Is Glen Perkins the Twins greatest trade chip?

[diehardtwinsfan]

My 2 cents.

 

The Twins had the number 4 pick overall last week, and last year they picked 2 overall. Next year, they should have another top 10 pick in a fairly strong class. That has produced some pretty impressive talents in Buxton and Stewart, both of which have the ability to be all stars at critical positions for a long time for years to come.

 

I agree with Levi in that free agency should not be ignored, where I think I differ is that its use is mainly going to be fill those gaps as the next wave arrives. While I liked the idea of a Sanchez signing, and advocated for it here, the truth of the matter is that this year's team needed 5 free agent pitchers in a crop where only a handful have been worth the signing. Assuming we would overpay enough for Sanchez, that would not have helped this team enough. Had Ryan hit the jackpot and got all of the right players, we would have been competitive, but for how long? The problem with free agency is that it can be like a drug. Teams can get dependent on it, as it will produce some results, but also enough to keep them away from those sure thing high impact players that are found in the top of the draft.

 

It definitely isn't an either or thing, but to me it makes a lot more sense when there's a talented core in place and you are filling in the gaps. Whether Ryan will do that or not, I'm not sure.

[Reginald Maudling's Shin]

The Twins are currently 10th in a 15 team American League in payroll, and just a couple million from being 12th. They're not even middle of the pack.

 

As to "saved" money, they're not living up to the payroll promises they themselves made. They will almost undoubtedly reduce payroll even farther in coming seasons, despite an extra $25M in free TV money annually starting next season.

 

But again, all these arguments have been made, and disproven, elsewhere. Multiple times.

 

There is simply no logical argument to be made about not being able to spend more money, now and/or in the next half decade, at least.

 

Don't like Greinke? Fine. Don't like Sanchez? Fine. I might disagree, but that's just a matter of opinion.

 

But please don't tell me the Twins can't afford one, or both, now or for the life of their contracts. Because that's simply not true.

 

So it doesn't matter what the record

Is, there is a magic number that you want them to spend come hell or high water. And again you are certain they can somehow convince a top starter to come to a team that will lose 90 games and has a rookie in CF, a catcher or 1B in Right and a butcher in left. I don't know why a pitcher would do this to their career. What do you do if Sanchez doesn't sign? Spend the money anyway on lesser players because the fans were promised? Can you see how this makes no sense?

[jokin]

Thanks for pointing out the accidental capitalization of D in needs...it really strengthens your argument.

 

Not spending money means you NEVER will get in? Have you heard of the Rays and or Braves? How about the Cardinals who have only once gone over the 100 million mark? The Brewers, Reds, and Athletics have put together pretty good teams in past years by not spending stupid amounts of money.

 

The Twins have proven when they hit the 112 million mark that they will spend money if they think they can win. They aren't going to just give it away like a drunk girl on prom night. All teams go through down times and right now it is the Twins turn. People got spoiled because of the last decade.

 

Sorry, I was just trying to bring some levity to the discussion, anything to help you dig out of the crater you've dug for yourself in this discussion.

 

Major newsflash, not only have I heard of the Rays and Braves, I've actually used them in arguments in comparison to the Twins. And not surprisingly, since I've supported how they build their teams, I've never once advocated spending "stupid amounts of money", "giving it away", drunk or sober, or anywhere inbetween. Sorry, but you're "drunken prom-night straw-queen" just doesn't stand up under scrutiny from the folks on my side of the argument.

 

I'm also one of many who's not spoiled by what transpired in the last decade. Besides trying to first contract themselves out of business instead of selling to someone fully committed to success on the field, the Twins subsequently also refused to add the key piece or pieces to get over the proverbial hump-- apparently being more than happy to win all of one playoff series- in 2002- and never seriously considering in taking the necessary step or steps to make themselves legitimate World Series contenders.

 

The disastrous transition from 2010 to 2011 didn't have to mean that 2012, and now 2013 had to go the way that it has. It. Just. Didn't.

