Twins sign Morneau, Cuddyer to multiyear deals

Dormeezy · 01-25-2008, 09:23 PM

ESPN - Morneau signs six-year, $80M extension; Cuddyer gets $24M for three years - MLB

As a Twins fan, this is exciting news. We just locked up the heart of the order for years to come. Add in Delmon Young, and watch out for this team.

Iastfan112 · 01-25-2008, 09:54 PM

You forget the club option for 10.5 million for a forth year with Cuddyer.

MNclone · 01-25-2008, 09:59 PM

This is good for the twins. I like it!

jdoggivjc · 01-25-2008, 10:02 PM

Maybe the Twins won't be headed the way of the Pirates after all...

Iastfan112 · 01-25-2008, 10:13 PM

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

Maybe the Twins won't be headed the way of the Pirates after all...

Well these players with with the Twins for a few years regardless, they had a couple years of arby left, this just buys that out and tacks a few FA years on. I like the Morneau deal but the Cuddy one I'm less sure of. If he performs as well or better than 2006 then its a good/possibly great deal, if its more like 2007 then its not so hot.

Jables22 · 01-25-2008, 10:38 PM

Originally Posted by Iastfan112

Well these players with with the Twins for a few years regardless, they had a couple years of arby left, this just buys that out and tacks a few FA years on. I like the Morneau deal but the Cuddy one I'm less sure of. If he performs as well or better than 2006 then its a good/possibly great deal, if its more like 2007 then its not so hot.

Maybe Johan will see Mr. Burns (Pohlad) is willing to spend a little money and knock a few years off of his contract demands....... I can dream can't I?

Dormeezy · 01-25-2008, 11:20 PM

Originally Posted by Jables22

Maybe Johan will see Mr. Burns (Pohlad) is willing to spend a little money and knock a few years off of his contract demands....... I can dream can't I?

That's what I'm hoping for

cybsball20 · 01-25-2008, 11:26 PM

Even if the Twins ARE able to come up with the money to sign Johan I don't think it would be a good move. If they make a smart move and do it before Spring Training then they could possibly trade one Cy Young for two future all stars and another starter. I think I would take my chances dealing him...

cycfan1 · 01-25-2008, 11:34 PM

I thought I heard they recently offered him 4/80. That would be a decent deal, but now where near what could be expected on open market. Its about time he opens his checkbook, he has the money plus they are still receiving revenue sharing from the league. While owners such as Stienbrenner (sp) get a bad rap for overspending, at least they are using their resources for the better of the team rather than keeping it for themselves.

kurimski · 01-25-2008, 11:34 PM

Unfortunately Santana is as good as gone. He wasn't at the Twins banquet award dinner the last night and he's not even at Twinsfest this weekend. In fact the Twins also have to promotional videos on the Twins Caravan that they do every year, 1 with Santana and 1 without him in the video just in case he is traded. I highly doubt he ever wears a Twins uniform again and it's a shame too. On one hand I wish Pohlad would just give him what he wants but on the other hand how much money does a person really need to play baseball. It was fun watching Santana in a Twins uniform while it lasted.

Iastfan112 · 01-26-2008, 07:36 PM

Originally Posted by cybsball20

Even if the Twins ARE able to come up with the money to sign Johan I don't think it would be a good move. If they make a smart move and do it before Spring Training then they could possibly trade one Cy Young for two future all stars and another starter. I think I would take my chances dealing him...

I don't see any of the deals being offered being that much of a lock, the Boston one would get you a solid pitcher(Jon Lester), a good outfielder(Ellsbury) and a pretty decent looking MI prospect(Lowrie). None of them are bad players but I doubt that any of them will be superstars, and if I'm trading Santana I want to get at least one possible superstar. The Yankees deal offers that possibility with Hughes but lacks anything else of tons of value in addition. Mets are intriguing if the Twins don't feel the need to compete this year because they have some high ceiling guys that are a couple years away. Lots of risk there too. You don't trade the best left hander since Sandy Koufax for just good players that the Twins should be able to homegrow in a few years anyways.

Ficklone02 · 01-26-2008, 07:45 PM

The Twins predicament is that it doesn't appear they have serious intentions to sign Santana before his contract is up, and that lessens the value they can get for him since other teams know they don't want to just lose him and getting nothing in return. Its like his value goes down each day he is still considered Twins property.

The one thing that really excites me this offseason, is the trade principally of Garza for Young. Not only do we get a great hitter/athlete, but this seems to signal that the Twins feel good about the health of Liriano if they're willing to deal a good young pitcher.

Iastfan112 · 01-26-2008, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by Ficklone02

The Twins predicament is that it doesn't appear they have serious intentions to sign Santana before his contract is up, and that lessens the value they can get for him since other teams know they don't want to just lose him and getting nothing in return. Its like his value goes down each day he is still considered Twins property.

The one thing that really excites me this offseason, is the trade principally of Garza for Young. Not only do we get a great hitter/athlete, but this seems to signal that the Twins feel good about the health of Liriano if they're willing to deal a good young pitcher.

Or they felt that one of Baker, Slowey, Bonser, Perkins, Blackburn, Duensing can step in and fill the spot even if Liriano isn't ready to go, if theres anything the Twins have a lot of talent in its pitching. The Twins have lots of pitching pretty much at all levels but are weak for position players other than at the low levels.

Ficklone02 · 01-26-2008, 08:06 PM

Originally Posted by Iastfan112

Or they felt that one of Baker, Slowey, Bonser, Perkins, Blackburn, Duensing can step in and fill the spot even if Liriano isn't ready to go, if theres anything the Twins have a lot of talent in its pitching. The Twins have lots of pitching pretty much at all levels but are weak for position players other than at the low levels.

Blackburn/Duensing....I've not heard of these guys. 3A last year? I feel pretty good about Baker, I think Bonser will be alright, but I'm pretty iffy on Slowey. I guess either way we will have Liriano/Santana at the top of the staff, or some really good prospects in his place. Whatever we do though, Detroit will be really formidable.

Iastfan112 · 01-26-2008, 10:49 PM

Blackburn is the best Twin prospect according to BA, other ranking places vary widely. Overall he has a solid track record but last year was absolutely outstanding. I'm quite confident he'll make the Twins out of spring training, it could be in a bullpen role though. For pitching style he's similar in repertoire to Carlos Silva and similarly he won't have sexy strike out totals, it just comes with the territory of sinkerball pitchers. Duensing I know less about but is another good candidate to compete for a spot, a friend I have who goes to a bunch of minor league games for them down in Florida liked Duensing better than Blackburn at that level.

Baker is solid and whatever the case is our 2/3. Bonser I'm feeling better about because another forum I'm a part of reports and a couple have seen that Bonser has lost some serious weight(30 or 40 lbs) which should help. Slowey looked good in September but I get why your wary, he was pretty bad overall the first time he was up.

Detroit is being hyped up too much, the competition will come for first will come more from Cleveland. If you look at Detroits both lineup especially its old, most the players are over 32 and thus should be in decline. So for most them factor in what should be small declines and probably greater ones for Maggs and Polanco both who had career years. With the addition of Cabrera it should be similar to last years production though. The pitching and depth is where they shot themselves, Zumaya is already out with injury, Rodgers and Jones are both ancient and the depth they had is gone.
All those things make me think that Cleveland should be the favorite to win the Central. Then I would say Detroit, Minnesota(both being quite close in wins), step down Chicago and Kansas City(again close in wins).