Twins, Pirates Are Currently Connected at Hip

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The Twins and Pirates have been linked together quite a bit in recent weeks.

• Probably most notably (at least up to this point), the two teams are reported front-runners to ink the (believed) 16-year-old shortstop phenom Miguel Angel Sano. Sano has reportedly fielded offers from both teams but won't sign with any club until Major League Baseball is finished investigating his true age.

• The two teams also faced each other in Interleague play for the first time since 2006. The Twins beat the Pirates two games to one.

• When the Twins designated Luis Ayala for assignment, La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that the Pirates were at one point interested prior to shipping Eric Hinske to the Yankees. Ayala later signed with the Florida Marlins.

• And now, the Twins and Pirates are reportedly engaged in trade talks that would send Freddy Sanchez and possibly two relievers to the Twins for what can only be believed is a slew of prospects or young, cheap players in return.

The Twins have really never been considered "big buyers" at the trade deadline, but this could certainly begin to alter that perception. Freddy Sanchez is far from a C.C. Sabathia or Manny Ramirez, but in Twins-terms, adding a player like Sanchez would be a monumental change from past years where they've generally sat silent and not gotten into bidding wars for players in which most are only considered two-month rentals.

With Sanchez, that situation is somewhat different. Not only is the 31-year-old second baseman having one of the best years of his career, but he also has an option for next season, meaning he does have a little more value to his potential future team.

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