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The J.J. Hardy for Gomez trade was not such a bad trade. In the seven years following the trade, Hardy put up 17.3 WAR and Gomez put up 19.8 WAR of which 12.8 was in the 2 years of 2013 and 2014. Over his career Hardy had slightly better WAR 27 to Gomez's 24. All data is from fangraphs. The problem was trading after one year Hardy and Brendon Harris to Baltimore for and Jim Hoey and Brett Jacobson.

It's starting to feel warm and stuffy ... like the window of opportunity is closing on the Twins -- while another window opens up inch by inch for White Sox, who at this point seem like clear favorites in 2021.

Brad Hand would look good in a Twins uniform.

Name / Age / Free Agent / AAV Yasmani Grandal -- 32 -- 2024 -- $18,250,000 Dallas Keuchel -- 33 -- 2024 -- 18,666,666 Jose Abreu -- 34 -- 2023 -- 17,000,000 Liam Hendriks -- 32 -- 2025 -- 12,666,666 Lance Lynn -- 34 -- 2022 -- 8,000,000 The $74,583,332 invested in these 5 players is 61% of payroll. After this year they will $66.5M invested in 4 players 33 or older. There is always the possibility this works out but what are the odds? I am glad to see our FO is not placing this much emphasis on aging players. I share others concern over Donaldson but at least he is the only player we are invested in over 30.

If they did nothing and just let him walk in free agency, they'd likely have won the AL Central in 2008 by 3 or 4 games instead of losing that game 163 in Chicago. It was odd how letting him walk was never an option on the table at the time discussed publicly (and isn't even discussed in this article). But sometimes doing nothing is the best move.

If I remember correctly the reason why the Twins could not work out a contract extension with Santana was because they traded away Luis Castillo, a good teammate and buddy of Johan's. He was upset that the Twins were not adding pieces to get better and losing Castillo indicated to Johan that the Twins weren't committed to winning. Revenue might have been the deciding factor but Johan also wanted to play for a team willing and able to acquire the necessary pieces to win.

Twins would have never offered a record breaking contract to a reliever. Still some good options left at reasonable contracts. The sky is not falling yet, but White Sox have definitely made some significant moves to improve.

Since you brought it up.....he last played for the Twins in 2013. He didn't really turn the corner in his career until 2019. Maybe there was something with his delivery or pitch selection that the Twins could have spotted, but several other teams were also unable to help him. Beyond that, I don't know what else the Twins could have done. Good for him. A lot of players hang up their cleats once things haven't been working out for a few years. He stuck with it and made himself a top-tier reliever. (I do think the White Sox waaaayyy over paid.)

I felt at the time that if the package wasn't right, the Twins should have held onto him and then taken the extra draft pick when he walked at the end of the year. It would have been one thing if the Twins were rebuilding at that time, but they weren't. They ended up losing the division by one game in 2008 and missed the playoffs. Santana would have made all the difference. Smith was dealt a bad hand, but I can't think of one trade that didn't blow up in his face.

This means nothing. Hendriks' eyes are getting closer and closer together, and he is only going to decline, starting this year.

well, the ChiSox have done what you would always ask of a team once the window to contention opens: spend some money on veteran players to fill in holes, shore up weaknesses and position yourself to be go for it. Have they done it correctly? I think it's hard to say. Some of these move look better than others: Grandal: could be the big mistake. catchers don't usually age well and as a hitter if his bat declines at all it's going to be disappointing if he has to play 1B or DH...which brings us to the next guy. Abreu: He's likely to regress from pandemic season; it's hard to believe he'll lead the league in slugging again at age 34. That's a number that screams small sample size. But his bat should still be quality...but he's also gonna be playing more and more DH, because a) Grandal may need a home and he stinks defensively. Kuechel: he was exactly what they needed last year. I didn't want the Twins to sign him, and I was probably wrong. (assuming he doesn't completely collapse this season through age/injury, but it seems less likely) even if the last season is a bust on this contract, I don't think they're likely to truly regret it. Lynn: Hard for Twins fans to like this guy after he was a such a dog for us and then did well everywhere else. But again: the big hole for the ChiSox was starting pitching. They really needed a 3rd guy they could count on and Lance Lynn has been that everywhere he's pitched except MN. It's a good move for a guy I will never cheer for, ever. Hendriks: They are rolling the dice on him staying good well into his 30's. This and Grandal are the big risks: relievers are fungible and it's rarely worth paying a premium and committing big cash to a closer, and catchers generally age badly. Maybe he'll be fine because he's got relatively low mileage on his arm. Maybe the last two seasons are predictive of where he really is...but I kinda doubt it. it's more likely that he pitches like the 2015-2017 version: still very good, but there's as good a chance he's 2018 Hendriks as there is he's 2019 Hendriks, which is way 3-4 year deals at big money for closers scares me. But they seem to be loading it up for this year, and their team is looking pretty good. A top three rotation of Giolito, Keuchel, and Lynn is playoff worthy. Hendriks, Bummer, and Foster looks strong in the back end of the bullpen. They've got talent in the lineup, including some star power with guys like Jimenez. The question is probably whether they have enough quality depth up and down the roster to ride it for a full season. (and whether their manager should still be managing) They've been aggressive and the Twins have not. But I have to keep remembering two things: 1) you evaluate the off-season when the off-season is done, not every time a rival makes a move, and 2) "winning" the off-season doesn't actually get you any hardware.

