Bill Smith On Trading Delmon Young
Sid Hartman of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune has a quote from Twins GM Bill Smith on Delmon Young: "He is a 22-year-old outfielder with a bright future, and if we were going to trade him, we would have to get equal value." Young may not be easy to pry loose, but it doesn’t sound like he’s untouchable. There haven’t been many serious trade rumors about Young yet.
In other Twins notes, Hartman says the team doesn’t plan on retaining free agent Eddie Guardado but hopes to re-sign Dennys Reyes.
White Sox Offseason Possibilities
I did a White Sox Offseason Outlook earlier this month, rattling off available speedy players and also suggesting a Bobby Jenks trade be explored. Today, Chicago Tribune beat writer Mark Gonzales offers his take on the Sox.
Gonzales sees Juan Uribe and Toby Hall as two players the White Sox hope to re-sign, with Hall at a lower salary than his $2.25MM option. Orlando Cabrera, Ken Griffey Jr., and Joe Crede will be gone. Cabrera is good for two draft picks if the Sox offer arbitration and he signs elsewhere.
Gonzales wonders if a Paul Konerko for Chone Figgins trade could take shape, but only if the White Sox add players. Konerko is owed $24MM for 2009-10, with full no-trade rights. Figgins should earn $5MM+ in ’09 before he hits free agency for the first time. It may be hard to get the Angels interested – Figgins fits their club, and they’ll try to re-sign Mark Teixeira. Kendry Morales may be the backup plan at first.
Gonzales sees the Rockies as another potential trade partner for Sox GM Ken Williams, naming Garrett Atkins and Willy Taveras as potential matches. Taveras may be had for a song, but Atkins should require young pitching.
A few free agents to consider: Orlando Hudson, Dennys Reyes, and Alex Cora.
Twins Offseason Plans
SUNDAY: Further reading on the Twins: a Q&A with Smith conducted by La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Smith doesn’t tip his hand on whether he’d be more willing to trade an outfielder or a starting pitcher.
SATURDAY: Tom Powers of the St. Paul Pioneer Press dishes on the Twins, who are holding their organizational meetings this weekend.
- GM Bill Smith is looking for help in the bullpen and middle infield. Powers still expects free agent Dennys Reyes to sign elsewhere; perhaps the Twins will sign a righty reliever. Nick Punto seems more likely to be re-signed. Another infielder will probably still be added.
- Powers sees Smith as more likely to trade a pitcher than Delmon Young. I agree – it’d be surprising to see the Twins give up on Young after one year.
- Smith had all kinds of trade discussions this summer, but ultimately felt some GMs were "trying to pick on the rookie."
- For more on the Twins, check out our Offseason Outlook.