Source: Twins not negotiating for Ibanez
Posted on August 14th, 2008 – 10:36 AMBy Joe Christensen
Seattle outfielder Raul Ibanez has reportedly been claimed on waivers and could be traded today, but the team that won the claim is not the Twins, a person familiar with the situation told the Star Tribune.
ESPN’s Buster Olney noted today that the Twins might be interested in Ibanez. This makes sense because of Michael Cuddyer’s foot injury, but Denard Span has been more than adequate as a replacement in right field.
The Mariners have a few more hours to work a deal with whatever team did win the claim, so we should know soon. The Rays are definitely interested, but the Red Sox might have put in a claim to block that move.
Note: I’ve changed the wording, as it’s possible the Twins did put in a claim on Ibanez but were beat to it by another team ahead of them on the claiming list. I do know the Twins like Ibanez, but I’ve been told that they are not the team in negotiations with the M’s. … Our blogs are changing servers at 11 a.m., so there will be a temporary window when you won’t be able to post comments below.
Update (2:30 p.m.): ESPN.com’s Rumor Central raises the prospect that the Twins placed a claim on Seattle’s Jarrod Washburn to block him from going to the White Sox. Either way, it doesn’t sound like either Mariner is coming to Minnesota. … Thank you for your patience through the server switch. I believe it’s all-systems-normal now, or normal as can be with some of the cranky commenters below.
Update (4:20 p.m.): The White Sox just finished off the Royals 9-2, so the Twins now trail by one game in the AL Central. … It sounds like the Twins did indeed put in a claim on Ibanez, but a team earlier in the pecking order did, too. No word on whether they had a claim in on Washburn (waivers are a sensitive topic), but all day, there have been reminders that teams often make claims to block other teams. … Anyway, Ibanez and Washburn will be at the Metrodome tomorrow, just not in Twins uniforms.
Update (5:10 p.m.): SI’s Jon Heyman is reporting that the Twins won the claim on Washburn but no deal was struck. Again, looks like Washburn will be in a Mariners uniform tomorrow at the Metrodome. We haven’t confirmed that the Twins put in a claim. If they did, that means they were willing to pay Washburn $13 million through the end of 2009, in which case I would be (to quote Jim Leyland) flabbergasted.
Update (6 p.m.): We now have strong indications from people with knowledge of the situation that the Twins did indeed have claims in on both Ibanez and Washburn. Ibanez made sense to me. Washburn was a surprise.
In Washburn’s case, it sounds like the Twins did indeed win the claim and had extensive talks with the Mariners. The Twins were willing to take on Washburn’s contract, and Seattle could have dumped it on them. But the Mariners also wanted the Twins to throw in one of their current starters. Again, it’s all moot because the claiming window has expired on both players, but it tells you some moves the Twins were willing to do, behind the scenes.
261 Responses to "Source: Twins not negotiating for Ibanez"
as long as he is gone by tomorrow
Acquire him so we don’t have to face him.
Learn your lesson from not signing Jim Thome years ago as a FA
I hope it was a team that beat the Twins…. since the Twins basically play bad teams from now on or teams that currently have better records.
Monday night of that Seattle series. Sitting with a buddy watching the game. It was 6-0.
Buddy: “Looks like we got this game wrapped up.”
Me: “Well, it’ll be 6-3 or 6-4 at the end–we have to let Ibanez get in his 3-run HR against us.”
Of course, I just predicted one jack. And then he went on to MURDER us in that series.
RE: Thome
I always joked with my brother that Jim Thome benched with posters of Rick Reed on the ceiling.
ttp://www.thebaseballcube.com/statistics/head2head.asp?B=thomj002&P=reedr002
add the “h” to the beginning of the web address…
9 HRs in 27 AB, I think that might be more than a co-inky-dink
I bet Toronto claimed him then, they had interest in July.
Joe…please you cant be serious when you wrote “ESPN’s Buster Olney noted today that the Twins might be interested in Ibanez. This makes sense because of Michael Cuddyer’s foot injury, but Denard Span has been more than adequate as a replacement in right field.”
Yes its true Span is doing very well, but dont you think Span would move to CF and Ibanez would play right? Seriously, it would be in EVERYONES better interests if Gomez was sent down to work on his game - its clear he is not ready offensively to play in the major leagues yet.
Joe I thought you were a little better insider than that.
Can’t be us - it makes too much sense to try and trade for Ibanez….it better be a team ahead of the Twins in the waiver order or I’ll be ticked.
Great point Non-Peter Gammons. Span in CF, Ibanez in RF and GoGo to AAA. Makes total baseball sense. Why can’t the Twins management see this - give me a break! Is it really that hard to run a team?
Why would the Twins have interest in Ibanez? The Twins are in an entertainment business, and they are drawing well. It would be foolish to spend another 1.5 million for no increase in attendance, maybe a small attendance bump if anything. The pohlads are running a business, not a baseball team; they have repeatedly said as much.
The Twins won’t send Gomez to AAA - they want to “show the fans” that they got ML talent for Santana. If they were going to, they would’ve by now. Plus, I don’t see how Ibanez really helps the team - can he pitch the 8th inning 3 nights a week?
What good would it do to send gomez to aaa for 2 weeks?
You’ve got to be kidding - you are sooo carrect! Sad but so true……the pohlads are looking at how much profit they can make - how do you think Carl P made his fortune? Its a known fact that he started his banking business by buying up small rural banks and then start making full payment demand notices on loans people had at those banks. If they didnt pay, he would take over their property. This is how he made his fortune, and he runs the twins the same way. He doesnt care about people, all he cares about is the profitability.
Steve…no Ibanez cant pitch the 8th inning, but he sure can drive in runners in scoring position - unlike Kubel (.257 with RISP), or punto (even worse). Yes they need a middle reliever, but they also will need a good bat when facing psotseason pitching.
JC, can you list the claiming heirarchy?
They need a bat behind Morneau that other teams respect. I like Jason Kubel as a player, and I think will keep getting better, but he is not that player right now. They also need a legitimate set up man. They need both, desperately. Not only this year, but going forward into the coming seasons, as well.
Ibanez is to old for our quick Twins. It would be a bad move. Like putting Shaq with the Suns and it seemed to slow them down. Bad move. Don’t do it
Gomez is a worse clutch hitter than Tori was. Do you think it’s going to get any better down the playoff stretch? The Twins have at least 3 “nine-hole” hitters in their lineup every night. Gomez will be fine in time, but he’s not ready to help this year.
From Seattle PI: The Mariners stand to gain two good compensatory draft picks if they retain Ibanez and then lose him this offseason as a free agent, so any package coming back in a trade would have to be better than the picks. Any players traded to the Mariners who are on another team’s 40-man roster would also need to clear waivers, but the Mariners, by virtue of the league’s worst record, could claim them first.