[jokin]

My 2 cents.

 

The Twins had the number 4 pick overall last week, and last year they picked 2 overall. Next year, they should have another top 10 pick in a fairly strong class. That has produced some pretty impressive talents in Buxton and Stewart, both of which have the ability to be all stars at critical positions for a long time for years to come.

 

I agree with Levi in that free agency should not be ignored, where I think I differ is that its use is mainly going to be fill those gaps as the next wave arrives. While I liked the idea of a Sanchez signing, and advocated for it here, the truth of the matter is that this year's team needed 5 free agent pitchers in a crop where only a handful have been worth the signing. Assuming we would overpay enough for Sanchez, that would not have helped this team enough. Had Ryan hit the jackpot and got all of the right players, we would have been competitive, but for how long? The problem with free agency is that it can be like a drug. Teams can get dependent on it, as it will produce some results, but also enough to keep them away from those sure thing high impact players that are found in the top of the draft.

 

It definitely isn't an either or thing, but to me it makes a lot more sense when there's a talented core in place and you are filling in the gaps. Whether Ryan will do that or not, I'm not sure.

 

Signing FA puts you in the conversation. Signing crapshoot FA on one year deals gives you a much better chance at being competitive should a couple rookies take the team by storm and/or some veterans produce career years. If those things don't work out, you deal them before the trading deadline or you say goodbye at the end of the year.

 

This certainly wouldn't work for the Astros or Marlins, but there are/were more than enough pieces in place for the Twins after 2010 to have taken this route over whatever the heck that Ryan is currently trying to foist on the public. It makes no sense at retaining Morneau and signing guys like Willingham, Correia and Doumit if you're truly in a 5-year rebuilding plan- which the other side of this argument seem to be advocating that we are currently witnessing.

[kab21]

Not necessarily. We are years away from paying some of these prospects -- even if they buy out arbitration years. So there is a PRESENT gap where they could and should be spending some $$$ to put a better product on the field. That "better product" might also help them generate additional revenues.

 

In an ideal world, they would be "harboring" some of the money they are not spending now for use down the road. BUT that is contrary to everything that they have ever said about their business model so until they make it clear that will happen, I have to believe that they have blithely forsaken their beloved "50% rule" and are simply planning to pocket additional profits this year.

 

I'm disappointed at how poorly they did in FA and wanted the Twins to sign the best pitcher that 3/35 could have bought. Instead they got Correia and Pelfrey. Pelfrey has been awful but Correia is producing on par with almost everyone that signed in the 10-50M range and some of those pitchers have been dreadfully awful. They could have spent more but the product on the field wouldn't have been much better unless they spent way more. But I am against 5-6 yr megacontracts at this stage. I will be hoping for a big contract like that when the team is clearly on the ascent.

 

Part of a rebuilding team is getting young players that might be part of your future playing time. People seem to be completely missing the point of rebuilding. Signing more veterans means less opportunity to see if Dozier/Escobar/florimon/Plouffe are capable IF'ers. One of those guys is probably better than a reasonable FA target that would be on a 1-2 yr contract and gone or declining. The Twins also have the opportunity to get Hicks/Arcia/Parmelee AB's. For Parmelee it's almost his last chance to show that he is an MLB'er.

[Oxtung]

I have many problems with the "let's wait for our prospects to develop and then sign a big time FA!" idea.

 

First, it takes a long time to build up enough prospects to make a run because prospects are so unpredictable. Let's take a look:

 

Rangers: 8 of 9 seasons of below .500 ball before they got good.

Rays: 10 straight 90+ loss seasons before becoming good.

Orioles: 14 years of sub-.500 baseball before becoming good.

Royals: 18 of 19 seasons of sub-.500 baseball and still waiting on their prospects.

Athletics: 5 seasons of sub-.500 baseball before becoming good.

Mariners: 8 of 10 seasons of sub-.500 baseball and still waiting....

Astros: 6 of 7 years of sub-.500 baseball and still waiting...

