Twins Trade Lewin Diaz for RHP Sergio Romo, 2 Minor Leaguers

There’s not much room for single position “projects” on mlb rosters.

As was mentioned, there is an extra roster spot next year. The NL has an automatic extra position player anyway because of no DH.

Sure, there is no way a contending team could do that unless the guy contributes. But a non-contender absolutely could roster a guy like that. The Orioles are still rostering Chris Davis. Diaz can’t possibly be much worse than he has been the last two years. I suspect the Marlins will call him up in September for a look see.

I'm not a big fan of trying to declare a winner on trades as if it's a zero-sum game. I think the best trades are the ones that help both teams.

Contextually, I think the trade could well help the Twins this year (i.e., Romo does well this year), and I hope it does. Contextually, the trade could well help the Marlins down the road (i.e., Diaz becomes a good player), and I hope it does.

When you approach trade negotiations with the genuine intent of helping the other team as well as helping yourself, you increase the likelihood of finding a willing partner when you call them back next time. 

Yeah, almost a zero chance on Buxton, I think.

Rosario might happen. It depends on the return, which I think is a big hurdle to overcome. Corner OF don’t bring a lot back nowadays unless they’re elite. Rosario is simply good.

Rosario is 10th among our position players in fWAR and 8th in OPS. He was also horrible the last half of 2018. I would not expect much in return. I seriously doubt they even consider moving Buxton but it would be great if one of the corner OF prospects thrive and afford them the option of moving Rosario. 

a lot of "he needs 40 man protection this winter" posts.

Maybe, maybe not. He hasn't the past two winters. Not at all sure he'd last on a MLB roster next year. He's having a bounceback season, for sure, but is he ready to be a position player on a 26 man roster, all season?

Dunno.

And for the record, I like the Romo deal. He's a bullpen upgrade, for sure. There just needs to be more.

But does he have to be a position player on a 26 man roster, all season? The Twins have Gordon on the 40 man roster this season at the same age Diaz will be next season. I'm thinking Miami will have less of a roster crunch next year than the Twins have now. In any case, those 14 extra spots make a huge difference, and I'm pretty confident that Diaz would be picked up if left unprotected.

Yes, any team would be required to keep him on the 26 man roster for the entire season if they selected him in the Rule V draft.

Agreed. My point is that Miami traded for Diaz and should be able to protect him from the Rule V draft and have room on the 40 man roster to let him stay in the minors. He doesn't need to be ready to be a position player on a 26 man roster all season.

Fair, if that's where you stand.
Personally, I don't think it's reasonable to expect multiple arms as good as or better than Rogers.
I think one guy on par with Rogers (hopefully pending), and another two a tier below (Romo + pending, or Romo + a current starter if we improve the rotation) is more realistic, and a pretty good upgrade to the staff.

I don't think it's likely to happen either, but it's what they've needed since the offseason. Lowering the bar on expectations is one thing; giving the FO a pass on failing to adequately address the bullpen after doing essentially nothing through the winter and first half of the season is something entirely different. I'm resigned to the 1st, but can't do the 2nd.