Before you fire up the snowblower, here are more winter meetings updates
Posted on December 8th, 2008 – 6:17 PMBy La Velle
Just spoke with sources on both sides of the Delmon Young-to-the-Phillies rumor:
It would take more than Jason Donald for the Twins to make that deal. The Phillies are looking for a corner outfielder to replace Pat Burrell but because Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz are recovering from injuries, they feel inclined to hold onto Donald.
The sides have not spoken to each other lately - and there are no plans to meet in the near future.
Clarification: I do believe that the Phillies are interested in Young but there’s not anything heating up right now.
There also is nothing going on with San Francisco. That’s makes sense because the name of the player I was given - Jonathan Sanchez - didn’t make sense unless he was going in the bullpen. “That’s not happening,” I was told by a source.
So it seems as if this was the classic rumor that became bigger than it really was. I was talking with former major league catcher Brent Mayne about how rumors and gossip get out of control at the winter meetings and he said. “It’s like high school with cell phones and texting.”
Other news….
I haven’t had time to check other sites so this might already be out there, but word is that the Dodgers have added a third year to their offer for Casey Blake. That takes the Twins out for sure. And the Indians had hoped Blake would give them a shot to sign him. Not now.
The Twins have some interest in Jack Wilson but Pittsburgh would have to pay some of his salary. And the person I spoke with said they would be better off signing Nick Punto back than trading for Wilson, even at half the cost.
Miguel Tejada is NOT an option.
156 Responses to "Before you fire up the snowblower, here are more winter meetings updates"
Thank you La Velle, always enjoy your insight.
A RH hitter is available who can play @ 3rd, in RF & give Morneau a few days off at 1st. He has 20+ home run power & can drive in runners in bunches. Why would the Twins not offer a 3 year contract to him….., oh wait, they already did sign Cuddyer. My point is, can’t Cuddyer offer everything Blake could have if he works on his 3rd base defense? Look how Koskie improved. Thanks, La Velle.
Glad to hear Tejada isn’t an option, unless the Astros were willing to pick up a bunch of salary, he was going to be WAY too expensive what what he brings to the table.
thanks for the updates (and yeah the Blake to Dodgers thing has been up there but who cares)
Still, it’s very interesting to see that the Twins think that bullpen is a higher need than the rotation… (and Sanchez wouldn’t have been the answer in either anyways)
btw, forget about all of those in n out burger fan postings. In Vegas, they are way out of the way (think 20 minutes of the strip and you have to jump on a highway and that’s before the half an hour that would get you to get your car from the valet parking at the hotel)
Thanks La Velle, and I am supportive of all that you reported happening…or not happening. Delmon should only be traded for an offer that we can’t refuse!
Exactly what I said …
if you’re gonna get Wilson (or Miggy frankly), why not just resign Punto?
Thanks LaVelle, see if you can get to some insight on any interest in Furcal or Crede? the other posters keep shooting it down….Who have you seen from the Twins brain trust?
Can u walk down the hotel rooms and doors are open or the teams in a secured area?
Win Twins!
Twins need Adrian Beltre. Get it done.
Thanks for clearing up the air La Velle. Seems like basically every rumored that arose today was just talk.
Can’t wait to see what names fly around tomorrow!
LEN, why not Ty Wigginton? ‘Stros are shopping him and the Twins almost got him in 2006
Hopefully Punto signs with another team soon. I am sick of hearing his name and I guarantee we have better in AAA. I dont think trading Young is great option. He will be great just like Gomez and Casilla. The power will be there. I would only trade him if you get a good young player that will help right away and that probably is not going to happen. Why not wait on him and people will be looking if twins dont need or can afford to give him up at trading time next year. Man I wish I was in Vegas!!!
Todd I like that Idea with wiggington.
all beautiful news I think… I would like to think we could give up Cuddy and an arm of some sort for Jason Donald and a reliever or something.
Z
As much as he drives me crazy, I would much rather have Punto starting at SS than Wilson.
But that is like saying I would rather be punched in the face than in the balls.
The Dodgers are nuts if they added a 3rd year for Blake. After the two other teams that they are compeating with (Twins and Indians) both declined to give him a third year, they then add one? Why wait until December?
Right on Ryan
Why not Ty Wigginton… I’ll tell you why not… the Astro’s can’t wait to get rid of his near $10mil contract.
Z
what do you guys think about David Eckstein
Lets see the twins will give blake a deal he will be a bust and we will have some guy at third next year we have NEVER heard of just like we did this year with Buschner. We then will be paying Blake Millions to play on a contender that picks him up. Blake is old and washed up why even consider another Lamb WHY WHY!
All we are hearing is what won’t work. No to Blake. No to Tejada. No to Wilson. No to a deal with the Phillies. But Yes to Punto? So thier solution to adding offense to the left side of the infield is going to be doing absolutely nothing? Great. And when Punto returns to hitting somewhere between .200 and .240 instead of .280, our offense will be somehow made better?
