Comments on: Twins re-sign Punto to two-year, $8.5 million deal with option for 2011

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:04:48 +0000

To: Island Depot:

You’re kidding right? Do you really believe that the Pohlad’s should lose a few million to put a winning team on the field. What an outrageous statement. Do you know that the Yankees, Bosox, Angels, Mariners, Giants, etc. (among many other teams) make money? So, it’s not as though these owners lose money to field expensive (but not always winning) teams.

How much are you willing to “lose” to help the Twins get the money to sign FAs? Can you afford to “lose” a few hundred? A few thousand? Come’on ante up.

By: DG784

DG784 — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 21:52:30 +0000

is it possible there’s some misplaced anger going on here? i can understand people being upset that, so far, the twins haven’t done anything to make themselves any BETTER than last year. we didn’t sign blake (which i personally thought wouldn’t have been a good move, but i respect different opinions on that). we haven’t made a trade for a hardy or a beltre. we let two VERY good relievers go to the giants for a good price. but seriously everyone - punto isn’t horrible. he’s not a great player, but he’s very serviceable and had a 99 OPS+ last year - meaning his offensive contribution was roughly average (1% below, to be exact) across the major leagues. he’s the best option we have at short right now, and he doesn’t cost 10 million to sign or a couple of starters to trade for. and while he’s about average offensively, he’s above-average defensively (though i think his d is sometimes overrated).

My point is - the punto signing is nothing to get excited about. the twins need to sign someone else (bullpen please, 3B if you insist) or make some trades. but provided they improve in other areas, nick punto is durable, plays hard, gives you passable offense and above-average defense. his performance really isn’t worth all the vitriol sent his way.

By: Wally

Wally — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 15:50:57 +0000

The Twins should have signed a real shortstop instead of trying to shuffle the unility guy Punto around the infield to shortstop. The idea that he may be the Twins shortstop next year only means that there will continued confusion and shuffling around of players in the infield, since Punto will inevitably be used at second base and also third base when needed. What the Twins really need is an established permanent infield. Morneau if the only permanent established position player in the infield at the present time. As long as the Twins scramble the players around in the infield, they will not win a division championship. The uncertainty about who will play where from day to day does not help the players perform at their best. It only serves to bolster Garenhire’s ego by making him feel important by constantly manipulating the infield lineup. There is a rumor going around that Gardenhire wants to maintain the uncertainty regarding the player positions in the infield until his kid, who is in the minor leagues, can come up to the Twins. Then Gardenhire will put him as the established second baseman even through he has sub-standard abilities.

By: Joe

Joe — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 12:00:24 +0000

The problem I have is Matt Tolbert is the same type of player as Punto, except for he is faster and has more range…. He makes $310,000…. If Punto deserves 4mil+ a year what does Kubel deserve? Gomez? heck what does the bat boy deserve?

By: Island Despot

Island Despot — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 09:36:52 +0000

I am immensely disappointed in the Twins. They have glaring needs and are apparently content to keep the team as is. Meanwhile, I am forking over my hard earned cash every time I buy something in the metro area to pay for their new stadium. So do we have to wait until 2010 before this team gets serious and makes a commitment to winning? Stay the course doesn’t work. I dont find finishing 1 game out acceptable. I don’t find just “making” the playoffs acceptable. If I invest my time and energy into rooting for this team, I want to know management is doing everything they can to win. What I see is management doing everything they can to preserve the Pohlad wealth. So lose a few million next year. Sign a big gun. Supposedly all these new revenue streams with the new stadium will have the Pohlad’s swimming in their cash like Scrooge McDuck so start spending it. You didn’t get the new stadium so you could climb up the Forbes Rich old bleep list. I’m tired of the Twins being lauded for the farm and developing players up in MLB too. As soon as they can, the great ones leave for GREENER pastures. Thats no way to win. Baseball is a business, if you can’t make the investments to win, then get out, Pohlads.

By: sane

sane — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 04:01:11 +0000

Here is a list of players who were non-tendered today, and therefore became free agents.

Daniel Cabrera
Denny Bautista
Ty Wigginton and Reggie Abercrombie
Jonny Gomes
Willy Taveras
Takashi Saito, Scott Proctor, Yhency Brazoban, Angel Berroa
Clay Hensley and Charlie Haeger
Chris Britton and Justin Christian
Tim Redding
C. Trent Rosecrans e-mails that the Reds will not tender contracts to Matt Belisle or Gary Majewski.
Chris Capuano
Kevin Cash
Chuck James
Chris Burke

Wigginton is now a FA!