¡VIVA RIVAS!

Well, it's finally here. A debate about LF. To recap: Wakky and the esteemed V. Rivas will debate each position in flux this offseason. We're assuming a $70 million salary cap. I said they'd be short posts, but I lied. We're all about flexibility here, so no worries. Plus, we know Luis Rivas would approve, and that's all that matters.

Summary: Wakky pushes for Carlos Lee, since the big bat will push the Twins lineup into championship status. Ever the realist, V. Rivas argues for a Kubel-White platoon at LF-DH. We both agree that Kubel will most likely open the season as the starter, putting a $500,000 dent in the team salary. Not too shabby.

[18:28] wakky: so, LF
[18:28] V. Rivas: what?
[18:29] V. Rivas: i thought we were doing 3B?
[18:29] wakkyjw: oh boy
[18:29] V. Rivas: haha
[18:29] V. Rivas: no no
[18:29] V. Rivas: we can do LF
[18:29] V. Rivas: i already know that one
[18:29] V. Rivas: i did some research on 3B though, terry ryan needs to put me on his speed dial cause i'm an idea man
[18:30] wakky: ha
[18:30] wakky: sweet
[18:30] V. Rivas: anyway
[18:30] V. Rivas: so LF
[18:30] wakky: in a dream world, I think we should sign carlos lee
[18:30] wakky: he didn't reup right?
[18:31] V. Rivas: mmm
[18:31] V. Rivas: no
[18:31] V. Rivas: he didn't
[18:31] V. Rivas: doesn't he cost as much as carl pohlad's left arm
[18:31] wakky: like soriano would
[18:31] V. Rivas: he's the 'premiere ' free agent
[18:31] wakky: I have modest dreams
[18:31] V. Rivas: so do you honestly think we have a chance at him?
[18:32] wakky: I have no idea where our payroll will be at
[18:32] wakky: but yeah

[18:32] wakky: we have a good team
[18:32] wakky: depends on if carlos wants $$ or wants to win
[18:32] wakky: at least try
[18:32] V. Rivas: we are talking about baseball players, so i'm going to go with money
[18:32] wakky: he would put us over the top
[18:32] V. Rivas: true
[18:32] V. Rivas: trying never hurt anyone
[18:33] V. Rivas: you wonder if terry ever puts in the cursory phone call
[18:33] V. Rivas: or if he just emails the agent and says, 'do we have any chance?'
[18:33] V. Rivas: and leaves it at that
[18:33] wakky: castillo-mauer-lee-morneau-troii-kubel-cuddyer-punto-bartlett
[18:33] wakky: drool...
[18:33] V. Rivas: i see no a-rod...
[18:33] wakky: save that for 3B
[18:33] wakky: heh
[18:34] V. Rivas: okay, so barring a miraculous opening of smilin' carl's wallet
[18:34] wakky: kubel
[18:34] wakky: if he can run
[18:34] V. Rivas: i agree there. you need to give him a chance...finally
[18:34] V. Rivas: that will be the key – running. i heard he was going to play winter ball
[18:34] V. Rivas: so i guess we'll find out soon enough if he's a gimp
[18:35] wakky: he also needs to refind his stroke

[18:35] V. Rivas: i'm not too concerned about that. i think if he plays everyday, he'll hit
[18:35] wakky: I thought he was hesitant at winter ball

Editor’s note: He indeed is hesitant to play, but hasn’t ruled it out. Sid reported on Sunday that the Twins still hope he’ll play.

[18:35] wakky: I know the front office really wants him to play winter ball
[18:35] wakky: but I think he's having a kid/or getting married or something
[18:35] V. Rivas: pffft, what about ME as a Twins fan
[18:36] V. Rivas: sounds like we've got another justin morneau on our hands
[18:36] V. Rivas: gardy will have to sit him down and give him the 'Son, you're better than this. Now quit playing Madden with Luis Castillo and rededicate yourself'
[18:37] V. Rivas: do we need a backup for kubel if we decide to go with him?
[18:37] V. Rivas: Cause I'm thinking a Rondell White-Kubel platoon in LF and DH
[18:37] wakky: tyner should do
[18:37] wakky: I like rondell
[18:37] wakky: but it hurts to see him throw
[18:37] wakky: plus he obviously can't DH
[18:38] V. Rivas: True, but it seemed like he could DH occasionally
[18:39] V. Rivas: I think if we split the time 50-50 between Rondell and Kubel in LF, we can ease Kubel's knee back into a full season of baseball, and keep Rondell's bat sharp
[18:39] V. Rivas: And we solve the DH problem for a mere $4 M (Rondell's salary)
[18:39] wakky: how much do you think rondell would want?
[18:39] V. Rivas: He has a a team option

Editor's Note: I was wrong. He's a free agent.

[18:40] wakky: I think that price was too high for him
[18:41] V. Rivas: I liked what I saw from his bat, though. $4M is scraping the bottom of the barrell for a quality veteran bat, so in my mind it's a good value
[18:42] wakky: I don't see him hitting the other way for power
[18:42] wakky: I don't know why pitchers even went inside with him

[18:43] V. Rivas: What if Kubel's knees are iffy next year. Are you prepared to see Tyner at LF for another year?
[18:44] wakky: guess not
[18:45] V. Rivas: OK, so just to keep track. You're going with Kubel in LF for what, something like $500,000?
[18:46] wakky: sure
[18:47] V. Rivas: how much do you think lee will cost as a FA?
[18:48] wakky: he made 8.5 mil this year
[18:49] wakky: ok, maybe 9-11
[18:49] V. Rivas: Yeah, I think he's out of our range. But if he can be signed to say a 2-year $16 million contract, I'd spring for that
[18:50] V. Rivas: But I bet he'll be looking for 4 years, $50-55 million
[18:50] wakky: most likely
[18:50] wakky: unless his agent is boras
[18:51] wakky: then 10-years, 110 mil
[18:51] V. Rivas: and he'll be compared to an early 90s Barry Bonds
[18:51] V. Rivas: I was looking through his player profile on ESPN, and it he briefly hired Scott Boras as his agent
[18:51] V. Rivas: then switched back to his old agent 2 days later
[18:53] wakky: ha
[18:53] wakky: he was prolly demanding 15% commission

Wakky and V. Rivas discuss Vernoica Mars:

Veronica Mars, loved as much for her sass as her cute button nose

[20:13] V. Rivas: i've got a huge crush on vernoica mars
[20:14] V. Rivas: is that wrong?
[20:14] wakky: no, the chick is hot
[20:14] wakky: just remember she doesn't really solve crimes
[20:15] wakky: and she reads a script
[20:15] V. Rivas: fine..
[20:15] V. Rivas: but you're forgetting
[20:15] V. Rivas: the most important part
[20:16] V. Rivas: H-O-T
[20:16] wakky: yes