Why the Twins Should NOT be Trade Players. Stick a Fork in Them

[DocBauer]

OK, I'm only half serious here. I love this season and am having a hell of a good time. I never give up on my Twins...not completely anyway...even when they lost 90+ the past four seasons. Unbelievably, unexpectedly, they are winning, competitive, a Wild Card team as of now, and probably will remain so.

 

I believe the team should follow the waiver wire, and to be honest, I've been hugely disappointed in a few vet RP that have recently been available in which the Twins have seemingly shown ZERO interest, which I can't fully understand. I mean, really? A contract for a couple of months and a wing and a prayer with a possible big payoff? And if someone comes knocking on TR's office door just begging to make the Twins a better team now, and down the road, with a fair deal, I'm not saying he should call security. And if someone wants to drop a few bucks off payroll this season, and would offer the Twins a nice rental for some batting practice balls, stale bubblegum and a couple used but recently bleached and sanitized cups, I don't think we should tell the clubhouse attendants to find the chains and padlocks.

 

But with about a dozen threads (and counting) concerning trades the Twins should make, how important they are, how the world will cease to exist as we know if not consummated...(I kid, I kid)....I'm going to change directions and put on the black hat...errr....cap...(probably from a Chicago team...SHUDDER)...and toss a bunch of cold water on the subject, playing the bad guy, Turk, bringer of gloom and doom.

 

Not really, but I think it's interesting to take the approach from the opposite side of the street.

 

Why the Twins should put on the brakes:

 

1) Distractions. You'd think it would be us fans who get all wrapped up in having a winning season for the first time in 5 years after 4 lousy and disappointing ones in a row. Wait a minute, it's only been 4 years since the Twins were a top team, a winning team, a playoff team? How many years did Royals fans wait again? So before the All Star break even hits, the Twins are so wrapped up in the idea of actually reaching the post season that they pull, arguably, the best young SP they have had since Garza out of the rotation...filled with potential, and possibly the best SP on the entire staff for this year at least...in order to keep surprising but limited soft tosser Milone and future X-Twin Pelfrey in the rotation? Never really bought in to any sort of "scholarship" idea before...but...come on! LOVE what Pelfrey has done, but can we get real and compare stuff, 2015 numbers, results, as well as the future and just get real for a moment?

 

Robinson. The Twins have been streaky offensively this season, and are suffering from lack of power, especially from the LH side. Arcia has been one of the few downers on this season. But he needed to go down. He needed to stay down. He's still a long way from being anything close to the finished-ish product we'd like him to be, but he is actually performing at AAA and making some things happen. Despite being way short of perfection, he couldn't help more than Robinson? Honestly, why is Robinson with the club, unless the team is thinking they have this experienced vet OF who can be a late inning defensive replacement and PR?

 

I despise using this analogy for a myriad of reasons, (though there is some nice joke potential) but as Congress once stated they could recognize porno when they saw it, I think I/we can see a winning/WS contending team when we see it. And I'm not sure the Twins are it. Not this year. They're good! This is fun! By all expectations they are a year early. But do we get distracted by chasing a tail we are not ready to yet catch...(make your own joke here)...or do we re-focus on what's ahead of us?

 

2) The market. No question that if a team just sits back and waits, there might be a last minute bargain or two to be had at the end of the trade deadline. Especially for a RP or two a non-contending team might be willing to let go to save a few bucks and hope they get lucky with a grade B or C prospect who they might get lucky with and find a backend roster helper. Right or wrong, we shall see, there is a generally universal idea that this year will be a seller's market with so many teams in contention for a playoff spot. So anything the Twins do make a move for, theoretically, will cost more than it normally would. (EX, see 30 yo ML SS with injury history and huge financial obligation that would cost approximately 4 top 20 prospects, or combination of said prospects and quality young ML roster'ed player(s).) A young, rebuilding, retooling team with a lot of talented young players at or near the ML level having an unexpected season and then shedding 4 of them in an attempt to add a "playa" who may or may not make a difference? I don't see that as smart.

 

3) Perspective. Reflect for a moment on all of the trade speculation, and all the players and prospects the Twins could potentially move in all the various deals being rumored and proposed. Now, sit back, relax, wait until the offseason, reflect on the kinds of seasons all these players and prospects have had...how they finished...where they finished...how they improved, or, what they even showed in September,

 

3B) Perspective and now Preperation. Instead of trading young talent for a "go for it" season when you weren't quite ready yet, you have focused on the likes of Buxton (who will be back), Sano, Escobar, yes Santana, Rosario, Hicks, Polanco, Walker, Kepler May, Gibson Duffey, Burdi, and a slew of talented prospects you didn't yet trade. You even have winter leagues and the AFL to further eveluate all your young talent when examing your needs...as do all the other teams...and you can contemplate FA moves as well as being better contemplated and prepared trades to build your 2016 club and future. As an organization, aren't you better prepared to make that move or two, even three, to flesh out your club?

