Article: How Aggressive Should The Twins Be About Trading Eduardo Nunez

[drivlikejehu]

Other teams aren't fooled. They understand baseball and won't overpay for Nunez.

[troyhobbs]

 

Nunez will be, at best, the 24th or 25th player on someone's roster by the time the Twins are a WS contender again.
I can't believe that roughly half the people in here think that we should hold onto him.

They need to trade him, and trade him for whatever they can get today, while he's still hot.

The "real" Eduardo Nunez is likely a replacement level player.

He won't bring in much, is cheap, and profiles nicely as a bench player. Since he can play multiple positions he can get playing time without blocking any of the young guys. Someone has to sit the bench and better a replacement level veteran than a kid that would be better served playing everyday at the minor league level. If they trade him for some project that may never make the big leagues then what is the point? That being said, I don't think anyone would flip out if he was traded.

[whydidnt]

At this point he's not blocking anyone and is cheap. Why give him away for nothing? Sure if you can get a piece that could help down the road, but if not,there's no good reason just to get rid of him.

 

Nunez will be, at best, the 24th or 25th player on someone's roster by the time the Twins are a WS contender again.

I can't believe that roughly half the people in here think that we should hold onto him.

 

They need to trade him, and trade him for whatever they can get today, while he's still hot.

 

The "real" Eduardo Nunez is likely a replacement level player.

[Mr. Brooks]

He won't bring in much, is cheap, and profiles nicely as a bench player. Since he can play multiple positions he can get playing time without blocking any of the young guys. Someone has to sit the bench and better a replacement level veteran than a kid that would be better served playing everyday at the minor league level. If they trade him for some project that may never make the big leagues then what is the point? That being said, I don't think anyone would flip out if he was traded.

He may only bring back a lotto ticket or two, I'm fine with that.

In a vacuum it's unlikely that whoever he brings back will pan out, but the more lottery tickets you acquire the better chance you have of hitting.

We can sign anyone to ride the pine for a few more 90 loss seasons, we have no real need for Nunez in the near future.

He has value coming off the bench on a contending team. Not so much on a 90 plus loss team.

[troyhobbs]

 

He may only bring back a lotto ticket or two, I'm fine with that.
In a vacuum it's unlikely that whoever he brings back will pan out, but the more lottery tickets you acquire the better chance you have of hitting.
We can sign anyone to ride the pine for a few more 90 loss seasons, we have no real need for Nunez in the near future.
He has value coming off the bench on a contending team. Not so much on a 90 plus loss team.

Ya, I could get down with that too. It's really kind of a "meh" situation. Now some of the other guys on the roster just flat out need to go but I'd personally probably hang on to Nunez unless something better than what I'd expect to get for him came along.

[Vanimal46]

The justification of "he's not blocking anyone, why give him away?" I'm sure was used when describing Kurt Suzuki, Josh Willingham, and Phil Hughes too.

 

There's rumblings all the time of keeping players too long until they're no longer valuable. Well, Nunez came out of no where this season to prove he's more valuable than we thought. There won't be a better time to get a return on a trade than this season.

[whydidnt]

Those guys you mentioned were all starters and making much more than Nunez and quite possibly would have returned more as well. Not really comparable. And for the record I was on board with dealing both Willingham and Suzuki. Hughes was still under control for 2 years. I wanted to keep him and see what he could do. Thought the extension was stupid.

The justification of "he's not blocking anyone, why give him away?" I'm sure was used when describing Kurt Suzuki, Josh Willingham, and Phil Hughes too.

 

There's rumblings all the time of keeping players too long until they're no longer valuable. Well, Nunez came out of no where this season to prove he's more valuable than we thought. There won't be a better time to get a return on a trade than this season.

[troyhobbs]

 

The justification of "he's not blocking anyone, why give him away?" I'm sure was used when describing Kurt Suzuki, Josh Willingham, and Phil Hughes too.

There's rumblings all the time of keeping players too long until they're no longer valuable. Well, Nunez came out of no where this season to prove he's more valuable than we thought. There won't be a better time to get a return on a trade than this season.

In 2012 I think Willingham could've actually brought in something pretty decent and a lot of people thought they should trade him. I don't think anyone wanted Suzuki and the Twins countered the rest of the league's disinterest with an extension. Hughes was the only bright spot on a terrible rotation in '14. I wouldn't have traded him either because you need someone to pitch and they had him at a reasonable price. You probably won't find that too easily in the off-season. Of course the extension was unnecessary as has been hashed out here before.

 

If I was GM I wouldn't waste my time shopping around a guy who is very affordable and likely won't bring in anything of value to the future but if something comes along that is good then, sure, take it.

[mlhouse]

 

I think they should be aggressively shopping pretty much anyone over 27 or so.

 

Exactly.  If they traded Plouffe, Dozier, Nunez and got a dozen practice baseballs apiece they should do the trade.  I have always liked Brian Dozier.  He was a solid player for the past 3 years but disappointing too because he never seemed to be able to put it all together.  Although he is only in his 5th year he is 29 years old.  The future of this team is at least 2-4 years out.  HE needs to make way for a younger player.  Same with Plouffe. 

