Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports
My, that escalated quickly. I mean, that really got out of hand fast. In my post last week I advocated patience, but in many ways, I was trying to talk myself off the ledge just as much as everyone else. After all, we’ve heard the “active in free agency” song and dance from this organization before, and all the looming will-they or won’t-they questions began to become insufferable.
After a few days of inaction, the vultures began to circle around the front office. In the last several days the Twins’ have signed the two largest deals ever in the history of the franchise by signing Ricky Nolasco for four years and $48 million, along with Phil Hughes for $24 million over three years. The reactions from fans have varied from widely positive to:
(Please see Avatar if this doesn't make sense to you. Seriously, stop reading this now. Watch it.)
Before we begin to break out the red carpet for the ticker-tape parade, it is wise to remember that these signings likely won’t bring the Twins into contention next season. However, they do represent a general shift in the way the club normally does business. Whether the organizational philosophy undergoes a similar shift remains to be seen, but these signings on their own are encouraging.
It is hard not to wonder if these moves have been made simply to placate the disgruntled fan base, but even if that is the case, there is still very little reason to dislike them.
I encourage you to read Parker Hageman’s assessment of Phil Hughes, along with the take of our very own Erik Williams.
In terms of other moves, unfortunately it is not looking good for signing Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
Or A.J. Pierzynski.
However, the Twins will likely still be in the mix moving forward as there has been talk of resigning Mike Pelfrey, and it is almost assured that Terry Ryan will start rummaging around for low cost players in the manner Twins fans are more accustomed to.
While the future remains uncertain, over the past several days we have seen the organization begin to crawl up out of the hole they have been languishing in over the past three seasons. There is still a lot we don’t yet know, but these moves have given many the hope that these are just the first steps down the road that will lead to the potential success the coming years could bring.