Switching Gears

Yikes.

Also, I forgot that Santana was out of options next year. He would really be sold low right now, and that is just not good. Arcia is performing bad now, but I doubt teams would really care about that so much (somehow the Twins do . . . ). Play Arcia or trade him, please. Mets?

I don't believe Danny Santana is out of options next year yet. Arcia and Hicks are though.

Can't argue with anything you wrote here, Seth. 

The Twins are in a little bit of a bind:  1st half team or 2nd.  I'm saying something in the middle.  That means the Twins need to clear space for that "immense talent from the farm system" on the MLB roster.  Problem is:  I don't think other teams value Twins players as much as Twins fans do.

I don't believe Danny Santana is out of options next year yet. Arcia and Hicks are though.

2013, actually, was his first option year.

Plouffe likely brings back the best return and he shouldn't be part of the future, so take someone that has a chance to be here for next 5, 6 years in return. 

Pelfrey and Nunez probably are both headed somewhere. 

If anyone claimed Suzuki, Nolasco or Santana I would let them go. Unfortunately, I don't think any team would risk taking their contracts.

If a player has a no trade contract but is waived and claimed, can they be let go without compensation? It isn't a trade. I realize no team is going to pick up Mauer with this many years left on his contract, but I do wonder about the possibility down the road. While not being a trade, the Twins do acquire salary relief.

I disagree on your Hunter conclusion. I think he is the most likely to be traded. He came to MN to play his age 40 year on a team that was not expected to contend. He had to come here with the anticipation he'd be traded to a contender. Had to. They were in the race at the non-waiver deadline, so he would not be traded. That sure looks different now. If they are sellers, he is the #1 most likely asset to go. He has value, experience- and isn't a long-term piece.

2nd, I sure hope they don't trade Arcia. His and Sano's are the highest upside bats to come through here since Morneau (Ortiz?...Killebrew?) He could be a .300 hitter with 40 hr when he puts it together. Trading him at his nadir would be foolish.

widely reported that Hunter's contract with the Twins includes a no-trade clause.  

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/12/twins-to-sign-torii-hunter.html

True, but all that means is he has say in the matter. I expect he'd waive his no-trade as long as he's going to a contender. There seems to be a lot of mutual respect between him and Terry. I expect Torii will go wherever he wants to and the Twins would be glad to accept whatever return he brings and root for him until the end of the year. It wouldn't even mean he won't be back here next year.

Shane - yeah. Didn't realize Santana was added to the 40-man in November, 2012. Holy smokes, he's been in the org a long time.

True, but all that means is he has say in the matter. I expect he'd waive his no-trade as long as he's going to a contender. There seems to be a lot of mutual respect between him and Terry. I expect Torii will go wherever he wants to and the Twins would be glad to accept whatever return he brings and root for him until the end of the year. It wouldn't even mean he won't be back here next year.

However, Torii has said he wants to retire as a Twin.  Guessing that's why the contract has a no-trade clause.

However, Torii has said he wants to retire as a Twin.  Guessing that's why the contract has a no-trade clause.

Torii seems like the kind of guy who would want a farewell tour with all the bells and whistles.   Mmmm, all that attention. That hasn't happened this year, so I imagine he doesn't plan to retire after this season.

Hunter is going to keep playing until he has negative value. I hope the Twins aren't the team paying for that season. It could be next year.

I'd move Santana to get Shields. Bigger contract commitment for the Twins but a better pitcher.

The only likely trades are with teams in contention who want to round out their roster for the playoffs.

That eliminates rookies like Santana and Arcia.  You don't add inexperience heading into the playoffs.

Nunez, maybe.  Pelfrey, only for depth.  The Twins honestly don't have much to offer a playoff team, sadly.

Which is why no one in baseball could figure out how they were winning so many games into July.

Concur, a day late and a dollar short for the 5th straight year.

Can't wait to hear the rhetoric defending this year.
"We were a competetive team, we took a lot of strides, blah, blah, blah"

Head still stuck in sand.

We've gotten into this position by wasting the years prior.  We're obsessed with catching lightening in a bottle (Perkins, Dozier) and hoping that our talent will mesh into something serviceable.  Adding veterans during a rebuild should have provided opportunities to trade guys away, and groom younger guys.  But we've refused to add notable FA, and failed to trade players at their peaks.  Rather than continually trying to get more talent, we've contently waited around for talent to bloom.  

This "immense young talent" we speak of doesn't include a catcher, an ace, or possibly even a lock-down reliever or shortstop.  Who are we waiting for who figures to be a huge upgrade over what we have on the field now?  Polanco maybe?  Pinto doubtfully?  We have a bunch of average players and no stars.  Will May and Berrios have better years next year than Pelf and Milone had this year?  Mauer can't be moved.  Once Bux and Kepler are up, how do the cupboards look?