I said at the onset of the off season that this free agent class was so poor, that I really wasn't looking for much of a splash in this year's market. But now I am soooooooo bored. Just give me a Mike Foltynwicz or even a Jon Lester to tide me over for now. Something.

This offseason has been predictably ice cold with the exception of 3 teams - White Sox, Padres, and Mets. We’re 3 months into the offseason and maybe 10 out of the top 50 free agents are signed. We’ve seen zero indication of a flurry of signings anytime soon. This is going to be just like 2018 with pissed off free agents sitting at home when spring training starts.

I understand the offseason isn't even close to over but the White Sox have drastically improved while the Twins have done nothing. Not awesome thus far.

I pretty much agree with this--as I stated, I doubt Rooker will be as good as Cruz in 2021. I very much doubt that Rooker will have anywhere near the career Cruz has; I would be beyond shocked to be talking about Brent Rooker, Borderline Hall of Famer in 2035. That said, I tend to agree with the philosophy behind your Giambi reference. While Cruz would probably be somewhere around .290/.370/.550 in 2021, and Rooker more like .250/.310/.475, I wonder if the $14M you save by not having Cruz, in addition to the ability to give other players "half-days" by playing them at DH are more valuable than the 100 or so points of OPS you give up with Rooker. Particularly when taking into consideration that Rooker has very little downside, while Cruz has massive downside. To be perfectly honest, I think my ideal scenario is to sign Brantley, and go Arraez Brantley 1-2 in the lineup. You can give each of your outfielders one day completely off every week, and one day at DH every other week, thereby keeping all of them fresh through the season. Your OBP at the top of the lineup becomes great, especially if you put Donaldson third, and you can then tap into power with Sano, Kepler, and Rooker in the 4-6 spots. That puts Buxton, Polanco (or a new SS), and Garver/Jeffers at the bottom of your lineup--that's a pretty dang good bottom three, particularly if Garver is closer to his 2019 form.

I like Liam Hendriks a lot but the White Sox over paid for a reliever that has been great but the mileage is starting to accumulate. The problem with free agency is that you are always paying for history. I wish Hendriks the best but the White Sox will regret this signing long term. In addition, Hendriks will find a huge difference in pitching in the White Sox band box versus in Oakland.

Am confident that the FO is being patient and as we get closer to spring training, we will see those deals happen. Maybe a few free agents and a trade or two. But like you, yes, I am anxious to see who I am going to be listening to on CCO this summer. The Twins were loaded last year and yet, the hitters were a huge disappointment. But in 2019 and 2017, the hitters and team had excellent seasons. Well, 2021 is the next odd year, time for the Twins to shine!

Too early in the morning to hit me with that....

Taking things as face value, there's no doubt we shouldn't invest in a FA DH, including Cruz. We can spend more wisely elsewhere & IMO that rotating at DH is more advantageous & frees up an extra roster spot. But w/ Cruz there is a magical chemistry, a mutual bond that goes beyond stats. I believe Cruz still has at least one more good year in him. In 2019 Cruz ruptured his wrist & we thought he was finished but he came back, he has always came back. He knows his body & what needs to be done to maintain it's maximum level. In this late time IMO they won't bring in the universal DH. It`s time for FO to offer a more reasonable offer.

Here's hoping for at least two starters. We don't have proven opener Matt Wisler to open 2 games per week this season if someone gets injured.