From mlbtraderumors.com:
The American League received first crack at the two Mariners, in the following order (omitting non-contenders):
1. Tigers
2. Rangers
3. Blue Jays
4. Yankees
5. Twins
6. White Sox
7. Red Sox
8. Rays
9. Angels
Bombo,
I agree with you, but again, he would only be down for 2 weeks, then he would be right back up here, when the rosters expand in september.
keep gomez for one reason….anyone remember dave roberts with the sox a few years back, won the series pinch running and stealong bases.
Stolen from MLBTradeRumors yesterday -
The American League received first crack at the two Mariners, in the following order (omitting non-contenders):
1. Tigers
2. Rangers
3. Blue Jays
4. Yankees
5. Twins
6. White Sox
7. Red Sox
8. Rays
9. Angels
ok - so dan’s quicker on the draw!
slinks away in shame…
One more time!
From mlbtraderumors.com:
The American League received first crack at the two Mariners, in the following order (omitting non-contenders):
1. Tigers
2. Rangers
3. Blue Jays
4. Yankees
5. Twins
6. White Sox
7. Red Sox
8. Rays
9. Angels
The Twinks would never be so bold as to do somethign right for a change and go after a strong bat during a pennant drive.
Other teams do this, Twins dont. They have passed on Thome, Thomas, good hitters who could have helped them, but they are too cheap and unimaginative and blase to do something good for both the team and the fan base.
Nobody is reporting that the Twins passed on Ibanez.
and I believe that both thome and thomas, playing the majority of their games on the metrodome turf, would have spent more time on the DL than on the field.
Buster doesn’t know the Twins very well. What a dope.
His name is Buster. You expect him to know things?
Sure Ibanez is not a pitcher. But with his bat, we could win three or four more games down the stretch than if we did not have him. Both with his bat and protecting Morneau. And to keep us from facing him six more times. That guy is a menace.
When was the last time Buster was right about something?
The Twins are way up there in runs scored. Hitting isn’t a problem. The Twins are loaded with hitters.
The pitching is mediocre. Improve the team by improving the pitching.
I got ya Craig, but more hitting can make up for less pitching
The Twins have good small hitting, but obviously so little in terms of power, which could win a couple more games with the swing of a bat
Gomez will win AL rookie of the year hands down. Best Twins player since
Puckett!!!!Take it to the bank.
Thome, Frank Thomas, Ken Griffey Jr., Manny, Pudge, et al. They would have been nice, but I wouldn’t give too much for them. Except money. Money we got, prospects, not so much.
more teams buster includes in his rumors = more team’s fanbases will flock to espn.com to read his bs = more money he makes for espn.
We got Bobby Kielty. Who needs Ibanez?
John Q says:
August 14th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Gomez will win AL rookie of the year hands down. Best Twins player since
Puckett!!!!Take it to the bank.
Your sarcasm reminds me, someone actually posted on one of these blogs the other day, that gomez was a better defensive center fielder, right now, than either puckett or hunter. anyone know who posted that?
So obviously if a team ahead of the Twins claimed him that means the Red Sox and Rays have no chance of getting him either. Am I missing something? Why were those teams even mentioned if they can’t get him either?
it would be so nice if for once, the Twins did something at this time of year. There is always some dumb excuse, like this year the excuse is we were not expecting to be in this position anyway so lets just enjoy it rather than try to get better. They dont understand that often the future is NOW
Well, I guess its good we bought Cheap Carl a stadium
O Kev,
It doesn’t matter how they score. They are scoring alot this season. Especially recently. Six or seven runs scored with singles are just as good as six or seven runs scored with power.
Craig - “Loaded with hitters>” I wouldn’t go quite that far. Lots of singles hitters but we need a banger to protect Morneau. Maybe DY is coming on as a banger - about time. Twins seem to be too loyal to the current team to bring someone new in the replace a current player. $ of course is also and always an issue.
Gardy should use Buscher and Young behind Morneau. Kubel is a bottom third kind of player.
sometimes, despite your ability to score runs with small ball, you need a late inning home run with two outs to make a difference in the game,
the twins do not have this,, even Morneau seems to have lost the HR gene
“Its a known fact that he started his banking business by buying up small rural banks and then start making full payment demand notices on loans people had at those banks. If they didnt pay, he would take over their property.”
That’s ridiculous. Many banks do demand notes but if a borrower is solvent then all he has to do is go to another bank, borrow the money and repay the loan. Notes have to be demand notes or in default before any bank can take action against them. If the Pohlads did take back property it was from individuals who were stressed borrowers anyway. People with very little understanding of how things work sure make a lot of difinitive statements on things.
If they have to send someone down for two weeks, it would be Randy Ruiz.
Morneau dosen’t hit homers because he doesn’t get any pitches to hit. Compounded by the fact he will still swing at pitches down and away out of the strike zone.
The Twins don’t play well on the road. They are built for the dome and hitting 50 hoppers up the middle. They have a brutal length of time on the road coming up. This is what ESPN had to say
Iowa Twin,
Almost all farmers were “stressed borrowers” when carl pulled the rug from under so many. You read to much Sid Hartman, and it makes you appear foolish. Pohlad is not a saint. You almost have to be a bad person in order to be a billionaire. As they say, to make an omelette, you’ve got to break some eggs.
I think a player can be sent down as many times during a season as a team wants. I think there are a limited number of seasons a player can be sent out. The Twins don’t want to waste one of those career demotions on Gomez, with only a couple weeks before the AAA season ends. He might get sent down next spring instead.
To protect Morneau, the Twins need a RH power bat. Ibanez has a nice bat, but he’s not RH and he’s slow as heck. And he plays LF (only), so that’s a no-go as well. Beltre makes MUCH more sense, as he’s RH and plays 3B, a position we haven’t had a good player at since Gary Gaetti.
Most of all, what would help is a RH power pitcher in the pen. Just say no to Ibanez.
Craaaaiiiig - we really like your posts todaaaaaaaay
“Almost all farmers were “stressed borrowers” when carl pulled the rug from under so many. You read to much Sid Hartman, and it makes you appear foolish. Pohlad is not a saint. You almost have to be a bad person in order to be a billionaire. As they say, to make an omelette, you’ve got to break some eggs.”
That’s the breaks. People signed loans and couldn’t pay them back with cash so they had to settle up with the collateral they pledged. That’s called the real world and it doesn’t make any bank or bank owner bad for having to do it. I never said Pohlad was a saint.
and I believe that both thome and thomas, playing the majority of their games on the metrodome turf, would have spent more time on the DL than on the field.
He’s a DH for Chrissssake. The turf would be totally irrelevant.
Acquire him so we don’t have to face him.
Keep in mind that logic landed the Twins Craig Monroe. 
Keep in mind that logic landed the Twins Craig Monroe.
Don’t forget that Monroe “hits really well in the Dome” as well!
What do you think they run on between the bases, genius?
