Twins just claimed Clete Thomas

[Teflon]

Thomas sounded like a fan favorite on Tiger blogs. They describe him as fast, strong-armed outfielder who always hustled. Not the greatest contact guy at the plate, however, and some history of injuries. He will give the Twins a better backup option defensively in the outfield corners.

[TwinsMusings]

This move was at least as much about Rochester's need as it was the Twins'. Tosoni just went on the DL and they were going to have to call up an OF from AA. This move is much better for both Rochester and Revere, who as many have already said, will benefit from regular playing time. Thomas will be a decent defensive replacement for all three OF positions for the Twins, so it works for the ML team as well.

[stringer bell]

The Twins appear to be in reload mode. If they aren't in contention guys like Doumit, Capps, Pavano and maybe Carroll and Span could be on the trading block. They need to know who they can count on beyond this year and what holes need to be filled from outside. Probably outside of Span, Willingham, Mauer and Morneau everybody needs to prove themselves, including Casilla, Valencia, Parmelee, Plouffe, and any callups. I like the move to get Revere out of right field and to give Plouffe more of a clear field to get his at-bats. Revere would probably benefit some from regular play at Rochester, as well. To be a better slap and dash hitter, Revere needs to get more walks and become a better bunter.

[VodkaDave]

The Twins appear to be in reload mode. If they aren't in contention guys like Doumit, Capps, Pavano and maybe Carroll and Span could be on the trading block. They need to know who they can count on beyond this year and what holes need to be filled from outside. Probably outside of Span, Willingham, Mauer and Morneau everybody needs to prove themselves, including Casilla, Valencia, Parmelee, Plouffe, and any callups. I like the move to get Revere out of right field and to give Plouffe more of a clear field to get his at-bats. Revere would probably benefit some from regular play at Rochester, as well. To be a better slap and dash hitter, Revere needs to get more walks and become a better bunter.

If they are "out" of it by the deadline, Pavano, Capps, Doumit, Marquis and Liriano all certainly need to be traded for anything. Pavano however might bring back a draft pick, and I think the Twins would give him the qualifying offer of 1 year 12.5 mil either way? However the rest need to be shipped out for anything they can get, and if Pavano pitches like he did the past 2 years he should be able to bring back a decent prospect from a contender. Ideally Liriano can go on a little hot streak as well and can trick a team into trading for him. Hopefully Capps has a nice year as well and we can trick someone into giving us a top 100 prospect back...well I guess there is only one Bill Smith so that won't happen.

 

Doumit is interesting though... if he proves effective and healthy I wouldn't mind trying to sign him during the season through 2013, nice to finally have some legit catcher depth.

 

If Dozier proves himself major league ready I would toss Carroll on the block as well, though he could be nice to keep around for 2013 as a starting 2B if that is the case. Hughes will never cut it and Alexi continues to be an enigma.

 

I wouldn't trade Span unless one of Revere, Benson or Hicks proves they are ready to take over full time in CF. He is already signed to a pretty team friendly deal until 2015, so I don't see the rush in trying to get rid of him (unless you get blown away by an offer), if Benson or Hicks steps up you can move Span to RF/LF and have a really nice defense.

[Thrylos]

I wouldn't trade Span unless one of Revere, Benson or Hicks proves they are ready to take over full time in CF. He is already signed to a pretty team friendly deal until 2015, so I don't see the rush in trying to get rid of him (unless you get blown away by an offer), if Benson or Hicks steps up you can move Span to RF/LF and have a really nice defense.

Here is the one thing that the Twins need to do: sell high. And I don't think that there will be much higher value than Span. As far as what he could bring, I think that the Nate McClouth trade to Atlanta in 2009 would be a good comparable, and Span has more club control. For the record, McClouth, brought back an MLB-ready mid-rotation starter (Morton) and 2 of Atlanta's top 5 prospects per BA... Given that the Twins have only one starter under contract (and with a bum shoulder) in 2013, trading Span should be like on top of their business order...

[Riverbrian]

If the Twins are out of it at the deadline. They gotta go young and move anything of value or risk setting the franchise adrift for awhile.

 

It's a canary in the coal mine season. If the team is in it... They will buy at the deadline because TR will know that they will need the boost and it won't be coming from the minors. Plus payroll was shaved this year and that money (or some of it) can be re invested back into the club if a reason to do that is exhibited.

 

If the team isn't in it. You are coming off 99 loses and you have a weak farm at the major league ready level. The majority of your payroll is tied up in two players who couldn't carry you and have medical charts so extensive that they can no longer be lifted by just one nurse.

 

In that scenario... Not selling everything of value to restock and possibly improve draft position at the same time would set the organization back and delay our glorious return to the top of the AL Central.

