Squirrel

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com Says for Evan Sisk and Steven Cruz

Better not be for Josh Winder. I’d be pissed at that.

Just because a player gets injured doesn’t mean it’s the position they play that caused it. Sports are physically taxing and players get injured. All over the field. Period. Some players are more prone to injuries than others. Doesn’t mean the position caused the injury. The action caused the injury. This argument that some of you make about the outfield being, what, a more dangerous position to play? You are making anecdotal claims that are just not proof.

Arraez stopped playing left field because he was a horrible left fielder.

Possibly Lewis, too, depending on where they think he's at

And I would guess the FO thinks so, too, or they wouldn't have traded him. However ... if that doesn't happen, then they projected incorrectly and will have to make more moves during the season. Or, maybe they aren't through, yet, and more is to come. The off-season isn't over yet.

That’s just not true. One could say they valued him more than others because he’s the one who got the return they wanted and cleared space for Kirilloff, Lee, Julien and/or Lewis. This trade was all about value on many levels, not about lack of it. This game is played by human beings, and we all are emotional about our favorites and perceptions of good. FOs have to be more objective than that and view their players not just as human beings but as assets or no one would get traded ever. It’s probably the hard part of the job, especially with one as well liked as Arraez. I hate when players get traded away or non tendered. I still feel pangs for Eduardo and Eddie. But in the end, those were all the right decisions to make, imo, including this trade of Arraez.

Miranda could be a possibility if Farmer starts at 3rd with Kirilloff at 1B

You are also forgetting the potential to trade him sooner. If he continues to be a highly rated prospect that is capital that can be used in a trade.

Not only that, but by adding Salas, it's another piece we can use in a trade. It was a good move. Lopez wasn't the pitcher I'd have gone after, as I've said, but, I think the Twins made a good value trade.

I wouldn’t have made the trade if it was strictly one to one. Miami adding the prospects makes it a better trade for us. As I said in another thread, I think it was a good trade, however, I would have liked the Twins to spend a bit more to get one of the other pitchers

Wow ... you deem me a superfan. Thank you. I don't think I come close to that, but wow, how kind!

That remains to be seen, but for now depends on which source you choose to believe

Joe Mauer begs to differ. Didn’t he win two, even?

I do think the trade was a good trade in terms of players going and coming. However, I still wish the Twins had aimed a little higher than Lopez and paid a little more to get one of the other pitchers from Miami. Maybe those discussions included Lewis or the equivalent, I don't know. But, I'm not disappointed in this. Other than I will miss Luis.

Okay ... then give us examples of when team in contention traded a veteran on an expiring contract, who was contributing to the team's contention, and they received prospects or young players in return, that weren't to help that year's team but to replenish the pipeline and some future team. And then give us examples of teams not doing that and it meant their pipeline was a myth. Because that's what vanimal has said ... that by not trading Grey and Maeda at the deadline, regardless of where the team is at, regardless what those players are contributing, it means the pipeline is a myth. That's what this discussion has turned into (in a topic about trading for Lopez). And you're throwing in something I might have said last year, out of context, from a different situation, that doesn't at all correlate to this discussion where I'm already having difficulties understanding the correlations. Convoluted is what I called this and that's what this discussion has become. My biggest objection to what vanimal has said is the part about that if we don't make these trades, the pipeline is a myth. I don't understand the correlation in that, at all. At all. I'm not saying we shouldn't trade those two, I'm saying that 'it depends' and it does, imo, and if the 'it depends' means we keep them, it means our team is doing well and so are they and it doesn't mean our pipeline is a myth. If our team is doing well and we can get someone even better to help, then yes, make a trade. If we aren't doing well, but they are, yes, let's hope we can get a good return for future use. And if SWR is that phenomenal that we need him down the stretch, to be a regular starter, then make a move to do that. That's how it should work. There shouldn't be some absolute here. It depends. I get that we do need to make trades to replenish the farm, but I do think it matters when we do this, that that should be a big part of the consideration, and not do it, regardless.

Oy ... now you are just convoluting the discussion further.

Eh, I’d rather another team come out on top in this poll and then play the underdog all season.

I won’t take that bet because it is dependent on too many things. If those two are contributing to a winning record, then no, they won’t be traded. If we still have a winning record but one or both aren’t contributing, then yeah, one or both could be traded at the deadline. But, that would also depend on the readiness of others. And how well those two are contributing, one of them could be extended, but, again, a lot of ‘it depends’ in that, too. But your definitive statement that if they aren’t traded, regardless how they are doing, regardless how the Twins are doing, the pipeline is a myth … that statement is, in itself, a myth. Or at the very least, just doesn’t correlate. However, if the Twins are doing poorly, yes, they could both be traded and should be traded. That is when you trade veteran players. However, how they are doing will determine the return they get. And whether Maeda is starting or relieving will also make a difference to all of this. There is just way too much ‘absolutism’ in your opinion to something, imo, simply does not correlate.

As it is with anyone, I’d like to hear the offer first. For a front end starter, I might consider it, but it had better be a very, very good pitcher. I don’t think Lewis would be in the untouchable realm, but, I’d be looking for a huge return or don’t bother me.

I actually think this sounds like you are creating a reason to dislike the FO. If the team is doing well, even if they are in first place, with a roster the FO put together, based on trades and bringing up young players, you will constitute the pipeline a failure because we won’t trade half of a winning rotation in order to play prospects? If the FO did that, I would revolt. The time to trade expiring contracts at the deadline is when the team is doing poorly not when it’s winning. If that expiring contract isn’t contributing to the winning season and there is a chance to get someone who will, by all means, yes. None of that has any bearing on the pipeline, at all, imo. And my guess is, the young players you’ve mentioned WILL have contributed to the good season, if indeed there is one. Or, they are used to get someone to add to a winning roster that could strengthen our chances. That, actually, would be an example of the pipeline bearing fruit.

This hardly constitutes 'rebuilding' to trade away a player who doesn't really have a position to get a player of need who will help NOW. This is what teams looking to win do. This is what we should be doing.

We have seen SWR ... he pitched at the end of last season and we will see him this year, too. And he projects to be very good. I was and still am a fan of that trade, but then I wasn't a huge fan of Berrios. He wasn't going to stay with the Twins. Talks to extend him went nowhere and he's not doing that well with the Blue Jays. I get trading away favorite players ... I HATED losing Escobar. But, again, it was the right thing to do and now we are enjoying what Duran brings. If a team is unable to sign pitching, this is how it goes.

We aren't talking about about trading him for prospects. We are talking about trading him for mlb starting pitching. While I'd like a bit better return than Lopez, and I'd hate to lose Luis, it is the way to go about it.

So you think the Twins are going to be out of the picture by the deadline?