VIDEO: Nelson Cruz To Oakland? (Plus An A's Pitching Prospect I Like)

[Tom Froemming]

 

[Greglw3]

5 hours ago, Tom Froemming said:

 

I watched the video earlier tonight. If Oakland comes calling with the type of prospects described for Nelson Cruz, I’d be underwhelmed. He may easily be able to play another season for whoever acquires him.

This may not make good baseball sense but I’d hate to part with Cruz. It would hurt. He’s been a blessing for the organization, classy and one of the best hitters in Twins history pro-rated. I also feel he;’s lent a measure of prestige to the Twins, who don’t often acquire a hitter of his stature in free agency. Before this season went off the rails, I really wanted him to retire a Twin - after the 2022 season.

If a team wants an impact bat of that magnitude, they need to pay a top 8-10 pitching prospect. I’m very leary of them fishing in the A+ arena for Cruz. No. We need guys like Winder, Balazovic, maybe a healthy Canterino. The sooner the starting pitcher rebuild for 2022 starts the better, especially as sluggish as Falvey and Levine get in the offseason. If they could add a couple good near ready, pitching equivalents of Kirilloff and Larnach now, and then get the job done on an impact starter in the early to mid offseason, either trade or free agent - then the Twins might have a fighting chance.

[Tom Froemming]

4 hours ago, Greglw3 said:

I watched the video earlier tonight. If Oakland comes calling with the type of prospects described for Nelson Cruz, I’d be underwhelmed. He may easily be able to play another season for whoever acquires him.

This may not make good baseball sense but I’d hate to part with Cruz. It would hurt. He’s been a blessing for the organization, classy and one of the best hitters in Twins history pro-rated. I also feel he;’s lent a measure of prestige to the Twins, who don’t often acquire a hitter of his stature in free agency. Before this season went off the rails, I really wanted him to retire a Twin - after the 2022 season.

If a team wants an impact bat of that magnitude, they need to pay a top 8-10 pitching prospect. I’m very leary of them fishing in the A+ arena for Cruz. No. We need guys like Winder, Balazovic, maybe a healthy Canterino. The sooner the starting pitcher rebuild for 2022 starts the better, especially as sluggish as Falvey and Levine get in the offseason. If they could add a couple good near ready, pitching equivalents of Kirilloff and Larnach now, and then get the job done on an impact starter in the early to mid offseason, either trade or free agent - then the Twins might have a fighting chance.

The Twins could always trade him and then sign him again in the offseason. He didn't have much of a market as a free agent this past winter, and I can't imagine teams will be any more interested now that he'll be a year older.

[Greglw3]

12 minutes ago, Tom Froemming said:

The Twins could always trade him and then sign him again in the offseason. He didn't have much of a market as a free agent this past winter, and I can't imagine teams will be any more interested now that he'll be a year older.

Good point! 

[In My La Z boy]

I would rather receive a low A or Rookie league pitching prospect with high upside, than a borderline major league ready player with an upside of a 5th starter type. We have plenty of Smeltzer/Dobnak/Thorpe/Ober's to compete for a 5th or long man job. Or I'd rather see Cruz packaged in a way to allow for us to receive some future big upside. I just don't see any trades bringing us high quality help next year. Maybe a Cruz/Theilbar package gets a quality return? Again, nothing earth shattering is coming back unless we trade a Berrios or Rogers - which I am against.

[In My La Z boy]

Lead story just up at mlbtraderumors on Cruz - A's/Ray's/Blue Jays and Mariners are the 4 teams discussed.

Side note - I cannot believe how good the Rays are at a $62M payroll. Geez

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, In My La Z boy said:

Lead story just up at mlbtraderumors on Cruz - A's/Ray's/Blue Jays and Mariners are the 4 teams discussed.

Side note - I cannot believe how good the Rays are at a $62M payroll. Geez

Partly because they trade guys like Cruz (or even Berrios).....which I get isn't popular all the time. The Rays are one of a kind, though. NO ONE else has been close to duplicating what they do. 

I agree with the above...a low A guy with high upside would be MUCH better than a low ceiling guy. 

[nicksaviking]

The Rays are an interesting case. At least as far as this year goes, their success may be more of a black eye for Baldelli and the coaching staff than the front office. They've got two starters with an ERA+ over 100 (and Glasnow is done for the year) and one starting hitter with an OPS over .800. Real nice bullpen as usual, but over all, you'd swear that team looked like a .500 club at best on paper. How does a team with a .713 OPS find itself 6th in the league in runs scored?

Someone is coaxing more wins from a club that by most accounts would be considered much less talented than the Twins.

[Vanimal46]

A combo trade package of Simmons and Cruz to Oakland could work… If Oakland doesn’t want to pay up for someone like Baez or Story.