The Twins were the subject of several bullpen-related trade rumors back in March when Joe Nathan was lost to Tommy John surgery. Rather than splurge to acquire a closer like Heath Bell, however, Minnesota instead elevated Jon Rauch to the closer's role and was rewarded with Rauch's 15 saves and 2.62 ERA.
While Rauch has pitched well enough to keep the closer's job, the Twins are still on the lookout for some help at the back of the bullpen. Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com are reporting that the Twins are "monitoring" several relief options, most notably David Aardsma and Chad Qualls.
Aardsma's ERA stands at 5.21 in 20 appearances this season, though that ERA is inflated by a trio of poor outings. His peripheral numbers (a 1.21 WHIP, a K/9 rate of 8.5 and a 2.57 K-BB ratio) are solid. Qualls, meanwhile, has been the key figure in Arizona's bullpen woes this season. His ERA currently sits at 7.77 following today's disastrous outing against Atlanta — Qualls allowed four ninth-inning runs in just a third of an inning pitched.
With these numbers and familiarity with American League batters, Aardsma has to be considered the stronger option for Minnesota if they were to make a move. The only point in Qualls' favor is that he's in the last year of his contract, whereas Aardsma is making $2.75MM this season and is under team control through 2012. The cost-conscious Twins may not like the idea of giving Aardsma an arbitration raise in the winter if he's just going to be a set-up man, though Minnesota could also hold onto him if Rauch struggles or perhaps trade him to another reliever-hungry team in the offseason.
Qualls is due to earn $4.185MM so he'd cost more in payroll, but the Twins could just let him walk after the season if need be. Also, Arizona's asking price would certainly be less than what Seattle would want for Aardsma.
Why would the Twins want Qualls?
By all means, take him.
Why couldn’t the Twins just non-tender Aardsma after the season if they didn’t want to pay him?
Exactly what I was thinking. Just because he is arbitration eligible doesn’t mean you have to offer it.
Ok, I’ll be the first to say it. Aardsma for Ramos RIGHT NOW.. straight up!
;-)
ARE YOU CRAZY!!!!
Although the arbitration raise to Aardsma may be an issue, Jesse Crain, Matt Guerrier, and Jon Rauch will all be free agents at the end of the season. That likely will free up enough money to pay a bullpen acquisition for 2011 and beyond.
Lindstrom is having a decent year, his WHIP is a little high but 2.2 K/BB and a FIP that is in line with his 3.07ERA.
Putz, Jenks?
Qualls ??? lol Prepare for a lot of blown saves if that’s the route the Twins are gonna take …I’d look elsewhere.
Cost Conscious? Twins are paying Guerrier 3 mill, Crain(who struggles-at best) 2 mill and Rauch 3 mill. They’re also shoveling out 10 mill+ for Nathan.
My guess is neither of these guys would close, nor even be in line to do so should Rausch struggle. They’d simply take over some sporadic 7th inning work, so Guerrier could settle into the setup role.
Qualls, why? Why ever? Aardsma wouldn’t be bad, but why him too? Is something wrong with Slama and Waldrop? I know Slama is walking more guys then they’d like but he should have been on the team last year, at least in my opinion. Drop/trade one of Crain/Harris/Tolbert off the 40 man and add one of those guys. I’d prefer that.
Last I checked our bullpen was #2 in the AL. They have their hiccups and some of the relievers suck more often than not, but I don’t see a huge problem right now at all.
David Aardsma can be nasty with his split finger and has had success before in his carer don’t be surprised if he becomes a twin and if he throws strikes which the twins stress he could go back to his old form. Qualls do not like at all throw that idea in the trash! Another move to me would make sense is Miguel Tejada for Trevor Ploufee.
I wouldn’t do that trade. Tejada isn’t having a good year. I wanted him as a FA, but right now I’m glad we didn’t do that. Plus, we’d have to have Hardy signed for about five years. Plouffe, right now, is our only SS in the minors who looks like he’ll amount to anything anytime soon. We lose him and maybe lose Hardy and then we have no one for five years, can’t do that.
Hardy has been so inconsistent this year, what can you expect from him and Mike Lowell is probably what we will end up with, what would you give up for a veteran like him?
If they want MLB players for Lowell I’d do Harris or Crain. Both if they’d take both. That said I don’t think the Sox would take our crap, but I could be wrong. As for our minor league players, I’m not sure, but I wouldn’t give up much more than a bag of balls, hence my Harris and Crain suggestion.
We’re having a lot of injuries to our infielders. Hudson and Hardy keep going down, part of which is because the medical staff are idiots and have been for years. If we get Lowell we need him to be healthy and I’m not sure he can be, but for Harris or Crain in exchange, I would do that in a heartbeat.
Yes i agree i would get rid of Harris in a heartbeat too! Crain is such a streaky pitcher that you dont know what to expect from him. I cant see the Sox wanting harris anyway they dont need anymore unpromising infielders. I still cant see why the Twins dont have Orlando Carbera still, no offense to O-dog.
Yes i agree i would get rid of Harris in a heartbeat too! Crain is such a streaky pitcher that you dont know what to expect from him. I cant see the Sox wanting harris anyway they dont need anymore unpromising infielders. I still cant see why the Twins dont have Orlando Carbera still, no offense to O-dog.
Hardy has been so inconsistent this year, what can you expect from him and Mike Lowell is probably what we will end up with, what would you give up for a veteran like him?