If it’s not the Twins, I get the feeling it was the Yankees or Tigers. The Yankees are still trying to catch Boston and the Twins in the Wild Card and would hate to see either of them try and get this guy. Plus with Crawford out they know that there’s a need in Tampa (if it got that far)
Yanks have some rookie in their system in the OF right now I think (the guy who slammed into the wall on Everett’s homer). So they could easily send him down and make room for Ibanez in the OF somewhere.
Trust me, we do NOT want Ibanez patrolling our OF. He has very limtied range and is getting slower and slower each game. His bat is still dangerous but he is a horrible defensive outfielder. I’m not even sure why he would be a good fit. He’s a left handed bat, we need somebody who hits from the right side, and we have a glut of outfielders. He’s a good player, but I don’t think one that would necessarily fit on our roster.
On a side note, what in the heck is Seattle thinking trying to move these two through Waivers?
They could’ve gotten bidding wars going had they not been so dang stubborn about what they wanted earlier in the season.
So what about Sheffield i heard the Tigers but him on waivers as well.
We aren’t getting Ibanez. Several reasons. Too old, too slow and costs to much $$$ for someone that is too old and too slow
How many OF can you cram onto a team? The hitting is fine. Pitching is needed.
What the heck happened to the entire conversation between 12:10 and now? Part of the blog maitenance?
Ooh the blog maintenance is interesting is Howard in charge of it
So what about Sheffield i heard the Tigers but him on waivers as well.
Would you pay a 40-year-old, injury plagued Craig Monroe $14 million dollars next year?
Something else Buster mentioned on ESPN was that someone claimed Washburn and he had a source that said it was the Twins or Tigers. Why would we be interested in that joker?
t you’ve been called the blog monitor, somebody steal your job away?
maybe joe put you on waivers?
I broke the blog, I think. Sorry, I’ll make that up to you guys. It was my joke about Delmon Young.
Sorry.
Anyone see sane around. I have been waiting to see if there is a new jingle to explain the day around here
ESPN today said that the Twins hit 50 hoppers up the middle
“Gomez is a worse clutch hitter than Tori was.”
And when was Torii ever a clutch hitter until his last 2 seasons in MN?
Gomez is young-not saying he couldn’t use time at AAA but to compare 2008 Gomez to 2006/2007 Torii Hunter is a joke.
sts: I’d wager it was the Tigers. They’re pitching is hurting BIG TIME.
But considering even the YANKEES didn’t want to deal with Seattle after a while for the guy, I doubt the Twins would be able to meet their needs.
Not to mention the Yankees would get first crack at Washburn before the Twins…and after how badly they wanted him I doubt they’d let him slip by on waivers.
Strib blogs are absolutely pathetic. People who post here are treated with no respect, by those in charge. They are running the most absolutely cheap ass garbage systems. Especially the sports blogs. When does the Strib bankruptcy take place? It’s time someone competent runs the show.
my view is we need a bopper, to be that HR threat late in the game.
But we can argue pitching or power hitting all day. The fact is this lame excuse for team management is not getting either hitting or pitching.
But what do we expect from a cheap billionaire and his lap dog GM?
But what do we expect from a cheap billionaire and his lap dog GM?
A team that’s a half game out of the division without an Ace, an All-Star Center fielder, and its opening day starting RF and midseason breakout starting 2B.
I wish Morneau could learn to consistently hit for power to the opposite field. He becomes a singles hitter with pitches on the outer half of the plate.
The Strib must have gone with the lowest possible bid when they hired the tech wizards.
what can we expect? Ummm - a team 1/2 game out of first - a team 9 games ahead of Tigers? 5 26 and under starters?
Actually, I believe a part-time snake charmer in India, is in charge of the Strib’s technical department.
I have read other Blogs where it has like 9 posts in a day. The Star Trib I have seen with 9 in 2 minutes
“The New and Improved Craig says:
August 14th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Actually, I believe a part-time snake charmer in India, is in charge of the Strib’s technical department.”
It’s probably mentally retarded Howard running it from Bombay. Does Howard look constipated on his picture Craig?
Or else it’s a pimply faced mortherkcufer who lives in his mom’s basement.
the trib it guy in india got run over by a cow in the street and had to go to the dr. sh** happens!
i noticed nothings been posted on 220 for over 2 hrs. must be something goofed up.
the Twins success to day is despite of the front office and not because of it.
Gardy and the players are greatly over achieving, and if they had an ownership and front office that gave a rip about the team and the fans, they would do what they could to add the last element or two to make this team into a true contender, and not some group that may or may not make the playoffs, and if they do, but out in three like two years ago.
supposedly the Twins claimed Washburn to keep him from the Whities
hope we aren’t just stuck with him
The New and Improved Craig Could Everett beat Howard in an Indian Leg Wrestling match?
“Does Howard look constipated on his picture Craig?”
He could be grunting, or maybe charming his snake.
I think he’s just deep in thought about baseball.
Maglio Ordonez is possibly getting traded
rather have washburn on the staff than bass.
the Twins success to day is despite of the front office and not because of it.
Wow. This team’s been winning pretty well despite itself FO since about 2002 now.
Sure in 2005 and 2007 the FO finally managed to crush the team underfoot, but those magnificent bastards just bounced right back and won’t quit trying to win.
jimmy,
Everett is quick, but I think Howard smokes cigarettes. I’ll go with Howard as the winner. Tough guys smoke.
The New and Improved Craig Smoking causes constipation
Washburn is due 14 mill next year
t save your energy you’ll not win that battle!
jimmy,
That explains it all.
Craig - Joe’s blog indicated comment sections would be down due to a server switch. Maybe the server switch is to take care of some problems. Give the IT guys a break.
Bombay IT crews stink
One would think that the Star Trombone could pony up a few extra dollars to move the blog at night, say like 2:00 AM when there is next to no one on it….
The NaIC was much happier when the Twins were losing now he’s ripping IT guys? Craig look outside the sun is out and the Twins are in contention don’t worry be happy.
i’m sure when the trib board of directors meets the wishes of the bloggers is always at the top of the agenda.
Boogie - Why waste overtime cost on an overnight switch switch on a low to no revenue blog?
rather have washburn on the staff than bass.
Not at $10 million next season when you can find alternatives that are as good or better for a pittance.
server switch, not switch switch.
I think we should have tried to get Paul Byrd instead of Jared Washed-up
snepp well aware of that but in the fantasy baseball world spending carl’s money is always fun.
Boogie - Why waste overtime cost on an overnight switch switch on a low to no revenue blog?
Because they have blown up other blogs on the site doing the same damn thing they did today (Vikings & Wild).
As far as the revenue, I think their advertisers kinda like the page hits too.
Is that a typo or does Michael Cuddyer really have a FOOT injury now?
On the Seattle Times page, they attribute the Ibanez claim to Tampa Bay or Boston (to block Tampa Bay) due to the injury to Carl Crawford. They also say that the Cardinals may have claimed Washburn.
