USAFChief

I would say standing pat is a big upright middle finger to fans, a statement to current players that they're not good enough to win, and a sign to future free agents that the Twins are still not a team to seriously consider if there is any way to avoid it.

I'd rather see the Twins actually try to think big, and fail, than think small and succeed. Thinking small is how you have Mauer and Johan in their prime but get nowhere because you're running Jason what's his name out at DH. This was an opportunity missed. This kind of opportunity doesn't come around that often.

Neither of the pitchers Col received is any kind of mega prospect, either. Have to believe the inclusion of Reyes means the Twins could have gotten Tulowitski for a reasonable return by taking on more salary. I expected to be disappointed, and in that regard anyway, I'm not disappointed.

Plouffe made it all the way through the minor leagues as a SS. It's not a big surprise, IMO, to see him become a good defensive third baseman. Maintaining a decent stick was always the bigger question, and he seems to have plateaued at a very respectable level. A good, every day MLB player, one that I would take offers on this winter because of Sano.

I'm ok with the pricing structure...I'd hate to see them at a price point I can't afford.

winnah!

I prefer the 99 cents, thanks.

C'mon Fien...baseruns has us down 3-2.

You're assuming a lot here, Dave. They'd have to avoid any lengthy DL stints.

winner.

Santana's gotcher back on this.

?? Whatever for?

...feels like a long lost friend.

So Mrs Chief and I were cleaning out the bedroom last night, and I found a box under some clothes in the back of the closet. Inside were a couple eggs and over $300 in cash. "Sweet," I thought. I asked Mrs Chief what the deal was, and she looked at me sadly and said "Every time I've cheated on you through the years, I've put an egg in the box." I was taken aback, of course, but tried to put on a brave and loving front. "That's all right, honey. Twice in 34 years isn't so bad." "Welllllll," she said, "I've been selling them over the years at .99 cents a dozen."

Suggestion: set down both beers before you put your fingers to your eyes.

Yeah...but ultimately, that's a bad thing.

Duensing was warmed and ready.

Given the options, I can't disagree.

While I certainly appreciate the sentiment, I question your source.

You don't have a yard.

unforgivable

Well, start with that. I thought May would make a fine addition to the pen, but since he isn't being used, send him back to Rochester and let him start. Or put him back in the rotation, and put Pelfrey in the pen and USE him as a short reliever. But don't just put May in the pen and let him sit there, not helping an obvious weakness. Boyer...frankly I don't care what they do with him. Release, DFA, whatever. Just stop using him as a short reliever. And as noted, Fien has an option. Although if he didn't, frankly, again, I wouldn't care if he was lost in an effort to improve the pen options. But for heaven's sake...do SOMEthing.

Add Nolasco to the deal and there's the salary relief, while giving CO a potentially useful piece rather than just shipping dollars off.

A massive risk? You've said you don't like their chances anyway. ..what's the risk? And this keeps getting left out. ..Tulowitzki is not a 2 month rental

It's important, I think to differentiate between true "rent a player" deadline deals and other types of deadline deals. In some of these cases, viewing the trade solely in terms of the year the deal was made undervalues the trade. In regards to the above, several of the players you listed provided value to the team acquiring him after the season in question. David Price is still a Tiger, providing value and will bring back a piece or two if they deal him. Hunter Pence is still a Giant (and has won 2 WS as a Giant, not 1.) It's also important to consider what the teams gave up, too, I think. Just to pick one example...Pence cost the Giants their number 2 rated (by BA) prospect, AA C Tommy Joseph (has yet to appear in a major league game), P Seth Rosin (yes, the one from MN), who has 6 big league innings to date, and OFer Nate Schierholz. Think the Giants regret giving up that haul? Prospects are great, we all love 'em. But the reality is, most of em don't end up worth a hill of beans. Berrios is a nice prospect, but the chances the Twins seriously regret losing him down the road are not that high. Gibson is a decent MLB pitcher, and he might actually get better...but he's 28, and the chances of that aren't great. A Tulo trade has a very good chance of filling one need, and filling it well, for the next several years. Not just 2015. That might not happen, but then again Buxton might never be a good, healthy big leaguer, either. I'd let either Gibson or Berrios form that basis of that trade 100 times out of 100.