A handful of teams still don't know whether to buy, hold or sell with eight days remaining before the non-waiver trade deadline, Yahoo’s Jeff Passan reports. Expanded playoffs are on the horizon for the first time, so more teams than ever are within striking distance of a postseason berth, and the trade market is unsettled as a result. Here are the latest notes from Passan and colleague Tim Brown…
- The Diamondbacks “adore” Rangers third base prospect Mike Olt, Passan writes. Olt could help the Rangers put together a competitive trade offer for 24-year-old right-fielder Justin Upton.
- Rival executives know the Braves are looking for pitching, which means Atlanta is up against extra-high asking prices, according to Passan. The Braves will acquire Ryan Dempster from the Cubs for Randall Delgado if Dempster approves the trade.
- The Twins are listening on Justin Morneau, Tim Brown reports. Minnesota wants teams to surrender a big leaguer for Morneau, while absorbing his entire contract ($14MM per season through 2013). That's a high asking price for a player with a history of concussion issues and a .744 OPS.
So the Twins are saying Morneau is Untouchable?
Is it just me or the Twins are just asking for the moon on very single player they are trying to trade?
they are and its 100% based on potential. Im not saying thats good but think about it, its not that long ago that Liraino was a top flight starter(should have sold high on him last year) Morneau is what 3 years removed from MVP and before his concussion was a tip 1st basemen. Again I’m not saying its right but that very well could be what they are thinking. I mean you never know they could all revert back to their career norms and the twins dont want to get taken for a ride in a trade. I truly think they should do what ever they can to get even mid level prospects and just free up some cash. Also they should trade Mauer while they still can,
Liriano was absolutely dominant when he came up, but really hasn’t been the same since injury. I think that Mauer would be hard to trade, he is only in his 2nd year of a 20M AAV 8 year deal. He is a good player but they will have to eat some quite a bit of that salary if they want prospects. I think at this stage for the Twins they would be best off trading their players if they can. I think that they want too much for span and Morneau. Span is a solid player, but he is NOT an allstar calibre player, and that is what some people seem to be valuing him at.
Yep, what’s wrong with this picture $90 Million in bad contracts next year and the worst record in the AL this season. They should be giving guys away to anyone willing to take on the contracts.
Actually by next season their payroll will have dropped to $68 million next season and $40 million by 2014. The Twins are going to be dumping A LOT of payroll over the next two seasons. By 2015, Mauer and Span (if he’s still here), will be the only big contracts left.
They have 76 Million in player salaries next year and hardly any of them are bad. Mauer is back to his .330 self, Span is a good leadoff hitter, Willingham and Doumit were great signings. The team is suffering because of their pitching staff would be an average AAA rotation.
I was including a couple of club options in the $90 million figure. Still, $76 million is close to peak spending capability for a small market team. Should you expect to contend when you’re spending that much?
The Twins are not the small market team of past. They can maintain a $100 mil payroll if they win. The key for the Twins to win is pitching.
To answer your question, no. Spending money does not necessarily translate into contending. Teams win when they have a good balance of the right players. Unfortunately, not enough of those players were acquired during the Smith era.
Who would pay 14 million / year for Morneau?? The only teams that seem to like absorbing bad contracts are the Angels and the White Sox, but neither of those teams need a first basemen or a DH.
Actually he is perfect for the Angels, they love 1st basemen and DH types.
there’s another team in southern california who is in desperate need for a power hitting guy at 1B and has the budget. doubt they are willing to take on the huge contract AND send a major league ready guy unless it’s Loney or Adam Kennedy.
I’d love for the Reds to get Span but after hearing what they want for Morneau they seem like they’d be hard to work with.
Seems to me Terry Ryan has a reputation, among his GM peers, as a straight shooter. He’s asking top dollar in a seller’s market at the moment; he might come down a little, but if you’re expecting a salary dump with talent given away for free it’s not happening. I doubt most GMs consider that stance “hard to work with”.
Red Sox should have traded for Upton a year and half ago rather than signed Crawford. Now, it’s out of the question.
Would of cost them the farm…
As a Twins fan, I’m happy that they’re shopping Morneau, but that’s an insane asking price. They’re going to have to eat his contract if they want anything in return. They’re justified in asking a lot for Willingham and Span, but that’s it. I don’t think Frankie will bring much at all.
I guess Nick Castellanos is chopped liver.
Brett Cecil, Rajai Davis and a reliever for Morneau.
I know he has concussion problems, but lets not forget how good this guy was before he got hurt.
would look great as the dodgers fb, if his price went down, but i would prefer a rh bat, like youk, dodgers missed out. . .
Mark Reynolds and Jake Arrieta for Morneau and Liriano.
I don’t know why, but it creeped me out to see that the Diamondbacks “adore” Mike Olt.
Other things the Diamondbacks “adore:”
– Appletinis
– Shoe Shopping
– Catching reruns of Sex & the City on basic cable
– A weekend at the Spa
– Making Justin Upton feel the opposite of “adored”
The Rangers would be better off waiting for Olt to mature into, what i believe, could be a very fine player. If they give him up for Justin Upton, then this will be a very sad day. Upton, like his brother, are a flash in the pan. if the Rangers are going to give Olt up, then it would be better if it was a trade for someone that can actually hit,