Should the Twins trade for Freddy Sanchez?
Posted on July 10th, 2009 – 11:44 AMBy Joe Christensen
When we launched these baseball blogs in 2007, we quickly discovered a spike in readership each time we including trade rumblings. It was addicting, really, throwing that stuff on the blog and watching the comment section explode.
I started a Trade Target series that year, as a Twins team with current All-Stars Johan Santana, Torii Hunter, Jason Bartlett, Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau and Joe Nathan slumbered through a mediocre season. Many of us thought that team was one big bat away from turning the corner and making another serious run.
In the end, it was all a waste of time. The Twins wound up selling, not buying, trading 2B Luis Castillo to the Mets in a move that infuriated their clubhouse.
Last year, when it was so obvious they needed relief help to fill the void left by Pat Neshek’s injury, we helped feed the frenzy again, profiling various relievers who could help the Twins, including LaTroy Hawkins. Again, it was mostly a waste of time, as the Twins responded with an August deal for non-factor Eddie Guardado.
So forgive me for being less enthused this trade season. The Twins haven’t made an impact move before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline since 2003, when they landed Shannon Stewart. La Velle and I make the calls, and we keep hearing how hard the Twins are trying – talking to every team, listening, blah, blah, blah.
Sure, we hear they’ve spoken to the Pirates about Freddy Sanchez. Sure, we’ve read these recent reports. But we have yet to hear of the talks getting serious, yet to hear of an actual offer. So this isn’t exactly driving our coverage. Basically, I went through this exercise on Sanchez for background, in case things really do get serious.
Name: Freddy Sanchez, Pirates 2B
Basics: He’s 31 (and turns 32 on Dec. 21). Bats - R, 5-foot-11, 185 lbs. Born in Hollywood, Calif. He went to Oklahoma City University. He signed with the Red Sox after being drafted in the 11th round and got traded to Pittsburgh in 2003.
Stats: He is batting .316 with a .355 OBP and a .477 SLG. He has six home runs and 33 RBI. Sanchez is batting .304 against righties and .345 against lefties. He won a batting title in 2006, when he led the NL at .344. But he also batted .271 last year with a .298 OBP. Sanchez has committed just one error this season.
Injury note: Sanchez has been out since July 2 with a lower-back problem.
Salary: He’s making $6.1 million this year and has an $8 million vesting option for next year. (Because Sanchez made the All-Star team, the option has a better chance to vest, as he needs just 600 plate appearances to trigger it now and already has 329.)
Fielding Bible Says: In the latest edition of The Fielding Bible (Volume II), John Dewan rates Sanchez as an average MLB second baseman, noting that he saved the Pirates +2 runs last season. (For comparison, Alexi Casilla was a -2 for the Twins.) The Sanchez entry says his “fielding suffered due to injuries in 2008. He was plagued by both an inflamed rotator cuff and blurred vision due to getting a sliver of metal in his eye in 2007. When healthy, Sanchez uses his quickness and good instincts to field balls to his left and right. He holds his own turning the double play, possessing sound footwork and a good, accurate arm. However, he has struggled with fly balls long enough that it has become a fact of life rather than a phase.”
Sanchez’s defensive improvement this year is noted at www.fangraphs.com, where his UZR (ultimate zone rating, the number of runs saved above an average 2B) was -1.8 last year and is 3.2 this year.
Good Twin because: The Twins should know Sanchez well because they see him so much in spring training. I had concerns that Sanchez isn’t enough of a defensive stalwart to meet Manager Ron Gardenhire’s high standards. Would Gardy be able to stomach a middle infield of Brendan Harris and Sanchez? But the trade-off would be immediately resolving the Twins’ problem in the No. 2 spot of the batting order, and shortening the list of “outs” at the bottom.
Available?: Definitely. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the Pirates are “pushing hard” to deal Sanchez. GM Neal Huntington is remaking that team, and he knows Sanchez’s value is at a peak now, 15 months before free agency. The Giants and Rockies also are reportedly interested.
Probable cost: For an All-Star 2B, the Pirates can command high-level prospects or current major leaguers. But teams appear to be bristling at paying Sanchez $8 million for next season, so that drives his trade value down a notch. Pure speculation: The Twins could offer Delmon Young and a prospect, although that would require them to play Carlos Gomez every day. They could part with one of their six starting pitchers (six, if you count Anthony Swarzak), or they could package some of their top prospects, including Ben Revere and/or Jeff Manship.
The point is, the Pirates aren’t giving Sanchez away. Moves like these have to hurt somewhere, which is why the Twins have been so reluctant to make them in the past.
Odds this trade happens: 20-to-1. (I remember having much lower odds during my 2007 Trade Target series. I think in Year 5 on this beat, reality is setting in.)
211 Responses to "Should the Twins trade for Freddy Sanchez?"
The answer to your question is yes, the Twins should trade for Freddy Sanchez.
The outcome, of course, will be no, they won’t and we will be stuck watching the like of Matty Tolbert the rest of this year, which is a true joy.
Joe C, do you have any sense at all of what the Pirates could possibly looking to get back from the Twins in return for Sanchez?
Ooops, sorry, just saw that you addressed that in the blurb.
I don’t think the Twins can stand to part with any of their starting pitching. Even Humber and Mulvey might be needed by the end of the year.
Billy Smith should be burning up the lines trying to get him. In any other normal business setting, his job would be on the line.
I don’t want him. I hope they don’t make the trade.
among several other positives, this would show the twins clubhous (especially joe mauer) that the twins FO is interested in being a contender in the near future. i think this would help with the mauer signing showing that the twins would like to play for the now and not the future even though it would be a financial hit. It is hard to stimulate loyalty (ie Hunter and Santana) if a team never risks potentially hurting the future to try and play for the now.
If Sanchez can provide any kind of “vocal” leadership, either on the field or in the clubhouse, I say go get him.
Twins need a transforming trade. One that not just plugs a hole but changes the character of the team and makes the rest of the players play better.
realistically the twins “future” plan is to field a reasonable team every year, but to never seriously contend. financially as a corporation it may be the best decision, but it is very frusterating for a team with such great talent such as mauer, morneau and nathan to be wasted and some of the players are beginning to realize it which hurting future signings. common twins break from your usual penny pinching ways and get a great 2nd baseman
Well we all know what they have right now isn’t getting the job done!
I agree with the notion that getting a guy like Sanchez is an important symbol, if anything else, to trying to make a run for the current guys, especially Mauer.
I also agree that this team needs less boy scouts, and more guys who are a bit more on the fiesty and gritty side.
Would Punto be regarded as a ‘boy scout’?
Cub scout, Duane. Cub scout.
Tolbert is a “Brownie”.
lol Walter.
WJ is right, we need a transforming trade, ala Shannon Stewart. But it just won’t happen unless some team wants to dump a high profile player and his salary. But that’s the rub, the Twins don’t pick up ultra expensive contracts as we know.
I would part with Delmon or Gomez for Sanchez, but not both. We may only get 1.5 years from Freddy but our division is winnable this year (and possbily next) with possibly another player. ALCS - probably not unless adding 2+ more players. My only concern with Fred is the back - we don’t need 2 tender spines (Crede) on the dome turf. …Still, I’d do it - this revolving door of stiffs at 2B HAS to stop~
OMG - why didn’t the Twins trade Delmon or Gomez (or both) to the Pirates for McLouth! Didn’t they get a couple of outfielders in exchange?
