The Twins announced that they have agreed to sign right-handed starter Jason Marquis to a one-year, $3MM contract. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported last night that the Twins were nearing a deal with the 33-year-old ACES client.
Marquis made 23 starts for the Nationals and Diamondbacks this past season, finishing the year with a 4.43 ERA in 132 innings. His rate stats (5.2 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, 55.1% ground ball rate) were right in line with his career averages (5.2 K/9, 3.5 BB/9, 50.4% ground ball rate) and his average fastball checked in at 89.3 mph.
Francisco Liriano, Carl Pavano, Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn, Brian Duensing and Anthony Swarzak are options for the Twins' rotation in 2012. Liriano may be able to bounce back from an up-and-down 2011 season, but the Twins will need improvement from others as well if their rotation is to become respectable in 2012. Twins starters finished the 2011 season with a 4.64 ERA (26th in MLB) and 5.8 K/9 (28th in MLB) in 961 innings (21st in MLB).
The Mets also had interest in the New York native this offseason. Marquis signed a two-year, $15MM contract with Washington on this date two years ago the last time he was a free agent.
As MLBTR's Free Agent Tracker shows, Terry Ryan's first offseason back in the GM's office has been a busy one. The Twins have also signed Matt Capps, Jamey Carroll, Ryan Doumit and Josh Willingham this winter. Marquis ranked 45th on MLBTR's list of top free agents this year.
I think there were better options. He is pretty injury prone.
Then he’s a perfect fit for the Twins!
The key word is were. Now, its virtually slim pickings for pitchers within the Twins budget. And as for the trade market. Unless they are willing to part with Sano and or Hicks, they are going to be shut out by most other GMS.
It could be worse. They could have re signed Livan Hernandez
Very true. If I recall, Livan started that season 6-0 or something like that and ended up leading the majors in hits allowed.
I actually think it is a pretty great signing… bang for the buck. He is a 4th starter on my team anyday.
Maybe solid, but great?
bang for the buck…
If by bang, you mean the sound of one of his bones breaking, then I agree.
Whoa! You need to just go home.
What are you talking about? Why are you making me out to be anti-semetic? I have no respect for you, not because of your faith, but because of how you are slandering my name. Your comments are dispicable.
Bleh.
Congratulations to the Minnesota Twins, winners of the…. ehhh nevermind.
don’t be like that. if he can stay healthy, he’s… ehhh nevermind
Zing!
why is everyone always so anti Jason Marquis?
He’s not that good?
He is basically another Nick Blackburn?
when marquis is on, he’s pretty nasty. i think target field will work well for him honestly. he had some pretty awesome games with the nats, although admittedly most were against bad teams. (8 innings, 2 ER, 9k’s vs houston) (8 innings, 0 ER vs seattle), and his gem against SF (CG, 5 hits, 0 ER, 7 k’s, 0 walks)
all bad hitting teams, but he wasn’t terrible against the others
The sad thing is you could say the same about Nick Blackburn, who like Marquis relies on the sinker.
But if Blackburn was on then this whole signing probably wouldn’t have happened.
We will miss Jason in Philly…..It was like taking batting practice……….lol
I guess that’s the price of depth.
As bad as he is, in 12 full or partial years in the big leagues, he has played for 11 playoff teams (assuming you count his 11 innings for the D-Backs last year).
Does this make the Twins the favorites in the AL Central?
no.
All streaks come to an end.
After all, Orlando Cabrera had a similar streak until last year.
As bad as he is, in 12 full or partial years in the big leagues, he has played for 11 playoff teams (assuming you count his 11 innings for the D-Backs last year).
Does this make the Twins the favorites in the AL Central?
I know that I am not a praying man but know that I have always believed in you. And deep down, we all know that only you can save the Twins.
Please Brad Radke. Please unretire and resurrect your career. Terry Ryan did it and so can you. Please?
JB Butera
I miss Radke, too. He was one of the lone bright spots on the Twins during his career.
I think this is an ok signing. Marquis is a competent bottom of the rotation starter. And his high ground ball rate is tailor made for Target Field. This allows the Twins to move Duensing to the pen where is at his best. Along with Perkins the middle relief is starting to look better.
Still they have to hope Baker breaks through this year…which he is capable of. And that the offense rebounds this year. Both plausible, but far from certain.
Wouldn’t it make more sense that a fly ball pitcher would be best suited to Target Field, since it’s so difficult to hit HRs there and the Twins IF defense is mediocre at best.
Not trying to pick a fight. I’m just saying…
3M is not bad for Marquis at all. You know what your getting from him if he stays healthy, and I really don’t remember him getting injured much other than last year.
Considering Nick Blackburn is making $4.75M this season, $3M is a bargain for Marquis.
I wonder who the relief pitcher is going to be.. Could have taken a shot on Broxton who signed with the Royals for about the same money. The Twins probably didn’t want him though as he can throw over 90.
On a positive note, Marquis doubles as a DH on some of his off days.
Jason Marquis has more value to site posters than he seemingly has to the Minnesota Twins.
Consistent top of the rotation Ace is what they need..Baker showed some of that last year…but we need it for an entire season!
I’d be happy with that, too. He was looking really sharp most of the time last season. I’d really love to see this guy get over the arm troubles that plague him every year and complete an entire season.
I wouldn’t be so sure about Liriano being the Twins only southpaw next year. I would personally prefer to see Duensing pitching 75 innings out of the pen next year, but after last years debacle and the return of Terry Ryan, I believe it’s going to an open competition going into next season. If Perkins is red hot in spring training, I fully expect to see him in the rotation. Same goes for Duensing, Diamond, Swarzak, Hendrix, etc. Nobody’s spot in the rotation should be guaranteed, not after last year. That was sickening.
Lol
absolutely no chance Perkins is in the rotation next year especially since Mijares is gone and because of how good Perkins was out of the pen
Million % chance Perk is in the bullpen.
Former all-star pitcher in 09 in the National league. How is having a 4.5 era considered having a good season? He is going to get killed in the A.L
Brad Penny is a former STARTER in the all-star game. Does that make him good now?
Mark Redman was a former all-star, just as Lance Carter was…
Braun is most deffinitley Jewish.
Scott Baker stats
2008- 28 games started
2009- 33 games started
2010- 29 games started
Baker has shown that he can stay relatively healthy in the past few years. His arm issues last year were unfortunate, but I think we can expect a rebound from him in 2012.
Besides his health last year, I think Baker did show signs of being an ace.
In no way am I an anti-semite. I NEVER said that I want to break bones. I said that his bones will break because he is injury prone. Do not try to put words in my mouth. While I don’t know a ton, I have a good friend who is Jewish. I am not racist or anti-semetic. You have problems if you think that calling a person who I didn’t even know to be Jewish, injury prone, is an anti-semite statement.
I assume that this was a complete misunderstanding. If it wasn’t though and you’re just trying to be funny, then knock it off.
No he is not. From Baseballreferenc.com bullpen:
Religion
Braun’s father is Jewish but is not halachically Jewish and told his college coach he was raised with “no faith” and his mother says “He’s totally not Jewish.” [5] .