Twins Rumors

Odds and Ends: Lieber, Tavarez, Oswalt

By Tim Dierkes | June 25, 2008 at 8:50am CDT

We’ve got mostly smaller stuff today, so let’s kick it off with an odds and ends.

The Mets designated Claudio Vargas for assignment. I’m a bit surprised, I think he’s still a useful pitcher.
Pitcher Jon Lieber may retire after the season. 130+ wins, that’s a nice career.
With Tom Gordon’s shoulder barking, the Phillies’ desire to add a reliever has intensified. Here’s a look at the relief market.
When a 2.93 ERA is considered underperforming, expectations were never reasonable. Anyone else get the impression that if Johan Santana’s record was 10-3 instead of 7-6, there wouldn’t even be a discussion? Joel Sherman believes the Yankees (if under Brian Cashman) would not go six or seven years to sign C.C. Sabathia in light of the Barry Zito and Santana deals. He wonders whether Sabathia could be lured with a shorter term and higher average annual value.
Julian Tavarez chose to become a free agent, surprising the Brewers.
Roy Oswalt reminds us that he has a no-trade clause and hasn’t been approached by management about any deals.
The Adam Dunn-J.P. Ricciardi saga continues.
I chatted with Ryan Henning about the Twins recently.
T.J. Simers and Ned Colletti argue about the GM’s trading track record.
The Pirates are looking for pitching. Brett Tomko anyone? Anyone?
Evan Grant discusses the Rangers’ trade options in his mailbag.

On The Failed Brian Roberts Talks

By Tim Dierkes | June 23, 2008 at 4:58pm CDT

Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun dug up some information about the failed Brian Roberts trade talks from the past offseason.

Zrebiec says one of the Cubs’ offers included Ronny Cedeno, Sean Gallagher, and Donald Veal. According to Andy MacPhail, a deal was never close. The O’s continue to hunt for a shortstop.
MacPhail also talked to the Indians and Twins about Roberts (the Twins are a new one for me). It seems that MacPhail may also have spoken to the White Sox.
The Orioles don’t seem to be planning to trade Roberts anymore, as they’re 5.5 games out of the wild card. No talks have occurred yet, but the Orioles could even extend Roberts past ’09.

Odds and Ends: Bradley, Floyd, Threets

By Tim Dierkes | June 13, 2008 at 5:13pm CDT

Let’s round up some links.

Juan Rincon rejected the Twins’ Triple A assignment. Anyone want him?
The Reds received a 23 year-old righty named Henry Arias from the Royals to conclude the March Brad Salmon deal.
I had forgotten about this…the Royals almost acquired Milton Bradley a year ago for Leo Nunez but the deal was voided.
Paul Hagen offers some pitching ideas for the Phillies.
David Cameron explains why the Mariners are so bad.
The international signing period begins on July 2nd; pitcher Michel Inoa heads the class. It’s been suggested the A’s could offer him $4MM.
Jon Heyman says this might be Cliff Floyd’s last season. Floyd has a $2.75MM club option for ’09.
Howard Megdal considers Scott Schoeneweis and Brian Schneider the Mets’ most tradeable commodities.
Erick Threets is shocked no team was willing to pick him up and keep him in the Majors. For El Lefty Malo, this serves as a reminder that fans often overvalue their team’s players.

Twins To Sign Aaron Hicks

By Tim Dierkes | June 13, 2008 at 12:38pm CDT

LEN3 says the Twins are set to sign first-rounder Aaron Hicks for around $1.7MM. Hicks, a high school center fielder, was chosen 14th overall.

Jonathan Mayo sums up the first-round signings and near-signings so far over at his blog.

Odds and Ends: Viciedo, Broussard, Rincon, Threets

By Tim Dierkes | June 12, 2008 at 11:35am CDT

Time to round ’em up.

