DaveW

Career .321/.380/.423 hitter, plus he has shown a significant improvement this year. The Twins weren't getting anything great in return for Valencia, and he wasn't going to be around next year most likely. Good riddance. At least we got someone who could be projectible.

edit sorry didn't see the other thread, please lock up?

Trade makes a ton of sense for the Twins, with the emergence of Plouffe they had no need for Valencia and he most likely would have been cut after the season as well. It's disappointing that Valencia started playing this horribly this year, really thought we had our 3rd baseman of the future a couple years ago, but the Twins certainly gave him his chances and he simply doesn't hit enough to justify his mediocre defense at 3rd base. Pineda intrigues me because he is young and apparently can hit and has some speed. Nice to get a decent upside (long ways away) guy for Valencia instead of some AAAA retread.

PER Mlbtrade rumors.

Hicks power improvement this year has perhaps been the most surprising aspect of his nice year. 20 HR power is not out of the question.

Doizer has been pretty bad this year overall, but with that said he is definitely the starting SS or 2B come opening day, as he should be. Out of the MI group of Dozier, Carroll, Casilla, Escobar, Floriman etc Dozier by far is the best in house candidate of the bunch. Even if the Twins somehow trade for a good SS/2B or sign one in FA Dozier still gets first crack at starting at the other MI position, and probably holds it down. FWIW: I have always been a bit skeptical of Dozier, but I think he can be a solid 3-4 year stop gap at SS/2B and could see him hitting for a .750 or so OPS in the mahors.

Do you understand how baseball works?

If a team took Alex rios contract there would be plenty that would take Mauer. No way he is even put on waivers though, it makes zero sense in every possible way.

Unless he can magically play 3rd, 2nd or SS parmelee has no space in the current lineup.

Wish they said what "hard thrower" meant.

5-10 a year? Let's try for 1 in a career and go from there. I like Revere, but let's be honest, the guy has zero HR power.

Upgrades: Code for "We know we sucked the past 2 years on the field but we are going to raise ticket prices anyways under the guise of a new food station or 2 more urinals"

It's about extending him when he isn't at his "high" point. Chances are if he comes out like gangbusters next season the price goes up quite a bit.

There are two groups of people who look like idiots on this: 1. Politicians trying to use this to keep Chic Fil A out of cities and states- Just shut up and find something more important to do. If you want to keep out an evil company then stop letting them put up Walmarts every 2 miles and driving out tons of other businesses. It's fast food join run by idiots, if they want to build in your city let them. If people want to boycott it and they go out of business in your city then let that happen as well. 2. The only one who looks worse then some of the polticians are the brain dead yokels who decided to pilgrimage out to Chic Fil A the other day for the Chic Fil A appreciation day. If you are following anything Rick Santorum or Sarah Palin supports at this point you are the definition of a moron. Gay marriage is well on its way in this country, so people better just get used to it if they don't like it. Eating a 3000 calorie lunch on August 1st isn't going to change that. You just spent 2-3 hours waiting on a fast food chicken sandwich! Personally I haven't eaten at a Chic Fil A in years, not bc of this, but because fast food in general is pretty awful for you. It has also been known for years that the CEO throws millions each year at anti gay marriage bills, groups etc. I am totally behind people "boycotting" it though, in fact I am for people boycotting any chain fast food joint. IMO the "debate" about Gay Marriage is stupid to begin with, how anyone can be against it in this day of age is just mind boggling to me, but if there is a debate to be had about it, it shouldn't be centered around some fast food chicken joint and there crazy rich baptist CEO.

Blackburn has just as good of a shot to stick as a #5 as DeDuno does have at this point. Hopefully one can stick but the odds aren't in eithers favor.

The Phillies won't let him go for just the money. But if I were the Twins I would put a claim on him just to block their rivals. If the Phillies for some reason let him goto the Twins for nothing then the Twins should consider themselves the luckiest franchise ever. Lee would bolster any rotation and if you fell out of it early next year you could always trade him for a good haul. None of this will happen though as the Phillies will at least need 1 blue chip prospect in return.

Just make sure you have the legal terms etc all laid out, Twinsdaily is becoming large enough were you could jam yourselves up if you don't do the due diligence. Internet and contests are a huge legal pain in the ass at times.

No, I like Morneau and wouldn't mind keeping him around as a 1b/DH type after next year if the price is right. Parmelee is intriguing, but I'm not completely sold that he can hit enough to be a good first baseman.

I think it was the time away from the game (almost 2 years?) along with the lost weight that was effecting his hitting. He still doesn't look like old Justin but he is getting closer, hopefully 2013 can be a break out year for him. One question I have, do you think about offering him a contract extension this off-season?

I am as half full as they come, DeDuno has been a nice story thus far, I am just not ready to count on him to contribute until he fixes his walks issue. Guys that have less then a 1:1 K/BB ratio just don't succeed at the big league level. His GB% isn't great and his FIP and XFIP show that he is due for some serious regression to the mean at some point. If he can limit his walks he could potentially become a back end of the rotation type guy, but until then I just don't see it happening long term. I do like the fact he strikes people out though, that is a nice refresher from the majority of pitchers we see on the big league club.

I like DeDuno's results thus far, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. The guy has 20 BB and 19k in 29 IP. That is a recipe for disaster.

Counting on baker to be ready/effective by the start of next season is a mistake. I like baker and like his potential but it might be time for the Twins to move on from him/. Offer him a 2 mil base and 5 mil in incentives, if he turns it down let him leave

#2 starter upside, hope he reaches it!

Most likely just a day off, Mauer has been playing nearly every day for a while and he has started to struggle a bit (past 3-4 games)

Surprised you have had time to between your frequent frankenberry feedings these days.