With a new stadium coming there is no excuse for sitting on a $65 million dollar payroll doing nothing. Pathetic. I for one did not send a thousand emails to the state legislature to be told resigning Nick Punto best new revenue streams can do.
Blake is old Tejada is not that goo any more and Wilson would be a littel better then what Adam was last year
La Velle,
Those good looking women mentioned in the last thread are probably professionals. I don’t think the Strib will cover those on your expense report. They are all over this town.
Watch out for all the cowboys in town, too. Some pretty big hats walking around. Thus, the high numbers of pro’s.
Thrylos, the closest In N out is on the other side of I-15 on Tropicana. It’s more like 5 minutes away. Just have to stay off the Strip to get there.
Signing Punto is only bad if the Twins do nothing else this year. While I think Matt Tolbert can easily replace Punto- the key is that we do something on the left side. If we deal for Beltre, then signing Punto as a SS possibility is not such a bad thing. Sadly, he is one of the best options left. But if we go into 09 with the same infield as we came off the field in 08- that will be an indictment on our management.
[…] La Velle Neal III thinks the Phillies won’t offer Jason Donald for Delmon Young, since Donald is in line as a […]
Anyone who thinks the Twins will do anything of any significance is delusional.
Gregor,
you probably live there 
but seriously, if you are visiting, got a rental car and stewed it at the hotel valet thing it is a pain to go anywhere if you do not take the monorail. Stayed both at the Hilton (that’s off the strip) and the Mirage (walking distance in a Fall or Winter day from Belagio) and there is no way I would tell anyone (other than people I did not care about to take their cars and drive around for food…) That said, cab rides are pretty cheap but not for a fast food joint.
La Velle, listen to me and take the mororail to MGM Grand and eat at Seablue. Grab Gleeman by the arm and make him pay if you have to but do it… you won’t regret it
Have any of you looked at Blakes numbers? They guy can still play. I dont get where most of you get this idea to crap on any and all rumored/potential moves. But i agree with rambo(greatest movie off all time) though, this team will do nothing to improve. I can think of 1 MAYBE 2 moves a team from here ever did to excite me ( I was too young to remember enough about the Hershal Walker deal) The vikings with Allen and Spreewell.
Get Punto Signed and bring in Beltre.
All we are hearing is what won’t work. No to Blake. No to Tejada. No to Wilson. No to a deal with the Phillies. But Yes to Punto? So thier solution to adding offense to the left side of the infield is going to be doing absolutely nothing? Great. And when Punto returns to hitting somewhere between .200 and .240 instead of .280, our offense will be somehow made better?
With a new stadium coming there is no excuse for sitting on a $65 million dollar payroll doing nothing. Pathetic. I for one did not send a thousand emails to the state legislature to be told resigning Nick Punto best new revenue streams can do.
Not Signing Punto is pathetic he is the infield defense.. Buscher cant field at third and Punto cover most of Buschers mistakes or Harris mistakes.
Don’t trade Young
Don’t trade Young
Repeat don’t trade Ortiz, woops I meant Young
HAVE FUN !!! GO TWINS !!!
I would trade Young for Donald and a reliever….Madson….I would throw in a prospect to even that out. That would make the Garza, Bartlett, and Morlan trade for Harris, Pridie, 1 year of Young, Donald a solid + future 3b under team control for at least 6 years and a setup reliever. That is still a winner for us.
len3-Why is Tejada not an option?
what do you guys think about Bill Hall
8:44 p.m. — Brewers ready to trade Hall?
The Brewers were close to re-signing third baseman Mike Lamb on Monday, a move that could lead to a trade of Bill Hall.
The Yankees are among the teams that have expressed interest in Hall, who could fill a utility role in both the infield and outfield for New York.
However, Hall’s remaining salary — $6.8 million in 2009 and $8.4 million in 2010 with a $9.25 million or $500,000 buyout for 11 — would be a significant obstacle to any deal.
The Yankees also have interest in Brewers center fielder Mike Cameron, who — like Hall — is close friends with the team’s principal free- agent target, left-hander CC Sabathia. Hall and Sabathia attended the Oscar De La Hoya fight Saturday in Las Vegas.
Lamb will rejoin the Brewers at the minimum salary, with his previous team, the Twins, paying the rest of the $3 million that he is owed in 2009. Lamb and Hall could form a left-right platoon at third for the Brewers if no trade is made. –Ken Rosenthal and Ed Price
as usual the twins will do nothing and still sign punto. the will finish 2nd or 3rd less than five games out. lose two players after next year and get two more draft choices. grady will be runner-up manager of the year and homers will be ready for the new ball park.
Not that I’m unhappy with any of La Velle’s developments, but here’s a general question: Does Bill Smith have a tangible plan? The more this offseason plays out, the more he’s starting to look like Doug Risebrough.
I can’t believe the Crew is going to give Lamby Pie a contract.
Can we deal for Hardy?
So far this sounds like another Winter meeting where we’re the last team to make a desperate move, but I think we’re doing the right thing.
