I looked at rumored or likely trade destinations for Justin Morneau.

 

However, Morneau can only play first base and designated hitter, so being league average just doesn't cut it. This means the Twins need to hope that someone will overvalue him based on his career track record and his supposed intangibles as a veteran leader.

 

You can read the rest of Minnesota Twins: Top Destinations for Justin Morneau at Yahoo! Sports.

 

Will the Twins be offered enough to justify trading Morneau? Are there other teams more likely to make an offer for him?

Being league average will get something. By definition, leage average means half of the teams in the league don't have something as good as Morneau. Given the issues at hand, I suspect Morneau won't generate much of a return, but they should get something.

League average with a well above average salary. I expect the Twins will have him through the rest of the season.

League average with a well above average salary. I expect the Twins will have him through the rest of the season.

 

I think that depends on who is interested and how much the Twins are willing to eat of his salary.

I think the Yankees will go after him. A lot of guys in his position go into NY and hit homers to right field. He fits that ballpark well, whereas Target Field, not so much.

I'm going to guess Baltimore is the team that goes after him. They can mix Roberts in with the defense. Plus, I'm just not that sure the Yanks are really contenders.

Im all for trading him but as of now I don't see many good fits. Unless he gets hot and/or someone gets injured on a play off contender I don't see him going any where. If we could get a controllable RPer and a lottery tick I would be ecstatic.

Would you consider trading Morneau for a competitive balance pick to be a fair trade, not enough of a return, or not enough Morneau?

Jon Heyman article on the Twins and the trade deadline.

 

Twins update: Perkins expects to stay, Morneau market looks soft - CBSSports.com

Would you consider trading Morneau for a competitive balance pick to be a fair trade, not enough of a return, or not enough Morneau?

 

Round A I would definitely take it, Round B, probably not...

I think Morneau would make some sense in Colorado. It's one of the few places where he'd be an upgrade at first place and I could see Justin going there in the offseason to replace Helton. Has a friend on the team in Cuddyer and a house in Scottsdale, where the Rockies have spring training. Could serve as an audition.

I think Morneau would make some sense in Colorado. It's one of the few places where he'd be an upgrade at first place and I could see Justin going there in the offseason to replace Helton. Has a friend on the team in Cuddyer and a house in Scottsdale, where the Rockies have spring training. Could serve as an audition.

 

I'm guessing Cuddy moves to 1B to take over there when Helton is done.

Morneau for Hughes straight up. Give him a chance to pitch in target field before signing him to a 3 year 35 mil deal this offseason

Morneau for Hughes straight up. Give him a chance to pitch in target field before signing him to a 3 year 35 mil deal this offseason

 

Hughes is a FA after this season. I wouldn't be opposed to the Twins signing Hughes then, but why would you trade Morneau for a rental?

Morneau for Hughes straight up. Give him a chance to pitch in target field before signing him to a 3 year 35 mil deal this offseason

 

There are only a couple of pitchers on the market next year who have few enough age/health/performance questions to recieve deals longer than 2-3 years. Hughes along with Garza and perhaps Ervin Santana and Ricky Nolasco could rangle a 4+ year deal under the right circumstances. Lincicum is too risky performance-wise, Johnson health-wise and Halladay age-wise.

 

Considering that whoever trades for Garza will surely try to re-sign him during the exclusive window before free agency begins, Hughes may very likely be the pitcher who signs the longest term deal next year.

 

I'll be shocked if it's less than four years with five being possible. By default he is going to get overpaid, I don't see the Twins anywhere near him. His agent won't even have to do any work, he is going to be constantly talked about once free agency comes around because there won't be enough quality names to hype and discuss. NY loving ESPN and the big market media have put this guys name on the map even when undeserved and everyone knows (or at least correctly assumes) that his splits away from Yankee Stadium are quite better. Being the youngest free agent pitcher on the market is also going to make him attractive. Even if the Twins did somehow sign the season's "top free agent pitcher contract" what a bummer it would be if it was the year it belonged to Phil Hughes.

Hughes is a FA after this season. I wouldn't be opposed to the Twins signing Hughes then, but why would you trade Morneau for a rental?

 

Why? You don't end up paying 6M of Morny's contract and you have a window to sign Hughes no one else has.

Why? You don't end up paying 6M of Morny's contract and you have a window to sign Hughes no one else has.

 

You'd only save about $2.5 million on Morneau because you'd be taking on Hughes, who's making $7.15 million.

 

The negotiating window with Hughes doesn't interest me all that much. I don't think it will make a big difference if they really want to bring in Hughes.

Edited July 22, 201313 yr by Boom Boom
accuracy

To see if Hughe pitches better in TF than Yankee stadium? Not sure.....I'd deal Morneau for anything, to get Parmalee/Colobello (sp?) at bats consistently. I see little advantage to him being on the roster at this point.

You'd only save about $2.5 million on Morneau because you'd be taking on Hughes, who's making $7.15 million.

 

The negotiating window with Hughes doesn't interest me all that much. I don't think it will make a big difference if they really want to bring in Hughes.

 

fair enough, though Ryan traded Castillo just to save 1M in 2007. I appreciate the facts check, though. I hadn't considered Hughes salary.

I like Hughes a little bit, as a FA acquisition I'd be fine with him. I'd just rather trade Morneau for a mediocre prospect than an established player that may walk at the end of the season anyway.

Hughes is a FA after this season. I wouldn't be opposed to the Twins signing Hughes then, but why would you trade Morneau for a rental?

Because Hughes will prob get a qualifying offer if he isn't traded and you wouldn't have to give up a pick.

 

Also you would have time to observe him and have a head start on negoating with him.

To see if Hughe pitches better in TF than Yankee stadium? Not sure.....I'd deal Morneau for anything, to get Parmalee/Colobello (sp?) at bats consistently. I see little advantage to him being on the roster at this point.

 

Dealing Morneau just to deal him seems silly.

Dealing Morneau just to deal him seems silly.

 

Considering that his contract is coming to an end and that the Twins have turned down his attempts to negotiate an extension 3 times I would say that it is silly to not deal Morneau.

But there's no reason to make a deal purely for the sake of making a deal, which is what MWM seems to be advocating for, although I could be reading that incorrectly.

Clearly get something, but what you really get is at bats for guys that might be here next year. That is likely more valuable than any player they get, frankly. There is zero value in keeping him right now.

I think Morneau gets moved in August on a waiver deal--for nothing.

Why? You don't end up paying 6M of Morny's contract and you have a window to sign Hughes no one else has.

 

Why would Hughes sign a deal right before he hits FA? How is trading Morny for Hughes productive?

The Twins are not actively pushing for a trade. That is rather silly, in my view. If they really want him for the future, they can just sign him in the offseason. Meanwhile, give him a chance to compete this year for some team. There are mid-level prospects in various organizations.

Oh, and Phil Hughes? Why are we considering that, again?

 

How about Dan Camarena and Bryan Mitchell for Morneau and his salary?

The Twins are not actively pushing for a trade. That is rather silly, in my view. If they really want him for the future, they can just sign him in the offseason. Meanwhile, give him a chance to compete this year for some team. There are mid-level prospects in various organizations.

 

What makes you think they aren't pushing for a trade? Biggest issue is he has such minimal value.