Front Page: 4 Logical Trades That Would Improve the Twins' Rotation

[tony&rodney]

 

I'd say Graterol and Jeffers would be a good starting point for Gray.

For Alcantara, depending on if they want quality or quantity, you could offer Graterol straight up, or something like Rooker plus Gordon plus Javier plus Rortvedt.

 

Most of the pitchers being touted are either too risky (Sale) or have poor peripherals (Archer, Ray, Gray). The Twins should be open to trading anyone if that acquisition is a tipping point. The Cubs giving up Gleybar Torres to run for the title was an extremely risky and still controversial trade, but an example.

Most of the top pitchers are simply not available, at any price and others have the same present value in a game as players like Thorpe. Lewis and Kirilloff are or have been rated as top ten prospects and should bring back a haul or held.

Looking through the names and numbers, only Alcantara looks promising and a possibility for picking up in a trade. I do not think Snell, Paddock, Castillo, Bieber, or E. Rod are available. Will Miami consider trading Alcantara? What would be fair? Larnach and Enlow? Some combinations of players maybe, but Miami has a good system and are not looking for numbers of prospects in place of quality.

There is a better likelihood that the trading environment is improved in June or July.

[Mr. Brooks]

I don't think you can count on getting much 'bang' from trading Buxton to be honest. What can you say? He has potential? Everyone knows that, but until you've put together a year of tremendous play, I doubt teams are going to consider him to be very valuable as trade bait. You'd get a lot more interest in Rosario IMHO.

It's not just potential.

Even in limited time, with some offensive struggles Buxton has been more valuable than Rosario.

 

Since the start of 2016:

Buxton 9.7 bWAR

Rosario 7.9 bWAR

 

Being the best defensive player in baseball has a lot of value.

When you combine that with the additional upside, which Rosario doesn't have much of, Buxton has multiple times more trade value right now.

[Oxtung]

 

Most of the pitchers being touted are either too risky (Sale) or have poor peripherals (Archer, Ray, Gray). The Twins should be open to trading anyone if that acquisition is a tipping point. The Cubs giving up Gleybar Torres to run for the title was an extremely risky and still controversial trade, but an example.

Most of the top pitchers are simply not available, at any price and others have the same present value in a game as players like Thorpe. Lewis and Kirilloff are or have been rated as top ten prospects and should bring back a haul or held.

Looking through the names and numbers, only Alcantara looks promising and a possibility for picking up in a trade. I do not think Snell, Paddock, Castillo, Bieber, or E. Rod are available. Will Miami consider trading Alcantara? What would be fair? Larnach and Enlow? Some combinations of players maybe, but Miami has a good system and are not looking for numbers of prospects in place of quality.

There is a better likelihood that the trading environment is improved in June or July.

 

What "peripherals" are you looking at that makes Alcantara the "only" option compared to Gray and Ray?

[drivlikejehu]

 

so why were you scolding those of us who were so disappointed when all the FA starter possibilities went elsewhere?

It's like we could anticipate the predicament the Twins now find themselves in. Trying to complete a difficult trade, if you can even find one, and giving the other team all the leverage. Or taking on similar salary to signing a free agent, only for a worse pitcher who the other team wants to dump.

One more time: there is no path to recovery this offseason. Its blown.

 

 

I never 'scolded' anyone for being disappointed. I'm disappointed. I just pointed out that the front office couldn't rationally be held responsible for things like Bumgarner only wanting to play in Arizona, and that it wasn't productive to pre-judge the off-season before it was over. I think those were and are common sense. 

 

The off-season has not played out favorably for the Twins, but there's a long way to go until the allegedly unavoidable catastrophes that await (missing playoffs, or starting some dude again in ALDS, etc.). The front office's plans didn't work out, and now they are having to adjust.

 

I'll wait and see how effectively they do that before declaring them willfully negligent noobs that know less about baseball than the average TD poster.

[Doctor Gast]

The reason I`m high on Archer is his trading value is much lower than what he could be. That said I would not Larnauch for him because Larnauch trading value is so much higher.  A player`s value like Rooker for example would be reasonable

[tony&rodney]

 

What "peripherals" are you looking at that makes Alcantara the "only" option compared to Gray and Ray?

 

Nothing major, especially between Gray and Alcantara. Things such as age, service time, innings pitched, baa and a few other things. There doesn't seem to be much reason for Arizona or Colorado to trade if they are going to compete. Alcantara is the youngest and seems to be possibly available (maybe not) and improving, while it would likely take more of the Twins top prospects to pry away Ray or Gray now. I have been thinking that July may be a time when trade options expand. I wonder what San Diego would ask for Paddock? Lewis and Larnach? Not likely. Two teams need to find a common goal and I don't know what that formula is. We already have a bunch of one year contracts. My thinking is that a major trade of prospects should bring a controlled player back. 

[Oxtung]

 

Nothing major, especially between Gray and Alcantara. Things such as age, service time, innings pitched, baa and a few other things. There doesn't seem to be much reason for Arizona or Colorado to trade if they are going to compete. Alcantara is the youngest and seems to be possibly available (maybe not) and improving, while it would likely take more of the Twins top prospects to pry away Ray or Gray now. I have been thinking that July may be a time when trade options expand. I wonder what San Diego would ask for Paddock? Lewis and Larnach? Not likely. Two teams need to find a common goal and I don't know what that formula is. We already have a bunch of one year contracts. My thinking is that a major trade of prospects should bring a controlled player back. 

I also don't think Gray and Ray are particularly available right now for your stated reasoning.

[drivlikejehu]

Graterol is already a better pitcher than Alcantara.

[tony&rodney]

 

I also don't think Gray and Ray are particularly available right now for your stated reasoning.

 

The manner in which I wrote the post you responded to was not clear. Sorry.

 

To the last post - I too am very high on Graterol, but he is not going to throw too many innings this year. The Twins should put him out there though. I'm hoping for 125-140 innings this year.

[howeda7]

 

Graterol is already a better pitcher than Alcantara.

That's a huge leap of faith. One guy has a full MLB season under his belt. The other has like ML innings. And Graterol is probably good for 100 innings this year at the most. They are not in direct competition for a rotation spot, IMO.

[Aerodeliria]

It's not just potential.

Even in limited time, with some offensive struggles Buxton has been more valuable than Rosario.

Since the start of 2016:

Buxton 9.7 bWAR

Rosario 7.9 bWAR

Being the best defensive player in baseball has a lot of value.

When you combine that with the additional upside, which Rosario doesn't have much of, Buxton has multiple times more trade value right now.

Whether true or not, teams are going to be extremely reluctant to trade away major assets to get a guy whose career might end up being half a season.