According to recent studies, using a closer has increased team win percentage by zero percent, compared to pre-closer days....the Sox were actually succesfful a few years ago with their bullpen by committee approach, but abandoned it due to injury and intense pressure to have a "proven closer" apparently. I'd love, love, love it if the Twins went with their best pitchers in the right situations, rather than use a closer. Don't overpay for 45 innings of pitching.....frankly, having read the interview of the Nats third base coach, and his philosophy on managing, I'd love him to be the new manager too, but that's about as likely as my idea for how to use the pen....
As to trading a bunch of mediocre relief prospects for something, not sure why any team would do that. Don't most teams have a bunch of guys in their minors that will fail as starters and can be 6-8 inning guys?