Morning news and notes from Las Vegas
Posted on December 9th, 2008 – 10:55 AMBy La Velle
What’s up! Just getting organized before the rumor mill begins here at the Bellagio.
Here are some things I’ve heard since the last time I posted:
The Twins have had internal discussions about San Diego’s Kevin Kouzmanoff, Houston’s Ty Wigginton and Florida’s Jorge Cantu. What I couldn’t clarify is if the Twins have talked to these teams here or have scheduled talks yet. All it takes is a phone call to get something going.
Cantu is only 26 but isn’t strong defensively. Was told some Twins think Kouzmanoff is fine defensively while others are skeptical. And the Twins were very interested in Wigginton in 2007.
There is one report that Nick Punto met with the Phillies yesterday. If that’s true, Punto could indirectly help the Twins because he could be insurance for Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz, who are coming back from surgeries. That might help the Twins’ efforts to pry Jason Donald away. Just my theory.
Was told that Phillies manager Charlie Manuel is very fond of Punto.
Jack Wilson remains somewhere on the Twins radar, although the Pirates are in no rush to move him and likely would want a couple decent young players in return. And the Twins aren’t the only team grimacing at Wilson’s salary.
Ron Gardenhire will meet the press at 6 pm CST.
There are a lot of people here who think Twins’ first-round pick Aaron Hicks is an uber prospect. Some still think highly of him as a pitcher - he did hit 97 on the gun as a senior in high school. The Twins drafted him as an outfielder.
Boof Bonser has hired a trainer again this offseason and is working out - again. The Twins’ medical staff is being kept up to date on his progress. Several teams have asked about Bonser, who could get another shot to start if traded.
Torii Hunter will hold a press conference here at 1:15 pm - with Andre Agassi. The two are hooking up on a youth charity initiative. Can’t wait to see those two bald heads next to each other.
That’s all for now!
110 Responses to "Morning news and notes from Las Vegas"
Ty Wigginton?
Ugh.
I’d just as soon have Buscher start at 3B.
I can see the hesitation in giving Blake a third year guaranteed. But I can’t see giving up talent just for the sake of making a trade. Hopefully the Twins stand firm. Some of the names being mentioned are underwhelming to say the least.
WHAT ABOUT ME!?
I really think Beltre is the guy who would fit best….is there anyway a package of some kind involving Blackburn, Perkins, Boof, Delmon, Buscher, or prospects could bring him here? Gold glove defense and 25+ HR hitting behind Morneau. Think of this..
Span
Casilla
Mauer
Morneau
Beltre
Kubel
Cuddy
Punto/Tolbert/Harris
Gomez
all while keeping Baker, Liriano, and Slowey as 1,2,3
If the deal is right, I would prefer Kouz. Put up decent numbers in pitcher friendly Petco, and his defense improved IMMENSELY last year. Not sure of his zone rating, but his FP went from ~.930 in 2007 to ~.975 in 2008.
Nick Punto obviously has compromising photos of Gardy AND Charlie Manuel.
No on Cantu. Yes on Kouzmanoff. No on Wilson. No on Wiggington. Yes on Punto… going to the Phils. Thanks for the updates, LENIII.
You mean Gardy and Charlie together?
What about Adrian Beltre? Is there any interest from the Twins. Keep up the good work.
Rumor from Jayson Stark of ESPN says the Twins and Rays are talking about Delmon Young again. La Velle, can you confirm whether you have heard this and if it is true? It appears it would be part of a three way trade whereby we would get Garrett Atkins.
Blackburn for Kouzmanoff. Straight up.
I’m with you Justin. Beltre would still be the best fit for this team, IMO. He hit 25 HR last year with a bum wrist while playing in cavernous Safeco. He’s the best defensive 3B in the league. And he’s a great character guy. That’s the deal you try really hard to make happen.
I like Kouzmanoff too. Petco is even bigger than Safeco and his home/road splits are very good, unlike Atkins’. He’s young and cheap. Not the best glove, but besides Beltre, there aren’t many slick fielding, power hitting 3B out there.
