Minor League Trade Pieces

[Gagne Fan]

Which minor leaguers would be good trade pieces.

 

I will start

 

Palka

Baxendale

Harrison

Hildenberger

Eades

Adam Brett Walker

Stuart Turner

Jason Wheeler

Alex Myer

 

Thoughts ?

[Otto von Ballpark]

Who exactly would be buying these players?  Probably another rebuilding team in a lost season, with 40-man roster space and opportunities to break new guys in.

 

What exactly would those teams give up for one of these players?  Maybe they'd give us a few million salary relief on one of our bad contracts, but they're probably not giving up talent, which they need themselves.

 

I'm not sure we need that.  We're probably just better off playing/protecting these guys ourselves to see if they can contribute and build more value.  Eat a little more salary if we need to clear a spot for them.

[jorgenswest]

There is the possibility that a team without prospects would need Minnesota to join as a third team. However, every team probably has prospects in the list above. It might be more the Polanco level where Minnesota would jump in as the third team.

[gunnarthor]

Top tier trade chips (Twins could get a lot back for these guys) - Berrios.  We probably don't want to trade him.

 

Nice add ins (probably not the centerpiece of a trade but might allow the Twins to be the third team in a trade) Gordon, Polanco, Gonsalves, Stewart, Jay.  I think this might happen.  mlbtraderumors had a bit about the Twins maybe becoming the third team in a trade to get a pre-arb player back.  We'll see.  But if they do that, I expect one of those five players would be the piece.

 

Throw ins (guys another team would probably hope to nab b/c of a plus tool but not the centerpiece) - Meyer, Walker, Palka, Chargois.  Lottery tickets.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Who exactly would be buying these players?

Huh, a funny thought just occurred to me.

 

If a team says "We'll take Ricky Nolasco and his salary but you have to throw in ABW as well. We offer nothing in return."

 

Do you pull the trigger? I think I would.

[Vanimal46]

 

Huh, a funny thought just occurred to me.

 

If a team says "We'll take Ricky Nolasco and his salary but you have to throw in ABW as well. We offer nothing in return."

 

Do you pull the trigger? I think I would.

Yes I would have no issue pulling the trigger on that. I'm not a member of the ABW Fan Club, so others may not do it. 

[goulik]

Polanco, Beresford, Reginatto, Wiel, Dean, Gordon, Vielma, Arrietta, Wade, Jay, Stewart, Gonsalves, Garver

 

Not that I would want to trade certain ones among our lists but all of these may intrigue some other teams with greatly varying potential returns and there are more that could be listed. We do have a lot of talent in the minors but after them are LOTS of lottery tickets.

 

I used to see Vavra as roster filler but he has become a lotto ticket as well.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Huh, a funny thought just occurred to me.

 

If a team says "We'll take Ricky Nolasco and his salary but you have to throw in ABW as well. We offer nothing in return."

 

Do you pull the trigger? I think I would.

In other words, if a team offered $17 mil straight up to buy Adam Brett Walker? I guess in that fantasy baseball world, you take it.

[alarp33]

 

Huh, a funny thought just occurred to me.

 

If a team says "We'll take Ricky Nolasco and his salary but you have to throw in ABW as well. We offer nothing in return."

 

Do you pull the trigger? I think I would.

 

Absolutely I would.  And I am not at all advocating the Pohlad's sell prospects to line their pocket books, but I don't consider ABW a prospect

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

In other words, if a team offered $17 mil straight up to buy Adam Brett Walker? I guess in that fantasy baseball world, you take it.

Well, yes and no. An NL team might think it's an acceptable risk to take on Nolasco as a fifth starter if they get something in return for taking on salary.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Huh, a funny thought just occurred to me.

 

If a team says "We'll take Ricky Nolasco and his salary but you have to throw in ABW as well. We offer nothing in return."

 

Do you pull the trigger? I think I would.

 

Would I sell ABW for 15-20 million dollars, and free a roster spot for Berrios?

 

Who would decline that deal?

[jorgenswest]

If there really is anyone interested in Nolasco, the Twins should be able to give him away by throwing in 4-5 million. At that point, he is the cost of a one year flyer on a Pelfrey. They don't need to add ABW. They just need to find a team truly interested.

[TheLeviathan]

 

Huh, a funny thought just occurred to me.

 

If a team says "We'll take Ricky Nolasco and his salary but you have to throw in ABW as well. We offer nothing in return."

