Willingham on waivers

[John Bonnes]

Like, wha??? I am onto something here.

 

No one is going to trade for Justin Morneau.

 

Nice reverse jinx!

 

so why the hell didnt the Twins try and put him through waivers at the beginning of the month, when teams were less likely to claim him. Ugh!

[cmathewson]

Nice reverse jinx!

 

so why the hell didnt the Twins try and put him through waivers at the beginning of the month, when teams were less likely to claim him. Ugh!

 

Because he was on the disabled list. He's only been healthy for a couple of weeks. Maybe Ryan wanted to wait until Hammer was healthy to try it.

[darin617]

shane, your trick worked! Who should we do it on next?

 

joe mauer!!!

[Alex]

joe mauer!!!

 

Booo!

[scottz]

Is this the Orioles or something?

Indeed it is.

Orioles Claim Josh Willingham Off Waivers: MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com

[Oxtung]

I think Pseudo stated it well. He isn't blocking anybody in the OF for the first half of 2014. He could improve next season and therefore so too would his return. Wait to trade him until next season. Unless Ryan is offered something of decent value (something top 10 in the Twins system), then go ahead and pull that trigger!

[Jdosen]

I hope we don't get rid of Josh here. Isn't smart business to trade him at his lowest value. Twins would be best suited to keep him and hope he bounces back next year and has value as a rental bat for a 2014 contender.

[scottz]

I hope we don't get rid of Josh here. Isn't smart business to trade him at his lowest value. Twins would be best suited to keep him and hope he bounces back next year and has value as a rental bat for a 2014 contender.

I agree that it isn't smart business to trade at low value, but there is still plenty of value in next year's $7m contract in a) what should be a bounce back year (to some degree, not to 2012 levels), and is a contract year.

 

The O's want him for the stretch run, and that would be a weak sell on it's own, but they might be buying hope for this year knowing that they will probably get some value next year as a bonus. I am optimistic we can get a player with some value in return.

[Jdosen]

I agree that it isn't smart business to trade at low value, but there is still plenty of value in next year's $7m contract in a) what should be a bounce back year (to some degree, not to 2012 levels), and is a contract year.

 

The O's want him for the stretch run, and that would be a weak sell on it's own, but they might be buying hope for this year knowing that they will probably get some value next year as a bonus. I am optimistic we can get a player with some value in return.

That is certainly possible and the Twins probably intend to see what's out there as far as demand for Willingham rather than intend to sell no matter what. This is the most boring thing to day possible but, Willingham will probably be dealt if the Twins feel the return is worthwhile, and pulled back off waivers if not.

[kydoty]

Indeed it is.

Orioles Claim Josh Willingham Off Waivers: MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com

 

Willingham for Hardy, straight up.

[robbie111]

Parker Bridwell or Daniel Ayers might be interesting. Other than that not sure who the Twins might realistically get back. Also for those interested, baltimoresportsandlife has a top 30 midseason prospect writeup for the orioles.

[John Bonnes]

Because he was on the disabled list. He's only been healthy for a couple of weeks. Maybe Ryan wanted to wait until Hammer was healthy to try it.

 

I don't get this, but I'm hearing it from multiple people, so I'm open to hearing the reasoning.

 

The Twins WANT Willingham to get through waivers. It increases their negotiating power if he does. So why not put him through waivers either:

1) when he's hurt or

2) the first day he's "healthy"?

 

At that point, teams are far less likely to claim him. Which, again, is what the Twins want in this situation. Am I missing something?

[Mike Sixel]

I think it would be great if he left, and they used the money to sign Ellsbury......

[Shane Wahl]

These are the dudes I wrote about a few months ago (stats NOT updated)

 

Tim Berry, LHP, starter, 22 (A+)

2013 A+: 4.54, 69.1, 66/17

 

Twins system: likely headed to Fort Myers

 

 

Zach Davies, RHP, starter, 20 (A+)

2013 A+: 3.63, 74.1, 58/19

 

Twins system: likely headed to Fort Myers.

 

 

Devin Jones, RHP, starter, 22 (AA)

2013 AA: 4.84, 67.0, 58/20

 

Twins system: likely headed to Fort Myers

 

 

Josh Hader, LHP, starter, 19 (A)

2013 A: 1.94, 60.1, 56/30

 

Twins system: likely head to Cedar Rapids.

 

 

Torsten Boss, LH, 3B, 22 (A)

2013 A: 221, .251/.333/.405 (.738), 11/2/5, 23/49, 2-3

 

Twins system: likely headed to Cedar Rapids.

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

Phil Miller does a nice job of laying out the pro's and con's of dealing the Hammer to Baltimore: Postgame: Twins have tough choice to make | 6-4-3 | StarTribune.com

 

I say take the salary dump, and parlay it toward a free agent pitcher $7 million + would go a long way to make this happen. I'd rather gamble on a free agent pitcher than a 35 year-old liability in left field. It's possible that Willingham could reach back into the time machine and duplicate his 2012 (age 33) season, and his 35 homers and 110 RBI, but to what end? Trading Willingham would give Parmelee one more month to prove himself in the MLB, and the first half of 2014, until Arcia, Buxton, Hicks, Richardson, or others push him out, or he produces.

 

As for the Twins return on Willingham? How about the Orioles #20 prospect, Parker Bridwell? He's a 22 year-old RHP, who has an 8-9 record, and a 4.67 ERA in 25 starts at Delmarva (A ball). 141 k's and 57 walks in 138 innings. WHIP: 1.39 He's a wild, power arm, who has time to develop another pitch.

2013 Prospect Watch | MLB.com: News

[golfboy1]

I'd take just about anything we can get out of Willingham and Doumit. Those two guys have been taking up spots that need to be filled by other guys and won't be on the team after next year.