 

What is disappointing is Eduardo Escobar.  The previous two seasons he looked like he could be a solid big league SS, with OPS > 720 and over 100 OPS+.  For a SS he had nice power numbers, over 40% of his hits were extra bases two years in a row, and he had over 10 HR last year.  This year he essentially sucks.

[Kwak]

It's self-defeating to trade Nunez--he is one of the few players actually performing well. The Twins are drafting future minor leaguers as we speak. There  is no need to trade a bona fide, useful, major league player for a lottery ticket. There is a paucity of useful ,MLB-quality players on this team trading one away because his stats may decline is ludicrous.

[Mr. Brooks]

It's self-defeating to trade Nunez--he is one of the few players actually performing well. The Twins are drafting future minor leaguers as we speak. There is no need to trade a bona fide, useful, major league player for a lottery ticket. There is a paucity of useful ,MLB-quality players on this team trading one away because his stats may decline is ludicrous.

Why?

Because having Nunez might allow us to only lose 98 games the next couple years instead of 100?

 

It's time for this club to finally fully commit to a rebuild.

That means trading guys like him.

 

Nunez will not continue to play even close to this well.

 

I don't want to hear anything about supposed hindsight next year when he's a replacement level player and we declined to trade him.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I guess the question with Nunez really lies on whether or not he's going to be here when the team is competitive again.  If the FO is not sold on Buxton, Sano, Kepler, Arcia, and the other young guys in AAA/MLB, then yeah, trade him.  If they think this can be the next wave, then keep him unless you get a good offer.  Otherwise, you're always selling. 

[Mr. Brooks]

I guess the question with Nunez really lies on whether or not he's going to be here when the team is competitive again. If the FO is not sold on Buxton, Sano, Kepler, Arcia, and the other young guys in AAA/MLB, then yeah, trade him. If they think this can be the next wave, then keep him unless you get a good offer. Otherwise, you're always selling.

Even if those guys all pan out, who is going to pitch?

 

This team is several years away from having a pitching staff that is just not embarrassing, never mind competitive.

Sorry to say, but this team is not even close.

[DaveW]

He'll be out of baseball by then. Very likely retired.

[Champuckett]

When was the last time the Twins did a mid-season trade of a hot commodity?  Frank Viola?

 

I don't think it's likely that this happens, as intelligent as it would be to execute.  

 

TR doesn't like "giving away" players that are playing well.  Suzuki of 2014 comes to mind.  He just doesn't like doing it, when all indications point to a player having a career year and being at peak value.

 

 

 

 

[jimmer]

 

When was the last time the Twins did a mid-season trade of a hot commodity?  Frank Viola?

 

I don't think it's likely that this happens, as intelligent as it would be to execute.  

 

TR doesn't like "giving away" players that are playing well.  Suzuki of 2014 comes to mind.  He just doesn't like doing it, when all indications point to a player having a career year and being at peak value.

Shannon Stewart?

[Otto von Ballpark]

When was the last time the Twins did a mid-season trade of a hot commodity? Frank Viola?

.

The first Rick Aguilera deal, perhaps?

[Otto von Ballpark]

Shannon Stewart?

I suspect Stewart wasn't that hot of commodity, hence why he only netted Kielty who wasn't even a prospect anymore, just an average-ish outfielder himself.

[jimmer]

 

I suspect Stewart wasn't that hot of commodity, hence why he only netted Kielty who wasn't even a prospect anymore, just an average-ish outfielder himself.

I really need to remember to put smiley faces up after ever joke I make...

[jimbo92107]

Moving all the veterans (including the younger ones) isn't about getting that much in return. It's about clearing the way for lots of much younger, cheaper players in the Twins system, guys like Berresford, Wheeler, Darnell, Polanco, Wimmers, etc. If the Twins plan to be competitive a few years from now, this is a perfect opportunity to give extended tryouts to lots of young, cheap players, most of whom may not stick, but it no longer matters in this flushed season. 

 

One side benefit is that it allows some of these veterans to escape a lousy situation in Minnesota for possibly a more promising situation elsewhere. Guys like Plouffe, Dozier, Escobar, Nunez, etc, deserve a chance to do something other than lose, lose, lose on a team with the worst pitching in the league. 

 

If the Twins can get a decent low-A prospect for each of these guys, they should go for it. Meanwhile, they've got to clear out Hughes, Nolasco, Jepsen and Santana. They might get another low-A prospect for Abad, same with Kintzler and Tonkin, who might firm up into a decent set-up guy. 

[spinowner]

 

Moving all the veterans (including the younger ones) isn't about getting that much in return. It's about clearing the way for lots of much younger, cheaper players in the Twins system, guys like Berresford, Wheeler, Darnell, Polanco, Wimmers, etc. 

Of this group I'll agree about Polanco. Beresford, Darnell and Wimmers are all 27, not what I'd call younger. Wheeler's 25.

[jimmer]

I'm guessing they will keep Nunez for next year, he'll go back to being what he's always been, and any trade value he may have built up will be gone.  

[jimbo92107]

Of this group I'll agree about Polanco. Beresford, Darnell and Wimmers are all 27, not what I'd call younger. Wheeler's 25.

