Official Twins Daily July Trade Deadline Thread

Don't trade Kepler unless someone offers a straight up Ace with control left in future years. Otherwise No no no.

The headlines for the Twins on MLB.com...Molitor says upgrade "not a necessity"....Ryan "open to trade, but won't force it."

 

Hmmm, not hard to see what the expectations are being lowered to here.

 

I guess the over-under should be set at 0.5, and I am leaning towards the under.

I'm OK with the Twins not doing much. Let them pay the offseason price for a catcher and bullpen help.

 

Let Polanco play at SS and see what we have got there. If he hits and fields we got our man. If he hits, but doesn't field he is tradeable.

x

 

I'm OK with the Twins not doing much. Let them pay the offseason price for a catcher and bullpen help.
 

AMEN

Too much talent in the minors to give away before we actually know who the consistent players are going to be.  Breakout seasons do nothing for me.  I want to know who could and should be a true asset down the line.  CONSISTENCY!

Bring up the Berrios and Duffy's and Rogers to serve as that Bullpen need (ala David Price in Tampa).  Let them learn and grow from experience.

According to MLBtraderumors.com Twins are looking for controllable arms, not rentals. Given the bullpen situation, I can see why.

Twins may or may not make a one game playoff, but to play meaningful games in August and hopefully September is worthwhile. Find the needed pieces(catcher and bullpen) in the offseason) and do not overpay with prospects now.

I take Ryan and Molly's comments wiith a grain of salt. If they really don't make any big deals, then they've tempered expectations. If they are deep in negotiations (which they likely are), acting hellbent to make a deal plays into the hands of their trade partner. The Reds and Padres are saying, "We don't need to trade these guys. We actually would sort of like to keep them. But, if we get an offer we can't refuse..."

Trade JR Graham back to Atlanta for AJ, then get some real bullpen help. Anybody want to take Pelfrey, Arcia or Santana? They're not all world right now but gotta be worth something.

Don't trade a top ten (maybe not even a top twenty) prospect for any rental.

 

2015 has been a nice surprise but the Twins don't have E. Santana in the playoffs and young developing club.

 

Any substantial trade must point to 2016 to 2022.

Honestly, I'd probably sell this year.  I think the team's true colors were somewhat obvious after the last week or so.  They are close, but not worth giving up the far for.  I wouldn't sell with the idea of blowing it up, but with the idea of picking up controllable pieces for next year and letting a few more kids play.  I'd do the following:

 

• Shop Plouffe (though I think this is an offseason move)
• Trade Pelfrey for whatever I can get, hopefully a decent reliever with a couple years of control left.
• I would listen to offers on Milone too, as I'm assuming Nolasco will still be here next year unless the Twins plan on taking on a bigger contract and offloading his as a part of the deal.  This might be the big mistake, but I want May in the rotation next year.  Milone might end up being an offseason trade as well, but his value has rebounded and I'd think he'd get a decent return.
• Any reliever (other than Perkins, Graham, and O'Rourke) would be available, though I doubt there'd be interest in anyone.  Several would be DFAd in favor of some of our Rochester options.

I would target an 8th inning setup guy or a catcher.  Not against a SS, but we do have internal options, all of which will be competing for that spot.  If we got a good one for the right price, I wouldn't turn it down, but between Polanco, Santana, and Escobar, as well as the slim (albeit very slim) chance that Dozier could move there, I'd probably put that 3rd on the list of needs.  I'd probably let DH be an internal competition between Walker, Arcia, and Vargas once Plouffe is gone. 

 

I'd also dangle Kepler for a time machine to bring the 2009 Joe Mauer to play for Minnesota in 2016, but beyond that he's untouchable.  The idea of a resurgent Hicks, Buxton, Rosario, and Kepler tandem in the OF makes me drool. 

I'd want to keep Kepler for the simple fact he's the only slugging lefthanded prospect bat in the upper minors. (Yes, I'm not counting Arcia). The Twins will need at least one lefty to go along with Sano, Buxton, Dozier, Plouffe, ABW II potentially.

 

Kepler's defense, speed, and approach are a lot more attractive than Arcia's skill set (rare power among a ton of strikeouts, no walks, and bad defense).

 

I take Ryan and Molly's comments wiith a grain of salt. If they really don't make any big deals, then they've tempered expectations. If they are deep in negotiations (which they likely are), acting hellbent to make a deal plays into the hands of their trade partner. The Reds and Padres are saying, "We don't need to trade these guys. We actually would sort of like to keep them. But, if we get an offer we can't refuse..."

 

I think Molitor has different motivations - he still has to manage the current 25 man roster, and can't have it out there he is asking for a trade in case something doesn't happen.

 

If he was honest he would probably say "Get me some bleeping relievers yesterday"

List...of trades.....so........depressing........

 

x

 

y?

I heard Kepler was dangled in a package for Kimbrel, but it's not going anywhere.

 

If the Yankees offer Mateo, they'll get Kimbrel. Then the Astros go after Benoit and the Twins are left standing with all the chairs full.

 

Heard the Upton rumor with more detail: The Padres would trade him and take back Nolasco's contract for Hicks or Rosario. That would amount to a salary dump with no other moves and people would be angry.

 

Unless it's part of something bigger. Stay tuned.

