Actually, a better model for the Twins would probably be the Cardinals - midsize market (StL is actually smaller I believe), payroll in the middle of the pack, built mainly through the farm system...one large difference is the ability/willingness of St. Louis to sign the FA they acquire on a rental basis after parting with highly thought of prospects/young MLB ready players (Holliday and Rasmus come to mind as recent examples, although obviously not part of the same transaction). While I can understand the lack of the this type of activity from the front office currently, as they are obviously at a trough in the cycle the last transaction I can recall that would fit this mold was the Shannon Stewart trade/signing. Perhaps Luis Castillo. *sigh*
