Twins trade rumors

[gunnarthor]

In part because of the very limited FA starting pitching pool, Ervin Santana has more interest than i would have thought.  This is mostly from Nick Cafardo at the Boston Globe so ...

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/06/cafardos-latest-valencia-royals-liriano-melancon-santana.html and

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2016/06/25/nick-cafardo-hitters-contenders-could-try-acquire-trade-deadline/wrwSVJTiDjNypEsEmCrtWI/story.html

 

From the link:
"3. Ervin Santana, RHP, Twins — Santana is seen as perhaps the most viable trade deadline pickup on the market. The veteran can help a team immediately, perhaps not at the front end, but “he’s the one guy out there who could be a sure thing in the middle of the rotation. Teams like Boston, Toronto, Baltimore need that guy,” according to an American League assistant GM. Santana had some rough starts in early June, but on June 19 against the Yankees he went 7⅓ innings and allowed just two earned runs, looking more like himself. Santana is making Clay Buchholz money, $13.5 million a year through 2018."

 

The article also has notes on Nunez, Plouffe and even Mauer.

[Winston Smith]

I wonder if Mauer would consider waiving his no trade after all the losing. 2+ years left on his contract, are the Twins going to be a real contender in that time?

[diehardtwinsfan]

Santana strikes me as someone who would be an instant upgrade if he had a real defense.... 

[Bark's Lounge]

Anyone can be traded off of this roster. We will get nothing good in return.

 

If you are looking at the product I am, It is as clear as ice. No ifs, ands or buts about it.

[Bark's Lounge]

 

In part because of the very limited FA starting pitching pool, Ervin Santana has more interest than i would have thought.  This is mostly from Nick Cafardo at the Boston Globe so ...

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/06/cafardos-latest-valencia-royals-liriano-melancon-santana.html and

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2016/06/25/nick-cafardo-hitters-contenders-could-try-acquire-trade-deadline/wrwSVJTiDjNypEsEmCrtWI/story.html

 

From the link:
"3. Ervin Santana, RHP, Twins — Santana is seen as perhaps the most viable trade deadline pickup on the market. The veteran can help a team immediately, perhaps not at the front end, but “he’s the one guy out there who could be a sure thing in the middle of the rotation. Teams like Boston, Toronto, Baltimore need that guy,” according to an American League assistant GM. Santana had some rough starts in early June, but on June 19 against the Yankees he went 7⅓ innings and allowed just two earned runs, looking more like himself. Santana is making Clay Buchholz money, $13.5 million a year through 2018."

 

The article also has notes on Nunez, Plouffe and even Mauer.

I like your excitement, but nobody is going to pay a worth while price for chopped meat. It will be... **** it, I have better things to do.

[brvama]

I read the same article and also was surprised to see the comments made about those Twins. Apparently, there are some out there that see value in a few of our players, even if they are "chopped meat." Not going to bet on it but Nunez and Santana could help some clubs in the right situation.

[Mr. Brooks]

Regarding Santana, the article also makes it clear that the Twins would likely have to eat a large chunk of his contract.

 

That is simply not happening so long as Terry is still the GM.

[DaveW]

The Twins should offer to pick up 3-4.5 mil a year of Santana's contract and let a few teams "bid" him up. Might be able to get a C+ type prospect for him. Santana at 9 mil a year has some value IMO

[Everyday Eddy]

Mauer should really want to be traded at this point.    He can play these next two plus years with a contender and then if he still wants to play he can come back and finish out back in Minnesota for cheap when we should be competitive again

[markos]

 

The Twins should offer to pick up 3-4.5 mil a year of Santana's contract and let a few teams "bid" him up. Might be able to get a C+ type prospect for him. Santana at 9 mil a year has some value IMO

From a certain perspective, he may have some decent value even without picking up any money. The free agent starters market is crap next year, and even last year guys like Jeff Samardzija, Mike Leake and Ian Kennedy were getting 5+ years, $14M-$18M per year. Santana is comparable. So if a team is looking for help this year AND is expecting to need FA mid-rotation help for the next couple of years, it may make a lot more sense to trade for Santana (only a two year commitment) rather than locking in a guy like Buchholz, Hellickson, Hill or Kazmir a $70M+ deal.

[S.]

The Twins aren't going to trade Mauer. No matter how many times we wish it would happen, it's never going to happen. And if by some miracle they did trade him, why the hell would we want to sign him again in a few years if we're competitive?

 

Seriously though, Mauer isn't going to get traded.

[nicksaviking]

I like your excitement, but nobody is going to pay a worth while price for chopped meat. It will be... **** it, I have better things to do.

