Twins, Morneau sign one year deal

[Post Count Padder]

Justin Morneau-1B-Twins Feb. 2 - 2:37 pm et

 

 

Twins agreed to terms with first baseman Justin Morneau on a one-year, $4.5 million contract.

 

The reigning AL MVP asked for $5 million and the Twins offered $4 million, so it was an even split down the middle. Morneau is viewed as a candidate for a long-term deal this spring, but the Twins want to get Joe Mauer, Michael Cuddyer and Juan Rincon all taken care of for 2007 first.

Related: Michael Cuddyer

[TruffleShuffle]

I really like the base the Twins have now, but it's gonna be nearly impossible for them to wrap up Santana, Mauer and Morneau to long-term deals. And how do you decide who to let walk? They're all franchise-type players.

[Drew Doughty]

you trade santana some time after liriano comes back. they'll be alright without santana, if Liriano can stay healthy after his return. They might even be okay without Liriano if Garza, Bonser, and Baker pan out.

 

I don't think they'd be alright without either of Morneau or Mauer. Especially Mauer.

[Balsa]

you trade santana some time after liriano comes back. they'll be alright without santana, if Liriano can stay healthy after his return. They might even be okay without Liriano if Garza, Bonser, and Baker pan out.

 

I don't think they'd be alright without either of Morneau or Mauer. Especially Mauer.

Disagree. Trade Liriano.

[Drew Doughty]

you trade santana some time after liriano comes back. they'll be alright without santana, if Liriano can stay healthy after his return. They might even be okay without Liriano if Garza, Bonser, and Baker pan out.

 

I don't think they'd be alright without either of Morneau or Mauer. Especially Mauer.

Disagree. Trade Liriano.

 

you don't have control of Santana and Santana will be paid ridiculous amounts of money and will carry much more value than liriano, esp. right after TJS. Trading Liriano does nothing for the Twins, who are a small-market team and won't be able to pay Santana anyways.

[Backtobanks]

you trade santana some time after liriano comes back. they'll be alright without santana, if Liriano can stay healthy after his return. They might even be okay without Liriano if Garza, Bonser, and Baker pan out.

 

I don't think they'd be alright without either of Morneau or Mauer. Especially Mauer.

 

Can you imagine the package of players (or prospects) you could get for Santana?

[Drew Doughty]

you trade santana some time after liriano comes back. they'll be alright without santana, if Liriano can stay healthy after his return. They might even be okay without Liriano if Garza, Bonser, and Baker pan out.

 

I don't think they'd be alright without either of Morneau or Mauer. Especially Mauer.

 

Can you imagine the package of players (or prospects) you could get for Santana?

 

That's why I'd trade him sometime next off-season or during the 08 season. His return will be amazing. He does have a NTC, though...so that hurts the chance he gets traded. He's still third on the list behind both Mauer and Morneau in terms of getting the player locked up.

[TruffleShuffle]

you trade santana some time after liriano comes back. they'll be alright without santana, if Liriano can stay healthy after his return. They might even be okay without Liriano if Garza, Bonser, and Baker pan out.

 

I don't think they'd be alright without either of Morneau or Mauer. Especially Mauer.

 

Can you imagine the package of players (or prospects) you could get for Santana?

 

That's why I'd trade him sometime next off-season or during the 08 season. His return will be amazing. He does have a NTC, though...so that hurts the chance he gets traded. He's still third on the list behind both Mauer and Morneau in terms of getting the player locked up.

 

I don't know how you trade a guy like that, though. He's durable, very consistent, fairly young, and is the best pitcher in baseball, hands down. Trading him would be the equivalent of the Dodgers trading Koufax in his prime.

[Drew Doughty]

you trade santana some time after liriano comes back. they'll be alright without santana, if Liriano can stay healthy after his return. They might even be okay without Liriano if Garza, Bonser, and Baker pan out.

 

I don't think they'd be alright without either of Morneau or Mauer. Especially Mauer.

 

Can you imagine the package of players (or prospects) you could get for Santana?

 

That's why I'd trade him sometime next off-season or during the 08 season. His return will be amazing. He does have a NTC, though...so that hurts the chance he gets traded. He's still third on the list behind both Mauer and Morneau in terms of getting the player locked up.

 

I don't know how you trade a guy like that, though. He's durable, very consistent, fairly young, and is the best pitcher in baseball, hands down. Trading him would be the equivalent of the Dodgers trading Koufax in his prime.

 

It's either trade him or let him go. It wouldn't make sense for a team like the Twins to lock him up when they have guys like Morneau, Garza, Bonser, Baker, Mauer, etc that are under their control for longer and will also demand lots of money.

[Balsa]

I'm just not as confident that the Twins could survive without Santana.

 

Plus, I'm concerned that Liriano will not be able to recover his '06 form.

[Drew Doughty]

I'm just not as confident that the Twins could survive without Santana.

 

Plus, I'm concerned that Liriano will not be able to recover his '06 form.

 

Okay, then what do you do with Morneau and Mauer?

[TruffleShuffle]

I'm just not as confident that the Twins could survive without Santana.

 

Plus, I'm concerned that Liriano will not be able to recover his '06 form.

 

Okay, then what do you do with Morneau and Mauer?

 

Maybe let one walk if you've got an adequate replacement. I'm just sayin, it's not exactly easy to replace a lights-out pitcher who is a true anchor and stopper.

