Article: Twins Trade Abad To Red Sox For RP Prospect

[Nick Nelson]

The Minnesota Twins just announced their first deadline day move. They are sending lefty reliever Fernando Abad to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for right-hander Pat Light.

 

Light, 25, was drafted by the Red Sox 37th overall in 2012. He's a relief prospect that can touch triple digits with his heater.The Twins have some familiarity with the new arrival. Three years before Boston drafted him out of Monmouth University in the first round, Minnesota selected him in the 28th round of his New Jersey high school, though he didn't sign.

 

Light struggled during his first few pro seasons as a starter, but since converting to a relief role last year he has turned himself back into an intriguing prospect with premium velocity. In the last two seasons between Double-A and Triple-A, he has amassed 103 strikeouts in 93 2/3 innings (9.9 K/9) though all the whiffs have come along with a whopping 54 walks (5.2 BB/9)

 

Like many other young bullpen arms the Twins have targeted over the past few years, Light is a hard-throwing specimen with control problems and plentiful upside if he can iron them out. He's a nice return for Abad, who signed a minor-league deal during the offseason and went on to post a 2.65 ERA in 39 appearances for Minnesota.

 

Abad's vacated roster spot goes to Jose Berrios, who will start tonight for the Twins in Cleveland.

 

What are your thoughts on the deal?

 

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[operation mindcrime]

Sounds good!

[Seth Stohs]

Works for me... Light has upside yet. Team him with Pressly, May, Tonkin and Rogers, along with JT Chargois (and eventually guys like Melotakis, Reed, Burdi, Hildenberger, etc.)

 

Abad had a nice couple of months and is a solid MLB pitcher. He was clearly the right choice over Tony Sipp and Antonio Bastardo. But dealing him now for a guy with upside is a great deal...

 

Note - Rob Antony, 2-for-2.

[LaBombo]

 

Note - Rob Antony, 2-for-2.

Yup. The more solid hand he can pass on to the new GM, the better.

[twinssouth]

I like the trade. Rogers can take over Abad's role and this kid has some serious gas.

[LaBombo]

It would be interesting to know if Light just can't find the strike zone in general at times, or if it's his breaking stuff that's the primary culprit. If he's been dominating with his fastball, a good developmental system would urge him to work on his other pitches more and that might contribute to the high walk rate.

[troyhobbs]

Good ROI on both trades so far. If he can deal Santana and Kintzler I'm not sure what else I'll have to bitch about the rest of the season. Jk, I'll find some things....

[strumdatjaguar]

Depending on what we in return, I have no problem parting with Kurt Suzuki who could be very valuable to a contender down the stretch, so the Twins could get value in return.   However, Kintzler is 32 years old and has been successful this year.  I don't think the Twins would get much for him.  Keep him around for next year.

[gil4]

 

If he can deal Santana and Kintzler I'm not sure what else I'll have to bitch about the rest of the season. Jk, I'll find some things....

 

"I can't complain but sometimes I still do"  Joe Walsh

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngkQVOt8GEM

[Teflon]

Well, on one hand it's Abad deal but on the other, not a bad deal.

[70charger]

 

Well, on one hand it's Abad deal but on the other, not a bad deal.

 

Get out.

[magiklair]

I'm all right with this deal. However, disappointed more veterans haven't been dealt..

[Kwak]

Darn, we won't get a repeat of my favorite post (so far) this year: "That was Abad pitch."

[zenser]

Not a bad return on a Terry Ryan dumpster dive.

[ThejacKmp]

 

I'm all right with this deal. However, disappointed more veterans haven't been dealt..

 

We have to remember there is always still August for guys like Plouffe, Kintzler, Santana etc. I love that MLB has a trade deadline that is kind of a deadline but not really.

[birddog]

We'll know in couple years if it was a good trade or not, but I like getting a former #1 who can reach triple digits. BBs are an issue but I like the fact we are getting more pitchers who should miss some bats and has three pitches.

 

Guessing more deals will be made after the deadline for the Twins as our trade bait is under most team's radar and should make it through waivers. Holding my breath that Nolasco goes somewhere.

[magiklair]

 

We have to remember there is always still August for guys like Plouffe, Kintzler, Santana etc. I love that MLB has a trade deadline that is kind of a deadline but not really.