The Phils and Twins may re-kindle talks later (a week from now), but I doubt anything will get done.
BS is smart to ask for more than Donald for DY….similar numbers, only one is playing in AA and the other in the majors, and the same age.
Keep up the good work LenIII
Anybody heard anything from Seth lately?
Brewers aren’t giving Lamb a contract. It’s the same contract Twins are paying
Seth is out of town, I believe it was reports on his website.
I’m not surprised all we are hearing is what is NOT happening. If I was Bill Smith I’d be gun shy after my fiasco of an off season last year, plus the economy is in the tank (and many believe ticket revenue will be down) and the Pohlads didn’t become billionaires by spending money.
I can’t see them signing a legit FA, I can’t see them trading for a player in his prime earning years, and that pretty much means Nathan’s last year or two will be wasted away. Oh well, it’s nice to have a cute little team that makes money and aims for 85-88 wins.
Dano
The Twins were very interested in B Hall in 2006.
2007 the Brewers moved him to the OF to make room for R Braun.
They moved him back to 3rd in 2008 when Brauns defense failed.
The Brewers were very unhappy with Hall in 2008, both in the field and at the plate
GENO
M Tejada is linked to the Roids. Twins generally stay far away from these types
Bill Hall strikes out a lot like Cuddyer & plays 3B like Cuddyer & is signed for big money like Cuddyer & why exactly would we TRADE valuable assets for another Cuddyer? We already have one & one is enough.
Hall = Cuddyer = Blake except Blake is older.
Rubeville going on here….
Tejada was roided up and is washed up. Twins won’t touch him. No need to get Wilson when Punto fits the bill. Quit whining already. It’s DAY ONE of the winter meetings. Good deals don’t happen in 30 minutes. Relax. Personally I only see us trading Young if we can get someone at third and a reliever. If that’s the case then we resign Punto for SS. Let’s not forget all the runs he saved us last year. Very solid with the leather. I am intrigued by Hardy however.
And the Twins were right to pass on Blake. We have some younger third basemen coming up so that’s why they only wanted Blake for two years. Smart move Bill.
My guess - if Blake does not sign with the Dodgers tonight he will be a Twin on Tuesday.
Chris, right on to you; your mind seems to work in logical, witty fashion.
DickyBuzz: If that’s the case, then the Twins had better dump Swarzak from their AAA roster, as that loser’s already been busted three times and served a 50 game suspension.
I think the real reason Tejada is not realistic is because he’s absolutely worthless at this point of his career. You’d probably be better off bringing Brian Buchanan back from Taiwan’s AA League and trying to teach him how to play SS.
Lala72
It is not a moral thing with the Twins, it is the fear of lost man games with veteran roiders
Thanks for the clarification; that’s easier to swallow.
[…] Twins Insider – […]
The latest rumor I heard was that the Marlins still wanted to unload a bit more salary and were also thinking of signing a catcher. Jorge Cantu was one of the possible unloads.
They were considering signing Ivan Rodriguez. Do you think one of the Twins rookie prospects might be enough to open the possibility of a trade? Obviously, the Twins would have to toss in a bit more than just a catching prospect, but is it possible they might be interested?
Last …
The Dodgers offering Blake a 3 year deal makes no sense at all. The two teams in the lead to sign the guy won’t budge from 2 years plus an option. One drops out and the last remaining team suddenly decides to up their offer to 3 years?! I don’t think so!!
Trace the rumor back to it’s source. I would bet it’s Blake’s manager shooting off his mouth to try to get the Twins back on board and up their offer.
For all of you who say the Twins won’t make a big move because the “NEVER” do….
I kinda think that Delmon Young deal last year with Garza and Bartlett was a pretty damn big move.
Those kinda moves don’t happen all the time. Give me a break its only the first day. lol
What about a straight up Slowey/Harris (or Buscher) plus cash for Tejada? If you send Harris it allows you guys to re-sign Punto to back up Tejada and spell the 3b when he is slumping.
Yahoo says Tejada is an option, but I’ll take your word for it.
Johnathan Sanchez is a good young pitcher. I’d take him for Delmon and stick him in the bullpen until a starter gets injured or loses his spot. Call me Terry Ryan, but I don’t think you pass up a 26 year-old lefty who strikes out 157 in 158 IP.
J Stark says the Dodgers have not offered 3 years
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=3755972&type=blogEntry
sign Burrell
platoon buscher/harris/tolbert between 3B/SS
Trade Kubel for a +middle reliever
i’m not sure what it would take to sign Burrell, but just tag it onto the following savings:
$6.5 mill for Blake
$3.5 mill for Punto
that’s $10 million plus you could spend on the real deal power RH bat you need to protect Mourneau.
keep DY and he will develop power and that’s just gravy power you didnt count on at the beginning of the year.
According to ESPNews, it’s official.
Blake signs with Dodgers.
3years/17Million dollar deal.
