Jump to content
Twins Daily
  • Create Account

  • Nunez Traded To Giants For LHP Prospect

    Seth Stohs

    By Seth Stohs

    Following the Twins 6-2 win against the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night, the team announced that All Star Shortstop Eduardo Nunez has been traded to the San Francisco Giants.

    In return, the Twins received left-handed pitcher Adalberto Mejia. He just turned 23 years old. In 18 starts between AA Richmond and AAA Sacramento this year, he is a combined 7-3 with a 2.81 ERA. In 105.2 innings, he has 27 walks and 102 strikeouts. He made 11 starts in AA and has now made seven starts in AAA.

    Image courtesy of Brad Rempel, USA Today

    Twins Video

    The Giants have an All-Star caliber shortstop in Brandon Crawford. Second Baseman Joe Panik is about to come off of the Disabled List. Matt Duffy has been their primary third baseman. Eduardo Nunez will likely play all three positions, and maybe even a little in the outfield.

    Once considered the heir-apparent to Derek Jeter as the New York Yankees shortstop, Eduardo Nunez never really got that opportunity. Instead, he had to play as a utility infielder. In April of 2014, he was traded to the Twins in exchange for left-handed pitcher Miguel Sulbaran.

    He played in 72 games for the Twins in 2014 and hit just .250/.271/.381 (.654). In 2015, he finally seemed to really accept the role of a bench player and thrived. He hit .272/.327/.431 (.758).

    Because of injury, Nunez finally got an opportunity to play every day and he took full advantage. While he has slowed down in the last month, he is still hitting .300/.326/.444 (.771) with 15 doubles, 12 homers, 47 RBI and a league-leading 26 stolen bases. He made - and earned - his first All Star appearance.

    Popular in the clubhouse, Nunez will likely be missed by teammates. He is considered a leader among the players, particularly the many young players from Latin American countries.

    However, to get a prospect the caliber of Adalberto Mejia for him is rather impressive.

    Mejia was suspended 50 games for PEDs following the 2014 season. He missed time at the start of the 2015 season. Since, he he pitched very well.

    Mejia is listed at 6-3, 195 pounds, but most believe he is at least 20 pounds more than that. However, the southpaw has a fastball that reached to 93-94 mph.He also throws a slider in the mid-80s and a low-80s change up.

    For Rob Antony's first move as the interim GM, I would think this would go down in the "Pro" column for his candidacy for the full-time job.

    Mejia's Twins career will begin with the Rochester Red Wings. Jorge Polanco was recalled to the Twins.

    Seth Stohs has been blogging about the Minnesota Twins since May 2003. A founder and owner of Twins Daily, Seth has been a Twins fan for 40 years and has a passion for covering the minor leagues and prospects.
    Follow Seth Stohs on Twitter: sethtweets

    MORE FROM TWINS DAILY
    — Latest Twins coverage from our writers
    — Recent Twins discussion in our forums
    — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email
    — Become a Twins Daily Caretaker

     Share
     Share
    Go to articles

    Community Blogs

    • How many games will the Minnesota Twins win in 2023?
    • Gopher Preview (Week 3)

    Forum Topics

    • PVTEST
    • Hey, look here
    • This is an exceptionally long title to test how various points look on a phone and smaller devices
    The Ultimate Minnesota Twins Gift Ideas Shopping Guide

    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments



    Featured Comments

    drivlikejehu

    drivlikejehu 2,201

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    So Antony actually did a trade, and with our best tradeable asset. I love the return we got with Mejia. I now have to wonder if the Twins might be looking to move Stephen Gonsalves. Yes Gonsalves has been our second best minor league pitcher this year (until Berrios is no longer in the minors he is our best minor league arm), yet I have to wonder if the Twins will want to sell high on him. Most of Gonsalves pitching stats do suggest he has the potential to be a good-great starting pitcher in the majors. However, he is wild and has yet to show improved control and with his lack of control if the Twins trade him now would be the time to do it before he struggles a lot once he gets to the majors.

     

    One can only hope this is some novel form of satire.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    goulik

    goulik 1,725

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    What makes you say that? He's only started 7 games in AAA in his career. If the Twins don't think Berrios is ready, then they definitely don't think Mejia is ready.

     

    Also, does anyone know if Mejia will be on the 40 man roster?

    He was on San Franciscos 40 Man roster so he has to be on ours or designated for assignment if I understand the system correctly.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Minniman

    Minniman 118

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted

    This trade may end up fine for the Twins, but it is sort of funny.

     

    I mean, trading the team's one All-Star player in that same season is something Calvin Griffith would do.

     

    It's no problem though because the Twins have lots of .296 hitters with 27 steals, 47 RBIs, and 12 dingers.

