Hicks will be traded

[Loosey]

Many of these trade scenarios everyone is writing are based on the Twins doing it during the Winter Meetings.  Why?  Kepler and Buxton will most likely start in AAA.  The Twins outfield will then be Rosario, Hicks, ??Sano??.  Plouffe plays 3rd, Park and Mauer DH/1st base.

 

Now assume Buxton and possibly Kepler come up in June and absolutely rake.  Assuming Hicks is playing at his 2014 level you can trade him for much more at the deadline.  In this scenario assume Sano is struggling RF but still hitting .265 with 15-20 HR's by July.  if Plouffe is his old self you could then flip him for something and move Sano to 3rd. 

 

I just don't see the reason why the Twins need to trade either at the winter meetings.  Winter meeting deals in my opinion are more for guys with one year left on their contract so they become more than a rental to the receiving team.  That is not the case for either Hicks or Plouffe. 

 

I also don't see the harm if Hicks is tearing it to keep him around.  Maybe Rosario struggles and becomes more of a bench player when Buxton comes up.  So many scenarios other than trade every in December.

[nicksaviking]

I'm  all for a winter trade, but I agree that it's quite likely the Twins do to the offense in 2016 what they did to the rotation in 2015; bring everyone to camp and see how things shake out, with the veterans getting priority seating.

 

The most difficult thing about this scenario is that very few trades happen early in the year, so if there is a log jam, the Twins may have to wait until July to make a deal which could cause several roster problems.

 

I say this, but I also believe that the Twins will be more than willing to listen to offers for catchers and relievers if there is a deal they just cannot refuse.

 

 

[South Dakota Tom]

The casualties of signing Byung-ho Park don't necessarily have to be Rosario and/or Hicks.  As posters have noted, there is a clear scenario where Plouffe stays at 3B, Rosario, Hicks, and potentially Sano play the OF, and Park is the regular DH.

 

I don't disagree with those who point out that potential crunches occur early in the season if Buxton or Kepler are raking in AAA.  I don't disagree with those who feel that Plouffe being traded (while not a necessity) does clear the logjam better than other scenarios.  We keep the potential for Rosario, Buxton, and Hicks in the OF, with Kepler in the mix as a 4th starter (not declaring any of them to be a "4th OF").  Sano goes to 3B, but our outfield defense is solid, and between Mauer, Dozier, Escobar and Sano, our infield defense is solid as well (I'm in that group that doesn't feel like the dropoff from Plouffe to Sano will be that great).

 

The real casualties in this scenario are Arcia, Vargas, and ABW.  Assuming, as most do, that anyone who leaves the 25-man or 40-man is going to be replaced by a catching upgrade, relief pitching, or a potential front-line starter (and we can talk about the relative logjams in the rotation as well, but we've got a whole winter to do that), we are almost out of space on the big-league club.  Starting 9 as above, with catcher/Suzuki, 4th OF, Nunez or Santana or whoever covers the utility role, and a potential bat on the bench.  That's one spot for Vargas or Arcia or ABW. 

 

If any moves will be made, beyond trading someone on the 25-man for someone else on the 25-man (Plouffe for catcher, dumping Nolasco and adding a pitcher), I think it will be of the Herrman variety where we trade Arcia or Vargas or ABW for someone who doesn't need to be added to the 40-man right away. 

[Shane Wahl]

Yeah, Vargas' time in Minnesota is pretty much over. He might add to a Plouffe package as one potential piece with a couple of legit prospects added.

[Twins Junkie]

Does anyone remember that the Twins used Plouffe in right field two or three seasons ago?

 

Hmmm...Plouffe in RF  Sano at 3B  Park DH  Hicks 4th OF

[gopherman23]

Does anyone remember that the Twins used Plouffe in right field two or three seasons ago?

 

Hmmm...Plouffe in RF Sano at 3B Park DH Hicks 4th OF

Sano is faster than Plouffe and has a stronger arm. Between the two, if you have to have one play the OF, it's Sano all the way.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Why are people even a little bit concerned about a Kepler logjam? The guy had a breakout season but doesn't have a single AAA game under his belt. Max can spend most or all of 2016 in Rochester and it's not a big deal.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Why are people even a little bit concerned about a Kepler logjam? The guy had a breakout season but doesn't have a single AAA game under his belt. Max can spend most or all of 2016 in Rochester and it's not a big deal.

 

Maybe it's just me, but I think he's better than Rosario or Hicks, and probably Mauer within 2 years. The longer it takes to get him here, the later the transition takes place in terms of comfort level. But then, I have an irrational man crush on him. Sorry for the overly positive post....

[Twins Junkie]

I think I even remember Joe Mauer taking a couple turns in the OF in the past...I can already hear Terry Ryan saying it's a good problem to have.  BUT all this is just speculation until Park actually signs.

[nicksaviking]

 

Why are people even a little bit concerned about a Kepler logjam? The guy had a breakout season but doesn't have a single AAA game under his belt. Max can spend most or all of 2016 in Rochester and it's not a big deal.

 

I'm not worried about Kepler, and I'm not too concerned about the logjam.

