Twins Trade Graterol to Dodgers for Kenta Maeda in Blockbuster Deal

I literally am unsure of what to think at this moment.       I'm sure I'll find something creative to say later, but right now... well, that was an interesting move.

My knee jerk reaction is to have mixed feelings. Graterol is tough to give up, but Maeda is a good pitcher with four years of control for almost no money. He has been pitching out of LA’s bullpen and wants to start. He has been a bit above league average in his career, but peripherals are pretty encouraging. Not sure the K% and K rate will hold up switching to a starting role in the AL. Here’s hoping for the best.

I don’t love this. Maeda is a very solid pitcher but really hate to see Brusdar go.

This trade will help us this year and maybe a couple after that. But Graterol is a steep price to pay. Not sure if I like this trade or not at this point. I would feel a little better if Maeda was 2 or 3 years younger. He will be 32 in April.

Agree with Raindog. Trading a our top pitching prospect for a number 4 starter. Doesn’t quite make sense.

"What about starting pitching?!", we asked. Well, this is how you bring it to Target Field.

Wow.

Twins are in win-now mode, no question. They had an opportunity to acquire an MLB starter by dealing a top prospect, and they did it.

Maeda was 10-8 with a 4.04 ERA last year. He should slot in behind Berrios and Odorizzi perfectly. Good fit. Did the Twins give up too much? Time will tell.

Stupid move for a team desperately trying to develop a top-of-the-rotation arm for the last 20 years.

I'm done with Team Falvine.

Bad deal if Graterol turns out to be a very good starter.  If just a reliever than this deal is fine as Japanese pitchers seem to last longer than most.  Maeda has been good and helps with payroll over the next few years.  High risk, High reward.

I like upgrading the rotation but I would have liked to see the Twins get more for Graterol than Maeda...

How many #3 starters does one rotation need?

Maeda helps win the division but doesn't help us beat the Yankees or Astros or any other good team in the postseason.

It hurts, but again, if Graterol is purely a bullpen arm now..... Its OK

Agree with Raindog. Trading a our top pitching prospect for a number 4 starter. Doesn’t quite make sense.

I disagree with this assessment. I think there’s a pretty convincing argument that Graterol is (er, was) their second or third best pitching prospect. Personally, I like Duran a lot better. There’s also quite a bit to like about Maeda. He’s probably the best strike out pitcher on the team now other than Rogers. His counting stats are suppressed over the last year or two from pitching mostly out of the bullpen. Conversely, his rate stats might be a bit inflated. He’s a good pitcher—in my opinion clearly better than a fourth starter. Way too early to say who “wins,” but the thinking seems to make sense. It’s definitely a win now move.

First reaction...I'd rather have Joc for what he cost the Angels

Maeda will eat innings Graterol may make headlines

At first glance, don't like it.  Doesn't seem like the top arm the Twins should be getting if Graterol is included in a package.  Hopefully, management knows that Graterol won't be that ACE starter they so badly need.  If that proves to be true, guess this is ok.  Just would have liked someone coming back who is both better and younger.

Check out the eighth paragraph. What do I win?

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/35563-2020-blueprint-cooking-up-a-championship/

I guess we can all just be glad that we weren't the team that ended up with David Price

4 years of a veteran starting pitcher at 3.125 million per year keeps costs down so we can afford the raises coming in and gives us a rotation of Berrios, Maeda, and Pineda at the end of the year so we won't be scrambling like this offseason.  

This has been crazy to see unfold... MLB baseball making a huge splash 2 days after the Super Bowl!

Falvine made a judgment call and sold high on Graterol. Maybe they think he’s just a reliever. I’m excited that the rotation is getting stronger! It’s go time in 2020!!

This is what my initial reaction was. They just don’t believe he’ll ever be a great starter

Always hard to argue with someone who has seen a player play much more than you have. Sure I would have hoped we trade from excess like outfielders, but maybe Twins feel BG injury risk or trading for more of a known quantity versus potential.

Twins replaced Gibson/Perez with Maeda/Bailey. It cost them some pocket change and Brusdar. In my opinion I'm OK with that.

Who knows on Graterol?

What are the odds he pans out as a starter? Low.

As a reliever? Better.

Maeda is a solid starter, which Twins need going forward even beyond this year.

This is a move you make when you know your team is solid.

Will Twins miss Graterol in 2020? No.

Will Maeda win them a pennant?

That's why you play the games.

Check out the eighth paragraph. What do I win?

 

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/35563-2020-blueprint-cooking-up-a-championship/

All expense paid trip to French Lick