OF Trade Prospects

[Poli_Crandall]

Buster Olney's recent blog post stated some very interesting offensive players that can be potential candidates this offseason because of the influx of a strong Starting pitcher FA market and the lack of positional players.  Of the players he lists one particular candidate, Jason Heyward, seems like a fascinating option for the twins to go after.  He states that because of 2015 being his final year under contract and him being somewhat of an offensive enigma, he is a candidate to be traded.   In my opinion he is the perfect candidate for the twins to target.  He immediately upgrades an OF defense that ranked near the bottom and brings a solid top of the order bat that can provide power, speed, and on base percentage.  The asking price would be very steep and I don't think it would be viable if we dont lock him up to a long term deal as well but He would be perfect for the twins organization.    

 

Some possible trade candidates that I think that would peak their interests would be Brian Dozier as they dont have  a solid solution at 2nd base and/or Trevor Plouffe.  We would probably have to include something else like a B grade pitching prospect but i definitely think we should make the leap.  Stick Rosario or Santana at second and open the door for Sano to take over 3rd base at some point in the mid season.   What are your guy's thoughts?

[TheLeviathan]

I'd be interested in Heyward, but I can't imagine he goes for Plouffe and Thorpe.  I think it would take something like Berrios to get the conversation started.

[USAFChief]

I'd be interested in Heyward, but I can't imagine he goes for Plouffe and Thorpe.  I think it would take something like Berrios to get the conversation started.

Sign me up if it includes a new contract for Heyward.

 

I'd ask about Kemp first though.

[raindog]

Maybe a package starting with Arcia? I love Aria, but the Twins have a huge defense problem. Hayward would help with that.

 

Arcia isn't quite the player Hayward is, but he has several years of team control and is younger.

[Thrylos]

Sign me up if it includes a new contract for Heyward.

 

I'd ask about Kemp first though.

 

Indeed.  And see whether the Dodgers would like Nolasco to be there, as much as he does... 

[TheLeviathan]

I'm on board for asking about Kemp.

[Ben B]

After their season ticket campaign centered around Dozier and he's become the face of the franchise, I can't see them trading him unless they're absolutely blown away. 

[biggentleben]

Heyward may be traded, but it would be for a top 5-10 prospect in all of baseball just to get the conversation started.  If a Braves outfielder is moved for something akin to the OP package, it'd be BJ Upton.  That grouping likely won't get you in the door for Heyward or Justin Upton, both of whom the team would listen on for the right trade package, but I have a feeling that package would include a Buxton/Sano to start the discussions.  May not take one of those guys to get the deal done if the deal was something like Meyer AND Berrios and some other pieces for Heyward, but basically think of Heyward as the Braves' Hershel Walker, expecting a conversation to be akin to that sort of organizational changing package of players.

[biggentleben]

Also, the Braves have a glut of middle infield guys at or just about at the major league level, including their #1 prospect, Jose Peraza, who could challenge Tommy La Stella (young and quite talented in his own right) as soon as this year.  Dozier wouldn't be of interest, and Plouffe even less so.

[jorgenswest]

Would they trade Heyward for Meyer? Should the Twins make that move?

 

The players are virtually the same age. Meyer comes with much more team control and much less certainty.

[biggentleben]

Would they trade Heyward for Meyer? Should the Twins make that move?

 

The players are virtually the same age. Meyer comes with much more team control and much less certainty.

 

Meyer only, not a chance.  Meyer AND Berrios might get you into discussions.

 

And if the Twins didn't make the move of Heyward for Meyer, they're idiots, frankly.

[TheLeviathan]

I have gotten the feeling from many Braves fans that their feelings about Heyward are pretty biased.  Heyward is a good player, but he's not great.  

 

3 years straight of declining OPS and HR numbers, if the price is anything like what you are suggesting Ben - then a GM would have to be an idiot to take them up on it.

[raindog]

Yea...I think you're overrating Heyward a bit. He's a nice player, but not the elite guy you seem to think he is.

[biggentleben]

I have gotten the feeling from many Braves fans that their feelings about Heyward are pretty biased.  Heyward is a good player, but he's not great.  

 

3 years straight of declining OPS and HR numbers, if the price is anything like what you are suggesting Ben - then a GM would have to be an idiot to take them up on it.

 

Not debating that, and I'm one of the more clear ones among Braves fans, since I'm not in Georgia.  He's a Georgia boy who has been other worldly defensively the last few years and been the face of the franchise since he came up, so it'd be akin to the Twins trading Mauer before he got the big contract.  Twins fans would have ripped the front office apart unless they got a huge return, and that's the situation here.

