Twinkie Town - 2012 Winter Meetings Stream, Day 2An online community of Twins fans mourning the death of Prince Rogers Nelson.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52554/tt_fav.png2012-12-04T23:25:12-05:00http://www.twinkietown.com/rss/stream/34903172012-12-04T23:25:12-05:002012-12-04T23:25:12-05:00Twins haven't signed a pitcher? Blame Zack Greinke
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<figcaption>Thearon W. Henderson</figcaption>
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<p>Zack Greinke hasn't signed a contract yet - and everyone else appears to be waiting for him to make a move before they show their cards. </p> <p>Somebody is going to get <span>Zack Greinke</span> started on his first billion, and this likely before the week is out. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> have unbelievable stacks of local TV money, and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a> aren't exactly poor, and those teams are apparently happy to get into a bidding war for Greinke. Which leaves the rest of the market waiting for the signal from on high.</p>
<p>Which leaves the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Twins</a>... nowhere.</p>
<p>After two days of what we expected was going to be the 2012 Twins Free Agent Signing Carnival, the Twins have done exactly nothing to shore up their terrible pitching staff, in part because everyone's waiting to see whether the rising tide of Greinke is about to lift all pitching boats across the league. <span>Dan Haren</span> is already off the market, but <span>Anibal Sanchez</span> stands ready to be the consolation prize for the losers of the Greinke sweepstakes, and a clutch of pitchers are waiting to be the focus of their own private bidding wars as desperate teams throw around money for whoever is left.</p>
<p>Perhaps Terry Ryan will surprise us tomorrow, by swooping in for <span>Brandon McCarthy</span> or one of the other moderately-big names in the market. But it's increasingly looking likely that the Twins will be scavenging at the pitching buffet after the big-money teams have eaten their fill and pushed themselves away from the table.</p>
<p>As the days tick by, trading for <b>Alex Meyer</b> and his high upside but limited immediate impact seems like a better and better move from the Twins. Free-agent pitching seems like it may never be cheap again. The Twins' only hope is to develop young pitchers to fill the holes they need - but unfortunately for fans sick of losing, that won't happen for a few more years down the road.</p>
https://www.twinkietown.com/2012/12/4/3730006/baseball-winter-meetings-zach-greinkeJon Marthaler2012-12-04T21:44:26-05:002012-12-04T21:44:26-05:00Jack Hannahan Likes Twins, Likely Headed Elsewhere
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<figcaption>Jason Miller</figcaption>
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<p>If the Twins want someone else to play at third base, it doesn't sound like it's Jack Hannahan.</p> <p>Historically, Jack Hannahan has been a plus defender at third base. <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=3692&position=3B#fieldingadvanced" target="_blank">This wasn't the case in 2012</a>, but for a guy who will be 32 this season it's probably still a guarantee that he would be a better defender at the hot corner than Trevor Plouffe.</p>
<p>It sounds like Hannahan, according to Darren Wolfson, had interest in coming to the Twins. But the feeling wasn't mutual.</p>
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<p>Told Jack Hannahan has a major league offer and it's not the <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23MNTwins">#MNTwins</a>. He'll wait because MN is his preference, but only for so long.</p>
— Darren Wolfson (@DarrenWolfson) <a href="https://twitter.com/DarrenWolfson/status/276145319190876160" data-datetime="2012-12-05T02:05:49+00:00">December 5, 2012</a>
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<p>It's not really a make-or-break issue, but in a market where players aren't exactly teeming over each other to play for the Twins then you have to hope that whoever the organization has in mind to help out at third base is a better player than the former Tiger, Athletic, Mariner, Red Sock, and Indian.</p>
https://www.twinkietown.com/2012/12/4/3729624/jack-hannahan-likes-the-twins-but-likely-headed-elsewhereJesse Lund2012-12-04T18:02:11-05:002012-12-04T18:02:11-05:00Twins Winter Meetings Rumors: Shaun Marcum, too!
