One Intriguing Shortstop Trade Target for the Twins

[specialiststeve]

Pass...

[Otaknam]

With Farmer on the roster a Mateo trade only makes sense for depth and if it involves a low A prospect. His defense would help but his speed would not be fully utilized as Rocco won’t allow base stealing or hit and run. He thinks he still has the bomba squad. Dump Rocco!

[Finlander]

I wouldn't call 25 doubles, 7 triples, 13 dingers and a stolen base champ a "black hole" offensively. And his elite fielding does justify his consideration for a stopgap candidate along with Farmer to hold the fort at SS for at least the front of 2023. His prospect pedigree in Oakland is legit. He does strikeout a bit more than he should, and he hasn't learned to take a walk.

Other teams are in on him though, and that will drive the price up. Twins shouldn't give up a blue chipper for him, but they should consider a couple of decent lower level prospects. The team would have the option to flip him at the deadline for maybe more prospect talent than they give up, when the healthy return of Lewis is established.

Twins have other needs, and I hope they're addressed somehow. But I think they could make room for a defensive wizard with 99th percentile burner speed and a little pop at a position that is thin. It's ludicrous to compare him to Florimon.

[JD-TWINS]

On 12/21/2022 at 10:35 AM, tony&rodney said:

The Twins, at this point, should neither sign a shortstop nor trade any potentially useful players for one. Farmer is more than adequate until Royce Lewis can return from injury or someone else takes the position. If the Twins can pick up Mateo for Trevor Megill, fine. Let the younger guys play. 

Is it possible that Dansby Swanson was the best choice long term?

I think it’s possible that not worrying about SS any longer would be healthy for the whole fan base!! Farmer is here for up to 2 years until our youth is ready from the Farm System. Trading for a non-offensive threat is not an option. Trading for a SS is senseless.

Spend $ on pitching - sign a couple free agent arms, maybe 3. Still experienced value in arms left to sign. Trading for pitching solely, without signing any free agent pitching is a mistake. Spend any available budget $ on extending current veteran pitchers (Maeda - Mahle - Gray)

(Kepler - Sands - Winder - Walner - Larnach - Jeffers - farm system pitchers) These are guys that are understandably available for trades. All upside guys, potentially. All in roles where we have depth. All could be bundled in some combination for A PITCHER.