Nationals: 12 out of 15 years sub-.500 before becoming good.

Reds: 9 straight seasons of sub-.500 ball before becoming good.

Pirates: 20 straight seasons of sub-.500 ball and still waiting....

 

Most (perhaps all?) spent a long time waiting for prospects to mature. I don't want to wait 10-20 years. Here is another team. Twins: 8 straight years of sub-.500 ball before becoming good in 2001. Most often the first wave of prospects doesn't propel you out of the basement. It takes several waves before enough prospects pan out to contend again.

 

 

My second problem is that people seem to think that all of these big deals are doomed to be failures. I looked at the 20 largest contracts signed during the '00's. There were definately some clunkers; Zito, Jason Schmidt, Mike Hampton, etc... but there were many that worked out very well.

 

Roy Halladay 3 years 159 ERA+

Roy Oswalt 5 years 121 ERA+

Mark Buerhle 4 years 115 ERA+

Chris Carpenter 4 years 130 ERA+ (one season injured)

Ryan Dempster 4 years 107 ERA+ (one bad season 3 good to great seasons)

Justin Verlander 3 years 150 ERA+ (was a longer contract but got renegotiated in year 3)

Felix Hernandez 3 years 131 ERA+ (longer contract that got renegotiated)

Pedro Martinez 6 years 212 ERA+

 

Many of these contracts work out very well for the signing team. Of those 20 largest contracts 65% of the seasons were above average, they averaged 199.6 IP/season with an average ERA+ of 116. 42% of the seasons were outstanding with an >120 ERA+. In only ~13% of the seasons was the pitcher injured for much of the season.

 

 

The third problem is that if you wait for your prospects to be ready to compete to sign your big FA to a long term contract you will no longer be able to retain all of your prospects when they are post-arbitration because your big FA acquisition will still be tying up money. For example the Twins will probably, if most of the prospects pan out, be ready to compete in 2016. If you sign a big money FA then to a 5 year contract it won't expire until 2020. Every prospect that comes up in 2013 or 2014 will need to sign post-arbitration contracts before then. That likely includes, Plouffe, Parmelee, Hicks, Arcia, Gibson, Diamond, Hendriks, Meyer, May, Sano, Rosario, Baxendale, Hernandez, Pressly, Thielbar, Tonkin, Danny Santana, Pinto, Wimmers and Morales. If they move quickly you might also have Buxton, Berrios, Duffey, Chargois, Vargas, Zach Jones, Stewart, Harrison, Walker, Polanco, Goodrum, Kepler, Eades and Corey Williams.

 

Now not all of those guys are going to pan out but, in this scenario enough of them do that we are signing a big money FA to put us over the top. You can see how the Twins would run out of money very quickly forcing some tough decisions. On the other hand if you sign the big FA in 2013 that contract comes off the books just as all those players are needing to be resigned for big money.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Signing FA puts you in the conversation. Signing crapshoot FA on one year deals gives you a much better chance at being competitive should a couple rookies take the team by storm and/or some veterans produce career years. If those things don't work out, you deal them before the trading deadline or you say goodbye at the end of the year.

 

This certainly wouldn't work for the Astros or Marlins, but there are/were more than enough pieces in place for the Twins after 2010 to have taken this route over whatever the heck that Ryan is currently trying to foist on the public. It makes no sense at retaining Morneau and signing guys like Willingham, Correia and Doumit if you're truly in a 5-year rebuilding plan- which the other side of this argument seem to be advocating that we are currently witnessing.

