The Twins and Rangers combined on one of the most interesting early moves of the post-lockout period, agreeing to a trade earlier today that will see Isiah Kiner-Falefa and pitching prospect Ronny Henriquez head to Minnesota, while catcher Mitch Garver was dealt to Texas. Speaking with reporters (including MLB.com’s Do-Hyoung Park) about the deal, president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said the Twins were first in touch about Kiner-Falefa before the lockout, and Garver wasn’t initially part of trade talks until it became that such a notable price was necessary to pry Kiner-Falefa away from the Rangers.
While the presence of Ryan Jeffers ultimately made Garver expendable, Minnesota now has a new everyday shortstop, and a player who has generally looked like one of the league’s better defensive players no matter where Texas lined him up on the diamond. Kiner-Falefa said he is happy to be getting an opportunity to start at what he considers his natural position of shortstop, and his addition means that the Twins can now keep Jorge Polanco at second base.
More from around the AL Central…
- With Eduardo Rodriguez signed as the new headliner of the Tigers rotation, the team continues to look for more veteran help to fill a fourth or fifth starter role. According to Evan Petzold of The Detroit Free Press, the Tigers had interest in Tyler Anderson both before and after the lockout, though they are “not aggressively pursuing Anderson” at the moment. For some familiar AL Central names, Detroit is also not making a particular push towards free agent Michael Pineda, and the Tigers weren’t looking at Carlos Rodon before Rodon signed with the Giants yesterday.
- A former Tiger is under consideration, however, as Petzold writes that the Tigers are among the multiple clubs interested in Matthew Boyd, who was non-tendered by Detroit in November. Boyd’s projected $7.3MM arbitration price tag was too expensive for the Tigers considering that the southpaw was hampered by injuries last season and underwent flexor tendon surgery in September. Boyd’s recovery will extend into the season but he is aiming to return by June 1.
- “The pitching concerns might be a little heavier on our mind than the position player side of things,” White Sox GM Rick Hahn told The Athletic’s James Fegan and other reporters in discussing his club’s remaining targets during the offseason. With so many available arms already flying off the board, Fegan guesses that bolstering the back end of the rotation now looks like a more immediately priority for the Sox than addressing other needs like second base or the outfield. White Sox manager Tony La Russa told Fegan and other reporters today that pitching depth will be particularly important this season given the shortened Spring Training, though La Russa said his club is still aiming for a five-man rotation rather than a six-man staff.
That’ll be the day.
His name was Carlos Rodon, Rick.
Way too expensive for Reinsdorf.
Hahn is asleep again, just like he was on Thanksgiving weekend. He was much better gathering young talent than he is rounding out a contending roster.
Ryan Jeffers in no capacity made Mitch garver expendable. Not sure what the twins FO is smoking.
IKF crack and I’m here for it
I agree. Jeffers is a good defensive catcher but not a good hitter and there is nobody behind him. Rortvert is worse. I’d have tried Lewis or Martin and traded Garver for pitching.
They clearly have a strong preference for defense on up the middle players.
This is so damn White Sox. I hear James Shields is available. Egads!!! it’s so damn frustrating trying to be a fan under the Reinsdorf occupation.
So is Gio Gonzalez
seiya suzuki, nick castellanos, kris bryant or michael conforto are available to be the sox right fielder…if the sox will only pay the money to get one of them.
who are the piles of crap available to “strengthen” the sox pitching staff?
oh…i get it. signing one or two of those piles of crap will serve as the excuse why the sox didn’t spend real money to really try to win a championship.
ding ding
Castellanos and Suzuki are more DHs than anything.
Yep. Thats whats frustrating. If the Sox were serious about winning then you get one of these FA where you only have to pay them, and not give up any prospects they refuse to part with. As for pitching, well the entire rotation got lit up by the Astros, so really the only hope for the Sox is to get a top notch 2nd baseman, and RF, and hope you can outmash the other team. Instead they apparently want LaRussa to have to play mad scientist with the guys now, or do a platoon in RF and play ‘who’s that player’ for 2nd.
I would love to see Boyd and Wily Peralta re-sign with the Tigers. Greinke would be a cool sign, but I just don’t see that happening.
I think Boyd was a great pitcher, but he CANNOT stay healthy and therefore would be a lemon of a signing. He will come back in June, make a start or 2, look great and then head right back to the IL for the year. The best ability in a MLB pitcher is availability, and he just don’t have it. Sign W. Peralta and Zach Greinke and whomever looks best at the end of ST is the 5th starter.
I’d be happy with Boyd coming back on a two year deal. It would be great to him still with the team as they come out of the rebuild.
With two years of arbitration left each, the A’s have Chapman and Montas to fill Sox needs. I say blockbuster deal of many players to get both to win now. Chapman gold glove caliber to help defense and Montas to add to a solid rotation. A number of Sox players would suit the A’s.
Crickets from the Royals. What else is new?
Avila better get going!! White Sox signed Joe Kelly to go with Graveman in what was already a good BP. I forgot about Pineda. Although, it said Detroit wasn’t heavily pursuing him or Tyler Anderson, but had interest before the lockout.
Dumpster Diving Rick