That is not a typo. He took a line drive off of the foot in a AAA rehab game. I blame Garret Jones.
Is that a typo or does Michael Cuddyer really have a FOOT injury now?
???
Where have you been?
Twins should have jumped on Washburn. “Jarrod Michael Washburn…resides in Danbury, WI with wife Kerrie and children Jack, Owen and Ava…graduated from Webster High School (WI)…attended University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh”
I suppose it’s because he’s owed $10.5 million dollars.
Are we done with the “almost signings” and “just about claimed” players? We aren’t getting Ibanez, Beltre, Manny Ramirez, signing Barry Bonds or anyone else for that matter… should we have looked “harder” for bullpen help, yes. Should we have passed on Bradford, no. Can we just do the obvious next step and dump Bass and bring up Korecky? He could spell Grrr and Crain and give them a much needed rest…
It may not be what we all wanted, but it’s what we need to do now.
ESPN Insider:
According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Twins might have placed a claim on Washburn to block the White Sox from getting him.
One source indicated Thursday morning that the Twins had placed a claim on Washburn, but in the end, it’s possible that Seattle will simply withdraw the left-hander from waivers, as is the Mariners’ right. The team that claimed Washburn has 48 hours to negotiate a trade.
The wording of the headline of this blog is kind of funny. Can I be a source, too? The Twins are NOT negotiating for Albert Pujols.
Buster Olney is a stupid human being if he thinks the Twins would claim Washburn and his 14 million dollar salary, even to keep him from the white sox. That is just not how they operate.
Hey Miller…is Santana hurt or something? I don’t remember him pitching for the Twins in months.
I think it would have helped us more to let the White Sox have Washburn.
Peter Gammons reports that New Craig and Jimmy Bee were claimed off waivers by Viking Access. Joe, Len3 and Howard will get 3 low level bloggers to be named later.
Miller,
Is it true that kirby puckett has glaucoma, and his career might be over?
“Peter Gammons reports that New Craig and Jimmy Bee were claimed off waivers by Viking Access. Joe, Len3 and Howard will get 3 low level bloggers to be named later.”
Addition by subtraction.
ES16
You are correct, sir.
Is my hearing ok? Did i hear that the twins traded Frank Viola to the Mets? For some nobody’s named tapani and Aguilera?
JoeC thanks the commentator’s for their patience….
i mudt not have read the posts.
I would trade Cuddiyer (sp?) for anyone who can play 130 games per year. Not only is he injury prone, but he melts in a clutch. But he has little worth when he is always in rehab. Twins have decent outfield, great starters and closer. Good catcher, 1st base and 2nd (when Casillas returns) But whenever SS or 3rd come to bat or middle reliever comes in, my sphincter tightens.
What does everyone think will happen with Kubel next year? Will he get re-signed?
Did you guys hear the Washington Senators are setting up shop in MN?
They will name they new team the MN Twins.
Did anyone hear that the Brooklyn Bums will be moving to LA and be named the Dodger’s
Why would the Twins want to “Block” the Whities from picking up Washburn. How could that be a bad thing???? Too bad the Whities don’t try to pick Livan up from the Rockies while they are at it.
I think I just heard that the Anaheim Angels will now be called the Los Angeles Angels of Aneheim. Wow, who saw that coming?!
Un says:
August 14th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
What does everyone think will happen with Kubel next year? Will he get re-signed?
Only if he is cheap. Otherwise we will be replacing him with another washed up old ball player. Is Daryl Strawberry still available.
Un, I don’t think Kubel is a free agent at the end of the year. I’m pretty sure it will be his 2nd arb year.
Right, Me Too. I think he’s 10-15 and we handled him pretty well last time.
Hey Guys! Guess what? The Twins Are moving into a new stadium! They are going to call it the metrodome, and it has a roof! No more sitting in 40 degree, rainy weather in april at the Met! This stadium should last us a good 50 years!
Reggie Jackson is going to play for the Anaheim Angels
Mudcat, he WISHES his record was 10-15. I’m pretty sure the Mariner fans wish his record was 10-15. Reality for the fans is that he has had a poor year so far. ERA of 4.58 Record of 5-12 Whip of 1.45
Those stats would reflect a poor season, pretty much a Livan clone, without the W’s in the win column. Wow, did the Mariners have an overpaid staff this year.
I heard carl pohlad bought the twins from the griffith family. Now maybe we can get some talent in here, with that cheap old calvin griffith out of the picture. I heard griffith actually wanted to move the team to tampa-st. pete. The twins should be safe from that sort of thing in the capable, rich hands of the pohlad family.
goobledygookguy says:
August 14th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Peter Gammons reports that New Craig and Jimmy Bee were claimed off waivers by Viking Access. Joe, Len3 and Howard will get 3 low level bloggers to be named later.
Say it aint so gobble say it aint so.
the twins have claimed silva off waivers, to block the white sox.
Acces Vikings should work out a trade for Torgo, Tony Pants, and Buster Rhymes.
BTW, if the Twins did put a block on with claiming Washburn, who wants to bet that the Mariners pull him back?? I doubt that they let him go for nothing, and it’s also doubtful that the Twins actually would send anything to the Mariners to get him or his contract.
Either way, Washburn will not be a Twin. They need help in the pen, and Washburn isn’t a guy to be looking at for that need, unless it would mean moving Perk to the pen. Hey, Slowey had a heck of a run of scoreless 1st. innings. Maybe he would be an ideal 8th. inning guy?
The Twins have claimed LaPanta off waivers to block the White Sox from getting him. The secret would have been revealed in the windy city
the white sox also inquired about the availability of marney gelnar, and offered hawk harrelson in exchange, but hawk is not nearly sexy enough.
ggg Peter Gammons reports that New Craig and Jimmy Bee were claimed off waivers by Viking Access. Joe, Len3 and Howard will get 3 low level bloggers to be named later.
Anything but to the Wolves. Where would I even start on with McFail
The very mention of the wolves and mchale makes me want to vomit with rage.
Rumor has it that Julia Child worked for spy agency
OMG - did anyone else see this on SI’s website?
“Byrd has plenty of pennant race/playoff experience and has been lights-out since the All-Star break (4-0, 1.24 ERA). Byrd credits his recent success to a talk with former All-Star hurler Bert Blyleven, who now works as a Twins TV broadcaster. Blyleven, a master of the curveball in his day, gave Byrd a few pointers on how to polish up his spinner, which has since become a reliable out pitch. Any chance Josh Beckett can teach Byrd to throw a 96 MPH fastball?”
No, Bert! Say it ain’t so! How could you help *shudders* Paul Bryd? I am so disapointed! How about helping some Twins pitchers instead? *cough* *Boof* *cough*
Lets hope the Rays get Ibanez so the Twins don’t have to face him again that would help.