 

I'm not sure what you are getting at. The choice to retain/not retain Morneau wasn't an option, and for all the talk of crap shoot FAs, none of that was going to work this year. 2010 was a great year in which this team won 94 games. I don't think anyone reasonably predicted that 2011 was going to be that bad. Yes, Hardy was replaced by Nishi, but it seems as though the entire org took a step back in 2011 and never recovered. 2012 was the first year the Twins could reasonably adjust, and while they found nice gems in Willingham and Doumit, their starting pitching imploded (not terribly surprisingly). The Twins came into 2013 knowing they needed 5 starting pitchers. Outside of Sanchez, I'm not seeing a lot of significant upgrades out there on the FA market. Signing him would have them in the "pretenders" category. If he provides value the entire 5 years of his contract (not likely), he might help the next wave, but his presence would do nothing more than make it more difficult to grab another nice prospect next June.

[old nurse]

My second problem is that people seem to think that all of these big deals are doomed to be failures. I looked at the 20 largest contracts signed during the '00's. There were definately some clunkers; Zito, Jason Schmidt, Mike Hampton, etc... but there were many that worked out very well.

 

Roy Halladay 3 years 159 ERA+

Roy Oswalt 5 years 121 ERA+

Mark Buerhle 4 years 115 ERA+

Chris Carpenter 4 years 130 ERA+ (one season injured)

Ryan Dempster 4 years 107 ERA+ (one bad season 3 good to great seasons)

Justin Verlander 3 years 150 ERA+ (was a longer contract but got renegotiated in year 3)

Felix Hernandez 3 years 131 ERA+ (longer contract that got renegotiated)

Pedro Martinez 6 years 212 ERA+

 

Many of these contracts work out very well for the signing team. Of those 20 largest contracts 65% of the seasons were above average, they averaged 199.6 IP/season with an average ERA+ of 116. 42% of the seasons were outstanding with an >120 ERA+. In only ~13% of the seasons was the pitcher injured for much of the season.

 

 

.

 

Not to be critical but the list of contracts of free agents that worked out for the most part are people who resigned with their team from the previous year. While over a 15 year period you can find six large contracts that worked you also point out that to get these players as free agents is almost impossible.

[jorgenswest]

On the topic of trade chips and considering players in the decline phase...

 

Perkins is probably the only good trade chip. He has a reasonable contract and is pitching well. He will fit a team in need of a closer or left handed late inning reliever. I do think there are some teams that will not trade a good prospect for a reliever reducing the demand a little.

 

The Twins need to move Willingham or Doumit for whatever they can get. They can keep one in a Jim Thome role, but neither should bring a glove to the field. A good deal of their value as a hitter comes from walks, but not all walks are the same. Giving up a walk to a slow base runner is not as damaging as giving up a walk to a good base runner. The OBP/OPS looks the same regardless of speed and base running skill. It would not hurt to trade both guys. Not sure they are worth much more than a Liriano type return.

 

The only way to keep Morneau is to feel confident that he is worth a qualifying offer next winter. They certainly have the room to risk a one year contract should he accept it. His ground ball/fly ball rate is at his career rate. His line drive rate is up. The number that is dramatically different is his 1.9% hr/fb rate compared to 10.5% on his career. He doesn't need to change anything for that to approach the league average nearly 4 times greater than his current. I think he will hit double digit home runs in the second half and be worthy of a qualifying offer. I don't think he will get much back in a trade unless the power shows up soon.

 

The Twins decided to extend Jared Burton through next year even though he was under control for this year. I think it was a mistake and he is a huge injury risk given his age and previous injury history. He has some trade value. The Twins need to move him before the injury hits.

 

It would be great to get an A-Ball prospect for Correia or Pelfrey. They can find similar guys any offseason. Correia's best skill is his health. He could be a reliable 5th starter on a contending team.

 

Mauer is a chip that would require a new thread.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Speaking of Burton, there's a guy who might fetch something decent. I get that teams won't overpay for him, but I could see the Twins getting a flame throwing relief prospect or a 3/4 type starting prospect for him.

[Oxtung]

Not to be critical but the list of contracts of free agents that worked out for the most part are people who resigned with their team from the previous year. While over a 15 year period you can find six large contracts that worked you also point out that to get these players as free agents is almost impossible.

 

You seem to be making the claim that pitchers that resign with their current team do better than their career average while pitchers that become FA's do worse than their career average. Do you have anything to support your supposition?

