Minnesota Twins: Matt Capps and 2 Other Players They Should Consider Dealing

The Twins looked like they were going to escape Friday's game with a 1-0 win.

Nick Blackburn pitched seven solid innings.

"I think today everything was just down," said Blackburn, who had struggled earlier this month, "and that hasn’t been the case for probably the last four or five starts."

Joe Nathan took care of business in the eighth.

"He threw the ball very well," said manager Ron Gardenhire after the game. "He’s throwing the ball good."

However, closer Matt Capps gave up a two-run homer to up-and-coming superstar Eric Hosmer.

"I tried to go in to Hosmer and it just ran right over the plate," said Capps, who left the mound crestfallen. "He put a good swing on it. It shows why he’s a good young player and he hit it out of the park."

Capps earned two saves in three appearances in Chicago, but has yet to earn one in Minnesota since June 29 against Los Angeles.

"I mean, I don’t know," he said when asked about his struggles at home. "The plate is still 60 feet, six inches. There’s no difference home or the road or anything like that."

The Twins have a setup man in Glen Perkins and a closer in Nathan. It may be time to shop Capps.

Tom Schreier is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained firsthand or from official interview materials from the Minnesota Twins.

Matt Capps

Matt Capps is owed $7.15 million this year by the Twins.

That makes him the sixth-highest paid player on the team.

On my previous Matt Capps piece, Ed Gazda suggested that Minnesota should shop him and trade for whatever they can get.

His opinion is shared by many in Twins Territory.

Right now, however, Gardenhire appears set on keeping retaining Capps as the team's closer.

"The guy gave up a lead," he told the media, "and now you want to chop people’s heads off. We scored one run tonight, alright?"

True, the Twins were uncharacteristically poor the plate. Michael Cuddyer, for example, went 0-for-4.

Joe Mauer (who batted ahead of him) was intentionally walked twice and earned an additional walk, but Cuddyer could not capitalize.

"Cuddy had his chances," said Gardenhire. "I think Cuddy will take those chances every time. I just don’t think he had it tonight."

Nathan, who is owed $11.25 million this season (third-highest) looks like he's returning to form and Glen Perkins (a cheap option at $.7 million) has filled in for Matt Guerrier (Dodgers) as the setup man this season.

It's time to start fielding offers for Capps.

Jason Kubel

Jason Kubel has been injured since May 30 and in his absence the Twins have found ways to score without him.

Micheal Cuddyer (13) and Danny Valencia (10) have been hitting well in his absence.

Trevor Plouffe (4) homered in his first game back from the minors and showed prowess at the plate in Rochester (he hit 15 HR with the Red Wings).

Currently at 595, Jim Thome has the capability of eclipsing the 600 mark with change to spare this season.

It may be a stretch, but Joe Mauer, who currently has as many home runs as the pitching staff (0), is returning to form may find the long ball that he was hitting before the team moved to Target Field.

Cuddyer will probably play more frequently at right field because Luke Hughes and Justin Morneau (when he returns) both frequently play first base and the team appears weaning Mauer away from the plate.

Nobody is going to confuse this lineup with the one in New York or Texas, but, depending on how the season goes, the Twins may look at what they could get for Kubel.

They have enough power to get by without Kubel should they get the right deal for him.

Delmon Young

Delmon Young, who was drafted first overall in 2003, earns $5.375 million this season.

He has raw ability, but has struggled with injury this season and has become heavily criticized because of he was drafted first overall and the team gave up Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett to get him.

The outfield appears to be filling up.

Currently Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel, Denard Span, Ben Revere, Trevor Plouffe and Jason Repko all have been used in the outfield.

Ben Revere has been a solid replacement for Denard Span in the outfield.

He is batting .274 with four doubles and two triples.

Both he and Young play left field.

Revere, however, comes at a smaller price and has great upside.

Against Kansas City on Friday, Revere tripped and fell on his way to third and still managed to get the triple.

"I kinda missed my step a little bit," he said nonchalantly. "I thought that would be a 'Not Top 10' for a second.

"It’s not the first time I’ve done that either. I need to quit doing that. Luckily I didn’t break my neck."

The man's quick.