etspaceman

What do his stats from a year ago have anything to do with what you're arguing (that he looks good enough right now to be a 5th/6th starter)? His start today was a 7.20 ERA, which is right around how he's performed all year. He provides depth? Everyone on the roster provides depth. If he qualified, he'd have the worst ERA in the majors right now. You can't seriously tell me that he actually has value as a starter based on his recent performances.

Contribute what exactly?

I don't see how it's possible to dislike this trade. Considering Valencia has little-to-no trade value, and the fact that Valencia wasn't going to be a starter here, getting a guy that's hitting .421/.534/.981 in the rookie leagues right now is a pretty good return.

Why are you trying to rush success with the current roster? The Twins have so much young talent in their system; wouldn't it make sense to WAIT for that young talent to emerge in a wave and have a good chance of being competitive? What do you think the Twins' chances are with David Price right now? Are they suddenly a playoff contender now that they have one competent pitcher? Do you think Sano's trade value will rise over time, therefore netting a better package in the future?

This has to be a bit. Seriously? Trading your best prospect at his lowest trade value is not how you rebuild... at all. What are the Twins going to gain out of a 2 year rental? Are you that desperate to see some wins that you're willing to sacrifice your best prospect? On the glimmer of hope that somehow, this pitiful team wins it all simply because they have one competent starting pitcher? You gotta be mental.

This goes directly back to the OPs point -> The owner would have to loan his company the money and hope that they can pay him back. People don't make good money by making poor decisions like that. You don't just pour money into a black hole of payroll because you happen to have it; that's how business owners go bankrupt. You would never see that money again. Your business that is driving that payroll should be able to support that on their own, and I think the Twins payroll is able to support a competitive staff.

3 looking strikeouts. Great start boys.

It all started with the bunt!

Down 4 runs and you bunt?

Isn't that the case every time he pitches?

Bonser was more of a head case due to weight. Being heavy killed his endurance. He was ok as a rookie. After losing weight he lost something. Liriano pitched well when the games didn't count this year. The Twins being so far out the games don't count for much, Liriano is pitching better. Bonser was a head-case because he couldn't control his fastball, much like Liriano. And excuses like what you've just stated for Liriano were exactly what was being said about Bonser. He has an ERA over 5 and it seems like he hits a batter in every outing. He's been pretty solid lately in terms of runs, but his control still isn't there and I wouldn't be surprised to see him slip in his next few outings. It's been five years after his Tommy John; it's time to start realizing that his current state is what he is - an inconsistent, hard-throwing pitcher. I do tend to agree that retaining him for a price of a Marquis or something is fine.

Honestly, I wouldn't care if Liriano doesn't net much in a trade; at this point, it's probably best to give young, developing players the innings rather than starting a guy who hasn't "figured it out" in 5 years after his Tommy John. What are we hoping for anymore? This reminds me of the Boof Bonser situation, quite frankly.