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

By: Drew

Drew — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 17:00:02 +0000

Diamond, Gibson, Marcum, McCarthy, Hendriks.

Even if we get two of the better options here our rotation still stinks.

By: ML

ML — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 20:56:37 +0000

It’s doubtful that the Twins will sign any of these pitchers.

By: Chippy

Chippy — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 15:40:01 +0000

Funny how Oswalt always comes up in these discussions. Isn’t it kind of obvious that there is no way he’ll ever come to the Twins?
AG’s list is of “potential” pitchers, so Oswald DOES belong on this list.
However, in other places where I read Oswald chatter. . . It just isn’t realistic.

By: Rick N

Rick N — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 04:30:07 +0000

I’d take a 1 year flyer on Bedard. Maybe they’d catch lightning in a bottle like they did a couple years ago with Pavano winning 17. McCarthy would be ideal. But the Twins will never pay what he is going to get. In fact I don’t see the Twins ponying up for any of the above starters except maybe Bedard who should come cheap. I like Corey’s suggestion on Feldman. Target Field would help his numbers too.

By: frightwig

frightwig — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 00:33:16 +0000

Your notes on McCarthy indicate that he had put his arm troubles behind him, before a line drive off his head ruined his season. But, actually, he’d been pitching through arm injury for much of the season, and was sidelined for a couple weeks in late May, and again from late June into the second week of August. Even if McCarthy’s season hadn’t been cut short by the accident, he still would have finished with 22-23 starts and <140 innings.

The year before, when he was supposedly "healthy," he also missed 6 weeks from mid-May through June, and finished with 170.1 IP in 25 starts–only the second time he made more than 20 starts in a season.

McCarthy's a good pitcher, yes, but it's wrong to say that he ever "finally got healthy" except for that flukey line drive this past September. Make no mistake, the team that signs him will be getting a pitcher with high upside but has had chronic arm problems every year since 2007.

By: Jeff O

Jeff O — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 19:57:25 +0000

Besides the guys that are obviously not going to happen, (Lohse, Oswalt, Liriano), I’d be happy with any of these guys. Hopefully two of them. McCarthy would be my favorite option.

By: Cory

Cory — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 19:25:32 +0000

Why not Scott Feldman? I’d love if they took a chance on him.

By: Bradley

Bradley — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 16:33:53 +0000

As crazy as it sounds I don’t think Kyle Loshe belongs on this list. He’s going to get paid during free agency.

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 15:55:01 +0000

My money is on Blanton being a Twin in 2013, and I think I’d be ok with that if he’s not alone.

By: BR

BR — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 15:38:02 +0000

McCarthy’s young and has yet to pitch his best season, I think. He’d be a decent upside signing, and a colorful Twitter addition. Snag him soon before guys like Sanchez sign.

Villanueva also looks like a sneaky upside buy, albeit one you don’t overpay in years or $ for.