Trading the young Graig Nettles. Nettles, Dean Chance, Ted Uhlaender, and Bob Miller to the Indians for one year of Luis Tiant and Stan Miller. Then releasing Tiant the next spring. Then watching Nettles go on to play in 6 all-star games, start on 2 world champ Yankee teams, and have years where he finished 5th and 6th in MVP voting. And hit 390 HRs. Now I need some aspirin.

The Minnesota Twins have a clear need for a designated hitter this offseason, and the free agent market has some intriguing names. Nelson Cruz and Marcell Ozuna are the top designated hitters available. Which would make for a better fit for the reigning AL Central Champs?“Free Agent Faceoff” will be a multi-part series in which I will pit two free agent targets against one another, examining their candidacy as a free agent for the Minnesota Twins. Ultimately I will decide the winner of the faceoff as the better fit for the Twins. The first faceoff, two designated hitters: Marcell Ozuna vs. Nelson Cruz Marcell Ozuna Contract Estimate: 4 years/$72M The Case For: Marcell Ozuna finished 6th in MVP voting in 2020 after leading the National League in both home runs and RBI and posting a massive 1.067 OPS in 60 games. Ozuna’s numbers were no fluke, either, as the free agent finished in the mid-90s percentile for both exit velocity and barrel %. Ozuna possesses elite power and contact skills and is also extremely smart at the plate, posting a BB% of 14.2 in 2020, good enough for the top-12% of baseball. Further, Ozuna will only just be entering into his age-30 season in the Majors in 2021. He is right in the middle of his prime, and figures to have many seasons of crushing baseballs ahead of him over the next half-decade. In addition to being a designated hitter, Ozuna also possesses the ability to play the outfield. Since entering the league in 2013 Ozuna has over 8,000 innings of experience in the outfield, playing all three outfield positions. Ozuna hasn’t been super effective in the field, but the flexibility that he provides by being able to chip in on defense makes him extremely valuable. The Case Against: While Ozuna undoubtedly put up elite numbers in 2020, his career has been wildly inconsistent over the years. Since entering the league full-time in 2014, Ozuna has posted more seasons in his career with an OPS under .775 (4) than over .775 (3). If the Minnesota Twins were to sign the former Atlanta Brave this offseason, they would be acquiring him at his absolute highest value, paying top dollar after a great performance for 60 games. The small sample size could easily be more of an outlier for Ozuna’s career, where his realistic production expectation might be closer to the .816 OPS that he had averaged for the four seasons prior to his 2020 breakout. Because the Minnesota Twins would be acquiring Ozuna at his peak value, the contract to sign him would need to be quite generous, likely requiring 4 years and somewhere in the range of $72M, handicapping the Twins payroll for years to come and making additional moves harder to come by. Further, with Ozuna’s spot as the team’s designated hitter on the payroll for the next four years, the Twins could find themselves in a tough spot should players like Miguel Sanó or Josh Donaldson decline enough in the field to necessitate becoming designated hitters themselves. Nelson Cruz Contract Estimate: 1 year/$16M The Case For: Nelson Cruz requires little introduction for Minnesota Twins fans. In two seasons with the Twins, Cruz has posted a combined OPS of 1.020, leading the team in home runs in both seasons. Off the field, Cruz has been a leader in the Minnesota Twins clubhouse and become a fan favorite for those in Twins Territory. While it’s natural to be fearful of Nelson Cruz’s production dropping off in his age-41 season, the same could have been said for Cruz going into his age-39 and 40 seasons, when he defied historical precedent and provided the Twins monstrous numbers at the plate. Cruz has made it clear year after year, that past age-related production precedent does not apply to him. Signing Nelson Cruz would allow the Minnesota Twins a tremendous amount of flexibility. First, signing Cruz would allow the Twins to fill their designated hitter spot without tying up their future payroll, as Nelson’s age will likely only require a 1-year contract, or potentially a second year that would kick in if certain incentives are met in the first year. In addition to the financial flexibility, the shortened Cruz contract would also provide the Twins with roster flexibility. Given the injury history of Miguel Sanó and Josh Donaldson, the Twins could certainly find themselves in a spot over the next two seasons where they might need to shift Sanó or Donaldson to the designated hitter position, and signing Cruz this offseason wouldn’t inhibit them from being able to do so. The Case Against: Sure, Nelson Cruz has defied all past precedent when it comes to age-related production, but at the same time ... he’s going to be 41 years old next season! There is certainly an imminent drop off coming for Cruz, and that drop off could certainly be coming next season. Teams constantly make the mistake of moving on from their aging stars a year too late rather than a year too early, and there is a very real chance that the Twins could be moving on from Cruz a year too late, should they decide to bring him back in 2021. Down the stretch of the 2020 season, Nelson Cruz began to suffer from knee soreness, and his production took a dip as a result. After posting months with an OPS greater than 1.000 in both July and August, Cruz saw his OPS dip down to a more modest .844 OPS in September and October, perhaps hinting at a larger-scale production drop off in 2021. Twins Twitter’s Take The Verdict Looking at the cases for both designated hitter free agents, Nelson Cruz makes much more sense as a target for this Minnesota Twins ball club. While the Twins have shown the willingness to open up their pocketbooks and spend money under this front office regime, this club is still a middle-market team that can only afford so many high-dollar contracts on their books. Signing Ozuna, a designated hitter, to a high-dollar deal for four years would simply hamper the Twins books too much and hamper them on such a replaceable position like designated hitter. Additionally, the Twins have multiple players in the pipeline who could fill the designated hitter position down the line, whether it is for an aging player declining in the field like Sanó or Donaldson, or a current prospect needing a roster spot like Brent Rooker or Aaron Sabato, the Twins simply can’t afford to tie up a roster spot on a designated hitter for the next four seasons. In Nelson Cruz, there is definite risk with his age and likely dip in health and production, but his upside on this Twins team has been seen in each of the past two seasons on and off the field. The likely commitment of just one season greatly minimizes Minnesota’s risk and leaves the Twins with clear books to go out and sign players in future seasons while this contending window is still wide open. Do you think the Minnesota Twins should go after Nelson Cruz or Marcell Ozuna at their likely price points? Leave a comment below and start the conversation! Be sure to check back to Twins Daily throughout this week for more editions of “Free Agent Faceoff”! MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email — Follow Matthew Taylor on Twitter here Click here to view the article

