Twins Interested in Brett Anderson

[twinsfan34]

Billy Beane gave away Carlos Gonzalez, top 5 prospect in the game at the time, for 3 prospects who never amounted to much when it was all said and done (Holiday trade, Brett Wallace, etc).

 

Only Michael Taylor is with them. He's 27, after 3 seasons with the A's he's hit a robust .135 in 74 big league at bats.

 

One of the all-time worst trades in MLB history in my opinion, especially if Gonzalez can stay healthy with the Rockies. As despite his 'health issues' Gonzalez has racked up 4 20-20 seasons, 3 GGs, and a batting title while only averaging 129 games a season.

 

So that's 1/2 season of Matt Holiday and whatever Michael Taylor ends up doing (74 ABs at .135 and counting) against whatever Carlos Gonzalez ends up doing for the rest of his career. AKA HOFer if he stays healthy.

[twinsfan34]

Beane also signed Ben Sheets for $10M...and he never even pitched a pitch for them.

 

He also signed Chris Young this past year for over $8.5M. He hit .200 in 335 ABs.

 

Billy Beane isn't about making great trades. Billy Beane is about making trades before he gets nothing in return. Pre-Arbitration or pre-free agency, he's a 'what can I get for this guy' type of guy.

 

So a lot of times the other team is getting the better deal, but Beane doesn't walk away empty handed, that's his MO.

[notoriousgod71]

Beane is not a genius by any means. He has already traded away Carlos Gonzalez and Huston Street for 1/2 season of Holliday, Holliday for nothing, he traded Brosius for Kenny Rogers, Bellhorn for nothing, Nelson Cruz for Keith Ginter, Hudson for nothing, Ethier for Milton Bradley, Bradley a year later for nothing, Scutaro for nothing, selected Encarnacion off waivers and then granted him FA three weeks later without ever playing a game, Ziegler for nothing. While he has at some point scammed teams into receiving some of these players it never pays off because he turns around and deals them before they reach their potential.

[goulik]

Give them Two of Swarzak, Duensing, Burton, Worley, Hendricks. Check to see if there is an added prospect for another one or one of Plouffe, Parmalee, Colabello thrown in. Do it quick too, need roster spots ASAP!!!

[howieramone1406390264]

Top of the rotation, buy low, and lefty. This is where you open the farm and are glad you didn't waste money on the Cubans so you can use it now.

[EephusKnuckler]

Anderson would be a fantastic gamble to take.

 

Agreed and this would be an example of a real gamble, as opposed to past signings like Harden and Zumaya which weren't very risky at all. If the Twins farm system is so head and shoulders above everyone else in the league, then they can afford to sacrifice a bit of that strength to fix a problem. Also, I'm not too worried about getting fleeced here. I think Ryan is smart enough to not give too much away for a guy with so many injury red flags.

 

A move like this would also instantly make the Nolasco and Hughes signings even better. It would send a strong signal that the team is serious about contending in the near future. I wanted them to go after Kazmir so we'd have a lefty in the rotation but I think the 2/22 he got from the As (coincidentally) is too rich. Maybe there was no interest in Kazmir because they were focused on Anderson all along? Even if they don't trade for him, I like the idea that the team is still looking to add starters.

[minn55441]

Top of the rotation, buy low, and lefty. This is where you open the farm and are glad you didn't waste money on the Cubans so you can use it now.

I agree with you for the most part, but again we would be eating some salary for them. He will not be starting, that is why they are trying to unload him. I trust Terry on this one to set the value and not get fleeced.

[nicksaviking]

I agree that the injury history is concerning, but the latest one was a broken ankle which shouldn't be a huge red flag.

 

I also agree that that dealing with Beane can be hazardous but the trade for Jim Johnson seemed foolhardy considering the $10 million price tag. I don't think Anderson will require much to get. He's also a free agent after this year, that sucks, but it also should limit his cost.

[drivlikejehu]

Beane is not a genius by any means. He has already traded away Carlos Gonzalez and Huston Street for 1/2 season of Holliday, Holliday for nothing, he traded Brosius for Kenny Rogers, Bellhorn for nothing, Nelson Cruz for Keith Ginter, Hudson for nothing, Ethier for Milton Bradley, Bradley a year later for nothing, Scutaro for nothing, selected Encarnacion off waivers and then granted him FA three weeks later without ever playing a game, Ziegler for nothing. While he has at some point scammed teams into receiving some of these players it never pays off because he turns around and deals them before they reach their potential.

 

If Beane isn't a genius, I don't want to know what Ryan is. Beane's record is superior by orders of magnitude in comparison. He wins more and rebuilds better - never losing 90 games in 16 seasons.

 

According to some here, that shouldn't even be possible, since Beane hasn't been able to get picks at the very top of the draft.

[jorgenswest]

Beane trades starters for starting pitching prospects. They are the best currency in baseball. He will find bullpen pieces without giving up prospects. He will piece together a lineup of role and platoon players.

 

On the current roster...

 

Mulder to Haren to Anderson

Cahill to Parker

Gutierrez to Malone

 

He will seek the best starting pitching prospect he can get. His staff may be particularly good at identifying which prospects will carry success into the majors. I would be vary cautious about trading any starting prospect for Anderson.

[PseudoSABR]

If Beane isn't a genius, I don't want to know what Ryan is. Beane's record is superior by orders of magnitude in comparison. He wins more and rebuilds better - never losing 90 games in 16 seasons.

Orders of magnitude? The A's have had the same playoff futility as the Twins over nearly the same period of time. The A's lost more than 85 games three seasons in a row (just four years ago), and it's only fair to saddle two of the losing season at TR's feet (if even that). It's unfair to conflate the BS years with TR.