I would bet a lot to say that the Mariners would just let Jarrod Washburn walk. Get rid of all that money he is making and get that off the Books. It would be very smart for the Mariners to do that. Also just heard that Ibanez wont be going anywhere.
Red Sox problems for catcher not just on field. Red sox catcher jason v. has filed for divorce according to the boston globe. He has been married since 1997
The Twins face the Rays for 4 games in St. Petersburg.
Bummer!!! No game today. Guess I’ll mow the lawn tonight.
Or maybe I should do something with the wife, she’s not a baseball fan, so I haven’t spent enough time with her lately. Yah, that’s what I’ll do, spend time with her. Quality time. You know, dinner out, something that will keep her happy through the next stretch of games.
HAVE FUN!!! GO TWINS!!!
In what Newsday is calling the “Dreadlock Deadlock,” it appears that Manny Ramirez is in no hurry to follow through on Dodgers manager Joe Torre’s 11-day-old request to trim back his middle-of-his-back hanging hair. Wallace Matthews of Newsday updates today.
The Twins can choose to non-tender Kubel after the season. He would then become a free agent.
Craig has enough seniority and has blocked the deal sending him, along with jimmy, in a blog trade.
Craig is the Nick Punto of the blogs, always hustling and giving 110%. Craig is NEEDED here.
The New and Improved Craig No nooner today?
The only way to make money in baseball is to win. $1.5 million is a drop in the bucket compared to the revenue the team would get next year by winning a World Series this year. The Twins haven’t drawn like 1992 since, well 1992. These men are not fools. So why didn’t they want Ibanez?
Seattle’s price must have been much higher than two first-round draft picks. They can’t simply play for this year. They have won consistently this decade by playing for the next three or four years. Buscher, Casilla, Span, Slowey, Perkins, Blackburn, even Liriano have been thrown out on this blog as trade bait for marginal upgrades at some positions. I’m glad those blog commentators are not running the Twins.
NO HELP FROM THE ROYALS TODAY
Royals gave up four homers in a row to the White Sox. Yes, four. Sox lead 9-2 in the seventh.
But what do we expect from a cheap billionaire and his lap dog GM?
Cheap you must be crazy. He spends lots of money and now I must put you in Blog jail.
No nooner today, jimmy. Craig thinks senior management might be on to the fact that he is providing this young lady with special privileges. Discretion is advised. They are watching him.
Craig is always willing to help young women advance in their jobs when they show true dedication to what is most important.
Craig always promotes the dumb, but beautiful and dedicated, over more competent and qualified individuals.
“Craig is the Nick Punto of the blogs, always hustling and giving 110%. Craig is NEEDED here.”
Excellent comparison.
That would make Craig the worst poster in blogdom in 2007, with a negative overall value not seen in decades. Craig has improved in 2008 though, all the way up to being just pretty bad.
Marney Gelnar is sexy, but in a North Dakota sort of way
“Cheap you must be crazy. He spends lots of money and now I must put you in Blog jail.”
No, he spends a lot of Hennepin County taxpayers money
“Marney Gelnar is sexy, but in a North Dakota sort of way”
Hey watch your self there i was in the cities a couple of weeks ago and honestly per capita you have more fat chicks then i have ever seen in ND. Is it the water?
BTW, I try to thank anyone from Hennepin County for the new stadium. My brother lives there and I thank him all the time for paying for a stadium so I dont have to. So, to everyone from Hennipin Couny: Thank you very much!
peter gammons is reporting the bud will block the waiver deal of new craig and jimmy bee, saying he had evidence of possible collusion. he said mlb’s attorneys will be looking into the deal. a rumor is that when investigating the chinese womans gym team for a 13 yr old (underage) member it was discovered that new craig was really a 13 yr chinese gymnast.
USAFChief I don’t want to be blog deported and have to see BC Beneke jama or Romer on the Wolves blog. Please no! Be civil
“Royals gave up four homers in a row to the White Sox. Yes, four. Sox lead 9-2 in the seventh.”
Thus, the difference between the Twins and the Whities…we celebrate when a guy goes yard in back-to-back games, bringing his year-to-date total up to 7…the Whities counter by going yard 4 times in one game and still counting.
I still like our chances.
One thing to consider is what the Twins’ tradeable assets are. Do they have enough prospects they are willing give up to add a right-handed hitter AND bullpen help?
My educated guess is no. Therefore, I would try to add bullpen help before a right-handed hitter.
And, as I reported in today’s ink version, the Twins have tried to block a few moves.
gobbledygookguy, I’d have to see the list of the bloggers I get to choose from before any deal is approved. I’ve worked too hard to develop the New Craig to just give him away. 
Minor league notes up in ten minutes..
Amen to that La Velle…get some bullpen help and pronto! If you can’t pull the trigger on a deal, get Korecky up here and let’s find out if he’s an upgrade in time to add him to the playoff roster.
BC
North Dakota chicks are skinny from running away from their horny brothers.
Sorry, couldn’t resist the cheap shot.
It’s the hamburgers that make Minn. girls fat:
And in striking news the trade which was going to send The New and Improved Craig annd jimmy bee to the Vikings blog has been halted after a failed physical for using Intelligence enhancing drugs.
“USAFChief I don’t want to be blog deported and have to see BC Beneke jama or Romer on the Wolves blog. Please no! Be civil”
There’s a Wolves blog? Really??
Who knew?
Did Ken Griffey Jr. get hurt in that White Sox game…I see they replaced him part way through the game…
Royals, as usual no help at all. LOL
It’s going to be longer then ten minutes. I’m having access issues with the blog being on a new server.
Chief,
Yeah, like Punto I have risen to a level inside my company where I am completely incompetent. There is no stress on me, because I know that I have no clue what’s going on. I shirk my responsibility, and make claims of competency, based on highly theoretical intangibles that can never be scientifically appraised or calculated.
When something goes well I praise others for their team approach, but when I am alone with senior management I take full credit. When things go wrong, I tell the group that we are all in this together, but alone with management, I completely shirk my responsibility.
Also, I am paid way too much money considering my talent level. I delegate all my work duties to others and just blog about baseball.
I have a huge office in the big tower downtown. When I am not discussing baseball, I sleep in my chair.
No one is surprised that the Twins did not come up with Ibanez. When was the last time the Twins obtained any player of real quality from another team? The Pohlads are too cheap to spend any money to enrich the team’s performance down the stretch. As far as the ownership is concerned, the Twins have out performed already. When the Twins own players become tradeable, the Twins will dump them off for a lesser salary situation. The Minnesota fans are continuously left with a farm club to root for, that being the Minnesota Twins.
Just to correct something: The stadium is being paid for, in part, by people who buy things in Hennepin County, not necessarily by people who live in Hennepin County. These people include anyone who goes downtown from, say, Fargo to watch a game. They also include folks who spend money at the airport or Mall of America who live in Japan. If the residents of Hennepin County are worried about paying and extra $.03 for that $20 hamburger (as opposed to the $.25 per $20 people paid to fund the Dome) they can go to a neighboring county to eat.