Plus, it’s a contract year for Beltre and during his last contract year he hit 48 jacks.
So Charlie Manuel is “very fond of Punto” - he will live to regret those words if the Phillies get Punto via free agency. Guess I’m hoping that the Twins don’t make a deal just for the sake of making a deal; I think we got burned last year with the Rays doing that. Maybe there’s something to the rumor about a 3 way to get Atkins - might not be so bad. Be bold FO but don’t screw up!
Beltre, due what this season? $12-13M, and then yeah, we would have to offer him around $15M for the next 4-5 years after that… when was the last time we did that and especially for a 29-30 yrd old player… too rich for the Twins I’m afraid.
You can’t give up to much for Beltre since he most likely is gone the following year.
[…] Twins Insider – […]
MarkW,
Everybody knows that Beltre would be a 1 year “solution” at 3B for the Twins. He would be a Type A FA which would garner 2 extra 1st Round picks in the 2010 draft.
If you are looking for 1 year solutions, Harris and Buscher can hold it down for that time at 4% of the cost… doesn’t make sense unless Seattle eats 80% of his contract and we give up nothing for him…
enough with the name throwing when we all know we aren’t signing/trading for these guys.
Beltre: Not an option since the Twins don’t seem to like renting players.
Delmon: Would trade back to the Rays for Longoria (haha, yeah right).
Punto: Go to the Phillies and help the Twins get Donald. He kinda intrigues me but I don’t know if he can help in 2009.
I’d be okay getting Jason Donald from the Phils, plus maybe a AA pitching prospect or something… then going into 2009 and beyond you have plenty of options for 3B
Buscher
Harris
Donald
Valencia
Hughes
Hoping one pans out… I just wish we stop pissing around at short and just move Casilla back there, you are wasting Tolbert this way who could adequately fill the hole at 2B, it’s SECOND BASE for crying out loud.
So, our master plan is to get rid of 23 year old Delmon Young because we have another year older Cuddyer. A guy who was hurt most of last season and didn’t get very many at bats. We expect his bat to be, what, sharper and faster this season? And our other master plan is to acquire some other aged guys who are at least 2-3 years past their prime?
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss…
I’ve heard this tired old tune before.
But wait, the Twins are “saying” they have room to expand the payroll. Quick, go buy season tickets before they’re all gone!!!
MarkW-
Except I’m not looking for a mediocre one year solution. I’m looking for a one year solution that gives us the best chance at winning. You can either platoon those guys at a cheaper rate or you can significantly upgrade the position at a cost. It makes sense to upgrade if you want to improve the team. If you’re happy with the status quo then yeah, I guess it doesn’t make sense.
I dont like starting Cuddyer in the OF anymore than you do, but it seems clear the Twins are not happy with Young and he’s gonna go before Cuddy will… stupid as it may be. Why Cuddyer is handed the starting job coming off injury is beyond me… oh wait, maybe the 3 yr contract we gave him has something to do with that??
Patrick, but then you turn into the Yankees… always looking for a “quick fix” to a long term problem.. signing an expensive FA player to 1 year just because he might be an upgrade hasn’t worked well in the past and I doubt it changes anything for this next season… you dont always get what you pay for.
Saw on SI that there might be a four team trade involving Peavy that would send him to the Cubs and Mark DeRosa to the Phillies, which would eliminate their need for an insurance player for Utley.
Anyone know the status of Dallas McPherson? I wouldn’t mind taking a flier on him to see what he can do - I know he’s 28, but he did hit 42 HRs in AAA last year in 127 games.
DeRosa, then they might not want Punto anymore… CRAP!
Was told that Phillies manager Charlie Manuel is very fond of Punto.
Well then obviously Manuel is an idiot, and the Phillies will never win the World Series under his…oh…wait.
As far as trading Young…I still haven’t seen anything on the Twins side that says he’s available. Just a TON of teams apparently who wouldn’t mind trying to pry him away.
That’s gotta tell you something that a player many here could do without is so highly regarded (including apparently by his old team?)
Though with the Rays, I’m more interestd in the possibility they’d trade Jason “I’m MVP despite being playing 45 feet away from EVAN LONGORIA” Bartlett.
