Article: Twins Trade Targets

[RealTwinsFan357]

The Twins are closer than they seem. Santana, Vargas, Arcia, Sano and Buxton are going to lead this team somewhere. I see no reason why the Twins can't be aggressive this off-season and make it happen. If the Twins trade for an outfielder and a starting pitcher, the boost we would receive mid-summer with the arrival of Buxton and Sano could give them what they need to be a legitimate playoff contender. I have selected my top five trade candidates for both pitcher and outfielder. Obviously, some are more realistic than others.Pitchers:

1. Cole Hamels

 

Hamels has four years plus an option year left at $22.5 million each. He would be tough to get, but the Phillies are going to need a youth movement soon, so he may be obtainable.

 

2. Andrew Cashner

 

Cashner will be a free agent in 2017, but could potentially be extended. This year, he made $2.4 million. He is a solid pitcher and wouldn't increase the payroll quite as much as Hamels. He could also be harder to obtain, however.

 

3. Gio Gonzalez

 

Gonzalez is a great pitcher, but the Nationals have so many great pitchers that they could afford to deal from strength. This trade would probably cause the Twins to give up more than they want to. His contract is quite nice, with two more guaranteed years (at $11 and $12 million), followed by two options.

 

4. Jon Niese

 

I've heard some talk that the Mets could deal Niese this off-season. He would pair nicely at the front of our rotation with Hughes. He has a similar contract structure to Gonzalez for a couple million less per year.

 

5. Ian Kennedy

 

Kennedy will be a free agents after one more season, so the Twins would only want him with the idea of extending him, but I think he is good enough to be an effective pitcher. He also wouldn't be as hard as the others to pry from his current team.

 

Outfielders:

 

1. Mookie Betts

 

Man would I love to have this guy. The Red Sox don't need him due to their abundance of prospects, but it would take a haul to bring him to Minnesota. Once Buxton gets here, the Twins would need to decide which center fielder to play in left--not necessarily a bad choice to have to make.

 

2. Sterling Marte

 

This is probably the most unrealistic trade I've proposed, but it's OK to dream, right? He's under control for five more years plus two option years.

 

3. Carl Crawford

 

The Dodgers have too many outfielders. I actually think this trade might be quite possible. His contract has three more years at just over $20 million per year.

 

4. Scott Van Slyke

 

Like Crawford, only younger and cheaper, Van Slyke won't be a free agent until 2020 and it is seems very redundant for the Dodgers to hold on to him.

 

5. Ryan Zimmerman

 

Like the Dodgers, the Nationals have plenty of outfielders. This is probably another unrealistic trade, but Zimmerman is under contract until 2019 and the Nationals may not want him to be one of their full-time outfielders. He currently makes $14 million per year.

 

Now, the obvious question is how I would acquire these players. I would be with being aggressive if I'm the GM of the Twins. I would be willing to consider trading Pinto, Escobar, Plouffe, Dozier, May, and any bullpen arm from the major league squad. As far as prospects, I would love to see us trade Eddie Rosario, and would be willing to trade a lower-level high upside arm as part of the right deal--perhaps Felix Jorge or Fernando Romero.

 

For pitchers, I would love to see the Twins acquire Hamels. It would be fair to give up some pretty good prospects to make this to happen.

 

In the outfield, as much as I would love Mookie Betts in a Twins uniform, I think trading for Carl Crawford or Scott Van Slyke would not be too difficult and would put the Twins in a great position offensively. The Dodgers should have interest in Pinto based on the quality of offense their catchers have put out this year. Maybe they would even take Nolasco's contract as part of the deal to help balance Crawford's contract.

 

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[diehardtwinsfan]

The Dodgers OF is looking like an interesting problem that could be taken advantage of. They have 3 high priced guys under contract to go with Puig who isn't going anywhere. Also, they have a young prospect in Joc Pederson knocking at the door with no room. If I were the Twins, I'd look at targeting Kemp. He's way overpaid and under contract for four more years, but at the same time posted a > .800 OPS this year, and he's only 29 I think. I don't know what his defense looks like these days, but he used to be a CF that (if memory serves me right) played pretty good defense. In the corner, I would think he'd be fine.