You’ve got to be kidding me!
We like to keep it in the family.
Is Gardenhire really getting mental health therapy form a Minneapolis shrink? I didn’t know if his frequent outbursts against the umpires were staged or real. Maybe he does need the help. He looked like a total baffoon when he had a tantrum and kicked his hat up in the air. The inability to control anger can be a dangerous thing. Lets hope Mr. Gardenhire gets the help he needs and it does him some good.
God the Royals are pathetic. Hope they play the same way the Dome for the 6 games in September.
The Pohlads are too cheap to spend any money to enrich the team’s performance down the stretch. As far as the ownership is concerned, the Twins have out performed already. When the Twins own players become tradeable, the Twins will dump them off for a lesser salary situation
You will now be traded to the green girl blog forever. No soup for you
cmathewson,
While you are correct that the new stadium is being paid for by people you spend money in Hennepin County, the last time I checked neither the Airport nor the Mall of America were located in Hennepin County.
Hey, Gardy is an o.k. guy. I think he gets angry out of frustration. Not because of his players or the umps, but because he looks like a poster child for the obiese. His weight problems makes him angry and he tries to take it out of the umpires to relieve his frustration in not being able to control his earing habits. Maybe the therpay will help him and a help the team play better too.
Is it true that vince is an assclown that posts under different names? He really looks like a buffoon when he tries to fool us. This inability to control his stupidity can be an irritating thing. Let’s hope Mr. Vince gets the bullet he needs, and it keeps him from polluting the genepool with any offspring.
Andrew,
If you haven’t realized by now the Twins pretty much develop players within and make few trades, what the hell have you been paying attention to all these years?
FTR-I think Delmon Young will be that quality player acquired in a trade, so I say 2007.
elio The jerk store called and they are all out of you
I stand corrected, the MOA is in Hennepin County. I didn’t think Hennepin went that far SE.
I am not 100% sure but it looks like the Airport is also in Hennepin.
I apologize cmathewson.
I would be very disappointed if it was true that Gardy was seeing a shrink. There is nothing wrong with Gardy. Everyone is supposed to be so homogenized now. Gardy is very tame compared to Earl Weaver or Billy Martin. The good days are over. I feel sorry for all you young punks.
shaun
andrew is vince is elio. he is a troll. if you want to interact with him, mock and ridicule him, not because he doesn’t know baseball, but because he fails as a person.
You’ve got to be kidding me,
Why would you say something like that (bullet)? You are way over the line making a comment like that.
My rottweiler is very tame compared to Billy Martin but your right craig the good old days are over. Now we have guys from opposing teams laughing and joking around with each other when they get on base.
Should have seen that with links in the names.
Trolls are boring and they have been way overplayed.
Yawn.
Actually, Carl Pohlad got his start foreclosing on people’s properties during the Great Depression. (How’s that for a compassion?) He did so during summer breaks from Compton Junior College and Gonzaga. Then, after he dropped out of Gonzaga, he did so full-time, until taking over the bank he worked for.
The man really is a sweatheart, generous beyond comprehension.
BC of ND,
You are right. Baseball was once a fierce competition. Now it’s millionaires playing patty-cake.
that was extreme. i beg your pardon. How about “forced sterilization”. Is that better, or does that offend your sensibilities as well? I’m ragging on a troll, for christ’s sake. do you really think i want to see him harmed?
How nice would it be to see the Twins get a reincarnation of Ty Cobb or Pete Rose guys who wanted to win at any cost.
BC
I’d take a pass on Cobb. The man was one of the biggest bigots who ever lived (he once refused to room with babe ruth on a hunting trip because he thought ruth had african ancestry)and a dirty, dirty player. let’s not mistake dirty play for determination to win. If you have to cheat to win, there is no pride to be had in the victory.
Please forgive me for not feeling sorry for ALL the complaints about the public funding of the stadium.
First, I would have sympathy IF any of the current complainers had voiced similar angst about the same taxpayers now feeling ill done, had ONCE felt bad about one of the WORST leases in sports. These taxpayers financially raped the Twins.
Second, I am sure there are many differences, yet the DC Government, undoubtedly the most poorly run municipality this side of Pluto, had MLB force (extort) a $600 mill publicly funded stadium. The current Mayor was a vocal opponent on the City Council at the time.
2 years later, the DC Govt is collecting $20 mil per year more than necessary to handle the debt service (or expected), and the Mayor wants to take that $20 mil surplus and build a $250+ mil stadium for DC United, rather than pay off the current debt early. He think’s he can parlay it into even more profit
Regards,
Other guys who wanted to win at any cost: Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens.
BC: Ever seen the movie Cobb? I understand it was a pretty accurate account of an utter scoundrel. I would not want someone like that on my team, no matter how good he was.
On the other hand, I liked Pete Rose as a player, so I would like to see someone like that in a Twins uniform–you know, someone who hustles like Punto but with actual talent for the game and an understanding of how to play fundamentally sound baseball.
Actually there are no accounts of Cobb ever playing dirty. He was opposed to such a thing. He was extremely aggressive, but he played by the rules. The rules say the basepaths belong to the base-runner, and he lived by that.
The only actual accounts are that those who saw him, and played against him, maintained that he was the greatest player of all time. That’s well documented. Nothings changed to this day. No one better has yet to arrive.
I’d take Cobb over Rose any day. Much better player. Delmon with a bat in his hands ought to be able to keep Cobb in line.
And I’d always wonder deep down inside every time Rose struck out or made an error if he didn’t have a bet down. Against his own team.
they were willing to pay Washburn $13 million through the end of 2009
B..b…but…Pohlad’s cheap.
—–
Also, just got done watching the recap of the Sox 4 straight homers. I do believe the annoucing crew did their little “you can blah blah blah” thing at least three times. Twice in a row. In the exact same fashion.
Yeah…letting the game call itself. Riiiight.
Horrid annoucers.
In Cobb’s day, baseball was an inside game. Running was very important. Fielders would use tactics to impede the base-runners. That was a violation of the rules. Cobb established early on that if you blocked his path, you got stepped on. Cobb’s own legs were all spiked up, but he didn’t back down. It was a fierce game.
Now everyone is a crybaby. Someone gets a little bump and they all cry to the umpires.
My guess is, if the Twins claimed Washburn, they did so to prevent him from going somewhere else.
They rightly guessed that the Seattle GM would be too stupid to let Washburn go for nothing.
If that’s the case, it’s a ballsy move by Smith. Well played.
And Seattle’s new GM proves himself in over his head again.
Why wouldn’t the Mariners just dump Washburn’s contract on the Twins like the Jays did to the Pads with Randy Myers in ‘98?
