Nationals Starters Available?

[Seth Stohs]

Since the reports came that Max Scherzer had signed a 7 year, $210 million contract with the Washington Nationals, there has been much speculation about the team making RHP Stephen Strasburg available? So here are a few questions to ponder this afternoon:

 

1.) Should the Twins be interested in trading for Strasburg? May not be an obvious "Yes" for everyone.

2.) If so, what do you think it would take for the Twins to acquire him?

3.,) What would YOU offer to trade the Nationals for Strasburg?

 

Earlier in the offseason, RHP Jordan Zimmerman (from Wisconsin - I bring it up because that matters, negatively, to some Minnesota fans) was thought of as a possible trade candidate. The Nationals have said they do not intend to trade him, but he is on the cusp of becoming an Ace and will require a nine-digit contract to extend him. 

 

4.) Would you prefer the Twins attempt to acquire Zimmerman instead of Strasburg?

5.) If so, what do you think it would take for the Twins to acquire him?

6.) What would YOU offer to trade the Nationals for Zimmerman?

 

Talk/Write amongst yourselves. 

[jimmer]

Nats have Zimmerman and Fisher for only one more year and Stras for only two more years.  Their window is definitely now.

[Seth Stohs]

No question... 

[mikecgrimes]

Turning Ervin Santana and Kyle Gibson into true 3 and 4 starters would be huge.  Saw Reusse tweet the idea of Sano and Berrios for Zimmerman, and despite the fact I love Berrios as a prospect it makes a lot of sense and easily makes us a Wild Card contender this year.  

[gunnarthor]

Can't see it making any sense for the Nats to trade any starter.  They're all in right now, pitchers get hurt and a few of them will be gone anyway in a couple years.  Span, Fister, Zimmerman and Desmond are all FA at the end of the year.  But they have the best SP prospect in baseball (Giolito) and a couple other solid prospects debuting soon - CFer Michael Taylor (and Brian Goodwin) and a solid starter - AJ Cole. Tanner Roark was a 5 WAR pitcher for them last year and hasn't even made it to arbitration.  About the only position they are weak at is second base, so they'd probably listen on Dozier but I don't think they are desperate enough to move some of their elite players for a luxury at this point and a Zimmerman/Dozier deal doesn't make much sense for the Twins, either.

[jimmer]

Turning Ervin Santana and Kyle Gibson into true 3 and 4 starters would be huge.  Saw Reusse tweet the idea of Sano and Berrios for Zimmerman, and despite the fact I love Berrios as a prospect it makes a lot of sense and easily makes us a Wild Card contender this year.  

That would be a horrible trade. It'd give us one year of Zimmerman, who would move from the NL to the AL, and then he'd almost assuredly be gone.  We want to give up not only 6-7 years of Sano (which would be way too much) but also 6-7 years of Berrios too?  I also doubt it makes us a WC contender and I certainly wouldn't want to give up all that talent to MAYBE play in a one game playoff.

[RedBull34]

I'd have to think that the Nats would want a 2B which means Dozier would have to be in any deal for Strasbourg.

 

Dozier and Berrios (Meyer?) for Stras.  Seems too little a return for Stras, but I can't see the Twins coughing up anymore then that, except maybe filler.

 

I don't know if I would pull that trigger though.

 

No to Zim or Fister.  If they Twins wanted one of them, just sign them next off-season, when it would make more sense.

[gunnarthor]

Well, Strasburg might be available after all. 

 

http://www.guyhut.com/mlb/stephen-strasburg-rumors-like-nationals-trade/

 

Twins/Nats trade could make sense.  Nats might like to send Strasburg to a last place team in the AL so it's less likely he haunts them.  The two teams have made a few moves prior, obviously.  4 relatively cheap years of Dozier for 2 years of Strasburg?  If the Nats think Dozier is a true 4 WAR guy, that would be pretty close to even trade, frankly.  Strasburg has name recognition but Dozier has been the better player the last few years.  In fact, Ryan might not make that trade.  But I think the two teams could certainly work something out around those two, if they felt like it. 

