2018, am I right? What a time to be alive! Literally, though:

Today, my 2nd child (first son) came into the world AND the @Twins signed Lance Lynn to complete easily their best offseason in my 28 years.

What a day. pic.twitter.com/aslSZekv5D

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) March 10, 2018

Aye!!! I’d give Minnesota Sports Fan founder, Eric Strack, kudos for the above accomplishment, but let’s give credit where credit is due. A HUGE shout-out to the mother, baby boy, big sister, Thad Levine, and Derek Falvey.

While Eric and his family welcome their new addition, the rest of us will address the newest member of the Minnesota Twins family:

Source: Lance Lynn and #Twins have agreed to 1-year, $12 million guaranteed deal. @MLB @MLBNetwork

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) March 10, 2018

With the signing of 30 year-old Lance Lynn, Minnesota has put the proverbial bow on an outstanding offseason. The notable acquisitions, which were most recently highlighted by Logan Morrison, now hand the spotlight over to the former St. Louis Cardinal.

Lynn’s Career Stats:

After missing the entire 2016 season (Tommy John), the right-hander bounced back last season with an impressive 3.43 ERA over 186.1 innings. For comparison purposes, Ervin Santana completed his 2017 campaign with a 3.28 ERA over 211.1 innings. While, most recently, the tenured Twin outperformed (barely) the new guy, Lynn’s career ERA (3.38) is better than that of Santana’s (4.02).

Putting the finishing touches on what has been an outstanding offseason for the Twins, who just kept making smart, solid, inexpensive additions. https://t.co/E3NeLWDUZA

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) March 10, 2018

Indications are that Minnesota will begin their 2018 campaign using a four-man rotation. If that’s the case, with Santana out until late April/early May, Lynn will join Jake Odorizzi, José Berríos, and Kyle Gibson as the club’s initial starters.

via GIPHY

Per Mike Berandino of the Pioneer Press, the Twins could offset some of Lynn’s $12 million contract “by cutting ties with veteran right-hander Anibal Sanchez.” Nothing personal, Anibal. Business is business.

While we enthusiastically put on our Paul Molitor hats and salivate over this Minnesota roster, not all fan bases are experiencing the same euphoria:

I like that. While the Vikings got smacked around by a Philadelphia franchise, it’s good to see the Twins (albeit slightly) aggravate the “City of Brotherly Love.” And, what Philly fans will do when upset is scary to think about, given how they celebrate when things go well…

Johnny Minnesota @TheJohnnyMN
Minnesota Sports Fan MinnesotaSportsFan.com

Minnesota baseball fans have been expressing their desire for the Twins to bolster their 2018 pitching rotation. Your wish is the Pohlads’ command.

It has been announced that the Paul Molitor managed ball-club agreed to terms with the soon to be 34 year-old Anibal Sanchez.

Per source w/direct knowledge, non-guaranteed Anibal Sanchez deal w/#mntwins is akin to an arb-eligible contract. Gets $410,000 (30 days’ termination pay) if cut by Day 16 of spring camp, $615,000 (45 days’ term) if cut between Day 17 and Opening Day. https://t.co/edWH4pHFzI

— Mike Berardino (@MikeBerardino) February 17, 2018

If you didn’t catch the sarcasm in the earlier “Your wish is the Pohlad’s command” line, all of the outs we have in this deal should make that attempt at humor evident. My passive-aggressive approach is nothing personal against the former Marlin and Tiger, as a person. No, no no. It’s just that the Venezuelan native’s stats from the last three seasons are, to be politically correct, piss poor:

Over those 415 2/3 innings, Sanchez has registered an ERA of 5.67. For comparison purposes, Detroit’s 5.36 team ERA was the worst in the majors, last year. Our newest acquisition was a member of that very staff. Funny how that works…

To give the right-hander some credit, he was lights-out in 2013. That season, his 2.57 ERA over 182 innings was good enough to finish fourth in the Cy Young voting. If, and that’s a very legitimate if, Sanchez makes the opening day roster, let’s hope he can accumulate an ERA closer to that of five years ago, rather than last year’s 6.41.

The Vikings just leaned on a bargain bin right-hander they acquired during last summer’s offseason. Who’s to say Minnesota’s baseball team won’t have their own version of Case Keenum? Like throwing money on the Twins to win the World Series, my heart is in the right place. With that said, DO NOT hold your breath on that absurd scenario.

Since 2013, Anibal Sanchez has seen a dip in his avg fastball velocity every year.

Was at a career low 91.2mph in 2017.

— Ted Schwerzler (@tlschwerz) February 16, 2018

Falvey and Levine, whether it be via free agent or trade, are very much exploring their options on acquiring a different, higher-valued starting arm. Naturally, that’s a wonderful idea! If they weren’t, I’d be smashing the proverbial panic button.

Since we’re not at that stage, the adjective I’d use surrounding Friday’s signing, would be concerned. The concern being that Lance Lynn and Alex Cobb will get eaten up by other teams, no trade will be made, and Sanchez ends up making the opening day roster. From there, the past-his-prime pitcher, gets absolutely rocked in his team debut. We’re only in the first week of April and Twins Nation goes managerial-style psycho.

Only time will tell. Who knows? Maybe my currently aggressive caffeine levels are causing an overreaction.

On the bright side of things, we are only one move away from having ourselves a new ace:

More like Chris A Chair, amirite? Take a seat. pic.twitter.com/MW5MX0klBw

— Johnny Minnesota (@TheJohnnyMN) February 14, 2018

Johnny Minnesota @TheJohnnyMN
Minnesota Sports Fan MinnesotaSportsFan.com