 

I'd love to go after Pederson, but I'm guessing he's going to be very expensive. Kemp, on the other hand, could be had relatively cheap if the Twins were willing to eat the contract. He'd instantly upgrade the offense in LF, and I have to think he'd better defensively than what we've trotted out there the last couple seasons. With the team getting younger, the payroll should be dropping over the next couple of years, so having another expensive guy like Kemp won't hurt them.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Kemp, Crawford, and Ethier are the guys the Dodgers want to move. Joc Pederson, Scott Van Slyke, and Yasiel Puig are the Future. LA won't want to move all three guys at once, but I think at least one of those three guys will be traded in the offseason.

 

Whether or not the Twins have the right package of players to get one of those guys remains to be seen.

 

Gerardo Parra, Justin Upton, Cespedes, Austin Jackson, and Drew Stubbs are just a few of the guys that will be due to be free agents after 2015. If their current teams can't (or don't want to) extend them, they may be trade candidates during the offseason or in 2015.

[drock2190]

I'm pretty sure the Red Sox dont want to deal Betts after the season he just had.

 

As for Marte, hes not that great imo. Bad plate discipline makes him a streaky hitter.

[HitInAPinch]

Crawford is 33 and overrated.  Just say no.

Would love Hammels, but Phillies have been talking shedding contracts and going full rebuild.  I think many Twins homers are underestimating how much the Phillies want in return, including taking over the entire remaining contract.

Betts has good minor league stats as he went up the scale.  But I don't see any pop.

Van Slyke seems like another pipe-dream.

I'm really not in favor with adding another starter who has a fastball that doesn't pop.  Twins need someone to offset the stuff of Hughes, Gibson. et el

[lightfoot789]

Why spend $19,500,000 more on an outfielder when you have a guy in your system who would cost you $500,000. We will be good next year, but could be great in 2016.
 

You have a guy in your system who has averaged 33 Home Runs & 124 RBI & 27 Doubles & 6 Triples & 102 Runs Scored per season when adjusting his numbers to two - 162 game schedules throughout his minor league career. He is only 22 years old and is the only position player in the system to be a Mid Season and Post Season All Star over the last 2 years. He will do what Kemp and Crawford give you but in his own dynamic way.
 

Adam Brett Walker II - For all his flaws - No one is basebal has a better winning percentage as him over the last 3 seaons.  And there are maybe a handful who have his poduction numbers over that (2 year) 162 game average. 

 

POINT:  Before you sell the ranch and Seabusciut  (not stature but in terms of doubters -lol) you better check your own stables again.  82% stolen base rate too.  Just saying - Despite his flaws................I can say firmly - There are very few better in the minors based on production numbers. 

 

Is the gamble worth $19,500,000 more and a contract you can't get rid of when our prospects come on like the Dodgers have?  DO NOT TRADE FOR AN OUTFIELDER

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

I have high Hopes for Walker, but I don't think he's going to make it beyond AAA in 2015.

[Winston Smith]

A crazy idea is to trade with the Jays for Bautista and Buehrle, the Jays clearing a lot of salary.

 

We send Plouffe and HIcks plus at least one prospect depending about how much money comes back. Of course we can also throw in Duensing and Butera.

 

Craziest trade I can come up with this early on a Monday. 

[iTwins]

The outfield overload in LA is something I think the Twins can take advantage of. Kemp would be my preference - and I'd start any trade talk for Kemp with Nolasco. Bad contract for bad contract - each with a chance to rebound if the other team is willing to take the risk.

[nicksaviking]

I don't want Kemp moping around the clubhouse.  He will mope if he's not playing CF and not getting on ESPN.  He will not play CF regularly as he cannot handle the positoin any more and he won't get on ESPN playing in Minnesota.

 

That being said, concern for Adam Walker who can't get on base in A ball should have zero considerations in off season moves. 

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Why spend $19,500,000 more on an outfielder when you have a guy in your system who would cost you $500,000. We will be good next year, but could be great in 2016.

 

You have a guy in your system who has averaged 33 Home Runs & 124 RBI & 27 Doubles & 6 Triples & 102 Runs Scored per season when adjusting his numbers to two - 162 game schedules throughout his minor league career. He is only 22 years old and is the only position player in the system to be a Mid Season and Post Season All Star over the last 2 years. He will do what Kemp and Crawford give you but in his own dynamic way.

