Josh Donaldson Trade Rumor: Twins, Mets In “Very Preliminary Talks”

Trade him.  The Twins do not need to keep paying for a hitter, we need the money for an arm!

Very nice article, but the last sentence says it all, in a lot more ways than Donaldson.

Jeff Passan of Espn wrote "the Twins are the team almost every contender is waiting on"

Not sure exactly where he is going with this, but it sounds positive, and let's just hope we capitalize on great opportunities.

I will at least be consistent - trade Donaldson and use every cent of the savings to sign Berrios. The return is basically irrelevant; the point is to free up payroll for the player we need to keep the most.   

In many ways, the Twins are in a good place with the ability to eat Donaldson's contract and it's pretty well known the Mets don't have the payroll space. Unfortunately, the Mets also don't have what I would consider a lot of close to ready minor league talent the Twins would covet to entice the Twins to eat Donaldson's contract. Plus, historically, the Twins have been willing to trade prospects to save a little cash in transactions rather than spend cash to acquire prospects. It also doesn't seem likely the Twins would be interested in swapping expensive contracts since Donaldson's contract is short.

I just don't have an idea of how this would really work at all.

31 minutes ago, In My La Z boy said:

Jeff Passan of Espn wrote "the Twins are the team almost every contender is waiting on"

Not sure exactly where he is going with this, but it sounds positive, and let's just hope we capitalize on great opportunities.

I think this implies:  Can we get Twins talent cheap?  If so, we'll make a play for it.  If not, we'll move on.  Why the Twins?  Most non-contenders don't have talent they're willing to get rid of, except the occasional Freddy Galvis type.  (Better than Simmons, though)

13 minutes ago, twinstalker said:

I think this implies:  Can we get Twins talent cheap?  If so, we'll make a play for it.  If not, we'll move on.  Why the Twins?  Most non-contenders don't have talent they're willing to get rid of, except the occasional Freddy Galvis type.  (Better than Simmons, though)

I'm also speculating, but I think it implies other teams feel strongly Minnesota's season is done and we have a lot of talent under short team control which teams are usually eager to flip and contenders are very interested in acquiring.

We do have some decent short term pieces to trade in Robles, Simmons, Happ, and even Cruz. I think what teams are waiting on is to see whether the Twins will trade what they really want - Berrios, Buxton and Rogers. Other teams are going to want to be sure those three are not available before they pivot to the short term veterans typically trade at the trade deadline.

My view is you keep the three main pieces and try to sign them over the winter before you even consider a trade unless you are overwhelmed with an offer that includes MLB ready players with significant upside. The veterans are worth trading since they are unlikely to be here next year, with the possible exception of Cruz. I would also really seriously consider trading Donaldson, not because of the return as much as because of the money it would free up to hopefully help sign the three guys we really want to keep.

Twins shouldn't give away their talent. They should require (demand) a very good offer or 'forget it'!  I don't think Twins are 'desperate' to just dump talent. But I am also finally coming to the realization that they just don't have it this season. The lineup is fine. the pitching is pathetic...almost to a man. Berrios may be the only exception. Even Rogers will go cold. Last time out he came in with sacks loaded and gave up all 3 runs. But oh well

47 minutes ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

We do have some decent short term pieces to trade in Robles, Simmons, Happ, and even Cruz. I think what teams are waiting on is to see whether the Twins will trade what they really want - Berrios, Buxton and Rogers. Other teams are going to want to be sure those three are not available before they pivot to the short term veterans typically trade at the trade deadline.

My view is you keep the three main pieces and try to sign them over the winter before you even consider a trade unless you are overwhelmed with an offer that includes MLB ready players with significant upside. The veterans are worth trading since they are unlikely to be here next year, with the possible exception of Cruz. I would also really seriously consider trading Donaldson, not because of the return as much as because of the money it would free up to hopefully help sign the three guys we really want to keep.

 

LA Vikes Fan:  I, for one, am in complete agreement with your analysis.  Call me an eternal optimist, but if Twins management follows your position-----doing everything possible to retain Berrios, Buxton and Rogers----by investing the financial savings gained by trading Donaldson (big $$) and the prorated salaries of Simmons, Pineda and Cruz--the foundation is there to compete next season.  Saying that, Falvey & Levine need to make some serious moves in the offseason to upgrade the rotation and as importantly the bullpen.  Those in the camp of trading EVERYBODY, I just don't understand.  

