Twins Notes: Mauer, Crede, Duensing

If Slowey comes back healthy I could really see the Twins just running with Duensing and one of Perkins, Bonser, Manship, Swarzak, or Liriano to round out the last two spots.

"Nathan's contract is really detrimental to the team, but trading him would cause a riot around these parts as well.

Nathan's an elite closer, and I've loved having him around for the past several years, but his contract just doesn't make sense given the rest of our needs."

I couldn't agree more. For a team that hasn't had any problems finding effective, dynamic bullpen arms for the last decade, it's silly to pay a closer $12MM. Think about it, that's 3 Nick Punto-type players ;)

Zach and the other writers of MLBTradeRumors.com ...

If you want to get a start on the '10 off-season I'll give you a post today that can be used one year from now:

-- Scott Boras and Joe Crede are both reporting that Crede's back rehab is going better than expected. Despite only playing in [fill in the number of games here] for the [fill in the team here] in '10, Crede expects to be fully healthy and ready for the '11 season. "Joe has consistently demonstrated that he is one of the toughest ball players in the game. His glove and power will be an asset to any team."

I wouldn't mind seeing Duensing as the 5th starter going into 2010. It would be great if we had a veteran for the 3rd or 4th spot. Carl Pavano has said he would like to stay in Minnesota. I wonder if he would sign a 2-yr contract at 6-7 million a year.

Scott Baker
Kevin Slowey
Carl Pavano
Nick Blackburn
Brian Duensing

No true "ace," but very solid with Liriano, Bonser, Swarzak, etc. waiting in the wings.

Liriano shouldn't be given up on yet, his command has been his biggest issue of late, and that's generally the last thing that pitchers get back when trying to return from major surgery.

He's still got good stuff, and the Twins could use him in their rotation. Slowey and Baker have good control but are homer-prone, Blackburn is solid but more of a 4/5, and Perkins' ability to miss bats hasn't translated to the ML level.

Unless the Twins can trade him for a good player that can help now (such as J.J. Hardy), they should keep him around as the fifth starter.

"...you have to at least give him credit for finally spending for some of these high ceiling prospects the Twins never used to go anywhere near (Sano, Gibson, Kepler)"

Not to mention Aaron Hicks.

A few years ago, you never would've seen a Twins prospect list highlighted by toolsy, high-upside players like Aaron Hicks, Miguel Angel Sano, Max Kepler-Rozycki, Billy Bullock and Kyle Gibson. Generally you'd see more guys of the Revere/Ramos/Salcedo/Parmelee variety.

You gotta like some of what Smith has done. But still, it's hard to let go trading Johan Santana, Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett for Delmon Young, Brendan Harris, Jason Pridie, Carlos Gomez, Phil Humber, Deolis Guerra and Kevin Kulvey. That's brutal.

Xmas, you make landing a legitimate ace sound like it's a simple task. If that were the case, every team would have one.

The only shot the Twins would have at an ace would be to sign John Lackey, and that's not going to happen.

And again, adding a "legit" infielder is difficult as well. You can't just snap your fingers and produce talent out of thin air.

Delmon's had two seasons with the Twins and done absolutely nothing to show the trade was worthwhile. It could happen, but I think hoping for it/expecting it is too much at this point.

And while Terry Ryan gave Johan a no-trade clause, Smith still turned down an offer that included Jacoby Ellsbury and an offer that included Jon Lester. Even a Yankees package centered around Melky Cabrera may have wound up being better than what the Twins have currently received.

Gomez and Guerra better pan out, or it's a complete and utter failure. I agree that Johan did the Twins no favors, but Smith took the worst package offered by any of the three bidders. He traded the best pitcher in the game without even getting the Mets' top prospect. No Fernando Martinez? Come on now.

At any rate, your suggestions would cost the Twins:

Ace (John Lackey): $18MM+/season

Pavano: $5MM+/season

A few "legit" infielder options:

JJ Hardy: ($6MM + prospects)
Chone Figgins: $10MM+/season
Felipe Lopez: $4MM+/season

Where do the Twins get money to extend Mauer and make these acquisitions?