Twins Rumor Central: Sunday Edition

Dozier is one hot week away from being some contender's key acquisition. Problem is, he's been looking very mediocre at the plate, not like a guy about to go on a hot streak. 

This time next year Dozier will be on the move but probably won't be going anywhere this year.

Litell, excuse me if it's spelled wrong, has fantastic numbers. If it boils down to getting him for a rental pitcher and Ynoa, I'm ok with that.

Seems like we gave up very little for Little. If that is who we get.  Stats make him look like a solid pitcher but he could end up being a AAAA player as well.  He appears to have a decent Curve which is all the rage these days.  If the Twins pull it off I would say this is a good get for Garcia.  By making the Garcia trade they move on from a 19 year old in Rookie ball to a 21 year old in AA.  That speeds things up.  A number 4 isn't sexy but pretty good for a rental.

If they get this guy some starter in Chatty has to move up, right?

I like Dozier, but should he be the leadoff hitter most all of the season. He is still a bargain and contributes well. But I don't see anyone knocking down the door to get him and, as they showed in the off-season, no one really thought he would repeat his 2016 campaign. The question is can he and the Twins reach an agreeable contract? At worst, I picture Dozier being a viable DH in a couple of years who can still play the field.Assuming that we don't have the "where to play" Mauer issue, and Sano can still play third base.

Well... What does anyone know about Zack Little?

He has good numbers.  More than that, it looks like he may be real.

Here is an article about Littel in the Yankee system. The author is a fan, to say the least.

Last line in the article:

Armed with a pinpoint fastball that regularly sits between 91-94 mph, Littell is currently refining an at-times unhittable slider to go along with his changeup and curveball.

Trade Kintzler, Grossman and Belisle. DL Polanco. Activate Buxton and call up Vargas and 2 relievers. Give Hildenberger the 1st shot at the closer role. Rogers clearly isn't it. 

It should be an interesting two days. While Falvey and Levine were hesitant to pull the trigger on the Dozier trade over the winter, the one thing I have noticed this year is that they are very quick to make roster moves in general. Lots of roster churn in the first four months of their tenure.

Now that they have decided to sell, will be fun to see if the same trend follows, and they do in fact sell several pieces. It would be a huge change from the dull trade deadlines of the past few years.

Littell looks like a good target. Not too far away, great K/BB rates. And an 11th round high school pick, which after this year I have learned means he was likely someone targeted as a hard sign.

Littell looks like a good target. Not too far away, great K/BB rates. And an 11th round high school pick, which after this year I have learned means he was likely someone targeted as a hard sign.

This would be a nice trade since I think he is a better prospect than the one traded away.

He signed for 100K (max without affecting the signing cap). 

This shows us that they are selling on this season but I am not so sure that they will sell on next season. Maybe Kintzler is on the move. Maybe Escobar (versatile and a surplus position).

Thad Levine:  The GM said his team's "unfortunate reality" has changed in the past week.

http://www.startribune.com/gm-thad-levine-says-twins-looking-more-long-term-after-rough-week/437418403/

I wonder how deep [or should I say, "high up" Levine and Falvey will go on the roster. I think the only guy that is untouchable is Sano.  Not sure I'm firm on that.  I'd just like to see a reduction in strike outs over the rest of the year.

Trade Kintzler, Grossman and Belisle. DL Polanco. Activate Buxton and call up Vargas and 2 relievers. Give Hildenberger the 1st shot at the closer role. Rogers clearly isn't it. 

Others teams, like the Dodgers and now Boston with Price, are using the 10 day DL to give players a break or rest when they're slumping. Why the heck haven't the Twins put Polanco on the 10 day DL as a way to send him on a "rehab assignment" to AAA to help him get things figured out?

Wow, I don't understand this. I know "on paper" doesn't tell the whole story, but on paper Littell looks like a potential monster. If three pitch mix is as advertised, floor seems to be 4\5 starter, cieling much higher. If this goes down we've essentially brokered the prospect for prospect swap the never happens, just with a middle step.

Ynoa + cash for Littell.

Lots to love if/when this goes through.

Here is Fangraphs on Littell from the offseason:

Zack Littell, RHP, 2.6 KATOH+ – Acquired in a November trade with Seattle, Littell is a pitchability righty with fringey stuff. He pitches heavily off of a loopy, early count-curveball and sequences well, but the stuff is that of a depth arm.

His results in AA don't look very fringy to me.

Low 90s fastball.

+ Curve ball.

Developing slide that is "unhittable" at times.

I don't read this as fringe at all. Of course, there are many reasons I am not employed as a professional MLB scout

I like this move a lot. At worst, I think we got a solid bullpen arm. At best I think we got a number 4 starter. At this point I'll take either. Is he someone that could be a September call up? I saw he needed to be added to the 40 man after this year. If not, when is his expected ETA

Although he missed a lot of this season and 2015, Enns performance in 2016 would indicate he could be better than Littell. AND the Twins are paying most of the $4+ million owed to Garcia.

Littell, plus Enns, plus that catcher for Ynoa and $4+ million looks to me to be a hell of a deal!

I'd be all but certain Little provides more value than Ynoa if we decide to buy next season also.  This flip of Ynoa for Little just gives the Twins more options with both their pitching internally in 2018, and also adding value if they decide to trade for pitching.  

What? Is everyone a stat scout right now?

Ok, please ask fred guerrero what the type prospect Yona can be in his eyes. Let's go right now.

I wonder what the Red Sox would give the Twins for Sano? They do need to replace Ortiz! 

Others teams, like the Dodgers and now Boston with Price, are using the 10 day DL to give players a break or rest when they're slumping. Why the heck haven't the Twins put Polanco on the 10 day DL as a way to send him on a "rehab assignment" to AAA to help him get things figured out?

Because if the player isn't actually hurt, you need their cooperation (perhaps a better word would be collusion) to make that move. If Polanco is not hurt, and not interested in a trip to Rochester, he or his agent can simply call foul on an attempted DL placement. That being said, it also doesn't make any sense to avoid playing Polanco to try an win, since we're calling the season anyways. Let him play and develop, or play and help us lose, either way is a win for the team at this point.

I don't disagree, just thought it was a good balance to the Yankees hometown scouting report.

 

I imagine his success at AA this year has bumped his prospect status up a little.

 

Yeah, I hear ya. Wasn't attributing the fringe comment to you, just disagreeing with the sentiment in the eval.