The Twins have been way more active this winter then any other winter ever in franchise history and after Twins GM Terry Ryan introduced new signed Phil Hughes, he said they are still far from done. The winter meetings are usually pretty active, but I am unsure of how active they will be this year due to all the signings that happened yesterday. Maybe those signings will open up the flood gates for the rest of the free agent market and trade market.
Here are 5 moves that Terry Ryan very well could pull of by the end of the Winter Meetings on Thursday:
1. Sign veteran catcher John Buck to a 1 year deal worth 4 million.
Twins are still looking to add another catcher to go along with Pinto at the right price and Buck would be a solid pickup. He's not known for his defense, but should be able to do his job of keeping Pinto fresh and if Pinto struggled or got hurt, Buck could fill in fine.
2. Sign veteran starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo to a 2 year deal worth 20 million with a 3rd year option worth 12 million.
I wasn't a big fan of hearing we were in on Arroyo before we added Nolasco and Hughes. Now that we have added those 2 and Arroyo would be coming in as our number 3 starter, I am all for the Twins adding Arroyo. He doesn't strikeout as many as you would like, but he eats innings and we can't continue to tax our bullpen. His lowest output in innings since 2005 is 199. I can't remember the last time we had a starter hit that total. He like Hughes, would also benefit from playing in a pitcher's ball park. He wouldn't give up as many home runs and allow him to go even deeper into games.
3. Sign Korean pitcher Suk Min Yoon (Pictured Above) to a 3 year deal worth 21 million with a 4th year option worth 10 million.
Yoon has had success as both a starter and reliever. He was injured for part of the season last year and never really got going. The 2 years prior he started and threw over 170 innings with a K per 9 rate of 8.5 and ERA under 4. He pitched for Korea in the World Baseball Classic in both 2009 and 2013 and had success. The best part is he is just 27 years old giving him plenty of upside. Some scouts think he'll have success in the majors as a reliever rather than a starter. If that is the case this price he would still be a steal. The Twins can afford to give him a shot to start right from the get go and if it doesn't work with his experience as a reliever they can plug him in the bullpen and watch him go. He could even build value and be a very good trade chip for us at some point as well.
4. Twins send OF Josh Willingham, 1B/OF Chris Parmelee, and a prospect to the Rays for SP Jeremy Hellickson.
Both teams help each other out in this deal. Twins have logjam at OF/1B/DH and move 2 of those players and get a starting pitcher, while Rays get 1B and DH and a solid prospect. Hellickson is arbitration eligible for the first time this season. He will be a free agent come 2017. Hellickson was very good his first 2 seasons and struggled last season. Due to his struggles that what allows the Twins to get him for a decent deal. The Rays are looking to move him due to the fact that he is a Boras client and Boras always wants tons of money for his clients. He is from Iowa, and even though most Boras clients don't sign extensions and wait for free agency I think with him playing so close to home he may be willing to extend with us.
5. Twins send OF Aaron Hicks and Pitching prospect J.O. Berrios to Oakland for SP Brett Anderson.
Tha A's would get a guy they could platoon with Crisp and use as a defensive replacement and groom to eventually be Crips's replacement in Hicks and add a guy with a high upside in Berrios. Twins get a guy who could be a front line starter for them for years to come. Anderson is only 25, but has been hampered with injuries recently allowing the Twins to get him for not too much. He is solid at striking guys out, and gets a ton of ground balls. If he can remain healthy he can easily be the number 2 for year to come.
I would be happy to see any of these moves happen next week. It could even be a combo of a signing and trade. The Twins very well could pull off a deal no one is expecting, much like last year where a week after trading Span they moved Revere as well. One guy who keeps getting mentioned in the rumors that I didn't add to this list was Reds SP Homer Bailey. I wouldn't mind the Twins trading for him, but he'll be a free agent after this upcoming season and I'd rather lose a draft pick and flat out sign him, then send the Reds numerous prospects.