[nater79a]

I'd have to think that the Nats would want a 2B which means Dozier would have to be in any deal for Strasbourg.

 

Dozier and Berrios (Meyer?) for Stras.  Seems too little a return for Stras, but I can't see the Twins coughing up anymore then that, except maybe filler.

 

I don't know if I would pull that trigger though.

 

No to Zim or Fister.  If they Twins wanted one of them, just sign them next off-season, when it would make more sense.

 

I sort of agree on Zimmerman. Just wait till next season and sign as a FA once our core is more in place.

 

As for Strasburg, with Lucas Giolito and A.J. Cole fairly close to breaking through with the Nats maybe they'd prefer a pitcher in return that is a little deeper in the farm system but has high upside. Maybe go with Kohl Stewart (instead of Berrios), Dozier and maybe a Stuart Turner type prospect. Seems like a lot, and it is. But Strasburg is going to cost a TON in any trade. 

 

If the Twins are in position to win big by 2017, maybe you can convince Strasburg to re-sign here after he becomes a free agent post-2016.

[jimmer]

To get Strasburg you would need to give them back, Berrios (Organizations top pitching prospect) Dozier the every day second basemen, and likely one of your top outfield prospects like a Buxton.

 

and that would be way, way, way too much to give up for 2 years of Strasburg.  I wouldn't trade 6-7 years of Buxton alone for two years of Strasburg, let alone add Dozier's years of control and Berrios' years of control.  Need to look at value for value.

[jorgenswest]

One player isn't going to make enough difference for this Twins team. They can't sacrifice the long term to get better this year. No deal.

[JB_Iowa]

I have disliked Strasburg since he came into the league.  I just can't get past that to think about this rationally.

[nater79a]

and that would be way, way, way too much to give up for 2 years of Strasburg.  I wouldn't trade 6-7 years of Buxton alone for two years of Strasburg, let alone add Dozier's years of control and Berrios' years of control.  Need to look at value for value.

 

The key is to get Strasburg to re-sign with the Twins. The only realistic way is to convince him that the Twins are ready to win big in 2017 and he would have a chance to be the ace. Not sure if it is possible though. Seems like Strasburg wants to test the waters in 2 years regardless.

 

In any case, Buxton would be off limits for me.

[JB_Iowa]

The key is to get Strasburg to re-sign with the Twins. The only realistic way is to convince him that the Twins are ready to win big in 2017 and he would have a chance to be the ace. Not sure if it is possible though. Seems like Strasburg wants to test the waters in 2 years regardless.

 

In any case, Buxton would be off limits for me.

 

Convincing Boras?   It's all about the money.  (And you saw what went down with Max,)

[big dog]

So the Nationals gave Scherzer $30 million per year.  Either

a) they clearly overvalue pitching, so trading with them doesn't make sense; or

 

they are completely nuts, in which case let's lowball them and see what happens.

 

This could easily replace Mike Hampton as the poster for bad contracts.

[James]

So the Nationals gave Scherzer $30 million per year.  Either

a) they clearly overvalue pitching, so trading with them doesn't make sense; or

 

they are completely nuts, in which case let's lowball them and see what happens.

 

This could easily replace Mike Hampton as the poster for bad contracts.

It's not actually $30M per year.  It's $15M per year over 14 years, playing for 7.  I've never been a fan of deferred contracts, but then again, it's not my money.  You are still right though that this will probably end up not looking very good for the Nationals, unless he helps them win the world series this year.

[Dman]

Unless a team was willing to way overpay if I were the Nats I wouldn't trade any of those pitchers.  One if not two of them will likely get hurt at some point during the season and right now they have a lot of depth.  They have enough pitching to get to the WS.  They just need to find enough offense to make it a reality.  I would just hang onto the pitchers they have.  Even if they only get draft picks when they leave they have enough pitching depth to deal with that.  If I were them I would keep the guys I have and see what happens.

[notoriousgod71]

Too bad (Thank God) the Nats don't have Lannan still. He would be an obvious Ryan trade target.

[TheLeviathan]

I'm not sure 2B is that big of a need.  They just moved Tyler Clippard for Yunel Escobar.

