Twins Trade Suggests More Pieces to Move

[Ted Schwerzler]

When the Minnesota Twins became the mystery team in the three-way deal sending Mookie Betts to the Dodgers there was plenty of excitement. That is, until it was determined Brusdar Graterol was the piece going away. There’s a ton to unpack here, but the message from the front office is clear: More can be done.Right now, much of the Graterol swap for Kenta Maeda remains up in the air. The Boston Red Sox are holding up the deal after seemingly being the only people in the room unaware that Minnesota’s hurler had Tommy John and was likely ticketed for relief work. Assuming newly appoint GM Chaim Bloom finds his own feet, things will work out as planned.

 

The Twins clearly didn’t see Graterol as their best pitching prospect, or their third best overall. That should be a reminder the national lists are for public consumption and not utilized in negotiations. With other redundancies on the farm, Derek Falvey and Thad Levine should have near-immediate opportunity to make similar decisions this summer should they so choose.

 

Graterol was tabbed as expendable over the likes of Jhoan Duran or Jordan Balazovic. How they evaluate outfielders and first basemen could ultimately swing moves as well.

 

Right now, both Brent Rooker and Alex Kirilloff look destined to play a first base role at the major league level. Plenty has been made regarding concerns about Rooker’s footwork or adaptation to first, but it’s probably an initiative they’ll heavily push this year. He’s an older prospect at 25, and while he’s always been bat-first, being a DH exclusively would be suboptimal.

 

We’ve seen Kirilloff’s stock slide some over the last year, and despite a down 2019 due to wrist issues, that’s more due to the assumed positional switch as well. First base makes him less impactful than corner outfield, and also puts him in a spot where Minnesota is currently flush with options. I’d certainly be shocked to see him move, but if there’s a big fish to acquire, that’s a nice centerpiece in Minnesota’s back pocket.

 

The outfield is another area in which Minnesota could look to shed pieces. I’d imagine if there was any legitimate interest in Eddie Rosario this offseason, we would’ve seen something take place there. However, Royce Lewis could still be ticketed for the grass, and Byron Buxton’s name has come up in previous discussions. Also, 2019 competitive-balance round, 39th overall, pick Matt Wallner could be an option in a year or two, and the duo of Akil Baddoo or Gilberto Celestino may emerge. The next few months of evaluation should provide clarity.

 

It’s unquestionable that Graterol was a very good asset for Minnesota. Their evaluation determined his future contributions were capped though, and it will be that line of thinking that ultimately determines the next set of decisions. Acquiring a top-three starter like the Twins did in Kenta Maeda is a great move. If there’s another addition that pushes a club this good into a true World Series contender role though, they’ll have bullets to fire from a top-10 farm system.

 

It appears Falvey and Levine have their gun cocked and loaded. They won’t be afraid to pull the trigger.

 

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[jrod23]

Blows me away that  O'Halloran is all, "...wait wait wait wait wait wait wait.  You're telling me this guy had arm issues previous to this year?  You're telling me he's only thrown over 100 innings once in his career?  Why didn't I know this?  Are we the first to hear about this?"

Did Boston discover that Brusdar needs labrum, Tommy John, and wrist surgery all at once?  Seriously, what's going on here?

If we end up with Brusdar when this is said and done, I'm happy.  But Boston is coming off rather arrogant & ignorant.  Two qualities everyone loves.

[PDX Twin]

Red Sox = Yankees + Beards

[Richard Swerdlick]

When no big deal occurred in the fall, I kept telling my friends to be patient. The FO has shown me a willingness to do smart deals and to take their time for the market to evolve both for free agents and trading partners. 

[howieramone2]

Agree. Let the market come to us. Before our showdown with the Yankees we a need a #3 and can afford to overpay in prospect capital. Maeda fits perfectly.

[jbooth2367]

This makes no sense to me. Why should the team getting Kenta Maeda have to pay more than the team getting Mookie Betts? I think the Dodgers should have to throw an extra piece in. If they are unwilling, let them find a 3rd team. Looks to me the Red Sox GM got ripped off giving up Betts for only Verdugo and Graterol and got some backlash from fans, and is now back tracking.

[Harrison Greeley III]

Bad research prior to the agreement and shady tactics to save face after the agreement. Why would any team want to deal with this new Boston front office in the next 2-3 years? 

Maeda would be great, but if you've ever bought a house you know it's important to always be willing to walk away when there's something off about the parties involved. 

[Doctor Gast]

Yes, we`re jammed packed w/ OF & 1B prospects; yes, we still have needs in our starting rotation but where are the vacants. They are jammed w/ veteran & rookies hopefuls? Sorry, but I was more optimistic w/ last year`s non contending starting rotation than this year`s contending

[Shaitan]

"The Twins clearly didn’t see Graterol as their best pitching prospect, or their third best overall."

 

Or maybe a team's third best prospect is the cost of an above average starter under control for 4 years.

[TFRazor]

 

If we end up with Brusdar when this is said and done, I'm happy.  But Boston is coming off rather arrogant & ignorant.  Two qualities everyone loves.

Well, I mean, it is Boston...

[Nebraska Nick]

No possible way we should be giving up more that Graterol, just because the fans let Bloom have it on his first major deal.  Personally, I would pull out of the deal, and keep Graterol, and see where we are at the deadline.  Let the Dodgers supplement the pieces, as I wasn't keen on giving up Graterol for Maeda in the first place.  Let the Dodgers and Red Sox deal with themselves.

[darin617]

How is Rooker a 1st base candidate when he never played an inning there in 2019?

[MN_ExPat]

MLBTR and Bob Nightengale (?) are reporting that the deal will become final today.

[DocBauer]

"The Twins clearly didn’t see Graterol as their best pitching prospect, or their third best overall."

 

Or maybe a team's third best prospect is the cost of an above average starter under control for 4 years.

This.

 

The Twins don't dislike Graterol. He has a very talented arm with a huge potential future in front of him. And he's still very, very young. He might yet be a fine to great SP if nurtured a bit. But the FO brain trust sees him as a power BP arm. And that is still valuable, to the Twins or Boston.

 

But the prospect cost to bring in a quality starting SP is not some low level flier, or a couple of them.