 

I made the point that many big contracts work out quite well for the signing team. I did research and found evidence to support my claim. Now the onus is on you to support yours.

[old nurse]

You seem to be making the claim that pitchers that resign with their current team do better than their career average while pitchers that become FA's do worse than their career average. Do you have anything to support your supposition?

 

I made the point that many big contracts work out quite well for the signing team. I did research and found evidence to support my claim. Now the onus is on you to support yours.

You provided a list of contracts of pitchers that were good contracts. Except for Buerhle they were all players that resigned with the team they played for the previous season. I do not disagree that you can't sign a pitcher to a long contract and have it work out. That does not extrapolate to signing free agent pitchers that switch teams will work out. Your list says smart teams resign their good pitchers.

[Monkeypaws]

I wouldn't trade Perkins, mainly for the same reasons people say is good trade bait: he's good, and has a nice contract.

 

I also disagree that a good closer is a luxury for a middling team - if you want to instill a winning culture, there is nothing more deflating than blowing leads.

[jorgenswest]

Speaking of Burton, there's a guy who might fetch something decent. I get that teams won't overpay for him, but I could see the Twins getting a flame throwing relief prospect or a 3/4 type starting prospect for him.

 

If they are going to trade Burton at his highest value, they should do so soon.

 

Deadline trades last summer for relievers.

 

To White Sox: RP Brett Myers

To Astros: P Matt Heidenreich, P Blair Walters

 

To Dodgers: RP Brandon League

To Mariners: OF Leon Landry, P Logan Bawcom

 

To Reds: RP Jonathan Broxton

To Royals: P JC Sulbaran, P Donnie Joseph

 

To Cardinals: RP Edward Mujica

To Marlins: 3B Zack Cox

 

I am not sure if any of these are good comps for Burton, but it is what teams were willing to give up to bolster their bullpen.

[jorgenswest]

I wouldn't trade Perkins, mainly for the same reasons people say is good trade bait: he's good, and has a nice contract.

 

I also disagree that a good closer is a luxury for a middling team - if you want to instill a winning culture, there is nothing more deflating than blowing leads.

 

I think I am on your side. The reason he is the only good trade chip is also very valuable to the team. They really would need to get a good prospect for him.

[Oxtung]

You provided a list of contracts of pitchers that were good contracts. Except for Buerhle they were all players that resigned with the team they played for the previous season. I do not disagree that you can't sign a pitcher to a long contract and have it work out. That does not extrapolate to signing free agent pitchers that switch teams will work out. Your list says smart teams resign their good pitchers.

 

So again, do you have anything to back up your assertion that signing free agents is worse than resigning players?

[Oxtung]

If they are going to trade Burton at his highest value, they should do so soon.

 

Deadline trades last summer for relievers.

 

To White Sox: RP Brett Myers

To Astros: P Matt Heidenreich, P Blair Walters

 

To Dodgers: RP Brandon League

To Mariners: OF Leon Landry, P Logan Bawcom

 

To Reds: RP Jonathan Broxton

To Royals: P JC Sulbaran, P Donnie Joseph

 

To Cardinals: RP Edward Mujica

To Marlins: 3B Zack Cox

 

I am not sure if any of these are good comps for Burton, but it is what teams were willing to give up to bolster their bullpen.

 

Thanks for doing the research!

[Monkeypaws]

It seems to me that the Twins haven't exactly been in the position to sign high-end free-agents, coming off a couple disastrous seasons.

 

I'll put on my Captain Obvious helmet here:

 

Free-agents are a 2 way street - I get a lot of vibes from these threads that TR ands the Twins aren't trying. If i was a free agent, I'd be looking for a payday, but I'd also be looking for a chance to win. Two 90+loss seasons in a row are kind of a turn-off, to say the least.

