Twins Trade Gio Urshela to the Los Angeles Angels

[DJL44]

Just now, Fire Dan Gladden said:

I don't think Arraez is a long term option at 3B, doubt his knees will hold up to the rigors.  1B may be the best fit for him.

He only has to play 3B until Royce Lewis is ready to come up.

Not sure how 3B is more taxing than 1B for someone's knees.

[Fire Dan Gladden]

1 minute ago, Mike Sixel said:

Rebuild? The guy was signed for 1 more year, and they have Miranda, Lewis, and Lee available for third, maybe Arraez. What says rebuild about this at all? On what planet is there even a rumor of Polanco going?

Lewis is out for a good chunk of the year.  Lee hasn't seen one major league pitch, MIranda is unproven at third base.  Right now, they do not have a major league 3B.

Putting a lot of unproven young guys at key positions is the textbook definition of a rebuild.  Look at the roster as-is, and you will see a ton of 1-2 year guys.  My comment was not to be taken as fact, but more of keeping the antennas up.  We need to wait and see what happens with other higher salary guys:  Kepler, Gray... there was some rumblings of Polanco being trade bait earlier this year.

I am withholding further judgement until the entire offseason plays out 

[Doctor Gast]

My feeling was that they weren't going to tender Urshela, at least we got something for him.

  I'm interested how Miranda will look like after being mentored by Correa this off season (we all know how Pena turned out). There's no doubt in my mind they'll spend the money saved by not tendering Urshela.

Whatever happened to Pagan?

[Fire Dan Gladden]

9 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Some speculation at MLBTradeRumors that the Angels intend to have Urshela play SS since they have Rendon at 3B.

Rendon played 47 games last year.  The Angels picked up Urshela as 3B insurance, with some SS backup.  The type of pickup a big-market team can afford to make 

[Linus]

33 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

I will reserve judgement until the end of the off-season. 

More moves to come... I assume.  

That’s no fun. 

[MABB1959]

Prospects, prospects, prospects.    Why not MLB ready players.  

[TwinsAce]

17 minutes ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

I don't think Arraez is a long term option at 3B, doubt his knees will hold up to the rigors.  1B may be the best fit for him.

Helps that Arraez was a gold glove finalists with at least a few metrics that pointed he was decent to good there.  Miranda seems like the perfect Gio replacement with a slightly lower floor and arguably a slightly higher ceiling.

[Brock Beauchamp]

23 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Some speculation at MLBTradeRumors that the Angels intend to have Urshela play SS since they have Rendon at 3B.

Rendon actually playing for the Angels. That’s funny. 

[Nine of twelve]

I'm sad to see Urshela leave but it needed to happen. To me it's obvious that the Twins view Miranda as their 3B for the next few years at least. I think Kirilloff will log a lot of time at 1B. I have been saying for a while now that I think Arraez should be DHing most of the time. So let's use some of that $9M toward a SS and/or some pitching.

[nicksaviking]

In a vacuum I don't like it, Urshela has value.

But since we're not in a vacuum, there are plenty of signs that portend this is a great move. This team has so much available money to spend in free agency now. I mean, they have large-market kind of money to spend.

Also, it should be noted that moving him all but hands the job to the young player who Carlos Correa appeared to adore the most. A player who he all but demanded not be traded at the deadline.

[Carnegie]

Hard to see Urshela leave, since he actually was dependable to PLAY! He also got his share of key hits, especially late in the season. it was a coin flip to keep or not and worthy of 9 mil+.

[Game7-91]

[Vanimal46]

I posted in the arbitration article yesterday I could go either way with tendering Urshela. Looks like that question was answered today. Miranda at 3B full time and an extra $9 million to spend on another player. Looking forward to seeing what we do with the savings. 

[Mike Sixel]

37 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Rendon actually playing for the Angels. That’s funny. 

they claim he's healthy now.... :)

[Major League Ready]

6 hours ago, DJL44 said:

They were better off playing Urshela at 3B last year but he's gone now so that's not an option.

Assuming they don't add a different player for third I would lean toward playing Arraez at 3B. He's a much better defender than Miranda so it makes sense to give him the more difficult defensive position.

I watched quite a bit of Miranda at 3B in St. Paul and I don't agree.  Miranda was not great but he was what I would call perfectly adequate.  I would also assume he is working on defense this off season.  I guess we will find out who the Twins think has more potential at 3B but I would bet Miranda gets the majority of time there..