I don't care about the price of chopped meat. Clear 25-man space, give young guys a look, and give the next GM the flexibility to sign free agents best for the new system.

[Rosterman]

The best thing that could happen is that you have more than one buyer for a player, and that player might just be Ervin Santana. As posters have said, not much of a crop for next season, his contract is not unreasonable, and a bidding war could net the Twins no salary payout as well as a couple of higher level prospects. Samething with Nunez...or even Plouffe if the Valencia market turns out to be too expensive. There could be a little gold that the Twins are harboring. I would rather see Ryan listen AND do something, especially if pieces are in place for longer term replacements of sorts (Polanco, Sano, Berrios) than think he has Platinum and it will only go up in price.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I don't care about the price of chopped meat. Clear 25-man space, give young guys a look, and give the next GM the flexibility to sign free agents best for the new system.

it wouldn't be all bad to clear some 40 man roster to protect a couple of assets with options remaining as well. There might be some teams kicking tires, but until the team is willing to pay for part of their salaries, Nolasco, ESan, and Mauer are untradeable.

 

Come to think of it, I'm not sure Mauer would want to be traded. I'm struggling with the reasons that have kept him here so far and I would think the competitive nature would have won out two off seasons ago. He may want to be a Twin for life more than winning a World Series

[Otto von Ballpark]

From a certain perspective, he may have some decent value even without picking up any money. The free agent starters market is crap next year, and even last year guys like Jeff Samardzija, Mike Leake and Ian Kennedy were getting 5+ years, $14M-$18M per year. Santana is comparable. So if a team is looking for help this year AND is expecting to need FA mid-rotation help for the next couple of years, it may make a lot more sense to trade for Santana (only a two year commitment) rather than locking in a guy like Buchholz, Hellickson, Hill or Kazmir a $70M+ deal.

I think it is far from clear those guys are going to get similar deals. Kazmir only got 3/48 last winter (admittedly back loaded with with an opt out). Guys like Leake, Shark,and Kennedy got their salaries largely by being longtime innings eaters. That doesn't necessarily apply to Kazmir, or Hill, etc.

 

Also, Santana does have a vesting option, so it wouldn't quite be a straight two year commitment.

[old nurse]

Got to love Kriviski can still get quoted, even if it is credited as "one assistant GM"

[Platoon]

Most likely possibility? Although it would be a stretch in timing, July 6th, Park heads to Rochester. And Sano comes back. If that's not it, then something un TwinsWorld like will have to happen. Plouffe traded? Santana DFA'ed? Leaving us with a roster which includes about 7 DH style hitters. Whoops, 6, Oswaldo has left the building. Seriously, when the smoke clears Aug 1st, you might, maybe, possibly see one of the big three SP gone, Maybe? Trading Plouffe now would require a huge diet of crow for Ryan. It will be simpler to send Park to Rochester. Come to think of it, nothing will resolve anything until they decide this is a total rebuild, not a plug a few holes situation,

[beckmt]

Park will probably be sent to Rochester until the logjam clears.  Park also needs to regain confidence so this would be best. 

Problem with the Twins is pitching.  This club would be under .500, but not buried if the pitching was average and not horrible.  Most of the pitching reenforcements are coming in about 2018, so bridge is needed until then.  Nolasco would probably fit with a National league club(Twins might have to pick up salary to move him.) Hughes is untradeable.  Santana may be moved(and probably should be for the right offer).  Abad should be traded if offer is good(I believe there will be more than one club bidding on him). 

Dozier and Plouffe need to be traded to clear room for younger player and salary space.

One major error TR has made is to not spend money on mid level pitchers, but to buy an ace.  But the ace has to be under 29 or you are just getting their decline years.  The older ones should have other assets(like knowing how to pitch so it isn't all stuff they are using to get by).  Otherwise trade for one and hope you do not give up the wrong assets.  Twins have about 10 pitchers who could become major leaguers(and not nearly as many hitters).  The 10 are starters, this does not include the relief staff of which there are 4-7, based on writeups.  If you clear salary, Twins will have plenty of money to buy a great pitcher or two in the next couple of years.  Do not know TV/radio contracts, but when those can be sold will also factor into this.  Twins will not have to spend major  money on hitters types until the early 2020 decade so the window is hear to reboot this club. 

Please notice that most of the clubs leading the divisions in the AL have either great or deep starting pitching or a lockdown bullpen.  That is what is going to win most of the time.

[clutterheart]

 

I like your excitement, but nobody is going to pay a worth while price for chopped meat. It will be... **** it, I have better things to do.

 

Scarcity might be an advantage here.  With this new playoff format, lots of teams still think they are in it.  That means they won't be dumping capable starters and guys like Santana could be desired.  Nobody is getting Santana as an ace, but getting him as 3-5 guy makes a lot sense for a team like Boston/Baltimore who have a good offense but some open rotation spots.  