The Twins will regret this, unless they Actually sign a Real 3rd basemen.
typical twins move…eff around and lose out again….damn they will regret this move….stupid as hell to lose this one, as now we have to trade our way into something that will work….we lost out on a very good thing over one stinkin year that wouldnt even matter…..damn, damn, damn….wittman was fired, chili needs to be fired and bill smith is just a pantywaste that probably needs to go also….well arent we off to a good start at the old winter meetings…..i was so afraid of this…..well, now lets see what this braint trust comes up with….
TK(2)
Dodgers just signed Mark Loretta.
He plays 2nd, B DeWitt goes back to third.
I bet Blake is still in play.
http://hotstove.mlblogs.com/archives/2008/12/loretta_dodgers_agree_to_deal.html
wait a minute, i just went to mlb trade and saw the same thing…blake hasnt signed with anyone yet…hopefully…maybe we still have a chance ……wake bill smith up and put a damn pen in his hand……– well excuse my rant…..hopefully i never have to use it again…..loretta is not blake….
espn.com didnt have anything either….false alarm for sure…..
mj1
This tells me a 2 year deal snags Blake.
I am more concerned about the Indians exceding 12 million and jumping back in than the Dodgers going 3 years.
what do you guys think about Michael Young
Rangers Quietly Shopping Michael Young
By Tim Dierkes [December 9 at 12:00am CST]
Yahoo’s Tim Brown talked to an AL exec whose team is in the market for a shortstop, and learned that the Rangers are quietly shopping Michael Young. Young’s five-year, $80MM extension will begin next year. He’s got no-trade protection to deal with. The Rangers would want young pitching back for Young. It will be hard to find a team willing to take on that contract.
mlbtraderumors.com
I feeling good about myself, I guessed the J Donald interest before his name was out there.
I also feel strongly this is between the Twins and Indians.
What do you think LEN3?
Can we just make a trade already. I want to start making predictions instead of coming up with make believe deals.
dano
I do not think he fits the Twins FO model.
My opinion, offensively at SS only three players interest the Twins, they are Hardy, Escobar and Donald, the Peavy and Sabathia deal has to break before the available pieces are known. All other solutions are defensive stop gaps.
If Blake signs elsewhere, then Colorado is the next conversation, for Street and Atkins. If Blake goes with the Twins, they will trade for RH-RP.
Also at some point they will take a flyer with a FA reliever.
if Blake signs with Twins, then my prediction is that he will be a burden on the payroll as Valencia or the kid from Australia has about same production next year (2010). and we will be wondering how to get rid of this old player who nobody wants with his big contract. Twins should stay pat, platoon for 3B/SS until internal solution comes up (unless a younger player comes in a trade ala Hardy or Donald) and give the big money to big bat like Burrell. instead kinda big money to kinda/kinda was but cant be sure if gonna for future/maybe durable but history tells probably not gonna at his age be durable player
danimals
I am not saying what they should do.I am guessing at what I think they will do.
One thing I will say about Blake, he play both corners IF and OF, and backs up Morneau for 6 million.
I have not heard of the Twins snooping around young 3rd base, which leads me to believe the Twins like Valencia or Hughes or both.
They are snooping around young SS. This leads me to believe the farm at SS is not good.
Michael Young for five years, $80MM is an atrocious contract.
He can still field, but he won’t manage double-digit HRs in Minnesota even, and he’s declining rapidly.
Funny that people here will probably clamor for how we need a bat like Michael Young, while chastising Delmon… despite the fact that they both posted an identical OPS of .741 last year, and Delmon did it in a much tougher park and a worse lineup.
Eighty million dollars for Michael Young is horrendous. He’ll stay in Texas. Who would want that contract?
Steve from Fridley
If Delmon is working hard and determined to be in top shape, I would hang on to him.
I think if Cuddyer had a full healthy year, he would be the bait.
I rather like the idea of trading Young for Jason Donald + a minor league pitcher. Signing Punto as a stop-gap for half a year with Donald in AAA seems like a perfect fit. The Twins are going to peak at 2010, Donald would fit right in then.
As for Cuddyer, if he’s healthy he’s still a very solid bat. I’m not worried about him. I don’t think other teams are either, so his trade value is higher than people seem to think. A Cuddyer/Atkins type trade makes sense, although I’m not so sure I wouldn’t just rather have Cuddyer.
Narf
Young for a guy whose not hit at AAA (or even played his position there, that’s an issue) and a minor league pitcher (we have boatloads of them) - yah that makes sense >_<
another thing I have an issue with is this: yes that is a big IF with Cuddy - IF he’s healthy. and even so, he’s what, 15-20 HR’s maybe 70 RBI’s, plays piss poor 3B and otherwise has a gun for an arm in right but thats it. He’s not hard to get out - any good slider outside and he’s toast. Not to mention he makes 8 million. Atkins on the other hand (last time anyone will hear me defend him) plays at a position of need, makes at least 3 mill less next year and has more power potential. That said, he hit .233 away from Coors last year, so pick your poison.
