Left handed  should fit in the middle of the rotation and we'll have him thru 2017. Bring up May and Meyer with Hughes and Gibson it starts to look like an ok rotation going forward. Not sure where Nolasco will fit in.

If Hughes/Meyer/Gibson/May/Milone all prove effective and healthy next year, then that is a very very very good problem to have!

Hope you are right Dave. Would love to have the three Ms in the rotation with Hughes and Gibson. That would feel so future looking, and be effective eventually. Feeling more positive now......

Great trade. 

 

Two questions:

 

1)What is Millone's contract status?  This is his third full year in majors so I'm assuming he's still under team control for a little while.

 

2)If the Twins were to trade Willingham, what does your outfield look like now?  I haven't paid any attention to AAA lately, but is anyone there ready to be added to the roster? Assuming Santana stays as starter in CF, who is your backup now? If the dominoes start falling would Hicks get promoted to AAA and Buxton to AA?

Yep. I'm now an Oakland fan heading into October. Damn, Beane deserves a ring.

As GMs go, there's BB, and there's the rest. Baseball America hates him, but look at what he has put together without dumping salary year after year for "prospects"

Some of you guys are quick.  Question #1 got answered before I even finished typing it

As GMs go, there's BB, and there's the rest. Baseball America hates him, but look at what he has put together without dumping salary year after year for "prospects"

 

Why does Baseball America hate him?

Great trade. 

 

Two questions:

 

1)What is Millone's contract status?  This is his third full year in majors so I'm assuming he's still under team control for a little while.

 

2)If the Twins were to trade Willingham, what does your outfield look like now?  I haven't paid any attention to AAA lately, but is anyone there ready to be added to the roster? Assuming Santana stays as starter in CF, who is your backup now? If the dominoes start falling would Hicks get promoted to AAA and Buxton to AA?

3 years of team control

Why does Baseball America hate him?

Beane is proud of building his teams primarily via trade, not from within.

Hard to find anything wrong with the Fuld trade.  You get a backend starter that has a better ERA than any of your current starters for a 4th outfielder that was DFA'd.  That is a good day at the trading table.

Some info from Nick Nelson:

 

1. Nick Nelson ‏@nnelson9 4m

   Milone: Fastball in mid-80s. Doesn't get many K's. Among most extreme fly ball pitchers in game. I don't love him. But for Fuld, why not?

    

    

   1. Nick Nelson ‏@nnelson9 51s

      Milone in Oakland, career: 3.55 ERA, .679 opponent OPS. Milone elsewhere: 4.52, .778. Hope he likes Target Field as much as the Coliseum.

       

       

       

      Just tempering expectations a bit.

Vargas, Millone, Fuld moves hint to me there is another trade or two in the offing...

So, in terms of 2015, Hughes, Gibson, Meyers, May and Millone is not a bad start.  Probably need to add another starter into the mix because chances are someone will get injured or struggle.  That isn't being negative, it is just that injuries happen.

 

Add some outfielders who can run beside Arcia and maybe we don't lose 90.  Santana and Dozier will hopefully man the middle.  

 

Also, I am excited to see how Vargas does though I expect he will struggle as Arcia has.

 

Now we just need to get a ham sandwich for Suzuki, Willingham and Correia and I will be happy.

Hope you are right Dave. Would love to have the three Ms in the rotation with Hughes and Gibson. That would feel so future looking, and be effective eventually. Feeling more positive now......

Yeah, I mentioned the other day that they shouldn't really be targeting any back of the rotation types (i.e. Another Correia, Pelfrey etc) this just cinches it that they will likely stand pat in free agency this year and won't bring in a "crafty veteran"

 

Heading into 2015 it appears the Twins could actually have some nice pitching depth. If they end up with too many quality guys for the 5 spots you can always turn around and trade one of those guys for help elsewhere. The best thing in the world for this team would be for Nolasco to come back strong and pitch like he has in the past.

Something tells me that there may be more to the Nolaso situation with this.  Milone is a good get, especially for Fuld, but he doesn't fit into the picture.  The Twins have Nolaso, Pelfrey, Gibson, and Hughes starting next year without Milone.  Add a very ready Meyer and May to this mix and too many guys.  I'm wondering if the Twins have formally ruled out Pelfrey and Nolasco for next year, because otherwise this doesn't make much sense. 

So, in terms of 2015, Hughes, Gibson, Meyers, May and Millone is not a bad start.  Probably need to add another starter into the mix because chances are someone will get injured or struggle.  That isn't being negative, it is just that injuries happen.

 

 

You are forgetting about Nolasco, who while isn't an ace has a pretty long track record that indicates that he will ultimately be "fine" for this team.

 

Pelfrey is another wild card who could come back and be decent, however I would put that at about 20% while I would put the odds of Nolasco coming back eventually (late this year or 2015) and being at least "average" at 80%

Something tells me that there may be more to the Nolaso situation with this.  Milone is a good get, especially for Fuld, but he doesn't fit into the picture.  The Twins have Nolaso, Pelfrey, Gibson, and Hughes starting next year without Milone.  Add a very ready Meyer and May to this mix and too many guys.  I'm wondering if the Twins have formally ruled out Pelfrey and Nolasco for next year, because otherwise this doesn't make much sense. 

