Minnesota Twins' Winter Market Is Shaping Up

As the larger deals begin to fall into place, the Twins' role in this year's free-agency melee is starting to take shape.

Arms Dealer

CC Sabathia is all but getting fitted for pinstripes, which leaves the Milwaukee Brewers without two of their top three pitchers from last season. Getting Gallardo back will be a huge boost, but they are sorely in need of fresh arms if they are going to repeat last year's playoff run. 

Enter the Minnesota Twins.

While the top three, and likely Nick Blackburn, are more or less off the table, the Twins have the young arms the Brewers need. Philip Humber, Kevin Mulvey, Anthony Swarzak, Brian Duensing are all guys who could be MLB ready as soon as next year, and who would all be available in the right deal.

J.J. Hardy is the Twins target, but all reports indicate that he isn't for sale. That may change with their new need for pitching, but even if the shortstop really is untouchable, it is likely that a deal could be had.

Bill Hall and Rickie Weeks have both fallen out of favor with the Brewers and could be change of scenery candidates. They may not solve the Twins' issues, but they could be had more cheaply than someone like Garrett Atkins or Adrian Beltre and may well begin to play up to expectations once they get out of Milwaukee.

Middle Man

The Jake Peavy-to-the-Cubs deal seems to have hit a snag, since the Cubs simply don't have the pieces the Padres want, or are unwilling to give them up. Once again, the issue is young pitching.

The Twins are said to be targeting Mark DeRosa in exchange for a young pitcher, who would spend exactly .0001 seconds as a Cub before heading to San Diego. Names are hard to come by, but San Diego seems to be looking at a longer rebuilding plan, so someone like Shooter Hunt or Deolis Guerra could be involved.

Those two guys are too much to give up for one year of DeRosa, and this from an unabashed D-Ro fan. The Twins have plenty of young pitchers who make sense, but it isn't cut and dry. I'd love to acquire DeRosa, but I don't see it happening.

Like the Twins last year, the Pads want to get top value for their ace, and are going to want someone at the top of the Twins prospect list. However, giving up someone like Hunt for DeRosa, doesn't make sense.

If the Cubs are willing to add in someone else, the Twins could certainly be the team that makes this trade finally happen, but a la Illinois Governor, the Twins aren't about to give up something good without getting theirs.