Should the Twins be sellers?

ashbury · May 28, 2018

no way I sell on Escobar (I'd try and extend him, and would have no qualms about a QO given how well he's played).

You'd pay $17M for a year of Escobar?

Darius · May 28, 2018

I think the opportunity here is undeniable.

There are a number of guys that could realistically be dealt for a decent return:

Reed and Duke could be dealt out of the pen, maybe even Rodney. Odorizzi may be an interesting option, and Lynn should definitely be explored.

Offensively, Morrison is an obvious option. Dozier as well. I really like the Escobar suggestion as well.

It'll be interesting to see if the down market for free agents in the offseason will continue at the trade deadline, or if the "market" will rebound and people will be willing to give up prospects for guys like Morrison and Lynn that they were unwilling to give cash to.

Highabove · May 28, 2018

I think the opportunity here is undeniable.

There are a number of guys that could realistically be dealt for a decent return:

Reed and Duke could be dealt out of the pen, maybe even Rodney. Odorizzi may be an interesting option, and Lynn should definitely be explored.

Offensively, Morrison is an obvious option. Dozier as well. I really like the Escobar suggestion as well.

It'll be interesting to see if the down market for free agents in the offseason will continue at the trade deadline, or if the "market" will rebound and people will be willing to give up prospects for guys like Morrison and Lynn that they were unwilling to give cash to.

Why would the Twins Want to trade Reed and Odorizzi unless their going back

to a 3+ year rebuild?

diehardtwinsfan · May 28, 2018

You'd pay $17M for a year of Escobar?

I would actually. It would keep him here. He's on my list of guys to extend. He plays the entire infield and has a bat that can play up anywhere. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather extend him, but if that's what it took to get him to sit down to a multi-year deal, I wouldn't think twice about it.

Otto von Ballpark · May 28, 2018

I would actually. It would keep him here. He's on my list of guys to extend. He plays the entire infield and has a bat that can play up anywhere. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather extend him, but if that's what it took to get him to sit down to a multi-year deal, I wouldn't think twice about it.

Escobar's peak wRC+ coming into the season was 101 (and I think his 2018 mark is trending down toward that too, already down to 115).

TKGuy · May 28, 2018

IM withholding judgment. We still have 66 games against the AL Central and cleveland has its own worts

rv78 · May 28, 2018

I say trade Dozier right now and hope another team is betting on the hot streak. Gordon comes up and injects some life into this team. Get an outfielder who can play corner as part of the return so Buxton can serve AAA time.

2nd half team with Santana back as the leader, Polanco and Gordon up the middle, Rosey, Max, and new blood in OF, big boy at first, Carter and Lomo DH.

"Get an outfielder who can play corner as part of the return so Buxton can serve AAA time."

They have LaMarre but Molitor won't play him. They tried Cave for all of 2 or 3 Games? Grossman gets more time in the outfield when he's the last one that should be going out there of all the options they currently have. More offense needs to come from 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, DH, C. Outside of Escobar they aren't getting much from anyone else at those spots.

operation mindcrime · May 28, 2018

Like Mike, as was I.

If this were July and not the end of May, I'd sell now too. Still time to get things sorted out, but this team seems pretty dead in the water. I'm still pretty confident that Cleveland will find their groove and run away with things.

Me too!

\m/

D.C Twins · May 28, 2018

Yes sellers but wil have to wait until the market warms up.

Even if they feed off the weak central division, it is highly unlikely that this team can win A SERIES versus the Yanks, Sox, Houston etc.

So....wtih 1st round playoff loss is the high water....I vote for making the team better in the future.

Unfortunately, I think Mauer has played his last baseball game (and if he hasn't, the prospect of one play knocking him out will greatly reduce any trade value)

We need Dozier to get hot around the deadline so a team will take a flyer that they can ride "Good Dozier" through the playoffs

launchingthrees · May 28, 2018

It would be interesting to see if anyone in this thread was in the "sellers" camp last August. Thanks

Why? Selling was the obvious path last year and it makes even more sense in hindsight. You can't trade longterm assets when best case scenario you have a 10% of getting into a 1 game playoff against a better team. I guess you can but that's not a team I want to be a fan of.

Rosterman · May 29, 2018

Yes. Especially with the number of guys who have contract runouts this season.

But...they have to produce to draw worth and interest, although something in return, even an A-ball prospect, could be considered a plus.

Catcher: we will be stuck with Castro for another season.

1B: Joe Mauer could refuse a trade. The bigegr question, should he retire, or should he continue. For the Twins? Elsewhere? Who's on first! Logan Morrison could have worth and anything you get would be a plus. I don't see him reaching his mutual option.

