Trade Talk

[pikehunter]

Three names mentioned in trade speculation among the two papers today. Check out Shooter's column today if you haven't already. A move is outlined there most of us would love to see, except maybe for a different player.

Looks like if we made a move, it would be a pitcher - Loshe or Mays - and replace the traded person with one of the three studs we have have on the farm right now - presumably Liriano. In return, we're likely looking for a third baseman. Here are the three mentioned in discussion today:

Sean Burroughs: (.273, 10 RBI, 17 R, 3 SB, 1 HR). I just don't see why we would want this type of hitter - seems like we have six of them already. Also, why would SD be willing to deal him in a pennant push?

Edgardo Alfonzo: (.306, 30 RBI, 25 R, 1 SB, 2 HR) He's be a good pick-up, I could handle it.

Joe Randa: (.292, 38 RBI, 35 R, 11 HR) I would love to see him brought in ... good, gritty player with a solid glove. Plus, he's from Milwaukee, so he would probably like coming back to the Midwest.

Trade deadline is July 31, but if we want to make a move, we'll probably have to do it well before then. Which of these three would you guys rather see in a Twins uniform?

[Willy]

I've also heard some talk of us talking to Atlanta about moving Jones for Giles or Furcal.

I would like to see Randa in Twins Uni. I don't know why we didn't pick him up in the offseason when we had the chance. It would've solved our 3B problem right away.

[Eric Wettschreck]

If they were to take any of those guys I'd love to see Randa, aka the joker, in a Twins uni.

He'd be a good fit with this team.

[pikehunter]

Interesting talk about Atlanta. I don't think the Twins can afford to trade Jones right now, since he's one of only a few guys in the lineup providing any pop. Plus, Furcal and Giles don't bring anything we don't already have, except some added experience, perhaps.

I wish we already had Randa as well, but I don't really think it's a 3B issue as much as it is a 2B issue. The organization refused to give up on Rivas and it's hurting us now. You just can't count on Punto to stay healthy the way he plays and you also need offensive production out of that spot, since we're already giving up offense by going with Castro's glove at short. You need one of your two middle infielders to produce. Initially, we were content to handle Rivas' inability to hit, until the Bartlett experiment failed and we had to move the weak-hitting Castro to short. The presumed plan is, as well it should be, to trade for a 3B and move Cuddyer to second, where he is more comfortable defensively.

I heard three more names today on XM Radio's MLB Home Plate mentioned in conjunction with a Twins trade: Bret Boone, Aubrey Huff and Ryan Howard. None of those really seems to make sense to me.

[Pig_sticka]

If it was possible to get Huff that would be awesome, Huff can really hit the ball and is a young talent. Randa would be nice also. Furcal and Giles would be way better in the long run than Jones. Giles can straight out hit the ball and is a hard nose 2nd baseman. Then we could finally stop the 2nd base switcheroos. Get rid of rivas and keep punto as the utility. And losing Jones would just mean putting Ford out in the outfield for a starter spot and opening up the dh for another player like Matty or for a power source if we add one.

And like I said on the other post, Helton and Thome are both on the trade blocks as well or atleast that I heard.

[Willy]

It just stinks because you know the Twins aren't going to add anyone that is a big name or that will have a great impact. We've needed a slugger in here for years, yet the Twins have refused to go out and get one. If we had one the last 3 years, we're in the world series.

Giles is a definite upgrade over anyone the twins have for 2nd base. I don't want to see Jones go either. He is one of the only ones hitting the ball at all for us.

I don't think you'll ever see us trade for a Thome or Helton, too much dough.

I think if anything, we'll see Randa.

[pikehunter]

I like Huff as well, and he can play third, so we would be able to position him.

As far as Giles and Furcal, I don't see them putting us in any better position in the long run than Jones. I realize we have a few good outfielders, but Lew is a bit of a liability defensively, especially when compared to Jones. Furcal and Giles are decent middle-infielders, but not long-term fixes. We need veterans who hit it hard, not middle infielders who hit for average.

I'm not so worried about getting a big-name power hitter. We found out a couple years ago it doesn't need to be that kind of player to make a difference. When we traded for Stewart everything changed, and it catapulted us into the post-season. I'd argue we would already be out of the race this year without him.

The thing about getting a long-ball hitter, is we already have one - his name is Justin Morneau. He just hasn't performed yet this year. To me, that's the biggest dissapointment - he just hasn't done what we expected, and it's costing us. Until the team gives up on him, there's no place for a Thome-like guy on the roster, in my opinion.

[bucketmouth64]

I like Randa too at 3rd. We can package any combo of Rivas/Lohse/Mays and get Giles and/or Randa. Put Cuddy back on the bench and be a utility player. He seems to do well in that role because he is a streaky hitter. No way the Twins will get a Thome type of player. Forget Boone, too high of a salary and his numbers are way down. Never thought much of him...he has been implicated in the steroid thing too. Hmmm his numbers are way down since the steroid thing. Coincidence?