Speaking of Cobb and a more skilled era, here’s a dandy stat: The World Champion 1915 Boston Red Sox had a total of 14 HOME RUNS! (Babe hit but four.)
They had 76 triples and 202 doubles, though.
if we’re going after old timey players, here’s the one I want. Fills several needs, none of the baggage of cobb or rose.
He was a great player.
Wish I had his rookie baseball card.
I think I would have to go with the “Black Babe Ruth”–Josh Gibson. He should have been the first black player in the majors. He would solve our right handed power hitting woes.
Didn’t Cobb beat the crap out of an armless fan in the stands?
Claude Lueker was the guy’s name that Cobb beat up. Lueker had lost one hand, and he was missing three fingers off the other hand. He was heckling Cobb.
Who is seattle’s GM? More importantly, who does he think he is? “Here is a 12 million dollar contract, oh yeah, by the way, I want one of your starters, too.” That guy lives in a fantasy world.
Hey I am a Mariners fan and I would just like to say that I am very dissapointed in the Mariners Front Office how stupid could they be that a team like the Twins put in a Claim for Washburn who is terrible by the way and only plays well when he is in Trade Rumors (just look at the stats) Why in the World would they be looking to make the Twins take on his whole contract and expect a Starting Pitcher from the Twins just stupid. Please someone make me feel better.
Our GM was fired (Bill Bavasi) and now we have some guy Interum GM spot I can’t remember his name but I sure hope he isn’t looking for a GM position in the league because he might as well forget about it. Just Terrible.
Brandon
I can see why your team is terrible. Your GM cannot swallow his pride and cut his losses. He did get what he wanted out of the Bedard trade, and now he is trying to make up for it. Unfortuneatly, things dont work that way. He needs to take what he can get and the fact that the Twins just wanted to take his overinflated, west coast contract should have not only been plenty for the Mariners, but it should have been beneficial. But Seattle’s GM is delusional to what is fantasy and what is realistic. He should have let the Twins take the contract. Although, I am, as a Twins fan, kind of happy it did not work out.
I’m surprised the M’s didn’t just say, “OK, have him!”
*he did NOT get what he wanted out of the Bedard trade
*he did NOT get what he wanted out of the Bedard trade
The Seattle GM that made the Bedard trade got canned a couple months ago.
my error, thanks for the correction
The whole thing in Seattle is just a mess. We have an owner that lives in Japan and has never even came to a game to watch the Mariners play. We can’t even get a real GM. We have a Coach that could care less about the team. We have Bedard who is the biggest Baby ever. The only thing that we have is a lot of young talent that Mclaren the old coach didn’t even know how to use. At least they are being used the way there supposed to be now. The whole thing is just irritating to me because if you say you are going to rebuild then letting go of Washburn would probably be wise. I would really like to hear from the GM in an interview just what the Hell he was thinking.
I get the feeling the interim GM is getting his strings pulled by the upper management duo of buffoons Lincoln and Armstrong, neither of whom have any business being involved in baseball decisions.
snepp
That would make sense and the reason why Seattle is trying to make up for off-season moves that have bottomed-out. Clearly these people do not belong in baseball.
Interesting move. I hope that the Washburn claim was a block, otherwise putting a claim on him and passing on Bradford does not make too much sense… the least thing the team needs is another soft tossing 30 something starter, two weeks after they get rid of one. Heck, Barry Zito is probably available too.
Heck, Barry Zito is probably available too.
I’m sure he is. But he’s owed $91 million over the next five years as well (assuming you buy out his option for 2014).
The more I see of the Mariners’ front office, the less P.O.ed I get about the Beltre non-deal. Apparently, they think they can get other teams to take on salary and give them top talent in return. It just doesn’t work that way anymore. It’s typically one or the other.
They wanted us to take Washburn’s huge salary AND pony up one of our pitchers? I sincerely hope they meant somebody like Brian Bass or Craig Breslow. If they wanted one of our starters than they are absolutely out of their minds. That kind of ridiculousness will result in many losing seasons for the Mariners.
the Zito reference was an obscene exaggeration to show the fit of Washburn in this pitching roster
This deal had to be a block (or even a bluff). And regardless of what ‘leaks’ the Twins would not go out there and say that they wanted to make a block. They can save face by saying that the Mariners demands were too high…
re: Ibanez, the latest is that the Twins did put a claim, but so did the Tigers and they won, but could not reach a deal with the Mariners… who knows
If you took away Gomez’s bunt hits and soft grounders he beat out - what would his average be? I bet lowest on the team, lower than Everett, Lamb, Punto.
That’s why the Twins could send him down to AAA even if for 2 weeks….for him to work on hitting legitimate base hits. He doesn’t have the confidence or hand-eye coordination to hit major league pitching. He’s strong and athletic, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into being a good hitter.
He’s young, but I’m not convinced he will ever become a good base hitter…which he needs to become if he will ever be a starter on a major league team.
If you took away Gomez’s bunt hits and soft grounders he beat out - what would his average be?
and if you took away Mauer’s walks, his OBP would be .318… A hit is a hit is a hit. A bunt hit and an infield single is as valuable as a screamer to the RF, sometimes even more so, because it makes the infielders work in unaccustomed ways that potentially create errors.
Heyman is reporting the Washburn claim was a block against CWS……
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/08/14/ibanez.washburn/index.html
He’s young, but I’m not convinced he will ever become a good base hitter…which he needs to become if he will ever be a starter on a major league team
He’s young, but I’m not convinced he will ever become a good base hitter…which he needs to become if he will ever be a starter on a major league team
That’s funny since he has been for a season.
Gomez is 22. His BA this year is .254; he had 449 AB this season
Here is a list of the players who had a higher batting average at 22 (or younger) with the Twins, than Gomez (200 AB min, alphabetically):
Tom Brunansky
Rod Carew
Kent Hrbek
Chuck Knoblauch
Joe Mauer
David Ortiz
Luis Rivas
Zoilo Versalles
Butch Wynegar
Delmon Young
other than Rivas, pretty good company methinks…
As far as the Twins’ HOFers go, Puck was in the minors until 24 and Killebrew hit .242 in his first full season with the Senators at 23.
give the kid a break
Picking up washburn would have been a good move. 4.58 era? I’ll take that in todays game. My guess is that playing with a contender (better fielding, better hitting, playing with the occasional lead, actually knowing that it matters wether or not you lose) would knock an additional 1/2 run, at least, off his ERA. Pick up washburn, cut bass, move one of the youngsters to the pen. Perkins would be best in the pen, but that’s three lefties, so, probably blackburn.
And gomez will, i think, turn out to be a good hitter. someone just needs to make sure he cuts down on the sugar and caffeine. sometimes, he looks like he’s about to jump out of his own skin. He’s twitchier than joe nathan. Oh, and he needs to learn the strike zone. When he hits the ball, he hits it hard. and thrylos is absolutely right. a good bunter forces the infield to play in, even before the batter shows bunt. that reduces the fielders’ range, making sneaking aq hit through the infield that much easier. If gomez can learn the strike zone, he will be a terror.
and Killebrew hit .242 in his first full season with the Senators at 23.
