Twins, Nathan Agree to 3-Year Extension (1 Viewer)

[whitem0nkey]

AP link

The financial terms of the deal were not immediately released, although it is believed to be worth between $11-$12 million per year.

I think that would be 1/6th of the payroll on Nathan

 

[MrPhoenix]

Pat Neshek owners everywhere are pissed.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

####### #### ####!

 

[MAC_32]

This Tigers homer is happy. Nice to see the division competition is spending their $ on the bullpen, first the White Sox, now the Twinkies. Less resources to use to fill positions that are typically harder to fill. Tigers and Indians should continue to rock the Central for the next few years at minimum.

 

[MAC_32]

Pat Neshek owners everywhere are pissed.

They were going to be more upset when Nathan was traded, Neshek was kept in the 8th, and Guerrier became the closer.

 

[Vikes Fan]

This Tigers homer is happy. Nice to see the division competition is spending their $ on the bullpen, first the White Sox, now the Twinkies. Less resources to use to fill positions that are typically harder to fill. Tigers and Indians should continue to rock the Central for the next few years at minimum.

This Twins fan is glad they spent the money on Nathan! He is a solid closer. As for your comment that the division should belong to the Tigers and Indians for the next few years, I disagree with. The rotation the Twins are going to be developing will be very strong in the near future. Who knows about Liriano, but Baker has the makings of a solid starter. Kevin Slowey looks like a Brad Radke type of control guy and the team sees great things from prospects like Blackburn, Perkins, Bonzer, and Bass. Now with all of these young arms, they are bound to hit on some of them. Locking up Nathan ensures that we keep one of the best bullpens in baseball in tact, and now the prospects surrounding our offense look better. I think the Twins will be back in contention in the next two years.

 

[the moops]

What the hell are the Twins doing?

They trade Santana for a collection of prospects that are a couple of years away, but sign a freakin closer fro 12 million a year for 3 years?

Teams are dumb. It is nearly impossible to compete and rebuild simultaneously. Yet, they all try. Dumb.

But, as a Minneapolis resident, at least I have a great closer to watch.

 

[MAC_32]

This Tigers homer is happy. Nice to see the division competition is spending their $ on the bullpen, first the White Sox, now the Twinkies. Less resources to use to fill positions that are typically harder to fill. Tigers and Indians should continue to rock the Central for the next few years at minimum.

This Twins fan is glad they spent the money on Nathan! He is a solid closer. As for your comment that the division should belong to the Tigers and Indians for the next few years, I disagree with. The rotation the Twins are going to be developing will be very strong in the near future. Who knows about Liriano, but Baker has the makings of a solid starter. Kevin Slowey looks like a Brad Radke type of control guy and the team sees great things from prospects like Blackburn, Perkins, Bonzer, and Bass. Now with all of these young arms, they are bound to hit on some of them. Locking up Nathan ensures that we keep one of the best bullpens in baseball in tact, and now the prospects surrounding our offense look better. I think the Twins will be back in contention in the next two years.

They'd have been better off using the Nathan $ to sign Johan long term and finding a cheap closer alternative a la Troy Percival than spending their $ on Nathan and finding a cheap alternative ace in a Livian Hernandez. On top of all that they sold Johan for less than market value. All sorts of dumb going on in Minny, I love it.

 

[whitem0nkey]

This Tigers homer is happy. Nice to see the division competition is spending their $ on the bullpen, first the White Sox, now the Twinkies

They'd have been better off using the Nathan $ to sign Johan long term and finding a cheap closer alternative a la Troy Percival than spending their $ on Nathan and finding a cheap alternative ace in a Livian Hernandez. On top of all that they sold Johan for less than market value. All sorts of dumb going on in Minny, I love it.

Nathan is not making 22M a year like Santana. Nathan will be making 11.75 a year. so no you cant use that money, its not enough.I agree a bit with the twin fan, they always are able to get good prospects and develop them well. sure they are not the favorite going in but the twins have proved that they can develop talent.and about that sox comment. the sox were wise with addressing the bullpen. that was the biggest weakness of that team last year. and they addressed it by spending money there in the off-season. I watch a lot of sox games, and this was one of the worst bullpens in 30 or 40 years.

 

[Gopher State]

This Tigers homer is happy. Nice to see the division competition is spending their $ on the bullpen, first the White Sox, now the Twinkies. Less resources to use to fill positions that are typically harder to fill. Tigers and Indians should continue to rock the Central for the next few years at minimum.

I have a feeling that if Nathan would of been a free agent the Tigers, like several other teams would of put up big$$$$$$ for him.Put Nathan on the Tigers and they would be a lock for the WS (Tigers will get to the WS on their bats, not on their bull pen, and I agree they(Tigers) have a good chance at getting their)The Nathan deal allows him to pick three teams that he can't be traded to, so I can still see a trade coming about.I agree the next two years belong to Tigers and Indians, but in 2010 with a new ball park, some experience under the Twins young pitchers belts, and with the Twins having some extra money from the new ball park revenue to spend on free agents, it could be different.In the mean time, us Twins fans will have to hope Nathan has a chance to save some games for the young arms.