It is written in history, whenever the Twins try to obtain a player in a trade or free agency, and thereare other teams also interested in the player, the Twins will lose out. The fact that the media and sports writers keep playing up the rumors has become tiresome and only servies to bate the fans. Carl Pohlad and the Twins organizatin could not compete with Grandma Moses for anything that involves a quality player or money.
2 players I don’t want to see the Twins lose are DY and Punto
Players we could stand to lose
Cuddy, Tolbert, Buscher
We need to get Beltre!!!! Top 3 3b in the league. Offer him a 4 to 5 year deal at 14 mil per. Give up Perk, Boof and Humber and one of our 3B minor leaguers and get Beltre and one of the set up men and we are set for next season. Anyone agree?? I agree we should move Casilla to SS and have Tolbert to 2B. We have a infield that will be around for years to come.
We could lose Boof and harris also
I think the rule should be if we hear a rumor about a player/trade it won’t happen.
Pridie could go also
I still think we should wait until the Brewers get desperate for starting pitching and trade for Hardy. Peter Gammons said last night that the Brewers will most likely NEED to trade one of their young position players (Fielder was the one spotlighted, but Hardy would fit the players suggested), in order to get starting pitching to fill the holes left by Sheets and Sabathia.
Why are folks so down on Cuddy and Young? Cuddy’s got a good (solid not great) bat and one heck of an arm. How many guys has he thrown out at second and thrid? Many times he’s turned doubles into singles with his arm. He may not be fleet of foot but man his arm makes up for it. As for Delmon he’s just a baby development wise. Most guys his age are lucky to hit 300 against AA pitching (Remember Span?) and he’s doing it in the majors. Play Cuddy in right and DH Young. Sorry Kubel.
By the way, why is Kubel still on this team? Way too streaky for me. A great game with power and multiple hits followed by multiple games with puzzling at bats.
Macri all gone save $$$
Keep DY at all costs. Lose Cuddy if anything
So here iis trade bait
Cuddy
Boof
macri
Pridie
Harris
Tolbert
Buscher
All of these I would say could be packaged up and traded for MR help or add one pitcher to anyone of these players and try for a 3rd baseman
DY and Cuddy are pretty much the same player both offensively and defensively. Ditch Cuddy if you can.
Dumping Cuddyer would be great, especially ridding of his horrid contract… but it’s not happening…
and sorry tlk, but Kubel is better than Cuddyer and only costs $1.5M to be more productive at the plate… if we would just let him hit everyday, he probably would be just fine over the season…
Blake to the Dodgers (3 years $17.1 mil) is done
Blake signed - 3 yrs 17.1 mil, Twins offered 2 yrs 14 mil.
Can anyone explain why the Twins would not offer a third year for Blake for $3.2 million (good price for a good utility player) - Punto (a utility player) will probably sign for around $4 million this year.
jimmy bee-
If we can stand to lose Tolbert, we can stand to lose Punto and vice versa. They’re interchangeable players.
MarkW-
I don’t think we have to worry about turning into the Yankees. Ever. Yes, taking a chance on a one year player in an effort to improve is out of character for this team. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea. Not if Smith is smart about it and refuses to part with certain players. Not sure who you’re talking about when you say “signing an expensive FA player to 1 year just because he might be an upgrade hasn’t worked well in the past”. When have we ever signed an expensive FA for one year? Or traded for a rental player for that matter? The fact is, taking a chance might be so out of character it’s exactly what this team needs to shed the label of also-rans.
Blake = not worth it when he is 38 yrs old and wanting almost $6M…
wise decision not to give him a 3rd year.
“Can anyone explain why the Twins would not offer a third year for Blake for $3.2 million”
If the Twins would have made that offer, the Dodgers would have topped it.
They wanted Blake badly.
Whew, thank you to the Dodgers!
Am I the only one that doesn’t want to give up Delmon Young? I just feel as though it leaves us a little light in the outfield. What if one of the “kids” (Span or Gomez) struggles? What if Cuddyer gets hurt or isn’t effective? What then? Jason Pridie? If it means plugging a hole at 3rd with a real answer, not Beltre or Wiggington.
