Josh Reddick?

[RealTwinsFan357]

According to MLB Trade Rumors, the A's are listening to offers for several of their left-handed hitters, including Reddick http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/11/athletics-fielding-calls-on-left-handed-hitters.html

 

I know right handed outfielders are ideal, but I feel like the Twins should be interested.  Reddick would immediately upgrade our outfield defense.  He has pretty extreme platoon splits, so in that way I guess he mirrors Schafer a little bit, but I think he would provide better offense and defense.  Although he has been playing mainly RF, it appears he has a solid track record at CF if you buy into defense metrics (as I'm sifting through stats on fangraphs).  He will be under contract for 2 more years.

 

The article says the Athletics are searching for help at SS, so a deal revolving around Escobar could be possible.  I'd say go with it.  We'd be obtaining an above average hitter capable of playing in CF or either of the corners who is under contract for two more seasons.

[nytwinsfan]

Definitely, but I think they'd want something more than Escobar for sure, possibly much more.

[the_youngster]

I've been a fan of Reddick since his days as Red Sox prospect, so I would definitely be a fan of adding him. A solid player. I would rank my preference of whose seemingly available now as Reddick-Bourjos-Rasmus-Rios-Hunter. There is also the possibility of prying someone away from the Dodgers, but really I would want Van Slyke over any of the declining big bucks veterans that they have. There are options available, all with varying degrees of cost. Personally, I like the trade for a quality and younger fill in for the time being rather than spending or trading for an older expensive stop gap. 

[70charger]

I think it's highly likely that they'll want a good deal more than Escobar. I like Escobar, but there are a few facts to keep in mind here.

 

1. Escobar was largely considered a utility infielder tops. In fact, the Twins seem to think of him as a utility guy by their comments on Santana who may have the upside advantage, but who also hasn't proven himself a steady shortstop. Is there is any reason to think that other teams don't think of Escobar as a utility?

 

2. Reddick is considered something of a star in Oakland. And for good reason. With 10.5 bWAR over the last three years, he's a damn good player. Reddick being eligible to hit free agency two years earlier (2017 vs. 2019) should even things out a tad, but there's no getting around the fact that Reddick is the far superior player.

 

3. Possibly the most important, especially since it goes well beyond Escobar - Oakland pushed a whole hell of a lot of chips into the middle this past year after a very promising first half. They don't have much in the way of a farm team. While BR ranks the Twins number one overall, the A's are 28th. They're going to want to replenish, and prospect trades are difficult to do. Likely the A's will ask for more prospect potential than the Twins are willing to give up, and my initial thought is that the A's will be justified in asking for it and the Twins will be justified in refusing it.

 

On the other hand, there's a possibility, slim as it may be, that the A's think of Escobar as a bigger talent than we do. I like Escobar, and I think he has the potential to be an above average shortstop. I don't know that he has the star potential of Reddick, but maybe the A's do and won't ask for the world alongside Escobar. And there is also the possibility that the A's want to push all of their chips back into the middle this coming year and try to contend. Maybe they don't think their window is closed. We thought they gave up way too much for Fuld; maybe they'll give up way too much for Escobar plus whatever else we won't miss terribly?

[jorgenswest]

He certainly would help the Twins. It is very much like the A's looking to sell high in the winter trade market. They routinely get a pitcher in the mix.

 

Escobar doesn't fit there usual mold of high walk rate player though. They only had two players with significant at bats in 2014 below the league average walk rate. Cespedes and Reddick. I don't see them targeting Escobar.