-season, but our favorite team will NEVER sign an ace from outside!

By: ML

ML — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 03:18:46 +0000

The Twins will not have any of these guys come April.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 02:40:14 +0000

What do you think about calling up the champs and seeing if their 2-time Cy Young relief pitcher is available…Move one of the handful of outfielders in AAA? Add Edwin Jackson to eat up some innings and Target Field might sell out in August!

By: michael

michael — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 01:56:09 +0000

Greinke is a great target for his
Personal life. MN would be good for him and Mauer has the right personality to match. He fits here.

By: Jeff H

Jeff H — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 20:41:15 +0000

The sad truth is that a middle-of-the-rotation starter on virtually any other MLB staff would instantly qualify as a potential “staff ace” on this team. If you don’t believe that, just recall that Scott Diamond became the unquestioned ace of the 2012 Twins after he made just a few starts.

That’s why I agree with some of the other posters that a trade is the most likely scenario for us to end up with a good starting pitcher this offseason. The SP market is fairly deep, and Terry Ryan will sign one or two of the more affordable options, but as soon as one team offers any of them more than 3 years or $25 million, we’re effectively out of the running. I had hopes that Sanchez would struggle more in Detroit and end up with us, but he rose his price by pitching well late in the year. Hoping for Brandon McCarthy or anyone else with some upside who is in a position to accept a shorter-term deal for one reason or another.

By: Dave T

Dave T — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 17:35:32 +0000

Marquis was an unexplained disaster. He was good enough before he got here, and was good enough after he left. Go figure.

There will be dumpster-diving starters showing up for spring training, but Ryan is smart enough to know that you need a few proven innings-eaters as well. The Twins’ main trade bait is Willingham, not Span, and I think it would be a big mistake to trade Hammer this year. He is the right-handed power hitter the Twins have needed for years. (Yeah, I’m talking about you, Cuddyer — NOT!!) In the absence of a major trade, I think we’re going to overpay for a free agent starter, by giving him a year more than we should. Think Pavano II.

By: Jumpin Jim Brunzel

Jumpin Jim Brunzel — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 16:45:28 +0000

The only free agent pitchers the Twins will be interested in will be Terry Ryan dumpster diving specials. I just hope Ryan remembers to brush off some of the garbage this time around, last year Marquis still had dogfood lids stuck to him when he showed up in Fort Myers.

By: RT

RT — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 16:29:28 +0000

Where is Kyle Lohse on this list?

By: jfs

jfs — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 16:01:41 +0000

it’s a mistake to trade valuable position players for pitching. anything can go wrong with a pitcher’s arm, and often does.

acquire pitching through drafts and shrewd, inexpensive, incentive-heavy signings.

focus on baker, liriano and villanueva this year.

By: Uri Jackanov

Uri Jackanov — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 15:13:39 +0000

We’ll end up with Derek Lowe, Kevin Millwood, Jeff Francis, Freddy Garcia or Kip Wells. Whoever is cheapest.