All of the trade rumors are great fun, but if I was the GM of the Twins I wouldn't make a move unless it makes my team better through 2010. The Twins have done a great job staying close to first place all year, but they don't have enough to win the division much less any playoff bracket.
The whole rotation is made up of basically first year (young) pitchers minus Livan Hernandez. They have lost our best set up guy (Neshek) for the season, and nobody has really stepped up in his role. They released a valuable part of our relief staff for the last 4 years in Juan Rincon who somehow forgot how to pitch. The next best guys are Crain and Guerrier who don't seem have enough stuff to finish off a batter.
Now, it seems the Twins have lost one of the teams most valuable players in Casilla for the season and replaced him with Gardenhire man-crush player Punto. Cuddyer was having a down year until he got hurt, and it is not known for how long. Lamb has been a big disappointment. Kubel has been doing well in his platoon role as a DH, but Craig Monroe can't hit lefties. Carlos Gomez and Delmon Young have no concept of the strike zone.
And best of all, Adam Everett is now back on the roster, which is like having another Nick Punto except with less range and a worse arm.
If you think adding a right handed bat and a relief pitcher is going to put the Twins over the top, you're wrong.
If you think the Twins should trade any of our young pitchers or young outfielders for a patch job, you're just plain crazy.
Not all is bleak, however.
This team has a bright future in outfield with Young, Gomez and Span. They will get better every year. Their rotation looks to be one of the best rotations in baseball once we get Liriano in place and a few more years under their belt. Casilla is showing promise as a great hitter AND great fielder. Morneau and Mauer are studs. A healthy Cuddyer and Neshek and some smart free agent signings the next two years will put the Twins in a great position to not only win the division, but win the whole thing in 2010.
Who knows, maybe they will be ready for 2009?
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