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The Twins #2 Starter...or... Pitching options for spending our remaining 10M

The Twins need an to improve the rotation significantly from last place AL ERA in 2011. The Twins do not have an Ace (#1 starting pitcher). Liriano could be that guy or he could be a #3-5 who is not to be relied on in the playoffs. Baker looks like a solid #3. Pavano is a plus #4 who saves our bullpen. Blackburn is the definition of a #5. That leaves Duensing, Swarzak, Hendriks, Diamond and Maloney, none of which are #2 starters. So, if you follow my logic (I don't blame you if you don't), the twins need to pick up a #2 starter if they want to take the easiest path to improving the rotation. Possiple targets after the brake.



Star-divide

Possible #2 Free agents to target. They need to be in our price range (10M/yr or less) and willing to sign for 2yrs or less. Two years because we need to keep the option of completely rebuilding open. 10M because we are at about 89M now with Capps in the fold. So, if they are going to stay at 100M or less thats what we have to work with. Guys I would like to target and for how much; Roy Oswalt (34) on a 2yr 14M deal. Hiroki Kuroda (37) on 2yr 14M or 1yr 9M or less. Sign either of these guys and say goodbye Cuddy and Kubs. (not to say that we shouldn't be prioritizing our rotations glaring need over our glut of outfielders... I digress) Cheaper (riskier) options; Rich Harden (30) on a 1yr for 2M or less. (Please do this Twins org. because he may actually be a #2) Brad Penny (33) on a 1yr 3M (Not a #2 but could be better than a #5 and knows the division) Chris Ryan Young (32) on a minor league deal or 1yr for 1M. (most likely will not last the season but he mostlikely will produce wins while pitching) Brandon Webb (33) on a minor league deal or 1yr for 1M. (Any info on what happened to him in Texas would be appreiated and may temper or peak my interest.) There are other pitchers out there but these are the free agents I like. Other options include; trades for a #2 (not with our recent history of trading thank you very much), relying on luck - hoping that Duensing, Swarzak, Hendriks, Diamond or Maloney prove to be better then a #5-6. Or, to get creative with the back end of the rotation and carry six starters using them as a platoon of sorts Duensing against Left heavy teams and a righty against everyone else. The Twins rotation as is, is far below average and needs improvement. I would love to hear yours thoughts.

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Baker

I’m all for getting a high upside starter, but Baker was much better than a 3 before he got hurt… just sayin. I tend to agree though that you go for high upside guys that might turn into something. Assuming they aren’t going after Jackson, Harden strikes me as the best bet to do it, though he could just as easily collect his entire paycheck from the DL. There honestly isn’t much out there.

by diehardtwinsfan on Dec 12, 2011 2:10 PM EST reply actions  

Yes, in 2011 Baker was better than #3 when healthy...

But he has a history of needing injury time. Which means we need to bring in a #5-6 starter to replace him for 40-70 innings which makes him a #3.

by twinssniwt on Dec 12, 2011 4:38 PM EST up reply actions  

Um....I thought you were looking for a #1 or #2...

and only Oswalt “could” fit into that role. The rest are a crapshoot at best, IMHO.

The truth is, that not many (if any) #1 or #2 pitchers are left on the market. Our only option to acquire a guy like that is to make a semi-big trade.

I think Willingham and Kubel should still be signed, and I also think keeping the payroll at 100mil or less is a pipe dream if we want any chance to compete.

I will not be PONDERing anything, ever again....I'm so tired of this pun. Maybe we could use antonyms to be different, like: "FORGET about last season, as we COGITATE about winning in 2011!"...Whatever, SKOL VIKES!!!

by J.RO on Dec 12, 2011 6:53 PM EST reply actions  

competing and winning the WS.

are to different things. We’re trying to compete while spending 100M. I don’t think this is the year we’re trying to win the WS. Yes, we will be able to compete, we’ll see about next year as far as the WS goes.

by b1 on Dec 12, 2011 10:30 PM EST up reply actions  

I'd argue that Oswalt...

is a huge crapshoot in the American (Varsity) League too. I wouldn’t touch him, personally, unless he came quite cheap.

I like taking a shot on Harden, or Kuroda. But Kuroda’s likely to just sign somewhere on a 1-year deal for around $14-15M and then retire. Too rich for us.

We need to find a starter via trade probably.

by DJSkillz on Dec 13, 2011 10:19 PM EST up reply actions  

I agree that Oswalt is a crapshoot But if possible I would sign that crapshoot for that money. How much would be “quite cheap” for you?

If you are right about Kuroda’s price tag than I agree; too rich.

Santa, all I want for Christmas is Rich Harden for the Twins.

by twinssniwt on Dec 13, 2011 10:33 PM EST up reply actions  

not sure I'd pay more than $5M for Oswalt at this point...

I just don’t think he can succeed in the AL and I don’t think his back will let him pitch more than 15 games or so. Who knows though.

I’d love if we could get in on the bidding for Garza in a deal. Though we’d have to get rid of Gardy first.

….wait a second!

by DJSkillz on Dec 14, 2011 12:18 AM EST up reply actions  

Concerning Gar

I don’t have a problem with swapping dy for za.

by Zapf on Dec 15, 2011 1:17 PM EST up reply actions  

Twins linked to Pitching...

I am glad that they are being linked to pitching and that Antony is prioritizing starting pitchers over left-handed bats. But, I am not excited about any of these guys.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/12/central-notes-twins-pineiro-garland-wood.html

I guess Pineiro could be an upgrade on Blackburn. Maybe?

by twinssniwt on Dec 18, 2011 9:20 PM EST reply actions  

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