I think 8 of Fangraphs' top 25 free agents have signed. Some trades have happened but others are still out there. I don't see a lot of justification for angst at this stage. You don't get extra credit for acting earlier in the off-season. And let's be real, we knew all along that the Twins would wait out the market some before really getting involved.

But I thought that's what we were talking about (or roster changes in general, such as free agents). Of course, if the roster remains as it is, we have Jorge and Luis turning the double plays. Royce Lewis is extremely unlikely to be promoted, and there aren't really any other internal candidates for middle infield. There is no similar discussion at third base. Healthy, Josh Donaldson will be the starter, and there are zero rumors about trying to acquire a different starter there. Sano's at 1B, Buxton's our CF, Maeda/Berrios/Pineda make up the front of our rotation - barring injury, in each case - and while there may be contingency plans for filling in for any of these players in case of injury, there are no signs of actually going in some different direction than these locks. SS and 2B, by contrast, could change before Opening Day. The article stated pretty clearly: "Why not clear up a bit of confusion by looking at who the Twins AREN'T trying to acquire?"

I did. Should have bought more. ROKU was also a really nice buy, too. I bought that at 47, IIRC.

I hope you all bought fiverr..... wow.

And yes my lifetime dream is to be a twins daily writer.

I haven't read the other comments nor the entire story. But I will say this....um....... Derek what the f*€k is going on? I was prolly too critical in 2018. I was quick to give the FO credit with the 2019 success. I'm not saying we have to match the White Sox as far as free agent signings. They will still kick the hall around at an alarming rate, fall asleep and make bonehead baserunning mistakes, choke in clutch situations, and rush mediocre prospects to the big leagues. But adding Lynn, Eaton, and now Hendtiks..is kinda scary. The Falvines like to fend off questions that are critical with answers that relate to the future. The future is now damn it. If we can't win our division, how can we claim to be a super AL team? I am not that impressed with Kiriloff, Larnach, or Rooker. May, Clippard and Romo are replaced by whom? Odorizzi, Hill, are replaced by whom? We heard all this bull about a new shortstop. With Dobnak, Thorpe and Smeltzer in our rotation it won't matter what the defensive range of the middle infield. Trust me the bullets will find the alleys. Maybe Derek had pitching development attributes in Cleveland and many others I'm sure. Lately I see the Indians as a team thinking unrealistically that they can still compete. With spring training literally six weeks away dont you think it's time to solidify the bullpen, rotation, and sign Nelson Cruz? Or maybe the Falvines think we should roll out this group as it is? If so, that's sad. This, so far has not been sustained success. As much as we like our new players, an infusion of all these guys at once is never gonna work. Am I scared of Eaton, Lynn, Hendriks, etc. No way. That crew will always find a way to lose. Where is the push to be the best? There hasn't been one. And the chance to get one is fading fast.

