The Minnesota Twins have every reason to go hard after Yu Darvish

The Minnesota Twins were perhaps the surprise of MLB last season. They won’t sneak up on anyone in 2018, and they’ll need to decide just how badly they want to pursue a championship. Their first decision: What will it take to sign Yu Darvish?

Expectations are as high as ever for Minnesota sports fans. Their beloved Vikings accomplished a division title and a deep playoff run. The Timberwolves are on the rise and could be a threat come playoff time in the NBA. I’m not much of a hockey fan, but I hear the Wild are a solid team. That leaves the Minnesota Twins. The Twins surprised everyone last season by sneaking into the playoffs as a wildcard. Do they have an encore performance in them for 2018? Let’s first ask, do they have it in them to back up the bank to sign Yu Darvish?

Inspecting the Twins’ projected depth chart, a few things stand out. First off, they have a rambunctious offense. Secondly, they’ve done an outstanding job in bolstering the bullpen this offseason. And thirdly, they need an elite arm to work alongside Ervin Santana.

Addressing observation number three, the Twins will likely need to look towards free agency. They have the prospective talent to work out a trade, but why ruin a good thing? Most of the time it’s worth keeping the farm intact. The MLB free agent starting pitching market is headlined by two names: Yu Darvish and Jake Arrieta.

The Minnesota Twins have not expressed any interest in Arrieta. Darvish, on the other hand, has had the attention of the Twins all offseason long. Darvish to the Twins is definitely possible. In fact, it may be the most likely landing spot for the Japanese ace. News broke on Thursday that the Twins have officially offered Yu Darvish. The specifics of the offer, however, have not been disclosed.

Darvish already declined an offer from the New York Yankees. The Astros made their big move in acquiring Garrett Cole, and after last year’s World Series debacle, it seems unlikely the Los Angeles Dodgers would exert too much effort to bring back Yu Darvish. That leaves the Twins, Rangers, and Cubs as the likely candidates.

So what selling points do the Twins have to persuade Yu Darvish?

$$$$

Money is one sales pitch. Minnesota has the 21st highest payroll in MLB. They are not weighed down by any colossal contracts; therefore, perhaps they can afford to sign Yu Darvish to a long-term deal. Darvish is looking for a lengthy deal, up to seven years. The Twins are headed in the right direction; Darvish could be interested in an extended stay for an organization that should be in contention for years to come.

The edge goes to Minnesota in the money department. Texas is in limbo, unable to decide whether to attack a championship or to pull back and rebuild. The Cubs are going to have to pay for all of their young studs eventually. They also do not seem like the kind of team that is interested in offering seven-year contracts to 31-year-old starting pitchers.

Toot his own horn

If waving money in the face of the desired business asset doesn’t work, another great sales tactic is telling the asset how great he/she is and what they can bring to the business to improve it.

Yu Darvish’s ability is world-renowned. Anyone who pays attention to professional baseball knows how talented he is. The Twins can remind Darvish of his all-star nominations and his yearly Cy Young contention, but why point out the obvious? Minnesota has to dig deeper.

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For example, Darvish has experienced his most significant career success against American League Central opponents. He owns an 11-5 record against the AL Central (excluding the Twins). Darvish has posted a sub-three ERA against the Twins’ most threatening opponents, the Cleveland Indians, and Kansas City Royals.

The Twins can name Darvish the Ace of Staff. Ervin Santana’s injury helps with this pitch as he will likely miss the start of the regular season. Nevertheless, Yu Darvish has been an ace before, and he certainly can be one for the Minnesota Twins. If he were to return to Texas, then he would be second behind Cole Hamels. Likewise, the Cubs will never concede Jon Lester as their ace. Darvish could be the headliner for the Minnesota Twins, leading the troop from day one.

Let him loose

Yu Darvish was somewhat coddled throughout his time with the Rangers. More often than not, Texas’ coaches would break into a deep sweat each time Darvish reached the 100-pitch count in a start. They would rarely stretch him out, even if he were on a roll. The Rangers acted with justified precaution given that they invested so much money in their prized commodity. The Twins would be held to a significant investment themselves, yet, why try to hold back a pitcher amidst his prime?

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The Rangers have rumored a possible six-man rotation for 2018, and the Cubs have used a six-man rotation in the past. If Darvish has a true ace mentality, then he will want the ball every five days, and he will want to pitch deep into ballgames. Apparently, the Twins would want to use Darvish wisely if they sign him to a five to a seven-year contract. But if they’re going to make a serious run as early as this season, then they would need to maximize Yu Darvish’s talent. With all that being said, they first need to sign him.