The Twins have already been connected to Toronto closer and prime trade chip Ken Giles, but they’re also interested in one of the Blue Jays’ less exciting relievers. Right-hander Daniel Hudson is on the Twins’ radar, Jon Morosi of MLB.com tweets. They’re one of multiple teams eyeing the hard-throwing Hudson.
Unlike Giles, who’s under control through 2020, Hudson would be a rental for an acquiring team. He joined the Blue Jays for a guaranteed $1.5MM right before the season began. The well-traveled 32-year-old has since pitched to an excellent 2.80 ERA in 45 innings, though his 4.31 FIP, 4.57 SIERA, 5.36 xFIP and 9.8 percent swinging-strike rate – his lowest since 2012 – don’t inspire close to as much confidence. Along with those numbers, Hudson has logged 8.8 K/9, 4.2 BB/9, a 40.7 percent groundball rate and a 12.3 percent infield fly rate. Hudson’s above-average ability to induce pop-ups has helped him limit home runs, as he has surrendered just one per nine innings.
Homers also haven’t been a major problem this year for Twins relievers, who have yielded 1.25 per nine (good for 12th in the league). However, despite the Twins’ AL Central-leading 61-40 record, their bullpen has been something of a sore spot this year. That’s evidenced in part by the fact that the club has moved on from four relievers – Mike Morin, Matt Magill, Adalberto Mejia and Blake Parker – since last week. That quartet combined for just over 100 innings out of Minnesota’s bullpen this season.
As for the relievers the Twins have on hand right now, only Taylor Rogers and Ryne Harper have truly thrived over a full season of work. Trevor May and Tyler Duffey have struck out upward of 10 batters per nine apiece, but the former has battled control issues and the latter has been susceptible to homers.
This wouldn’t excite me.
Get Giles stroman and Hudson and that should be good
Yes but we’d need a solid return!
Haha a little more than solid I’d say
At this point, go for it Falvey, at least you’re not sitting on your hands like you have been for the entire season when it comes to improving the bullpen.
You act like he’s done something already, this is all just writers spinning wheels.
I’ll be honest, I am a little confused about the constant correlation between fip, sierra, xfip et al and near absolute trend projection of a pitcher.
If Hudson is traded to a contender with equal or better defense behind him and likely no major high leverage situations, as is now, why would his production regress? I am not an anti-analytics fan but sometimes I feel like it’s not a true argument as is consistently suggested in today’s world of baseball. Just my 2 cents…
To add to that….Hudson would probably prefer the AL Central and Target over the AL East and ole’ Skydome. Maybe.
Stroman, Giles, and Hudson for Kirillof, Graterol, Blazevich, Duran, and Thorpe. Wonder who hangs up first…
Twins
I think if you leave out Thorpe and jays give them sogard that might be an even trade
The Twins are deep at 2B, SS, and 3B, so I doubt there would be any interest in Sogard. Also, the Twins would be short-sighted to include their top 3 pitching prospects in one deal. The farm is loaded with offensive talent. Pitching? Beyond Graterol, Balazovic, and Duran, the system doesn’t present many impressive arms. Obviously, it’d be nice if Falvine was able to work out some trades drawing from the strengths of the system (middle infield and OF.)
On the other hand, pitching prospects are more volatile, so I would defer to those who know the players best. In the end, if trades end up helping the Twins to a World Series Championship, I don’t care what prospects are involved!
Sogard can play anywhere but its more for his bat. He’s a great offensive weapon and in the playoffs they’ll need him if someone goes down. The twins would be getting a top end pitcher,a closer,a pretty good relief pitcher and a guy that can get on base regularly . Prospects are just prospects most don’t pan out so if you want proven vets you have to overpay
The trade can done with Sogard, he doesn’t add much value for the Twins. Trade him to someone who actually could use him. Stop trying to force it
I meant without Sogard
So 5 of the Twins top 10 prospects, including their top 4 pitching prospects. Are the Jays going to be including Hershel Walker?
Is he available?
I would. You are literally giving away the farm.
The Syndergaard talks may be a ploy to push the Jays offer down using the Mets as a negotiating tactic with Toronto.
Until Falvey and Twins ownership actually does something of significant magnitude, all I can rely on is their history at the trade deadline. You have to go back 16 years….YES…16 years to find the last player that added a punch to this team……..2003 trade for Shannon Stewart. Given that track record, albeit under different GMs, I have little faith Falvey will do much of anything, which, imo is a slap in the face to our fanbase, coaches and players.