Would you trade Liriano for what the Pirates gave the Astros for Wandy?

[Thrylos]

The Astros get Rudy Owens, a 24 year old LHP who is repeating AAA this season and is 8-5 with 3.14 ERA and 1.168 WHIP, 6.5 K/9 and 3.4 K/BB), Robbie Grossman a 22 year old toolsy CF who is hitting .262/.374/.403 with 7 HRs in AA and Colton Cain a 21 year old LHP who is pitching in high A with 4.20 ERA, 1.240 WHIP, 6.1 K/9 and 2.04 K/BB. Not top 100 MLB prospects and only Grossman was on BA's list of the Pirates' top 10 prospects at number 8. The Pirates also got some $.

 

If you were the Twins, would you trade Liriano for that?

[twinswon1991]

Absolutely I would take that haul for Liriano!

 

Is it really worth it to keep him around the rest of the year only to lose him to free agency? Or run the risk of him going back to his old ways so you can't even risk offering him the qualifying offer to gain a draft pick?

 

At this point any live warm body is worth it unless they can sign him to a VERY, VERY, VERY team freindly deal before the deadline.

 

Unfortunately, Terry Ryan may have overplayed his hand as there are very few suitors left and more pitchers on the market than initially thought: Johnson, Big Erv, Shields, etc.

[Badsmerf]

Hell no. Not a single one of those guys looks to profile to even be an MLB regular. I'd rather keep him in the first place, but if you're going to trade him at least get something worthwhile.

[twinswon1991]

Hell no. Not a single one of those guys looks to profile to even be an MLB regular. I'd rather keep him in the first place, but if you're going to trade him at least get something worthwhile.

Keep him for what? So you can lose 98 games instead of 101? I don't understand why you would keep a tradeable asset when you can cash him in for something. I am too risk adverse to gamble that he will be good enough over the last 2 months that the Twins will net the draft pick. And if he sucks down the stretch I surely don't want to make him the 12.5 mil qualifying offer.

[TheLeviathan]

Looked to me like the Astros were going for quantity over quality...I'd probably pass. I think the Twins can get one quality spec for him at the core of the deal - and that should be their aim.

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

I really don't like that group of players to be honest. It's a good move for the Astros because they get rid of Rodriguez's massive contract, but I hope the Twins could do better. I'd rather get a $5 bill than three $1s.

[beckmt]

unless the twins can sign Liriano to a team friendly contract, I would take this deal. If he pitches bad on Sunday, his trade value goes to zero, along with your return. I would like to get more, but Terry Ryan cannot overplay this and wind up with zero.

[Seth Stohs]

I'd take that... Granted, there's still a week left before the deadline, so I'm going to hope for even more, but that would be a nice package. And frankly, the Twins need quality, but they also need some quantity too... all three are top 12 or so prospects, so that's pretty good. Especially for a guy who, two months ago, many wanted to just release.

[Winston Smith]

Well Dick says the goal now is to catch KC and get out of last place. Not sure we can do that without Liriano and that would really mean more than getting a few prospects that might turn into players. We have so much talent stockpiled in the minors do we even have room for them?

[IdahoPilgrim]

Yes.

[powrwrap]

If you were the Twins, would you trade Liriano for that?

Owens is OK, Grossman strikes out a lot. Neither of the pitchers appear to be power type pitchers. I'm not too thrilled with that trio, but if that was the only offer I'd take it.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

I would take the value, though I wouldn't necessarily want my return centered around a "toolsy" outfielder. The Twins, on the other hand...

[Thrylos]

Owens is OK, Grossman strikes out a lot. Neither of the pitchers appear to be power type pitchers. I'm not too thrilled with that trio, but if that was the only offer I'd take it.

Grossman is playing in the Eastern League (AA). He is hitting .262/.374/.403 with 58 BB and 77 K. Twins' own Aaron Hicks (also 22 and also in the same league) is hitting .273/.371/.432 with 52 BB and 86 K. Not that much different but if anything Hicks strikes out more than Grossman

 

I think that Grossman has no place with the Twins because of Hicks (and Benson and Morales and Buxton etc.) and I suspect that the Twins would try to pry someone else from the Pirates or get 2 instead of 3 prospects...