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<figcaption>Benny Sieu-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>We already knew that the Twins liked Marcum. Will it come to anything?</p> <p>According to Jon Morosi of Fox Sports, the <a href="https://www.twinkietown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Twins</a> have "checked in" on <span>Shaun Marcum</span>.</p>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Twins">#Twins</a> have checked in on Shaun Marcum.</p>
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) <a href="https://twitter.com/jonmorosi/status/276088558958292992" data-datetime="2012-12-04T22:20:16+00:00">December 4, 2012</a>
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This isn't news by this point. We know that the Twins are "checking in" on pretty much any pitcher with a pulse. We'll see how that turns out in the long run, but the good news is that Marcum is the kind of pitcher on which they should be keeping close tabs. He isn't a top-flight starter but posts good numbers, but sometimes his track record of injuries gets too much for certain suitors.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/4287/shaun-marcum" target="_blank">Rotoworld believes that Marcum is likely to sign a two-year contract</a>. Although this seems unlikely to me, we have seen teams exhibit a bit more trepidation with pitchers with a history of injury. Still, even if he's willing to sign for two years it's quite likely he'll want to make up for it in the dollars side of the equation.</p>
<p>Three years and $30 million doesn't seem outrageous to me if the Twins wanted to go that far.</p>
https://www.twinkietown.com/2012/12/4/3728800/twins-winter-meetings-rumors-shaun-marcum-linkJesse Lund2012-12-04T14:24:02-05:002012-12-04T14:24:02-05:00Nationals Sign Dan Haren
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<figcaption>Dan Haren: Not a Twin. | Jesse Johnson-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Cross one starting pitching option for the Twins off the board.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a> have <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/12/nationals-agree-to-sign-dan-haren.html" target="_blank">agreed</a> to sign <span>Dan Haren</span> to a one-year deal worth $13MM according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Twins</a> haven't been linked to the 32-year-old beyond speculation this offseason, but he made sense for Minnesota as a veteran arm seeking a one-year deal to rebuild his value. Haren experienced his worst Major League season as a result of back problems in 2012, and concerns about the health of his hip caused a trade that would've sent him from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a> to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> to fall through. Instead, the Halos declined his option, and Haren was able to earn a total of $16.5MM -- $3.5MM for his buyout and $13MM from the Nats.</p>
<p>The Twins still have four gaping holes in their 2013 rotation, and to date they haven't been linked that heavily to any of the market's bigger names like <span>Anibal Sanchez</span>, <span>Edwin Jackson</span> or Haren. That's not a surprise given the likely salary demands of Sanchez. What would be a surprise if they didn't walk out of the Winter Meetings with at least some improvements to the staff.</p>
https://www.twinkietown.com/2012/12/4/3727656/nationals-sign-dan-harenSteve Adams2012-12-04T10:12:29-05:002012-12-04T10:12:29-05:00Twins Will Bring In Competition for Trevor Plouffe
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<figcaption>Jesse Johnson-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>It sounds like the Twins are serious about providing competition for their enigmatic third baseman.</p> <p>The Twins have always seemed hesitant to hand over the reigns of a position full-time to a player who doesn't meet their standards. At times it's certainly justifiable, but that doesn't mean it can't be frustrating. In the case of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Minnesota Twins</a> versus <span>Trevor Plouffe</span>, the front office has good reason for not wanting to turn a blind eye to the holes in Plouffe's game. <a href="http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/Notebook_Twins_close_to_finding_competition_at_3B_for_Trevor_Plouffe120312" target="_blank">From Phil Mackey's notebook</a>:</p>
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<p><i>Ryan confirmed Monday he has made progress this week on finding someone to push Plouffe. When asked if Plouffe's competition could be unveiled before the end of the winter meetings on Thursday, Ryan grinned and said, "Maybe."</i></p>
<p><i>"We need to create competition," he added. "I don't want to be flippant about that because I told Trevor that. I think it'll be good for him. He needs to compete and earn it."</i></p>
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<p>It's difficult to even speculate on who the organization is closing in, but if you believe Ryan when he says that most of their budget is earmarked for pitching then there could very well be another trade in the works.</p>
<p>Plouffe needs to find a level of consistency that satiates his manager and front office. For the most part I imagine this translates to more consistent and better play defensively (<a href="http://javascript:setRegular('tr');" target="_blank">he had negative metrics across the board at third base</a>), while at the plate it probably translates to taking a few more good at-bats and not getting carried away. The power is there, and he's more than capable of being a supplementary power hitter who can bat sixth or seventh in the right lineup. He just needs to earn that job.</p>
https://www.twinkietown.com/2012/12/4/3726498/twins-will-bring-in-competition-for-trevor-plouffeJesse Lund2012-12-04T09:15:07-05:002012-12-04T09:15:07-05:00Is Morneau an Orioles Trade Target?