     

    Nunez looks like a player MacPhail would have picked up to balance the young nucleus on the team.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Danchat

    Danchat 11,131

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    He was on San Franciscos 40 Man roster so he has to be on ours or designated for assignment if I understand the system correctly.

    OK, I thought I saw that he wasn't on their roster, but you have to be right. So the Twins remain with 3 open spots on the 40 man roster. 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    ScrapTheNickname

    ScrapTheNickname 3,577

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted (edited)

     

    This trade may end up fine for the Twins, but it is sort of funny.

     

    I mean, trading the team's one All-Star player in that same season is something Calvin Griffith would do.

     

    It's no problem though because the Twins have lots of .296 hitters with 27 steals, 47 RBIs, and 12 dingers.

     

    Nunez looks like a player MacPhail would have picked up to balance the young nucleus on the team.

    Nunez was not an All-Star. He made the All-Star team. There is a difference. He has picked up his offensive game in the last full year of play - good for him - he made himself a semi-valuable trading chip.

    Edited by ScrapTheNickname
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    John Bonnes

    John Bonnes 3,583

  • Owner

    • Posted

    BTW, per Baseball America, Mejia wasn't suspended for a steroid, but for a weight-loss drug:

     

    Maturity and conditioning have gone hand in hand for Mejia, who drew a 50-game suspension in 2015 for a weight-loss drug, not an anabolic agent.

     

    Read more at http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/maturity-conditioning-aided-mejia/#1XbcZJG6msRs4yCG.99

     

     

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    John Bonnes

    John Bonnes 3,583

  • Owner

    • Posted

     

    Yeah this is annoying, can't you guys just edit it so Seths article becomes the first post in a thread? It's annoying that you guys went and locked a good 56 post thread.

     

    It drive us even crazier than it does you. It's a limitation of the software. Here is my understanding, and Brock can correct me....

     

    1) We can merge two straight threads but the earlier thread always becomes the one we keep.

     

    2) However, the same thing happens if we merge a story with comments to a thread - it keeps the earlier one, which is usually a thread with breaking news, which would be fine except....

     

    3) that it screws up the story.

     

    So we can't merge a breaking news thread with a story with comments without womping on the story and thus taking it away from the front page. 

     

    I may not have all the details right, but we agree - we would love to have the comments from the original thread merged into the story comments. We just can't do it with this version. Sorry about that. 

     

     

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    goulik

    goulik 1,725

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    It drive us even crazier than it does you. It's a limitation of the software. Here is my understanding, and Brock can correct me....

     

    1) We can merge two straight threads but the earlier thread always becomes the one we keep.

     

    2) However, the same thing happens if we merge a story with comments to a thread - it keeps the earlier one, which is usually a thread with breaking news, which would be fine except....

     

    3) that it screws up the story.

     

    So we can't merge a breaking news thread with a story with comments without womping on the story and thus taking it away from the front page. 

     

    I may not have all the details right, but we agree - we would love to have the comments from the original thread merged into the story comments. We just can't do it with this version. Sorry about that.

     

    Thank you for the honest explanation. I thought it was weird and out of character with everything else you guys do here so I wasn't offended but I was confused. I REALLY appreciate all you guys do here to make this the premier Twins site.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    John Bonnes

    John Bonnes 3,583

  • Owner

    • Posted

    Well, I really like this deal. Mejia is far from can't miss, but he's 23, he's in AAA, he's having a breakthrough year and seems to be getting stronger as he moves up the ladder. He's also a lefty.

     

    (By the way, to have a trio of southpaws at AAA and AA like Tyler Jay, Stephen Gonsalves and Adalberto Mejia?)

     

    The one thing I think will disappoint people is that I don't think there is anyway the Twins have in in the majors this year. He's at 108 innings. He only pitched 50 last year, and has never exceeded 105 in his professional career. I expect they shut him down in .... 30-40 more innings at the most?

     

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    LaBombo

    LaBombo 14,240

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    Well, I really like this deal. Mejia is far from can't miss, but he's 23, he's in AAA, he's having a breakthrough year and seems to be getting stronger as he moves up the ladder. He's also a lefty.

     

    (By the way, to have a trio of southpaws at AAA and AA like Tyler Jay, Stephen Gonsalves and Adalberto Mejia?)

     

    The one thing I think will disappoint people is that I don't think there is anyway the Twins have in in the majors this year. He's at 108 innings. He only pitched 50 last year, and has never exceeded 105 in his professional career. I expect they shut him down in .... 30-40 more innings at the most?

