http://espn.go.com/blog/the-gms-office

This is insider only, unfortunately, so tread lightly on pulling passages. But you can see the proposed deal for free at the top of the story:


Minnesota Twins (http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/min/minnesota-twins) send Francisco Liriano (http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/6211/francisco-liriano), Jared Burton (http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/28733/jared-burton), Justin Morneau (http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/5379/justin-morneau), Josh Willingham (http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/6024/josh-willingham) and cash to the San Francisco Giants (http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/sf/san-francisco-giants) for Brandon Belt (http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/30901/brandon-belt), Kyle Crick, Mike Kickham and Heath Hembree

Crick was mentioned by Nick in today's Trade Target Team Series (http://www.twinsdaily.com/content.php?832-Trade-Target-Team-Profile-San-Francisco-Giants).

Sure Jim Bowden, that totally make sense.

Why SF needs another outfielder after getting great run outta Pagan, Melky and Blanco I don't know. But who cares...you're Jim Bowden. You work for the four letter network, you don't have to make sense.

Seems like a lot to give up for us.

Not exactly their top prospects, according to pre-season rankings at fangraphs...at work, can't check how they are playing this year...Not sure how I feel about Belt, frankly.

I just saw this also. I don't know enough about these prospects, but Burton and Willingham have to have a lot of value, and isn't Belt somewhat redundant with Parmalee in AAA? (I realize that Belt is probably a better player)

That is a horrible trade proposal for the Twins. Just wow!

I just saw this also. I don't know enough about these prospects, but Burton and Willingham have to have a lot of value, and isn't Belt somewhat redundant with Parmalee in AAA? (I realize that Belt is probably a better player)

Not that it matters, but I'd take Belt over Parmelee.

The Pohlads would lose a ton of cash in this deal immediately and next year and the next year, and more yet if those prospects don't pan out.

Pass. I guess I'll play the homer, but that should be the return for Willingham and his awesome contract alone. Only one of the Giants top ten prospects and the under-achieving Brandon Belt? Pass. The best prospect included in that deal is a reliever, no thanks. The Giants just do not have the starting pitching quality to match up with the Twins. Giving up four established players and only getting back 2 minor league starters, only one of which is in the organizations top 20, seems laughable.

Edit: Time to give Terry Ryan a criticism break for the day. If Ryan steps down as GM again, obviously the Twins could do much worse.

Not that it matters, but I'd take Belt over Parmelee.

I'm thinking most people would, but we need pitching so I don't understand why Belt is a good get with Parmalee as a "low cost 1B option" too. I hope that nothing like this actually happens.

Would getting Gary Brown change things? Or are there any young arms that would help?

Yup, in looking, not a fan of this deal, unless they Twins pay zero dollars, even then I don't like it....

Yeah right! ...would need onf their starters NOT named Lincecum, and even then I'm not sure.

Let me switch this up a bit. What if the Twins traded Liriano, Burton and Morneau, but not Willingham. And what if the Giants had to pay all of Morneau's salary.

Then what would it take? (I gotta be honest - the Giants farm system seems really weak. It's hard to find a good package here.)

Bowden continues to show he is an idiot. Hard to believe he got hired in the first place, by the Reds or ESPN.

ESPN doesn't exactly have the highest standards, I can understand it completely.

If the Twins make this deal, do they get the entire roster for the Giants' AA and A+ ball affiliates?

Because given the state of the Giants farm, that's what it should take.

I know, let's take it this way. Since everybody wants "change", we could hire Bowden as our GM and Dan Gladden as our manager. Bowden brings his willingness to trade current talent for minor league "prospects" and Gladden brings his folksy, beer drinking, grittiness. It's a win for everybody!

(Excuse me while I go waterboard myself)

Sure Jim Bowden, that totally make sense.

Why SF needs another outfielder after getting great run outta Pagan, Melky and Blanco I don't know. But who cares...you're Jim Bowden. You work for the four letter network, you don't have to make sense.

great run? Melky is having a great year but the Giants are 23rd in the league in slugging and 21st in runs scored. Blanco .248/.341/.369 isn't helping out in RF. You don't think they would like a Willingham: .271,.384/.563? Melky Cabrera is a FA after this year and is going to cash in so long term Willingham has a spot too. This deal might not make sense but it isn't because of SF outfield.

