From the PiPress
The Twins have increased their $20 million, three-year offer to pitcher Brad Radke by $1 million.Posted by Batgirl at December 1, 2004 11:06 AMBut insiders say the free-agent starting pitcher has two other offers worth at least $10 million more than the $21 million the Twins have offered.
By baseball rules, the Twins have until Tuesday to offer Radke, 32, salary arbitration. In arbitration, Radke, who was 11-8 with a 3.48 earned-run average in 34 starts and 220 innings, could win at least $10 million for next season. If the Twins don't offer arbitration, Radke wouldn't be allowed to re-sign with them until May 1, meaning they would lose him.
Without Radke, the Twins' starting rotation for 2005 probably would look like this: Johan Santana, Kyle Lohse, Carlos Silva, J.D. Durbin and Joe Mays, who will try to return with a rebuilt arm. The Twins would be expected to sign or trade for another starter with the money saved by not signing Radke.
Does TR honestly think the Twins can four-peat w/o Brad? C'mon, let's get it done!
Posted by: kbro at December 1, 2004 11:55 AMCan the Twins Four-peat without Bradke? Of course they can. But it would be much more difficult.
I'm still not quite certain starting rotation without Bradke (except, of course, for the President). Joe Mays might come back perfect, Kyle might realize that he can pitch rather than throw, J.D. might prove himself the Real Deal, and Carlos might continue improving. Bradke, on the other hand, will continue to pitch like, well, Bradke (pending serious upset in the cosmos).
A "will" beats four "mights" in this game.
Just Beth
Posted by: Just Beth at December 1, 2004 12:13 PMhttp://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=rotowire-ichaelestovichreakso&prov=rotowire&type=lgns
Restovich broke his collarbone?? WTF?? If one more Twins player gets injured, I would be inclined to think someone from the AL central hired a hitman to take our players out...
Posted by: mongo at December 1, 2004 12:49 PMSo Kubel is out for the year. And Resto for some time, too. Check out www.TwinsGeek.com for the signing that slipped under the radar. He looks like Gardy's type of player.
Posted by: double-a at December 1, 2004 01:07 PMI think one team would be the Red Sox. And the other.. the Yankees?
Just a guess though. Might want to throw the Mets in there
Posted by: James at December 1, 2004 04:27 PMI don't think the Yanks are involved -- when they are, they usually make a splash that hits the papers. Right now the word is Leiter. Then a trade of Vazquez for Randy Johnson...making the average age of our starters in the 50-60 range. Hey, is Nolan Ryan available?
YankeeFan
Posted by: YankeeFan at December 1, 2004 05:38 PMPoor Resto! I'm going to put out an alert to all the boys that they cannot do anything for the rest of the winter. I don't even want them picking up a butter knife.
I found this mildly amusing at the bottom of the article:
"Ex-Twins pitcher Eric Milton, who this year was traded to the Phillies (along with his $9 million salary), is a free agent who has yet to receive a single offer."
Posted by: HooliganKat at December 1, 2004 05:47 PMRotoworld: "If the Twins keep raising their offer by $1 million a day, they'll be serious contenders by the start of the winter meetings on Dec. 10."
Posted by: Tanto at December 1, 2004 05:53 PMThat's it. The offseason is too depressing for me. :(
Posted by: Stacy at December 1, 2004 07:54 PMDear YankeeFan
Randy may be old, but if we had him last year the red sox would still be losers.
Now if they make the Johnson trade, and maybe talk Clemens into coming back to New York I wouldn't at all mind those 2 guys over 40. Hell I say bring back Whitey Ford if he could get people out. Maybe Mel could be a player/coach.
Posted by: mike at December 1, 2004 08:03 PM>I found this mildly amusing at the bottom of the article:<
"Ex-Twins pitcher Eric Milton, who this year was traded to the Phillies (along with his $9 million salary), is a free agent who has yet to receive a single offer."
I found that mildly believeable and about along the same lines as:
"Without Radke, the Twins' starting rotation for 2005 probably would look like this: Johan Santana, Kyle Lohse, Carlos Silva, J.D. Durbin and Joe Mays, who will try to return with a rebuilt arm."
