BREAKING: #Cubs in agreement with free-agent closer Craig Kimbrel, pending physical, sources tell The Athletic.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) June 6, 2019

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It will be interesting to see which direction the Twins go in trying to fix the bullpen from here… at least Eric doesn’t seem worried, I guess:

Falvine heading to the trade market like: https://t.co/D2LNwXQ3OY pic.twitter.com/15XLZuW5BS

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) June 6, 2019

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Brian Heintz | Minnesota Sports Fan

…but that’s where we are nonetheless. And, happy to be here.

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But, what now? We are in uncharted territory for even the best Twins’ teams of our past. The Twins don’t need any help in the lineup. Once healthy, they’ll be sending bona fide MLB hitters down to AAA because there won’t be any room.

However, pitching needs (maybe) an upgrade?

Our new front office might not have expected to be in this position quite so soon… but now that they are, they look like they know exactly what they’re doing (unlike some front offices of our past).

Here is what Jayson Stark (The Athletic) wrote earlier this weekend about how aggressive the Twins are right now, in an effort to get high-end pitching help:

Two different execs nominated the Twins so vociferously, let’s start with them. Could they sign Craig Kimbrel before they even plow into their midseason trade shopping? “I can guarantee he’s on their shopping list,” one AL exec said. But even if the Twins don’t get that deal done, rival teams expect them to hit the accelerator in the next few weeks to add pitching any way they can. “To say they’ll be active might be an understatement,” another exec said. “No matter where they are in the standings, they’re always in very aggressive midseason mode. Whether they have a chance to win or not, they use that period.”

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The Twins actually being reported as the feistiest and most active OF ALL TEAMS that are in buy-mode… let that sink in.

There are reports coming out of everywhere that they are seriously in on both Craig Kimbrel and Dallas Keuchel, now that draft pick compensation will be out of the picture and (hopefully) the price (and years) have gone down…

Alright, for those who are stat hunting or combing through the MLB team pitching rankings, a need to upgrade the Twins pitching staff might be a hard sell. However, if you know the past of the pitchers throughout this team (who are currently putting up career-high numbers), you know better than to buy in on them this high. 

While I believe that Wes Johnson really has made all of our staff better and that it is showing on a nightly basis, entering the playoffs with this unknown commodity of a pitching staff, would be a terrible fucking idea. Great pitching is what wins World Series. Ask Jack Morris. 

And that’s what we have here. A team that can make a World Series run with some high-end help in both the rotation and bullpen.

I know it makes sense for the Twins to really pull the trigger on the type of move we’ve NEVER seen from them before, and I’ve been calling for it all season long… but it’s still hard to believe this is real life…

The Twins… buyers… the BIGGEST buyers on the market…

I’m going to need a place to put this for the foreseeable future… it might become a problem with this front office around…

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Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

The first need was a shutdown starter, to compliment Jose Berrios. But, it looks like that man might have already been in our clubhouse. Is a new and improved Jake Odorizzi good enough for you? Maybe a dominant lefty like Martin Perez? Well, if you’ve been watching this team play (like a good little boy/girl), your answers might sound something like “fuck yes” or “damn straight”.

My second front office mission back then, and something that still needs to be accomplished now, was finding a lights out bullpen guy. Maybe one who throws straight heat, has a godly beard, and says “eat shit” to the Red Sox. Maybe… Craig Kimbrel?

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Mainly because of their high dollar price tags and draft pick compensation (which is still mind boggling to me but it is what it is), Kimbrel and Dallas Keuchel have remained free agents all season long, as we now pass the 1/3 mark of the regular season. But come Monday morning, teams no longer have to worry about giving up a compensation draft pick to sign these guys. When Monday rolls around, expect both of these fine young gentlemen to be signed faster than @b_heintzz rushing to defend Kirk Cousins when someone yells “overpaid”.

And god damnit, the Twins better be buyers.

Kimbrel makes more sense for the Twins than Keuchel (SP). The starting rotation is fairly set for the Tatersquad. Berrios/Odorizzi/Perez/Gibson/Pineda Smeltzer have pitched the twins into a top 5 AL pitching staff. There’s no need to mess with greatness. The bullpen however, could use some help. Although guys like Parker, Harper, and Rogers have all pitched well this year, you can never have too many strong arms in the pen. It’s tough to imagine one of those 3 relievers will hold up night after night against the best lineups in baseball, come October.

