Is Glen Perkins the Twins greatest trade chip?

[chopper0080]

They should be trying to win in 2014.....but I have my doubts about that also.

 

I agree that they should be, but I don't see how they do that unless they change their approach to free agency. When looking at this roster, can the Twins win in 2014 with Gibson, Diamond, Deduno, Walters, Correia, Deduno, Mauer, Doumit, Willingham, Arcia, Hicks, Parmalee, Plouffe, Dozier, Perkins, Burton and maybe Hendriks/Sano? I don't see it. If they were a team willing to make moves in free agency, maybe, but they haven't shown to be that team.

 

2015 is probably the target year as that is most likely when Sano, Rosario, Meyer, Mays and Wimmers could move up. If that ends up being the plan then two years is more than enough time to find another closer IMO. One positive is if you look at the organization, they have a good group of potential 2-5 starters in the system. Gibson, Diamond, Deduno, Walters, Hendriks, Wimmers, Meyer, May, Berrios, Baxendale and Worley are all projectable as projectable SPs in some aspect. The issue becomes the organizations lack of projectable #1 SPs in the system. We really lack a top prospect who projects to a #1 guy in our system for the next 3 years.

 

So, all that considered, this team needs to find an ace either through a trade or via free agency. However and when they decide to do that will determine when they are able to truely be considered a contender. If they decide to do that next offseason through free agency then, by all means, keep Perkins. If not, they need to deal him if they can get another projectable starting pitcher into the system, preferaly AA or better.

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

Right now they need the talent on the field rather than prospects in the minors.

Yes, he is a great trade chip but they cant afford the PR fallout of trading their best pitcher who is a hometown player untill they finally spend money on the field

 

PR fallout? That didn't stop them from trading their two most likeable players in the offseason.

 

The Twins have a few guys who look like they could become elite relievers. Zach Jones and Michael Tonkin are power pitchers that maybe have some closer potential. Closer also seems to be Trevor May's backup plan. I think Corey Williams was supposed to have some closer potential when he came out of Vanderbilt too.

 

Really though. Perkins is everything you want in a closer. His splits vs. lefties and righties are basically identical, high K/9, and a low WHIP. He is our best trade chip at this point. Most likely to be traded? No. I'm holding out that the Twins trade Willingham or Doumit to free up some space on corners. We have Herrmann up as Doumit's possible replacement and I think Arcia is ready for his test run.

[diehardtwinsfan]

2014 is a transition year. Guys like Sano, Rosario, Meyer, May, and Pinto will be transitioned on to the ML roster throughout hte course of the season joinging Gibson, Arcia, Ploufe, Parmelee, and Hicks. 2014 will be for the year for these guys to take their lumps. The team should flirt with the .500 mark and 2015 will be the year they contend (though 2016 will likely be the year they win).

[JB_Iowa]

They SHOULD be trying to win in 2014 (or at least to be at .500 or a little above and that's often enough to win the Central). They'll have plenty of money available for some short to mid-range contracts (1-5 years) before they get hit with (hopefully) compensating and locking up some of the super prospects coming through the system.

[howieramone1406390264]

Should they mortgage their future now with high priced free agents with long term contracts? Or wait for Sano, Buxton and Co. and mortgage their future with that group? Only a poster would feel you can do both.

[Mike Sixel]

Should they mortgage their future now with high priced free agents with long term contracts? Or wait for Sano, Buxton and Co. and mortgage their future with that group? Only a poster would feel you can do both.

 

um, they will be at around 60-70MM budget after this season....they can sign a big FA or two right now, and still have money for the big prospect guys, when they need it in 4-5 years. Really, they can. There are teams that do that, they just aren't located at Target Field.

[johnnydakota]

I would not be interested in trading him, in part because his contract is not too bad for the team. And he is a closer. Those people can last until they are 35+ at what they do.

 

Willingham and Morneau need to be shopped for whatever can be had at the end of July. Perhaps Plouffe and Burton as well.

 

 

And what about Doumit?

[Shane Wahl]

He is ABSOLUTELY our best trade chip. We will get close to nothing for Morneau because he is in the last year of a deal. He may net an A+ or AA prospect that would be considered a B-prospect but that is probably it. Willingham may net a little more because he has one year left at a good price and is a power bat. Perkins could get us an A-prospect...you need to do it. We have plenty of young closers coming up (Tonkin, Aaron Thompson, Cole Johnson, Zach Jones, and many more)...in the near term I think Burton can handle the duties just fine.

 

We do not need a dominant closer because we are barely winning anyway. Mine as well build for 2015! If you honestly believe we will get a ton for Morneau though, think again

 

Morneau being in the last year of his deal is exactly why the Twins should get something for him. ????