 

This team can dance around the Doumit and Marquis type players all they want. The current state of the farm system needs the attention right now... specifically pitching.

 

Its one thing to be a non contender for two years. To be a non contender for 10 will make the new target field seem over indulgent.

[Billy Bremner]

While the Twins nibble away at scraps, there is a vibrant baseball scene going on in the real world of the MLB. Enjoy analyzing this crucial move that will certainly upset the balance of power in the world of baseball!

[VodkaDave]

Here is the one thing that the Twins need to do: sell high. And I don't think that there will be much higher value than Span. As far as what he could bring, I think that the Nate McClouth trade to Atlanta in 2009 would be a good comparable, and Span has more club control. For the record, McClouth, brought back an MLB-ready mid-rotation starter (Morton) and 2 of Atlanta's top 5 prospects per BA... Given that the Twins have only one starter under contract (and with a bum shoulder) in 2013, trading Span should be like on top of their business order...

No need to "sell" high on him this year, you can always sell higher on him next year or down the road when he has an (ideally) full healthy productive year under his belt AND someone has stepped up to take the CF position. And I already mentioned you trade him now if you get a really good offer for him.

 

A couple years ago the apparently had the chance to trade him for Storen, a young relief pitcher/closer isn't exactly a mid rotation starter and 2 top prospects.

 

Also I will take exception to calling Morton a major league ready mid rotation starter, Morton was always medicore and his 5.11 ERA in the National league proves how bad he is. He is a boarderline #5 pitcher who would only bet getting starts for a team as bad as the Pirates. Also the two "top" prospects they got turned out to be pretty worthless as well. Hernandez is a bust, and Locke another boarderline #5 guy. So using that as an example doesn't exactly hold a lot of weight.

 

If someone wants to give us a young pitcher with upside (who is close to ML ready) then by all means trade Span now, but if not it doesn't hurt to keep him around past this season. At this point he is actually one of the few close to sure things in this lineup, and he is on a team friendly deal for the next few years. Last thing you want to do is create a huge hole at CF and have to plug that in with overpaying for a CF in the FA market.

 

If you trade him now you run the risk of 2012 and 2013 having CF being patrolled by Revere and his completely empty .280 average or Benson who clearly isn't major league ready...yet, unless you want him to be striking out at a Mark Reynolds rate without as much Home Run power. If Benson steps up or Revere magically learns how to OPS over .740, then you be more active with Span on the market.

[Riverbrian]

While the Twins nibble away at scraps, there is a vibrant baseball scene going on in the real world of the MLB. Enjoy analyzing this crucial move that will certainly upset the balance of power in the world of baseball!

When I was younger I used to spend my time worrying about much more important things.

 

I spent a year of the prime of my life in the Swiss Alps as part of a special task force charged with mediating a peace agreement between the warring people of the Cantons of Valais and Ticino. They had a decade long dispute over control of the black nose sheep population and there was a serious threat of it going nuclear. I spent countless hours mediating stressful negotiations and attending political cheese parties where the cheese would make your face pucker in such a way that the delagates would think you were mocking them during conversation. We tried numerous stategies from pie charts displaying equal distubution of the sheep, to the introduction of more blue ox to balance each regions supply of valued resource, to building more strip clubs to increase overall happiness. Nothing worked and the only thing I gained from all that effort was the knowledge that yodeling is a poor form of communication.

 

I find that discussing the finer points of Ben Revere and Clete Thomas much more to my liking at my advancing age.

[twinsnorth49]

While the Twins nibble away at scraps, there is a vibrant baseball scene going on in the real world of the MLB. Enjoy analyzing this crucial move that will certainly upset the balance of power in the world of baseball!

There is a real world of MLB? Is it some kind of 4th dimension thing? Do the players there make $50,000 a year like most real people? This is pretty enlightening stuff!

[glanzer]

Slightly off-topic, but this move reminds me of 1997 when the Twins abruptly acquired outfielder Darrin Jackson and immediately inserted him into the lineup before most fans even knew he was with the team. Of course in that game, if memory serves, he hit a grand slam and had 6 RBI or something. I have a feeling it's going to be that kind of Sunday for Clete Thomas.

[Scheherezade]

Slightly off-topic, but this move reminds me of 1997 when the Twins abruptly acquired outfielder Darrin Jackson and immediately inserted him into the lineup before most fans even knew he was with the team. Of course in that game, if memory serves, he hit a grand slam and had 6 RBI or something. I have a feeling it's going to be that kind of Sunday for Clete Thomas.

He's got 2 RBIs so far, here's to hoping you are right.