Article: Which Twins are most likely to be traded?

[NC-Twins]

The other option is to pass him through waivers in early August (assuming no one claims the contract) and hope he rebounds enough to get a little more value sometime later in the month.

 

Infinitely small chance of Mornie making it through waivers without a claim.

[Major League Ready]

A few thousand posts about trading players leads me to believe personal likes and dislikes cloud a lot of judgement here.

 

I am with you here. There is a lot of complaining about building a contender and then an unwillingness to let players go who might actually bring something in return. Perk is my favorite player on this team but I am sitting here hoping someone offers us a return TR can't refuse.

 

It would be nice to just let Morneau play out his contract and have a nice send-off. On the other hand, we need a 1B next year and it would be nice to give Colabello a 50 game audition. Maybe even give Romero a look at 3rd and experiment with Plouffe at 1st. Romero's numbers in the past 10 games are 351/442/595 in his last 10 games.

[Shane Wahl]

Is there proof somewhere that Drew Butera's damn defense is still "elite"? That word is bandied about left and right around here about his current defense. I do not buy it. NO team is going to trade anything for Drew Butera.

[Winston Smith]

Terry is still hard at work! Don't give up yet.

 

http://globetribune.info/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Mr-Magoo-Photos.jpg

[jorgenswest]

Is there proof somewhere that Drew Butera's damn defense is still "elite"? That word is bandied about left and right around here about his current defense. I do not buy it. NO team is going to trade anything for Drew Butera.

 

The Yankees and Rays play poor hitting catchers who are very good at framing pitches.

Butera is at best average at framing pitches. He has very good pop to pop times on his throws. Those teams that value defense at catcher would start him over Doumit, but that doesn't make him elite. He is just way better than Doumit behind the plate. Neither guy would play catcher for a good team.

[nicksaviking]

Infinitely small chance of Mornie making it through waivers without a claim.

 

I'd say less than 50% but I don't know that it's out of the realm of possibility. At this time of year $4.5 million seems like a lot of money to teams, we've seen smaller contracts sneak through attached to guys just as (un?)productive as Morneau. Plus a non-contender likely isn't going to claim him, he's a rental. There's a good chance the team that claims him will actually want him and make an offer.

[nicksaviking]

Watching teams like the Cubs and White Sox swing deals makes me jealous that those teams actually have valuable and expendable pieces to move. Hard to believe the Twins have a better record but have nearly no useful trade chips. I'm not a staunch Gardenhire supporter, but logic says that if the Twins are still playing better than the Chicago teams, who have more valuable players, he's at least squeezing more out of the bums on his squad.

[Willihammer]

I wonder if the Red Sox would entertain a Doumit for Ross swap, straight up? Contracts are about identical. Doumit is younger, might have the better bat. Ross is the better receiver.

[drjim]

Watching teams like the Cubs and White Sox swing deals makes me jealous that those teams actually have valuable and expendable pieces to move. Hard to believe the Twins have a better record but have nearly no useful trade chips. I'm not a staunch Gardenhire supporter, but logic says that if the Twins are still playing better than the Chicago teams, who have more valuable players, he's at least squeezing more out of the bums on his squad.

 

I was thinking this too. I think a main reason is what they have squeezed out of this bullpen. Despite many criticisms of hid bullpen management I also found it to be a strength. Improved defense is a big factor too.

[old nurse]

Watching teams like the Cubs and White Sox swing deals makes me jealous that those teams actually have valuable and expendable pieces to move. Hard to believe the Twins have a better record but have nearly no useful trade chips. I'm not a staunch Gardenhire supporter, but logic says that if the Twins are still playing better than the Chicago teams, who have more valuable players, he's at least squeezing more out of the bums on his squad.

 

The Cubs and the White Sox had top of the rotation starters to trade. Now they don't

[DaveW]

The Cubs and the White Sox had top of the rotation starters to trade. Now they don't

 

The Cubs and White Sox also had those top of rotation starters to trade because they gave up many top prospects to acquire them in the first place! Frankly, I would rather have our current best farm system in baseball and no "big trade deadline guy" then the bare cubbard the White Sox are working with via farm system and having Peavy avail in a trade.