[Willihammer]

Strasburg is a stud, The Twins should definitely call. With the Nats' bullpen collapses in the playoffs, that is always a good way to put a GM on the hot seat. I wonder if something like Perkins - Reed - Cederoth could get it done?

 

BTW Reusse has had a mancrush on Zimmerman since he watched his 8 2/3 inning start last fall (followed by a Nats bullpen collapse).

[SwainZag]

I have disliked Strasburg since he came into the league.  I just can't get past that to think about this rationally.

 

Besides the fact he would more than likely cost a ton, what's not to like?  The early TJ surgery is a concern, but in 3 years since then: ERAs of 3.16, 3.00, 314.  FIP's of: 2.83, 3.21, 2.94 and K/9 of 11.1, 9.4 and 10.1.  He is a 26 year old bonefide ace.  

[jorgenswest]

It will take a top 10 MLB prospect and others. It will take Buxton plus.

 

Strasburg and his two years fits a team that is projected for 90 wins now and he is the piece that puts them in contention to win it all.

 

The Twins are not a good match. They need players for the long term.

[snarkerbarnyard]

Zimmerman only makes sense for a team on the cusp of contending (not us) and Strasburg only makes sense for the Twins IF (it's a big if, that's why it's in caps) they can extend him. 

Now, this trade would probably have to include 1). Our best position player, Dozier and 2). 1-2 of our top 5 prospects. I think Dozier plus Kohl Stewart and some bullpen help (something they're looking for) might do it, but honestly, I don't even think trading a 4 WAR 2nd baseman for a 4-5 WAR starter straight up is a good deal.

[RedBull34]

Strasburg is a stud, The Twins should definitely call. With the Nats' bullpen collapses in the playoffs, that is always a good way to put a GM on the hot seat. I wonder if something like Perkins - Reed - Cederoth could get it done?

 

BTW Reusse has had a mancrush on Zimmerman since he watched his 8 2/3 inning start last fall (followed by a Nats bullpen collapse).

There is no way that is getting the deal done.  Hell I would trade that for Fister without a second thought.

 

And we all should want Zimm on the Twins, he's awesome.  I'm just not trading for him.

[jimmer]

It will take a top 10 MLB prospect and others. It will take Buxton plus.

 

Strasburg and his two years fits a team that is projected for 90 wins now and he is the piece that puts them in contention to win it all.

 

The Twins are not a good match. They need players for the long term.

I don't agree, but let's say you're right.  It's too much and I would like to think Ryan wouldn't even consider it.

[beckmt]

Washington may still want more.  Bullpen + Dozier, but only if the pitcher the Twins get would sign an extension,  that would probably rule out Boras clients.

[drock2190]

It wouldn't make any sense to trade prospects/established players for a 1-2 year rental when the the team is so far away from contention. 

 

If this was the Twins in the past decade, yes the move should have been considered because the team was a contender.

[brvama]

Why would anyone want to trade Buxton plus for a 2 year, injury concerned pitcher? If Ryan does that he deserves to fired immediately. Can you imagine a Mauer for a similar pitcher when Mauer was Buxton's age? Buxton is ans should be off-limits for anyone at this time. Same with Sano.

[jorgenswest]

Why would anyone want to trade Buxton plus for a 2 year, injury concerned pitcher? If Ryan does that he deserves to fired immediately. Can you imagine a Mauer for a similar pitcher when Mauer was Buxton's age? Buxton is ans should be off-limits for anyone at this time. Same with Sano.

 

Someone might do it if a team is well on the way to 90 wins July and Strasburg is the piece needed to bring home the world series.

 

The Twins are not a good match. They can't trade the future for a very high side of 7 or 8 extra wins that Strasburg might provide the each of the next two years. Washington has no reason to accept anything less than a top 10 MLB prospect. 

[Willihammer]

There is no way that is getting the deal done.  Hell I would trade that for Fister without a second thought.

 

And we all should want Zimm on the Twins, he's awesome.  I'm just not trading for him.

You realize 2 years of Fister was traded last year for... wait for it... Robbie Ray, Ian Krol, and Steve Lombardozzi.