Thrylos

that was so 2011

Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch ---- This continues the dialy trade talk updates for the Twins and of action around the league that influences the TWins, up until the deadline. You can find all the older updates here, in reverse chronological order. Here is the Twins Trade Talk the past 24 hours or so: According to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post, the Washington Nationals had internal discussions about Jamey Carroll and other middle infielders. It seems that they will be making a move soon. From the is Josh Willingham available front: Ken Rosenthal tweets that a General Manager says that he is available but the Twins really want a lot for him (which is a good thing). Take another team off the Fransisco Liriano sweepstakes. The Pittsburgh Pirates are close to closing a deal with the Astros for Wandy Rodriguez. The Astros get Rudy Owens, a 24 year old LHP who is repeating AAA this season and is 8-5 with 3.14 ERA and 1.168 WHIP, 6.5 K/9 and 3.4 K/BB)Robbie Grossman a 22 year old toolsy CF who is hitting .262/.374/.403 with 7 HRs in AA and Colton Cain a 21 year old LHP who is pitching in high A with 4.20 ERA, 1.240 WHIP, 6.1 K/9 and 2.04 K/BB. Not top 100 prospects and only Grossman was on BA's list of the Pirates' top 10 prospects at number 8. The extension agreement of the Philadelphia Phillies with Cole Hamels this morning takes another LHSP off the market, thus increasing Fransisco Liriano's value both to the Twins as a trade chip and to himself as a free agent this off-season. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7189/6879271410_905aef624a_z.jpg

Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch ---- This continues the dialy trade talk updates for the Twins and of action around the league that influences the TWins, up until the deadline. You can find all the older updates here, in reverse chronological order. Here is the Twins Trade Talk the past 24 hours or so: According to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post, the Washington Nationals had internal discussions about Jamey Carroll and other middle infielders. It seems that they will be making a move soon. From the is Josh Willingham available front: Ken Rosenthal tweets that a General Manager says that he is available but the Twins really want a lot for him (which is a good thing). Take another team off the Fransisco Liriano sweepstakes. The Pittsburgh Pirates are close to closing a deal with the Astros for Wandy Rodriguez. The Astros get Rudy Owens, a 24 year old LHP who is repeating AAA this season and is 8-5 with 3.14 ERA and 1.168 WHIP, 6.5 K/9 and 3.4 K/BB)Robbie Grossman a 22 year old toolsy CF who is hitting .262/.374/.403 with 7 HRs in AA and Colton Cain a 21 year old LHP who is pitching in high A with 4.20 ERA, 1.240 WHIP, 6.1 K/9 and 2.04 K/BB. Not top 100 prospects and only Grossman was on BA's list of the Pirates' top 10 prospects at number 8. The extension agreement of the Philadelphia Phillies with Cole Hamels this morning takes another LHSP off the market, thus increasing Fransisco Liriano's value both to the Twins as a trade chip and to himself as a free agent this off-season. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7189/6879271410_905aef624a_z.jpg

Grossman is playing in the Eastern League (AA). He is hitting .262/.374/.403 with 58 BB and 77 K. Twins' own Aaron Hicks (also 22 and also in the same league) is hitting .273/.371/.432 with 52 BB and 86 K. Not that much different but if anything Hicks strikes out more than Grossman I think that Grossman has no place with the Twins because of Hicks (and Benson and Morales and Buxton etc.) and I suspect that the Twins would try to pry someone else from the Pirates or get 2 instead of 3 prospects...

The Astros get Rudy Owens, a 24 year old LHP who is repeating AAA this season and is 8-5 with 3.14 ERA and 1.168 WHIP, 6.5 K/9 and 3.4 K/BB), Robbie Grossman a 22 year old toolsy CF who is hitting .262/.374/.403 with 7 HRs in AA and Colton Cain a 21 year old LHP who is pitching in high A with 4.20 ERA, 1.240 WHIP, 6.1 K/9 and 2.04 K/BB. Not top 100 MLB prospects and only Grossman was on BA's list of the Pirates' top 10 prospects at number 8. The Pirates also got some $. If you were the Twins, would you trade Liriano for that?