53 minutes ago, insagt1 said:

Twins shouldn't give away their talent. They should require (demand) a very good offer or 'forget it'!  I don't think Twins are 'desperate' to just dump talent. But I am also finally coming to the realization that they just don't have it this season. The lineup is fine. the pitching is pathetic...almost to a man. Berrios may be the only exception. Even Rogers will go cold. Last time out he came in with sacks loaded and gave up all 3 runs. But oh well

This isn't something I'd be worried about, if they're moving some of the big pieces (Berrios/Rogers), I have no doubt they will get a substantial return on paper. My concerns lie with their ability to develop the prospects they get into legitimate MLB players.

2 hours ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

I will at least be consistent - trade Donaldson and use every cent of the savings to sign Berrios. The return is basically irrelevant; the point is to free up payroll for the player we need to keep the most.   

Why do they Twins have to trade Donaldson to sign Berrios, did the front office and fans just recently find out that Berrios was due to be a free agent after 2022? If the front office signed Donaldson knowing they couldn't sign Berrios and their plan was to get cheap starting pitchers from the minors and off the scrap heap, they should be fired this second.

The only reason to trade Donaldson is because some team is desperate for offensive and has a really highly thought of pitching prospect that is close to the majors they are will to trade to try and win this year, anything else is just stupid, the twins already have a bunch of prospects that will need to be added to the 40 and have some on there that aren't probably going to help next year (Rooker for example).

Trade the guys that are free agents at the end of the year for young minor leagues that don't need to be added to the 40 soon and keep the guys under contract.

Yep trade the talent that makes the Twins worth watching -- lose 100 this year, bring the supposed raw miracle workers next year and lose another 100, wow, 10,000 at the stadium will be a good night.

This season reminds me so much of 2018 when things just didn't go as planned/hoped/expected and the FO didn't blow things up, but they began a re-tool to get ready for 2019 and moved Pressly and Escobar for some really nice young talent. I wasn't crazy about either move, despite the return, because I felt strongly the Twins were in good position for 2019. IIRC correctly, Escobar was a pending FA but Pressly was not. So Pressly was the guy I really wanted to keep.

And PLEASE, I am NOT trying to re-hash who won trades! My point, however, is that I feel almost the same way today as I did then. There is work to be done for 2022. But some "blow it up" option is not needed and rather ridiculous. Nor do i expect the FO to do so.

Donaldson is not why this season crashed and burned. Despite a few unusual miscues, he's played his normally great defense and his numbers are very solid. And he's been largely healthy and dependable and in the lineup except for an early IL stint. But if they can move him, it frees up $ for other areas to address. The Twins made a big and exciting investment. It didn't work. But they took the shot. So now, maybe they can gain financial flexibility get at least a little something back, Donaldson goes to a contending team, and the Mets get some offense that they desperately need. Everyone wins.

Considering the $ available to the Mets, and how determined and aggressive their ownership seems to be I'm not sure how concerned they are about a payroll ceiling. Might be a bit of posturing. Unless the Twins have to throw in a bunch of bank to make this happen, I'm OK with the trade. But with $ going out and little coming back then you have to wonder if the trade makes sense from the Twins perspective as well. 

Kirilloff, Larnach, Jeffers and possibly Gordon have arrived as part of the next wave. There remains a very good chance that with 3 months, left we still see Duran, Winder, Miranda, and maybe a couple pen arms who get some experience and get their feet wet for 2022. 

And sorry, just like the disappointing 2018, and changes needing to be made this roster is not devoid of talent.

While only early rumors at this point, considering how this potential trade makes sense for both sides, I give these rumors at least semi-stable legs. 

It really makes a ton of sense if neither side has to give up too much, $ for the Twins and prosoects for the Mets.

Donaldson is one of the few good hitters on the team. Yep, let's eat the money and get someone that will help win in 3 years, if we are lucky. SMH 

It was a horrible signing to begin with (check my posting history). If they can dump his contract they should in a heartbeat   Ask nothing in return. 

1 hour ago, Vanimal46 said:

I’m not confident the recouped money from offloading Donaldson’s contract will be used to find players better than him. There’s room on this team for him next year if it turns out we need to eat too much of the remaining contract to get a decent prospect. Cruz will be gone, Sano most likely gone too. Plenty of DH and 3B PAs available next year. 

This!

Yep, do the Twins offer Buxton, Berrios or are they just dumping Happ, Robles, Simmons, Cruz, Donaldson to move 2021 payroll. Let's throw Pineda into the mix. I really don't see teams offering the Twins much for soon=to-be-free agents. 