On the other hand, filling the hole at 2B can go a really long way in this weak division.
I don’t think the Pirates would really have any interest in Delmon Young or Gomez. They have a fairly decent stockpile of young outfielders. The Twins would have to return pitching, and some middle infield help to the Buccos because they are very thin at that spot.
Whatever happens, please just throw in Tolbert into that trade if it ever happens. No matter what, just do it.
Imagine in the offseason if the Twins would have traded Liriano, Gomez and Young to the Pirates for McLouth and Sanchez….
We would have received real talent and they would have saved money - plus how far ahead in the division would we be by now?
Instead of hunting down trades, why don’t you try to find out why Gardy wants Matt Tobert hitting 2nd instead of Joe, or why Slama is still at AA.
those are questions I would love to see the answers to.
Cy Slama - lol
I think it’s more likely the Twins try to unload Crede and Cuddy.
The answer to the first part of that question is easy clutterheart. Because Tolbert busts his tail more than anyone in that spot in the lineup.
We have the money, a spot in the batting order and a place in the field, so this is worth doing. Sanchez can cover 3b when Crede is out (long or short term) and he’s most likely only tied to us for 1.5 years. So it probably comes down to cost and Billy’s stomach for it.
Send Casilla and a pitcher or two. They need middle infielders with some room to grow and Alexi fits that bill. You can tweak the quality of the arm to match their mood and the level of competition. Maybe we add another player if they start insisting on the best stuff. (I’d rather part with two 7s than one 10.)
Another thing to consider is their nice heap of relief pitchers next to the checkout lane: Capps and Grabow are both worth a close look. I’d overpay a little to get Capps in, as 25 year old closers under team control for a while yet are rarely on the market.
Honestly I don’t think the Twins are going anywhere, with or without Sanchez. And the bullpen has been decent recently. Why take on the money when you need to shell out for Mauer?
I’d love to have Sanchez, but I’ll take Joe C.’s skeptical approach. I don’t think we can match up in a trade, becuase of a lack of MLB ready pitching. If the Pirates would seriously consider Manship as that prospect, I’m all for it. If Manship and one of the minor league OF get it done, I’ll be happily surprised.
Agreed on Casilla being a good option as a candidate for part of this potential trade. Exactly the kinda guy the Bucs should have an interest in.
I’d be a bit weary of Capps though. He has had a history of arm troubles and could be slightly damaged goods. I would actually rather have Grabow help stabilize the pen for a little while. Plus he’s a lefty.
Benny: Mauer is getting paid the same in 2010, extension or not. That shouldn’t be a consideration. Sanchez would be off the books in 2011, when a Mauer extension big $$$ would start to be paid
if you have sanchez batting 2nd, he’s right handed, that would be a big help to even out the lineup. harris would look good as a 8 or 9 hitter depending if gomez is playing.
pirates don’t need more outfielders, it has been reported.
make the trade, stick in gomez or young and let them play stop all this shuffling around it isn’t working.
imo the 20-1 odds are a little low.
Grabow and Sanchez together. Interesting idea. I’d be willing to pay a premium player, pitcher and parts for that
Okay, if the Twins don’t need to give Mauer a raise or a signing bonus in 2010, I still don’t believe adding Sanchez makes this team a contender.
If the Twins do actually make a move they need to ship Tolbert out to protect Gardy from himself. He’d field a whole squad of “hustle” guys if management would put them on the roster. He’s proven that time and again by having Tolbert and Punto in the same lineup.
More bizarre postings.
Twins will not trade DY, Gomez and or Liriano.
not going to dump cuddyer or Crede.
Moving Tolbert away to minors yes. and no he should not be batting #2 anymore….
Whether sanchez or someone else.
We do need a plug for #2 batting and 2nd base…
Win Twins!
I was just looking at some stats. Luis Ayala’s .418 ERA with the Twins is lower than any of our starting pitchers except Blackburn.
The Pirates don’t need outfielders. They need pitching and infield help, and while many will proclaim that we have a ton of excess pitching talent, we don’t. We don’t have the talent to effect a so-called transformational trade. Plus, trading for a 31 year-old .300 hitting second baseman with little speed, power and defense isn’t transformational, except for the impact of losing prospects and paying $8m for a slightly better offensive version of Tommy Herr.
4.18 ERA
Sanchez doesn’t fix the stinky starting pitching. If you consider defense, he might actually make it worse.
His offense might win you 3 or 4 more games during the course of the second half. 3 or 4 wins over .500 isn’t going to do it.
trade mulvey and humber and ben revere for him maybe throw in casilla/tolbert
Should they? Yes. Will they? No. Will they make any impact trade this year? No.
or instead of mulvey put in liriano. his past sucess should be worth the pirates taking a shot on him
the twins would rather part with delmon than gomez..gomez is at least a gold glove outfielder. delmon is not..delmon has shown signs of improvement as of late, however. so who knows if they will part with either. twins, somehow, need to get this deal done and bring in sanchez. not only to prove to the players, but to the fans that they want to win..we will not win the division with punto and tolbert starting everyday at 2B
Big Pirate fan here. Don’t want/need Delmon because we just traded for Lastings Milledge. Add in Jose Tabata in AA and we have enough questionable attitudes/good toolsy OFs to go around. Pirates HAVE to get a SS (so we can trade Jack Wilson and his $$) or 2B if Freedy is going. I think Twins and Bucs match up well in trade. You guys have 2 or 3 decent Middle IF in AAA and some good arms. Wouldn’t surprise me if Pirates picked up some of Freddy’s money to get back better prospects.
maybe make a blockbuster and bring in capps to that would really help the bullpin as well.
what ya think….
“When we launched these baseball blogs in 2007, we quickly discovered a spike in readership each time we including trade rumblings. It was addicting, really, throwing that stuff on the blog and watching the comment section explode.”
No, Joe, it was addictive. Addictive! It was addictive, not addicting! Oy!
I actually do think getting Sanchez would be “transformational.” His addition to the #2 spot in that lineup would do WONDERS for Mauer and Morneau. His steady above .300 average is exactly what the doctor ordered.
At some point, you gotta take a risk and make a move to help win (especially in this division) now while you have Mauer, Morneau, and Nathan in their primes instead of always looking to the future no matter what.
Trading away Liriano might lower our overall starting pitching ERA to a respectable level.
Send Frankie out for Freddy.
Walter Johnson-
I see you mentioned Ayala’s ERA being better than all but Blackburn’s. His problem was his .374 opponent batting average against lefties and an overall .306 opponents BA.
if smith doesn’t do anything again this summer why would mauer even consider re-signing after next yr?
cashman is already sticking money in his piggy bank to back up to joe’s front door at free agency time.
what we’ll hear is we tried BUT just couldn’t make it work, as we have before again and agian.
I agree with everyone saying we need to make the deal to convince Mauer/Morneau we are at least trying to field a competetive team to stay with and not go to a Boston or New York.
Yes. I’m a long time Twins fan. I like that Sanchez can get on base and has a high on base .pct The more the table setters get on base the more Mauer and Morneau get to the plate. Punto and Tolbert if they do not walk get out almost every time. We just need a little boost to win this division. If he is healthy and absent of any hindering factors in his performance I like this deal as long as we’re trading someone outside our top10 prospects.
