GM for a Deadline

TRADE RICKY NOLASCO

The origination of this move had more to do with finally opening up a spot for Jose Berrios. But after Tyler Duffey’s performance on Wednesday night, you can make room without doing too much. Regardless, I’d still move Nolasco and the roughly $17 million remaining on his contract. Nolasco has long been enamored with the Dodgers and the Dodgers can’t seem to keep five healthy starters on their roster.

The Twins are deficient in two areas and those are pitching and catching. That’s what I’m looking for (in a unique way) in this deal. The Dodgers ponied up $30 million this winter to Yaisel Sierra, a 25-year-old Cuban who has been very disappointing. As of this point, the Dodgers have only paid out around $3.7 million of the deal, leaving Sierra on the books for $26.3 million (through 2021). Sierra also has the option to opt-out of his deal when/if he hits arbitration.

I’ll take Sierra back. There’s still upside, though that’s barely evident by the line he’s put up in high-A ball thus far: 1.544 WHIP, 6.62 ERA, 61/24 K/BB in 68.0 innings. After signing a major-league contract this winter, he was outrighted off the 40-man earlier this month.

Then there’s the issue of money. On the surface, the Dodgers could send around $9.3 million and everything is equal (and the Dodgers probably would because what’s money to them? Or they could just take on Nolasco’s contact). But I’d be willing to cut their contribution down to $6 million if I could get a slightly better return. (Which makes the Twins responsible for the rest of this year and the second half of Sierra’s signing bonus.)

I’m also asking for the Dodgers to throw in AAA catcher Austin Barnes. Barnes is a 26-year-old who has a .300/.389/.440 career minor-league line but has struggled in 62 big league plate appearances (.176/.311/.235). Barnes also has some experience at both second and third base.

The roster impact would be minimal: Nolasco would be off the 25-man roster and out of the starting rotation and Berrios would be his replacement. Barnes would take Nolasco’s spot on the 40-man, but would report (at least right away) to Rochester. Sierra would head to Fort Myers and would begin working in the rotation (after the Dodgers have shifted him to the bullpen).

TRADE BRANDON KINTZLER

The Cubs just made a huge move for a closer… and the Cardinals, who need bullpen help, claim they won’t make a reactionary move. That’s great. If they’re looking in the bargain bin, the Twins are only one call away.

Kintzler has been a dominant force since being selected by the Twins (after being a minor-league addition) and currently sports a 1.011 WHIP and 2.05 ERA in 30.2 innings. While he doesn’t strike many out (5.9 K/9), he could slot into a 7th- or 8th-inning role and come with the added benefit of being under team control for one more year.

The emergence of Kintzler (and his availability) gives the Twins a chance to somewhat fix the mistake they made in giving away Chih-Wei Hu for Kevin Jepsen. In return for Kintzler, I’m looking for low-A SP Sandy Alcantara, a 6’ 4’ 20-year-old right-handed pitcher.

Alcantara is striking out batters at a very high clip (11.9 K/9) and his 119 strikeouts on the season rank among the highest in all of minor league baseball. Right now he’s a fastball guy (and it’s fast, too, clocked over 100 mph) with a lot of raw secondary pitches. It would be a gamble worth taking for both teams.

While it’s possible that the Cardinals would balk at that price, I’d be willing to sweeten the deal with one of many of the low-level minor league pitchers that the Twins have in the system.

The Cardinals also have a trio of closer-to-the-bigs pitchers: Luke Weaver, Tim Cooney and Marco Gonzales. While Weaver would be a great addition, that would be a steep price to pay for the Cardinals. Cooney and Gonzales have both debuted, but are out with injuries. Cooney has missed all season and is out indefinitely with a shoulder ailment and Gonzales had Tommy John surgery this spring. Making a move for either of them would be a unique way to add rotation depth.

Again, there wouldn’t be much in the way roster-wise. The Twins gain a 40-man spot and a 25-man spot, which I would use to select Trevor Hildenberger and plug him into the bullpen. Alcantara would join the Kernels rotation for the stretch run. (For the record, Alcantara has faced Cedar Rapids twice, he got shelled the first time and shut the Kernels down a week later.)

TRADE EDDIE ROSARIO AND FERNANDO ABAD TO THE INDIANS

I’m going outside of the box on this one. The Indians probably match up just as well with the Twins in their need of a catcher (Kurt Suzuki) and a third baseman (since-traded Eduardo Nunez), but they’ve been decimated by outfield injuries and could use some bullpen help as well.

