Trevor Bauer

[AlwaysinModeration]

Just speculating on the chances the Twins manage to trade for Trevor Bauer. He’s an iconoclast, does his own thing, spent years working with Driveline baseball, has a million pitches and lots of unique drills and stretches, and insists that he will be going year by year for contracts.

 

Cleveland is extremely hot right now and is looking to hunt the Twins down. Bauer would be a big part of that chase. And of course trading within the division means the Twins would potentially spend years facing some of their best prospects playing for Cleveland.

 

But, but, but - Derek Falvey has a really close connection with Bauer. That was the source of the Indians trading for him from the Diamondbacks in the first place (where his newfangled ways weren’t appreciated.). He hugely embraces, and really, has been at the vanguard, of new approaches to pitching, strength training, tunneling, improving velocity, etc. He says he was an average athlete who through persistence and video and repetitions and creativity and science created himself into a great pitcher.

 

I can’t imagine that Falvey wouldn’t love to get Bauer back on his team, and I am sure Wes Johnson would love to work with him and talk shop.

 

He’s 28.5 years old, eligible for one more year of arbitration. He’s posted 16 WAR in his career, including 3+ the last two, and increased his K% the last three years.

 

What are the chances he is a Twin by August 1, and what would the Twins need to give up to land him?

[notoriousgod71]

I would say there is zero chance he is a Twin by August 1 as the Indians could very well be within a game or two of the Twins, if not in first place.

[AlwaysinModeration]

I will mark down one vote for 0% chance.

 

It’s true, Cleveland could catch or pass Minnesota by August 1. That is definitely within the realm of possibilities.

[diehardtwinsfan]

This weekend will decide a lot of it. If one team sweeps, the other should be worried, and I could see Cleveland considering waiving the white flag if they are on the wrong end of that. If it's a 2-1 either way, I don't see this move happening. 

[Mr. Brooks]

0.1%

[SpicyGarvSauce]

Sweep Cleveland this weekend, and have Bauer get on the jet with the team.

[dex8425]

Zero percent chance, even if the Twins sweep Cleveland this weekend (more worried about the opposite occurring) Cleveland will still be very much in the Wild Card race. Plus, as others have stated, the Indians might very well be leading the AL central on August 1. 

[nicksaviking]

Yeah agree with the rest of the posters, Cleveland could be 10 back, but I don't think they're going to do anything to help the Twins win the division let alone the ALCS.

 

But Bauer's stated goal of only signing one year free agent deals probably already has Falvey drooling. I wouldn't be surprised if the Twins are a top suitor for him once he gets to choose his own destination.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Yeah agree with the rest of the posters, Cleveland could be 10 back, but I don't think they're going to do anything to help the Twins win the division let alone the ALCS.

 

But Bauer's stated goal of only signing one year free agent deals probably already has Falvey drooling. I wouldn't be surprised if the Twins are a top suitor for him once he gets to choose his own destination.

 

I have to admit, I didn't realize Bauer would do that... That will be interesting. If he performs, he'd make a boatload more than he would in a long term deal. One injury though... 

[Danchat]

It does sound like the Indians are going to try to trade Bauer despite being in a playoff race, but I highly doubt the Twins will be in contention to acquire him.

[Cap'n Piranha]

I don't get the fascination with Bauer.  His FIP and xFIP are the worst they've been since 2015, his k rate is down, walk rate is up, and his hard hit allowed % is the highest it's ever been.  His FIP is 41st among qualified starters, and xFIP is 44th.  He's a decent piece, but when you take into account the premium you probably will have to pay for the intra-division trade, I'm just not that interested.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Wonder if Bauer just signed his fate this afternoon. He chucked a ball into the CF fountains in KC as he was getting taken out. Tito wasn’t happy with that display.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Wonder if Bauer just signed his fate this afternoon. He chucked a ball into the CF fountains in KC as he was getting taken out. Tito wasn’t happy with that display.

Cleveland still holds the top wild card spot by 3.5 games. It would be rather bold to sell from that position.

 

Is any team willing to pay for 2018 Bauer? He's still a solid arm but 2018 is looking like a bit of an anomaly. If all they get is a Stroman-type return, it's probably not worth it for Cleveland.

[brvama]

>1% chance. Not sure I'd want to give up anything to the Indians to help them out at this juncture. Also, don't think he would fit into the FO goal to latch unto controllable assets into the future with his one year signings. Agree with the Cap'n, not sure I want him.

[Mike Sixel]

>1% chance. Not sure I'd want to give up anything to the Indians to help them out at this juncture. Also, don't think he would fit into the FO goal to latch unto controllable assets into the future with his one year signings. Agree with the Cap'n, not sure I want him.

There isn't much evidence they only want controllable players. Cron, Cruz, Schoop, Odo, and more had one or two year deals/control.