While the interim has a roadmap? I cannot believe that... Just look at the heap of MiLB FAs he signed this offseason and brought in ST hoping that a couple will stick. That not a roadmap, it is playing darts.

+1 And btw, nobody knows anything about Pavano and Gardy is not whining about him and there are no health reports. Add "Cappie" to the list too. But that silence about Pavano is really telling. I think that both Pavano and Capps pitched their last games as Twins...

Span's from around there (closer to Tampa, though) so that might work for him, but I am not sure what it will take to pry Johnson (who was born in MPLS, btw) from the Marlins and whether the Twins have what it takes to work out a 4-year extension to keep him until he is 33 (2016) so he can contribute when they will be competitive. I think that it will take some young blood in addition to Span (like Hicks and Hendriks and and ) On the other hand, JJ lost a couple ticks on his FB this season and there have been some concerns. Plus he is an NL pitcher (and I do not like his inter-league splits that much... wish there was a place to get career away inter-league splits for NL pitchers....) I don't think it's happening. Just not in the Twins' DNA (or at least the ones who are running them now) to do things like this.

Alas, Zach Ward is all that the interim GM managed to get for Kyle Lohse. The Twins got Brandon Roberts for Juan Castro, who had more impact than Ward...

The Marlins won 2 World Series by having fire sales and rebuilding with young talent. I guess that's what they are doing. If JJ brings back a top of the rotation starter prospect and a number 3, plus what they got in the Detroit trade, they would be set with SP for 5-6 years or so That's what they are doing.

Yeah. If they can get anything for Carroll that would be great plus would give Florimon some experience.

For the record: From this past Spring Training (and while Baker was pitching with an undiagnosed UCL tear) : Source here: Funny thing, I was in that game. And even from the stands you could see that the guy was in pain and grimacing with every pitch. This shot is from that game: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7139/7019394157_9af7555974_o.jpg And afterwards right before his one and only rehab start at Fort Myers, Ryan was saying that he was frustrated that Baker has not "let it rip". Then he finally ripped it all the way. If TR and RG need to point any fingers towards anyone in the Baker situation, that is the miserable training and medical staff of the Twins (which supposedly the Executive of the Millennium was going to fix by now...) They are not going to pick his option up; that would be inane. He needs more time than next season to return to form. And if he is a free agent, I suspect that he will not want to return and play for the Twins for less, unless there is some staff changes...

One more thing: Tried to see what kind of injuries he had and it does not sound too good. Shoulder. Rotator Cuff and Labrum. Both reconstructed. Here is an interesting writeup from back then talking about how his mechanics messed his shoulder

This guy used to be thought as the next big thing for TX back in 2008 or so and he made it to the majors at age 21. I think after than he has a few injuries and surgeries and was out for 2-3 years until last season. He has been pitching pretty awfully but it is the PCL. He is just 26, so much younger than what the Twins usually get off the pile. Still not sure whether he has anything left. Still... We know that Hirschfeld and Bromberg went to Rochester and bombed... but Andrew Albers and Logan Darner are semi-repeating AA this season (and Albers is not a spring chicken, he is 26) and one of them could have been up there (Blake Martin has been doing decently -surprisingly- as a starter in NB, so there is how you close that gap.) Also Aaron Thompson, even though he is not lighting the place up since he return from his suspension, could also move up. I just don't like the message these type of signings give to younger players...

I think that a lot of what he is asking for depends on the team that asks.

1) ditto 2) that too 3) ditto 4) it was having the high picks plus several supplemental picks this year 5) Exactly 6) Both he and Jones were drafted this year 7) If they do not get rid of him they will have to carry him with the big team next year. If they get anything for him or an improved offer if add him to a deal, that is a bonus. See: addition by subtraction plus a younger non-prospect for the minors.

If he thought that, why did he sign a bunch of 30-some year olds last off-season (Marquis, Carroll, Doumit, Willingham) ? I suspect that Ryan said that this team will be ok with just pennies being pinched.