 

[Tough As Nails]

This Tigers homer is happy. Nice to see the division competition is spending their $ on the bullpen, first the White Sox, now the Twinkies. Less resources to use to fill positions that are typically harder to fill. Tigers and Indians should continue to rock the Central for the next few years at minimum.

I have a feeling that if Nathan would of been a free agent the Tigers, like several other teams would of put up big$$$$$$ for him.Put Nathan on the Tigers and they would be a lock for the WS (Tigers will get to the WS on their bats, not on their bull pen, and I agree they(Tigers) have a good chance at getting their)

The Nathan deal allows him to pick three teams that he can't be traded to, so I can still see a trade coming about.

I agree the next two years belong to Tigers and Indians, but in 2010 with a new ball park, some experience under the Twins young pitchers belts, and with the Twins having some extra money from the new ball park revenue to spend on free agents, it could be different.

In the mean time, us Twins fans will have to hope Nathan has a chance to save some games for the young arms.

I think this is a big part of the deal. Nathan getting moved at the deadline would not be a surprise at all. The Twins can get a little bit more for him if he's signed than if he was a 'rent-a-player' at the end of the season. Best case for the Twins is that a team is desperate for a closer and overpays with prospects. Worst case is the Twins keep Nathan at 12mil per year. Both options are solid.

 

[MAC_32]

This Tigers homer is happy. Nice to see the division competition is spending their $ on the bullpen, first the White Sox, now the Twinkies

They'd have been better off using the Nathan $ to sign Johan long term and finding a cheap closer alternative a la Troy Percival than spending their $ on Nathan and finding a cheap alternative ace in a Livian Hernandez. On top of all that they sold Johan for less than market value. All sorts of dumb going on in Minny, I love it.

Nathan is not making 22M a year like Santana. Nathan will be making 11.75 a year. so no you cant use that money, its not enough.I agree a bit with the twin fan, they always are able to get good prospects and develop them well. sure they are not the favorite going in but the twins have proved that they can develop talent.and about that sox comment. the sox were wise with addressing the bullpen. that was the biggest weakness of that team last year. and they addressed it by spending money there in the off-season. I watch a lot of sox games, and this was one of the worst bullpens in 30 or 40 years.

Nathan + Livian Hernandez = 17 mil/yr, that's almost all of Santana's annual contract. Re-sign Santana, trade Nathan, don't sign Hernandez, don't make some other non-essential signings (some combo of Lamb, Everett, Monroe) and there's your Johan $. Closers grow on trees, aces don't.A solid bullpen can be built for far less than what the Sox paid for there's, this was a knee jerk reaction to Mike McDougal being unable to throw a strike. There are other problems on the Sox than just the bullpen, yes the bullpen is improved now but they've drained their payroll and they still have their issues unaddressed elsewhere. Like closer's, setup guys grow on trees, they're nowhere near worth what they're paying for a guy who already yields too many HR's in a hitter friendly park to boot (Linebrink) and an aging injury hazard (Dotel).

 

[MAC_32]

This Tigers homer is happy. Nice to see the division competition is spending their $ on the bullpen, first the White Sox, now the Twinkies. Less resources to use to fill positions that are typically harder to fill. Tigers and Indians should continue to rock the Central for the next few years at minimum.

I have a feeling that if Nathan would of been a free agent the Tigers, like several other teams would of put up big$$$$$$ for him.Put Nathan on the Tigers and they would be a lock for the WS (Tigers will get to the WS on their bats, not on their bull pen, and I agree they(Tigers) have a good chance at getting their)The Nathan deal allows him to pick three teams that he can't be traded to, so I can still see a trade coming about.I agree the next two years belong to Tigers and Indians, but in 2010 with a new ball park, some experience under the Twins young pitchers belts, and with the Twins having some extra money from the new ball park revenue to spend on free agents, it could be different.In the mean time, us Twins fans will have to hope Nathan has a chance to save some games for the young arms.

I don't think it's fair to compare a small market team notorious for being cheap (Twins) to a large market team that is showing they're not going to be cheap about signing players (Tigers) when discussing payroll. Yes, the Tigers would have pursued him had he been available, he'd be a small blip on our payroll. He's a significant portion of the Twins', I believe small market teams must stay cheap in regards to their pen and spend their little money on harder to replace, key positions. Closer is not one of them.Didn't know about that contract stipulation, thanks. If I were a Twins fan I'd be hoping for a deadline move this season assuming they're out of contention or at least falling out like last season.

 

[whitem0nkey]

This Tigers homer is happy. Nice to see the division competition is spending their $ on the bullpen, first the White Sox, now the Twinkies

They'd have been better off using the Nathan $ to sign Johan long term and finding a cheap closer alternative a la Troy Percival than spending their $ on Nathan and finding a cheap alternative ace in a Livian Hernandez. On top of all that they sold Johan for less than market value. All sorts of dumb going on in Minny, I love it.