First off, I’m OK with moving Rosario. (I’d be pushing to move him, in fact.) I wouldn’t close the book on moving Joe Mauer to right field this offseason. I don’t mind Robbie Grossman getting regular at-bats (for now). I’d like to see what Daniel Palka and/or Adam Brett Walker can bring to the table. Danny Santana is a serviceable backup centerfielder.

I'd target a pitcher from the Indians. Sticking with the “big-league” ready theme, I'm asking for Mike Clevinger or Cody Anderson.

Clevinger has emerged as a one of, if not the best pitching prospect the team has. He struggled in his major league debut earlier this season, but has handled AAA and appears poised to re-enter the big leagues.

Anderson was phenomenal last year as a rookie, but has bounced between AAA and the Indians six times this season and has struggled to show any consistency. He will only be a 1+ service player, so the team has five more years of control (the same as what they’ll trade away in Rosario).

Both pitchers are just 25 years old.

I’d slot either into the rotation for the rest of the year at the expense of Duffey (for now anyway).

In giving up Abad additionally, I’d ask for a prospect who's further down the ladder. The target here is LHP Juan Hillman. Hillman has backed up a little bit after being drafted in the second round last year, but it’s a risk I’d be willing to take on a kid that was high school teammates with Nick Gordon and has been mentored by Tom Gordon, who became his legal guardian while Hillman was a high schooler. Hillman would move into the Elizabethton rotation with a chance to move up to Cedar Rapids.

In terms of the roster, this would create an additional spot on the 40-man. My 25-man would be up a starter (though I’d option Duffey to fit Clevinger/Anderson into the rotation), down a bullpen arm (recall Chargois to take Abad’s spot) and down a hitter (purchase the contract of Daniel Palka to get him some major league at-bats). All moves that would be relatively easy to make.

TRADE KURT SUZUKI

Having already added two more near-ready arms, I'm willing to wait out the catching market to see what transpires. Lucroy has to be the first domino to fall. If the Rangers don't get Lucroy, I'd definitely be interested in AA 2B Andy Ibanez. Adding Ibanez may seem redundant when Polanco is already blocked, but accumulating assets is never a bad thing and Ibanez is a great hitter. He may also be too high of a price for the Rangers.

I think Boston - the Axe Bat capital - also seems like a viable destination. Trey Ball is an intriguing name. He's nowhere close to the majors, but he has plenty of upside to offer.

Regardless of the destination, Suzuki must be moved by the deadline. I'm replacing him on the 40-man and 25-man by selecting the contract of AA catcher Mitch Garver.

EXPLORE TRADING KYLE GIBSON

I read today that Jeremy Hellickson may net the Phillies four prospects. Gibson, who is still a year from arbitration, could have significant trade value (either now or this winter). Could the Orioles offer Chance Sisco, a pitcher (David Hess, Chris Lee or Parker Bridwell) and a lottery ticket? Is that even enough? It's worth looking into.

PUT OUT FEELERS TO MOVE TREVOR PLOUFFE IN AUGUST

If the Indians were possibly interested in Nunez before he was moved, they may like what Plouffe could offer them. With one more year of arbitration looming, Plouffe is probably a non-tender candidate for whoever he plays for and should likely be viewed as only a rental player. He won't net a large return but it allows us to avoid a winter in which we pretend that Miguel Sano can play anywhere besides third base.

SHOP TOMMY MILONE ALL OF AUGUST

I don't know where he'd best fit - I thought the Marlins made a ton of sense before they sold the farm to San Diego - but there's no reason to roster Milone for the rest of the season. Take the cash or take a young lottery ticket.

OPEN UP TO THE IDEA OF MOVING BRIAN DOZIER THIS WINTER

No contenders need a second baseman right now, so it would be impossible to seize anything of value for Dozier. But once we hit the Winter Meetings everybody believes they're a contender and moving Dozier is the first move the new GM should make. I still don't think the return is going to be enormous, but it should be enough to net a minimum of two future pieces while allowing the Twins to get a season-long look at Jorge Polanco at second base (and batting second behind Byron Buxton).

RECAP

Remove Nolasco (25-man and 40-man)

Remove Kintzler (25-man and 40-man)

Remove Abad (25-man and 40-man)

Remove Rosario (25-man and 40-man)

Remove Suzuki (25-man and 40-man)

Option Duffey (25-man)

Recall Berrios (25-man)

Recall Chargois (25-man)

Add Clevinger/Anderson (25-man and 40-man)

Select Hildenberger (25-man and 40-man)

Select Palka (25-man and 40-man)

Select Garver (25-man and 40-man)

Add Barnes (40-man; option to AAA)

Consider trading Gibson, Plouffe, Milone and Dozier.

How many of these moves would you make?