Granted, but my point is to use the rest of this season as a tryout for everybody that might possibly have value at the mlb level. This is the time to find out, and they're all cheap. The pitchers in question are unlikely to implode if the first guy they face hits a home run. Unlike Berrios, a guy like Pat Dean has seen his stuff get pounded, and his heart rate doesn't go crazy. Same should be true for the other veteran AAA pitchers. 

 

It's quite possible that Darnell and Wimmers just don't have enough talent to be major leaguers, but Wheeler might. Beresford has literally earned a shot at being a utility infielder, especially if the Twins deal Nunez. We won't know unless the Twins start making these moves. 

[Fritzderkat]

Please, don't trade Nunez. You turn on the TV and he's the only one out there worth watching. Maybe Kepler one of these days, Grossman until such time that he refinds his own level (which can't be far off). Abad, Burbi and Chagois may all be worth something, but they're one or two inning guys and by the time the Twins get to the late innings, there's rarely anything left to save. Maybe they could start 'em for one inning each, then bring in Nolasco and Jepsen to take the rest of the five, six innings for the team.

 

 

[Linus]

I would keep him as I would be trading both Plouffe and Dozier. He would be great insurance in case Polanco didn't work out.

[Darius]

I'd prefer they see what they can get for him. I would be surprised if this performance was sustained much longer. So, the sooner the better.

 

That said, I'm not real optimistic that they could get enough to pull the trigger. Every team is aware of his track record. Maybe this is the new Nunez, but I'm not sure it's been a large enough sample for teams to justify parting with good prospects at this point.

[Steve J]

I actually think Nunez has some value.  He is of course hitting over his head right now, but since he has been with the Twins his defense has looked a lot better.  his 18+ UZR at SS last year is probably an outlier, but I think he's gone from a plainly bad infield defender to a mediocre one.  His OF stats have been rather good!

 

I think a number of teams look at him as a guy who could be realistically expected to hit around a 100ops while not being a complete failure in the field.  He has "stopgap" written all over him, which is good because I'm fairly certain he was viewed as a castoff when the Twins acquired him.

 

I have no idea what other teams would offer, however...

[DocBauer]

I think it's a given that you need not give him away, it's also a given however that he should be shopped and sold if the return is right. If you have the opportunity to cash in on a guy like Nunez, it's your job to do it.

Short, sweet, to the point, and accurate.

 

Nunez should be shopped, like a lot of guys on this team. And if someone really needs INF help in the form of Nunez and offers something actually solid...best we could hope for is a decent to good AA or A+ prospect, IMHO...then you probably do it.

 

The problem, as I see it, is whether or not Nunez actually holds much trade value at all. Meaning, versatile, decent bat, pop, speed, and someone who brings enjoyment to the game, and is quite inexpensive, is he perhaps or more value for another year or two as a Twins bench role player than a low level milb RP, for instance? I like Nunez for what he is/has been, regardless of his tremendous first half. But is there a team out there that would actual VALUE him enough to even make a trade worthwhile?

 

Unlike Plouffe, who I also have liked, he's not an expensive veteran blocking a young player from a spot or interfering with roster construction. I believe the more prudent move would be to trade Plouffe and Dozier, slide Polanco in to 2B, and have Nunez and Escobar at SS and utility along with Santana and/or Beresford.

 

Top young prospect Polanco now has a home. SS is still open for Gordon when ready, but you still have decent options for SS and utility until then. Inexpensive options at that. Ideal? No. But aren't we talking about the future, building for the future, creating opportunities for the youngsters, and maybe even saving some payroll? We might even get lucky and find a halfway decent young catcher in one of these trades to compete with Centeno and Murphy for next year.

[Kwak]

 

I would keep him as I would be trading both Plouffe and Dozier. He would be great insurance in case Polanco didn't work out.

Or any other infielder!

 

If Plouffe is traded (if not, the DFA him) and Dozier is traded (I hope), trading the proven bench INF seems foolish. The consensus that Plouffe wouldn't fetch much and that Dozier's trade value is uncertain I find it laughable that Nunez is going to fetch some hot prospect! At best the Twins receive a minor league player who develops into the next Nunez. A ridiculous trade!

Edited June 12, 2016 by Kwak

[Deduno Abides]

Looked into this a little more. In 2009, the Pirates traded 3-time All Star Freddie Sanchez at age 31 for one minor league filler pitcher. That is a negative data point for a trade. Nunez is younger and hitting better than Sanchez was at the time of his trade, and Nunez has a much better contract. Hopefully those would be positive data points.

 

Really, perhaps the ideal team to trade him to is the White Sox, who are going all in and just brought up a rookie to play SS. If they're still in it in a month, but the rookie is struggling, maybe they'll trade something of value.

 

Another candidate could be the Dodgers, who have somewhat fragile veterans at 2B and 3B, with little back-up on the 40-man, and a stacked minor league system.

 

The main factor in Nunez' trade value will be the need of the other party, assuming the buyer can get some comfort that his performance will remain decent enough to contribute to a playoff push.

Edited June 12, 2016 by Deduno Abides