I like Danimals reasoning - we save at least 6 with not signing blake and about 2-3 (3.5 is pushing it) by not signing punto. Burrel makes a lot of sense, but a) you’d need to guarantee his signing here (which at 12-14 mill might be tough for BS and Pohl to swallow) and be able to trade a piece like Cuddy/Kubel for some value. I’d hate to see Kubel go, he seems to be well on his way, and no idea what we could get for Cuddy (I’d take a mid range prospect for him). He’d make a lot of sense, and would be the DH we’d always want. He’d slide right into the 4 spot, move Morneau up to the 3 (where he belongs) and Mauer can bat 2 (where he belongs).
I can’t find anything online either…
Still, I said that it was ESPNews said it was official.
I just checked and it’s still up, though it no longer has the dollar amount. It just says Dodgers expected to sign Blake to a 3 year deal. That’s NOT a direct quote either, just roughly what I remembered. I hope it isn’t true, but the Twins don’t look like they’d sign him anyway.
well all we know is that it is 3 years. I am wondering if 17 mill was the number, but he’s pondering it because it is less than 6/year which is less than what the Twins offered (2 years, 12 mill) and I am guessing the option year was for at least 7 mill. I think we need to set our sights higher, as much as I like him. If only a guy like Burrel could play 3B - he’s the perfect guy to inject in our offense, but we have too many guys that play his position(s) on this team already. He’s definitely more expensive, but could be had for less and would make a huge impact on this team
dare I say it - but I like Burrel a lot. Not only does he hit the tar off the ball (yes at a .250 average, but 33 Hr’s is 33 Hr’s) but he plays a mean LF - only 2 errors all last year and has a ZR of .873 (pretty sick). If we could sign him, I’d trade Cuddy for whatever we could get
Lineup would look something like:
Span LF
Mauer C
Morneau 1B
Burrell LF
Kubel DH
Young RF
Harris/Buscher 3B
Casilla SS
Tolbert 2B
Changes the whole dynamic of this lineup and you get stronger(Tolbert and Casilla could swap) at nearly every position (holding serve at 3B isn’t bad for injecting a huge power bat in the lineup). Dumping Cuddy’s payroll on a team that could use his bat and not signing Blake (also not signing punto) would more than account for Burrell’s salary.
^scratch that - Span in CF
medschoolmatt
Pat rhe Bat is considered to be a statue in LF. I am unaware of the defensive metrics, but he is considered a defensive liability.
2 error all year and .874 ZR; yes his RF is low, but Span can help cover the gap.
Burrell is widely regarded as either the worst or second worst OFer in the game, defensively (by those doing advanced defensive measurement). He’d be good at DH, but not so much in the field.
Just remember, if you don’t do anything to make the team better next year (because in 2010 Valencia will somehow be the savior) then Nathan will be in his mid-30s, Mauer will have another year of wear and tear…and the starting pitchers will all be 1 year closer to arbitration. The longer you wait, the more likely that something bad will happen to the good players you have right now. It’s just a matter of statistical probability (of course, some of the minor league pitchers might be better anyway….it’s mostly Nathan and M&M I’m worried about).
Jack Wilson stinks. .269 avg with no power why even bother keep Punto. Getting him wouldn’t even be an improvement. He looks strange also.
The Twins are looking at free agents and are willing to take on salary in trades in order to find offense for the left side of the infield and late-inning relief.
Yes if the player wants to make 1970’s wages.
Pat the Bat never had to move anywhere in LF. He always had a decent Cf with range to cover for him. I would even go as far as to say that Burrell would be debatable as the worst Lf in the game, along with Manny. Even Young made him look bad. I mean, CMON. Burrell is only good as a every 4 or 5 day Of fill in, or an everyday dh. And the fact is Kuebel is younger, HEALTIER, and coming off a 20hr, .270 plus season. Yes, 33 homeruns is nice, but when runners are in scoring position, the 20 pts bavg drop hurts. One of the reasons the Twins stayed in contention was the wide gap by which they led the ML in batting with RISP. Thats bound to fall a bit, and Burrell would kill it.
Hm everyone is right about him, I misjudged him. He’s still good but yah I’d rather spend the money on someone else (and his RISP is atrocious)
If the Dodgers cave and give Blake that third year…fine. But they’re not going to like it in that last year (especially in the NL where you can’t stick a guy at DH once he gets old).
I really don’t want Punto back. Not as much for what it may mean to the Twins, but more for what it’ll do here. This board is almost over him.
Twins could bring in Beltre, Peavy, and and Street…and the focus would still be Punto if he signed.
I normally don’t approve of the front office doing things to appease the fans…but in this situation, just let him go. Pencil in Tolbert as the utility guy and go with a MIF of Casilla/Harris (or whatever you find to bring in).
I promise I won’t ever say “Punto would’ve made that play.”
My roomate got so pissed off when he heard about the W.Sox supposed trade of Dye for Bailey. He punched the wall, put a hole in it and broke his hand. So now HE covers the damage deposit, has a cast on his hand, and then to add insult to injury, finds out it was ALL rumor.
