I really wouldn't be surprised, or disappointed if there were no moves now.

 

I definitely would not be surprised, but I would be disappointed. As for Morneau returning next year, that also wouldn't surprise me, nor would it disappoint me.

 

The surprise I am hoping for is Colabello turning into a multi-year asset.

Edited July 31, 201313 yr by AM.
Typo

Here is a comparison:

 

Dave Hollins 1996: .242/.364/.396, 13 HR, 53 RBI

Justin Morneau 2013: .264/.324/.396, 8 HR, 53 RBI

 

Hollins brought back a certain 20 year old David Arias who was hitting .322/.390/.511 with 18 HR and 93 RBI in the Midwest League. He was not an unknown... No reason that Morneau cannot bring something similar back, esp. if the Twins pay most of the $ he is owed.

Edited July 31, 201313 yr by Thrylos

I doubt there's a player in baseball that would bring back a David Arias.

Here is a comparison:

 

Dave Hollins 1996: .242/.364/.396, 13 HR, 53 RBI

Justin Morneau 2013: .264/.324/.396, 8 HR, 53 RBI

 

Hollins brought back a certain 20 year old David Arias who was hitting .322/.390/.511 with 18 HR and 93 RBI in the Midwest League. He was not an unknown... No reason that Morneau cannot bring something similar back, esp. if the Twins pay most of the $ he is owed.

 

That was 17 years ago. Prospects are looked at a bit differently these days.

I definitely would not be surprised, but I would be disappointed. As for Morneau returning next year, that also wouldn't surprise me, nor would it disappoint me.

 

The surprise I am hoping for is Colabello turning into a multi-year asset.

 

I too am hoping Colabello will be the guy that turns this trend of guys killing it at AAA and then not making it at the MLB level. It would be great if he could bridge the gap until Harrison, Hicks or Vargas come up or maybe even Walker gets coverted to 1B.

Perkins, Morneau and Pelfrey should all go, as well as Duensing and Doumit if anybody will take them. TR is making a huge mistake if he is holding onto Perkins, the one real asset we have. And both Morneau and Pelfrey are in contract years so why not get what you can? Ugh.

I don't understand much of the above. I really don't. First of all, Morneau can be traded AND then signed in the offseason, and the deal to get him is going to be nothing like his yearly rate for the past several years. Second, I don't understand why the alternative--keeping Morneau, Doumit, Duensing, Burton, etc. is really at all preferable to getting a bunch of minor league players back who might actually become legitimate players. Third, the guys mentioned to be traded are ALL replaceable. Perhaps immediately, but certainly by the beginning of next season.

I don't understand much of the above. I really don't. First of all, Morneau can be traded AND then signed in the offseason, and the deal to get him is going to be nothing like his yearly rate for the past several years. Second, I don't understand why the alternative--keeping Morneau, Doumit, Duensing, Burton, etc. is really at all preferable to getting a bunch of minor league players back who might actually become legitimate players. Third, the guys mentioned to be traded are ALL replaceable. Perhaps immediately, but certainly by the beginning of next season.

 

You and chopper nail it. They are all replaceable. Even Perkins.

You and chopper nail it. They are all replaceable. Even Perkins.

 

This is surely true, but outside of Perkins they aren't getting much more than a bucket of balls.

Pelfrey and Duensing must read this stuff and pitched like people who did not want to be traded.

You and chopper nail it. They are all replaceable. Even Perkins.

 

Valid point, but I think we'd all agree that it is much harder to replace an all-star caliber player than a guy like Carroll or Doumit. Not saying we can't, especially with our track record with the pen and the relative easy path to establishing a new closer, but I wonder about the mindset where we so casually assume we won't miss a beat after we unload Perk. That is by no means a foregone conclusion.

Literally every single twin on the trading block has played horribly of late or is injured.

I don't understand much of the above. I really don't. First of all, Morneau can be traded AND then signed in the offseason, and the deal to get him is going to be nothing like his yearly rate for the past several years. Second, I don't understand why the alternative--keeping Morneau, Doumit, Duensing, Burton, etc. is really at all preferable to getting a bunch of minor league players back who might actually become legitimate players. Third, the guys mentioned to be traded are ALL replaceable. Perhaps immediately, but certainly by the beginning of next season.

 

You and chopper nail it. They are all replaceable. Even Perkins.

 

This is surely true, but outside of Perkins they aren't getting much more than a bucket of balls.

 

The bucket of balls is exactly the problem. If we could get guys back that had even a remote chance of being legitimate regulars, TR would make that deal. I just don't think he's getting those offers.

 

So, when he trades off Morneau or Pelfrey or Doumit for a barely marginal return, he's realistically not accomplishing anything other than shedding salary (for which he'd be burned here). If the offers aren't there, it's okay to say no. Otherwise, you turn into the next Billy Smith who would trade to trade because he thought he had to.

 

I've seen the point about re-signing Morneau in the offseason if they trade him, but it just doesn't really happen. An Asst. GM, "You have to be realistic that if you trade a guy, you are not going to be able to re-sign him. That is what history shows."

I've seen the point about re-signing Morneau in the offseason if they trade him, but it just doesn't really happen. An Asst. GM, "You have to be realistic that if you trade a guy, you are not going to be able to re-sign him. That is what history shows."

I've been wanting to say this for quite a while. It is about 99% certain that if a free agent to be is traded that they aren't coming back to the team that trades him. The exceptions (so few of them) prove the rule.

I don't understand much of the above. I really don't. First of all, Morneau can be traded AND then signed in the offseason, and the deal to get him is going to be nothing like his yearly rate for the past several years. Second, I don't understand why the alternative--keeping Morneau, Doumit, Duensing, Burton, etc. is really at all preferable to getting a bunch of minor league players back who might actually become legitimate players. Third, the guys mentioned to be traded are ALL replaceable. Perhaps immediately, but certainly by the beginning of next season.

 

Didn't you guarantee me going into the season that Morneau would OPS north of .900 this season? That doesn't sound like a guy who as easily replaceable as you infer above, at least not by anyone in our system.

I've been wanting to say this for quite a while. It is about 99% certain that if a free agent to be is traded that they aren't coming back to the team that trades him. The exceptions (so few of them) prove the rule.

 

I agree with this. It would take a very unique situation for this to happen. It bothers me a little that national guys like Law mention this so casually even with so few examples to draw from.

Why would you want Morneau back in the first place. This team has no hitting. Not surprised that nothing happened to make the team better. We will just have to rely on free agency and all those guys ready to play in the minors.

Why would you want Morneau back in the first place. This team has no hitting. Not surprised that nothing happened to make the team better. We will just have to rely on free agency and all those guys ready to play in the minors.

 

Morny has been my favorite Twin since he's been with us and even I think it's time for him to move on.

Agreed, my favorite also. But you do not build a winner on hope and sentiment.