It sounded like Blake wanted to come here, but the Twins did not want to give him that third year for $3.1 mil more
Patrick, you dont factor in money very much when talking about players and their abilities + age…
Tolbert is WORTH more to the Twins because he wont cost them $3M for below avg talent, so to say they are interchangeable (Punto and Tolbert) is quite absurd.
Mike Lamb was an expensive free agent signing last year and we still owe him $3M for this season and he’s not even on the team! Players dont have to cost over $10M just be deemed “expensive”, it’s a relative term.
Tolbert and Macri aren’t interchangeable.
Tolbert is a much better SS/2B.
Macri’s best position is 3B and is very marginal at SS/2B.
Who is this Jimmy Bee? Trade him, too.
Atkins, Kouzmanoff, Wiggington, Cantu, Blake, Bartlett, blah, blah, blah.
None of these guys are difference-makers, Beltre is. Get him for one season and try to win in ‘09. If Seattle waits too long, they won’t get bupkis for Beltre because with Boras as his agent, Beltre WILL be a free agent next winter.
I would like to see some effort on the Twins to get Beltre without giving up one of their current starting pitchers.
“If Seattle waits too long, they won’t get bupkis for Beltre because with Boras as his agent, Beltre WILL be a free agent next winter.”
They would get 2 high draft picks for him
Tx Ryan,
You are almost going to have to give up one of your current starters to get Beltre.
>> They would get 2 high draft picks for him
Would you have been satisfied with 2 high draft picks for Johan Santana?
It’s a shame some people want to run Nick Punto out of this town on a rail. He’s a valuable player and some team will be lucky to get him. As LaVelle said the other day, he gets way too much heat around here.
Absolutely not Jesse - I say as well no way you give up on Young. Cripes, at 22 he goes .290/.336/.405/.741. You’d think he’d ate live puppies on TV every Sunday the way his name gets thrown around in these parts. Patience people.
“>> They would get 2 high draft picks for him
Would you have been satisfied with 2 high draft picks for Johan Santana?”
Possibly, seeing how well the Twins’ first two draft picks from last year are looking/projected
I would be willing to trade Lirano, Humber, Marting for Michael Young. Texas will at least listen on him.
Young is signed at 5/60. Rosenthal says he was already paid the 20m bonus.
Might be the time to trade Lirano, pitched well from injury last year, his ceiling might be right for a trade of the calibur of Young.
There is definate questions of Lirano’s health and durability.
The next Twins acquisition at the Winter Meetings will be Thursday morning in the Rule V Draft.
Until then, you may as well chill out.
What is Florida Looking for, for Cantu. I would take him over Beltre. He should cost us less in trade plus he has a cheap contract. He is only 26 vs 29. Batted .277 with 29 Hr’s to Beltre’s .266 with 25 Hrs. Not oo mention that Beltre is extremely inconsistant hitter. He’ll go 0-25 and then 18 for 25. Or he’ll hit 4 Hr’s in one week and then won’t hit for for two weeks
Michael Young would look really nice in that lineup and if, as writers are saying, the Rangers are at least willing to listen, why not make a pitch for him?
They want Young pitching, which the Twins have… and if it’s true the Twins have some payroll room, then they’re one of what would have to be very few teams that have room to absorb the salary AND a surplus in the area that the Rangers want in return.
Would be very uncharacteristic of the Twins to make that kind of splash, but one can always dream.
“They want Young pitching…” should be “They want young pitching…” ugh, too accustomed to hitting the shift key when I type that word.
Sane I’m more curious about the rule 5 draft do you know what pick the Twins have?
Punto is a gamer with a lot of heart. The Twins will regret it if he leaves.
Give up Perk, Boof and Humber and one of our 3B minor leaguers and get Beltre and one of the set up men and we are set for next season.
Except you’ve just tore a hole in the rotation, and traded away one of the guys who would have likely filled it.
Four guys for Beltre+ is too much. And ANY deal for Beltre in my eyes would have to be similiar to what the Mets got with Santana.
