Potential Twins Bullpen Target: Kirby Yates, RHP, Padres

And why would the Padres trade him ? and When ? They are close to front in the wildcard race and I doubt that will be much different by August.

Besides that, we shouldn't give much for a year and a half rental (assuming he performs close to his current norms.) You can't expect much out of him after next year. 

Tom is on the mark. Of all the teams who should be willing to trade a pitcher to address a hitting problem, the Padres should be at the top of the list. The Twins don't have the depth to trade pitchers-for-pitchers, but surprising things always happen and it's not impossible.

Other teams that need hitting and have relief pitching:

- Rays (risky, the Rays have a lot of smoke and mirrors going on)

- Diamondbacks (Sherfy is in the minors for them, he would be an ace reliever on 25 other teams. Grab Sherfy or grab someone else so they can promote Sherfy)

- Indians (won't happen)

- Reds (Garrett, Bowman are performing insanely)

- Giants (Smith is very good, too good for a non-contender, and the Giants have others who could step in for him)

- Marlins* (Brice?)

*Only if they are in "let's shuffle the problem around" mode, a la Terry Ryan.

2019 is simply a down year for pitching.

As an NL fantasy baseball player, I've been a huge fan of Yates the past couple years. He's seriously good and worth consideration. Good writeup.

I know it's all hypothetical, but it would be nice to see a potential package that the Twins would have to give up for each of these relievers as part of the write-up.

  On 6/12/2019 at 1:31 PM, spycake said:

Ah yes, Kirby Yates. We passed on him on waivers -- twice! -- with Rule 5 pick Justin Haley still on our 25-man roster back in 2017.

 

Who knows if we would have straightened him out like the Padres have, but I remember it as an example of the opportunity cost of rostering a Rule 5 guy.

I have to give the FO a pass back then, because they were still trying to get things going along with Molitor and his cadre running things on the field.

It really does appear cleaning house with the on-field staff has made a difference.

I don't see SD trading controllable talent after their free agent investments. Pending free agents, sure. But they're also playing for next year.

But who knows. The trade game is unpredictable.

  On 6/12/2019 at 2:59 PM, spycake said:

Yeah, I didn't mean to say that to pick on the current FO, just remembering it as an example of opportunity cost. (I also wouldn't necessarily pick on the field staff about this -- I don't think the field staff was directing Rule 5 picks.)

 

I'd guess the FO is learning too. This year, no Rule 5 picks, no Breslow/Belisle age veterans. Duffey and Magill (and perhaps even Harper and Morin) might be considered attempts to find the next Kirby Yates.

Speaking of Duffey, I think he's pitching with a bit of attitude, which I think is good. If Duffey gets command of that fastball, he could really be something. Of course, the same could be said of May.

Kind of scary to think this team, which continues to win, is still a work in progress.

I find where the Twins are right now kind of funny because we are in this situation because of move we made last year by this front office. This when they traded away Ryan Pressly for future prospects and now we need reliever which is going to cost us prospects plus probably a player. If the Twins would have just kept him alot of our bull pen needs would have been met by just staying pat. Second the prospects we have recieved have made no impact at major league level yet and we would still had controll with Pressly like they are seeking now to find a reliever. This front office have made some very good moves but some there moves  have not been the best. This has been there weakness they have under estimated there own potential to win in there first 3 seasons here and haven't had strategy in season to bolster the team to be winner. Yes they made moves to have potential to win in the offseason but sometimes it takes in season additions to get where they are winning now this season they are being tested again how much faith do they have to improving this team for this fall. Baseball is sport when youre winning you need to take advantage of what ever is going right because even when on paper you should win doesn't mean you will win.