Article: 20 Twins Trades: Garza and Bartlett for Delmon Young

[Brad Swanson]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=2208-20-Twins-Trades-Garza-and-Bartlett-for-Delmon-Young

[Rosterman]

We will dealing with two emotional bodies. Garza developed into an okay pitcher. He can be dominate. But like Young, I keep thinking he's thinking too much about the paycheck and, at times, not the team. When you start playing as an individual, you lose all track of consistency. Your numbers may look good, but your use to the team overall suffers.

 

I kept having the feeling that Young felt he was a superstar and was playing in the shadow of Carl Crawford. He got the Subway spot and was told behind the doors that he was going to be one of the faces of the franchise, which I;'m sure he loved (with his glitterized Hummer and all) but the Twins also picked up a guy named Carlos Gomez who quickly overshadowed Young in popularity on and off the field, although who can say one was better than the other. Young was never able to capture the Hunter magic and fell further back as the M&M boys continued to dominate the team personality.

 

I always found Young pleasant when I would stand out back of the Metrodome and gather autographs. He has an abundance of talent. But something is off kilter with the guy. He did okay with Detroit, but they let him walk, too. It is all about money. Remember, he was getting paid big bucks in seasons two and three due to his signing contract, which resulted in a need for even bigger bucks to keep him on your roster.

 

Attitude and economics always don't mix.

 

I remember how disappointed we were with the trade that the Rays wanted Morlan instead of Rincon, who we all wanted to dump on the Rays. Like so many traded prospect pitchers (dating back to Gassner and including Bowyer) we always think highly of prospects in this town it seems, especially those that never play a major elague game.

 

Morlan is still around. Harris made it back with the Angels this year and now is in the Yankees organization. Bartlett couldn't draw a nibble. Pridie's brother played in the Twins minor league system before he came here.

[RodneyKline]

I said this was a bad trade even if it was only Bartlett for Young. When do you ever trade a proven Shortstop who can hit .300 for a corner outfielder. How tough is it to find a corner outfielder? Maybe Bonds fully juiced in his prime...maybe but not generally a smart move. Then you add in the loss of one of two pitchers that had the ability to be a #1 or #2 starter that the team still needs all these years later (Liriano is the other BTW). Besides if the team really needed an outfielder then sign Hunter to an extension. He would have signed for half of what he eventually signed for with the Angels. Another cheapskate move that we have become too familiar with in Minnesota. Also short sighted. Having Hunter finish out his career as a Twin would have eventually landed a statue of him climbing the wall to rob Bonds or someone else next to Herbie's! He would be at least as popular as every other player with a statue. OK maybe not Harmon...

[RegFCat]

Is he a "maroon" or a "moron?"

[Brad Swanson]

Is he a "maroon" or a "moron?"

 

Depends on how much you love Bugs Bunny.

[ashbury]

Or Deep Purple.

 

I hated the trade at the time too. I wanted to see the Twins deal from their strength, but Garza was the one I'd have kept untouchable, Baker probably too. Of course, the other teams' scouts probably had a similar ranking and were offering squat for Slowey or Blackburn.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Or Deep Purple.

 

I hated the trade at the time too. I wanted to see the Twins deal from their strength, but Garza was the one I'd have kept untouchable, Baker probably too. Of course, the other teams' scouts probably had a similar ranking and were offering squat for Slowey or Blackburn.

 

There's a reason why it seems to be impossible to pry a pre-arb pitcher away from Ryan when he's GM. Despite his faults, he recognizes that it's a hell of a lot harder to find a decent starter than it is an outfielder.

 

I still can't understand the thinking that went behind trading a multiple Cy Young winner and a pre-arb #2/3 pitcher in the same offseason. It boggles the mind.

[Badsmerf]

I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone that actually liked this trade. It was boneheaded on multiple levels.

[TheLeviathan]

I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone that actually liked this trade. It was boneheaded on multiple levels.

 

I think that's a lot of hindsight. As I remember it, more of the issue was with the inclusion of Bartlett, not with the Young-Garza swap.

[drjim]

I think that's a lot of hindsight. As I remember it, more of the issue was with the inclusion of Bartlett, not with the Young-Garza swap.

 

And people really freaked out about including Morlan.

[Brad Swanson]

I think that's a lot of hindsight. As I remember it, more of the issue was with the inclusion of Bartlett, not with the Young-Garza swap.

 

Agreed. It's hard to remember, but Young was widely considered a potential .300/30Hr/100RBI hitter and some thought he would do that consistently for a decade. Obviously, many were very wrong about Young, but at the time, the trade made sense.