People will be angry no matter what happens.

Two real trades in that whole list.

 

I'm not holding my breath here. I do agree with Ryan on one thing, trading a legit prospect for a rental this year is now a bad idea. Everyone else around them is trying hard to get elite players, and has amassed real talent. I don't think their quickly evaporating games in hand are enough to hold them all off. Of course, this is a self-fulfilling prophecy, sitting around and losing ballgames while the bullpen implodes, then saying they weren't good enough to add players that matter.....

Justin Upton makes so little sense to me, and trading Hicks or Rosario for him makes even less.  If the Twins want to acquire, it should be for long term pieces at positions of need (catcher in particular), not short term options at positions of strength who have a chance of outperforming him down the stretch.  Add to it his .767 OPS doesn't scream help. 

I could definitely get behind Kimbrel, but for Kepler?  Unless the Twins think Kepler is a mirage and are selling high, I'd probably look to send a lesser prospect for Kimbrel. 

 

I heard Kepler was dangled in a package for Kimbrel, but it's not going anywhere.

If the Yankees offer Mateo, they'll get Kimbrel. Then the Astros go after Benoit and the Twins are left standing with all the chairs full.
Heard the Upton rumor with more detail: The Padres would trade him and take back Nolasco's contract for Hicks or Rosario. That would amount to a salary dump with no other moves and people would be angry.

Unless it's part of something bigger.

 Stay tuned.

 

I like the concept, especially the "something bigger" part-  could Maurer and Kelley be in the mix?  

 

Is the James Shields thing still even the remotest of possibilities?

Lots of trades doesn't always equal a better ball club (see Billy Beane and the A's last year.).  Some of the deals that have been made don't really make a ton of sense for clubs and don't present a huge upgrade (Gomez to the Astros?) for the price paid.  With the talent the Twins have now is not the time to be pressured into a deal.  Rather see them play it out and watch these young kids play.  Fun and exciting to watch.

Why the bleep would you deal those guys for Upton? Mind. Boggling.

 

Lots of trades doesn't always equal a better ball club (see Billy Beane and the A's last year.).  Some of the deals that have been made don't really make a ton of sense for clubs and don't present a huge upgrade (Gomez to the Astros?) for the price paid.  With the talent the Twins have now is not the time to be pressured into a deal.  Rather see them play it out and watch these young kids play.  Fun and exciting to watch.

 

Uh, that Astros trade was great for the Astros. They have no CF, and their OF defense is suspect. They are loaded with young talent already. He's controlled past this year. They also got a controlled pitcher, who will pitch out of the bullpen this year, with spot starts. He can step into the rotation next year if they don't sign another guy.

Edited July 31, 2015 by mike wants wins

 

List...of trades.....so........depressing........

I particularly like being reminded that Washington had the ****'s to tell Bill Smith "Capps for Ramos? No deal.  Not enough. You're going to need to add a minor leaguer to that, my friend.  "

 

And Smith said, "OK."

 

 

Just say no to Upton.  Controlled reliever or two obtained for Pelfrey or non-elite prospects and I'm good.

 

I can even live with Suzuki for the rest of the year and while I am skeptical of Polanco's arm, the only way to find out if he can handle being a MLB SS is to let him try.  At this point, we have nothing to lose and it seems likely that he will hit better than Esco or Santana.  This also allows Santana to go to AAA and just play.  He still may end up being the SS in 2016.

Count me in the group that would not be that upset by no major moves. 

 

I'm hopeful that at the very least they do something to pick up a decent relief arm or two.

 

Question though, say the Twins landed Kimbrel . . . who would close?  Perkins because he's our boy or Kimbrel because he's well probably even a little bit better. 

 

Either way, what a crazy backend we would have for the next few years.  Damnit Jeremy, you've got my head spinning thinking of all the possibilities with San Diego

 

Count me in the group that would not be that upset by no major moves. 

 

I'm hopeful that at the very least they do something to pick up a decent relief arm or two.

 

Question though, say the Twins landed Kimbrel . . . who would close?  Perkins because he's our boy or Kimbrel because he's well probably even a little bit better. 

 

Either way, what a crazy backend we would have for the next few years.  Damnit Jeremy, you've got my head spinning thinking of all the possibilities with San Diego

I would love to see a situation where they just said screw the traditional closer role.  You have two elite pitchers to cover the back end of the game and they are used interchangeably depending on matchups.

 

I would love to see a situation where they just said screw the traditional closer role.  You have two elite pitchers to cover the back end of the game and they are used interchangeably depending on matchups.

Agree and and after just glancing at Kimbrel's numbers, he's far and away the better pitcher on pretty much every level.  That said I bet we would keep Perk in the closer role at least until he falters.  That might be a good thing because it opens us up to using Kimbrel in the highest leverage situations without being stuck in only the 9th inning. 

 

I guess we can worry about it if it were to happen, which it probably won't

Per mlbtraderumors we're more in the Craig Breslow market than Craig Kimbrel

 

Per mlbtraderumors we're more in the Craig Breslow market than Craig Kimbrel

One word: ick.

 

But, unlike Kimbrel, at least he doesn't come with that terrible "CLOSER" tag, which basically doubles a guy's value for no good reason.