“It was addicting”, with the word “addicting” used as a transitive verb, is grammatically correct.
Very depressing that we rarely ever make a big trade this time of year, especially this year with such a weak division.
Sometimes you can have addition by subtraction and so it’s possible that we trade Liriano for Sanchez and both teams benefit and we get some much needed help in the middle infield and can move Swarzak into a starting role.
edavis,
You caught me on a very important point. As a reliever, Ayala’s ERA would be lower because alot of baserunners he allowed to score would be credited as earned runs to the previous pitcher. Careless.
A little tidbit courtesy of Nick Nelson’s blog, submitted without comment (I also posted this in the previous blog):
Twins hitters in the two-hole not named Joe Mauer have hit .190/.235/.237 this season.
Why so down on Liriano? The year after major surgery is always very inconsistent. It sucks now because you guys are in the race, but if you trade him and he even approaches how good he was as a rookie … well, that’s a move the Pirates would make. Why the doubts he can make it all the way back?
beetle: I guess that the acquisition of the likes of Alberto Callaspo and Felipe Lopez would be “transformational” too. Heck, the acquisition of Luis Castillo seemingly would come close. Comparable numbers to Sanchez. Sanchez is 31 and has had three decent seasons, and for a second baseman, that means an average of .280-.300, with no power. If folks are desperate to make a move, any move, I’d prefer to chase pitching help and/or the Aaron Hill rumors.
That’s a great stat Chief. You would think “one of the Top 5″ managers in the league would realize that and would’ve kept Mauer in the 2 spot. Or that the great Bill Smith would notice that and do something about.
I guess there are consequences and questions asked for not doing your job well in the real world, but not in baseball. In Minnesota.
USAF,
It really makes you wonder if Gardy even looks at stats like that and why he won’t get Mauer in the #2 hole. In the last week I have seen Mauer come up to bat with 2 outs and noboby on at least a dozen times.
WJ,
No problem. The guy couldn’t get people out. Our replacement for him thus far has worked out far better than any positives we got from Ayala.
MCat and USAF hit the nail on the head…in different ways. Freddie for Francisco just might work. Heck, it couldn’t be worse ~ No way Sanchez hits .190 even if the curse of Tommy Herr lingers…
Yes, getting Lopez would also be transformational. See the stat the Chief posted. That’s gross and unacceptable. A team that expects to “contend” can’t go all season with such a black hole and not address it, can they?
I for one would like the best possible product on the field, and this ain’t it, especially at that position/spot in the lineup. So, yes, getting Sanchez would be transformational. He’ll get on base plenty for the guys behind him. This division is there for the taking and Mauer, Morneau, and Nathan are in their prime.
I say mulvey humber liriano tolbert and another minor leaguer for sanchez and capps. we wont ever use humber or mulvery cause they are the same age or older than the people we are using in the rotation now and we have a young long reliever in dunseng (hope i spelled that right). and swarzek has outpitched liriano. the players we would be losing would not hurt us now or in the long run. plus we could actually get something usefull now from the santana trade
“Why so down on Liriano? The year after major surgery is always very inconsistent…..Why the doubts he can make it all the way back?”
Because Twins fans notoriously have defective bladders, and can’t hold their water.
edavis,
And, I was only pointing out how bad our starters are, not any defense of Ayala.
Mulvey and Casilla would be a good start, I would think.
Again, it was mostly a waste of time, as the Twins responded with an August deal for non-factor Eddie Guardado.
“Non-factor” in retrospect. But as I’ve said before, when the Strib ran the story about Eddie coming back to the Twins I was in the MINORITY when I questioned if this move would actually work.
And I took some pretty brutal insults from some of the more vocal regulars for believing that Eddie wasn’t going to help one bit.
Point taken, I would deal Liriano for the right pieces back personally.
Twins 2009 2B production:
.196/.271/.249 - UZR = -10.0
Freddy Sanchez 2009
.316/.355/.477 - UZR = 3.2
Yes this needs to be done simply so that nick punto will be OUT of the lineup more. Nick punto does not even deserve to be playing AAA ball let alone be playing in the Majors.
JollyRoger says:
July 10th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Why so down on Liriano? The year after major surgery is always very inconsistent. It sucks now because you guys are in the race, but if you trade him and he even approaches how good he was as a rookie … well, that’s a move the Pirates would make. Why the doubts he can make it all the way back?
i like lirano but his place now might be in the bullpen as a 7th or 8th inning guy. let him go back to his old violent motion and he’ll be dominant again. but since he has had to change how he throws he doesn’t look comfortable out there anymore.
I guess my idea of transformational is different than others. Seems to be an issue of short-term versus long-term. I will support big moves, but we simply don’t have the team to advance in the playoffs even if you add an older version of Harris (before his recent slump) to the two hole. Second baseman and two-hole hitters don’t win championships. We need pitching and multiple infield position help in both the short-term and, more importantly, the long-term. IMHO, it would be a mistake to trade away prospects for a $8m 1.5-year rental that will not produce a championship but is more likely to have a negative impact on our approach to important arbitration-eligible players and offseason efforts. (And discussions with Sano, among others.) But, hey, reasonable minds can differ.
…that means an average of .280-.300, with no power.
Sanchez is no home run hitter, but the idea that he has ‘no power’ is false.
He had 61 XBH’s in 2006, and 57 in 2007.
He had only 37 XBH’s in 2008, but as noted he wasn’t fully healthy last year.
This year, in half a season, he has 34 XBH’s.
By comparison, Nick Punto has 81 XBHs SINCE 2006. As in 2006, 07, 08, and 09 COMBINED.
HRs are not the only measure of power.
Bucco fan here. I think the Pirates are asking a lot for Freddy. My guess would be something like Castilla and Mulvey as they are not trying to cut salary but add depth to the organization while Freddy is at his highest value. They could easily afford to keep him til his contract is up and he will more than likely be a Type A free agent at the end of next year. His defense is definitely under rated and he can flat out hit. He doesn’t walk much but doesn’t K a lot either. He would be a great addition for any team in need of a 2 hitter and a 2nd baseman. Freddy, Joe and Justin would be a rock solid 2-4. By the way if Gary likes hustle he will love Freddy.
I think they keep Liriano just because a scouty organization like MIN can’t get their minds off of his potential. There’s no way they trade him for a guy like Sanchez. They might move him to the pen or long relief, but he stays in the family.
I would have to say that Sanchez is better than an older version of Harris. Harris should be a 7 8 or 9 hitter in this lineup.
“Why so down on Liriano? The year after major surgery is always very inconsistent…..Why the doubts he can make it all the way back?”
I think the reason is because Frankie came back just barely good enough last year, but now has taken a step further back this year.
Thrylos - or anyone - have stats on what percentage of those that have TJ surgery come back as good or better? I would guess its well under 50%. And not many go backwards year 2 over year 1 and return in years 3, 4, 5 as a good pitcher.
I think the tea leaves predict Frankie isn’t going to make it long term as a starter ever again - maybe as a reliever, but maybe not even that….
RE: Eddie…
http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/neal/2008/08/25/twins-acquire-eddie-guardado-from-texas/
I swear that day was like Bizarro-Land.
First off, those who say the Pirates don’t need OFs, who are you kidding?