 

Adam Brett Walker II - For all his flaws - No one is basebal has a better winning percentage as him over the last 3 seaons. And there are maybe a handful who have his poduction numbers over that (2 year) 162 game average.

 

POINT: Before you sell the ranch and Seabusciut (not stature but in terms of doubters -lol) you better check your own stables again. 82% stolen base rate too. Just saying - Despite his flaws................I can say firmly - There are very few better in the minors based on production numbers.

 

Is the gamble worth $19,500,000 more and a contract you can't get rid of when our prospects come on like the Dodgers have? DO NOT TRADE FOR AN OUTFIELDER

I like Walker, and I was really encouraged by his 2nd half improvement of contact numbers in high A, but he hasn't played in AA yet, and with his contact issues, I'd suspect he'd be eaten alive by major league pitching, worse than Hicks I might add who has a much better approach at the plate. I have high hopes for Walker and think he could be a star if he can figure out those contact issues, but I highly doubt he moves beyond AA next year, and I fully expect him to struggle a bit there.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

The outfield overload in LA is something I think the Twins can take advantage of. Kemp would be my preference - and I'd start any trade talk for Kemp with Nolasco. Bad contract for bad contract - each with a chance to rebound if the other team is willing to take the risk.

 

The only thing I see here is that Kemp was actually pretty decent this year... He just didn't perform at a 21M/yr level. I'd love to swap Kemp for Nolasco to make room for Meyer or for perhaps a second trade to bring in another high ceiling starter, but unless LA is desperate to get rid of Kemp, I think they will want something of more value than Nolasco... If that's all it takes, I'd do it yesterday. I am somewhat curious if they would be interested in Escobar. With Hanely being a free agent, they have a vacancy at SS. Not sure what their minor league situation looks like as I thought they had a cuban defector at SS coming up through minors, so that might not be an option.

[tobi0040]

kemp is tempting in a swap with Ricky, if we get that salary down to about $15M a year.  Then it is close to neutral given that we lose 11M and add 15M and a rooke starter (Meyer) instead of buying a LF.  His deal goes out 5 years though.

 

Kemp's OPS the last 5 years:

 

.760, .986, .906, .723, and .852

 

I don't see this happening, so hopefully Terry is looking for a guy with average to above average defense with at least an adequate bat (.280 with 15-20 HR).  I would also target a guy that hits righties very well.  Plouffe may get bumped off 3B sometime between April and June. He has always hit lefties very well.   We could platoon in LF and not have to give up the farm.

Edited September 29, 2014 by tobi0040

[DaveW]

Betts is going no where, Niese would be nice but the asking price would be pretty damn high.

 

I think their best bet is to try to bring in Kemp or Ethier and give the Dodgers Nolasco.

[nicksaviking]

The outfield overload in LA is something I think the Twins can take advantage of. Kemp would be my preference - and I'd start any trade talk for Kemp with Nolasco. Bad contract for bad contract - each with a chance to rebound if the other team is willing to take the risk.

 

I must have missed the part about Nolasco being the piece that brings over Matt Kemp.  That would interest me a little, however surely the first Tweet that Kemp gets from a fan saying, "I want you back with LA!" Kemp will respond, "Me too!!!!!!!!!"

[DJL44]

The guy you want from LA is Andre Ethier. Shorter, cheaper contract (only 3 years left with a vesting option). Good defender coming off a down year and mostly benched at the end of the season. If you deal Ricky (I want to be in LA!!!!!) Nolasco for Ethier you only increase payroll by $5M a season.

 

The other benched outfielder I'd like to see in a Twins uniform is Colby Rasmus. LF Ethier, CF Rasmus and RF Arcia is an outfield I could get excited about.

[gunnarthor]

Assuming Buxton and Sano are off limits, Hamels would probably require something like two of  Meyer/Stewart/Berrios + Polanco and one more prospsect or MLer.  And that might not be enough.

[Mike Sixel]

The guy you want from LA is Andre Ethier. Shorter, cheaper contract (only 3 years left with a vesting option). Good defender coming off a down year and mostly benched at the end of the season. If you deal Ricky (I want to be in LA!!!!!) Nolasco for Ethier you only increase payroll by $5M a season.