 

Do you pull the trigger? I think I would.

 

The Cult of ABW is aware of you.  Lock your doors man.  Lock your doors.

[Major League Ready]

 

If there really is anyone interested in Nolasco, the Twins should be able to give him away by throwing in 4-5 million. At that point, he is the cost of a one year flyer on a Pelfrey. They don't need to add ABW. They just need to find a team truly interested.

I hope you are right and I hope that it happens even more.  I would find it much more entertaining to watch if they moved May back to the rotation or gave Rogers a shot at starting regardless of the results.  Move them back to the pen if necessary.  Heck, I would rather give Wheeler a shot a starting than to watch Nolasco.

[Mike Sixel]

I hope you are right and I hope that it happens even more. I would find it much more entertaining to watch if they moved May back to the rotation or gave Rogers a shot at starting regardless of the results. Move them back to the pen if necessary. Heck, I would rather give Wheeler a shot a starting than to watch Nolasco.

100 percent agree

[Pardon My Dinger]

Use 'em or lose 'em. 

[alarp33]

 

If there really is anyone interested in Nolasco, the Twins should be able to give him away by throwing in 4-5 million. At that point, he is the cost of a one year flyer on a Pelfrey. They don't need to add ABW. They just need to find a team truly interested.

 

He's owed something like $17 million (~$4 this year, $12 next, $1 buyout), there is no way in hell a team is going to trade for Nolasco and take on $12-13 million.  

 

Frankly I will be shocked if this doesn't end in a DFA, or a team basically agreeing to take him on  at slightly above the veteran minimum, like $2 million next year (with the Twins picking up $15 million)

[jorgenswest]

He's owed something like $17 million (~$4 this year, $12 next, $1 buyout), there is no way in hell a team is going to trade for Nolasco and take on $12-13 million.  

 

Frankly I will be shocked if this doesn't end in a DFA, or a team basically agreeing to take him on  at slightly above the veteran minimum, like $2 million next year (with the Twins picking up $15 million)

My premise starts with a team truly interested. If that is the case the dollars remaining are very reasonable for a back of a rotation starter. If they don't think he can be a back of the rotation starter why would they want him at any cost?

 

I don't think any team is interested which leads to waivers. No reason to throw in ABW in either case.

[nytwinsfan]

 

Which minor leaguers would be good trade pieces.

I will start

Palka
Baxendale
Harrison
Hildenberger
Eades
Adam Brett Walker
Stuart Turner
Jason Wheeler
Alex Myer

Thoughts ?

Maybe Palka, Walker and Turner would each get something small. Doubt anyone else would get much else in return at this point.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Well, yes and no. An NL team might think it's an acceptable risk to take on Nolasco as a fifth starter if they get something in return for taking on salary.

Are you actually saying it is realistic to expect a team to take on Nolasco's full salary if they get Walker too? There is not a chance in heck of that happening, not with $17 mil left on his deal.

 

Maybe a team would take on a couple million, but at that point it probably doesn't make sense for the Twins to include the prospect. They don't need a couple mil salary relief.

[Otto von Ballpark]

My premise starts with a team truly interested. If that is the case the dollars remaining are very reasonable for a back of a rotation starter. If they don't think he can be a back of the rotation starter why would they want him at any cost?

 

I don't think any team is interested which leads to waivers. No reason to throw in ABW in either case.

Your premise stated that less $4-5 mil, Nolasco's salary would be comparable to a Pelfrey flyer. It's not true. As a flyer, Pelf made ~$5 mil. It would be more comparable to the remaining guarantee on Palfrey's current deal, which I am sure Detroit would gladly sell if there was a market for such pitchers.

[jorgenswest]

Your premise stated that less $4-5 mil, Nolasco's salary would be comparable to a Pelfrey flyer. It's not true. As a flyer, Pelf made ~$5 mil. It would be more comparable to the remaining guarantee on Palfrey's current deal, which I am sure Detroit would gladly sell if there was a market for such pitchers.

Didn't Pelfrey get 16 million over two years from Detroit? Is it that different from 12 million over 1 year + 60 games this year?

[Otto von Ballpark]

Didn't Pelfrey get 16 million over two years from Detroit? Is it that different from 12 million over 1 year + 60 games this year?

Pelfrey's current deal isn't a "one year flyer" so I thought you meant his earlier deals.

 

And like I said, if a team wants a starter cheaper than that, Detroit may give them Pelfrey and eat a few mil too. Jimenez, Garza, there are other options too that may not cost $12-13 mil.

