Pretty good bargain too... So, since Nathan appears locked up, would the Cubs be interested in a Chad Cordero/Felipe Lopez deal with the Nationals?
Pretty good bargain too... So, since Nathan appears locked up, would the Cubs be interested in a Chad Cordero/Felipe Lopez deal with the Nationals?
Love the deal. Nathan is nails late in games (although he did seem to make things interesting last year a lot more, a la Eddie Guardado). The Twins chances of being a factor in the AL Central this year (slim as they are) rely on their bullpen to win games. The pen will be logging some big time innings.
I guess if the wheels fall off by mid season, they could get more for a guy with 3 more years rather than a future free agent (see Santana, Johan).
Funny, because I'd say the Twins (slim) chances of being a factor depend on the starting pitchers getting the game to the relievers giving up as few runs as possible. Get it to the Twins bullpen with a lead and I like our chances.
Yes, the starters are important. I'm just saying that the bullpen will be leaned on even more this year. I think they will be pitching a lot of innings when Boof Bonser putting up about 4 and 2/3 a start. If the young guys are heading into the 6th inning with a lead, Gardy is more likely to call the pen than he would be with proven vets on the hill.
I see what you are saying though. The starters are big question marks and the pen is proven and reliable. Hopefully the offense can put up a big # every game and the starters don't have to be the strength of the team.
Nathan was set to make $6 million this year after having his option picked up. Now he'll earn $11.25 million each of the next four seasons, plus either $12.5 million or a $2 million buyout in 2012. The Twins are essentially guaranteeing Nathan $41 million for his age 34-36 seasons. It's an incredible sum for a "small-market" team to give to a guy who is going to be involved in five percent of the club's innings at best.
I must have missed the part where the Twins are giving a guy who will will end the deal on the wrong side of 35 over 11 million a year is a good deal...
Here's Rotoworld's take...
I guess the whole "over 35" thing doesn't scare me nearly as much when it comes to a closer. Closers just don't have the same wear and tear on their arms as rotational pitchers do. The fact that he's one of the top 3 closers in the game to me makes it a pretty good deal. We were willing to throw $20 million a year for 4 years at Santana, and the guy was only going to pitch once every 5 games. Nathan will have an impact in every game the Twins have a lead going into the 9th, some occasions going into the 8th. I think the only way this is a bad deal is if we can't get him into the game with the lead often enough, because putting Nathan into the game makes the win about as close to a sure thing as there is with any closer in baseball.
I must have missed the part where the Twins are giving a guy who will will end the deal on the wrong side of 35 over 11 million a year is a good deal...
Here's Rotoworld's take...
A hole at the closer's role is a lot easier to fill than one in the starting rotation. Both are awesome players, but there's no way you can compare Santana and Nathan.
Yep, and that's why Johan's getting 25+ million a year and Nathan is getting 11 million. Also having a deal of almost double the length. That sort of difference would be huge in case Delmon Young or Fransisco Liriano come back huge. Johan's deal would probably prevent the Twins from having a deal that goes into FA
A four year deal for a reliever is not a short term deal by any definition. I don't think it was a bad deal, but I don't think it's great either.
God, I'm ready for baseball season to get here.
Who's the closer of the future for the Twins? Neshek?
Speaking of, what's the latest on Liriano? I've heard he's been a question mark ever since his return.
As far as Liriano goes, do you think maybe he's just being a little overly cautious, that he needs to ensure in his mind that he doesn't have to worry about blowing his elbow out again? Once he gets the fear out of his mind, I think he'll be fine. He'll probably never have THAT wicked of a slider ever again (as that was what probably blew his elbow out in the first place), but I think he still has the chance to be a great pitcher.