 

White hat says make moves, go for it. Black hat throws water and dust on the campfire and says "not yet. Don't get caught up too soon. Play Ryanstein in the offseason, part with some valuable pieces, make a smart FA move or two, and build this impending beast for 2016.

 

Not saying "fork" '15...but am saying work on building the perfect beast instead of trying to herd lightening just to get the beast off the table.

 

Your thoughts?

[drjim]

I think we can all agree it's time to get rid of Richardson.

[USAFChief]

I think we can all agree it's time to get rid of Richardson.

Concur.

 

He so rarely even contributes.

[ashbury]

First we need to trade for Richardson. Then we can cut him.

 

Priorities, priorities.

[DocBauer]

OK......my bad! Or rather...my 4 yo IPad I usually use when posting.

 

Despite my editing, "Robinson" became Richardson. Apparently, the parent Apple company has an affinity for SOMEONE named Richardson. I will re-edit the post and hope the IRS discovers this mysterious "Richardson" person.

[DocBauer]

OK, think and hope that fixed the issue. Grrrr. Nothing like stepping on your own headline.

[ashbury]

It's a dilemma. By no means sellers, but I don't go all in either. If I'm Ryan I make small moves only, to avoid the PR nightmare of falling out of contention "without even trying". Indeed you don't take contention for granted, and you have to embrace it when it's there. But I foresee them falling out of contention regardless of any steps short of mortgaging the future.

 

http://www.jewmalt.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Arran-53-300x240.jpg

 

It's not soup yet.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

No worries, Doc.

 

It probably auto-corrected because no one named Robinson has ever made a name for himself playing baseball. Until Shane, of course.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I honestly think Ryan has done more with the bullpen than we give him credit. He hasn't done much, but he hasn't done nothing, either. I'm talking about O'Rourke and May. (Should be Pelfrey, grumble.) But then Molitor appears to think he needs to "build them up slowly" before he trusts those guys in important spots. I think he should just throw them in the fire. Time will tell.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

May in the bullpen is great, assuming he's used as often in the second half as Boyer was in the first half.

 

May in the Rotation would be better, though...

 

The Twins have some more guys in AAA that could help the bullpen - Rogers and/or Duffey for example.

 

I think smart shopping will be best. The Kazmirs and Ramirezes of the world are not what the Twins should be looking for.

 

Cishek from Miami is interesting. He's pricey, but that might make him "cheaper" in terms of trade assets than a guy with a better contract. 

 

I agree with the main premise, though. This year's team is very close to being a playoff contender, but the future looks even brighter. No need to overspend to acquire any one. A couple smaller trades could make a big difference for 2015 at little cost to 2016, 2017, and beyond. 

 

 

[DaveW]

The Twins should absolutely be buyers, they are 3 games up in the wild card race.
BUY BUY BUY

[drjim]

 

The Twins should absolutely be buyers, they are 3 games up in the wild card race.
BUY BUY BUY

 

Yes indeed. Probably not go crazy and trade the best prospects for rentals, but BUY BUY BUY

[halfchest]

The only "big" acquisitions the Twins should consider making would be ones that would benefit them for the next 2-3 years minimum.  Guys like Hamels, Tulowitzki, or Lucroy who have multiple years of control and are still young enough to be contributors for a few years.  I get those are big time names and not likely but still those would be the only major targets I would want the Twins to pursue.

 

Surrendering top prospects for a rental would be stupid at this time.  I agree with the thought of considering some minor purchases to bolster the bullpen/bench.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I don't get the Hamels talk. I just don't.

 

The Twins rotation is fine. Yeah, it's not terribly impressive but it's good enough.

 

On the other hand, shortstop, catcher, and the bullpen are dumpster fires.

 

Why take a position of relative strength and try to make it stronger when you have so much to gain at other positions by picking up a competent player?

 

The Twins don't need a Cole Hamels equivalent at short to improve by a game or two through September. They just need someone who doesn't suck.

 

It seems to me that people get too infatuated with a name and the idea of an "ace" at the expense of forgetting that baseball is a team game. Improve the team where you most need it, don't buy into a name. Cole Hamels does not bring the Twins' bullpen, shortstop, and catcher positions above replacement level.