 

Perkins is not going to get an A-prospect in return. And I don't think that the Twins should bother with doing that. Burton is a good piece to trade.

[Rosterman]

How much would Perkins next deal be. It was team friendly (he wasn't the closer in name, yet). He had a tremendous downside at one point. He has shown he is worth more. He is a left-hander. Who is the replacement. How bad does someone need him. He is a left-hander. I would like to do better than a Wilson Ramos. But, then again, will we see a Capps or a Rauch filling in during the final growing years of the team, or do we honestly have a closer (what happened to Slama) in waiting.

[Shane Wahl]

And what about Doumit?

 

Oops. Clearly. He is a great option for teams looking for a bat/backup catcher/DH. After Vernon Wells and Travis Hafner turn into pumpkins, who knows what the Yankees will be willing to offer. And there other teams like the Rangers, Red Sox, and A's.

[Shane Wahl]

How much would Perkins next deal be. It was team friendly (he wasn't the closer in name, yet). He had a tremendous downside at one point. He has shown he is worth more. He is a left-hander. Who is the replacement. How bad does someone need him. He is a left-hander. I would like to do better than a Wilson Ramos. But, then again, will we see a Capps or a Rauch filling in during the final growing years of the team, or do we honestly have a closer (what happened to Slama) in waiting.

 

There are a few potential closers in the pipeline, but nothing above Fort Myers. I would like to see Hudson Boyd as a closer because he isn't striking out anyone as a starter. But anyway, I don't think the Twins are going to trade Perkins. And I don't think I want them to either.

[johnnydakota]

With the off seasons trades and signings ,Terry Ryan clearly built a team , with an eye towards a July fire sale.Im guessing the teams plan is for a 45 million dollar payroll for the next several years.....

[Brock Beauchamp]

Perkins is without a doubt the most valuable trade chip.

 

But I don't think the Twins should trade him. He seems like a great guy, is from Minnesota, is young, good, and cheap.

 

I'm the first to loudly proclaim how overrated closers are by nature but I also don't believe in trading the entire roster away in non-competitive seasons. There are plenty of vets that can be moved for (albeit lackluster) prospects, you don't need to also trade the guys who can help you be competitive again.

[Jason]

I'd trade Perkins if the Twins receive a very good or great return.

[Tibs]

This is a little off topic, but people mentioned left handers who throw 95 aren't grown on trees. Why then is Mason Melotakis starting right now throwing 90-93 instead of being a reliever and throwing mid to upper 90s?

[drjim]

With the off seasons trades and signings ,Terry Ryan clearly built a team , with an eye towards a July fire sale.Im guessing the teams plan is for a 45 million dollar payroll for the next several years.....

 

I heard that want to get it down to Joe Mauer and a bunch of pre-arb guys as early as next season to really squeeze the profit out of Target Field. Why else would they have hired Terry Ryan back?

[drjim]

I predict that barring injury the only two guys traded are Willingham and Carroll. Possibly Pelfrey if by some miracle he goes on a run before the deadline.

 

Perkins is the best chip of people who could conceivably be traded, but they won't trade him unless they are blown away. I suspect they won't be.

 

They won't get offered enough to make it worthwhile to move Morneau, Doumit and/or Burton (or any other reliever).

[jokin]

I predict that barring injury the only two guys traded are Willingham and Carroll. Possibly Pelfrey if by some miracle he goes on a run before the deadline.

 

Perkins is the best chip of people who could conceivably be traded, but they won't trade him unless they are blown away. I suspect they won't be.

 

They won't get offered enough to make it worthwhile to move Morneau, Doumit and/or Burton (or any other reliever).

 

Can we hope for a deadline-run-and-trade-Correia-miracle as well?

 

I've been rubbing my wishing fingers raw on this scenario from the day he was signed.

[drjim]

Can we hope for a deadline-run-and-trade-Correia-miracle as well?

 

I've been rubbing my wishing fingers raw on this scenario from the day he was signed.

 

Let's do it. You never know what team might get desperate enough (cough, Giants, cough).

[jokin]

Let's do it. You never know what team might get desperate enough (cough, Giants, cough).

 

I like it. The Giants have some minor league prospects, and they aren't afraid to pull the trigger and 'get her done'.

[Joe A. Preusser]

This is a difficult topic. Perkins has been holding this pitching staff together for 2 years now. I would love to reward him for his hard work and perseverance with this organization by keeping him around. I'm not sure how many remember, but his relationship with the Twins was rocky at best, it seems they are in a good place now. Having went to college with him (sharing a locker room no less), he has always been a guy I pulled for. I'm sure most fans don't feel the same way about Perkins, but I think he is every part what makes the Twins special as Joe Mauer is.

