Teams showing interest in Morneau, Perkins

[Parker Hageman]

Via MLB Trade Rumors, ESPN.com’s Jim Bowden provides a couple trade rumors involving the Twins’ Justin Morneau and Glen Perkins.

 

According to Bowden, the Twins are reading themselves to part with Morneau and Bowden speculates that the Rays, Pirates and Yankees could all be potential destinations for the first baseman-DH. He stops short of speculating what Morneau could bring in return, however, based on the fact that he has been 19^th in OPS (759) and 20^th in WAR (0.8) among first basemen since 2012 and has an expiring contract, there bounty is likely to be underwhelming.

 

Bowden says the interest in Perkins has been high and that such teams as the Cardinals, Reds, Dodgers and Braves have called on the Twins’ closer. Bowden says the Twins have turned away all inquiries. TwinsDaily.com’s Nick Nelson penned a great piece on why the Twins front office should be more open to listening on their best reliever.

[James]

It says that the Twins turned those teams away, but could it be that they tried to low-ball TR and he told them to come back when they were serious? I'm hoping that's the case, but who knows...

[BabyJesusBuxton]

It also says the Yankees are trying to move Hughes but the Twins aren't interested in an expiring contract. This is unlikely but... trading for Hughes if the Twins are able to set up a pretrade contract extension in order to trade Morneau for him would be a great move. I know that scenario is never going to happen but I can dream. This return would be much greater than any prospect we are likely to get for Morneau.

[nicksaviking]

I like the fact that the Rays are in on Morneau. His value is down, but the Rays have a bunch of pitchers with upside and several shortstops who are not among their top prospects.

[ThePuck]

I like the fact that the Rays are in on Morneau. His value is down, but the Rays have a bunch of pitchers with upside and several shortstops who are not among their top prospects.

 

I think the Rays would be good for Morny.

[Mike Sixel]

I hope the Perkins talk is smokescreen or something, because with this team, no one should be untouchable, especially a guy that pitches 60 innings a year.

[Winston Smith]

It also says the Yankees are trying to move Hughes but the Twins aren't interested in an expiring contract. This is unlikely but... trading for Hughes if the Twins are able to set up a pretrade contract extension in order to trade Morneau for him would be a great move. I know that scenario is never going to happen but I can dream. This return would be much greater than any prospect we are likely to get for Morneau.

 

The thing that is interesting about the Hughes-Morneau swap would be getting a chance to have Hughes in Target Field for 2 months see what he has, if he likes pitching there and you may have an inside track to signing him this winter. It also gives you 2 months to decide that this guy isn't worth it instead of signing him this winter and being sadly surprised.

 

Plus you can still re-sign Morneau this winter which IMO would not be a good idea.

[nicksaviking]

The thing that is interesting about the Hughes-Morneau swap would be getting a chance to have Hughes in Target Field for 2 months see what he has, if he likes pitching there and you may have an inside track to signing him this winter. It also gives you 2 months to decide that this guy isn't worth it instead of signing him this winter and being sadly surprised.

 

Plus you can still re-sign Morneau this winter which IMO would not be a good idea.

 

Yeah, but all it would take is for Hughes to pitch modestly well for him to get a multi-year offer Ryan would never feel comfortable matching. A re-signing would be more likely if he tanked. That's the kind of pitcher Ryan targets on a one year deal.

[edavis0308]

Morneau would absolutely rake in Yankee Stadium, and I assume the Yankees know that.

[nicksaviking]

I hope the Perkins talk is smokescreen or something, because with this team, no one should be untouchable, especially a guy that pitches 60 innings a year.

 

It better be. For a GM who won't play the free agent game and talks about building from within, this is the best chance in years to get a upper level prospect mid-season.

 

I don't think many closers get traded in the off season, there generally are a half dozen available in free agency anyway and that's when teams become rational about whether a top closer is worth that much more than an average one.

[nicksaviking]

Morneau would absolutely rake in Yankee Stadium, and I assume the Yankees know that.

 

However I don't like many of the Yankee farm hands past the top guys. And the Twins aren't getting a top guy. The Rays and Pirates have depth.

[edavis0308]

However I don't like many of the Yankee farm hands past the top guys. And the Twins aren't getting a top guy. The Rays and Pirates have depth.

 

I'm not advocating we should trade him to the Yanks. I'm just saying there is clearly a reason they are interested in him.

[LaBombo]

I hope the Perkins talk is smokescreen or something, because with this team, no one should be untouchable, especially a guy that pitches 60 innings a year.

That's probably true. If it's not, then it seems like maybe the Twins have the wrong GM for a rebuild that has at least another year to go.

[howieramone1406390264]

That's probably true. If it's not, then it seems like maybe the Twins have the wrong GM for a rebuild that has at least another year to go.

Why? Ryan has 14 days left to resolve a win-win situation. He makes a haul or we retain a very good player. This is not the crowning moment of the Ryan Era.