Trading for Lastings Milledge does not sure up all of their OF in MLB, AAA, AA, or A.
The Pirates plan is to re-stock their farm system with as many decent prospects as possible with the hopes that a few develop and the rest are cheap.
“In the last week I have seen Mauer come up to bat with 2 outs and noboby on at least a dozen times.”
Look on the bright side; at least it keeps his GIDP stats down.
Two words: injury prone.
That is all.
There’s gotta be SOME WAY to match up and get Sanchez.
I don’t see why the Pirates wouldn’t take on somebody like Humber or Mulvey. They have a track record for getting mediocre pitchers back in trades (see: the “haul” they got for Nady).
I’d also like to see Casilla be moved. He seems like he would benefit greatly from a change of scenery, especially considering he doesn’t seem to get along well with Gardy. Plus, there’s their replacement second baseman.
They wouldn’t want Delmon or Gomez? Garrett Jones is on their major league roster. They could upgrade in the outfield.
We also have like four or five good catching prospects despite having our two catchers for the foreseeable future already on the roster (Mauer and Morales), so there’s an option.
It’s not like we don’t have trade chips (or cash to spare). So, let’s get it done.
This is Liriano’s second year back after surgery. He had TJ at the end of the 2006 season and returned to the mound in 2008.
He’s still a young pitcher and has time to improve, but the more time that passes, the less likely it is that the old “franchise” will return.
Joe,
“I don’t see why the Pirates wouldn’t take on somebody like Humber or Mulvey. They have a track record for getting mediocre pitchers back in trades”
You just answered your own question.
If you have been scammed before, you should REALLY enjoy it THIS TIME!
And don’t forget we gave up MARK HAMBURGER for Eddie Guardado.
This team is willing to say “name a great player in our minor league system, and we’ll send him to you.”
Err.. I mean… “We have a player with a great name in our minor league system, and we’ll send him to you.”
I’d rather they dealt two current starters, Revere, and anything else they want to the Jays for Halladay. That is transformational. That won’t happen.
As for Sanchez, he makes the Twins much more serious post season contendors. I’m not sure he makes them good enough to win post season series w/o much better starting pitching.
I’d gladly trade Casilla and any current AAA pitcher for him at this point, Humber of Mulvey included. Everyone is concerned that they won’t have any pitching depth then. I’d rather have no pitching depth, and a good lineup, than a crappy lineup and 2-3 MLB pitchers in AAA.
You have M&M&N healthy and great. That won’t last forever. If I’m Mauer, and they just never try to get better (*they did try, when they dealt Garza and Barlett, but they failed there so far), I wonder if Hunter and Santana are right. I have no idea why anyone player that wanted to win a WS would stay here, until I saw evidence this FO is different than the last one (what have they won? 1 post season series since 1991?)?
“He doesn’t walk much but doesn’t K a lot either. He would be a great addition for any team in need of a 2 hitter and a 2nd baseman. Freddy, Joe and Justin would be a rock solid 2-4. By the way if Gary likes hustle he will love Freddy.”
This would be perfect: With M&M at 3-4, they creat quite a firewall. The last thing pitchers want to do is put runners on base with a free pass in front of them. Freddy (and Span)would get pitches to hit.
This makes Chiefs comment that “Twins hitters in the two-hole not named Joe Mauer have hit .190/.235/.237 this season” EVEN MORE UNBELIEVABLY PATHETIC!!!
I say Smith chickens out on the Sanchez trade and instead pick up some loser like Lamb or Monroe, just so he can say he made a move.
Thanks for the info on Liriano. Forgot he came back for a bit last year. No need for catching prospects, as we have 3 major league ready guys (who combined can’t carry Mauer’s gear, but they’re good enough for Pirates) and a #1 pick in June who is supposed to be fast-tracked to bigs. No, don’t want Delmon or Gomez. Have 23-year old McCutchen in CF, with L. Milledge in LF by the end of the year and Tabata likely up next year. I’m sure Pirates are asking about Trevor Plouffe. Any chance he is part of discussions, especially if Capps gets tossed in?
heet,
You could ask any GM or manager in either league and they would take Mauer in an instant even if he GIDP at least once every game. He is valuable in so many ways that I can overlook the GIDP that he will inevitably make.
We should have just traded Santana for Halladay straight up. Duh…
If you dislike GIDP, just strike out and “break up the double play”.
Yes, they should deal for him. It’s a weak, very winnable division and the Twins are really suffering at 2B. Package Grabow with Sanchez and I’d be very excited. Not sure who I’d want to see the Twins part with, but if DY went to Pittsburgh we might start to look at the TB trade a little differently.
How about this for Sanchez and Capps, Cassilla,Mullvey,Plouffe,Gambino and Pino. Could put in Delaney for either Pino or Gambino. Twins get 2b and RP and the Pirates get 2b and SS so they can move Wilson plus SP and RP depth.
Cat,
I know. It was a sarcastic comment moreso than a jab at Mauer. I’m as big a fan as anyone.
Should the Twins acquire an old, mediocre fielding, high average, low on base 2B, who would cost millions this year and next, as well as a hefty price in a trade?
Um, no.
The Twins have the best #2 hitter in the game in Mauer. Remember how many runs per game they scored with Mauer batting second?
I think Casilla is a cheaper, younger alternative at 2B. Read Joe’s italics…sanchez had an obp under 300 last year.
Emphatic no.
As long time twins fans we all are used to the same old *&%# year in and year out. However we put up with it year after year. Is it just because this time of year we can tune them out whenever we want to because we can always turn off the tv and mow the yard?? The twins will ALWAYS be a K-MART type of team trying to compete with the bigger bucks of others. That is reality. What bothers me the most is how do the other teams keep getting much better on the farm systems than the twins and are able to replace players with no loss of productivity or talent?? The twins USED to be the best farm system the major leagues had now we have nothing?? what the h$@#% happened??
In closing I truly only ask for a couple of things
A– get cuddy a mr microphone and send him packing his stats are grossly made in non-profitable times he’s no mr clutch!!!
B– Delmon Young nuff said
C– Get someone who gives a damn about winning and is not afraid to show it!!!
thank you for listening good day
“If you dislike GIDP, just strike out and “break up the double play”.”
I actually DO hope for this result often with men on base, one out and Tolbert up, as the only likely outcome other than GIDP, to preserve the inning and get M&M a shot with MISP.
Or is that RISP? Men, runner, whatever 
The problem with simply moving Mauer up to the 2 spot without getting a guy like Sanchez, is that you then have just a god-awful bottom of the lineup that is automatic out city. Were talking Redmond, Tolbert, Punto,
Gomez country…..In a row.
heet,
It’s kind of funny that we’re talking about GIDP because every time that LNP gets up to bat I’m hoping that the least damage will occur; that’s means either a strikeout or lazy fly ball and that he doesn’t hit in to a double play or hit a line drive that doubles another runner off. I don’t have much faith in the bottom three in our lineup and I think we’re just giving up to many outs every game with those three slots.
If the Twins acquire Sanchez or any 2b, Gardy will insist on LNP at SS and Harris on the bench thus eliminating having a better lineup top to bottom.
I think Casilla is a cheaper, younger alternative at 2B. Read Joe’s italics…sanchez had an obp under 300 last year.