 

Now can Ryan take advantage and get a good trade done quick before those team find replacements?  I am not sure....

[Everyday Eddy]

 

The Twins aren't going to trade Mauer. No matter how many times we wish it would happen, it's never going to happen. And if by some miracle they did trade him, why the hell would we want to sign him again in a few years if we're competitive?

 

Seriously though, Mauer isn't going to get traded.

 

I said Mauer should want to be traded, not that the twins will look to trade him.    The future hypothetical signing of Mauer would strictly be a PR move, which is something the Twins are known for.

[alarp33]

 

I said Mauer should want to be traded, not that the twins will look to trade him.    The future hypothetical signing of Mauer would strictly be a PR move, which is something the Twins are known for.

 

Mauer should want to pack up his wife and 2 young children and move away from his and his wife's entire families?  Ok, sure

[Badsmerf]

Mauer should want to pack up his wife and 2 young children and move away from his and his wife's entire families? Ok, sure

He lives in Florida... so I don't think it matters much. A lot if players late in their career try to play for winners. Mauer is hard to get a read on, so i don't know if that would be a priority of his or not.

[alarp33]

 

He lives in Florida... so I don't think it matters much. A lot if players late in their career try to play for winners. Mauer is hard to get a read on, so i don't know if that would be a priority of his or not.

 

No, he doesn't.  His residence was in Florida (and still spent April-Sept in MN) before he was married, and had children

[Craig Arko]

My guess is that if Mauer requested a trade it would be accommodated.

[tobi0040]

The Twins should offer to pick up 3-4.5 mil a year of Santana's contract and let a few teams "bid" him up. Might be able to get a C+ type prospect for him. Santana at 9 mil a year has some value IMO

I am not sure paying Ervin to leave is a good move, especially if we aren’t getting anything of value back. You need pitching to win and I view him as the only real starting pitcher that can be counted on the next 1-2 years. We have some exciting prospects, Gibson has been OK at times. But we need 5-6 starters and we have a long way to go to get there. Unfortunately his league average numbers over his career make him head and shoulders above everyone else.

 

If the goal is clearing space for younger guys, let’s clear the other four rotation spots.

 

On another note, it is absolutely asinine to let the GM that has created a 20 win team, also be the one making these trades.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

My guess is that if Mauer requested a trade it would be accommodated.

By the Twins?  Sure.  By any other team in baseball, in terms of picking up his salary?  Unlikely.

 

Have we all not noticed that Mauer is back to a 106 OPS+ this year?  His batting line, including ISO, K%, AVG, and BABIP, is almost exactly back to last year's levels, except for an extra +3% on his walk rate.

[tobi0040]

My guess is that if Mauer requested a trade it would be accommodated.

Mauer is not going anywhere. He is a 1B making $23m a year and has put up numbers in the .718-.750 range the last 2.5 years. So we would have to eat upwards of $10m a year to move him.

 

He is worth more that that to the Twins by bringing little kids to the ballpark.

 

And the mention of Mauer taking a discount and riding out his career here. Wishful thinking. He will take the same discount Torii Hunter did.

[Mike Sixel]

I think Santana stays. He is, imo, a legit pitcher, and they'll want him on the staff next year.

[markos]

 

I think it is far from clear those guys are going to get similar deals. Kazmir only got 3/48 last winter (admittedly back loaded with with an opt out). Guys like Leake, Shark,and Kennedy got their salaries largely by being longtime innings eaters. That doesn't necessarily apply to Kazmir, or Hill, etc.

Also, Santana does have a vesting option, so it wouldn't quite be a straight two year commitment.

True, they all won't get huge deals. But they will probably get more than the 2yr-$26.4M that Santana has left. So I think it is reasonable that any team that can convince itself to answer 'yes' to the following questions would have a legitimate interest in trading for him:

 

1) Does Santana improve our current rotation?

2) Are we expecting to sign free agent pitching help next offseason?

3) If Santana was a free agent, would he get more than the 2yr-$26.4M that he is owed?

4) Is he better than anyone we could sign for that same 2yr-$26.4M?

5) Is he better than any internal options for the next year or two?

6) Are we hoping to contend during the contract?

 

Off the top of my head, I can see Baltimore, Toronto and Miami all being interested for the above reasons. And frankly, my mind has changed a lot on this. Initially, I would have said that no one is trading for Santana as he has basically zero value. But looking at the weak current market (and next year's free agent lists), I can understand the potential appeal. 

 

[HitInAPinch]

Hey, if they can trade Kevin Correia, they can trade ANYONE