[Nick Nelson]

Yeah, but all it would take is for Hughes to pitch modestly well for him to get a multi-year offer Ryan would never feel comfortable matching.

Then you can make a qualifying offer and collect a valuable draft pick.

 

Of course, the Yankees can do the same thing which is why they're not going to trade him for Morneau.

[Guest USAFChief]

I can't see any point in trading for an expiring contract.

[cmb0252]

Then you can make a qualifying offer and collect a valuable draft pick.

 

Of course, the Yankees can do the same thing which is why they're not going to trade him for Morneau.

 

The new CBA stops you from being able to offer a qualified offer to a player who has been traded for mid season.

[James]

Then you can make a qualifying offer and collect a valuable draft pick.

 

Of course, the Yankees can do the same thing which is why they're not going to trade him for Morneau.

I thought if a player is traded, you wouldn't receive draft pick compensation if he turned down a qualifying offer.

[James]

The new CBA stops you from being able to offer a qualified offer to a player who has been traded for mid season.

You beat me to it. Well done, sir.

[TKGuy]

However I don't like many of the Yankee farm hands past the top guys. And the Twins aren't getting a top guy. The Rays and Pirates have depth.

 

Aren't the Yankees top pitchers in the farm system hurt and the rest are OF's?

[ThePuck]

I thought if a player is traded, you wouldn't receive draft pick compensation if he turned down a qualifying offer.

 

I think Nick was talking about Hughes. Read it again. Trade him (meaning Hughes) for Morneau.

 

maybe I misread.

[ThePuck]

Even IF the Twins could offer Hughes a qualifying offer once they got him, which they can't, they wouldn't do it. They wouldn't offer him that kind of money. They wouldn't take that chance with him.

[Danchat]

Then you can make a qualifying offer and collect a valuable draft pick.

 

Of course, the Yankees can do the same thing which is why they're not going to trade him for Morneau.

 

What if Hughes accepts the deal?

Do the Yankees/Twins want to pay Hughes $13M in one year?

[James]

Even IF the Twins could offer Hughes a qualifying offer once they got him, which they can't, they wouldn't do it. They wouldn't offer him that kind of money. They wouldn't take that chance with him.

I believe they would still have the option to make the offer, but they wouldn't receive draft pick compensation if he didn't accept it. So, to make a QO to a guy you just traded for would make little sense.

[ThePuck]

I believe they would still have the option to make the offer, but they wouldn't receive draft pick compensation if he didn't accept it. So, to make a QO to a guy you just traded for would make little sense.

 

We may be splitting hairs. The only reason a team makes a qualifying offer is for the draft compensation. If there is no draft compensation to receive, then it's just a contract offer...no need to have the term qualifying offer in there.

[James]

I think Nick was talking about Hughes. Read it again. Trade him (meaning Hughes) for Morneau.

 

maybe I misread.

You may have misread. I was talking about the same situation. Twins trading for Hughes and then this whole QO thing, which wouldn't count for draft pick compensation.

 

In addition, wouldn't a team need to make a QO before the actual free agency period begins? So a team couldn't suddenly respond to one of their players getting a multi-year contract by suddenly making a qualifying offer.

[ThePuck]

You may have misread. I was talking about the same situation. Twins trading for Hughes and then this whole QO thing, which wouldn't count.

 

In addition, wouldn't a team need to make a QO before the actual free agency period begins?

 

Here's dem rules :-)

 

Explaining Qualifying Offers: MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com

[Oxtung]

I actually think the Yankees have a few intriguing pitchers down their prospect list a ways that might matchup with a Morneau rental. The big name is Dellin Betances who is still only 25 and we could stash in the pen for a couple years to see if he can regain any kind of command; he has still struck out 71 in 60 innings with only 40 hits allowed.

 

Nik Turley - AA 89IP 79H 43BB 96K's Left handed

Jose Ramirez-AA/AAA 66IP 46H 33BB 73K's

Rafael De Paula- A/A+ 79IP 61H 28BB 108K's FB touches 99mph.

Tom Kahnle- AA 40IP 23H 25BB 45K's Relief Pitcher. Fastball touching 97mph. Perhaps part of a package?

[Nick Nelson]

The new CBA stops you from being able to offer a qualified offer to a player who has been traded for mid season.

Ah, good call. Nevertheless, the point stands that the Yankees can extend a QO so it'd make little sense for them to trade him for mediocre Morneau and his expiring contract.

 

What if Hughes accepts the deal?

Do the Yankees/Twins want to pay Hughes $13M in one year?

 

Yes. He'd be well worth it. He's 27.

[Major League Ready]

Great idea if Hughes could be extended. I would not mind seeing that one come to fruition. However, I have this feeling that Pelfey is going to get back to top form and we might be able to retain him. How many guys do you want to add when hopefully Meyer and may are close and who knows what is going to happen with Alex Wimmers.