Uh, without Radke, wouldn't the Twins suddenly have $8 million a year or so to spend? I know Carl would probably like to tuck that back in his wallet, but I bet Twins fans would howl unless they spent it on some sort of Radke-replacement, even if it were to be the "offerless" Uncle Miltie.
Fun little tidbit for you:
My dad was talking to a lady that he works with and she asked if he was a Twins fan. He said yes and then she continued to tell him that her sister in Arizona is a dentist. Her sister had called her to say that Kyle Lohse was sitting in her dentist chair! How fun! Even baseball players need their teeth cleaned!
Also, my cousin was in Seattle this summer when the Twins played the Mariners. My cousin, his friend and my uncle were walking around in Niketown, hoping to see a Twin, and who did they come across but my "boyfriend" Justin Morneau. I FINALLY got a copy of the picture from him at Thanksgiving. I treasure that one...I've got a copy of it in my purse and another on my dresser so I see him every morning.
Posted by: ForMorneau at December 1, 2004 10:09 PMIf we had a message board I'd post it there since it seems out of place on these comments but for those who have noticed there is a new poppy punk song climbing up the charts in New England. It's the Red Sox World Champion version of the song by the Frickin As: "Merry Merry Merry Frickin Christmas" and I thought I'd repost it here for lack of a better place.
Schools out Christmas break
Back to Boston, the Red Sox in four straight
First the Yankees then St. Louis
The curse, reversed, the Bambino really blew it
Derek Jeter's lost his mind
Trippin’ on a broom stick, better luck next time
Have a Merry, Merry, Merry Frickin' Christmas
All you New York Yankees fans can kiss this
The tree the gifts the mistletoe kiss
Swing, a miss, Steinbrenner’s really pissed
Have a Merry, Merry, Merry Frickin' Christmas
Joe Torre, he's a weirdo
Gave me a picture of himself in a Speedo
Hey A-Rod, you gotta feel the sting
You could have come to Boston to wear a World Series ring
We all know you're chokin' on your lunch,
Try a knuckle sandwich and the Varitek punch
Its gonna be a Merry, Merry, Merry Frickin' Christmas
All you New York Yankees fans can kiss this
The tree the gifts the mistletoe kiss
Swing, a miss, Steinbrenner’s really pissed
Have a Merry, Merry, Merry Frickin' Christmas
2004 the best Christmas yet
A World Series ring
I was sick of hearing 1918
Its gonna be a Merry, Merry, Merry Frickin' Christmas
All you New York Yankees fans can kiss this
The tree the gifts the mistletoe kiss
Swing, a miss, Steinbrenner’s really pissed
Have a Merry, Merry, Merry Frickin' Christmas
Good for a laugh, got a catchy melody and the Family Values version of the song is also pretty good!
My handy dandy ESPN Insider account lists the following as contending for Bradke.
Indians
Red Sox
Yankees
Twins
Phillies
The biggest new in baseball:
JASON GIAMBI FINALLY ADMITS TO USING STEROIDS!!!
(heard it on Mike&Mike this morning)
Posted by: Sasha at December 2, 2004 06:01 AMDid the Devil Rays give up on Bradke?
I saw on the Red Sox site that they are really interested in him.
All those teams can keep their grubby paws off of our Brakde! Yeah, I *may* be a *tiny* bit sensitive on this issue, lol.
Posted by: Stacy at December 2, 2004 08:17 AMre: Milton from mlb.com
"New York, which was reportedly close to reaching an agreement with left-hander Eric Milton, may wind up signing the southpaw at some point, though a deal is not imminent. "
Posted by: Say Rah at December 2, 2004 09:21 AM
Oh, Brad, can you put a price tag on the love of legions of Batlings? The adoration of this Goddess alone must be worth at LEAST $8 mil.
Please, PLEEEEEEEEase stay!
Posted by: TwinsGoddess at December 2, 2004 11:33 AMIt would be nice if Miltie ends up signing with a team where he doesn't need to get a new tatoo. I think he must be running out of room.
Posted by: Word Smith at December 2, 2004 12:42 PM