The A’s are leading the charge for international free agent pitcher Michael Inoa; they could offer him $4MM. All teams have scouted him.
MLB.com’s Jim Molony names the Astros, Yankees, Cardinals, Angels, Mets, and Pirates as teams considering Cuban defector Dayan Viciedo (assuming he becomes a free agent).
The Orioles would like to sign Ben Broussard, if he’ll accept a minor league assignment. Broussard if mulling his options and should sign within 24 hours. He could step in if the Orioles trade Kevin Millar.
Jeff Weaver has been released by the Brewers. Weaver’s lost it; he has a 6.22 ERA in nine Triple A starts.
The Twins have asked Juan Rincon to accept a minor league assignment. If he refuses, the Twins will be on the hook for his salary and he’ll become a free agent. Rincon’s last decent year was 2006.
No team was willing to keep lefty reliever Erick Threets in the Majors. He cleared waivers and will head to Triple A as a member of the Giants organization.
Andy Pettitte wouldn’t commit, but admitted it’d be a "joy and an honor" to pitch at the new Yankee Stadium next year.
Tigers backup catcher Vance Wilson may retire after a setback in his elbow recovery.

Rincon On His Way Out?

By Nat Boyle | June 8, 2008 at 10:33am CDT

Long time Twin reliever Juan Rincon may be the odd man out when the Twins reduce their pitching staff from 13 to 12 – this from Kelsie Smith of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Rincon is sporting a 5.19 ERA through 23 games, comparable to last years 5.13 ERA and a far cry from his career 3.63.

Rincon could still finish strong and hit his PECOTA projected ERA of 3.92. After being busted for steroids in 2006, Rincon went on to post a 2.91 ERA; however, he became hittable in 2007 and that trend continues. His H/9, BB/9, and K/9 have all been declining. Still, Rincon is only 29 so he may just need a change of scenery, not uncommon for relievers and setup men.

Says Manager Ron Gardenhire, "All we can do is keep running them out there until some other decision is made where we can’t." If they can’t, Rincon will most likely be designated for assignment. The righty is making $2.475MM on a 1-year contract this season and his stock is at an all time low. There should be interest abound.

By Nat Boyle

Draft Roundup

By Tim Dierkes | June 3, 2008 at 9:42am CDT

Today’s draft links.

Rany Jazayerli looks at possibilities for the Royals at #3. He hopes they don’t take Eric Hosmer.
MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo has new projections for the top 30. He’s switched the Orioles from Brian Matusz to Aaron Crow at #4, among other changes.
Keith Law has tons of good stuff…the Giants are eyeing Gordon Beckham, the Reds are considering Brett Lawrie, Jason Castro could go to the White Sox, the Dodgers like Zach Collier, and much more.
Ken Davidoff is hearing that the Padres are in on Brett Wallace and the Twins like Christian Friedrich.
Pedro Alvarez would be honored to be picked by the Pirates. Dejan Kovacevic continues to say they’re leaning that way.
I am considering live-blogging Thursday’s draft, posting each pick here as soon as it’s announced (you would not have to refresh). Would that be helpful?

Twins Add Breslow

By Tim Dierkes | May 29, 2008 at 1:41pm CDT

According to Joe Christensen, the Twins claimed lefty reliever Craig Breslow off waivers from the Indians.

Breslow, a 27 year-old Yale graduate, has bounced around and only compiled 36.2 innings in the bigs. His control needs some work, but he may be useful.

Could Livan Hernandez Become Available?

By Tim Dierkes | May 28, 2008 at 12:07pm CDT

Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press doesn’t exactly say that the Twins are willing to trade Livan Hernandez. Here’s what he wrote:

It’s too early, with the Twins still in contention. But starter Livan Hernandez’s trade value probably won’t be higher than it is now, and it will be interesting to see whether the right-hander, 33, is dealt for some power by the All-Star Game in July.

Hernandez has interesting numbers. He has the second-lowest strikeout rate in baseball, coupled with the fifth-worst hit rate. To counter that, Hernandez has the 10th-best walk rate. Walter’s suggestion that Hernandez is at peak value seems accurate.

Could Hernandez bring back a decent power bat? Buster Olney names the Braves and Astros as two teams that might be looking for a pitcher like Livan. The Twins are only two games out, however.

Odds and Ends: Crisp, King, Sweeney

By Tim Dierkes | April 25, 2008 at 8:48am CDT

Here’s today’s linkage.

Bobby Kielty’s hand injury drastically reduces the chance of a Coco Crisp trade within the next month.
Who needs a lefty reliever? The Nationals’ Ray King would like to be traded rather than head to Triple A.
Mike Sweeney was excited about signing with the Twins last winter, but the Craig Monroe trade ended that possibility. Susan Slusser doesn’t expect the A’s to keep both Frank Thomas and Sweeney for very long.
Joe Sports Fan ranks the seven best long-term contracts. Any additions? How about Dan Haren at four years and $12.65MM?

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