If anything I think the Twins have ruled out Pelfrey as he is a super question mark coming back. I think you might be reading too much into the Nolasco theory, The Twins traded a 4th OF, chances are Milone was by far the best they would get back in trade for him.

 

Also, if Milone pitches solid the rest of the year for the Twins there is nothing that prevents them from potentially trading him during the off-season (likely getting something better than a 4th OF in return)

Edited July 31, 201412 yr by SpiritofVodkaDave

 

Some info from Nick Nelson:

 

1. Nick Nelson ‏@nnelson9 4m

   Milone: Fastball in mid-80s. Doesn't get many K's. Among most extreme fly ball pitchers in game. I don't love him. But for Fuld, why not?

    

    

   1. Nick Nelson ‏@nnelson9 51s

      Milone in Oakland, career: 3.55 ERA, .679 opponent OPS. Milone elsewhere: 4.52, .778. Hope he likes Target Field as much as the Coliseum.

       

       

       

      Just tempering expectations a bit.

 

 

Even a 5th pitcher with a 4.5 ERA would be fine.

Very surprised Bean is doing this.  Really the opposite of his typical strategy.  My guess is he knows he will replenish his minor league system with potential flips in Gray, Donaldson, Norris, Redick, Chavez, etc.

That was my initial impression as well.

 

But Beane sacrificed a relatively small part of the A's future.  Cespedes is a good but not great OF who is already expensive, will get a long, expensive contract after next season, and will turn 30 before that deal starts.

Even a 5th pitcher with a 4.5 ERA would be fine.

So, basically, at worst is a left handed Correia, cost-controlled for 3 years.

You are forgetting about Nolasco, who while isn't an ace has a pretty long track record that indicates that he will ultimately be "fine" for this team.

 

Pelfrey is another wild card who could come back and be decent, however I would put that at about 20% while I would put the odds of Nolasco coming back eventually (late this year or 2015) and being at least "average" at 80%

I sure did.  Nolasco, Hughes, Gibson, Meyer, May and MIllone is not bad in terms of depth and stuff.  Meyer and May will struggle and that is to be expected.  Hell, maybe Nolasco returns to form and the Twins are able to unload him at the deadline next year.

Cespedes for Lester was a really smart move by the A's.  Cespedes was not going to be re-signed, they are a serious World Series contender, and they will get a 1st round draft pick for Lester if he leaves.  They still have good depth in the farm system and they still have movable pieces if they want to reload.

If anything I think the Twins have ruled out Pelfrey as he is a super question mark coming back. I think you might be reading too much into the Nolasco theory, The Twins traded a 4th OF, chances are Milone was by far the best they would get back in trade for him.

 

 

 

 

I wonder if the Twins plan on turning Pelfrey into a RP when he recovers. I think that would be a good move and could possibly save his career.

Edited July 31, 201412 yr by Mike Frasier Law

Cespedes for Lester was a really smart move by the A's.  Cespedes was not going to be re-signed, they are a serious World Series contender, and they will get a 1st round draft pick for Lester if he leaves.  They still have good depth in the farm system and they still have movable pieces if they want to reload.

They don't get a pick for Lester.  They cannot give him a QO as he wasn't with the team for a year.  This is a bit of a surprising move in my opinion.  Not sure Oakland is better for it...  Now perhaps it's b/c they are going to go get Hammer... who knows.  Do they need a catcher too?  Beane seems willing to give up nice things right now.  Hammer + Suzuki could probably yeild a nice return. 

 

EDIT:  Just checked, they most definitely don't need a catcher... so much for that dream.

Edited July 31, 201412 yr by diehardtwinsfan

Who wins the foot race between Vargas, Parmalee, Arcia, Colobello and Willingham? Wonder if Vargas can play center field?

1)What is Millone's contract status?  This is his third full year in majors so I'm assuming he's still under team control for a little while.

 

He is first year arb eligible after the season, I believe. He's under team control through 2017.

There are no compensatory picks for guys traded mid-season, so the A's won't get a pick if/when he leaves.

 

edit: scooped.....

Edited July 31, 201412 yr by mike wants wins

Wow - the A's must feel like they can sign him.  Cespedes is quite a price to pay.

Cespedes also is a FA after 2015, and can't be given a qualifying offer. The A's dealt 1+ year of him for 2 months of Lester. I'm guessing Beane figures he won't be able to sign either of them, so he's going for it this year.

Cespedes for Lester was a really smart move by the A's.  Cespedes was not going to be re-signed, they are a serious World Series contender, and they will get a 1st round draft pick for Lester if he leaves.  They still have good depth in the farm system and they still have movable pieces if they want to reload.

Apparently, Cespedes's contract calls for him to be non-tendered after the deal is done, so no qualifying offer for him, and therefore, no 1st round draft pick for Boston.  

 

https://twitter.com/DCameronFG/status/494861101113155584

 

Still an interesting move for both sides, and I actually like it for both teams.  

Like the deal a bunch.  Starting pitching is the best trade currency and the Twins are starting to stockpile enough arms that they deal some of it without creating another hole to fill, which is the problem with dealing some of their other players.

I wonder if the Twins plan on turning Pelfrey into a RP when he recovers. I think that would be a good move and could possibly save his career.

Yeah, I am thinking that is a possibility, and honestly I could see Pelfrey actually becoming a pretty good option in the pen.