Yeah, nevermind the fact that Killer had a .354 OBP and .516 SLG, good for a 137 OPS+.
Hooray for batting average without context!
Boy, if you wanna read some pissed off fans, head over to USS Mariner.
They are ready to draw and quarter the Mariner front office for being so incredibly stupid as to not let a waiver claim on Washburn go through.
My gut still tells me this was a ballsy move by Bill Smith, banking on the fact Pelekoudas was too stupid to understand just getting rid of Washburn’s $10M due next year was a gift from heaven.
With perhaps the added bonus of a little FU to Pelekoudas (sp?) for being so unreasonable about Beltre.
Crashing Joe’s blog again…
Adding Washburn would have been a bad move. Look at his stats since the 18-win season. Not on him. And he’s due $10M next year.
Frankly, I’m surprised Seattle didn’t let him go. But it’s an organization in transition, and I sense that they are afraid to make significant decisions until they know who the long-term GM will be.
Still, they missed out on a chance to dump salary.
And it Washburn goes into the rotation, someone has to go into the bullpen. Again, that would NOT have solved the Twins’ eighth-inning problems.
La Velle,
I don’t think that there was a chance in hey that they would have signed him. It was probably a block. Good think that Seattle did not call the bluff. As far as the 8th inning man, there are just not many options out there given the fact that almost every contender is looking for bullpen help. The best possible option could be Duaner Sanchez who cleared waivers but he still is not as good as Crain or a rested Guerrier or Delaney for that matter…
They are ready to draw and quarter the Mariner front office for being so incredibly stupid as to not let a waiver claim on Washburn go through.
Which is funny, because around here Smith and Co. would’ve been drawn and quartered for trying to dump salary…
T
not if the twins had the worst record in the league.
not if the twins had the worst record in the league.
How about if they were third place in the division and falling fast?
Yeah!!! Dinner out with the wife was great last night. I didn’t have to be distracted and wondering what was going on in a Twins game, because of course, there was no game. She got a little ticked though, when I started talking about Frankie’s start today. She doesn’t care, preferring me to concentrate on her and us, which I then did. The entire evening, and now she is, once again secure enough in our relationship to accept that I will be totally enveloped by what is really important in life for the next couple weeks—–THE MINNESOTA TWINS Oh Yeah, Life is good!
HAVE FUN!!! GO TWINS!!!
Hey you think our wives could hang out during Twins games???
Seriously that’s how I am, I tend to revolve EVERYTHING around the Twins games. I’ll tell my wife if we go for an evening walk or do anything else, it has to be before the Twins game. If we go visit family on a Sunday it can’t be during the Twins game.
If the Twins don’t make the playoffs this year it’s going to hurt like a broken heart from getting dumped in 9th grade, but it’s been a great ride.
T
That would depend on the makeup of the roster. With the twins current roster of mostly youngsters, it would piss me off if they dumped, say, mauer, morneau, or nathan, because the outlook for the future would still be bright, with the young pitchers still having tremendous upside. With the mariner’s roster of ridiculously overpaid veterans, it is kind of bizaare to me that they did not have a fire sale at the deadline. Were the twins in that situation, my blood would be boiling if they didn’t turn over almost the whole roster, maybe even trading felix hernandez for some other teams whole farm.
“Which is funny, because around here Smith and Co. would’ve been drawn and quartered for trying to dump salary…”
Not from me you wouldn’t. If the Twins owed Jared Washburn $10M for next year and some other team offered to pay that salary instead, I’d be singing Bill Smith’s praises for all eternity. Hell, I’d have been happy if Smith had to send a middling prospect along just to get rid of that salary.
It still boggles my mind–if true–that Seattle seriously thought they could both get out from under that contract AND get something else in return. No wonder the Beltre trade never came off, it’s clear the clowns in charge of the Mariners either have no clue what their own players are actually worth, or are under orders to wait till this winter when a new GM is hired before doing anything.
Regarding the Twins interest in Washburn. I am trying to figure out why the Twins might want him besides for his “veteran” leadership.
Well…I noticed that he pitches well on the road. His stats are decent this year and as well as every year but maybe one in his career away from home.
Why that is I do not know?
With the Twins having a boat load of road games coming up maybe they thought he might of been a good fit.
Glad to see the Twins at least TRIED to make a play for Ibanez. But seriously…you don’t usually make blockbuster trades over waivers.
Seattle should’ve taken the chance to dump either Washburn or Ibanez on the Twins while they had it.
Nice to see Smith make a gutsy move, as well as trying to fix the OF (powerwise) via Ibanez. I’m curious as to if the deal fell through on Ibanez due to another team making a claim or if it was Seattle having similiar demands as they did for Washburn.
Seattle is run by morons. They’re sitting at the bottom of the AL so they figured they could make SOME kind of trade demand once one of their guys was claimed on waivers.
Thanks for at least some incite into the Waiver Wire. I can understand why teams would be quite about who’s claiming what and who’s actually on the wire.
thrylos98 - I don’t disagree with you - a hit is a hit and Gomez gets some good bunts and infield hits and throws the fielders off which is great. But the problem is he’s only batting .250 overall and his OBP is way too low. I only see him getting those numbers up high enough to be a starting major leaguer if he also learns how to consistently get base hits. He can’t just rely on the bunts or nubbers…he’s still too raw. I also realize he is young and can develop, but I’m not convinced he has the ability and/or hand-eye coordination to be a good base hitter in the majors.
looks like the tigers claimed ibanez and they wanted prospects equal to the 2 draft picks they’ll get. asking for one of our starters for washburn didn’t make sense with smith turning that down for beltre. who is more valuable beltre or washburn. imo the mariners fo is scared to do anything until a real gm is in place.
i think this (mariners) shows, (along with the indians, tigers … the twins last yr) how next yr doesn’t always workout and playing (along with gm helping) to win this yr makes more sense. you never know when a key injury, a few key players have off yrs and suddenly the yr you were building for stinks.
Washburn for anyone doesn’t make sense. Overpaid, over the hill - it doesn’t help the bull pen and who would you move out of the starting line up to make room for him?
Ibanez would have been a good addition though, Beltre too. We need some right handed power or we have no chance against the Angels, Boston. Just don’t know if I’d give any arms up at this point other than Bonser or Bass - and who wants them?
So did Ibanez clear waivers or did the Mariners pull him back?
fry dog
I don’t think Ibanez would give the Twins any right handed power.
Pretty sure you meant “cavalry” (soldiers on horseback), not “calvary” (hill with biblical significance). Sort of funny though, cause truly only God can help this bullpen!!
Thanks for interesting website!