[Soul]

This must have been some kind of arby deal or something. $4.5mil for the MVP just sounds so cheap.

[Drew Doughty]

I'm just not as confident that the Twins could survive without Santana.

 

Plus, I'm concerned that Liriano will not be able to recover his '06 form.

 

Okay, then what do you do with Morneau and Mauer?

 

Maybe let one walk if you've got an adequate replacement. I'm just sayin, it's not exactly easy to replace a lights-out pitcher who is a true anchor and stopper.

 

It's not easy to replace the best catcher in the game either. Pitchers have more volatile careers, Santana will be more expensive, Santana will be older, and the Twins have better pitching prospects than hitting prospects at this point.

 

Morneau would probably be third in terms of wanting to lock up ASAP though.

[TruffleShuffle]

I'm just not as confident that the Twins could survive without Santana.

 

Plus, I'm concerned that Liriano will not be able to recover his '06 form.

 

Okay, then what do you do with Morneau and Mauer?

 

Maybe let one walk if you've got an adequate replacement. I'm just sayin, it's not exactly easy to replace a lights-out pitcher who is a true anchor and stopper.

 

It's not easy to replace the best catcher in the game either. Pitchers have more volatile careers, Santana will be more expensive, Santana will be older, and the Twins have better pitching prospects than hitting prospects at this point.

 

Yeah, the bottom line is that it sucks to have to let any one of those guys go. They're really good, young and make up a fantastic nucleus to a team. Wish the Twins had a market that could reward them for their fine job in scouting and developing players.

[SouthSideRyan]

I bet the Twins sign all 3 long term. Don't they have new ballpark financing in the works? That and Pohlad is a bajillioinaire.

[Drew Doughty]

I bet the Twins sign all 3 long term. Don't they have new ballpark financing in the works? That and Pohlad is a bajillioinaire.

 

Pohlad has money but he doesn't spend it.

[SouthSideRyan]

I bet the Twins sign all 3 long term. Don't they have new ballpark financing in the works? That and Pohlad is a bajillioinaire.

 

Pohlad has money but he doesn't spend it.

 

The twins haven't really lost anyone of importance because of money issues since Ortiz, and that was more of a he won't stop getting hurt issue than anything else. He also wasn't exactly DAVID ORTIZ at the time.

 

They've extended Radke, Stewart, and Hunter, and were even the recipients of a salary dump this year with Castillo. They will never be big players in the FA market under Pohlad, but they have kept who they've wanted to(possible exception of Latroy Hawkins?)

[Guest]

you trade santana some time after liriano comes back. they'll be alright without santana, if Liriano can stay healthy after his return. They might even be okay without Liriano if Garza, Bonser, and Baker pan out.

 

I don't think they'd be alright without either of Morneau or Mauer. Especially Mauer.

 

Can you imagine the package of players (or prospects) you could get for Santana?

 

Hence the reason why you see Cashman of the Yankees trying to acquire as much young talent as possible through trades. Because, realisitically, there will be what....5 teams that could make a trade for Santana (NYY/NYM/Boston/LAD/LAA, and no I don't see the Cubs jumping in), and if the Yankees want s a LEGIT shot at getting Santana, they need depth, and quality, and not just overhyping their prospects.

[TruffleShuffle]

you trade santana some time after liriano comes back. they'll be alright without santana, if Liriano can stay healthy after his return. They might even be okay without Liriano if Garza, Bonser, and Baker pan out.

 

I don't think they'd be alright without either of Morneau or Mauer. Especially Mauer.

 

Can you imagine the package of players (or prospects) you could get for Santana?

 

Hence the reason why you see Cashman of the Yankees trying to acquire as much young talent as possible through trades. Because, realisitically, there will be what....5 teams that could make a trade for Santana (NYY/NYM/Boston/LAD/LAA, and no I don't see the Cubs jumping in), and if the Yankees want s a LEGIT shot at getting Santana, they need depth, and quality, and not just overhyping their prospects.

 

If Phillip Hughes has another really strong year, he'd be a good starting point. Robby Cano too? But the Yanks' big problem is a lack of major-league ready prospects, which is certainly going to be what a team would demand for an amazing player like Santana.

[CuseCubFan69]

So now we can say that it wasn't McPhails genus behind the Twins winning and developing players? I think the Cubbies got the wrong guy from the Twins.

[NoDak]

This must have been some kind of arby deal or something. $4.5mil for the MVP just sounds so cheap.

 

I'm with you. How do you get a League MVP to sign for $4.5M when we are spending $7M/yr for Jason Marquis. Even if it is arbitration, I think Morneau could have gotten more than that in arbitration.

[TruffleShuffle]

This must have been some kind of arby deal or something. $4.5mil for the MVP just sounds so cheap.

 

I'm with you. How do you get a League MVP to sign for $4.5M when we are spending $7M/yr for Jason Marquis. Even if it is arbitration, I think Morneau could have gotten more than that in arbitration.

 

You're right, he could have gotten $5M. That's what he was asking for from the Twins. He also could have gotten $4M, which was what the Twins were offering. $4.5M is a lot of money for a guy in his first year of arbitration. There is a system, which is why Morneau only asked for $5M, even though based on his performance last year, he deserves three times that amount.