He’s cheaper. And he’s younger. But I can’t remember…what is (was) Casilla’s OBP this year?
I would love to see them land Sanchez, but it’s never gonna happen. Instead, I think we should focus on someone like Felipe Lopez from the Diamondbacks. He’s younger, 28 I think, hitting over .300, a switch hitter, and would come much cheeper than Sanchez. We may be able to get Lopez and one of their releivers like Qualls for a Sanchez-like price.
“good teams build the right way, FA is bad” - looks the Red Sox just signed another FA (cuban defector SS). I mean, I suppose the Red Sox don’t know what they are doing….in trading for players and signing FAs….you should ONLY draft players, that is the only RIGHT way.
Huh?
Span
Mauer
Morneau
Cuddyer
Kubel
Crede
Harris
Young/Gomez
Punto
That’s not so hard.
put in mulvey, humber, plouffe, pridie, cassilla. get sanchez and capps/grabow. honestly plouffe might be the only person who might be able to get into our young lineup anytime soon so we don’t lose anything. Hell throw in liriano and get all three players.
The Twins should absolutely trade for Sanchez. He’s arguably one of the most underrated players in baseball, and perhaps one of the best 2B outside of the “brand-name” ones (ie: Utley, Pedroia, Kinsler).
It would give the Twins lineup a real boost to have him in there I’d think. The Twins lineup is underrated. Adding Sanchez like this should make it more consistent and deeper, add quality:
CF-Span
2B-Sanchez
C-Mauer
1B-Morneau
DH-Kubel
RF-Cuddyer
3B-Crede/Buscher
SS-Harris
LF-D. Young/Gomez
Casilla and a serviceable-type pitcher, SP or RP, would be fair I’d think. The Pirates want the move in large part to move salary, so they shouldn’t be demanding a ton in return as a result. What a sham organization PIT has become, sadly. They’ve traded a whole very good OF (Bay, McLouth, Nady)–three highly-sought after players–and gotten not too much legitimate quality in return.
I hope the Twins do this; it’d improve the team on the field and intangibly. FYI: I’m a Red Sox fan personally; very I admire the Twins and their style. As to the front office, while frugality is one thing–I think they can be penny-wise and pound-foolish though. Signing Ayala but not working to acquiring Juan Cruz this past offseason is a good example.
Tolbert at #2 can work in theory if you only are playing for one run: Span gets on base, Tolbert moves him over, Mauer drives him in.
With Mauer or Morneau you don’t need to play that way. You need to do this: Span gets on base, #2 gets on base, Mauer and Morneau do their thing.
Anyone think that Casilla, Dunsing and another prospect would get the deal done?
David, nice looking trade there. Capps has a friendly deal for a couple more years. Casilla, Plouffe and Mulvey for sure for the Pirates. Make it Delaney and I don’t think there’s a need for a 5th player, although Pirates seem more interested in collecting quantity rather than quality (Bay trade as prime example).
Should the Twins acquire an old, mediocre fielding, high average, low on base 2B, who would cost millions this year and next, as well as a hefty price in a trade?
Um, no.
The Twins have the best #2 hitter in the game in Mauer. Remember how many runs per game they scored with Mauer batting second?
I think Casilla is a cheaper, younger alternative at 2B. Read Joe’s italics…sanchez had an obp under 300 last year.
Emphatic no.
You are singling out his one bad season since he became a full time starter. He was injured for 3/4 of the season. The other 3 years he’s had a BA above .300.
i wouldn’t give up dunseng. we have pitchers in the minors who can make this trade work. mulvey is ready for the majors humber is getting there as long as he is a starter. we have the system to get this done without having to get rid of anybody important to us in the next three years
Pirate fan here.
Can’t see our FO really taking on some of these guys. Young and Liriano, are possible, but I can’t see them being the centerpiece.
Valencia, and Bromberg are the guys that really standout, to me, as serious centerpieces. Especially if Capps or Garbow are in the mix.
You guys do have some interesting arms, so there are a number of possibilities.
I think the Pohlads and Bill Smith need to make this move to show both the fans/politicians and Mauer/Morneau that the old era of constrained payrolls is over thanks to nearly-complete target field. It’s always tough to give up prospects, especially pitching, but we are now entering an era where if, god forbid, we enter an offseason with a hole in the rotation, we can sign someone to fill it (someone good, not the next Livan or Ortiz).
Therefore, I’d offer them Swarzak, Casilla, Guiterrez/Slama and an infield prospect for Sanchez and Capps. Is this too low?
I’m not quite sure what it would take. I do know that Sanchez and Capps is quite a bit of payroll. I think Capps makes like 3-4m per. I would actually just go after Sanchez and try to find an arm elsewhere. I would love to see Freddy Sanchez in a Twins uniform. Some targets you guys are putting on here are completely unrealistic. I heard Humber is major league ready starter a couple times, that’s not accurate and he is untradable. He will most likely be let go after this year. I wonder how appealing Tolleson would be to teams? He is having a good year. I personally would like to hang on to Plouffe. Maybe we try to give them Swarzak and Tolleson for Sanchez?
A better trade would be Liriano, Young, Mulvey and Delaney for Halladay. Then Casilla, Tolbert and a couple minor league pitchers for Sanchez. If they wanted to show the fan base they are trying to win they would try those trades.
I don’t think they’d deal Swarzak, Guiterrez or Slama. We still need Swarzak since until Slowey is back, plus you need someone like him to step in when injuries happen. I also think the Twins really like both Guiterrez and Slama.
These trade packages are all a cluster-ffff-fantasy.
Crain and Tolbert for Halladay.
If we are going to make totally unrealistic stuff up lets make it worth while.
Hey, this is funny.
Jim Leyland when asked about the effect of participating in the HR derby on a players swing.
“That’s the biggest bunch of [baloney] in the history of baseball,” Jim Leyland said. “It’s showtime and it doesn’t affect anything. Half of them try to do it all year long anyway. That’s just a nice topic for conversation.”
cluster ……is right and bizarre postings overall.
The last time Leyland AGREED with public opinion was……………….?
Sorry, my memory is not THAT good!
btw, I’d still like to get Brandon Wood, though I know others don’t agree. I’d be thrilled if they got him from the Angels somehow.
This is “fun” talk, but as Joe and La Velle and we all know, it just isn’t going to happen. The Twins will not trade a future that never comes (because once it comes, they are looking two years ahead again).
How about Buscher, Crain and Tommy Watson for Sanchez? I could live with that.
The Twins always seem a day late and a dollar short. I believe that they think to much of the players they have in the minors. They don’t have a secondbase man there that can pass the managers muster. He would rather have Punto play second and hit about 200.
Why not give up afew of there players like Young and maybe Perkins or someone for Schanze and someone they can use in the bullpen. But really that would make to much sence. Remember there cread is wait and the minor league players will be able to fill any holes and cost alot less. They are saying money so they can offer Joe Mauer about half of what he is worth. Then claim that you must remember they are a small market team. But they can’t cry about the statium. Its gone to be new next year.
E7–trading to Pittsburgh for McLouth–was that a joke? He got traded to Atlanta WEEKS ago…come on..
The definatly should do whatever it takes to get this guy. He Mauer’s RBI’s would double with someone that can acctually get on base in front of him. Plus he’d see a lot of good pitches with Mauer and Morneau right behind him. But as we all know its a pipe dream and it wont happen.
