Just minutes after my previous post news broke on Twitter that the Twins have signed free agent pitcher Phil Hughes to a 3 year 24 million dollar deal and are now reportedly very close to a reunion with catcher AJ Pierzynski (pictured above).
Hughes had a down year last year, but his main problems have been at Yankee Stadium. His ERA at home was 6.32 and his road ERA was 3.88 and he gave up nearly 40 less hits on the road in nearly the same amount of innings. He also allowed only 6 home runs away from Yankee Stadium and 18 at Yankee Stadium. He will be a solid starter for us and strikeout way more hitters than anyone else on our staff from last season. The best part of his deal is that we are only giving him 8 mil per year and we have only spent 20 million for this upcoming season between him and Nolasco. The experts said the Twins were going to spend around 40 million for this upcoming season and that means we still have 20 million to spend.
If reports are true and we are close to signing Pierzynski, I am sure it will be for right around 10 million dollars, leaving the Twins still with 10 million to spend in free agency. Now, hopefully they wont be spending that money on a pitcher like Pelfrey. I would rather them add another arm like Arroyo who they have been connected to since the beginning of free agency. Arroyo is reportedly looking for right around 9 to 10 million a year, so he would still be very affordable and help make our rotation that much better. They could also wait and see if the market comes down on a bat like Nelson Cruz as well.
The Twins could also look at the trade market to add more pitching, and could target names such as Homer Bailey and Jeremy Hellickson. Now, I am ok with adding either of these pitchers as long as we don't have to give up the likes of Sano, Buxton, Meyer, Rosario, and Polanco. I'm sure both will ask for at least Rosario, which is why I don't see them adding either guy.
One under the radar trade target the Twins should target is Burch Smith of the Padres. They are looking to add a lefty bat and lefty reliever and we can send them both for Smith who they are willing to part with. He is a power righty, with swing and miss stuff. Twins could send a package of Doumit, Parmelee, Duensing/Thielbar and prospect Vargas, and that should be enough to bring Smith to Target Field. If the Twins can't add a Bailey, Hellickson, or Smith the Twins should target the next Meyer. A guy in High-A with a high ceiling to be a front line starter for the Twins in 2015/2016. The Twins really need to move Doumit and/or Willingham and packaging them with a prospect like Vargas and maybe a reliever they should be able to net us that type of pitcher.
All in all, I am glad to see the Twins are making moves for once. They have had 2 nice additions now and it sounds like Pierzynski could be the 3rd. I would like them to make one more, but whether that helps us this season or next doesn't matter to me. You can never have too many young arms and with the log jam we have at DH/ Corner OF, we should move some of our extra pieces for some more young pitching.
Written by Nick Calo, follow me on Twitter for more updates and sports thoughts @PRH1987
Hughes had a down year last year, but his main problems have been at Yankee Stadium. His ERA at home was 6.32 and his road ERA was 3.88 and he gave up nearly 40 less hits on the road in nearly the same amount of innings. He also allowed only 6 home runs away from Yankee Stadium and 18 at Yankee Stadium. He will be a solid starter for us and strikeout way more hitters than anyone else on our staff from last season. The best part of his deal is that we are only giving him 8 mil per year and we have only spent 20 million for this upcoming season between him and Nolasco. The experts said the Twins were going to spend around 40 million for this upcoming season and that means we still have 20 million to spend.
If reports are true and we are close to signing Pierzynski, I am sure it will be for right around 10 million dollars, leaving the Twins still with 10 million to spend in free agency. Now, hopefully they wont be spending that money on a pitcher like Pelfrey. I would rather them add another arm like Arroyo who they have been connected to since the beginning of free agency. Arroyo is reportedly looking for right around 9 to 10 million a year, so he would still be very affordable and help make our rotation that much better. They could also wait and see if the market comes down on a bat like Nelson Cruz as well.
The Twins could also look at the trade market to add more pitching, and could target names such as Homer Bailey and Jeremy Hellickson. Now, I am ok with adding either of these pitchers as long as we don't have to give up the likes of Sano, Buxton, Meyer, Rosario, and Polanco. I'm sure both will ask for at least Rosario, which is why I don't see them adding either guy.
One under the radar trade target the Twins should target is Burch Smith of the Padres. They are looking to add a lefty bat and lefty reliever and we can send them both for Smith who they are willing to part with. He is a power righty, with swing and miss stuff. Twins could send a package of Doumit, Parmelee, Duensing/Thielbar and prospect Vargas, and that should be enough to bring Smith to Target Field. If the Twins can't add a Bailey, Hellickson, or Smith the Twins should target the next Meyer. A guy in High-A with a high ceiling to be a front line starter for the Twins in 2015/2016. The Twins really need to move Doumit and/or Willingham and packaging them with a prospect like Vargas and maybe a reliever they should be able to net us that type of pitcher.
All in all, I am glad to see the Twins are making moves for once. They have had 2 nice additions now and it sounds like Pierzynski could be the 3rd. I would like them to make one more, but whether that helps us this season or next doesn't matter to me. You can never have too many young arms and with the log jam we have at DH/ Corner OF, we should move some of our extra pieces for some more young pitching.
Written by Nick Calo, follow me on Twitter for more updates and sports thoughts @PRH1987