Nathan is not making 22M a year like Santana. Nathan will be making 11.75 a year. so no you cant use that money, its not enough.I agree a bit with the twin fan, they always are able to get good prospects and develop them well. sure they are not the favorite going in but the twins have proved that they can develop talent.and about that sox comment. the sox were wise with addressing the bullpen. that was the biggest weakness of that team last year. and they addressed it by spending money there in the off-season. I watch a lot of sox games, and this was one of the worst bullpens in 30 or 40 years.

Nathan + Livian Hernandez = 17 mil/yr, that's almost all of Santana's annual contract. Re-sign Santana, trade Nathan, don't sign Hernandez, don't make some other non-essential signings (some combo of Lamb, Everett, Monroe) and there's your Johan $. Closers grow on trees, aces don't.A solid bullpen can be built for far less than what the Sox paid for there's, this was a knee jerk reaction to Mike McDougal being unable to throw a strike. There are other problems on the Sox than just the bullpen, yes the bullpen is improved now but they've drained their payroll and they still have their issues unaddressed elsewhere. Like closer's, setup guys grow on trees, they're nowhere near worth what they're paying for a guy who already yields too many HR's in a hitter friendly park to boot (Linebrink) and an aging injury hazard (Dotel).

closers don't grow on trees. that's why there are about 4 in the league that are in the Nathan category. and its hard to find consistency in a closers. with starting pitchers is a bit easier to predict. and yes aces don't grown on trees, I think Santana is the only true as in the league. curently, and what i mean by ace is your offence just needs 1-2 runs for a win on the day he starts.as for the sox, when you have the worst bullpen in 50 years, its ok to make sure you address the need. did the sox over pay probably, but when you have a large payroll you over pay to get what you need. so you can win a world series this year. them spending this money on the pen did not prevent them from making other moves. they did add other important pieces.what's funny is you making a point for the twins to spend money while the have a small payroll, and you think the sox should be more frugal with there money while the have a large market payroll.

 

[MAC_32]

This Tigers homer is happy. Nice to see the division competition is spending their $ on the bullpen, first the White Sox, now the Twinkies

They'd have been better off using the Nathan $ to sign Johan long term and finding a cheap closer alternative a la Troy Percival than spending their $ on Nathan and finding a cheap alternative ace in a Livian Hernandez. On top of all that they sold Johan for less than market value. All sorts of dumb going on in Minny, I love it.

Nathan is not making 22M a year like Santana. Nathan will be making 11.75 a year. so no you cant use that money, its not enough.I agree a bit with the twin fan, they always are able to get good prospects and develop them well. sure they are not the favorite going in but the twins have proved that they can develop talent.and about that sox comment. the sox were wise with addressing the bullpen. that was the biggest weakness of that team last year. and they addressed it by spending money there in the off-season. I watch a lot of sox games, and this was one of the worst bullpens in 30 or 40 years.

Nathan + Livian Hernandez = 17 mil/yr, that's almost all of Santana's annual contract. Re-sign Santana, trade Nathan, don't sign Hernandez, don't make some other non-essential signings (some combo of Lamb, Everett, Monroe) and there's your Johan $. Closers grow on trees, aces don't.A solid bullpen can be built for far less than what the Sox paid for there's, this was a knee jerk reaction to Mike McDougal being unable to throw a strike. There are other problems on the Sox than just the bullpen, yes the bullpen is improved now but they've drained their payroll and they still have their issues unaddressed elsewhere. Like closer's, setup guys grow on trees, they're nowhere near worth what they're paying for a guy who already yields too many HR's in a hitter friendly park to boot (Linebrink) and an aging injury hazard (Dotel).

closers don't grow on trees. that's why there are about 4 in the league that are in the Nathan category. and its hard to find consistency in a closers. with starting pitchers is a bit easier to predict. and yes aces don't grown on trees, I think Santana is the only true as in the league. curently, and what i mean by ace is your offence just needs 1-2 runs for a win on the day he starts.as for the sox, when you have the worst bullpen in 50 years, its ok to make sure you address the need. did the sox over pay probably, but when you have a large payroll you over pay to get what you need. so you can win a world series this year. them spending this money on the pen did not prevent them from making other moves. they did add other important pieces.what's funny is you making a point for the twins to spend money while the have a small payroll, and you think the sox should be more frugal with there money while the have a large market payroll.

I'd like to see how you think there are just four Nathan's, there are closers every year that come out of nowhere - Corpas, Valverde, Capps, and Soriano just last year and off the top of my head. Why do some teams leave their flame throwers in setup roles and put lesser talents in to close? Because they're less important, they can be found and groomed. And they don't have much use if they rarely get an opportunity to save a game. A pitcher like Johan will keep your pen fresh by pitching 7-9 innings/outing, limiting the use of the weaker pen options while leading the team to more wins. A team of Johan and Capps >>>>>>> a team of Livian and Nathan.I'm not criticizing the Twins for not spending money, I'm criticizing them for spending their money in the wrong places. Three outs in the 9th inning are little different than three outs in the 7th.