That’s where Kimbrel comes in, a hard throwing bearded ginger who has been arguably the best closer of his generation. His career numbers speak for themselves. Money is not an issue for the Pohlad family, so whatever he wants, give it to him. Minnesota needs to add a strong bullpen arm and it’s better to buy now with Kimbrel, when we won’t have to give anything up in return, than to trade away our farm system at the trade deadline. I’m not inside his head, and there hasn’t been many reports of where he desires to go, but wouldn’t you want to join the team with the best record in baseball?

Levine and company, prove to us that you are all in and spend that fucking money… so we can party like its 1991.

“I think the Twins should try to go get Kimbrel now.”@DTrainMLB says Minnesota adding Craig Kimbrel would show the fans that the team is aiming for a deep postseason run. pic.twitter.com/hnLYuF1wRa

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 29, 2019

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Clem Clemans | Minnesota Sports Fan

Spring Training is underway and the Minnesota Twins look up at the Cleveland Indians. But, the Twins haven’t been standing around. Here’s what the Twins’ offseason looks like so far:

• Added notable free agents Nelson Cruz, Jonathan Schoop, CJ Cron, and most recently Marwin Gonzalez.
• Locked up young players Max Kepler and Jorge Polanco to smart long term extensions.
• Basically did nothing with the pitching staff except for Martin Perez and Blake Parker…yet:

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Derek Falvey stopped short of fully saying that the #MNTwins are done adding, but he did say that barring something unexpected, he anticipates that the 25-man roster will be selected from guys already in camp.

— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) February 25, 2019

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I’m not saying… but I’m just saying… that IF I were still shopping around the Free Agent market during Spring Training…. i PROBABLY wouldn’t make comments in the media that would get my current players (and 25-man roster) worried about a big shake-up… If Dallas Kuechel changed his willingness to sign a short-term deal, would that be considered “something unexpected”? Again, I’m not saying… but I’m just saying…

Well, just in case… let’s take a look at what’s available. There are a few intriguing possibilities:

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Dallas Keuchel

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Dallas Keuchel (@kidkeuchy) on his free agent situation: “I'm calm & collected outside the field. So I really don't hit the panic button at all. I'm worried about getting myself ready..At the same time I'd like to get out there & meet new teammates or meet old teammates.” pic.twitter.com/JdOo00Wa7q

— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) February 25, 2019

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Dallas Keuchel could help many teams but his market has been bone-dry. I’m shocked that the crafty lefty hasn’t seen an offer similar to what the Twins did last year with Lance Lynn. I know, I know… that didn’t work out but that isn’t to say that Keuchel wouldn’t. Time is running out because whoever doesn’t end up with Bryce Harper will probably get Keuchel.

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The fact that Dallas Keuchel is still not on a team is honstly more ridiculous than than the fact that Bryce Harper is not, someone give him five years and $100 million, you’ll get your money’s worth.

— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) February 24, 2019

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Craig Kimbrel

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According to multiple GMs Craig Kimbrel asking price has still not come down and sources close to Kimbrel think he will consider sitting out the year if he doesn’t get close to his perceived value.

— Jim Bowden (@JimBowdenGM) February 23, 2019

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Kimbrel is apparently asking for a lot. So much, that he is apparently willing to sit out 2019 if he doesn’t get an offer the $6 year, $100 million contract offer he wants. I’ve already pleaded my case for the Twins to offer him an overpaid 1 year deal, for $21ish million and I still firmly believe they should do so. The longer we drag out this free agency thing, the better an offer like that looks. Yes, there are risks but what do you have to lose? Shorten the game and win the damn division.

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I never seriously considered Craig Kimbrel an option for the Twins because he was said to be seeking a six-year deal. However, if he's now available for, say, a three-year deal, they should absolutely be interested. I ranked Kimbrel as the #8 free agent. https://t.co/UoG8N1tdoN pic.twitter.com/X16TSZT8b9

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) February 1, 2019

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Let’s take a current stock of the rest of the division:

• Kansas City Royals suck
• Chicago White Sox are young and suck
• Detroit Tigers suck
• Cleveland Indians have peaked and is going to start to regress

The Twins have to be waiting for something big to happen don’t they? Or am I falling for the trap? I’m falling for the trap right? Who the hell knows. I just know that this roster is REALLY close to being REALLY good and with this type of talent still on the FA shelves…. you don’t close that door early.

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Seth Toupal @SethToups
MinnesotaSportsFan.com

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