Infielder: Escobar may be the hottest commodity the Twins have, but a team would need to have a position to use him. Again, being a free agent himself means a team would lose him come October. The joy of trading someone like Escobar, you may have a better option of bringing him back when he walks away from another team instead of yours. Would bring back a low-level prospect.

2B: Brian Dozier. It will be making the qualifying offer or letting him walk. I'm torn if the Twins WILL take the gamble. The chances are pretty good that Dozier MIGHT not take it...looking for a longer deal at age 32 rather than at 33. But if the Twins do trade him, then another team gets to make that decision, and the Twins could be back in the hunt and negotiate a contract suitable with other offers. But it would mean that they would have to be more than comfortable with Gordon and Polanco at 2nd/SS. Might be able to get another team's 40-man roster issue, or a low level prospect.

ROTATION: Santana, Lynn and Gibson should all be on the shopping bloc. The Twins have May in reserve and the possibility of Gonsalves, Slegers, Mejia ready to step into the major league rotation. Of course, a couple of those mentioned names may not be here in 2019. But then we have Littell, Stewart, Jorge, and another name or two in the wind, too. I don't see any of our free agent starters coming back, and the Twins would be wiser to invest any monies in someone else at this point next season. Again, do you take non-roster prospects, or someone running out of options on another team's roster.

The Bullpen: Rodney, Duke should both be dangled and sold. You keep Reed because of the contract and for experience. You may a call on Duffey and Rogers. You look at the depth and the extra seasoning another month might give you with names like Curtis, Bard, Moya, Busenitz and more. The Twins do have depth. The question is: who closes...Reed, Pressly?

The Twins CAN AND SHOULD be sellers. They have replacements for the rotation free agents, bullpen free agents, backup infielder replacements, and could work a new second baseman into the mix. If they have a weakness (besides under performing prospects) is the first baseman or third baseman of the future, depending on the fate of Sano, who might be expendable himself or doomed to becoming a designated hitter who can occasionally play the field.

Joe Mauer is still the elephant in the room. Salary and roster spot the question.

Mr. Brooks · May 29, 2018

Yes. Especially with the number of guys who have contract runouts this season.

But...they have to produce to draw worth and interest, although something in return, even an A-ball prospect, could be considered a plus.

Catcher: we will be stuck with Castro for another season.

1B: Joe Mauer could refuse a trade. The bigegr question, should he retire, or should he continue. For the Twins? Elsewhere? Who's on first! Logan Morrison could have worth and anything you get would be a plus. I don't see him reaching his mutual option.

Infielder: Escobar may be the hottest commodity the Twins have, but a team would need to have a position to use him. Again, being a free agent himself means a team would lose him come October. The joy of trading someone like Escobar, you may have a better option of bringing him back when he walks away from another team instead of yours. Would bring back a low-level prospect.

2B: Brian Dozier. It will be making the qualifying offer or letting him walk. I'm torn if the Twins WILL take the gamble. The chances are pretty good that Dozier MIGHT not take it...looking for a longer deal at age 32 rather than at 33. But if the Twins do trade him, then another team gets to make that decision, and the Twins could be back in the hunt and negotiate a contract suitable with other offers. But it would mean that they would have to be more than comfortable with Gordon and Polanco at 2nd/SS. Might be able to get another team's 40-man roster issue, or a low level prospect.

ROTATION: Santana, Lynn and Gibson should all be on the shopping bloc. The Twins have May in reserve and the possibility of Gonsalves, Slegers, Mejia ready to step into the major league rotation. Of course, a couple of those mentioned names may not be here in 2019. But then we have Littell, Stewart, Jorge, and another name or two in the wind, too. I don't see any of our free agent starters coming back, and the Twins would be wiser to invest any monies in someone else at this point next season. Again, do you take non-roster prospects, or someone running out of options on another team's roster.

The Bullpen: Rodney, Duke should both be dangled and sold. You keep Reed because of the contract and for experience. You may a call on Duffey and Rogers. You look at the depth and the extra seasoning another month might give you with names like Curtis, Bard, Moya, Busenitz and more. The Twins do have depth. The question is: who closes...Reed, Pressly?

The Twins CAN AND SHOULD be sellers. They have replacements for the rotation free agents, bullpen free agents, backup infielder replacements, and could work a new second baseman into the mix. If they have a weakness (besides under performing prospects) is the first baseman or third baseman of the future, depending on the fate of Sano, who might be expendable himself or doomed to becoming a designated hitter who can occasionally play the field.

Joe Mauer is still the elephant in the room. Salary and roster spot the question.