5. Money Has Been Spent
As we looked at the Terry Ryan and the Twins taking a stab at those feeling the club wasn’t spending enough money earlier this offseason, the complaints should finally cease in 2015. Phil Hughes was extended and a significant amount of money was committed to Ervin Santana. On top of that, a season ago the Twins spent on pitching as well. Throwing in the $10 million offered to Torii Hunter, it is clear that the process make sense.
In baseball, unlike many other sports, spending through free agency can hamper success more often than it can breed it. Unless the core of a roster is already there, you are supplementing nothing. With the Twins showing that they have pieces that can work in the 2014 campaign, it made sense to start to supplement a roster on the rise this offseason.
While I am still not a fan of bringing Torii Hunter in when the Twins clearly needed defensive help in the outfield more than another bat, there is no doubt that money should be considered well spent. Phil Hughes has been great, and based on his numbers away from Yankee Stadium in his career, that should continue. Ricky Nolasco battled through injuries but is a prime candidate to have a bounce back year in 2015. Finally, Ervin Santana is another guy the Twins can give the ball to an rely on him to get the job done on a nightly basis.