[TheLeviathan]

The Cubs and the White Sox had top of the rotation starters to trade. Now they don't

 

I'll keep saying it, Jake Arrieta may end up being significantly better tahn anything we land. And getting him didn't require any top prospects or a top of the rotation guy.

 

The problem is, even our mid-tier talent is value-less for a variety of reasons. The hard part is being in a rebuild, playing a lot of 30 year olds, and none of them possessing any trade value. Even the awful mid-90s teams managed that much.

[nicksaviking]

The Cubs and the White Sox had top of the rotation starters to trade. Now they don't

 

Yeah, those are nice to have at the trade deadline, but I'd also take a Feldman, Schierholtz, DeJusus, Gregg, Crain, Rios or Rameriz at this point too. Not all are getting moved, but all seem to have some value. The Twins only have Perkins, who's value likely tops them all, but he doesn't look to be on the table.

 

As Jim said, the bullpen is the Twins saving grace this year, alas, generally only closers or elite set-up men bring a return of any excitement.

[wagwan]

Let's face it. Morneau has been gone since 2010

[Dman]

Add me to the list of people who like what the Cubs have done this year. They bought guys in FA and got rid of them for prospects. They hit International FA really hard this year taking a lot of top players. They played fairly well early in the year to keep their fans interested and can now safely tank for high draft picks in a deep draft. It just doesn't get any better than that if you are in rebuilding mode.

 

The Twins so far no FA's traded. 1 top 10 international FA. played well and awful for various stretches and with an easy schedule on the horizon will likely start winning enough games to keep them out of the top 10 for draft picks. It just doesn't get much worse than that.

[Danchat]

and with an easy schedule on the horizon will likely start winning enough games to keep them out of the top 10 for draft picks.

I agree with everything except this part... methinks we go on another downward spiral. Look at the lineup and the batting averages. I would rather bomb for a higher pick.

 

But we should really trade someone. If there's a player we know isn't going to re-sign, send them out for a bag of balls! The Liriano trade was a good example, and I actually still like the trade. We need to trade... because there's nothing else better to do.

[old nurse]

I'll keep saying it, Jake Arrieta may end up being significantly better tahn anything we land. And getting him didn't require any top prospects or a top of the rotation guy.

 

The problem is, even our mid-tier talent is value-less for a variety of reasons. The hard part is being in a rebuild, playing a lot of 30 year olds, and none of them possessing any trade value. Even the awful mid-90s teams managed that much.

 

He may be better than anything the Twins land. He also is no better than most of what the Twins have. Shuffling back of the rotation guys does not get you significantly any better.

[old nurse]

Yeah, those are nice to have at the trade deadline, but I'd also take a Feldman, Schierholtz, DeJusus, Gregg, Crain, Rios or Rameriz at this point too. Not all are getting moved, but all seem to have some value. The Twins only have Perkins, who's value likely tops them all, but he doesn't look to be on the table.

 

As Jim said, the bullpen is the Twins saving grace this year, alas, generally only closers or elite set-up men bring a return of any excitement.

 

For the short term I would rather be wrong and have the upside of Arcia and Hicks than Shierholtz and DeJusus and what, if anything significant, their trade value is.

[TheLeviathan]

He may be better than anything the Twins land. He also is no better than most of what the Twins have. Shuffling back of the rotation guys does not get you significantly any better.

 

That would be true if you were willing to fairly evaluate him and his value and that was your conclusion. You appear to be in the vast minority of baseball writers and analysts, so it's not true. I hope we land someone like him for anyone we have available and I will be consistent praising that sort of move if we make it.

 

i expect you will dog any former top talents that have struggled in their initial call ups. I personally find those types of moves wise gambles in these situations.