 

You might argue that the Beane has been better (but not significantly so) than TR, but to suggest that hte difference is in the 'orders of magnitude' is an blatant exaggeration.

[Trautmann13]

Oakland is looking for bullpen help and are wanting to trade lefty Brett Anderson. Should Minnesota look into it seriously? Who should/would they trade to land him. As of right now the only lefty in the equation for the rotation is Diamond and I personally wouldn't give him the job. I want to hear ideas!

[SouthDakotaFarmer]

I was watching HotStove this morning and they were remarking on how DEEP the A's bullpen is. I'm not exactly sure what they really are looking for in return, but the thought is nice.

[Trevor0333]

I would offer up Perkins & give them the pick of or both diamond/Worley to help sort out the 40man roster. Let swarzak, fien, burton battle for the closer spot.

[Trevor0333]

I would love to add Anderson to the rotation.

[SouthDakotaFarmer]

How many years of control are left for Anderson? Obviously the closer to the end, the lesser value and return.

[minn55441]

I would like to add Anderson to the roster, but I don't think we would need to offer up Perkins or anything close to that value. He is a starter that will make 8 million this year and I think (from memory) 12 million in 2015. He doesn't have a spot in Oakland's rotation. They have to move him, they have no choice. They are not going to eat that much salary. He hasn't pitched much because of TJ and assorted injuries over the last 3 years.

 

Again, I'm all for making the trade. We just don't have to and shouldn't give up that much in value to take on roughly 20 million in salary.

[Trevor0333]

It's going to take Perkins & a Worley type to get him & I'm completely ok with that.

[Brock Beauchamp]

How many years of control are left for Anderson? Obviously the closer to the end, the lesser value and return.

 

He is a free agent in 11 months.

[Brock Beauchamp]

It's going to take Perkins & a Worley type to get him & I'm completely ok with that.

 

I wouldn't give that up for one year of Brett Anderson. I wouldn't even give up Perkins.

 

The guy has pitched 165 innings in the past three seasons combined.

[SouthDakotaFarmer]

He has a 12 mil option for 2015 so he isn't a free agent in 11 months. Considering the risk involved with his contract and health concerns I wouldn't think Beane would be looking for anything crazy. Maybe a lefty reliever for the middle of the farm system? I'm also a cheap-a$$ farmer so....

[Guest USAFChief]

I would think Beanes goal in moving Anderson would be to free up $8m, so the return probably wouldn't be that much. A team trading for him can't even be assured he will throw a pitch in 2014. If he was a sure thing going into 2014 he probably wouldn't be available.

[Trevor0333]

Toronto will outbid those offers of Fien, Burton etc... all day long.

 

Teams would pay Anderson 2/20 on the free agent market easily.

[twinscowboysbulls]

I wouldn't give that up for one year of Brett Anderson. I wouldn't even give up Perkins.

 

The guy has pitched 165 innings in the past three seasons combined.

 

Rocketpig, I'm not calling you out by any means, but what do you want to do exactly the rest of this offseason? From what I have seen, you are a no on signing Garza, No on the trade canidates proposed and a no on Salty(if I remember correctly). Do you want to stand pat until next year?

[nicksaviking]

I don't think Anderson would get two years on the free agent market, he'd only get one. It wouldn't cost Perkins to get him, not even close.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Rocketpig, I'm not calling you out by any means, but what do you want to do exactly the rest of this offseason? From what I have seen, you are a no on signing Garza, No on the trade canidates proposed and a no on Salty(if I remember correctly). Do you want to stand pat until next year?

 

I want to see the rest of the market shake out. Maybe trade a reliever or two, pick up some third base help and a vet catcher on a 1-2 year deal. Maybe an outfielder if one presents himself (I haven't looked through who is left).

 

If a really nice player is left in January, absolutely snatch him up but I wouldn't be playing in Tanaka/Garza waters right now. Start rounding out the roster with cheaper guys on short-term deals.

[bholmgren]

A good addition IF, and only if, the price is right. A mid-level pitching prospect, or something of that sort...

[Brock Beauchamp]

He has a 12 mil option for 2015 so he isn't a free agent in 11 months. Considering the risk involved with his contract and health concerns I wouldn't think Beane would be looking for anything crazy. Maybe a lefty reliever for the middle of the farm system? I'm also a cheap-a$$ farmer so....

 

Totally missed the option year. Thanks for the correction.

[beckmt]

I would take the chance if it was for a mid-tier prospect or reliever. I agree this looks like a salary dump and it should not take a ton to get him. If he works out great(we are probably contenders in the next 2 years) if not 8 million while not good is not the end of the world. TR should be able to work it out.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I want to see the rest of the market shake out. Maybe trade a reliever or two, pick up some third base help and a vet catcher on a 1-2 year deal. Maybe an outfielder if one presents himself (I haven't looked through who is left).

 

If a really nice player is left in January, absolutely snatch him up but I wouldn't be playing in Tanaka/Garza waters right now. Start rounding out the roster with cheaper guys on short-term deals.

 

Yeah, if Anderson can be had cheap, by all means get him. The problem is that now the rotation is reasonably locked up with Nolasco, Hughes, KC, Gibson, whoever. Someone gets bumped in that situation and there are guys who do deserve a shot at the 5th spot. I'd trade a reliever to get Anderson, but certainly not Perkins. I liked the idea of Tanaka, but at this point, I don't see that being a wise investment. Not sure they are going to be doing much on offense either. I think that other than minor moves and perhaps an FA trade, they are done.