[Squirrel]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

#15 for Fangraphs. The description I saw said average fastball, good curve, minus changeup. If his changeup has improved his prospect stock would also rise.

Not sure which of Arraez and Miranda gets 3B, the other will get 1B.

I liked Urshela and I think they probably could have received just as much at the deadline. A little disappointed in this trade.

IF we manage to sign Correa (and yes, that's a big if, and italicized, too), then we move Lewis or Lee to 3rd. Miranda can cover there until one of them is ready. I would have waited until mid-season to do this, but, we'll see how it plays out.

[Vanimal46]

34 minutes ago, Game7-91 said:

$60-70 million available to spend. Should be a fun winter! 

[Major League Ready]

1 hour ago, ashbury said:

I dunno.  Doing that may have raised more questions than it answers.  ?

If you would have scratched your head for a minute the change would have been saved.  

[Mike Sixel]

edit: moved to the Pagan thread

[Shobae]

I'm quite low on the return for Urshela, guess the upside is clearing the money and 40 man spot. TBD if they put it to good use or not but guess someone better start a prayer circle to the baseball gods that miranda stays healthy because the depth at third isn't great.

[Old Crow]

In spite of the fact Urshela was an asset for the Twins it was a good move that opens up some  playing room for Miranda, Araez, and Kirilov.

[Riverbrian]

1 hour ago, ashbury said:

The off-season is barely started and there are gaping holes to fill in the current 40-man roster, so more moves are a certainty.

I don't see jettisoning Urshela as particularly key to some soon-to-come move, though.  I believe today was a league deadline, to tender or not tender players.  This trade just clarifies matters for the Twins and the Angels alike.

Gotta be a value move... He will be paid X amount while his value has been determined to be less than X.

Like Rosario but in this case they were able to find a trade partner. 

I don't see it as key to future moves but that projected 9.2 million could be helpful to fill one of those gaping holes. 

All in All... I never saw Urshela as a problem. Liked him... helped us win games in my opinion... no problem with him being on the roster. 

This is what all those analysts do. I'll wait until the off season to complete before judgement. 

[howeda7]

If there was any doubt that Falvey is a clown who needs to be fired, keeping Pagan while trading Urshela for that little of a return removes it. Just moronic on both counts.

[howeda7]

6 minutes ago, Old Crow said:

In spite of the fact Urshela was an asset for the Twins it was a good move that opens up some  playing room for Miranda, Araez, and Kirilov.

We had no issue getting anyone decent playing time. Polanco could play SS. Areaz could DH or play occasional OF etc. Urshela for that price was an asset you keep or trade for far more than a lottery ticket prospect.

[Winston Smith]

2 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

I will reserve judgement until the end of the off-season. 

More moves to come... I assume.  

Assume at your own risk you will be held accountable by the masses.

[mnfireman]

Urshela's replacement. About $4 MM cheaper and under control for '23 & '24.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/11/twins-to-acquire-kyle-farmer.html

[SwainZag]

43 minutes ago, howeda7 said:

We had no issue getting anyone decent playing time. Polanco could play SS. Areaz could DH or play occasional OF etc. Urshela for that price was an asset you keep or trade for far more than a lottery ticket prospect.

Polanco has proven to be subpar SS.  Can he play there in a pinch? Yes, but other than that he's a liability. 

[Mike Sixel]

8 minutes ago, mnfireman said:

Urshela's replacement. About $4 MM cheaper and under control for '23 & '24.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/11/twins-to-acquire-kyle-farmer.html

Not sure how I feel about this yet....he played 98 games at SS, are they not signing a SS? Seems pricey just to be a utility guy.

[Nashvilletwin]

Two down (Sano and Urshela) and one more (Kepler) and possible another (Polanco) to go.  Cleaning house, redeploying cash, and making room for young players. Things are just starting…..

[Nashvilletwin]

1 minute ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Two down (Sano and Urshela) and one more (Kepler) and possible another (Polanco) to go.  Cleaning house, redeploying cash, and making room for young players. Things are just starting…..

Just saw that the FO had Polanco modelling the new uniforms alongside Miranda, Buxton, Arraez, and Ryan. Polanco stays until the deadline.