 

Tear drops aside (crocodile tears too), the Twins have to listen to any and all offers right now. More likely, a team is going to trade for Burton as he is very good and will cost less talent to acquire. If a team is willing to give up a top 50 SP, I think you have to trade him. These guys are professionals and understand. Plus, he'd be able to play for a contender and possibly close playoff games in his prime. As much as playing for the Twins is great, during the season he probably doesn't get a lot of time at home anyway. Side note, his house is cool as hell.

 

Unless the Twins get blown away, I don't see them trading him. Burton is much more likely right now.

 

I really enjoy the storyline with a disgruntled Perk struggling as a starter, rededicating himself to being a shut-down reliever, and finishing his career with the Twins. Unless he would fetch someone's best pitching prospect or better, I say no. Give him a nice multi-year deal and let him be your closer for the next 6-8 years. In the world of closers, he's not Rivera (A+), but he's definitely a B+/A-. More than enough to contend for a championship with.

[Jarends703]

Relief pitchers, even good closers, aren't going to get a team's best pitching prospect.

 

When the Twins traded Wilson Ramos for Matt Capps I feel they over paid. Perkins is a better pitcher than Capps but not by so much that I would trade a prospect comparable to Ramos for him. Desperate GMs might over pay but I don't see it happening.

[Joe A. Preusser]

Relief pitchers, even good closers, aren't going to get a team's best pitching prospect.

 

When the Twins traded Wilson Ramos for Matt Capps I feel they over paid. Perkins is a better pitcher than Capps but not by so much that I would trade a prospect comparable to Ramos for him. Desperate GMs might over pay but I don't see it happening.

 

We got fleeced in that deal, and it has nothing to do with Capps' performance after the trade. I look at this as Smith's worst transaction, and it's not even close.

[Smcginnity]

You got to think Correia could net a decent prospect at the deadline. He has been pitching great!

[Twins Twerp]

We got fleeced in that deal, and it has nothing to do with Capps' performance after the trade. I look at this as Smith's worst transaction, and it's not even close.

 

I agree...and there was a Japanese player I think in there somewhere. Although Smith did have the gonads to go after the missing piece for Capps.

[Twins Twerp]

As far as perk goes...I agree with most. He is not untouchable. If we can get a pitcher or SS I am in. Even a B SS prospect would do it for me. Closers are much easier to find then SS's.

 

on another note, the Tigers really could use a closer...if they offer up a good enough deal can we pull the trigger with all things considered?

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

You got to think Correia could net a decent prospect at the deadline. He has been pitching great!

 

That's true, but unfortunately every other team knows he's Kevin Correia. Still something better than a marginal prospect would be nice.

[kab21]

Right now they need the talent on the field rather than prospects in the minors.

Yes, he is a great trade chip but they cant afford the PR fallout of trading their best pitcher who is a hometown player untill they finally spend money on the field

 

Right now they need starters more than anything. You have to give something to get something and Perkins is the best trade chip to add another really good arm in the minors.

 

I would also put Willingham on the block. After that the rest of Twins have very little trade value.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'll be thrilled if Pelfrey or Correia ammount to anything at this point, but if KC can keep the magic going, he might net a marginal prospect, and I doubt anyone will complain about that.

 

That said, Willingham, Morneau, and Perkins could all net something of value, though given Willingham and Morneau's seasons, I wouldn't expect much. Perkins, on the other hand, is this team's most valuable chip, and while extending him would be nice, it will likely be in the team's best interest to trade him. The pen is the easiest piece to construct via free agency. Likewise, they drafted a number of college relievers last year, who if the starting experiment fails will find themselves functioning as hard throwing relievers. As such, the pen is the least of my concerns. They need at least one more high ceiling middle infield prospect and several more high ceiling pitching prospects that are in the A+/AAA range. While I'm not certain about the others, Perkins should fetch something in that range.

[chopper0080]

um, they will be at around 60-70MM budget after this season....they can sign a big FA or two right now, and still have money for the big prospect guys, when they need it in 4-5 years. Really, they can. There are teams that do that, they just aren't located at Target Field.

 

Agreed. It bothers me that the Twins seem approach free agency with a fear of getting it wrong. A cautious approach to free agency is to be lauded, but that doesn't mean there aren't smart, lower risks buys in the mid to high priced markets. Successful teams are built throught their farm system and the Twins seem to be in a good place right now in that regard, but facts are that no farm system in baseball is going to provide all of the solutions a team needs. Hopefully in the upcoming years the Twins will show their awareness of this and use their money to buy a legitimate starting pitcher, power bat at 1B, and/or legitimate short stop.