[Guest USAFChief]

I'd take that... Granted, there's still a week left before the deadline, so I'm going to hope for even more, but that would be a nice package. And frankly, the Twins need quality, but they also need some quantity too... all three are top 12 or so prospects, so that's pretty good. Especially for a guy who, two months ago, many wanted to just release.

Not according to Sickels, but he did have Grossman at #5 before the season.

[kab21]

at this point I would take anything decent for Liriano. None of these players have much upside and the best prospect isn't a pitcher but at the same time I would rather have too many OF'ers than get nothing.

[rickyhawaii]

That seems like pretty good value actually.. Grossman is a good prospect who could prob be an everyday regular and Colton Cain could be a sleeper. Cain was an overslot draft pick and well regarded. Still young too so may develop more. Hopefully the Twins model after this trade.

[greengoblinrulz]

Baseball America had Grossman 8th, Cain 13th & Owens 16th coming into thes season.

Our equilivant woulda been Kyle Gibson 8th, Corey Williams 13th & Adrian Salcedo 16th

[shs_59]

Pirates still HAVE

 

SS Alen Hanson B+

OF Jorge Palonco B+

OF Starling Marte B

SP Luis Heredia B+ / A-

SP Zach Van Rosenburg C+

SP Nich Kingham C+

 

 

theres still some chips for them to play around with

 

and thats assuming Cole and Taillon are untouchable.

[Ultima Ratio]

I'd hold out for one quality prospect rather than 3 middle of the road guys.

[kab21]

I'd hold out for one quality prospect rather than 3 middle of the road guys.

What if this means you get nothing?

[twinslover]

I think you'd have to take that for Liriano, but a better question is, would any GM out there offer that much? Wandy doesn't have the "stuff" that Liriano does, is also older and has a higher salary, but he is so much more consistent that I'm not sure you can compare the two. Liriano's value is almost more difficult to predict than the results of his next start.

[Oxtung]

So does this mean that everyone is back off the resign Liriano bandwagon? And I would take that deal as well. It certainly isn't optimal with the center piece being a "toolsy" outfielder at AA but if you don't trade Liriano you are basically committing to the $12M QO.

[glunn]

I hope that the Twins hold out for a very high quality pitching prospect.

[rickyhawaii]

Grossman is past the point of just being "toolsy", he's gets on base and good defender..Twins would be fortunate to get a player like him in any deal. Only prob though Grossman doesn't hit for much power.

[Shane Wahl]

Sub out the toolsy OF for some other similar position player, and yes, absolutely I would take that.

[Badsmerf]

The biggest problem I guess I have is the best prospect is a OF, which the Twins do not need. The next best is a back of the rotation starter, which the Twins also don't need. If the prospects were a 2b and a high upside pitcher I'd be all for it.

[diehardtwinsfan]

What if this means you get nothing?

then you offer Liriano arb.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Count me in the "not taking the deal" camp. Grossman is the only decent prospect of that bunch, and he's kind of redundant in this system, so there's no way I'd even be talking a trade around a propsect like him. Neither of those pitchers can strike out guys in low A, so unless there's some sort of obvious toolsy unrealized talent with those guys, they are filler at best. I'd much rather they take one quality propsect and a low A filler/higher ceiling guy than to go for a couple of #5 starters and a toolsy OF.

[Mike Sixel]

I'd take that if you swap out an OF for a MIF. If that was my best offer, yes, I'd take that. They need to go get more minor league quality and quantity. This team is awful for the 2nd year in a row, and it looks like nothing is on the horizon to change that next year. You have to go get some players, even if they are "throw them against the wall and see what sticks", average prospects, you have to go get some players.

[diehardtwinsfan]

minor league free agents will give you the minor league quantity you need. But you dont' trade guys you can offer arb to and get a pick for quantity... Otherwise, just take the pick.