Thread: Article: Trade Target Team Profile: Texas Rangers

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If the Twins are called upon to make a deal with the Rangers, the guy they need to come home with is Luis Sardinas. He's not Profar, but someday he could be close... and he'd be much cheaper.

Originally Posted by Jeremy Nygaard

If the Twins are called upon to make a deal with the Rangers, the guy they need to come home with is Luis Sardinas. He's not Profar, but someday he could be close... and he'd be much cheaper.

Is Sardinas expected to develop some power? I noticed he only has 5 extra-base hits.

Why does almost every other team seem to have better pitching prospects than the Twins?

Neil Ramirez was drafted in 2007 not 2003. But I like that the rangers have a lot of good pitching prospects, they seem like a good trading partner. Span for a few good pitching prospects would be nice.

Wouldn't it be nice to have the best team in the majors, AND have these kinds of prospects littered through your farm?

Originally Posted by USAFChief

Wouldn't it be nice to have the best team in the majors, AND have these kinds of prospects littered through your farm?

The Rangers club is a good argument for the "creative destruction" model of successfully competing in the business world. It's almost exactly 2 years ago that Texas filed for bankruptcy, $500Mil in arrears in salaries owed. New management built a strong, sound franchise on a leftover base of tradeable or developable assets that wasn't currently jelling in the previous philosophical approach. In turn, they aren't afraid of taking risks in finding new young talent and back-filling with proven talent in areas of need, and now look where they are. How about some creative destruction in the Twin's philosophies and front office staff?

Originally Posted by glunn

Why does almost every other team seem to have better pitching prospects than the Twins?

It is pretty simple. You have a clueless GM unwilling to make drastic changes to the scouting and medical departments that have proven time and again they are the worst in baseball.

Until Terry Ryan steps down, this team has no chance!

Originally Posted by glunn

Why does almost every other team seem to have better pitching prospects than the Twins?

because we don't have many good pitching prospects..

Originally Posted by glunn

Why does almost every other team seem to have better pitching prospects than the Twins?

Most of our top pitching prospects have had injury problems.
Don't listen to the haters its not Terry Ryan's fault.

Originally Posted by Gernzy

Most of our top pitching prospects have had injury problems.
Don't listen to the haters its not Terry Ryan's fault.

Well, it is and it isn't. It's partially his fault for the Twins having to turn to guys like Blackburn because they have no other options. It's also partially Smith's fault for not stocking the farm with quality pitchers during his three years as GM (though IMO the Gibson pick was still a great one).

On the other hand, Ryan drafted Matt Garza, who Bill Smith traded away (a move that flabbergasted me at the time due to the imminent departure of Johan). He also drafted Scott Baker, who is injured.

It's beating a dead horse but if the Twins had Garza, Baker, and Liriano heading the rotation (or swap out Gibson for Baker), they'd probably be contending right now.

In short, it's a little bit of everyone's fault mixed with a healthy dose of bad luck. People love to rail on the Twins' drafting but it hasn't been that bad. It hasn't been that good, either...

Originally Posted by PMKI

Is Sardinas expected to develop some power? I noticed he only has 5 extra-base hits.

There's hope. He's only 150 lbs right now. Tools-wise, he's "Ben Revere with a cannon".

Originally Posted by rocketpig

Well, it is and it isn't. It's partially his fault for the Twins having to turn to guys like Blackburn because they have no other options. It's also partially Smith's fault for not stocking the farm with quality pitchers during his three years as GM (though IMO the Gibson pick was still a great one).

On the other hand, Ryan drafted Matt Garza, who Bill Smith traded away (a move that flabbergasted me at the time due to the imminent departure of Johan). He also drafted Scott Baker, who is injured.

It's beating a dead horse but if the Twins had Garza, Baker, and Liriano heading the rotation (or swap out Gibson for Baker), they'd probably be contending right now.

In short, it's a little bit of everyone's fault mixed with a healthy dose of bad luck. People love to rail on the Twins' drafting but it hasn't been that bad. It hasn't been that good, either...

pretty much this, though in Smith's defense... at the time the Twins were considered to have a dearth of pitching talent and not much on the hitting side. Slowey was in that mix too, and was breaking out until that injury. As such many were clamoring that they trade from their excess to pick up hitting, which is exactly what the did... The problem was that Smith is clearly not a talent evaulator or a negotiator.

Originally Posted by diehardtwinsfan

pretty much this, though in Smith's defense... at the time the Twins were considered to have a dearth of pitching talent and not much on the hitting side. Slowey was in that mix too, and was breaking out until that injury. As such many were clamoring that they trade from their excess to pick up hitting, which is exactly what the did... The problem was that Smith is clearly not a talent evaulator or a negotiator.

I mostly agree except for the "trade from excess" part. When you're in a situation where you basically have to trade Johan Santana, you do not also trade your best young pitcher in Matt Garza.

That was my problem with the Garza trade. It didn't make any sense to trade him away when you know that Santana is on his way out as well. The Twins had holes all over but Smith should have known that the hardest hole to patch is starting pitching. Finding outfielders is one of the easier tasks for a baseball GM.

Anyone know more about Neil Ramirez, who Seth listed above? He sure seems like a good fit that wouldn't break the bank.

Originally Posted by John Bonnes

Anyone know more about Neil Ramirez, who Seth listed above? He sure seems like a good fit that wouldn't break the bank.

I just glanced over the BA scouting report and saw "concerns about his high back elbow". I'm sure Parker can take it from there...

I was a huge proponent, John, as you may re-call for Niel Ramirez Back in Late April/ Early May.

In my Twins possible Trade Targets post.

But since then Ramirez has really struggled, I believe he is pitching hurt, he just got demoted to AA. And I'm glad the Twins did stay away from him, and Hopefully (at this point) continue to do so....because he's a mess right now. On the Other hand if the Rangers have soured on him it could be a GREAT time to bring him in on the Cheap, as sort of a filler to a Another Deal

Originally Posted by John Bonnes

Anyone know more about Neil Ramirez, who Seth listed above? He sure seems like a good fit that wouldn't break the bank.

His motion and delivery is such that if he is off a bit, he's off a ton, and it's not pretty. Most assume because of this that he'll end up a reliever long-term. Nice arm, but he's not the type of guy in that system of arms that you'd target and expect to develop. The odd thing with the Rangers system is that they've gotten some breathtaking arms like Ramirez and Martin Perez, and both have really not developed into what was once hoped based on their talent level.

Ohh and do add i'm pretty sure at this point SS Jurickson Profar is all but untouchable...

It'd take Burton or Perk or Duensing plus Willingham just to get 1 of Andrus or Profar + maybe a Grimm type back.

Originally Posted by Jeremy Nygaard

There's hope. He's only 150 lbs right now. Tools-wise, he's "Ben Revere with a cannon".

"Hope" in that the Great Plouffe would mentor this young one in the ways of slugging (in the event he gets traded to us).