I still think that the Twins should be smart enough to package Liriano as Span for a team that is looking for a SP and a CF/leadoff hitter. THAT would maximize returns. Another little stated fact about both Liriano and Span, as far as trades are involved: They are lefties so they do carry a premium.

Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch ---- Here is the Twins Trade Talk the past 24 hours or so: Ken Rosenthal suggests that the Carlos Quentin and Edwin Encarnacion contract extensions (for 3 years at about $10 million per with all incentives), make Josh Willingham more desirable (he still has 2+ years at just $7 million per) but he suggest that Twins will have a high price and "would want a major return". Jon Heyman reiterrates that the Twins are not in a hurry to trade him but also says that if they change their mind, there will be a "mile long" line of suitors. Jon Morosi also indicates that the "Twins have yet to put" him on the trade market WithRyan Dempster to the Atlanta Braves trade (which is still pending Dempster's approval), 3 things are happening that involve the Twins: a. The Atlanta Braves are no longer a suiter for Fransisco Liriano b. Fransisco Liriano will likely be the next Domino to fall in the SP market (according to Ken Davidoff who correctly reported before it happend that Dempster will be the first.) Given that one of the Braves' top pitching prospects, 22 year old Panamanian Randall Delgado, who pitched in the majors this season and last and was rated 46th top prospect in baseball this year and 35th last year by Baseball America, involved in the return package to the Cubs, expect a similar or better return for Liriano. And c. The Washington Nationals that are 3.5 games ahead of the Braves would like to improve also. The have been associated with Denard Span and Fransisco Liriano in the past. Speaking of returns on pitchers, the Miami Marlins trade Anibal Sanchez and Omar Infante to the Detroit Tigers for 22 year old Jacob Turner RHSP #22 BA prospect, 22 year old C Rob Brantly with a .311/.359/.461 line in AA and now in AAA, and 22 year old LHSP Brian Flynn who just went to AA. They also swapped compensatory picks (a first in MLB). Sanchez and Infante is pretty much the equivalent of Fransisco Liriano and Alexi Cassila... Pretty good return. Heyman reports that the New York Yankees have talked to the Twins about Denard Span, but "did not like the price in prospects", so they went the Ichiro Suzuki way, which cost them the equivalent of Jeff Manship (D.J. Mitchell) and a guy they picked off waivers a couple weeks ago (Danny Farquhar; now try to pronounce that last name with a New York accent...) Jon Morosi reports that the Los Angeles Angels like Liriano and he is quoting former Twins' Centerfielder Torii Hunter, in support. Also lists Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles, Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves as teams looking for SP, without knowing whether they are interested in Liriano. You can cross the Braves off the list now. The Justin Morneau to the Los Angeles Dodgers rumours that started yesterday in LA, are rehashed in the Twin Cities today. Tim Brown writes that the Twins are having discussion about Morneau but they are asking the other teams for an existing major leaguer in return plus to take his full contract. Hard to believe that they would want a major leaguer in return, based on what Terry Ryan has been saying publicly.

Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch ---- Here is the Twins Trade Talk the past 24 hours or so: Ken Rosenthal suggests that the Carlos Quentin and Edwin Encarnacion contract extensions (for 3 years at about $10 million per with all incentives), make Josh Willingham more desirable (he still has 2+ years at just $7 million per) but he suggest that Twins will have a high price and "would want a major return". Jon Heyman reiterrates that the Twins are not in a hurry to trade him but also says that if they change their mind, there will be a "mile long" line of suitors. Jon Morosi also indicates that the "Twins have yet to put" him on the trade market WithRyan Dempster to the Atlanta Braves trade (which is still pending Dempster's approval), 3 things are happening that involve the Twins: a. The Atlanta Braves are no longer a suiter for Fransisco Liriano b. Fransisco Liriano will likely be the next Domino to fall in the SP market (according to Ken Davidoff who correctly reported before it happend that Dempster will be the first.) Given that one of the Braves' top pitching prospects, 22 year old Panamanian Randall Delgado, who pitched in the majors this season and last and was rated 46th top prospect in baseball this year and 35th last year by Baseball America, involved in the return package to the Cubs, expect a similar or better return for Liriano. And c. The Washington Nationals that are 3.5 games ahead of the Braves would like to improve also. The have been associated with Denard Span and Fransisco Liriano in the past. Speaking of returns on pitchers, the Miami Marlins trade Anibal Sanchez and Omar Infante to the Detroit Tigers for 22 year old Jacob Turner RHSP #22 BA prospect, 22 year old C Rob Brantly with a .311/.359/.461 line in AA and now in AAA, and 22 year old LHSP Brian Flynn who just went to AA. They also swapped compensatory picks (a first in MLB). Sanchez and Infante is pretty much the equivalent of Fransisco Liriano and Alexi Cassila... Pretty good return. Heyman reports that the New York Yankees have talked to the Twins about Denard Span, but "did not like the price in prospects", so they went the Ichiro Suzuki way, which cost them the equivalent of Jeff Manship (D.J. Mitchell) and a guy they picked off waivers a couple weeks ago (Danny Farquhar; now try to pronounce that last name with a New York accent...) Jon Morosi reports that the Los Angeles Angels like Liriano and he is quoting former Twins' Centerfielder Torii Hunter, in support. Also lists Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles, Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves as teams looking for SP, without knowing whether they are interested in Liriano. You can cross the Braves off the list now. The Justin Morneau to the Los Angeles Dodgers rumours that started yesterday in LA, are rehashed in the Twin Cities today. Tim Brown writes that the Twins are having discussion about Morneau but they are asking the other teams for an existing major leaguer in return plus to take his full contract. Hard to believe that they would want a major leaguer in return, based on what Terry Ryan has been saying publicly.

Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch ---- Here is this week's installment, heavily influenced by the upcoming trade deadline: I decided to give daily trade talk updates for the Twins, up until the deadline. You can find them all from newer to older here. Look for today's version to be up soon. One of the most intriguing names that were thrown around as a possible return for Fransisco Liriano is Garrett Richards, of the Angels. He did not break through yet, but he has Verlander-like stuff, and he is 24. Verlander was an average pitcher (look at WHIP not Wins) before his age 26 season or so. Danny Lehmann and Shairon Martis were promoted to Rochester from New Britain, Matt Summers, Jonathan Goncalves and Clint Dempster promoted from Beloit to Ft. Myers. Mason Melotakis and Zack Jones promoted from Elizabethton to Beloit. Kennys Vargas after serving his 50 day suspension, started the season in Beloit (and promptly hit a home run at his first plate appearance.) Andrew Ferreira was assigned to Elizabethton while Rene Tosoni went to New Britain through a rehab with the Miracle after starting the season in Rochester. The Twins' released AA RHP Brad Jacobson last Wednesday from New Britain When Ryan Doumit started at LF in a day game last Thursday against the Orioles, it mark the first time he ever played the position in an official game in professional baseball. He had never played a game in the LF in the Majors or the Minors. The Twins have spend $6.7 million more for bonuses for 2012 rule 4 draftees than they did in 2011. A total of $12.6 million Congratulations to Samuel Deduno for his first MLB win on Sunday against the Kansas City Royals Jeff Manship was named International League Pitcher of the Week for last week. He was 2-0 in 2 starts (12 IP) and had a 2.25 ERA. He will be out of options next season and the Twins need to make a decision on him, since he has not pitched well in 3 bried stints in the majors. I would not be surprised if he is added to a trade this coming week. Don't look, but very quietly Darrin Mastroianni is putting better numbers than both Ben Revere and Denard Span. He is hitting .276/.353/.421 with 2 HRs and 9 SB (as many as Span) in just 86 PAs. He should be part of the discussion for a starting job as Span's replacement when traded and possibly a part of the Twins' future OF. He is just 26 (same age as Trevor Plouffe.) At least he earned a bit more playing time. Would be interesting to see more Revere/Span/Mastroianni lineups, with Willingham at DH, Doumit at C and Mauer at 1B (at least until Span gets traded.) I would not be surprised if Carl Pavano hangs his cleats, revealing that he would need surgery on his injured shoulder, some time soon Not Twins' related, but, darn, this is a darn good article about Mike Lynn (and if you don't know who Mike Lynn is, you better read) The Twins' product of the week is the Minnesota Twins Sportulahttp://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=biowriters&l=as2&o=1&a=B00857HNHI. A perfect accessory for the grilling season. Big Twins' logo grill spatula with an integrated bottle opener on the handle... A must have. The parting shot today is of the guy in the Kansas City game. Yeah in the game when the Twins were wearing blue Dickies overalls for uniforms. Which guy? That guy: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8294/7619158536_defe7a6c5f_o.jpg

Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch ---- Here is this week's installment, heavily influenced by the upcoming trade deadline: I decided to give daily trade talk updates for the Twins, up until the deadline. You can find them all from newer to older here. Look for today's version to be up soon. One of the most intriguing names that were thrown around as a possible return for Fransisco Liriano is Garrett Richards, of the Angels. He did not break through yet, but he has Verlander-like stuff, and he is 24. Verlander was an average pitcher (look at WHIP not Wins) before his age 26 season or so. Danny Lehmann and Shairon Martis were promoted to Rochester from New Britain, Matt Summers, Jonathan Goncalves and Clint Dempster promoted from Beloit to Ft. Myers. Mason Melotakis and Zack Jones promoted from Elizabethton to Beloit. Kennys Vargas after serving his 50 day suspension, started the season in Beloit (and promptly hit a home run at his first plate appearance.) Andrew Ferreira was assigned to Elizabethton while Rene Tosoni went to New Britain through a rehab with the Miracle after starting the season in Rochester. The Twins' released AA RHP Brad Jacobson last Wednesday from New Britain When Ryan Doumit started at LF in a day game last Thursday against the Orioles, it mark the first time he ever played the position in an official game in professional baseball. He had never played a game in the LF in the Majors or the Minors. The Twins have spend $6.7 million more for bonuses for 2012 rule 4 draftees than they did in 2011. A total of $12.6 million Congratulations to Samuel Deduno for his first MLB win on Sunday against the Kansas City Royals Jeff Manship was named International League Pitcher of the Week for last week. He was 2-0 in 2 starts (12 IP) and had a 2.25 ERA. He will be out of options next season and the Twins need to make a decision on him, since he has not pitched well in 3 bried stints in the majors. I would not be surprised if he is added to a trade this coming week. Don't look, but very quietly Darrin Mastroianni is putting better numbers than both Ben Revere and Denard Span. He is hitting .276/.353/.421 with 2 HRs and 9 SB (as many as Span) in just 86 PAs. He should be part of the discussion for a starting job as Span's replacement when traded and possibly a part of the Twins' future OF. He is just 26 (same age as Trevor Plouffe.) At least he earned a bit more playing time. Would be interesting to see more Revere/Span/Mastroianni lineups, with Willingham at DH, Doumit at C and Mauer at 1B (at least until Span gets traded.) I would not be surprised if Carl Pavano hangs his cleats, revealing that he would need surgery on his injured shoulder, some time soon Not Twins' related, but, darn, this is a darn good article about Mike Lynn (and if you don't know who Mike Lynn is, you better read) The Twins' product of the week is the Minnesota Twins Sportulahttp://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=biowriters&l=as2&o=1&a=B00857HNHI. A perfect accessory for the grilling season. Big Twins' logo grill spatula with an integrated bottle opener on the handle... A must have. The parting shot today is of the guy in the Kansas City game. Yeah in the game when the Twins were wearing blue Dickies overalls for uniforms. Which guy? That guy: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8294/7619158536_defe7a6c5f_o.jpg

mlbtraderumors is aggregating content generated elsewhere. As far as Willingham goes, there have been 4 conflicting reports late last night and today. And from those reports you really have to go to the original source and see which are guesses by the writers (as in "it makes sense") and which actually report events (like actual discussions.) No reports of actual discussions about Willingham, which does not mean that they are not happening.

apparently he pulled a Knoblauch a couple weeks ago (asked to be traded)

Formally Ichiro asked for a trade 2 weeks ago.