[biggentleben]

Yea...I think you're overrating Heyward a bit. He's a nice player, but not the elite guy you seem to think he is.

 

No, not basing the trade on his status as a player.  I'm basing it on what the front office would have to get back to not be hunted down in the streets of Atlanta for moving their hometown hero.

 

That said, he is an elite defender, so there's more than just "nice" to him.  I could discuss the ruin that is Heyward being managed by Fredi Gonzalez, but that's another discussion for another day.

[ashbury]

...and I don't think it would be viable if we dont lock him up to a long term deal as well

I don't know the mechanics of working out a long term deal while his contract belongs to the Braves, but it seems to me that if the Twins were capable of working out a deal they would accept, the Braves would already have worked out the identical deal and signed it as soon as the laserprinter ink was dry.

 

_{^{/ which is pretty fast}}

[biggentleben]

I don't know the mechanics of working out a long term deal while his contract belongs to the Braves, but it seems to me that if the Twins were capable of working out a deal they would accept, the Braves would already have worked out the identical deal and signed it as soon as the laserprinter ink was dry.

 

_{^{/ which is pretty fast}}

 

Heyward has been very open that the only reason he did not get extended last offseason was his distrust of Frank Wren (you want to hear some crazy stuff, do a bit of research on the post-Frank Wren fallout in Atlanta - just crazy).  He's made comments about getting a deal done this offseason already, which is why I was surprised to see a well-sourced writer like Buster mention him so prominently in his article, unless he was simply looking for clicks.

 

Justin Upton is a different story altogether, especially when the team is actively looking to dump his brother to anyone who will take him.

[ashbury]

Heyward has been very open that the only reason he did not get extended last offseason was his distrust of Frank Wren

Hadn't kept up on this situation at all. 

 

So they have a year to make nice with the J-Hey Kid.  All of a sudden this one seems like a non-starter, Buster or no Buster.

[biggentleben]

Hadn't kept up on this situation at all. 

 

So they have a year to make nice with the J-Hey Kid.  All of a sudden this one seems like a non-starter, Buster or no Buster.

 

As quickly as the team moved to extend Andrelton Simmons, Craig Kimbrel, Julio Teheran, Chris Johnson, and Freddie Freeman once John Hart was hired last offseason, Heyward's absence from that list was very notable to every beat writer and Braves blogger, and the rumblings in the spring were that the main issue was Wren.

[nytwinsfan]

Meyer only, not a chance.  Meyer AND Berrios might get you into discussions.

 

And if the Twins didn't make the move of Heyward for Meyer, they're idiots, frankly.

No, they would not be idiots to reject that deal. Even assuming you got Heyward to agree to a contract extension before the trade (not sure how that works), do the Twins really want to trade Meyer's or Berrios's three pre-arbitration years plus three arbitration years for another huge contract for five-six years? And while we do need outfield defense, we need starting pitching even more, especially after next year when outfield defense (Buxton, Rosario, maybe Kepler or Walker) is scheduled to arrive. And if Heyward can't agree to an extension, then this would be the stupidest trade ever. We are not even competing in 2015.

[biggentleben]

I really hope you are joking. Even assuming you got Heyward to agree to a contract extension before the trade (not sure how that works), do the Twins really want to trade Meyer's or Berrios's three pre-arbitration years plus three arbitration years for another huge contract for five-six years? And while we do need outfield defense, we need starting pitching even more, especially after next year when outfield defense (Buxton, Rosario, maybe Kepler or Walker) is scheduled to arrive. And if Heyward can't agree to an extension, then this would be the stupidest trade ever. We are not even competing in 2015.

 

I'm not joking.  To get Atlanta to move on Heyward would require that cost.  I'm not saying it would be wise for any team.  If any team comes to Atlanta on Heyward, they're going to pay a king's ransom to move him because the team is wise enough to know that's the only way their fanbase would accept such a move.

[nytwinsfan]

I'm not joking.  To get Atlanta to move on Heyward would require that cost.  I'm not saying it would be wise for any team.  If any team comes to Atlanta on Heyward, they're going to pay a king's ransom to move him because the team is wise enough to know that's the only way their fanbase would accept such a move.

 

I'm not doubting that it might take that much to get Atlanta to do the deal, I'm just saying it would be dumb for Minnesota to do it. Even for Meyer alone, unless we could guarantee an extension with Heyward, it would be tremendously stupid and wasteful. Even if we could guarantee an extension, I'd be against it.