But sicne the players really aren't doing it for the Twins, might as well bank money and sign your own to keep sights on...a future.

Trade him and call up Miranda. At this point, why not? Meanwhile, the Mets get a possible key to playoff wins, and us fans get to see another young prospect that looks like a future star. 

Bring up the kids, Twins. It's the only thing that will keep the fans interested.

18 hours ago, Danchat said:

This isn't something I'd be worried about, if they're moving some of the big pieces (Berrios/Rogers), I have no doubt they will get a substantial return on paper. My concerns lie with their ability to develop the prospects they get into legitimate MLB players.

If they can't develop players we are perpetually doomed for certain.  It will take a significant contribution from our current SP prospects for this team to even be remotely competitive.  We are also doomed if we follow poor strategies.  Given there is no chance we can ever contend without good development,  I would follow the strategies most likely to produce sustained winning.  This includes replacing the people responsible for selecting and/or developing talent.

For those who ask "didnt they know Berrios would be a FA when they signed Donaldson".  Of course , they did.  Donaldson's was a classic "added piece" that would be here for 3 years with Berrios.  The plan could not have been to spend big on free agents and extend all of our best players.  The money eventually runs out.  That's the way it works with a mid market team  I don't understand people bitching they won't add expensive pieces when they get into contention and then complain when they do.  To be clear there were people here who criticized this signing.  I was on the fence because I have always admired Donaldson's game but understood the risk of signing a player past his prime.    

I agree that a trade should be considered as there appears to be a prospect behind him though there isn't a need to rush Miranda.  Sano was a prospect at one point too.  Figure out how to keep your prospects from becoming suspects after their first time around otherwise what's the point if young talent can't sustain. 

I agree with Doc Bauer, this year has been a LOT like 2018.  Every move the vaunted FO made for 2018 blew up in their faces.  This season has been a repeat.  Falvey and Levine handed Molitor a crap roster in 2018 and then used the 100 loss season to fire him.  I'm not advocating for the Twins to fire Rocco, but let's be honest, Rocco has had a BAD year.

Here's a wild idea...Trade Donaldson and Simmons to the Mets for Lindor.  The Mets are supposedly worried about going over the luxury tax and Mets fans, based on the comments from the link are very DOWN on Lindor.  Let's take Lindor off their hands.      

Whatever you think of that crazy idea, the Twins need to move Donaldson.  They need a SS (either Lindor in the trade or a Story/Baez move next year).  

Donaldson might be overpaid, but he is still one of the better current lineup pieces. Is paying him to play for another team really saving much money?  You still have to replace him and projecting Arraez and Miranda as possible everyday replacements might be wishful thinking.  

47 minutes ago, TopGunn#22 said:

I agree with Doc Bauer, this year has been a LOT like 2018.  Every move the vaunted FO made for 2018 blew up in their faces.  This season has been a repeat.  Falvey and Levine handed Molitor a crap roster in 2018 and then used the 100 loss season to fire him.  I'm not advocating for the Twins to fire Rocco, but let's be honest, Rocco has had a BAD year.

Here's a wild idea...Trade Donaldson and Simmons to the Mets for Lindor.  The Mets are supposedly worried about going over the luxury tax and Mets fans, based on the comments from the link are very DOWN on Lindor.  Let's take Lindor off their hands.      

Whatever you think of that crazy idea, the Twins need to move Donaldson.  They need a SS (either Lindor in the trade or a Story/Baez move next year).  

I don't want to speak for Doc but I think you missed his point.  I thought he meant they sucked in 2018 and a lot of the guys who were supposed be our core underwhelmed.  Then, in 2019, most of them (Berrios / Garver / Kepler Buxton and EVEN Sano had career years.  Most of the free agent signings went great and they had a big improvement in the BP.  The Twins won 100 games but let's somehow turn that into a scenario that supports the FO is incompetent.

It’s definitely trade time. I think Cruz will be traded, though they won’t get much for him, probably a low minor prospect years away. Trade Donaldson if the right deal comes along that includes a solid prospect, but likely it’s a salary dump. Also Simmons and a bullpen are or two may be gone.  I’m glad to see that Sano is finally being benched more often since he is an unprofessional hitter. Can’t wait until his contract is up, which I think is 2022. It’s time to move on from Sano. I’m hoping Winder and Balazovic progress and can get some major league starts this year. The teams is going nowhere until they can fix the starting pitching.