 

Sanchez, the patron saint of this thread (besides Perk), why would he sign here, when in Detroit he can join Verlander, Scherzer, Fister, etc.? He had a brilliant opportunity there to be part of a stud rotation. In Minnesota, he'd be expected to be the savior, and it's pretty obvious that the Tigers are the power in the Central. Guys like him and Grienke aren't gonna sign here. Period. Middle market, losing seasons, fly-over zone, what's the attraction?

 

It's been said in this thread that FAs should be that missing piece when you are in a position, and I agree completely. Gladden, Chili Davis, Morris, that's how and when you add.

 

Keeping Perkins just is good business unless you are looking for perpetual rebuild mode and competing for BA's #1 farm system.

[Oxtung]

 

Free-agents are a 2 way street - I get a lot of vibes from these threads that TR ands the Twins aren't trying. If i was a free agent, I'd be looking for a payday, but I'd also be looking for a chance to win. Two 90+loss seasons in a row are kind of a turn-off, to say the least.

 

Sanchez, the patron saint of this thread (besides Perk), why would he sign here, when in Detroit he can join Verlander, Scherzer, Fister, etc.? He had a brilliant opportunity there to be part of a stud rotation. In Minnesota, he'd be expected to be the savior, and it's pretty obvious that the Tigers are the power in the Central. Guys like him and Grienke aren't gonna sign here. Period. Middle market, losing seasons, fly-over zone, what's the attraction?

 

It's been said in this thread that FAs should be that missing piece when you are in a position, and I agree completely. Gladden, Chili Davis, Morris, that's how and when you add.

 

Keeping Perkins just is good business unless you are looking for perpetual rebuild mode and competing for BA's #1 farm system.

 

Greinke, shortly after signing, said he signed with the Dodgers because they offered the most money. He further went on to say he would have signed with whoever offered the most and it didn't matter what team it was. So we know for sure that at least one big FA would have signed here.

[Monkeypaws]

Greinke, shortly after signing, said he signed with the Dodgers because they offered the most money. He further went on to say he would have signed with whoever offered the most and it didn't matter what team it was. So we know for sure that at least one big FA would have signed here.

 

Well, I am sure there are guys like him - frankly, he is a mercenary. On his 4th team in 4 years; if I am paying out big-bucks, I want a more solid citizen than Zack Greinke.

[jokin]

I'll put on my Captain Obvious helmet here:

Guys like him and Grienke aren't gonna sign here. Period. Middle market, losing seasons, fly-over zone, what's the attraction?

 

.

 

You say these things like they're obvious and "facts".

 

When they're not.

 

Period.

 

Have you ever been to Detroit? What's the attracton?

 

Time for some helmet adjustment.

[jokin]

 

1) The choice to retain/not retain Morneau wasn't an option,

 

2) and for all the talk of crap shoot FAs, none of that was going to work this year.

 

.

 

 

1) Uhh, yeah it was an option.

 

2) You saying "it wasn't going to work" doesn't necessarily make it so

[jokin]

On the topic of trade chips and considering players in the decline phase...

 

Perkins is probably the only good trade chip. He has a reasonable contract and is pitching well. He will fit a team in need of a closer or left handed late inning reliever. I do think there are some teams that will not trade a good prospect for a reliever reducing the demand a little.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It would be great to get an A-Ball prospect for Correia or Pelfrey. They can find similar guys any offseason. Correia's best skill is his health. He could be a reliable 5th starter on a contending team.

 

.

 

How about a trade with the Reds, a team that the Twins have some history and connection to?

 

While Cincy has no need for one of our SP dump-offs, they might very well find Perkins intriguing, he fits in perfectly with their RP expectations and would immediately become their best non-closer overall RP, 2nd best lefty RP option, best high-leverage option, alternative closer and cheap insurance to a potential Chapman breakdown.

 

The Reds bullpen is currently ranked a lowly 21st, and while their SP has put up good numbers, they are pretty much 6 inning guys. If they are motivated enough to make a big push in the competitive NL Central, would they be willing to unload a package for package deal that included 20 year old Robert Stephenson- currently A-ball level, but potential future front-end starter?