[Winston Smith]

I love this one we have the 4th worst record in baseball but somehow that means Gardy is doing a great job because we aren't in the worst 3?

[old nurse]

That would be true if you were willing to fairly evaluate him and his value and that was your conclusion. You appear to be in the vast minority of baseball writers and analysts, so it's not true. I hope we land someone like him for anyone we have available and I will be consistent praising that sort of move if we make it.

 

i expect you will dog any former top talents that have struggled in their initial call ups. I personally find those types of moves wise gambles in these situations.

 

Arietta's initial call up was in 2010 and 69 major league games ago. The baseball GM and talent evaluators in Baltimore thought so much of him they dealt him for a middle of the rotation rental player. It took another player to make the deal. A contending team dealt him in an effort to get someone better than him even for the short term. What more needs to be said of evaluating his talents.

[Winston Smith]

Live from the Twins front office:

http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/802699/111212480/stock-photo-waiting-for-the-phone-to-ring-111212480.jpg

[nicksaviking]

For the short term I would rather be wrong and have the upside of Arcia and Hicks than Shierholtz and DeJusus and what, if anything significant, their trade value is.

 

I'd rather the youngsters play also, but the Twins also have vets taking away playing time. Unfortunately Willingham, Doumit, Morneau, Correia, Pelfrey and Carroll likely have next to no value at the moment.

[TheLeviathan]

Arietta's initial call up was in 2010 and 69 major league games ago. The baseball GM and talent evaluators in Baltimore thought so much of him they dealt him for a middle of the rotation rental player. It took another player to make the deal. A contending team dealt him in an effort to get someone better than him even for the short term. What more needs to be said of evaluating his talents.

 

Good thing no one on the Orioles consulted you on Chris Davis. Or the Twins with Glen Perkins. Or any of dozens of other examples out there.

 

Sometimes guys in their mid 20s find a way later if you give their talent a change of scenery and opportunity. He may never pull it all together but baseball is full of examples to the contrary and the Twins have plenty of room to offer opportunity.

[nicksaviking]

Terry is still hard at work! Don't give up yet.

 

http://globetribune.info/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Mr-Magoo-Photos.jpg

 

Can we get an extension on that deadline? We had some technical difficulties.

 

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSBcdHezqVvavVgajU70gby17U8Q8OiRqRGW144ywopJt7am5k3MQ

[nicksaviking]

I love this one we have the 4th worst record in baseball but somehow that means Gardy is doing a great job because we aren't in the worst 3?

 

No, just better than Ventura and Sveum.

[nicksaviking]

Can we get an extension on that deadline? We had some technical difficulties.

 

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSBcdHezqVvavVgajU70gby17U8Q8OiRqRGW144ywopJt7am5k3MQ

 

Extension granted!

[jay]

Well played, Seth.

 

"#5 – Drew Butera – 17.4% – This one may come as a surprise to many, but Drew Butera has value in the industry. Don’t get me wrong, he’s not going to fetch a top prospect. It likely would be a prospect few of us have even heard of. However, teams love having a great defensive catcher as their backup. Drew Butera is elite, and there may be a team out there willing to part with a little something to have him as their #2 or #3 catcher."

 

I wouldn't be surprised in the least if that #1 guy on the list (Carroll) goes in August.

[drjim]

That would be true if you were willing to fairly evaluate him and his value and that was your conclusion. You appear to be in the vast minority of baseball writers and analysts, so it's not true. I hope we land someone like him for anyone we have available and I will be consistent praising that sort of move if we make it.

 

i expect you will dog any former top talents that have struggled in their initial call ups. I personally find those types of moves wise gambles in these situations.

 

He would be in the minority if it was 2010. Alas it no longer is.

[drjim]

I love this one we have the 4th worst record in baseball but somehow that means Gardy is doing a great job because we aren't in the worst 3?

 

I know you aren't one to hold back hyperbole in your negativity, but I don't think anyone said Gardy was doing a "great" job. He's probably doing more or less what any manager would do with this collection of talent.