My take?
“Thats what you get for being a SUX fan.”
Why don’t we not get Jack Wilson and say we did. Punto is a better hitter and if jack Wilson couldn’t make certain defensive plays someday’s I know I will say I know Punto would’ve made that play
I agree with Drewski…..Burrell? I would be interested in dumping DY because he’s just plain bad in LF. Burrell doesn’t offer anything above DY’s fielding performance.
Hitting? Burrell has more pop but DY has a bigger upside, is younger and costs much less.
Casey Blake signs with the Dodgers for 3 years. Way to go Pohlad. Take that last dollar to your grave, clown…
Blake signs with the Dodgers for 3 years. Way to go Pohlad. Take that last dollar to your grave, clown…
It Figures says:
December 9th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Casey Blake signs with the Dodgers for 3 years. Way to go Pohlad. Take that last dollar to your grave, clown…
Get me the link please. I haven’t heard if Blake signed anywhere
Blake?? If we had signed him for three years, we would all be wondering how to dump his 6mil salary in 2011, criticizing Twins FO for being so stupid, but forgetting we were the ones advocating the signing in December 2008.
the big move will be to re-sign punto &
trade young for a bag of balls and gardy will be soooooooooo happy!!
DickyBuzz says:
“I think if Cuddyer had a full healthy year, he would be the bait.”
If Cuddyer had a healthy year last year Span would have never come up and put us in this 4 OF ‘pickle’
Gobble - he’d also like to see Harris gone for another bag of balls (can never have too many of those)
GCO - and we wouldn’t have a legit leadoff hitter either
GGG and don’t forget about Buscher???
The old addage. Opinions are like… well you get it. The point is this FO has done more with less, by far more then any other team. Yes, Carl is a misering, penny pinching, slobering all over him self while he dirties his depends old fool. Fact is there is a new stadium next year, and Carl is 93. Hes done folks. Thats all she wrote.
Oh and for those that knock on BS so much. Remember, he put together a team that didnt look like anything in spring training or half the year. But they FINISHED 1 GAME SHORT. To take the unknown and make a contender, is that not what our former godlike gm Terry Ryan did on a normal basis? Remeber he learned from Ryan.
PS. Anyone says Ryan was not godlike for what he did. Im coming to ur place to whack you over the head with a whiffle ball bat. Pat the Bat that, foolio.
I think in 2011 Blake would still be an asset as a utility player (LF, RF, 3B, 1B) and with Punto probably going to sign for around $4million this offseason (granted he might be a starter for whatever team he signs with, he’s still a utility player in my books), a $6 million utility player in 2011 if player contracts continue to inflate would be right around average.
Or, they could sign him for three years, and just eat the third year salary. Then bring up Valencia, and the net increase in cost is whatever the major league minimum is…No way they do it, but it is an idea.
Blake is 1/2 the price of Tejada and just as productive
Harris is 1/10 the price of Blake and just as productive
BS inherited the infrastructure of a great farm system - Rantz is the God of this organization that had great pitching and defense (let’s not forget the minor league coaches and Anderson - best pitching coach in the league in my opinion). you have great pitching and defense, you win games, its that easy.
I do agree he has made some good moves - got rid of a cancer (albeit talented) in Garza for a rising star in Young. Dumped the whiny and overrated Bartlett for some other pieces (I like Harris, Gardy doesn’t). Traded Santana for electric but very raw CF and pitcher (Guerra will be a star if he can get some control) as well as serviceable pitchers in Mulvey and Humber. Lamb was a disappointment, Everett was deserved (he had history of injuries and never hit well), Monroe was somewhat disappointing, the Cuddy contract was a mistake (coming off a down year from his career year you give him a stud contract?), and the old man pitcher did his thing and helped the youngsters.
I’d give BS a B- on that.
Casey Blake signs with the Dodgers for 3 years. Way to go Pohlad. Take that last dollar to your grave, clown…
It’s not about money. It’s about Blake being worn out by the start of that 3rd year…and likely being unable to be moved anywhere.
If Cuddyer had a healthy year last year Span would have never come up and put us in this 4 OF ‘pickle’
Even more interesting, if Span never got called up, he’d never have proven himself, and likely wouldn’t have been worth anything on the trade market.
In a bizarre twist of fate, Cuddy getting hurt actually opened the Twins up to having three VERY desirable OF trade options.
Cuddy stays healthy, the Twins don’t have any.
Blake is 1/2 the price of Tejada and just as productive
Harris is 1/10 the price of Blake and just as productive
So Harris is….1/20 the price of Tejada?
I always sucked at fractions.
Actually, Harris is even less than 1/10 (he only makes ~450,000 to what Blake would make at ~6 mill) of Blake
Well id like to say i agree with Drewski 100% which i NEVER do. Ryan was god, but now we don’t have one. Go get Beltre already and move Casilla to SS, Tolbert to 2b, sign a reliever and call it a night.