[ashbury]

Well, I am sure there are guys like him - frankly, he is a mercenary. On his 4th team in 4 years; if I am paying out big-bucks, I want a more solid citizen than Zack Greinke.

 

This becomes somewhat of a catch-22 if you're unwilling to outbid other teams for a guy who thinks that way and can't lure guys who think some other way, and verges on Groucho Marx territory: "I would not want to belong to a club that would have me as a member."

[TheLeviathan]

Sorry Mr. Monkeypaws, but your arguments have long been thrashed all over this forum, these aren't good points.

 

Free-agents are a 2 way street - I get a lot of vibes from these threads that TR ands the Twins aren't trying. If i was a free agent, I'd be looking for a payday, but I'd also be looking for a chance to win. Two 90+loss seasons in a row are kind of a turn-off, to say the least.

 

Two words: "Dollars and years". That's straight from the mouth of the Twins front office. Players don't make decisions on all these extraneous reasons - dollars and years decide it. If you want to disagree with people in the contract meetings, by all means. I'll defer to them and say all of this you list is irrelevant.

 

It's been said in this thread that FAs should be that missing piece when you are in a position, and I agree completely. Gladden, Chili Davis, Morris, that's how and when you add.

 

The day Ryan signs the equivalent of Jack Morris, I'll be the first to celebrate him all over this board. The problem is that he's has been vocal about disliking the price it would take to sign a contemporary version of Morris. i.e. elite pitching

[Shane Wahl]

Burton and Duensing (though the latter has to get better over the next 6 weeks) could be intriguing for some teams (Duensing to the Reds, maybe).

 

So let's list 'em: Morneau, Willingham, Doumit, Carroll, Plouffe, Burton, Duensing, and Correia. That's eight guys that could be traded, with varying degrees of both should and will.

 

I guess injuries and suspensions could work to factor in here in the Twins favor (Yankees and Rangers come to mind).

[jorgenswest]

Burton and Duensing (though the latter has to get better over the next 6 weeks) could be intriguing for some teams (Duensing to the Reds, maybe).

 

So let's list 'em: Morneau, Willingham, Doumit, Carroll, Plouffe, Burton, Duensing, and Correia. That's eight guys that could be traded, with varying degrees of both should and will.

 

I guess injuries and suspensions could work to factor in here in the Twins favor (Yankees and Rangers come to mind).

 

Some need to be traded. I don't think any of them can get more than we got for Liriano. Maybe Burton. We might be able to buy prospects by sending cash with Willingham or Morneau. Plouffe probably has a better chance to be a useful major leaguer than anything we can get for him. I don't think Carroll has any value.

[jorgenswest]

How about a trade with the Reds, a team that the Twins have some history and connection to?

 

While Cincy has no need for one of our SP dump-offs, they might very well find Perkins intriguing, he fits in perfectly with their RP expectations and would immediately become their best non-closer overall RP, 2nd best lefty RP option, best high-leverage option, alternative closer and cheap insurance to a potential Chapman breakdown.

 

The Reds bullpen is currently ranked a lowly 21st, and while their SP has put up good numbers, they are pretty much 6 inning guys. If they are motivated enough to make a big push in the competitive NL Central, would they be willing to unload a package for package deal that included 20 year old Robert Stephenson- currently A-ball level, but potential future front-end starter?

 

I am certain they would not be willing. This would be a steal for the Twins.

 

Last year the Reds gave up a couple of C prospects for a guy they would use in the set up role in Broxton. They weren't willing to deal a top prospect for Span. It is hard to imagine that they would be willing to trade Stephenson to have Perkins in the set up role.

[Oxtung]

According to Jim Bowden of ESPN Ryan is floating Morneau, Willingham and Correia already. Perkins was also mentioned but Ryan seemed less interested in moving him.

[old nurse]

Have you ever been to Detroit? What's the attracton?

 

Winning.