3 Bold Predictions for the 2023 Twins Trade Deadline

[dxpavelka]

They WON'T trade a starting pitcher.  They HAVE starting pitching.  AND a lead in the standings.  You don't trade away starting pitching when you have a lead in the standings.  You trade FOR starting pitching.  No matter how much you have.  We've traded away starting pitching at the deadline before.  J.A. Happ, Jose Berrios, Lance Lynn, Jaime Garcia, Kevin Correa, Tommy Milone, Kyle Lohse.  Some of my favorite Twins memories in recent decades are all the World Series parades in years subsequent to trading guys like that for impressive, franchise changing hauls at the deadline.  Can't wait for the next one.

[Kenny Powers]

20 minutes ago, dxpavelka said:

They WON'T trade a starting pitcher.  They HAVE starting pitching.  AND a lead in the standings.  You don't trade away starting pitching when you have a lead in the standings.  You trade FOR starting pitching.  No matter how much you have.  We've traded away starting pitching at the deadline before.  J.A. Happ, Jose Berrios, Lance Lynn, Jaime Garcia, Kevin Correa, Tommy Milone, Kyle Lohse.  Some of my favorite Twins memories in recent decades are all the World Series parades in years subsequent to trading guys like that for impressive, franchise changing hauls at the deadline.  Can't wait for the next one.

 

I agree with everything you wrote, but with one caveat...never say never.  IF (and it's a big if), someone were to completely blow us away with a haul for like Sonny Gray, then I'd certainly consider flipping Gray.  It would have be a great deal though.  Think of being on the reverse side of some of our pitching trades:

Pablo Lopez for Luis Arraez.  Would you trade Gray for 25 year old batting champ?  I probably would.

Tyler Mahle for CES, Spencer Steer and Steve Hajjar.  Would you trade Gray for two highly ranked AA bats and another flier arm?  I'd probably consider it.

Even the original Gray trade in reverse...would you trade Gray for 19 year old Chase Petty right now?

The second two trades are high risk/reward.  I'd consider them based on how I feel about Keuchel.  But a reverse Arraez trade might be just the boost this team needs.  IDK.  We won't need 5 starters for the playoffs - right?

[TopGunn#22]

I don't trade Raya for Hader.  But I DO trade Miranda for Hader.  The Pads have nobody at 1B any good and a little uncertainty at 3B with Machado and at DH.  The biggest difference maker on the trade market to me is Hader.  For all his talent, Duran, like last night, just isn't at the consistent level of someone like Hader.  But the two of them at the end of games would be dominating.  With all the payroll leaving our roster next year maybe at 29 years old Hader would be worth the price.  

If it cost me a Larnach/Winder to acquire Lane Thomas I'd do it.  Thomas fits in LF or RF (maybe even a little CF) for the rest of this season and beyond.  Thomas is breaking through and would be a solid RH bat in a lineup where our strength is LH hitting.  

 

[Otaknam]

No to trading Raya for anyone. He’s the only high potential starter in the system after the trading debacles of last year. It wouldn’t surprise me if Larnach is traded for a right handed outfield bat, as I think Wallner has more upside. I think they will hold onto Maeda and Gray despite their impending free agency unless someone blows them away with an offer. 

[MABB1959]

Besides releasing Gallo, I would stick with what we have.  If I were the Pohlad’s I’d be wondering if Falvey or Levine really know talent when they see it.  First, they have traded away many respectable to above average players for absolutely nothing.    I wonder if they could tell if they traded a bag of baseballs in good condition for a bag of used softballs.   Trading Berrios for SWR and Martin???  They should have gotten so much more for him!  I looked at this list of trades and there is not a single one where we were the big winner.  In fact I barely recognize any of the names to have even been on the Twins roster.   Lots of cash considerations on the list. 
 

https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/transactions/minnesota-twins/trade/

 

 

[dxpavelka]

3 hours ago, Kenny Powers said:

 

I agree with everything you wrote, but with one caveat...never say never.  IF (and it's a big if), someone were to completely blow us away with a haul for like Sonny Gray, then I'd certainly consider flipping Gray.  It would have be a great deal though.  Think of being on the reverse side of some of our pitching trades:

Pablo Lopez for Luis Arraez.  Would you trade Gray for 25 year old batting champ?  I probably would.

Tyler Mahle for CES, Spencer Steer and Steve Hajjar.  Would you trade Gray for two highly ranked AA bats and another flier arm?  I'd probably consider it.

Even the original Gray trade in reverse...would you trade Gray for 19 year old Chase Petty right now?

The second two trades are high risk/reward.  I'd consider them based on how I feel about Keuchel.  But a reverse Arraez trade might be just the boost this team needs.  IDK.  We won't need 5 starters for the playoffs - right?

I'll agree with almost everything you just wrote.  I will question the last sentence though.  You're right, you PROBABLY don't need 5 starters for the playoffs.  As long as everyone stays healthy.  Not just during the playoffs but in the two months of the regular season remaining.  One of the, perhaps the main, reason our starting pitching has performed at the level it has this year is because, for the most part, they have remained relatively healthy.  Approaching my sixth decade of being a fan of this team I could be a bit cynical.  Just because our starters have been relatively healthy thus far is NOT an indication that they will stay that way.  In fact, it MAY just mean that the bad stuff is yet to come.  So, no, we won't need 5 starters for the playoffs.  But I'd have NO issue with waking up on August 2 with 8 guys to choose 4 from among on October 4.