That said I think the Twins would be fools to take this trade.

Jim Jim Jim. You must not have a very high opinion of your readers intelligence. The twins give up two high quality players, one of which should have been an all-star. And two "wild cards" with massive upside, one capable of MVP caliber play and the other capable of becoming a legit ace. You are selling this as a trade that benefits both buyer and seller? Laughable.

It's not worth it to pay to be an insider if this is the kind of thing you get the privilege of reading.

Belt meh. Hembree meh. Crick or kick ham could be interesting but both have ok whips and lots of walks. Crock definitely a power k arm but not at that price.

And what if the Giants had to pay all of Morneau's salary.


I'd be fine with the Twins getting nothing back if the Giants paid it all, the 14 million in cash to spend will be worth more then some prospect.

Belt, rather parm. Hembree, don't we have like nine of those? Kickham, not 1.3 whip and low two era, lots of walks on aa. Bit exactly a fast rising star. Crick is a hard throwing k machine but walks 6 per 9. Same whip and era as kickham in a ball this year. Not super impressive to me.

I'll take Belt for Morneau straight up but if they want Willingham I want more

I love how at least 80+% of the comments on the ESPN article are people calling Bowden an idiot for proposing this trade or the Rays/Rangers trade he also proposed.

I want one of what JB (the ESPN guy not the Twins Geek) is drinking...

Trades like that do not happen.

Hembree is out with an elbow flexor strain, which is why I didn't include him in the Giants profile yesterday. Definitely would stay away from him.

Otherwise, that package doesn't look so bad to me. I think Belt is going to be a beast, and soon. Crick is the kind of high-upside arm the Twins should be targeting and Kickham looks like a capable lefty starter.

Thrylos is right, though, in saying this a pretty ridiculous format for a trade. Not realistic -- just meant to stir up conversations like this one.

I'd be fine with the Twins getting nothing back if the Giants paid it all, the 14 million in cash to spend will be worth more then some prospect.

Wait, what? In the Houston thread you told us there was no chance the Twins would be investing in the 2013 team this winter. "Which we all know won't happen" was the quote, I believe.

You've spent thousands of words in other threads arguing against building in 2013 through free agency.

Now you want to give away Morneau for nothing but salary relief?

For what?

Jim Bowden, as we all know, is an arrogant, self obsessed, egomaniac. My opinion is he throws scenarios and info into the public to cause a stir, which in turn, brings the attention back to him. I hope that no one ever takes him seriously. He is a very bad person who has manipulated and taken advantage of 3rd world human beings, those of which have very real hardships. Why is Pete Rose banned from baseball and Jim Bowden gets to lollygag around the game of baseball and spew his words of fraudulence. Pete Rose might have made some bets on baseball, but I guarantee he never bet against his team. Jim Bowden is a blood sucker who vamps on the outrageous, the controversial, and making excrement up as he goes along in his cushy day to day job and sours the game of baseball on a daily basis, Jim Bowden should be banned from baseball. My love for baseball will always be suppressed until this guy is erased from the ledger of baseball. Jim Bowden, please go away.

Jim Bowden, as we all know, is an arrogant, self obsessed, egomaniac. My opinion is he throws scenarios and info into the public to cause a stir, which in turn, brings the attention back to him. I hope that no one ever takes him seriously. He is a very bad person who has manipulated and taken advantage of 3rd world human beings, those of which have very real hardships. Why is Pete Rose banned from baseball and Jim Bowden gets to lollygag around the game of baseball and spew his words of fraudulence. Pete Rose might have made some bets on baseball, but I guarantee he never bet against his team. Jim Bowden is a blood sucker who vamps on the outrageous, the controversial, and making excrement up as he goes along in his cushy day to day job and sours the game of baseball on a daily basis, Jim Bowden should be banned from baseball. My love for baseball will always be suppressed until this guy is erased from the ledger of baseball. Jim Bowden, please go away.


me thinks you might be holding back here.

me thinks you might be holding back here.

Me thinks me is holding back Bucko. (smiley face)

The Trade makes sense for both sides (IMO)....assuming the Giants take on ALL The Money......BUt the Twins should be getting at least 1 more prospect if not 2 more.

Kyle Crick is a really GOOD YOUNG SP prospect.