So would former Twins Nick Anderson and Liam Hendriks, co- MLB relievers of the year. But I would rather have Cruz the next 2 years and Odorizzi the next 3 years..

I look at the package we got and find it depressing. Your essay needs to be wrapped in a black ribbon.

Has anyone signed Orosco yet for 2021?

Lynn and Hendrix's contract number don't matter to me because baseball is in an economic zone that I cannot even imagine, but their arms do matter. So far we have subtracted and they have added Let's hope that people's fears about LaRussa come true because we are definitely sliding back. I do not see us signing Bauer so who is the pitcher that matches Lynn? Who is the reliever that matches Hendrix or Trevor May? We cannot just replace, we have to get better to match the efforts of the Sox.

More concerned with what Hendrik's inflated contract does to price of other FA relievers. Not upset that twins didn't overpay like Sox did, but if Twins are going to remain in hunt for Central Division title, they must sign one of the remaining top FAs. Rosenthal, Yates, or Hand would comprise the next tier, but their asking price has probably just increased. Will the Twins bite? If adding Cruz(or someone equivalent) and adding another solid #3 starter(or higher), and adding a closer-type, this set of moves would undoubtedly push Twins close to the $140MM figure of last year. If this is not in the cards, then they might have to look harder for a trade that entails giving up a prospect or two. It would be a shame given the current talent if the FO opted out of either scenario.

There is no doubt Santana was 1 of the best Twin that didn't make it to the HOF. IMO he was the best pitcher the Twins ever had in the short time he was a starter for them. The trade was regrettable but Twins were desperate. As things worked out it'd have been better if the Twins would have held onto Santana & wait for a better trade & if that wasn't possible keep him & let him become a free agent.

Absolute no to Ozuna. He's shown none of the consistency Cruz has shown. Further, we are talking about a long term commitment, which I am against. I support the DH, always have, for many reasons, but you just don't LOCK UP a DH unless he's a special bat. I think Rooker is going to be an OK player. Maybe even a good one, I think Kirilloff is going to be great. I think Larnach is also going to be good to great, which is why I hope any trade the Twins MIGHT make doesn't include AK OR Larnach. Those two could be our corner OF for years to come, or a combination of 1B and OF. Why, unless a trade opportunity came our way would we part with either? Cruz for 1yr makes so much sense for both sides it's almost ridiculous it hasn t happened yet. But I get it. But as great as Cruz has been, If you want to buy into MLB TRADERUMORS, Brantley could be had for the same projected salary or less and could actually play the OF giving the roster flexibility. OR, you could sign one of the top 3 SS options, move Polanco to super utility, STILL sign an 11th man amongst the many options available, and still sign Bradley or Pillar for OF depth and versatility to go along with a SP and possible RP move and forgo a direct DH signing. Of course, IF you buy in to a $135-140M payroll, all bets are off. You can STILL sign or trade for a SP, potentially bring in an 11th man AND another solid BP arm and STILL bring in Cruz or Brantley. I believe the Dirty Sox are about $120M right now. They MIGHT make a move or two to augment their roster and push it it $130M. Do the Twins actually do less than that? No to Ozuna long term because there is so much talent on hand. Yes to Cruz on the short hand to let the roster and prospects come up and play. YES to a signin of Bradley or Pillar on the cheap to fill out the OF and DH spot with Kirilloff and Rooker and everyone else on hand.

There are two scenarios where Polanco and/or Arraez are not total locks for the coming season. 1) One or both of them are disabled and unable to play which necessitates a sudden decision to sign or trade for a regular shortstop or second baseman. 2) The Twins complete a total blockbuster trade like some have suggested. For example, Sonny Gray, Luis Castillo, and Mike Moustakos arriving in return for Luis Arraez, Mitch Garver, Trevor Larnach, Randy Dobnak, and Lewis Thorpe. The Twins signed Polanco to a very team friendly long term contract and while not permanent there were discussions about his position and place on the field at that time. Arraez has a unique set of skills that portend possible special player status. Nothing short of debilitating injuries or a major trade will change their status in my opinion. If this was a gambling site, I would play 10 to 1 odds on Polanco and Arraez as locks. However, I have lost before. Such is life. Go Twins.

How do we trade for a free agent?

The Opera browser has a built-in free VPN. For what it's worth.