MudCat the twins are not going to pay a salary like Beltre’s. The Twins will get someone whom you and I have never heard of or they will be old and washed up
Of LaVelle and Joe C who looks like the better gambler? My guess is LaVelle.
trade a couple of pitching prospects for m young and let the rangers owner pay 1/2 his salary like he did with a-hole and … never mind.
.283 .322 .389 .712
Can you guess whos numbers those are. pretty damn good numbers eh?
18R
32H
6(2b)
3(3b)
0(hr)
6rbi
7Bb
7stl
All in 113 at bats over 41 games. Pretty damn good.
They translate to this line.
give him 550ab.
88R
156H
29(2b)
15(3b)
29Rbi
34stl
34Bb
Not bad considering those stats are compiled from a part time player who was brought in for baserunning and as a utility guy.
Guess who this is?
The guy who should be our 2nd baseman.
Matt Tolbert.
Brought to you by Pepsi.
Why doesn’t Kouzmanoff get more attention?
Im Matt Tolbert and I Approve This Message.
Who cares about Kouz. IM BACK. Move Cas. Get whatever 3b you want. Hell even put LNP there. ILL CARRY THEM.
Brought to you by Pepsi.
I think TR was a great guy when it came to assessing young talent. But when he stepped down in 2007, I got the feeling it had to do with him recognizing his struggles when it came to assessing veteran talent.
He screwed up the team’s chances to keep both Hunter and Santana before they became too expensive, and he knew he was damanging the Twins reputation in the Free Agent market.
… *starts greasing whiffle ball bat*
*We gots alot of stops to make today. Methinks.”
Ragweed, I think the Padres are pretty much frozen at the moment while they try to figure out what’s going to happen with Peavy.
There are a handful of guys that are currently holding up the preceedings (Sabbathia, Manny, Texeira, etc.)
Once one of those guys finds a new home, it’ll set the “price” for the guys around the league. Also, once the big money FAs start finding homes, you’ll see the trades start up, as teams that missed out on FAs will turn to other means of upgrading.
Tolbert might be decent in the long run but it taking his short stint in the bigs and converting it into 550ab season is stretching it. Even Denny Hocking had a few good months but it didn’t translate into a good year or even a good career.
Oh i know ragweed. I tend to choose one player a year to latch on to.
Last year was GoGo.
This year Tolbert.
But ive made some bad choices too.
In 69′ I chose Lee Harvey Oswald.
Further back I chose John Wilkes Booth.
Then i stopped choosing guys with only moustaches.
Took me along ways.
(Just trying to have some fun so we all don’t go insane waiting for something to happen lol.)
LaVelle -
Can you explain to all of us why the Twins are not willing to take a flier on Joe Crede? He could probably be had for a 1-year contract and (one could assume) would LOVE to put it to the ChiSox for letting him hang out to dry.
It’s a play to win move - you have plenty of depth on the team to deal with a potential injury. They might be able to structure the contract with incentives based on health and production.
Why won’t they do this? This guy has 30+ HR/.800 OPS potential. I don’t get it…
I may have missed it in all the comments but what’s the reason we’re not interested in Tejada?
Well, Dave. Crede is under control of Scott Boras meaning he will likely ask for a well overpriced 1 year deal, or a multi-year contract. This doesn’t work being that Crede also has a history of major hot and cold streaks, more cold then hot, AND major injuries. The Twins must have learned their lesson, because they haven’t talked to an injury prone bat yet, and the only player they even had talks with averaged 550+ ab for 6 seasons.
Here’s a sleeper…..Travis Metcalf, 3B, Texas. Drafted by the Twins in 2003 but didn’t sign. 6′3″ 215. Has decent power but a so-so glove. Probably be able to pick him up cheap.
After all if we are willing to pay 10 million for Crede. Whats another 2 million for Beltre?
Where is LNP going to end up this year guy’s? My guess is with the Dodger’s. Then he and Torii can drive around together carousing So-Cal
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe has heard that the Royals and Braves are in serious discussions about a trade that would swap Jeff Francoeur for Zack Greinke.
what a bad trade, if made, the royals are going backwards this winter.
“Brad says:
December 9th, 2008 at 10:26 am
I may have missed it in all the comments but what’s the reason we’re not interested in Tejada?”
Cause we are run by a cheap miser of an owner. Where have you been
WHO GAVE YOU THAT LINK?! We need a proven 3b so Cas can move to short and i can be the best 2b OF ALL TIME!
Jimmy Bee,
Honestly I think LNP will be returning to Philly to play with the World Champs, just in case J. Roll goes down with Utley.
Drewski with the Dodger’s losing Furcal this offseason don’t you think that Punto could be a temporary fix or be used as a backup.
jimmy….Torii isn’t going to go cruising So-Cal with a little white guy.
Travis Metcalf. He scares me. Younger. But look at his career totals. Looks like a typical Mike Lamb season. Then he came to the Twinkies. Coincidence? I think NOT.
LNP will be back with the Twins, probably starting at short.
