Free agent right-hander Ricky Nolasco already has multiple three and four-year contract offers on the table, reports Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports says the Twins are making a "strong push" to sign him, though they have not yet extended a formal offer according to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.
"I believe the market for multiple-year starting pitching will start to reveal itself more clearly in the next two to three weeks," said Matt Sosnick, Nolasco's agent, to Passan. His asking price is believed to be a four-year deal in the $52-60 million range, in line with recent free agent contracts for Edwin Jackson and Derek Lowe.
The Twins are reportedly seeking two veteran starters this winter as they attempt to rebuild a rotation that posted a 5.26 ERA in 2013, the worst in baseball by nearly half-a-run. They're also said to be in Bronson Arroyo, who, like Nolasco, is part of the second tier of free agent starters with guys like Bartolo Colon, Dan Haren, Scott Kazmir and Jason Vargas.
Nolasco, 30, went 13-11 with a 3.70 ERA (101 ERA+) in 199 1/3 innings across 33 starts (and one relief appearance) for the Marlins and Dodgers in 2013. He has been a guy who consistently underperforms his peripheral stats -- since breaking into the league full-time in 2008, he's managed a 4.30 ERA and 3.62 FIP. That's a pretty big disconnect over an 1,150-ish inning sample.
Because he was traded at midseason, the Dodgers were not allowed to extend Nolasco a qualifying offer. He will not cost a high draft pick to sign.
