Lukewarm Stove

Will someone light the ‘hot stove’ already? We’re weeks into the MLB second season and very little has happened to peak anyone’s interest. The Twins have been especially quiet so far, content to sign minor league free agents and players who could essentially be called "roster filler". With little ACTUAL news to discuss, we’ll turn our attention to the rumor mill this week and hope for some real stories to talk about next week.

Recent reports have the Twins front office meeting with Francisco Liriano’s agent some time next week during the winter meetings. The Twins are obviously exploring every avenue to rebuild their pitching staff, but you have to wonder about looking into Franky AGAIN. After last season’s collapse, many fans were happy to see Liriano leave. With the White Sox during the second half of the season, Liriano pitched almost as poorly as he had been with the Twins. (3-2, 5.40 ERA, 12 games, 56 innings, 34 ER, 58 SO with the White Sox vs 3-10, 5.31 ERA, 22 games, 100 innings, 59 ER, 109 SO with the Twins).

Liriano’s career ERA now sits at 4.40. While he continues to be a solid strikeout pitcher, he tends to catch too much of the plate and gets knocked around for a big inning a little bit too often. He’s worth a flier if you’re looking for a #5 starter with high upside, but the Twins have too many needs in their rotation for another "reclamation" project with Liriano.

　

The Twins have been linked as the front runners to sign free agent pitcher Brett Meyers. The 32 year old right hander was a mid season acquisition by the White Sox from the Astros. Meyers had been working out of the bullpen for Chicago and Houston over the past two seasons, but was a starter in 2010 and & 2011 for the Astros, racking up over 200 innings pitched in each season. Meyers is rumored to be interested in returning to a starting role, which would explain why the Twins are a front runner to sign him.

Meyers’ career ERA sits at 4.20, but his past few seasons have seen that number float in the mid 3’s. Meyers is also a strikeout pitcher, who has averaged between 160-180 strikeouts per season that he starts. Meyers could benefit from pitching ½ of his games at the spacious Target Field after pitching in the launch pad that was US Cellular & Minute Maid over the past three seasons.

Meyers would become what the Twins wanted Carl Pavano to be last season; an innings eating workhorse who could take the mound every fifth day, keep the game close and keep the bullpen fresh. He’s not a long term solution for the pitching problems the Twins have, but he could be a very suitable 2 to 3 year fill in.

　

The Twins are using this offseason to evaluate how they want to handle Kyle Gibson, who is coming off of Tommy John surgery in 2011. Gibson pitched in the Arizona Fall League this year, managing a respectable 3-2 record with a 5.40 ERA. Gibson’s last few starts in the Fall League were shaky, which boosted his ending ERA. Gibson’s raw stuff is impressive, however, with many scouts calling him a great "#2 starter on a championship team" which would instantly make him an ace for the Twins. Typically, pitchers coming back from Tommy John surgery have to be held to an innings limit to help prevent a return of any issues. The Twins are reportedly looking at how the Braves handed Kris Medlen’s return from TJ surgery in the 2012 season and using that as a model.

This report sort of tips the Twins hand as far as their rotation is concerned for next season. If they’re already looking at how to manage Gibson in the rotation that means they are likely considering Gibson as a player in said rotation for 2013. They might have to have a six man rotation in order to allow Gibson to skip a start here and there throughout the season, but it’s a good indicator of Gibson’s chances at the opening day roster that the Twins are looking at how they want to slot him in a rotation.

　

Denard Span has long been the player listed in trade talk for the Twins this offseason. Recent speculation has the Twins’ center fielder on the forefront of trade discussions once again – this time a trade partner has been found. The Atlanta Braves, who are desperate for CF help but do not want to get into the bidding wars for players like BJ Upton and Josh Hamilton, are the perfect fit for a player like Span. Span’s team friendly contract has long been his biggest plus in trade discussions and the Braves are loaded with young, major league ready pitching – something the Twins obviously covet.

Trade talks have centered around a Span for Tommy Hanson + prospects deal. Hanson has been one of the better pitchers in the Braves system of the past few years but is coming off of a down year in 2012. Hanson has typically shown good control, kept his ERA in the low to mid 3 range and has racked up solid strikeout numbers each season.

A Hanson for Span deal straight up would not suit the Twins, however, so the Braves are likely to have to kick in a prospect or two. Randall Delgado would fit the bill perfectly in this trade. He’s a prospect who is Major League ready and has shown great potential. The Twins would be able to place him in a starting role in 2013 and have a young arm in their rotation to build around for the future.

　

The San Francisco Giants are reportedly ready to cut loose bearded closer Brian Wilson. Wilson was due to make $6.85 million in 2013 but the Giants reportedly have no interest in signing their former closer to such a deal one year after Tommy John surgery. Wilson will reportedly be released on Friday.

The Twins would be wise to take a look at Wilson. They already have a closer established in Glen Perkins and a solid set-up man in Jared Burton, but if the past few championship teams have proven anything it’s that a team simply cannot have too many bullpen arms. Wilson could be a great compliment alongside Burton and Perkins and instantly turn a solid bullpen into a fearsome bullpen. At $5-$6 million Wilson would be a relatively affordable threat to stabilize the back end of the ‘pen.

So, let’s pretend the rumors all shake out like we just talked about. That would put the Twins rotation for 2013 like this:

Scott Diamond


Tommy Hanson


Randall Delgado


Brett Meyers


Kyle Gibson


Francisco Liriano / Liam Hendriks / Cole DeVries (On a ‘timeshare’ with Gibson)

Scott Diamond as an "ace" is not exactly a comforting thought, but the Twins are not likely to get an ace through the trade market and are unwilling to spend the money necessary to sign one on the free agent market. Essentially they would have built a rotation of #3 starters, which is certainly the Twins’ MO. All in all, that rotation would not be a bad one. With a potent offense like the Twins rolled out last season, the team should see their win totals increase significantly.