Honestly, I don’t. It just doesn’t seem to LNP’s type of place. He has the persona of a small and/or familiar market.
There is one other suitor i could see making a major (LNP? Major?) run at him. Tampa Bay. He’s cheap, and he can push Bartlett now.
I agree that the Twins will regret not signing Casey Blake. Though Bill Smith erred here, the proper course of action would now be to sign Joe Crede. If he passes on Crede, which it looks like he will, the only two options remaining are 1. Go with youth already in the system, or 2. Trade major league talent for a third baseman. Neither of these options seem like good ideas given the current situation.
I keep reading that Robinson Cano could be had. The Yankees need pitching, even if they sign CC. This seems like a perfect match. Move Casilla to SS and you’ve got a great middle infield.
Cano I have heard of. The IMO for the Twins to get a player is you must have never been heard of and/or you must be cheap and/or you must be old and washed up.
Cano would not be coming here except for a Baker, Liriano or Slowey plus prospects.
Even on a down year he has tremendous trade value.
And as far as i knew. The “Big” 3 of Slowey, baker and Liriano are untouchable.
But Drewski…….if you convert Travis Metcalf’s numbers out over 550ABs, he would hit 59hrs and drive in 139 RBIs !!
ROFL.
Touche.
Ill let Matt Tolbert have the whiffle ball bat for this one.
I Shall Huff And Wiffle, And Strike (Out) Your House Down!
Dave:
Crede has had back problems that have limited his play time in Chicago the last few years. Put him on turf (even for a year) and it’s a recipe for disaster.
Brad:
Tejada was one of “those guys” named in the Mitchell report, and after the ‘Stros gave up a boatload of young talent to get him he was an absolute flop, which leaves many suspecting there may have been some truth behind the ‘roids allegations.
Shane:
Do you think the Yankees have changed their stance on what Cano is worth? Last year the wouldn’t budge on him for Santana (provided he was also coming with a hefty pricetag)…I don’t know if the Twins can afford to give up the players that the Yanks would want.
I’d love to see it happen, but I’d have to hear the asking price first.
T says:
December 9th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Shane:
Do you think the Yankees have changed their stance on what Cano is worth? Last year the wouldn’t budge on him for Santana (provided he was also coming with a hefty pricetag)…I don’t know if the Twins can afford to give up the players that the Yanks would want.
I’d love to see it happen, but I’d have to hear the asking price first.
SEE 10:50 POST ABOVE
It must be very relaxing for the Star Tribune reporters in Vegas this week. The Twins will not pick up anyone so here i can make up headlines of Topics for the Blogs
I ate a Danish
I finally found that In N Out Burger off the Strip
Man am I hung over
I shouldn’t of had that 3 ft margarita
Time to sit pool side
What about a Young for Young trade? Delmon for Michael. I really would like to see Delmon stay, but both Texas and the Twins are not “shopping either player but are listening to offers”
I was just saying it could be something to discuss. I don’t believe the Yanks wouldn’t have given him up for Santana, that’s just rumor. He was coming off a very good year the year before. Their asking price just cannot be as high. I hear what you are saying, but if we want something big, we better be willing to give up something big and that has just never been the Twins theory.
Mike Lamb going to the Brewers
Rays Talking To Twins About Delmon Young?
By Tim Dierkes [December 9 at 10:53am CST]
ESPN’s Jayson Stark is now speaking of “indications Monday night that Tampa Bay was still talking to the Twins about a deal that would bring outfielder Delmon Young back to the Rays.” Stark speculates that it could be a three-team deal where the Rays ship out Andy Sonnanstine or Edwin Jackson, maybe to Colorado as a means of getting Garrett Atkins to Minnesota. Stark had a source yesterday saying the Rays would “never” take Young back, but that has apparently changed.
Chad … I saw that rumor too … The only way I would consider the deal is if the Rays gave us Balfour or Wheeler too.
The best way for the Twin to improve would be to trade Punto, Bonser, and Cuddyer.
Middle relief is iffy. In one year and out the next. I’d never have middle relief as part of a major trade. Delmon will be around for years. How long can Balfour and Wheeler produce? Twins have had luck picking up guys like Reyes and Breslow and Guerrier.
If I hear Atkins Diet once more I’ll puke. He cannot be the answer - .233 away from Coors (hitters park)? Above average glove (barely)? Give away a rising OF prospect that is dirt cheap right now and produces (that is also working extra hard in the offseason, which is more than we can say for Magic Trick Cuddy)? No thanks.
Walter - luck is part of it, but I think that Anderson deserves quite a bit of credit. Reyes was pretty bad before he came here, and Anderson worked with him to pitch within himself as a lefty-killer and refine his pitches (mainly his fastball and slider). He continued to improve and now is a sure bet for a multi-year 3-4 million dollar contract. Breslow showed stuff before he was dropped (heck if I’ll ever know why) and Anderson again worked with him, making him into a stud. Same with Guerrier - nothing flashy, just slow and steady. He just burned himself out physically at first and now its a mental thing that can be worked out this offseason