[brvama]

There isn't much evidence they only want controllable players. Cron, Cruz, Schoop, Odo, and more had one or two year deals/control.

Of those players they took 1 year flyers on Cron and Schoop. However, they've said several times in the past that their goal is to build a strong competitive for years and controllable assets are the key to accomplishing that. Of course that takes 1 and 2 year contracts, especially if our prospects are not quite ready. As far as Bauer, I view him, maybe unwisely, as a bit of a hot head and would be concerned that he could negatively impact the cohesiveness of the current team. Maybe a change in locations would help but I still would pass.

[dougd]

Bauer is a friend of Berrios and has a good relationship with Falvey, apparently. I think he would be a good asset and fit in well. I doubt he will be traded to the Twins though.

[ashbury]

Bauer is a friend of Berrios and has a good relationship with Falvey, apparently. I think he would be a good asset and fit in well. I doubt he will be traded to the Twins though.

Bauer reached the majors the year that Berrios was drafted and pitched in Elizabethton. How did their paths ever cross in such a way that they became more than passing acquaintances? Do players with the same agency (Wasserman in their cases) get chummy, or does that usually work the other way around?

[TFRazor]

 

Bauer reached the majors the year that Berrios was drafted and pitched in Elizabethton. How did their paths ever cross in such a way that they became more than passing acquaintances? Do players with the same agency (Wasserman in their cases) get chummy, or does that usually work the other way around?

No idea how they became acquainted but they have. Enough so that Bauer helped out at a camp that Berrios held in PR during the offseason.

 

https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/jose-berrios-hosts-clinic-in-puerto-rico-c302419444

[ashbury]

No idea how they became acquainted but they have. Enough so that Bauer helped out at a camp that Berrios held in PR during the offseason.

 

https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/jose-berrios-hosts-clinic-in-puerto-rico-c302419444

Good find. Probably agency-related, or agency-enabled when one player mentioned something.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Good find. Probably agency-related, or agency-enabled when one player mentioned something.

They were both in the all-star game bullpen in 2018 too, which could have involved some further fraternization.

 

I also wonder if there were some off-field, cross-team events during the Twins-Cleveland series in Puerto Rico...

[SomeGuy]

 

There isn't much evidence they only want controllable players. Cron, Cruz, Schoop, Odo, and more had one or two year deals/control.

Those players were signed in a period of uncertainty for us though. We were still trying to assess the core we had. I think they take a different approach this offseason.

 

Looking at each individually looks a lot differently than lumping the length of contract together as a philosophy. Cruz is one of the best hitters out there but also 38 years old. Cron was a waiver claim that was a clear upgrade from what we had and cheap enough to make him hard to pass up. Schoop wanted a 1 year deal to reestablish his value and we wanted to bridge the gap to Arraez, Gordon, etc.

 

But I'm not against having Bauer and possibly signing him to 1 year deals. I think that is an error in judgement on his part. He should be looking for a long term deal IMO. From the Indians perspective though I think they wait to trade him in the offseason or keep him.

[AlwaysinModeration]

So the last pitch Bauer threw as an Indian was a 350 foot strike to CF.

[Squirrel]

The Bauer to the Reds trade is also being discussed here:

 

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/34219-bauer-traded-to-reds-in-three-team-deal-with-padres/?do=findComment&comment=889979

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Sucks to see Indians get Puig.

It depends which Puig they get. The one the Reds got, not a big deal. He's been a worse hitter than Cron and slightly better than Schoop, who we all seem to hate around here.

 

That other Puig is quite a bit scarier.

[Riverbrian]

OK Twins

 

Your Move. 

[AlwaysinModeration]

OK Twins

 

Your Move.

Is this a Brett Favre situation? Now that Bauer is with the Jets, I mean Reds, the Twins could trade for him. You have to admit, It would be fun to see Bauer pitch against the Indians three times in the last two months.

 

At the very least, I have to think the odds of Bauer being a Twin by this time tomorrow have increased a little bit.

[Riverbrian]

 

Is this a Brett Favre situation? Now that Bauer is with the Jets, I mean Reds, the Twins could trade for him. You have to admit, It would be fun to see Bauer pitch against the Indians three times in the last two months.

At the very least, I have to think the odds of Bauer being a Twin by this time tomorrow have increased a little bit.

 

I think it would be fun to see Bauer pitch 3 times against anyone in a Twins uniform. 

 

Favre is the PTBNL in the Romo deal. No one is supposed to know this but I intercepted the information. 

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

So the last pitch Bauer threw as an Indian was a 350 foot strike to CF.

A strike? Angel Hernandez was the umpire, I presume?

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

A strike? Angel Hernandez was the umpire, I presume?

He called a strike, then ejected Bauer and most of the centerfield fans.

 

And sued them.