Depends on who they want in return! The Twins are still smarting from the last trade, even though at the time it was a reasonable trade!
Sanchez is a 2-year rental, so we won’t trade Liriano for him. Mulvey can probably be successful in the NL, so that seems like a no-brainer. Mulvey, Casilla, Plouffe?
Pirates are licking chops at the opportunity to have Pundoza.
Mauer could bat 1st or 2nd or 3rd.. it doesnt matter you would still have big holes in the lineup no matter where he hits…
You want the 9,1,2 to get on for Mauer and Morneua and our #9 and #2 hitters are caca
I would trade Cuddyer and Tolbert or a minor leager for him if the Pirates would go for it. Cuddy’s salary would about match Sanchez and it gets rid of the extra outfielder. I would rather see the Twins keep Gomez and Delmon and give them both the playing time they need rather than rely on Cuddyer, who is way over-rated and over paid. Cuddy has had one good year, a good half year and a good month. Not worth $6 million a year.
Diehard Bucs fan here, but I lived in Minneapolis in ‘89, cheered alongside of many of you at the Metrodome then, and the Twins are still one of my favorites.
I would love to see Freddy Sanchez help the Twins take the division this year.
When looking at his numbers last year, you should realize that he should not have even been playing. He could barely throw to 1st base most of the season, and he still hit .270. His defense is very underrated, and is great on the DP.
I wouldn’t call him injury prone, though. This back thing he has now is nothing serious. More of a precaution I think because they want to make sure if he is traded that he is in top-notch shape.
I’d say yes, but you have to have some untouchables obviously. Revere,Hicks,Valencia,Slama all have to be untouchable, there are probably more, but those guys come to mind of the top of my head. The Twins could ship some quality arms for him as the Pirates need young pitching in the most obvious way, plus with Pedro Alvarez being their third baseman of the future, they probably wouldnt be in the market for Valencia. Just dont give up a top prospect. The Tigers did that back in the 80’s with a little old guy named John Smoltz, do we want to make that same mistake?
“How about Buscher, Crain and Tommy Watson for Sanchez? I could live with that”
The market value has never been higher for Tommy Watson. (or even Tommy Watkins)
How valuable is a guy whose seller doesn’t even know his name?
If Sanchez can provide a Shannon Stewart like spark, go for it!
Will this wait for modertation?
Trade for a 31-year old with a lower back problem and an inferior fielder compared to Casilla? This has to be one of the dumbest ideas ever.
And I took some pretty brutal insults from some of the more vocal regulars for believing that Eddie wasn’t going to help one bit.
So insteading of giving it, you actually had to take it!?
Sanchez is not worth the kind of young talent and pitching the Pirates crave. I would rather see the Twins chase Hermidea or Barmes for Colorado then Sanchez. Similar players about the same level bat as Sanchez with better defense. Problem is, both those guy’s are key guys on there clubs. We all know the Twins don’t do deals to help the club that add payroll, that is against the Pohlad ownership philosophy, always has been always will. Beides Stewart which the Jays paid the salary when have the Twins ever done a deal that provided a jolt or just what the DR. or everyone else can see is needed. In the end were all rubes we can dream, speculate and throw out all the worthless trade scenarios we want and the Twins will do what they always do, promote from within. This is why I suggest trading Crede, Cudeyyer Harris and Crain now assuming you can get something for them. Crain and Cudeyyer’s large contracts diminish there trade value. Nobody want’s Delmon Young he has been all but available for a bag of balls for months with no takers. Really I would like the Twins to move Crede and Harris and bring up Valencia and Ploufe and see what you have. This years team is not a contender just to many wholes in the starting staff, bullpen and middle infield to contend. Twins are a decent competitive team just not a contender for the playoffs and beyond. Realistically they will hover around 500 the rest of the season even with stars like Mauer, Morneau, Nathan and even the emerging Blackburn leading the way. If it’s not the 4 220 or less hitters it is the pitching coughing along. 43-43 pretty much sums up the Twins season for the rest of the year.
Watson, Watkins — does it really matter?
Ken.. we didn’t get anything back for Bay/McLouth/Nady?
3B Andy LaRoche
OF Brandon Moss
P Craig Hansen
P Ross Ohlendorf
P Jeff Karstens
OF Jose Tabata
OF Gorkys Hernandez
P Charlie Morton
I wouldn’t say that’s “nothing”.
There are better 2B out there for a trade…Lopez from Arizona comes to mind or how about Johnson with Atlanta? Others out there..of course!Sanchez is hurt too often, older, and expensive!
“Nobody want’s Delmon Young he has been all but available for a bag of balls for months with no takers.”
And you know that, HOW?
The twins have the prospects to make this move, a deal would probably include Manship/Revere, they probably will want Swarzak because he has most promise out of the four starters we would be willing to give up and then we could throw in someone like Parmelee, having Sanchez will solve second base and if Casilla ever figures it out we could move him back to his natural position of SS, but that’s a big if. Or maybe we package Casilla into the deal, the Pirates just traded for Lastings Millidge so they’re not afraid of taking on a promising player who’s a head case
The Royals weren’t afraid to make a move. They just got Betancourt from the Mariners.
“Watson, Watkins — does it really matter?”
As long as it’s all fantasy…….No!
It might be just me, but with our miidle infielders sucking just a little this year, Joe Crede’s odds of staying a Twin have vastly improved.
The FO wouldn’t try to roll with any combination of;
LNP,Tolbert,Casilla,Harris and Valencia during Target Fields first season would they? Would they?
The organization is loaded with good second basemen. Tolleson, Casilla, Dinkelman. Tolbert hasn’t had much of a chance. He hit .280+ last season. Better to trade for a good shortstop.
Bunting Twins,
Tolleson is a good 2B/SS, except for the small detail that he is poor defensively at those positions.
As a point of comparison for you who don’t see the NL very often, Sanchez has a better OPS than Kinsler this year (.830 vs. .822), and is a much better defensive 2nd baseman.
Give them Alexie Cassia …even up!
I’d love to see the Twins trade for a good reliever and another solid infielder (2B or SS). But, there’s two teams who the Twins will trade with:
Rochester or New Britain.
Bill Smith might be a good guy and smart administrator, but he’s not pulling his weight when it comes to trades, Free Agents or player evaluations.
He might be over his head.
I just wanted to help create a readership “spike” so Joe can get excited…
Wait wait…the Royals traded for Betancourt? Doesn’t that seem more like someting a BUYER would do?
8 mil for a light hitting second baseman? no thanks.
Yes please. I was discussing this while the Pirates were in town and it’s nice to see the story bubble to the top. For the Twins to rise above the rest of the division, they’re going to need something outside of the system. Why not stock your lineup with two former batting champs?
When Casilla was here(twice this year), he did not play like a “good second basemen”. Good second basemen don’t make repeated mental errors while they are in the field…
MLB prospects are just, well, prospects.
Casilla can’t play for Gardenhire (his name isn’t Punto or Cuddyer)….trade him somewhere else…let his talents show!!! Same goes for Delmon Young…I bet both those guys could have futures like David Ortiz did once he left Minnesota.
Make some moves Billy Smith…either go for the pennant this year or trade Cuddyer, Harris, Crede for the future in a new outdoor ball park!!!