Only time will tell if the Twins are still going to be as active as Terry Ryan says they will be, but based on this offseason so far there is no real reason to doubt he won't make another move or two.
Written by Nick Calo, follow me on Twitter for more updates and sports thoughts @PRH1987
Here are 5 moves that Terry Ryan very well could pull of by the end of the Winter Meetings on Thursday:
1. Sign veteran catcher John Buck to a 1 year deal worth 4 million.
Twins are still looking to add another catcher to go along with Pinto at the right price and Buck would be a solid pickup. He's not known for his defense, but should be able to do his job of keeping Pinto fresh and if Pinto struggled or got hurt, Buck could fill in fine.
2. Sign veteran starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo to a 2 year deal worth 20 million with a 3rd year option worth 12 million.
I wasn't a big fan of hearing we were in on Arroyo before we added Nolasco and Hughes. Now that we have added those 2 and Arroyo would be coming in as our number 3 starter, I am all for the Twins adding Arroyo. He doesn't strikeout as many as you would like, but he eats innings and we can't continue to tax our bullpen. His lowest output in innings since 2005 is 199. I can't remember the last time we had a starter hit that total. He like Hughes, would also benefit from playing in a pitcher's ball park. He wouldn't give up as many home runs and allow him to go even deeper into games.
3. Sign Korean pitcher Suk Min Yoon (Pictured Above) to a 3 year deal worth 21 million with a 4th year option worth 10 million.
Yoon has had success as both a starter and reliever. He was injured for part of the season last year and never really got going. The 2 years prior he started and threw over 170 innings with a K per 9 rate of 8.5 and ERA under 4. He pitched for Korea in the World Baseball Classic in both 2009 and 2013 and had success. The best part is he is just 27 years old giving him plenty of upside. Some scouts think he'll have success in the majors as a reliever rather than a starter. If that is the case this price he would still be a steal. The Twins can afford to give him a shot to start right from the get go and if it doesn't work with his experience as a reliever they can plug him in the bullpen and watch him go. He could even build value and be a very good trade chip for us at some point as well.
4. Twins send OF Josh Willingham, 1B/OF Chris Parmelee, and a prospect to the Rays for SP Jeremy Hellickson.
Both teams help each other out in this deal. Twins have logjam at OF/1B/DH and move 2 of those players and get a starting pitcher, while Rays get 1B and DH and a solid prospect. Hellickson is arbitration eligible for the first time this season. He will be a free agent come 2017. Hellickson was very good his first 2 seasons and struggled last season. Due to his struggles that what allows the Twins to get him for a decent deal. The Rays are looking to move him due to the fact that he is a Boras client and Boras always wants tons of money for his clients. He is from Iowa, and even though most Boras clients don't sign extensions and wait for free agency I think with him playing so close to home he may be willing to extend with us.
5. Twins send OF Aaron Hicks and Pitching prospect J.O. Berrios to Oakland for SP Brett Anderson.
Tha A's would get a guy they could platoon with Crisp and use as a defensive replacement and groom to eventually be Crips's replacement in Hicks and add a guy with a high upside in Berrios. Twins get a guy who could be a front line starter for them for years to come. Anderson is only 25, but has been hampered with injuries recently allowing the Twins to get him for not too much. He is solid at striking guys out, and gets a ton of ground balls. If he can remain healthy he can easily be the number 2 for year to come.
I would be happy to see any of these moves happen next week. It could even be a combo of a signing and trade. The Twins very well could pull off a deal no one is expecting, much like last year where a week after trading Span they moved Revere as well. One guy who keeps getting mentioned in the rumors that I didn't add to this list was Reds SP Homer Bailey. I wouldn't mind the Twins trading for him, but he'll be a free agent after this upcoming season and I'd rather lose a draft pick and flat out sign him, then send the Reds numerous prospects.
Only time will tell if the Twins are still going to be as active as Terry Ryan says they will be, but based on this offseason so far there is no real reason to doubt he won't make another move or two.
Written by Nick Calo, follow me on Twitter for more updates and sports thoughts @PRH1987