That is, an aggreement that if the Twins can’t work out some kind of extension without x-amount of time, they are allowed to exercise the ability to revoke the trade.
sane I agree with you regarding the next twins acquisition will be Thursday 100%
sane,
not really. The next Twins’ acquisition might be announced today:
The Twins will give Scott Erickson a minor league contract and invite him to Spring Training (yes that Scott Erickson)…
Cantu looks like the way to go for the Twins
JimCrikket,
I totally agree a trade of this magnitude is not the Twins, I dream alot this time of year. If I go by the Twins FO words….No Pitcher is untouchable in the right deal to dream a little
Young is 32 years old. His contract is 5 years/$80M and runs out until 2013 (he will be 37 then). Last year he hit .284/.339/.402. That is $16 million a year better spent elsewhere (like locking in the young starters to extensions and extending Mauer)
Why is everyone so fixated on third base? I agree that the status quo isn’t great and we need to do the best we can to win. But if you platoon Buscher and Harris at third, you have above-average production at a scintilla of the price of a Beltre. You can use that money then to upgrade the part of this team that needs the most help - the BULLPEN. Why oh why isn’t anyone wondering about the bullpen? If the bullpen were merely average last year, we’d have made the playoffs with a 5 game lead on the Sox. The best way to fix the status quo is to fix the ‘pen. If you can get Beltre on top of that, great. But it shouldn’t be the biggest focus. Focus on the bullpen first.
What does anyone think Mauer’s next contract will be worth and for how long?
5 years = 60 million is my guess
Scott Erickson doesn’t need an invite to Florida for ST.
He lives just across the street at the Shady Acres Senior Home.
Does anyone have any more info on the rule V draft like what pick the Twins have and who they might be looking at?
I’ve been a strong proponent of doing what it takes to get Rafael Furcal. He rejected arbitration so that means the Twins would not loose draft picks. I think they could get him for a 4 year contract. I think he would put us over the top. He would cost at least twice as much as Punto but returns as good of defense and plus offense for SS. Plus, he’s a strong top of the order guy.
That being said, if the Twins have an oportunity to really get Young, they should do it. Either one of these guys can give us a chance for the “Brass Ring”
What about this scenario, what if the Twins brought in cantu. Then Sent Delmon Young back to Tampa Bay, Tampa sent one of their pitchers to Milwaukee and we got Hardy. Obviously there would be other players involved in that equation but not unrealistic. That would give us an extra 50 Hr’s next year between Hardy and Cantu. Even if it cost us say Perkins, Young and some minor leaguers. Both guys are 26 so we could lock them up for a few years. Also both aren’t under huge contracts so it would leave us some money to throw at pitching. Provided the Twins don’t wait too long and there are no pitchers left to acquire.
Is it true that Senior Smoke is coming to Spring Training in FL.
MarkW-
Read the post I was replying to. The poster said we couldn’t afford to lose Punto but we could afford to lose Tolbert. I was saying they have the same skill sets and if Tolbert is dispensable, Punto is as well.
I think Marty Cordova is coming with erickson
DON’T get rid of Nick Punto. Keep him around as a utility player. We need his intangibles.
Thrlos98,
I read that the 20 mil bonus of the 80mil was already paid. So it is 5/60 which is reasonable.
I hear a cloning is in progress as we speak of Kirby Puckett that will play for peanuts for CP
I thought that it was Coomer as a third baseman
Hrbeck is going to start using Starcaps and will be our DH next year.
Janet,
still it is too much… I’d rather see them give Furcal a 4 year contract @ the same $12 mil a year than take Young’s 5 year contract.
Yeah, we need Punto’s 28 RBI’s.
I heard Jim Kaat would like another crack and is willing to work cheap. And he’s a real gamer.
“It’s a shame some people want to run Nick Punto out of this town on a rail. He’s a valuable player and some team will be lucky to get him. As LaVelle said the other day, he gets way too much heat around here.”
He’s valuable as a utility player. If he came off the bench and never started, I would have no problem with him.
Maybe a couple of more wins and another hundred strike outs would get Blyleven in the hall.