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<img alt=""Smiling is for pansies." ~ Justin Morneau" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qy5y4BQKX7WUvvIqO73ijZ0MKUo=/0x56:484x379/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/4387427/20120412_jel_aj5_620.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>"Smiling is for pansies." ~ Justin Morneau | Jesse Johnson-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Early in the Winter Meetings, the Baltimore Sun reported that the Orioles have the pieces in place to acquire a power-hitting first baseman/DH. They're just debating whether or not to pull the trigger. Our own No. 33 is a pretty logical fit.</p> <p>Aside from being linked to a bevy of underwhelming pitchers on the first day of the Winter Meetings, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Twins</a> news was pretty sparse. So maybe this is a reach. You can call it that, speculation or an educated guess, but I wouldn't be surprised if an early report from yesterday had some relevance to the Twins.</p>
<p>The Baltimore Sun <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/12/orioles-mulling-trade-for-power-bat-unlikely-to-sign-hamilton.html" target="_blank">reported</a> that the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.camdenchat.com/">Orioles</a> have a deal lined up to add a slugging first baseman/DH type, but aren't sure they want to pull the trigger. Dan Connolly, who penned the article, noted that the O's do seem willing to deal from their surplus of young arms (I think "surplus" is a bit generous, but I'll avoid semantics for the most part I suppose).</p>
<p>I started trying to come up with a list of available first base/DH types on teams that were out of contention and came to the realization that a lot of non-contenders aren't in a position to deal that type of player. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/">Indians</a>, for example, don't even have a good first baseman or DH right now. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> certainly aren't dealing <span>Anthony Rizzo</span>, and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> stated plain and simple about two months ago that they will not move <span>Ike Davis</span>. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Mariners</a> are trying to <i>add</i> offense, and don't have anyone that fits the bill anyway. Ditto for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Astros</a>. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals</a> sound like they're hanging onto <span>Billy Butler</span>.</p>
<p>I then thought of contenders and psuedo-contenders with bad contracts at those spots or multiple players who fit the bill and came up with the following whopping list:</p>
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<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;"><span>Justin Morneau</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;"><span>Mark Trumbo</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;"><span>Kendrys Morales</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;"><span>Adam Lind</span></span></li>
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<p>If I'm overlooking someone, by all means call it out. I had someone suggest <span>Alfonso Soriano</span> on Twitter, but that makes very little sense as he's not really a "first base" type. He could fit as a DH, but why would the Orioles be even mulling over trading away pieces to acquire a contract that bad? The same logic can be applied to Lind, who is also in their division, so I struck him off the list quickly.</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a> are a logical target and are in search of pitching, so it's possible that they're the team at the other end of this, but I also started thinking about the Orioles. If I were Dan Duquette and looking to add offense, what traits would I look for? Left-handed power.</p>
<p>Looking and down the Orioles' 2012 lineup, <span>J.J. Hardy</span>, <span>Adam Jones</span>, <span>Mark Reynolds</span> (who has since been non-tendered) and <span>Manny Machado</span> are all right-handed. <span>Matt Wieters</span> is a switch-hitter, but he struggles terribly from the left side of the dish. <span>Nick Markakis</span> is a nice bat, but he's not the annual 20-25 homer bat they hoped he'd eventually become.</p>
<p>The biggest source of left-handed pop that team has going right now is <span>Chris Davis</span>, and he's had exactly one full, productive Major League season.</p>
<p>Admittedly Trumbo does have a pretty neutral split, and Morales is pretty one-sided, doing most of his damage from the left side of the plate. So maybe in the end, I'm just over-thinking all of this. I don't think it's unreasonable to assume that the O's are prioritizing left-handed pop, though. And, given Morneau's strong second half against left-handed pitching, they may prefer the straight lefty bat who showed signs of rebirth against same-handed pitching.</p>
<p>It's all speculation at this point, but Terry Ryan would undoubtedly love to get his hands on one of Baltimore's controllable pitchers. And the Twins have something that the Orioles lack and clearly prefer not to acquire via free agency, at least at this point.</p>
<p>Maybe I'm completely off-base on this line of thinking, but it certainly seems possible to me.</p>
<p><i>Steve Adams also writes for MLBTradeRumors.com, MLB.com and RotoAuthority.com. You can follow him on Twitter: </i><a href="http://twitter.com/adams_Steve" target="_blank">@Adams_Steve</a></p>
https://www.twinkietown.com/2012/12/4/3726034/trade-speculation-is-morneau-an-orioles-trade-targetSteve Adams2012-12-04T08:58:26-05:002012-12-04T08:58:26-05:00Twins target every starting pitcher available
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<figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Day 1 of the Winter Meetings is in the books, and the only thing clear for the Twins is exactly what we expected - when it comes to their rotation troubles, they are not ruling anything out.</p> <p>Here's your partial list of of the pitchers the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Twins</a> have been linked with so far at the winter meetings: <span>Joe Blanton</span>, <span>Kevin Correia</span>, <span>Mike Pelfrey</span>, <span>Vicente Padilla</span>, <span>Jair Jurrjens</span>, <span>John Lannan</span>, <span>Francisco Liriano</span>, <span>Brett Myers</span>, <span>Brandon McCarthy</span>, and <span>Ryan Dempster</span>.</p>
<p>Here's who the Twins are actually interested in: everybody.</p>
<p>Minnesota has repeatedly said that they are ruling nothing out when it comes to starting pitching, and though few expect them to make a major splash for the top-end free-agents, everyone else is certainly in play. If nothing else, this goes a long way towards explaining the team's pursuit, half-hearted though it may be, of Francisco Liriano, who had disappointed and frustrated the team more than any three other players put together over his Twins tenure.</p>
<p>Blanton, of course, is the guy who appeared to be such a natural fit for the Twins that <a href="http://www.twinkietown.com/2012/11/12/3629990/twins-short-fiction-joe-blanton-gets-a-new-contract">I assumed the universe would self-correct and make it happen</a>, so I still think that's a major possibility.</p>
<p>Expect more of the same on Day 2, as the Twins continue to try to cure their biggest ailment - starting pitching.</p>
<p>Another prediction: the Twins will sign St. Paul native <span>Jack Hannahan</span> to "provide competition" for <span>Trevor Plouffe</span> at third base.</p>
https://www.twinkietown.com/2012/12/4/3726246/2013-baseball-winter-meetingstwins-target-every-starting-pitcher-availableJon Marthaler