Thread: Wolfson: Retaining Baker a "high priority" for the Twins.

1500ESPN.com's Darren Wolfson tweeted sources told him re-signing the recovering Scott Baker is a "high priority" for the team.

Great news IMO, a Healthy Baker is better then anyone on the FA market not named Greinke, Peavy or Sanchez.

It would be nice to go into 2013 with five starters that don't include Baker or Gibson. I'm all for signing Baker, just not counting on him to contribute until later in the season. Not sure it will work out that way, but it would be a nice luxury to have these guys waiting in the wings ready to fill in when one of our 5 legitimate starters goes on the DL or needs to be pulled because of performance.

Is it realistic to think we could stick with 5 guys through April and May before calling on either Baker or Gibson to fill a spot in the rotation? Is it asking too much to find 4 starters in addition to Diamond without counting on Baker or Gibson. I'll admit, I'm an optimist, but you have to go into every season thinking you have a shot to win.

Originally Posted by minn55441

It would be nice to go into 2013 with five starters that don't include Baker or Gibson. I'm all for signing Baker, just not counting on him to contribute until later in the season. Not sure it will work out that way, but it would be a nice luxury to have these guys waiting in the wings ready to fill in when one of our 5 legitimate starters goes on the DL or needs to be pulled because of performance.

Is it realistic to think we could stick with 5 guys through April and May before calling on either Baker or Gibson to fill a spot in the rotation? Is it asking too much to find 4 starters in addition to Diamond without counting on Baker or Gibson. I'll admit, I'm an optimist, but you have to go into every season thinking you have a shot to win.

I don't think that's a fair request. It's hard to find two starters, much less four (which is essentially what they would need to have Baker/Gibson waiting in the wings).

If JR can pick up one Marcum/Jackson type, one middling Lirano/Bedard "cross your fingers" type, and Baker, I'd consider the offseason somewhat of a success. De Vries, Deduno, & Co can hold down the back of the rotation for a month while Baker and Gibson get up to speed.

Baker will not pitch before June, right? So if he is a big part of their plans next year, I assume they are punting on the season.

Originally Posted by Brock Beauchamp

Originally Posted by minn55441

It would be nice to go into 2013 with five starters that don't include Baker or Gibson. I'm all for signing Baker, just not counting on him to contribute until later in the season. Not sure it will work out that way, but it would be a nice luxury to have these guys waiting in the wings ready to fill in when one of our 5 legitimate starters goes on the DL or needs to be pulled because of performance.

Is it realistic to think we could stick with 5 guys through April and May before calling on either Baker or Gibson to fill a spot in the rotation? Is it asking too much to find 4 starters in addition to Diamond without counting on Baker or Gibson. I'll admit, I'm an optimist, but you have to go into every season thinking you have a shot to win.

I don't think that's a fair request. It's hard to find two starters, much less four (which is essentially what they would need to have Baker/Gibson waiting in the wings).

I'm not saying we need to find four Greinke's, but I don't think it would be unrealistic to expect Ryan to go out and get two legitimate FA starters, trade for another and then sign a bunch of "down on your luck guys coming off an injury" ala Burton, willing to sign a one year deal to prove themselves. Much like last year, invite 60 guys to camp and have them fight for that last starting spot. that fifth spot should go to the pitcher that has the best spring among Devries, Deduno, Hendricks, potential rule 5 guy, the 2013 version of a Jared Burton.

If we do that and have Gibson and Baker waiting in the wings, how excited would you be for the season to begin. I'm not saying we make the playoff, but at least we have a fighting chance. If guys play well and we avoid injury we could be in contention in September. If we start the season counting on Baker or Burton to pick up a start every 5 days we will be looking forward to 2014 before we hit the allstar break.

Not sure I like Baker being a "high priority." It seems nearly unanimous that everyone wants to bring Baker back, but doesn't labeling him "high priority" indicate the Twins are willing to give more than they should to retain him? I'd hate to see signing Baker at $6 million ending up meaning the Twins then sign Joe Saunders for $8 million instead of Dan Haren for $12 million.

Originally Posted by SpiritofVodkaDave

Great news IMO, a Healthy Baker is better then anyone on the FA market not named Greinke, Peavy or Sanchez.

You think Baker is better than Haren? Or did Anaheim pick up his option already?

I see nothing wrong with making Baker a high priority because I don't think that necessarily means you spend stupidly on him to the point where you can't afford other pitchers.

That said, I also can't go along with the philosophy of "getting by" with the DeVrieses and Dedunos of the world for two months until Baker and Gibson are ready to contribute. We all found out just how quickly the season can tank if you operate as though games in April and May don't count the same as those played later in the season. If it's true that Gardenhire's job is on the line based on how the Twins come out of the gate in 2013, I don't think Terry Ryan can tell him he has to start the season with a couple of AAA guys in his rotation and to be patient until Baker and Gibson are available.

Originally Posted by Brock Beauchamp

I don't think that's a fair request. It's hard to find two starters, much less four (which is essentially what they would need to have Baker/Gibson waiting in the wings).

If JR can pick up one Marcum/Jackson type, one middling Lirano/Bedard "cross your fingers" type, and Baker, I'd consider the offseason somewhat of a success. De Vries, Deduno, & Co can hold down the back of the rotation for a month while Baker and Gibson get up to speed.

So if the Twins signed Marcum and then brought back Liriano and Baker, the offseason would be somewhat of a success?

That rotation looks an awful lot like the one the Twins had going in to 2012. The one that didn't look good on paper to begin with.