[Rosterman]

Like the fellow who said he would pull the trigger on a Nolasco with Walker throw-in with nothing in return. Well, you would probably include Walker to get something. Maybe a second year proespect just out of the instructional league that might show promise or offer some depth.

 

But overall, the Twins HAVE to look carefully at who can they protect this year and next year, and who they can't...and start dealing those bodies that are showing favorably in their respectable leagues...either as a third-party, as a package with a contract to get rid of. Otherwise, the players walk, claimed in the Rule 5, and you egt nothing, zilch, for your hard-earned development time.

[blairpaul715]

Atlanta took a DL player last year, Bronson Arroyo from the Diamondbacks, and also got a top prospect in Touki Touissaint, and gave nothing in return.

[jorgenswest]

Didn't they give up Phillip Gosselin? He has a .773 OPS for Arizona in the last year playing 5 positions. That is probably better than his ability but a very useful player on any major league roster.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Atlanta took a DL player last year, Bronson Arroyo from the Diamondbacks, and also got a top prospect in Touki Touissaint, and gave nothing in return.

Yes. That was for a top 100 prospect, though, a very recent first round pick. The Braves took on $10 mil salary to get him. They also gave up that player Gosselin, but I think it is safe to say that Walker would not fetch more in salary relief than Toussaint, and this deal probably won't be replicated anytime soon (seems to be one of those "Dave Stewart Specials").

[jorgenswest]

Yes. That was for a top 100 prospect, though, a very recent first round pick. The Braves took on $10 mil salary to get him. They also gave up that player Gosselin, but I think it is safe to say that Walker would not fetch more in salary relief than Toussaint, and this deal probably won't be replicated anytime soon (seems to be one of those "Dave Stewart Specials").

Dave Stewart might win this deal. He has already received good value from a major league player. Toussaint is a long way away and not progressing.

 

The Twins don't need salary relief. They don't need to add Walker or anyone to rid themselves of a contract. If the trade is Nolasco and Walker and they get a 26 year old that can be valuable to the roster for their control years, I am in.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'd probably just DFA Nolasco personally rather than giving up an asset to get rid of him, but then again, I don't know the finances of the Twins.  Personally, I'd use a guy like ABW to upgrade the prospect I'm getting back. No one will trade a top 100 prospect for say Suzuki, but they might throw one in if they are still getting a decent prospect back (such as Walker who really has no place with the team as it's currently developing).  Of the list above, the guys I wouldn't really want to part with would be Palka, Hildenberger, Meyer, and Wheeler.  Not saying they are untouchable, but I'd definitely be trying to unload the other guys. Most are blocked at this point by better options, but they still have the potential to be productive major leaguers. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Dave Stewart might win this deal. He has already received good value from a major league player. Toussaint is a long way away and not progressing.

The Twins don't need salary relief. They don't need to add Walker or anyone to rid themselves of a contract. If the trade is Nolasco and Walker and they get a 26 year old that can be valuable to the roster for their control years, I am in.

Gosselin is listed as primarily a pinch hitter at B-Ref, so I'm not sure it's fair to describe him as a utility guy.  A pinch hitter is far more valuable to Arizona than to Atlanta right now (and isn't even that valuable on the overall trade market, as AL teams generally don't need them or can't roster them).  And his .773 OPS with Arizona is inflated by a brief September garbage time power spike last year, which Gosselin has never repeated before or since.  2 of his 3 HR that month were hit off of Colorado pitchers who were subsequently demoted this year.  This year, Gosselin is a 85 wRC+ hitter, pretty much in line with most of his professional career, even with the benefit of a strong .341 BABIP.

 

I have a hard time seeing how Arizona could clearly "win" that deal over Atlanta -- worst case, it seems like it will be a win-win -- Arizona will shed some salary and get a average-ish PH/utility option, and Atlanta took a chance on a decent prospect.  (I'll add that Toussaint is still very young, doesn't even have to be added to the 40-man until after 2017, and his recent K rate suggests he could be a bullpen option even if he fizzles out starting.)

 

Also, Atlanta further complicated things by shedding some of Arroyo's salary in a subsequent deal with the Dodgers, so perhaps it's not quite accurate to say they took on that full $10 million for Toussaint.

 

In any case, I pretty much agree with you on the core Twins point.  The Twins don't need salary relief, so they don't need to sell a prospect like this.