One Prospect the Twins Should Be Willing to Trade

[Mike Sixel]

6 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

I see a lot less criticism of Rooker lately, but I wonder why? Maybe because in just 6 games he's hit for .348/.444/.826 OPS 1.271 and that tiny sample has now pushed him to an above average MLB bat for the season at OPS+ 113? I mean, this isn't going to continue, but he's also walked 11% while striking out only 19%.

If Rooker puts together a good run down the stretch, it would be hard to argue against his long term potential and it will be, yet again, another strike against the front office for not recognizing existing talent.

They drafted him .... seriously. Strike against them? 

[ashbury]

4 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

the chances that the corner bats at the top of everyone's wish list end up being better than the guys at the bottom, are probably fairly small. Rooker for a Smeltzer type?  Why?

How about a Larnach or Kirilloff for something  more substantial?

It depends on how much groupthink you believe there is among the extended scouting community. If you have confidence that your own scouting/evaluation department is drawing independent conclusions, then if the couple of guys they place at the top of the pecking order are the same as the other teams who keep inquiring, you might want to trust the aggregate feedback you're getting. You win championships with difference makers.

If they are telling you that a bunch of your prospects are closely matched (flaws and strengths varying but more or less equal on balance), or if your analytics team is chock full of evidence that it's all a crapshoot like you say, then sure, trade the guys who are higher ranked by national media or who certain teams keep asking you for.

Does require a lot of confidence in your staff, though.  And be prepared for the guy you trade away to pull a Baddoo on you and cause some bad press.

Finally, I question how "substantial" the players coming to you will be. Top-shelf pitching prospects aren't coming to you for a Larnach or a Kirilloff - that to me has been the flaw with the team's drafting strategy for several years now. You can't draft corner guys and then swap them for pitching that has reached high-A or AA.

[RpR]

If you want to see Sano improve, best way is to trade him,?