 

My biggest complaint (and biggest is relative as it's rather small) is that in the terrible 2014 season, my favorite part of the whole season was watching Arcia, Vargas and Santana pumped up and excited on the top step of the dugout every game, even when the team was getting pounded.

 

Arcia and Vargas are looking cooked due to the roster situation at this time, I liked their potential, but I really liked the dynamic.  I really did want to see Arcia get one more chance at full-time work, even if he did behave like a drunk frat boy 80% of the time.

[DRizzo]

GarageLogic on ESPN 1500 just said that we traded Hicks to the Yankees for catcher John Ryan Murphy. Anyone else see this yet?

[James]

 

GarageLogic on ESPN 1500 just said that we traded Hicks to the Yankees for catcher John Ryan Murphy. Anyone else see this yet?

It's on MLB trade rumors as well.  

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/11/yankees-acquire-aaron-hicks-from-twins-for-john-ryan-murphy.html

[Blackjack]

MLB trade rumors has it too...

[stringer bell]

Wow. Let's never criticize Ryan for doing nothing! Big move early in the off-season. Good luck, Aaron Hicks. Those of us who were thinking there would be a Rosario, Buxton, Hicks OF for years saw it for what? 15 innings.

[notoriousgod71]

Terry must have been impressed with his HR off Perkins.

[John Kelsey]

 

Wow. Let's never criticize Ryan for doing nothing! Big move early in the off-season. Good luck, Aaron Hicks. Those of us who were thinking there would be a Rosario, Buxton, Hicks OF for years saw it for what? 15 innings.

 

At least there's still Rosario, Buxton, Kepler to look forward to. 

[Blackjack]

 

I've been thinking about posting this for awhile but now seems like the right time. A few years ago I called my shot that both Revere and Span would be traded and it happened. I now think TR is shopping Hicks for these reasons:

 

1) His value is decent - nothing exceptional but he's shown glimpses to tease other teams;

 

2) He doesn't have a spot in CF past the first few months of 2016...if that; and,

 

3) He really isn't a corner outfielder and I don't think he ever will be. I hope I'm wrong for his sake but I just don't see it (I think that's a scientific term for "feeling in my gut").

 

With that said, I actually wouldn't be surprised if Rosario was floated out there as well but I think is worth more to the Twins in the long run and can be a productive corner outfielder. 

 

I'm not sure what the plan is for Kepler and sure wish I knew what they were thinking because he truly is intriguing.

 

Finally, I think this opens a spot for Sano in RF and then Plouffe stays at 3B if they truly want to keep both of them. 

 

Let me be the first to say you called it!!! Good work!!!

[d-mac]

Definitely a big trade. We got a young catcher that we really need. Anybody know how he rates at pitch framing? Seems like he is at least average offensively for a catcher. 

[USAFChief]

I'm pretty underwhelmed by Murphy, but he is a catcher.

 

I also had an unsupported high opinion of Hicks, so that might be coloring my view.

 

I also guess this means Buxton's on the club out of spring training, and the Sano to RF talk seems a bit more realistic.

[d-mac]

But this presents another problem... I don't think Buxton is quite ready for a full time gig in CF out of spring training. Do we sign somebody like Denard Span to a 1 yr deal to keep the spot warm? 

[notoriousgod71]

The thing I will never understand about Ryan is his insistence on completely negating one positive move with a negative one. I am no Hicks fan but I am even less a fan of Murphy.

 

God only knows if he plans on making him the starter or backup. Either way I don't think this is the catching acquisition anyone was hoping for.

[stringer bell]

The odds that Byron Buxton will make the team out of spring training just increased dramatically. Sugar Shane will probably be re-signed in short order, as well.

[notoriousgod71]

 

 

But this presents another problem... I don't think Buxton is quite ready for a full time gig in CF out of spring training. Do we sign somebody like Denard Span to a 1 yr deal to keep the spot warm? 

 

That's why the Twins want to resign Robinson!

[blindeke]

I guess you were right. You should get a TD prize for calling this shot.

[d-mac]

 

That's why the Twins want to resign Robinson!

He's a fine 4th OF but no way should he be the starting CF'er.

[ajstolt_09]

Appears it just happened today. Not sure I am in love with it because he seemed to be really figuring out how to hit, and he helped make that outfield very good defensively! Does this mean that Kepler is a legit candidate for getting called up early in the year? Sano should not be moved out there, whatever they decide to do!!!

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Definitely a big trade. We got a young catcher that we really need. Anybody know how he rates at pitch framing? Seems like he is at least average offensively for a catcher. 

Almost exactly average at framing, just a thin hair ahead of Suzuki, according to the publicly available numbers here:

 

http://www.statcorner.com/CatcherReport.php

[stringer bell]

I admit I know very little about Murphy other than he homered off Perkins to win a game for the Evil Empire. I never saw that hit and I don't believe I've ever seen him play. It looks like he throws OK, but I don't know about his defense although the number of passed balls and wild pitches allowed looks pretty high.

[notoriousgod71]

 

He's a fine 4th OF but no way should he be the starting CF'er.

 

I'm not even sure I'd give him that much praise.

[SwainZag]

Well I was dead wrong in thinking they wouldn't trade Hicks.  Great call OP.  Now, let's hear about Murphy!