In the first part of this series, I suggested that the Twins trade Danny Santana, Mike Tonkin and Jake Reed to the Oakland Athletics for Ben Zorbrist and Tyler Clippard; and to promote Jorge Polanco as their starting shortstop. In the second part of this series, I suggested that the Twins trade Tommy Milone and Jason Wheeler to the Phillies for C Carlos Ruiz and LHP Jake Diekman and move Trevor May back to their rotation. With these 2 trades, they would address their deficiencies at Catcher and Shortstop positions and would add a RH and a LH set up pitcher. They would also add post-season experience and one of the most versatile players in the game in Ben Zorbrist. This third trade would be the cherry on the top, not only allowing them to improve both the pen and the rotation and add considerable bench help, but building for the future as well, and it is a blockbuster. and addressing another elephant in the living room: Lack of LH power.

Trade number 3:

The Twins send Oswaldo Arcia, Ervin Santana, Casey Fien and Blair Boyer to the San Diego Padres of SP Tyson Ross, RHP Joaquin Benoit and OF Melvin (don't call me BJ) Upton.

I thought hard about that one, and it can help, but there is a catch: Other than Oswaldo Arcia (and switch hitting Kennys Vargas) The Twins do not have much left handed power, so:

The Twins trade OF Eddie Rosario to the Miami Marlins for RHP Carter Capps and Minor League LHP Raudel Lazo

Why would the Twins do it?

24 year old RHP Carter Capps (no relation to you know who) has the third fastest fastball in the majors averaging 98.1 mph, routinely reaching triple digits, leads the majors with 49.5% K%, has a miniscule 1.37 ERA (and even smaller 1.16 FIP and 1.07 xFIP,) spots a 0.750 WHIP (with an average .293 BABIP) and has probably the most devastating knuckle-slider in baseball. Why would the Marlins give him away? Well... they do not like him. It might be the delivery. It might be something else, but they do not like him. And they do have AJ Ramos and Sam Dyson ahead of him; and maybe for a good reason. But he is hot. The hottest pitcher around. The Twins should take advantage of that. Raudel Lazo might be a relatively unknown, as he is a 26 year old who just got promoted to AA, but is a Cuban defector who just started to find himself, and on the mount could be Aroldis Chapman's little brother. Giving up Eddie Rosario might hurt, but with Aaron Hicks finding himself, needing Arcia's left hand power badly, Byron Buxton up and coming and Max Kepler and Adam Brett Walker in the wings, Rosario is expandable. And you have to give quality to get quality. Lazo would likely play for Chattanooga in this scenario and would compete for a spot next season. Oswaldo Arcia would get called up to take Rosario's spot.

Why would the Marlins do it?

They have a huge need of outfielders, with no OF prospects in the pipeline. Rosario is versatile, will hit, can play all OF positions well and can run well and all they have to give are two players they do not count on for the long run. Plus Eddie gets to play an hour away from home by plane.

Recap:

Here is what the Twins' roster would look after these trades (newly acquired or promoted in italics) :

C - Ruiz

1B - Mauer

2B - Dozier

3B - Plouffe

SS - Polanco

LF - Arcia

CF - Hicks

RF - Hunter

DH - Sano

Bench - Suzuki

Bench - Zobrist (rotating to OF and SS and playing 80% of games)

Bench - Robinson (Buxton waiting)

Bench - Escobar

Bench - Nunez (*)

SP - Hughes

SP - Gibson

SP - Santana

SP - Pelfrey

SP - May

CL - Perkins (L)

RP - Diekman (L)

RP - Clippard

RP - Capps

RP - Duensing (L)

RP - Graham

(*) Alternatively another pitcher (eg. Pressly) might occupy that spot.