January 19, 2011
Carl Pavano re-signs with Twins
As expected, Carl Pavano has re-signed with the Twins for a two-year contract worth $16.5 million. Pavano returning has been assumed for a while now and I've written about it a couple times recently, but my full analysis of the move may have to wait until this weekend because I'm in Dallas working on the Rotoworld baseball magazine at the Beckett offices. Sorry. Short version: Reasonable price and nice to avoid a three-year commitment.
agreed. Its pretty sad when you NEED to sign Carl Pavano in order to not be a complete disaster next year.
still looking like an 82-84 win team.
Comment by glass half empty guy — January 19, 2011 @ 6:31 pm
Dallas!? Please tell me I’ll still get my Friday links!! I like the move by the Twins. Seems reasonable considering some of the money other teams have spent.
Comment by Mark R (Columbus) — January 19, 2011 @ 7:09 pm
Good price and for only 2 years makes sense. Twins got a couple guys coming off injuries so bringing Pavano back was the safe thing to do. I predict 90+ wins.
Comment by scot — January 19, 2011 @ 7:15 pm
Wow…..at that price….I thought he was supposed to be the second best starter available. That is low for the second best starter….was the class that bad?
Comment by mike wants wins — January 19, 2011 @ 7:57 pm
Mike….yes.
Comment by ML — January 19, 2011 @ 9:41 pm
I think this makes Pavano very tradeable after this year too. I’d prefer to trade him than one of the young pitchers who are still reasonably priced as well. When Gibson comes up that will give the Twins 7 respectable starters, I think you’re wasting them by moving any of them to the bullpen.
Comment by jama — January 20, 2011 @ 9:20 am
It’s a good deal for the Twins and decent one for Pavano. I figured the Twins wouldn’t be able to get him back for anything under $9M or $10M per, which was getting too high a price in mind. At $8M this season and $8.5M next, the Twins get a steady, inning-eating professional who fits their ballclub well. He’s got some injury risk, based on history and age, but a 2-year deal minimizes the potential problem. (The team should also be able to insure him too)
It’s probably not a game-changing move (the Twins do have starting pitching depth), but it does solidify the club.
Comment by Josh — January 20, 2011 @ 10:04 am
This team won 94 games with half a year of Morneau and big drop-offs from Kubel, Span, Cuddyer and Mauer. Is anyone really that concerned about losing Crain and Guerrer? Crain got sent to the minors last year for cripe’s sake. Are we going to miss the combined 10 homers and 100 games on the DL we got from Hardy and Hudson? This team will be just fine.
Comment by Pedro Munoz — January 20, 2011 @ 2:53 pm
Pedro, do we know if Span is the 2009 Span (which is a lot like the one you would predict seeing based on his minor league numbers) or the 2008 Span, who surprised almost everyone with his play? Delmon had his best year ever, will he revert? Cuddeyer is getting older, not younger. They also got 220 innings from an old starter, will that happen again? And, you may not agree, but Hardy’s D will be GREATLY missed. So, yes, there are reasons to be concerned. Of course, as you point out, there are reasons to be optimistic. I don’t understand, though, how anyone can look at the current bullpen and think it is nearly as good as last year’s.
Comment by mike wants WINS — January 20, 2011 @ 3:20 pm
Oh, and Capps was cut by Pittsburgh just a year ago with his 6 ERA…..if you want to use the Crain demotion as proof of anything.
Comment by mike wants WINS — January 20, 2011 @ 3:21 pm
I don’t understand how anyone can look at any bullpen and think they have any clue how it will perform. What if Neshek returns to form? Or if Slama brings his minor league dominance to the Bigs? How about a healthy Nathan? Neither of us knows but looking at that bullpen I can see how it’s possible that it’s as good as last years.
Comment by Drew — January 20, 2011 @ 4:29 pm
“I don’t understand how anyone can look at any bullpen and think they have any clue how it will perform”
preposterous statement nominee
Comment by glass half empty guy — January 20, 2011 @ 5:05 pm
I am cautiously optomistic in regards to our bullpen. There is still plenty time to add a player or 2 if needed and now that Pavano is back I think the Twins will consider that next.
Comment by scot — January 20, 2011 @ 6:10 pm
My vote is to trade Baker to an NL team before the season starts for middle IF help and a bullpen ‘guy.’ The Padres would be a place to start (Baker’s long fly’s wouldn’t go out there, and the Padres always think they can build a new bullpen from spare parts). At this point we know what Baker is, and it’s not a pitcher you can trust against any of the top AL teams. Baker in Chicago, Fenway, or Yankee stadium gives me chills. A move like this would have the side effect of giving Twins fans some sign that Bill Smith isn’t asleep at the wheel.
Comment by Jake — January 20, 2011 @ 8:32 pm
My name is Shannon
Comment by Owen — January 20, 2011 @ 10:14 pm
“I don’t understand how anyone can look at any bullpen and think they have any clue how it will perform”
“preposterous statement nominee”
It isn’t that preposterous given how successful Gardenhire has been with his bullpens his entire (at least regular season) managerial career. There are several options to replace those guys who left for MULTI-YEAR deals. Said options are Hoey, Neshek, Burnett, Waldrop, Slama, Perkins, Manship, Gutierrez, and Delaney (on top of Nathan, Capps, Mijares, Diamond and possibly the odd man out of the starting rotation). Looking at the Twins bullpen . . . it is open for competition and it seems very likely that at least two of those prospects will come through and be solid.
Comment by Shane — January 20, 2011 @ 11:37 pm
The Twins are still one and done in the playoffs. I hope people don’t start contesting that on this site. That said, it will be an incredibly exciting regular season with Chicago and Detroit games being very competitive. May be a three way rivalry for years to come.
Comment by brian — January 21, 2011 @ 12:06 pm
The Twins are one and done and Spring training hasn’t started? Now THAT is preposterous. What, didn’t you hear about Jeter and A-Rod colliding and both getting concussions? Or CC missing the postseason because of a sneezing related injury?
Nobody knows, and anyone saying different is full of it.
Comment by ML — January 21, 2011 @ 1:59 pm
NO!!! GLAD PAVANO RESIGNED BUT PUNTO WENT TO THE CARDS!
Comment by chris — January 21, 2011 @ 2:37 pm
*one and done if they get in the playoffs.
fixed that for ya brian.
I am not trying to be a hater…I have season tix and dropped more money on this team that I care to share. However, I am also a baseball guy and a realist. How has this team better than last year? Anyone? Please…enlighten me. The fact is this team got worse while other teams in the division got better. Blowing up a top-10 bullpen is not good. Losing Hardy and Hudson is not good. I personally believe Nathan and Neshek are roast beef and I no longer trust Morneausey. Its going to be a long summer Twins fans.
That said, I really hope I am dead wrong.
Comment by glass half empty guy — January 21, 2011 @ 8:25 pm
Thanks for the comment rehab, glass. Sure, nobody knows. Unless they acquire an ace pitcher or two, this team with as poor of pitching matchup compared to their opponents winning in the postseasoon has never happened. In the history of baseball. Ever. There could be plane crashes, team decapitations, playoff cancellations, etc. But those things have never happened either. Enjoy the regular season show, that should be enough.
Comment by brian — January 22, 2011 @ 10:36 pm