I always wondered what would happen if you take Kirby’s stockiness and Hrbeks height and put that person all together. I found it in Kent Hrbek great outdoors. Wow did Hrbek gain weight!!!!
BC of ND,
The Twins pick late in Rule V, and predicting any picks after the first one is almost impossible.
Most Rule V eligibles are available because their teams don’t think they will be chosen.
In other words, if a player is obviously going to be in demand, he is usually going to be protected on the 40-man roster.
Thrylos,
I respectfully agree to disagree.
I figured out which washed up has been the Twin’s will take Jack Wilson. A complete no namer nobody. 269 lifetime hitter with no power.
I just can’t see dismantling the current rotation for any type of trade.
Bonser looks to me like he could turn out to be a pretty good setup man. Toward the end of last season, his numbers were good.
Remember what happened with LaTroy Hawkins? It took quite a while before they found his spot as a setup pitcher.
I suggest the Twins only real need is a quality SS or 3B. They fill one of those two holes and the rest should take care of itself.
Jack “Haven’t heard your name before” Wilson
Patrick says: “He’s valuable as a utility player. If he came off the bench and never started, I would have no problem with him.”
Absolutely. I couldn’t agree more.
If Mauer gets to free agency, the Yankees or Red Sox will offer at least 5 years $100 million (if he stays healthy this is an absolute min.)- http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/02/twins-sign-ma-1.html
thanks sane I thought Johan was a rule V guy thats why i asked because it would be nice to get another steal like that.
[…] I’ll have to make do with what I’ve got for now. And in one of LaVelle’s recent updates, he mentioned a couple of interesting things. There is one report that Nick Punto met with the […]
Im so effin sick of talking about prospects. Lets win now with major league ready players. Fututre is now
Mark W wrote:
“and sorry tlk, but Kubel is better than Cuddyer and only costs $1.5M to be more productive at the plate… if we would just let him hit everyday, he probably would be just fine over the season…”
Hey Mark W,
Have you ever seen Kubel try to hit a lefty? Also, Cuddyer is a far superior outfielder. I was at a game last year where Kubel broke in towards 2b on a fly ball that landed a good 75 feet behind him towards the 3b side of left field. I think it is telling that as much trouble as Delmon had in left the coaches thought he was a better option in left than Kubel. Kubel, like Punto is a manager favorite. He was a great prospect and was often mentioned in the same breath with Mauer as a hitter when they were comming up. That guy isn’t ever going to show up. It’s sad but Kubel is not what he was after blowing out his knees. Time to move on and for Gods sake don’t make the mistake of not letting Delmon Young DH because we have to make room for Kubel.
The fact that Bill smith even wasted time at the winter meetings talking about Scott Erickson is sad to me. Keep DY he raw talent and u covent all ur young Prospects right MN ??? WE got the stadium carl now open ur effin wallet cheap skate
and just for the record Tolbert Buscher Pridie Humber etc etc have NO TRADE VALUE and cuddy a one year wonder move him for a double a player and save urself some cash 2010 not far carl open that wallet u chump
Don’t trade Delmon! His upside is too good, and he only played one year with us. If we trade an outfielder, lets trade Gomez while teams still think he is a great five-tool prospect.
we need bonser in the bullpin, i would move cuddy before delmon, and i think it is about time the twins start showing the fans they want to start improving this team by making a trade if not at 3rd, maybe a good hitting shortstop
Tolbert at 2nd. Casilla at Short. Trade Cuddyer for, whatever. And go get Kouamanoff. 2009 Lineup
Span
Mauer
Young
Morneau
Kuble
Kouzmanoff
Tolbert
Casilla
Gomez
F-Bomb, Baker, Slowey, Perkins, Blackburn
Nathan, Miijares, Breslow, Guerrier, And find some help with old timers.
Sign MAUER NOW! Sign F-BOMB NOW! This is a great future, and great now.
…F-Bomb?
i’m a philly fan and i hope the phillies don’t give up Jason Donald for Punto, nothing against Nick Punto but Donald is going to be very good and should only be traded for pitching.
