And just like that, the Twins have finally done something. I’m not terribly excited but at least they’ve done something.
JA Happ. Welcome to the club. A capable bottom of the rotation lefty. Now we need one more starter (hopefully an impressive one) and a couple impact relievers, and I’ll be happy.
It’s HAPPening! 
He should be fresh. I think he threw like 2 innings last year.
He should be fresh. I think he threw like 2 innings last year.
Try 50. Started 9 games last year which with a 60 game season is just fine. For reference Cole started 12 and Tanaka 10 for the same staff.
OK, 50 is fine. To be honest he was so high on my radar I didn’t even know who he pitched for last year.
So whats the bill? 2 years & $9 million?
One year deal. Haven’t released the numbers.
Looking like 1 year $8 mil. I’ll be honest, I dug into his numbers a bit expecting to see a lot of things I didn’t want to see… but I didn’t. He had a real good year last year based on several different metrics. Will he win a playoff game? No, probably not. Should he be a decent bottom of the rotation filler for a 162 game season? Most likely, yes.
No if, ands, or buts- have to find that 1/2 to pair with Maeda for any shot at a playoff series.
I just read since 2016 he has had better stats than everybody’s favorite pal Odo. I agree, he will hold down the back of the rotation and hopefully give them a chance to win most days he starts. Which is most likely better than if it were to be Smeltzer or another prospect taking the 5th spot.
$8 million. Thats twice as much as the rest of the bullpen will cost. 
I’m glad nobody has lifted him to “Ace ” status yet.
Looking like 1 year $8 mil. I’ll be honest, I dug into his numbers a bit expecting to see a lot of things I didn’t want to see… but I didn’t. He had a real good year last year based on several different metrics. Will he win a playoff game? No, probably not. Should he be a decent bottom of the rotation filler for a 162 game season? Most likely, yes.
No if, ands, or buts- have to find that 1/2 to pair with Maeda for any shot at a playoff series.
I actually like the 1/2 pair of Maeda and Pineda. Pineda has arguably been their best pitcher when he’s not been suspended. Berrios is still a question mark but if they add another top of the rotation guy, it would be a pretty darn good rotation. Still no true ace, (unless Maeda keeps pitching like last season, or Pineda, or Berrios really turn it on).
Twins sign 38-yr old LHP J.A. Happ on one-year $8mil deal. Coming off decent years with the Blue Jays and Yankees. I see this basically as a replacement of Odorizzi – comparable stats.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>toddrun wrote:</div>
The worst thing professional teams can do is – draft or develop quality talent and let it go with no return.Twins – Rosario, perfect example.
I realize as a small market team the Twins have to depend on young talent, cannot get into the BIG spending for quality veterans, unless their name is Mauer and are home town hero’s. Rosario is my favorite active player, but the Twins should have figured out a trade scenario, he has enough value they could have worked out something. Anything in return is better than nothing.
Many years ago when I figured out the Pohlad’s had no concern for the game of baseball and competitiveness, but rather only cared about the business side and making money $$$$$$$, it made it a lot easier for me to get through the off-seasons. Unfortunately, I also quit supplying their money train and quit going to games.
There was no trade value for Rosario! HE CLEARED WAIVERS for heavens’ sake. That means no one wanted to pick him up for a sack of baseballs.
Eddie was good at hitting 25 HRs a season, missing every cutoff man that ever took the field, and swinging at balls in the dirt. There are 50 outfielders in the league just like him. Glad he’s gone.
I’m a Brewers and Twins fan (yes, both). I too am glad Rosario is gone. He’s not some franchise building block and would just take plate appearances from guys who have a higher ceiling while costing more $.
Jameson Taillon to Yankees
Brad Hand to National.
Joe squat to Twins.
Jameson Taillon to Yankees
Brad Hand to National.
Joe squat to Twins.
The names are getting thinner but there are still a LOT of good arms out there. I’m more worried about our bullpen at this point than our rotation although I’d like to see another rotation arm brought in to give us more depth so we don’t have to use Smeltzer or Thorpedo when someone inevitably goes down with an injury.
Reports today saying Marcus Semien is close to signing a deal. Twins are one of the remaining teams he is serious about. I’m not a huge Polanco fan but Semien doesn’t do much for me either. His defense would certainly be an upgrade, but he’s only had one good season at the plate. It was a great season though.
I’d still rather see that money going to pitching.
**EDIT**
That was fast. Semien signs with the Jays.
Twins follow up by signing Andrelton Simmons. 4 time gold glover which is nice, but not an upgrade over Polanco offensively. 1 year $10 million. I’m assuming he takes over at SS and Polanco is either traded or moves to 2B and they trade Arraez for pitching.
Yeah I think that third base spot will be more of a platoon including Donaldson that Donaldson’s spot. They have already said they will be playing Donaldson sparingly until the home stretch. Simmons is elite in the field no doubt. I’m fine with not having power from him as long as he can keep getting on base. They need guys on base more than anything this season. It was a huge struggle last season.
Twins beat writer says Polanco expected to move to 2B and Arraez to Utility.
Good move. Polanco wouldn’t get the value on the trade block as much as hes worth to the Twins. Sounds like he played injured last year following that ankle surgery he had at the end of 2019. If hes able to rebound back to his ’19 production at any point he’ll be very valuable on that team friendly deal of his.
That’s almost verbatim what Lavelle tweeted last night.
We got our guy, World Series homeboys! 
I posted this on a different Twins thread that got started, but HOF voting results came out yesterday, that’s always fun to talk about
It is a fairly good move all in all. It makes the middle of the field much stronger and the guy can get on base which this team is in desperate need of. At this point they can sign Cruz and maybe a couple low budget bullpen arms and then I think they are done. The rotation is ok. Not great but good. Bullpen has big question marks.
Rosario got $8 million for 1 year from Cleveland.
St. Louis fleeced Colorado for Arenado. 
Once this guy gets fired you will see the rumors of Bauer going to the Angels increase. Even with Cobb they need more pitching.
https://theathletic.com/2360126/2021/02/01/mickey-callaway-mets-lewd-behavior/
They will sign him and make them tolerate each other for the season. IF he signs there. However “Pitching Coach of the Angels” is pretty worthless on an MLB resume.
Angels suspended him pending a MLB investigation. He isn’t coaching anywhere anytime soon.
Angels suspended him pending a MLB investigation. He isn’t coaching anywhere anytime soon.
Really? Didn’t see that today.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Dutchboy wrote:</div>
Angels suspended him pending a MLB investigation. He isn’t coaching anywhere anytime soon.Really? Didn’t see that today.
I left you the link 
Twins reportedly have offers out to Cruz and Marcel Ozuna. I would be happy if either of them signed. Obviously they are only expecting to sign one of the two.
Looks like it’s going to be Cruz. 1 year deal.
I left you the link
I thought it was the same story I had read from a day ago that just said Bauer and Callaway didn’t get along. Clearly it was a different one.
Glad to have Cruz back, he’s been great in the dugout for younger players too. 13 mil for the year ain’t a bad contract for the team either, I thought he could get more.
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