Last year Gardy raved about how solid Casilla was in the field. When he got hurt, Gardy went into a depression. Losing him was almost intolerable. This year he’s in the doghouse. Casilla is a good player, but he has to mature and learn consistency.
“Tolleson is a good 2B/SS, except for the small detail that he is poor defensively at those positions.”
Could you please provide a link to a report on that? I have never seen anything that indicated that. Thanks.
How old is Casilla? Wonder if Morneau made mistakes when he was 23? Suppose Hunter did? Casilla, Gomez, DY are young…they are going to make mistakes…coaches need to work with them and help them mature…not everyone is as mature and solid as Joe Mauer!
Bunting Twins,
A few weeks ago on KSTP Gardy was asked about Tolleson and he said he is nowhere near ready for the majors defensively, especially at second base. He said he has a lot of work to do. I would take that to mean he stinks defensively.
For all those that want Sanchez, I hope you can live with LNP going back as the fulltime shortstop, Because there is no way Gardenhire doesn’t find a spot for his boy.
I would have been in favor of this move before,but the Twins proved against the Yankees that they are pretenders not contenders. Look for Crede to get unloaded at the deadline and Danny Valencia to get his baptism come Sept. 1st.The Twins should be sellers not buyers.
How would Sanchez/s $8mil effect signing a 3B next year? If he’d slide over to third, who would play 2B?
Casilla is a good player, but he has to mature and learn consistency.
Exactly. Casilla earned Gardy’s praise last season in part because he was able to start overcoming those mental mistakes he always used to make.
Then he started making them again. And it frustrated Gardy because he thought the kid had overcome them.
And the big problem with mental mistakes is that you can’t teach them out. It’s something the player themselves need to overcome.
Man, if the Twins do somehow make this happen, we would have either a current or a former All-Star manning all of the corners. That would be pretty sweet. Hope they make this deal…. guessing they probably won’t.
Bunting Twins,
Good MLB second basemen are mature and have consistency. Alexi Casilla has neither of those two qualities and I would be very surprised to see him in a Twins MLB uniform again this year.
Or maybe ever, as he may need a change of scenery…
ES16,
Thank you.
I have heard that too Bunting Twins. He is a poor infielder. That is why he has been playing in the outfield some lately. He is not the answer at 2nd base.
chinmusic,
You are correct, Casilla isn’t mature and he lacks consistency. Experience can help with those things. Not always, with every player, but often experience can make the difference. The Twins aren’t ready to throw him away. He has too much natural talent.
“That is why he has been playing in the outfield some lately.”
There is a opening available for him. Looks like he can hit.
“Wait wait…the Royals traded for Betancourt? Doesn’t that seem more like someting a BUYER would do?”
A buyer, yes - a smart buyer, no
Casilla is a good player, but he has to mature and learn consistency.
Alexi Casilla has 768 PAs ‘at the major league level.’ In those 768 PAs, he’s posted a line of .248/.299/.318
Alexi Casilla has 693 PAs at the AAA level. In those 693 PAs, he’s posted a line of .277/.352/.342
Alexi Casilla has 1865 combined PAs throughout his minor league career. In those 1865 PAs he’s posted a line of .298/.371/.372. He has a grand total of 84 XBHs in his entire minor league career. 84. In over 1800 PAs.
Alexi Casilla’s problem isn’t that he lacks consistency. His problem is that he has proven excrutiatingly consistent.
Consistently a weak hitter.
Add on hands of stone, no instincts for the game, and a tendency to, uh…lose concentration, and what’s not to love?
they can have punto and casilla.
Juan Portes is an outfielder at New Britain who could possibly help the Twins. He looks like their best outfield prospect until you get to Revere in class A.
I don’t think the Twins should throw away Young or Gomez, but they need a better third outfielder right now.
IF healthy yes they should seriously inquire.
Casilla played well in the major leagues last season. Very well. Quick hands, swift around the bag, great range. He also hit, even with some power. He can swipe a base. I think there is much to like. He is young and raw. Patience is what is needed here.
These Twins with this FO and lack of true leaders, AIN’T WHAT IT USED TO BE… WINNERS (not complacent well-paid pansies).
More fun with numbers:
Twins second basemen this year have combined to hit .187/.274/.252 (OPS .526) in 360 PAs.
The AL average at second base this year is .272/.333/.423 (.756), and of course these numbers INCLUDE the Twins numbers at second base.
National League pitchers this year have combined to hit .138/.182/.176 (.358)
Twins second basemen have been closer to the production of NL pitchers this year–by 60 some points of OPS–than they have the average AL second baseman.
Freddy Sanchez can hit. He just doesn’t move well in the field. His arm is erratic as well. Gardy wouldn’t put Freddy and Harris together. I can’t see that ever happening. That is a Tim Tuefel - Roy Smalley type middle infield. Can’t win with that.
Casilla played well in the major leagues last season. Very well. Quick hands, swift around the bag, great range. He also hit, even with some power. He can swipe a base. I think there is much to like. He is young and raw. Patience is what is needed here.
You are welcome to your opinion. It is not an opinion I share.
Patience is what got us 6 years of .262/.307/.383 from Luis Rivas. But hey, he was pretty slick turning two.
“Patience is what got us 6 years of .262/.307/.383 from Luis Rivas. But hey, he was pretty slick turning two.”
Boy I’d sure be happy with this line for the rest of the season.
Yes, we’re all getting impatient with delmon and kubel can always sub every now and then in the OF…Punto can…come off the bench, this would be a great trade
Pair Sanchez with Hardy. Order your playoff tickets.
Of American League 2B with at least 250 plate appearances last year, Casilla was 13th best in terms of OPS. If that is “very well”, then we have a different opinion of “very well”.
how about Bill Smith and punto for Sanchez?
Bah! All these fancy schmancy numbers, Mike. You’re just trying to confuse the issue with, uh…y’know…facts and sh!t.
Didn’t anybody just see the Yankee series? Justin,0 for 10,Cuddy wetting hmself with the bases loaded in game 2. What we really need is the players we have to grow a PAIR!
Pair Sanchez with Hardy. Keep Crede. Free Gomez. We run with the big dogs 3 f’ing yrs.
Scratch ATL off the list of potential trading partners who need outfield help: Church was traded for Francoeur.
The Twins almost have to trade an outfielder at some point. Arguably their two top prospects are outfielders Hicks and Revere while Parmalee and Angel Morales are both maybe in the top ten for prospects. Not to mention they essentially have prospects Gomez and Young playing now with Cuddy and Span basically MLB level and Kubel a good hitter with DH range.
My point is that they may not have the best outfield in the world but they have a bunch of depth. You can’t play all 9 of them. Just as well trade some.
If they hang onto Revere then it means Span isn’t their long term option. Hicks I think they have to hold onto. Dish Young if possible is my thought. He sucks now and probably will never be an above average OF the way it looks. Terrible D means he has to really be a great hitter and that isn’t the case so far.
Gary, agree 100%.
Would love to get Sanchez but rather than waste time yakking about something Twins FO never does on or before 7/31, here are some counterproposals:
- hire a really good sports psychologist to work with practically the entire team PLUS the manager about getting a take no prisoners competitive attitude. Blackie, Keppel and even young Swarzak can help the psych. as coaches since they have shown the most tough moxie on this team since Garza left. Oh, and maybe Baker should be required to grow some facial hair so he looks less like a 10 year old Little Leaguer. Hard to scare any opponents with that face. I would bet any amount of money that the first thing the Yanks look at each year when the new schedule comes out is when they play the Twins. Pure gravy for the Bombers.