 

Yes that's true.. But most teams are looking to upgrade their rosters now rather than August.

[Eephus]

 

Works for me... Light has upside yet. Team him with Pressly, May, Tonkin and Rogers, along with JT Chargois (and eventually guys like Melotakis, Reed, Burdi, Hildenberger, etc.)

 

 

I's like to think there's an above average bullpen somewhere some day among all those prospects.

[Fritzderkat]

Speaking of trades, can't complain on the reasoning behind Nunez for Mejia, but I for one will miss seeing Nunez around. He's come into his own this year, a career season so far, and how long he can keep it up or how it may change with the Giants and the National League, who knows? But this year, playing half a season with a bunch of flagging prospects and stiffs, he's been a breath of fresh and its been fun to watch him play, I like his style and attitude. I wrote him a letter over the weekend to tell him so.

 

That's only the third time I've ever written a letter to a professional baseball player. The first was to Mickey Mantle, who replied with an autograph and poster, and the second was to Frank Viola, who said nothing after I ragged his ass for having a bad year with the Red Sox and ruining the pitching stafs on my fantasy baseball team.

 

[Vanimal46]

This is a fine return for Abad. Now we just need a FO who can come in and develop these guys. 

[TheLeviathan]

I heartily endorse this approach.  Whether Light becomes a factor or not, this is a good trade.

[Monkeypaws]

When I first read this I misread 37th overall for 37th round. 

 

Much more excited about it now.

 

Here's an article from a site called MassLive about Light:

 

http://www.masslive.com/redsox/index.ssf/2016/06/pat_light_boston_red_sox_prosp.html

 

Most Sox prospect rankings I looked at had him in the 14-16 range.

Edited August 1, 2016 by Monkeypaws

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Note - Rob Antony, 2-for-2.

 

That's not really a useful way of looking at it.

 

First of all, by your definition, he almost can't go 0-for-1 on a player until the trade deadline actually passes (and even then, we'll probably hear how it wasn't really his fault that he couldn't move such-and-such player).

 

And it's not really a hit/no-hit situation -- there are tons of outcomes between going "0-for-1" and "1-for-1" on a trade.  I'd say getting an interesting 40-man depth piece for an obvious trade candidate is something like a "league average" performance in terms of trades -- not bad, but short of the perfection implied by "2-for-2".

[HitInAPinch]

 

Get out.

 

AMEN !!

[Mike Sixel]

 

That's not really a useful way of looking at it.

 

First of all, by your definition, he almost can't go 0-for-1 on a player until the trade deadline actually passes (and even then, we'll probably hear how it wasn't really his fault that he couldn't move such-and-such player).

 

And it's not really a hit/no-hit situation -- there are tons of outcomes between going "0-for-1" and "1-for-1" on a trade.  I'd say getting an interesting 40-man depth piece for an obvious trade candidate is something like a "league average" performance in terms of trades -- not bad, but short of the perfection implied by "2-for-2".

 

Pretty much no matter what he does, you criticize it. He got a good prospect for a RP that is a FA after this year (I think).......isn't that a good trade? I don't understand the line of thinking here at all. 

 

I agree with Seth, 2-2.

[insane16]

 

".isn't that a good trade?"

This is my final chance to say this....The return wassa not abad!

[TheLeviathan]

In 5 years we can judge the outcome, I would suggest Seth's 2-2 line was more about the idea of the trade.  We took a roster invite guy and turned him into a former 37th pick by selling high.

 

I don't care so much about the long term results at this point, I strongly agree with that philosophy of asset management/acquisition.

[ALessKosherScott]

Pitching prospects are a numbers game more than anything. I have a good feeling one of Light, Burdi and Meyer will work out. I'm not sure which one though.

[insane16]

 

This is a fine return for Abad.

This is my final chance to say this....The return wassa not abad!

[HitInAPinch]

 

Pretty much no matter what he does, you criticize it. He got a good prospect for a RP that is a FA after this year (I think).......isn't that a good trade? I don't understand the line of thinking here at all. 

 

I agree with Seth, 2-2.

Agree!  To get 2 high ranking prospects like Light [ for a soft-tossing lefty ] and Adalberto Mejia [ for a utility player ] is a win.