[SledNeck]

I wonder if J.Jones is on the table...hmmmmm?

[B-bear]

Edgardo Alfonso is on the DL.

15-day DL as of Jun 13, 2005 (Strained left quadriceps)

[buzzsaw]

Maybe they should go after Jason Schmidt??? He is highly paid and very good! Give them Jones, Lohse AND a prospect... just get another good pitcher in here fast!

[8-Ball]

Randa best choice IMO. No-one will take Mays, too high a salary. Lohse is back to normal (sucks). I don't think we would get squat for him. Just get him outta here-please!

[pikehunter]

We'd probably get more for Loshe than people would think. He's not considered over-priced (yet) and his numbers aren't horrible. Plus, everybody raves about his "stuff."

If we can send him and two prospects on their way for Randa, I would consider it a good trade. Jason Schmidt just hasn't been good this year and rumour has it he might be playing hurt. Plus, we've got a guy in the minors who scouts say is better than Santana was at that stage and the squad would love to have the opportunity to bring him up.

[Mitty]

Cripe Pikehunter it seems like your talking out of both corners of your mouth,it wasnt a month ago I got all over Cuddirtyer and talked about picking Randa up at the begining of the season as a free agent and you were really sticking up for Cuddirtyer, how he led the teamin r.b.i.for the month of May,and how to keep giving him a chance the guy is DIRT,I guess it just takes some of us a little longer to see the light.

[pikehunter]

There's a distinct difference between a month ago and now Mitty: We were WINNING a month ago. The lineup was functioning enough, I felt, that we could give Cuddyer some time to improve defensively. He didn't and we really can't afford the defensive liability anymore.

Now, I'm all for a move that will add a heavier stick, and a better glove, to the third base position. More-so, I think another disciplined veteran hitter is needed on this team to lead by example. (Turns out it won't be Randa, however, as by most accounts the Twins have decided to look elsewhere.)

Kudos to you for having the foresight to see that the Cuddyer third base experiment wouldn't work out Mitty. A month ago, I just thought we should give it more time.

Also, for the record, I still think the lineup eventually will have a spot for Cuddyer - at second. His bat, especially against lefties, still belongs in the lineup.

[8-Ball]

I side with PH on this one Mitty. Yes, it NOW is time to get Cuddy off third. It was not a month ago. We did not have anyone else who could go over there- Castro too busy at short, etc. But now Williams is up, I mean down-dissed the shoulder tonight. So, who goes over there now? I still do not think the Twins are out of it either, by the way. If we can pick up 4 games between now and early August, remember, we still have what, 13 games against the SUX.. I still do not think this is over. 8-Ball.

[Mitty]

If you guys have ever played the game you would realize that about 80% of the game is anticipation including the line up.Thats when you have to make your move when things are gonig somewhat alright we cant just sit and wait for Chicago to falter you have to go and get them.

[pikehunter]

I've played the game, and agree - a significant part of the game is anticipation - including managing. That said, I don't think it's a good practice for a manager to hand a guy a starting job and then bench him after a rought first month of the season, particularly when he was showing signs of coming around. Do that, and you've sent a message to your clubhouse that everybody is always playing for their jobs, and that you're willing to use any player as a scapegoat at any time.

Cuddyer was given enough rope, and it's time to look another direction at third. Unfortunately, that got a lot tougher last night with the loss of Williams.

Mitty, I'm interested to hear what you think we should do at the other corner, which I think has been a much bigger problem for us offenively. Would you look at replacing him too?

Go Twins!!

[First Ice-Mike]

I'm thinking Punto is going to see some time and the hot corner - or Castro will move over there and Punto will play Shortstop. Maybe Tiffee will get another shot.

FI

[pikehunter]

Looks like they're waiting until Friday when they can activate Abernathy from the DL. I think they're going to wait until after the break for Punto, because they want him prefectly healthy for the stretch run. I'm not sure if Abernathy, Punto or Castro can play third, but I doubt that Castro or Punto would be put there, for sure.

Today's lineup features another day game after night game special which includes: Rivas at short, Cudd at third, Ryan in right, Ford in center and L-Rod at second. If Moonlight Graham were alive, he probably could break into this lineup!

[rundrave]

what about the outfield?

I dont think we should trade jones, we will probably lose him to free agency in the off season anyway.

I also think Stewart playing hurt, cant help his wrist, I dont think he's 100%, perhaps he is showing the diaper dandies how to play tough, but his injury isnt gonna fix itself correctly with out some rest, so we cant afford to lose jones, its nice having ford for backup, but we get pretty thin after that.

I know injures are part of the game, but we sure have taken our share this year.

[pikehunter]

To make matters worse, Cuddyer was hit by a pitch and taken in for XRays of his hand today.

Down 3-1 in the ninth as I type, this might be the worst they've played all year. Lots of defensive mistakes early, players LOB ... it would be nice to see them pull off one of those late inning rallies we became so accustomed to in the past few years.