Cruz. I don't like the idea of signing long term DH only contracts unless you're getting Edgar Martinez or David Ortiz. And I don't think Ozuna is either of those guys. And while he can technically play the OF, so can I. You can put me out there, but I wouldn't be helping the team. Ozuna is a DH only moving forward and I just don't think he can replicate his 2020 stats for full years moving forward. Cruz is likely not a 162 game DH this year even. I think his end of the year slump was caused largely by his ailing knee, but as you get into your 40s you don't become less likely to have joint pain. I think he still has a good year in him and some classic Boom Stick stretches where he can carry the offense, but don't think I'd pencil him in for all 162. But he's still useful to have in the lineup and in the clubhouse on a 1 year deal. Part of his usefulness is that counting on the young guys to come up and replicate anywhere close to his numbers, or even provide above league average DH numbers, is not a smart plan going into a year you're looking to contend. Rooker has never put up Cruz like numbers in the minors so why would we think he'd suddenly do it in the majors? He looked really good for a week in the majors, but that literally means nothing. The league is going to have scouting reports on him now and he's going to have to adjust from the jump this year. It's time for the young guys to start getting their chances, but don't do it without a safety net. Cruz provides a nice 1 year (throw in an option year again if he really wants it) safety net for the kids. He can get the majority of the DH ABs as long as he's proving to be useful while also helping mentor the young kids. Cruz and Donaldson are both professional hitters who have shown they're more than willing to work with the young guys and disseminate the wisdom that have helped them both produce at very high levels. Put Cruz in the DH spot for 2021, but give him some regular rest while cycling other guys through to keep him as healthy as he can at 41 years old and getting everyone who needs/disserves them regular ABs. Cruz is the perfect veteran safety net as the team works to contend while continuing to look to be competitive for the years to come.

Am i permitted to be a creature of habit and follow the Twins on game threads? That's good enough for me.

I seriously only need live TV for Twins games. That's it. Everything else I can find elsewhere or don't really care enough about to pay for at all. So not only is the cable package more expensive than a streaming service, I wouldn't be using it at all for a big chunk of the year. If a traditional cable provider would allow customers to go month-to-month, I'd go for that. In addition to simply not needing a cable package for much of the year, I'd be concerned Sinclair would pull FSN off the provider I have within the term of my contract. I believe that happened to Dish customers. Sounds like you're finding other value from your cable package, just trying to explain where I'm coming from.

We have enough hitters, we still need a SP and a RP - that is more important than the SS upgrade or the DH signing.

Things have taken a strange twist. I’ve been a lifelong Twins fan from Toledo, Chicago, now Nashville. So, I can watch everything now on MLB.TV except Braves vs Twins. However since 1964, I followed them in newspaper and Sporting News plus the games vs. Detroit. Herb Carneal was my best friend for years. First on WHO from Des Moines, then when WHO dropped them in 1980, WCCO. As soon as MLB Extra innings came to be, I got that and even listened to Herb when I had AOL! I also made some long trips to the Met, The Metrodome. I’m just glad I didn’t smoke because Bob Casey’s NOOOO Smoking in the Metrodome would have made me quit! I can still hear his introductions to bat for Tony Oliva and Kirby Puckett. I had gotten to the point that I could do a good Bob Casey impersonation to where my friend in Florida when I visited for Spring Training games said, "You sound more like Bob Casey than Bob Casey! So, it’s odd that I have it better now in Nashville than the people in the Twin Cities. I hope they get that straightened out. I wonder if you got MLB.tv, one team? Maybe you could watch all the road games.

Yeah, not overly bummed about this trade at the time but would have to say it is one of the top 5 worst trades all-time for the Twins. Bruno was ok but I thought Puckett, Hrbek and Gaetti were the main cogs and Bruno was just a side piece. Biggest problem was Herr didn't want to be here and that hurt more than the loss of Bruno. I would have to agree that the Capps and Ryan-Murphy trades were worse.

This trade still gives me nightmares that I'm going to wake up some day to see that Kepler or Sano have been traded for Logan Forsythe or Jeff McNeil.

Matt Capps

Delmon Young

I loved the St Louis version of Tommy Herr... The Twins version... not so much.

I couldn't believe it at the time. Brunansky was a favorite of mine as well. Really stupid move as far as I could see.

Unless you really know who was on the table, you cannot judge a non-made trade. Let's say that the Dodgers, in addition to DeLeon, to sweeten the trade they wanted to throw in a journeyman infielder to play second base for the Twins, named Chris Taylor; if that were the case, I'd say that the Twins were the losers in this non-trade. You never know unless you know all the names discussed and what the final offer was.