The Twins have a very solid bullpen without a dominant guy, so this won't really do too much. However, if it keeps Glen Perkins or Randy Flores from ever having to pitch in a Twins uniform, then it's probably a positive move.

I keep waiting for a return of the Crainwrecks...

Okay, so the Twins strategy appears to be to get as many former closers as possible and throw them at the opposition.


......
There have been worse plans.

Interesting move. Impressive almost. But I can't help but wonder what they gave up, and how does that compare to giving up Ramos for Capps. It's water under the bridge, but I bet they got a lot better deal for Fuentes.

The Twins are setting themselves up to collect about a bajillion draft picks next year....Guerrier, Rauch, Fuentes, Crain, Pavano, maybe Hudson or Thome all could fetch compensation. They might be trading away a bunch of prospects, and the bullpen could be decimated, but they'll be busy on draft day.

I wonder if they finally got a look at Flores and it sent Bill Smith back to the phones. Another thought is that more guys means a better chance that *someone* will have a hot hand at any point in time. At any rate it's good to see them keep the foot to the floor. Now they have to go light some candles for Morneau's head.

Great move for the Twins who have had their LH specialists decimated by injury in the past couple weeks. Costs them little more than cash.

Well, there is no moss growing under these guys. You need a lefty? I'll get you a lefty. And tomorrow I'll get a better one.

The Twins are setting themselves up to collect about a bajillion draft picks next year....Guerrier, Rauch, Fuentes, Crain, Pavano, maybe Hudson or Thome all could fetch compensation. They might be trading away a bunch of prospects, and the bullpen could be decimated, but they'll be busy on draft day.

Part of Hudson's contract is an agreement that the Twins will not offer him arbitration.

Now if only the Twins could also find a third base coach on the waiver wire...

The Twins are setting themselves up to collect about a bajillion draft picks next year....Guerrier, Rauch, Fuentes, Crain, Pavano, maybe Hudson or Thome all could fetch compensation.

I wouldn't be surprised if the new "spending Twins" at least try to keep some of those guys, but yeah, definitely some draft picks coming.

Given the seeming trend the last few years of teams becoming somewhat gun-shy of offering arb to mid-level players they have no interest in keeping, I wouldn't tally up those picks just yet.

The Twins are setting themselves up to collect about a bajillion draft picks next year....Guerrier, Rauch, Fuentes, Crain, Pavano, maybe Hudson or Thome all could fetch compensation. They might be trading away a bunch of prospects, and the bullpen could be decimated, but they'll be busy on draft day.

I can't imagine they'll take the risk of offering arbitration to Fuentes. I know there is no limit to the paycut they can offer, but they can't go too low and expect to win the case. Fuentes led the league in saves last year. The save total means he if you offer him arbitration, don't expect to pay much less than his current 9 million. As a free agent, I doubt he gets more than 5.

Given the seeming trend the last few years of teams becoming somewhat gun-shy of offering arb to mid-level players they have no interest in keeping, I wouldn't tally up those picks just yet.

According to mlbtraderumors, Guerrier, Hudson, and Pavano are the only players likely to be type A players...the rest would be more likely type B, so they could offer them arbitration with little concern. Pavano would almost certainly do better by declining arbitration. Hudson they can't offer arbitration if he ends up as a type A, so that's only an option if he goes down to type B. Guerrier is really the only one they'd have to worry about, and considering all the arms they'd be losing, they'd probably be happy enough if he agreed to a one year deal at market rate. I bet they offer them all arbitration and end up with at least 5 more draft picks.

the rest would be more likely type B, so they could offer them arbitration with little concern.

Except for the part where there's a good chance that several of your type Bs would likely make more in arb than the open market.

I'm surprised that Fuentes doesn't project to a type A. Are saves not part of the formula? Either way, he's probably better off accepting arbitration than taking his chances as a free agent. Seems like a pretty big risk for a team that has already committed a ton of payroll, and will have a 12 million closer returning.

Fuentes might just be the best closer on the market in the offseason, and definitely one of the top ones. He's getting up there in years...this might be his last chance to get a multi year deal. He's not a lock to turn down arbitration, but if he accepts and stays in MN, he'll be one of 3 potential closers in 2011.....that could cost him millions the next offseason just from not being a "closer" in 2011. I've got no idea if he'd turn it down or not...he's the one I'd be least certain about. I don't see Rauch and Crain making notably more in Arbitration than in FA. There's some risk with Rauch, but not a ton. I don't think he's pleased with being yanked from the closer spot by the Twins.

Edit: If Guerrier doesn't get things straightened around, he won't garner any compensation.

Fuentes might just be the best closer on the market in the offseason, and definitely one of the top ones.

so you are saying there are no closers on the market this off season, if Fuentes is a top 5 on any list (including top five closers in the al central) then it's an awfully weak list.

Twins offer arb to Crain, Guerrier and maybe Rauch. I can't see them offering arbitration to Fuentes, too dangerous. Someone might sign him before the arb deadline though since he's just a type B.

Rafael Soriano is a free agent again, he's better than Fuentes. There is also the matter of the best relief pitcher in the history of baseball having his contract up, but of course no way he makes it to free agency.

That guy who closes for the Yankees is kind of a special case, and I'd agree that Soriano is better than Fuentes, but I think those are the top 3. Fuentes could just as easily get a multi year deal as he could get a one year deal like Soriano did last year. Actually, if Mariano retires, the Yankees might jump at signing Soriano, leaving Fuentes in a very good situation. But he could also end up begging for a one year deal as a closer somewhere if the market flattens out..

Okay, so who is closing for LAA now? Jepsen?

Proven Closer Fernando Rodney.

Jordan Walden topped out at 97 MPH last night in a 1-2-3 inning so seeing as he has lost 4 MPH off of his fastball, Fer-Rod has been designated as Angels closer.

LOL at Fuentes being the 3rd best free agent reliever.

Without too much thought Id rather have a ton of guys. Besides Soriano and Rivera I would definitely rather have Frank Fransisco, Balfour, Benoit, Putz, Saito, and Downs. And after that you still have a bunch of guys that I would strongly consider in Rhodes, Wheeler, Rauch, Guerrier, Contreras, Dotel and Frasor.

Our long national nightmare is over. I only wish the Angels had dumped him onto a team I dislike.

I'm not saying he's the third best reliever...I'm saying he's probably the one of the top 3 established closers in the market. Right or wrong, that is different than who you or I think are the better relievers or better values. GM's tend to gravitate to established closers....enough so that he could get another payday this offseason.

I'm not saying he's the third best reliever...I'm saying he's probably the one of the top 3 established closers in the market. Right or wrong, that is different than who you or I think are the better relievers or better values. GM's tend to gravitate to established closers....enough so that he could get another payday this offseason.

agreed, but that shouldn't matter at all outside of an organization like the angels or top 6organiztion like the mariners.. the fact remains you haveto be a pretty dumb organization to treat him as anything other than a 3mil player;