 

I think they should be traded if they get a reasonable prospect back but I don't see why they would just dump them for nothing...especially Willingham.

 

Who are they taking up spots from? If we just dump Willinghan & Doumit who is going to play OF/DH & 1st next year that is doing so good we need to find room for them by dumping ML players?

 

Arcia need to play, after that nobody is forcing the Twins to find room for them. I guess they can give Parmelee more chances but he hasn't impressed so far. It seems like he starts every AB with an 0-2 count & he can't hit a good fastball.

 

I'm not against trading Willingham but if he is healthy he has proven to be a very good RH power hitter. With his reasonable contract that has some value.

[jay]

The Twins WANT Willingham to get through waivers. It increases their negotiating power if he does. So why not put him through waivers either:

1) when he's hurt or

2) the first day he's "healthy"?

 

At that point, teams are far less likely to claim him. Which, again, is what the Twins want in this situation. Am I missing something?

 

Just throwing something out here... do the Twins gain any leverage when a team makes a claim on Willingham? The other team is acknowledging they want the guy (or at least are willing to take him on) and now face both a deadline and the possibility of absorbing the contract. Meanwhile, the Twins still have the full ability to pull Willingham back with no loss.

 

Is it possible the Twins DO want someone to claim him?

[Mike Sixel]

I don't see how it is a tough choice, though. Rebuilding teams trade veterans, and open space for younger players.....

[Shane Wahl]

Devin Jones or Parker Bridwell are worth looking at, though Jones has been smacked this year.

 

I want nothing to do with Willingham next year. He and Arcia on the same roster worries me and it is time to move away from old declining players.

[Mike Sixel]

i will say this......it is possible that Ryan thinks that Willingham will get healthy, hit well next year, and have a lot more value next year, so he may keep him.

 

that said, I agree with Shane, there is not room for Arcia, Willingham, and Doumit to be on the same team as Parmalee and Herrmann and Pinto and the new 1B/DH they sign

[drjim]

I don't see how it is a tough choice, though. Rebuilding teams trade veterans, and open space for younger players.....

 

When there is a young player ready to take the spot. Otherwise they play AAAA guys and lose even more games.

 

I'm all for trading for value but no reason to just dump the guys.

[Willihammer]

Every time Willingham talks about his knee he says how much better it feels. His swing is just a little rusty, popping a lot of balls up right now. But I think there's plenty of gas left in the tank. I hope they keep him unless they get a guy they want.

[Mike Sixel]

When there is a young player ready to take the spot. Otherwise they play AAAA guys and lose even more games.

 

I'm all for trading for value but no reason to just dump the guys.

 

We disagree on this probably.....but I don't care if they lose 90 or 85, if they have zero chance of being good. I don't want to watch old guys that are bad, when I could be watching young guys that are bad, but might be good.

 

And, I'd dump him to USE THE MONEY on someone younger and possibly better.....like a SP or Ellsbury....not dump him to keep the money for the owners and their bonuses in the FO.

[Shane Wahl]

I couldn't care less about what he has "in the tank." For what? To add a win or two for the Twins until next season's deadline? No thanks.

[beckmt]

I do not see Parmellee being a major league player, so Willingham is not blocking him. Doumit will be needed if the Twins decide that it is too risky for Mauer to catch more than about 50 games a year, at least until Pinto proves he is ready. Herrmann is an ugrade to Butera, but is just a backup. Hicks will start next year in AAA. The only reason to dump Willingham for little would be to free money for pitching. Then the Twins would have hitting to worry about.

[gunnarthor]

I don't think the Twins can trade Willingham for a low piece like Bridwell - that would mean the Butera trade was better. They can hang onto him and move him next year after he shows he can hit again. No reason to think his value will get much lower. Even if he isn't hitting much better, he'd be cheaper to a different team and RH power bats usually have value at the deadline. They have room to hold him and Arcia for another half year.

 

On the positive side, Oriole fans at camden chat are throwing out the name Eduardo Rodriguez (as in, God, please don't let that happen) so it's nice to know they're panicking over that.

[Shane Wahl]

First, Parmelee hasn't even gotten a chance to play every day for an extended period of time. I don't even like him that much, but this team has been odd with him for the past two seasons. Willingham and Doumit are both terrible defenders, and Arcia is scary right now. Doumit is not needed for anything and Willingham is seriously declining right before our eyes. Hold onto these players? What?

[Siehbiscuit]

Its September in another lost season. Let Colabello, Parmalee and Arcia stay in the lineup everyday for the rest of the season. After the waiver trade deadline on Saturday, there is no reason that Doumit should be playing the outfield EVER again and taking at bats away from these three. I would even sit Morneau more. In the case that we need to resign him (1 year deal only, please) we at least have some sample of everyday at bats to look at for Parmalee and Colabello.

 

Also, no more backup catchers playing in the outfield!!!

[Boom Boom]

Willingham for Hardy, straight up.

 

Realistically, it's more like Willingham for Casilla.

[Badsmerf]

Just throwing something out here... do the Twins gain any leverage when a team makes a claim on Willingham? The other team is acknowledging they want the guy (or at least are willing to take him on) and now face both a deadline and the possibility of absorbing the contract. Meanwhile, the Twins still have the full ability to pull Willingham back with no loss.

 

Is it possible the Twins DO want someone to claim him?

Absolutely not. The Twins lose almost all leverage. They have to trade him within 48 hours or pull him back for the rest of the year. So, it is a do or die thing. If he clears waivers they are free to trade him to any team they choose, and the highest bidder. For the most part teams give pretty fair value since they generally want a player if they claim him. There is no benefit to a team claiming a player unless you want to dump their salary.