[biggentleben]

I'm not doubting that it might take that much to get Atlanta to do the deal, I'm just saying it would be dumb for Minnesota to do it. Even for Meyer alone, unless we could guarantee an extension with Heyward, it would be tremendously stupid and wasteful. Even if we could guarantee an extension, I'd be against it.

 

No way Meyer alone even gets you to the table, so if the Twins were to get into trade talks with the Braves on Heyward, it's fair to say you'd be quite upset at the cost.

[Riverbrian]

I can't imagine the Braves walking away from Heyward. That young player will get it together. He's still young and figuring it all out.

 

Especially with Upton issues in the OF. I can't imagine Hart moving him... No matter what is offered.

 

You couldn't even say Heyward to Hart without him saying Upton back to you.

 

Ryan: I like that Heyward Kid... How Much?

 

Hart: B.J.... He's got speed... Power... He'd be a nice fit in Minnesota. I could make that happen... B.J. Upton in a Twins uniform.

 

Ryan: Can't do it with Upton... Let's get back to Heyward.

 

Hart: I watched B.J. Hit a ball 475 feet to dead center... Drop the bat and sprint full speed and he caught the ball he hit. He's amazing!!!

 

Ryan: My guys are telling me Heyward is what we need in our OF.

 

Hart: Your Guys?

 

Ryan: Twins Daily

 

Hart: B.J. Ran into a burning orphanage and pulled out 20 young children to safety just last night... He's feeding the poor. Positive P.R... I'm telling you... I would only make this deal with someone I respected... Like you... Ummm... Terry.

[old nurse]

Trading season is when fans dream up these lovely one sided trades. some combination of the bottom 15 of the 40 man roster and any C prospects in the system for a very good player.  Who will this winter's Duensing and Swarzak?

[kab21]

Heyward may be traded, but it would be for a top 5-10 prospect in all of baseball just to get the conversation started.  If a Braves outfielder is moved for something akin to the OP package, it'd be BJ Upton.  That grouping likely won't get you in the door for Heyward or Justin Upton, both of whom the team would listen on for the right trade package, but I have a feeling that package would include a Buxton/Sano to start the discussions.  May not take one of those guys to get the deal done if the deal was something like Meyer AND Berrios and some other pieces for Heyward, but basically think of Heyward as the Braves' Hershel Walker, expecting a conversation to be akin to that sort of organizational changing package of players.

 

Heyward won't be traded if the price is a top 5-10 prospect.  Heyward is nothing like Herschel Walker.  He's also in the final year of his contract and has been a disappointment offensively.  He makes for an interesting potential FA in 2015.  A 26 yr old with upside.

 

BJ couldn't be given away much less bring in guys like Plouffe and Thorpe. 

[kab21]

I still think the Dodgers/Twins could match up on Crawford for Nolasco.  The Dodgers free up an OF spot and save money while the Twins get a good LF'er for 8M/season (if you consider Nolasco a sunk cost).  Kemp is obviously better with higher upside but I'm not seeing the Twins picking up 5 years of contract for a broken player.  I also don't see the Twins going after Crawford and his 3 years but that's more palatable.  I'm also not sure the Dodgers want to move Kemp.  CC and Ethier are the guys they want to move even if Kemp's name is out there.

[Trevor0333]

I haven't fallen off the Eddie Rosario bandwagon.

[ScottyB]

Never, never, never, never, never trade young, potentially high end starters for outfielders.  It is much easier to train an outfielder than to come up with God-given pitching talent.  If Berrios or Meyer were 5 or 6 years from the majors and the Twins were one player away from a world championship, then maybe.  That's not the case here.  Think Garza for Young.  Not the right direction. 

 

As far as OF'ers go, the potential is there.  Arcia hit 20 homers this year, Hicks showed improvement at the end of the year and might be able to be turned around, Rosario and Kepler are hitting in the AFL, Santana will be fine in CF or at SS, and if Buxton can stay healthy, he'll be great.  Molitor needs to put together a coaching staff who can improve these guys.  Early in his career, Molitor was injured a lot. Put him in a room with Buxton to explain that while it's nice to go full blast on defense, if it keeps putting you in the hospital, you're not helping the team.  With his speed, going 3/4 time will save injuries and keep him on the field.

[twinscowboysbulls]

I'd love to snag Heyward and extend him immediately.