    Good to know, but sort of what I expected. It would be fun to see Adalberto have a go at the Twins rotation, but compared to the disappointment of seeing Nunez fizzle out in a year and net nothing in return, waiting until next season to see Mejia is just waiting until Christmas morning to open presents, as opposed to getting a lump of coal in your stocking.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    rghrbek

    rghrbek 924

  • Verified Member

    • Posted (edited)

    Nunez, has had a great year, but most of us know he is not the player we've seen the last 3 months.   Finally the twins have sold somewhat high on a player who will end up at his norms (look at his last 1.5 months not good), and got pitching.   Top 100 guy they say, but they key is, he's at AAA, so he's close enough that we are not waiting for 2 years to figure him out what he is, which is what we are doing for most of our better starting pitching prospects.

     

    I'm pleased.

    Edited by rghrbek
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    BeenHazy

    BeenHazy 112

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted (edited)

    I don't know what's more astonishing...the fact that the Twins managed to trade-string Drew Butera into a top 100 prospect, or the fact that Butera is still in the bigs and hitting .308 /.366 /.538.

     

    Antony nailed the twin pillars of trading:  Trade from depth, and trade the sudden overachiever.  Well done.

    Edited by BeenHazy
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Rosterman

    Rosterman 3,922

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    At this point, since he is on the 40-man, no reason to NOT bring him up in September, even just to throw a couple of innings out of the pen.

     

    Again, when you have a losing team, use September to give guys a taste of the Big Leagues so they know what to work towards in the off-season.

     

    23-year-old left-handed possible starter not named MILONE.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Brock Beauchamp

    Brock Beauchamp 39,328

  • Administrator

    • Posted

    At this point, since he is on the 40-man, no reason to NOT bring him up in September, even just to throw a couple of innings out of the pen.

     

    Again, when you have a losing team, use September to give guys a taste of the Big Leagues so they know what to work towards in the off-season.

     

    23-year-old left-handed possible starter not named MILONE.

    John made a good point about innings. It's incredibly unlikely the Twins will want him pitching in September.
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    zchrz

    zchrz 340

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted

    I really like this trade.  Nunez has had a really nice year, but I think he is best served as a utility guy into the future.  Getting a close to the majors, young, lefty with some stuff and pitch-ability is an awesome return for the investment put into Nunez.  

     

    Time to let Polanco shine, and hopefully Mejia can see some major league innings this year. 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    zchrz

    zchrz 340

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted

     

    Hmmm... yes, I like this trade. The Twins acquired a decently-talented starting pitcher in Mejia who I would estimate is a year away from making the rotation. Good stuff.

     

    I'm going to miss Nunez, with his helmet-flying off and insane 2016, but this is for the greater good. Escobar and Polanco can rotate at SS and figure out what the future for that position will be. 

     

    Man, they cleared a logjam and got a decent prospect. I like it!! I'm still expecting a reliever to be traded, but this is a great start.

     

    The helmet flying off every time he takes more that 5 steps is collectively my favorite Nunez moment.  There are only going to be depressing Twins drinking games now.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    rghrbek

    rghrbek 924

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    The problem know is where to play Palonco?  He's not a shortstop.  I hope the twins are creative and give him shots at 2nd base, SS and 3b.   Let's see what he's got.

     

    Still very pleased with early return though, nice Mr. Antony.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    DuluthFan

    DuluthFan 254

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    At this point, since he is on the 40-man, no reason to NOT bring him up in September, even just to throw a couple of innings out of the pen.

     

    There IS a reason to not bring him up. The Twins need to evaluate the rest of their pitching prospects. I think it is safe to say that Mejier WILL be on the 40 man roster if not the 25 man roster next year. The Twins need to evaluate the rest of the roster and to decide whether to bring any of them back. They need to use September to try out some of the AAA staff if not to look for major league players for next year, but to find possible DFA candidates to make room for promotions from the AA team and for rule 5 considerations.

     

    Mejier's evaluation will take place in AAA this year and in spring training next year.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    h2oface

    h2oface 7,066

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    Palanco up! Great!

    Nunez regressing on another team? Great!

    Berrios says to himself under his breath... great...

    Another pitcher to not bring up? Great?

    Mauer got 2 hits w/ a triple! WHAT!

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Champuckett

    Champuckett 153

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted

    Considering what we initially had to give up to get Nunez, this trade is fine.  Nothing fancy or spectacular, but also nothing too ridiculous or lopsided.

     

    We ended up having the upper hand the last time we did a trade with the Giants.  Curious how this turns out.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    dgwills

    dgwills 567

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted

    Like any trade there is no guarantee that this works out. It was a move that had to be made though. Nunez has looked great this year, but his upside will always be limited by his defensive shortcomings. Mejia fits in great with the Twins timeline. Replacing the highly paid low end starters with cost controlled guys is the priority and will allow the Twins a lot more flexibility when they are contending. 

    There's a few other guys I would move, but this is a great start.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites


    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
    Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

    Guest
    Add a comment...

    ×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

      Only 75 emoji are allowed.

    ×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

    ×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

    ×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

    Loading...
    ×

×
×
  • Create New...