Twins Off-Season

[catman]

I don't disagree with you here. I'd like to see 5 years, $39-43M on the table, especially with the revenue bump they will get from the new ballpark.
At least they didn't have to go through arbitration with him. That can sometimes cause really hard feelings between the parties. If he has a good season, he will demand more than the contract I've suggested, but that is the risk the Twins take by not doing the deal they need to do right now. Perhaps they are going to up the offer to Santana?

[henks]

If they short-changed Morneau to up the offer to Johan, they were smart in doing so. If Johan leaves, then they can use the money to offer Morneau, Cuddyer, and Mauer long term deals that would make it worth their stay in Minnesota. The only disadvantage about the new stadium is less seating capacity, but it's not like they were selling out the Dome every night anyway.

[catman]

Perhaps the Pohlads can sell the naming rights for the new stadium to pay part of Johan's salary?

[henks]

That wouldn't be a bad idea. Being how cheap Pohlad is, I'm sure he'll do something to that extent.

[BuckFoston]

Pohlad spending more money...

Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau avoided arbitration Friday by agreeing to a $7.4 million, one-year contract.

The Twins also reached one-year deals with reliever Juan Rincon ($2,475,000) on Friday and outfielder-designated hitter Jason Kubel ($1.3 million) late Thursday.

Right fielder Michael Cuddyer, who made $3.75 million last season, and right-handed reliever Matt Guerrier, who made $407,500 last season, are Minnesota's two remaining arbitration-eligible players. Arbitration hearings are held throughout February, but teams typically reach agreements with players before that point.

Cuddyer asked for $6.2 million for 2008, and the Twins offered $4.7 million. Guerrier asked for $1.15 million, and the Twins offered $750,000.

Morneau, the American League's Most Valuable Player in 2006, received a raise of nearly $3 million from the $4.5 million he made last year while hitting .271 with 31 home runs and 111 RBIs.

Though he matched his MVP season in power, he dropped 50 points on his average. He's not eligible for free agency until after the 2010 season.

Morneau, Twins avoid arbitration with $7.4 million, 1-year deal - MLB - Yahoo! Sports

[henks]

I feel like the Twins can do a better offer than that to Cuddyer. We are going to need someone with some experience in the outfield, plus he has an absolute cannon of an arm.

[catman]

I think Cuddyer will end up signing for about $5.5M for 2008 and Guerrier will get about $1M. Both are valuable players to the team, and I would like to see both signed to longer term contracts -- 3-5 years. I could see Guerrier signing 3 years, $3M. Cuddyer would be more like 5 years, $30M.

[henks]

Yeah, being as Pohlad is such a cheap-@$$, he probably shortchanged the offer just to see if they would take it. Hopefully GM Smith realizes how important these two guys are to the team, and tries to talk some sense into the owner.

[henks]

YEAH!!!

No details yet, but here's the link.

Cuddyer and Morneau agree to long-term deals.

Link: kare11.com :: KARE 11 TV - Cuddyer and Morneau reach multi-year contract agreements

[love_that_reefer]

Twins agreed to terms with first baseman Justin Morneau on a six-year, $80 million contract.
The deal supersedes the one-year, $7.4 million agreement the two teams had last week. Morneau probably would have made about $24 million-$25 million in his last two years of arbitration, so the Twins are buying out his first three years of free agency for right around $48 million. There's less risk involved in this deal than there would have been with Johan Santana. Still, if the Twins could only keep one, it would have made more sense to go to $120 million for six years for Santana first.

Twins signed outfielder Michael Cuddyer to a three-year contract with a club option for 2011.
Cuddyer gets a $2.75 million signing bonus, $5 million this year, $6.75 million in 2009 and $8.5 million in 2010. Minnesota has a $10.5 million club option for 2011 with a $1 million buyout. The option would buy out his second year of free agency. Cuddyer looked more like a complimentary piece than a building block last year, and this is a pretty hefty commitment for the Twins to be making to someone who doesn't qualify as a star. They might have been better off trading Cuddyer this summer.

Great to see them lock up Morneau. Cuddyer is a nice pice of the puzzle to have as well. Good job in a confusing offseason.

[brewersfan19]

I wonder if the Twins saved some for, what's that guy's name, oh yeah, Johan Santana.

[mntwinsfan]

Good to see the deals get done! Morneau without question would have been a prized free agent if he would have got that far. 15 million a year average is a cheap contract. Good job Twins on getting this done.

[catman]

I was in the Twin Cities this week and saw the news conferences. Thursday, Michael Cuddyer introduced Delmon Young and some of the other guys to the media. After his introduction, he was asked about his contract situation (Matt Guerrier had just signed leaving him the only arbitration eligible player left) and he said things were moving, but he had not heard anything specific. Friday, Morneau and Cuddyer were interviewed at Twinsfest and Cuddyer said Morneau had called him to congratulate him on his contract -- he said he still hadn't heard from his agent about it. Interesting way to find out you've just become wealthy, IMO.
I like Cuddyer's deal -- 3 years with an option for a 4th -- $23M guaranteed with a $1M buyout or $10.5 option season, depending on what the Twins want to do with him.
As has been said, Morneau's deal is very nice -- $80M over 6 years (the longest and largest contract the Twins have ever done). I guess the ball he signed for me when he was playing in the Quad Cities is worth some money now.
Now onto Johan's deal and lets keep this moving forward.

[brewersfan19]

Congrats Twins' fans on the 2 big signings this week!!!!

[henks]

More news.

Twins sign 16 including Liriano, Bonser


Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - The Minnesota Twins signed 16 players Wednesday, including starting pitchers Francisco Liriano and Boof Bonser.
Liriano missed the entire 2007 season after undergoing reconstructive left elbow surgery.
In 28 games during the 2006 season, Liriano was one of the AL's best pitchers, posting a record of 12-3 with a 2.16 earned run average. His move into the starting rotation that season helped the Twins turn their season around and capture the AL Central title.
Bonser was 8-12 with a 5.10 ERA last season in 31 games.
The promising right-hander is 15-18 with a 4.77 ERA in two big league seasons with the Twins. Minnesota also agreed to terms with pitchers Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn, Carmen Cali, Julio DePaula, Pat Neshek, Glen Perkins, Kevin Slowey and Oswaldo Sosa; catcher Jose Morales; infielders Brian Buscher, Alexi Casilla and Brendan Harris and outfielders Carlos Gomez and Garrett Jones.

Courtesy of The Sports Network.com