- fine the manager if he continues to put the most dismal batter into the 2 hole while depriving the most talented hitter on the team and arguably in all of baseball of more at bats by continuing to put him in the 3 hole. I knew it was too good to believe that Gardenhire’s little experiment would last very long when he was quoted as saying that batting Joe 3rd was good baseball. ACCORDING TO WHOM, GARDY????
- Anderson, I don’t know what realistically can be done here but I have been totally unimpressed by him this year and especially by the regression of an alarming number of the pitchers. He’s always been a stoic in the dugout but this year he looks downright disinterested and is slothlike as far as how quickly he comes out to chat with the struggling pitchers. I’ve made a note of other pitching coaches and even managers like Leyland and the speed with which they trot out to the mound and the difference is significant. Too bad they let Rick Knapp escape to the Tigers. As much as Anderson gets a lot of credit for Twins pitching, I do wonder if maybe he should get less and more should be attributed to the coaches in the minors like Knapp and Cuellar (who taught Johan his changeup).
- I’ve gone on and on about Anderson because as much as I’ve moaned about the dismal bottom half of our lineup (as well as Gardenhire’s # 2 hitter), it really has been our pitching that’s in the most dire straits. One true ace and definitely a more reliable # 2 as well as no Crain, Ayala or Henn and we wouldn’t even be talking about the O AGAIN. We’d be in first place, we’d be patting ourselves on our backs for yelling all last year on these blogs about we need more power, etc. etc.
I would prefer Aubry Huff,can play 3rd,2nd,1st corner outfield,pop in his bat.
Don’t worry. The front office will do zip to improve this team. It’s all about lining the Pohlads pockets. The rich can NEVER have enough money. With the new stadium opening next year, their excuse for not spending will be we need to sign our own. This was the year to add talent as they promised. The fans have been getting screwed by the Pohlads since day one and it will continue until the fans stop showing up for games.
Sanchez hits for average, and that’s about it. Think: Rod Carew, with a slight dose of power.
This is all far-fetched Sid speak, err. . .writing, as it were.
That he also included Grabow and Capps into the mix is nothing short of laughable. Unless Twins fans want to re-live Jesse Crain, followed by Luis Ayala heart attack innings, we’re best to be without them.
Something tells me Sid has never in his 100+ years watched a Pirates game. And if it prove as not so, it certainly hasn’t been since Stargell and ‘We Are Family’ World Series years, well before some of us were even born.
Sanchez, Capps, and Grabow are hardly solid solutions. Umm, it IS Pittsburgh, after all. It hasn’t worked for them, and surely wouldn’t boost anything within the MetroDome. Laugh. . .Sid, your pension is a callin’
You mean Gardenhire would actually put someone batting second that’s worthy of being that high in the order? Whoa! No more Brendan Harris or Tolbert? No way. Gardy wouldn’t never become so wise. Until the sky is green, and the grass is several shades of blue, it isn’t going to happen. That, or Gardenhire being fired.
Ten-to-one, he’ll have some utility-type hitting second tonight, and the li’l experiment will fail again.
Wake up, Gardy - it doesn’t work. No more than Punto last season.
Maybe BS2 never heard of Chase Utley places second, bats second and third won WS 2008
the thing is Pittsburgh doesn’t want any of are OFers…. they are either over paid (Cuddyer) or too much like the other ones they have (Young, Gomez)….. we need a 2nd basemen now…. its pretty bad when none of them can bat thee weight….
If Pittsburgh is willing to send 3 million of the 9ish left on his contract then they will get some good prospects probably in the lines of a Manship and Mulvey possibly a Trevor Plouffe and then Casilla would be thrown in also…. if not they would probably get something like a AA pitcher and Casilla…..
Joe: You’re looking in the wrong direction. Brian Roberts is the better choice. Trade DY while clubs still believe he can turn it around.
Why on earth would it take more than Casilla and Mulvey/Robertson to get this done?
The Pirates have no room for Young, there is no chance he will be dealt to the Pirates. And Liriano is not going anywhere.
We got Luis Castillo for two mid to low level pitching prospects (Travis Brower and Scott Tyler).
I would assume the haul for Sanchez would be slightly more, but not significantly.
Hate to say it, but all this discussion regarding Twins trades is dreaming. Two years ago, Twins officials (just after the new stadium announcement was made) pointed to an increase in revenue leading to an increase in team payroll (90 million was the figure they used).
I remember thinking that would be great, but they will probably pull a “Brewers”. For years after Miller Park opened (with taxpayer funding), Brewers owner Wendy Selig-Prieb sat on the money. Brewers officials knew that a new stadium would draw fans regardless of the product on the field. One day, a Wisconsin legislator questioned whether the Brewers should be investigated (I cannot remember what for), but within weeks after that legislator’s comments were made public, the Brewers front office began promoting, trading, and signing core players.
Expect the Pohlad’s to sit on the money (at least for the first few years in the new stadium). Fans will flock in droves to experience outdoor baseball, regardless of the product.
It is obvious that the Twins need to fix three areas if they wish to truely contend:
-A dominent starting pitcher (they should be all over Roy Halladay).
–A speedy, high average, slick fielding guy at second (Sanchez is an ideal fit who can fill the number two hole).
–A power armed late inning relief guy (many guys that fit this area will begin to pop up on the rumors page just after the all-star game).
The Twins keep mentioning about building from within….great, except a number of those players they expected to help in building from within have walked via the six year free agency clause in the CBA over the past few years. What good is that?
The new stadium provides the revenue to compete. No more excuses from Twins management: Open the purse Bob Pohlad and show the fans who funded the majority of your new stadium that you’re serious about competing–especially since you have such a talented core of players in Mauer, Morneau, and Nathan!!!
Why not give them Scott Baker and let Swarzak take his spot in the rotation. Not like we’d be giving up much, other than a fat undeserved salary given to him by a fat undeserving and stupid GM.
Sanchez - OK, but in all reality, an infusion of outside talent at 2B is the needed answer. Just find a .260 avg, defensivly sound, better than average speed around the bases type guy. throw him in the 2 spot and look for a Rp or two to cover the young rotation. All this crap about the outfield is just that…crap. Yes there young and make mistakes, but as a whole they’ll be fine and only get better in the future.
ARRRRRGGGHH!!!! WE NEED PITCHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Last time we did a trade with the Pirates
was the John Smiley/Denny Neagle/Midre
Cummings deal. It really didn’t work out
too well but I believe the draft choice we
received for Smiley signing with the Reds
was Torii Hunter
the twins seem to be about the bottom line. the fans should ban together to protest outside the stadiums before games and not buy tickets until they make a move like this. fans need to speak with their wallets and vote not to spend their money at Twins games until we get our 2b. we deserve a good uplifing aquisition for once.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4339694
Talks between Pirates, infielders stall
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates have cut off contract talks with shortstop Jack Wilson and second baseman Freddy Sanchez after the player didn’t respond to multiyear offers, increasing the chances the double-play duo will be traded before the season ends.