 

The other benched outfielder I'd like to see in a Twins uniform is Colby Rasmus. LF Ethier, CF Rasmus and RF Arcia is an outfield I could get excited about.

 

And what should they do with the other 20+ million dollars they have? Money should not be a limiting factor here at all.

 

Just checked Fangraphs, Andre Ethier is a bad defender, not a good defender. He has 1 year where he did not have a negative defensive rating, and that was a 0.1 rating.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

And what should they do with the other 20+ million dollars they have? Money should not be a limiting factor here at all.

 

Just checked Fangraphs, Andre Ethier is a bad defender, not a good defender. He has 1 year where he did not have a negative defensive rating, and that was a 0.1 rating.

 

He's not a good hitter either.

[DaveW]

Bautista would cost at least one of Sano/Buxton

[DJL44]

And what should they do with the other 20+ million dollars they have?

Andre Ethier is a bad defender, not a good defender. He has 1 year where he did not have a negative defensive rating, and that was a 0.1 rating.

 

They should spend the other $20M+ on Colby Rasmus and a pitcher to replace Nolasco of course.

 

Andre Ethier is a slightly below average CF who is likely to rate well in LF. He is much, much better than the Kubel, Willingham, Colabello and Parmelee levels of poor defense the Twins have had lately.

 

Ethier is definitely not a "poor" hitter. He's a really good hitter who had a bad year. The whole point here is to buy low. His down year was still better than any other outfielder on the Twins 2014 roster.

[scottz]

We should trade 2 or 3 of our average/bad players for 1 or 2 good players. If we have to trade 3 or 4 of our average/bad players, then we should do that, especially if they are former prospects who have shown to not be very good in the opportunities they have been given so far.

 

Add in Deunsing if they want more, but that's it. Then, good players will be ours.

[Monkeypaws]

We should trade 2 or 3 of our average/bad players for 1 or 2 good players. If we have to trade 3 or 4 of our average/bad players, then we should do that, especially if they are former prospects who have shown to not be very good in the opportunities they have been given so far.

 

Add in Deunsing if they want more, but that's it. Then, good players will be ours.

And what opposing GM is gonna go for that?

 

"Hmm, if there's anything I like better than average/bad players, it's lots of them."

[Mike Sixel]

And what opposing GM is gonna go for that?

 

"Hmm, if there's anything I like better than average/bad players, it's lots of them."

 

I'm pretty sure the inclusion of Deunsing indicates you missed some sarcasm.....

[Kwak]

This off-season will determine how serious the Front Office is about winning NOW vs selling hope (as well as a low payroll) about "winning soon".  Will there be big personnel changes or status quo with the sacrifice of some bits and pieces? 

[tobi0040]

And what opposing GM is gonna go for that?

 

"Hmm, if there's anything I like better than average/bad players, it's lots of them."

 

Yes, quantity over quality. Every GM knows that.

[iTwins]

I must have missed the part about Nolasco being the piece that brings over Matt Kemp.  That would interest me a little, however surely the first Tweet that Kemp gets from a fan saying, "I want you back with LA!" Kemp will respond, "Me too!!!!!!!!!"

 

I assumed too much in my original post - I thought some things would go without saying, but I should have been more clear. Take 2:

 

No, I don't think Nolasco is enough for Kemp straight up.

 

The Dogers would make a good trade partner, as they have a surplus of what the Twins need.

Of the Dodgers outfielders, I'd target Kemp.

To offset his deal, I'd require Nolasco to be part of the trade.

Any trade would obviously require more pieces than Kemp / Nolasco

[bird]

Does anyone have a good sense about how many and which teams may be in the mood to dump salary?

 

I know some of you will be incredulous, but indulge the thought for a moment, OK? Jim Pohlad has hinted rather strongly that Ryan has his permission to part with more cash if that's what it takes to improve the team. So maybe acquisitions like Kemp are more realistic this winter.

[Mike Sixel]

Toronto needs to shed salary. Philly should, but won't. Cincy should, but may not be wiling to admit it. Tampa's owner has already said they need to cut payroll (man, I feel sorry for that FO).

 

Those would be my guess. 

[Kwak]

Trading Nolasco to the Dodgers?  Ice cubes to Eskimoes, Oil to Saudis, etc. What a fantasy.