The time is nearing again. Every year around this time in Major League Baseball, teams start deciding if they are going to be contenders that year, or if they want to start building for the next. Some teams have pipe dreams of being successful this year, others know they will be and just need to bolster a few spots on their roster in order to solidify themselves. And yet there are still other teams that are right on the edge of both. The Twins are one of those teams. Their track record says they're just a player or two away. Their 2011 start thus far says they may need to unload. My take is this: There's room for both competing and unloading. They just need to be careful doing it.
With the recent spurt of great play, winning seven of their last eight games, the Twins are showing that they're not quite ready to go away this year. They have an incredible mountain to climb, given their slow start, but have proven to have a team pedigree that can get the job done when it matters. That is, until the postseason. In reality, the Twins have their best mid-season acquisitions already in line, with the returns of Joe Mauer, Jason Kubel, Jim Thome, and Tsuyoshi Nishioka from the disabled list. With those main core players back, the Twins have the foundation to be the contender they usually are. This puts them in that category of just needing a player or two to solidify. Where it gets tricky is finding those players, and realizing that some of the players you have may need to be sent elsewhere to accommodate improvement.
As I look up and down the roster, the Twins have valuable commodities that other teams may want. Many would think these players would only be dealt if the team decides it's long out of the division race and they want to start building for the next couple of years. In reality, although some of these players have been integral parts of the competitive teams the Twins have put forth over the last couple of years, their stock may be on the down slope. And, in the tweeting words of LeBron James before Game 5 of the NBA Finals, "It's now or never."
1. Delmon Young - It's safe to say that I am not a Delmon Young supporter, as it seems these are growing fewer and fewer by the day. When the Twins acquired Young, his stock was up, coming off his best season with the Tampa Bay Rays. But, four years later, his improvement seems to have leveled off. His 2010 season was fantastic, by his standards. When the Twins needed clutch hits last year, many came off Delmon's bat. His upside a couple of seasons ago was that he was young and unpolished. Unfortunately, he's now aged a couple of years, and has shown signs that the unpolished nature of his game isn't going away. Would he still be valuable to a team in need of an outfield bat? Sure. His career .288 average would say that he's capable of putting the bat on the ball in getting it in play. His lack of heart and hustle, however, have made him an expendable piece, in my eyes.
2. Justin Morneau - Although Morneau has been a staple in the middle of the Twins order for the last few years, his post-concussion self seems to be a shell of what he used to be. If that's the case, do the Twins try and get some value for him now, or hold on to him until it's too late. When you look at his career stats, he appears to be a stud. When you compare him to other top first basemen in baseball, however, he appears to be nothing more than a suitable fixture at the position. This season, his average is way down, his power is way down, and his ability to hit in clutch situations is non-existent. All of this could be attributed to the injury bug as well, given the concussion mid-way through last season, and the minor ailments along the way (flu bug, neck, etc.). But is it possible that we're now seeing the real Justin Morneau, and that what we've seen before the concussion was the anomaly? The question is, can the Twins afford to wait it out to truly know for sure? Given the possible replacements to fill his spot at first base, both internally within the organization and throughout Major League Baseball, they might be wise to wait on this one.
3. Francisco Liriano - Since Liriano's no-hitter at the beginning of May, he is 1-2 with a 3.33 ERA in four starts. Considering he went into that game against the White Sox with a 9.13 ERA, it's safe to say he's been improving. In 21 innings pitched since the no-no, he has allowed only 15 hits, and has struck out 21. What has hurt Liriano this season, as well as seasons past, is his inconsistent control. His walk to strikeout ratio is almost flat (35/41). Even during the no-hitter, Liriano walked six White Sox, and was still able to overcome and pull off this historic feat. There is no doubting Liriano's ability, even after the arm injury a couple of seasons ago. He still has an incredible slider when he's on, and can still bring his fastball upwards of 95 miles per hour. Liriano may benefit from a change of scenery, but can the Twins afford to give up a starting pitcher? If they can continue to get starts like they have in Liriano's absence this past week from Anthony Swarzak, it's possible that the Twins could spin Liriano for a couple of stronger bullpen arms. Or, do they roll the dice on him this season, and hope that his last four starts are a sign of things to come?
4. Kevin Slowey - With starting pitching in baseball being at a premium, no matter the team, there will be takers for Kevin Slowey. Of the players the Twins are most likely shopping around, Slowey is probably the most likely to be moved this season. Although many thought Slowey deserved a spot in the 2011 starting rotation, perhaps ahead of Nick Blackburn or Scott Baker, the team moved him into the long-relief role in the bullpen, asking him to take that role and be the best at it. In doing so, Slowey's attitude began to deteriorate, and before long, he was seen by the team as a problem. Slowey has decent stuff, and should the Twins decide to deal Liriano, it would seem likely that a healthy Kevin Slowey would be the replacement in the rotation. His attitude and demeanor have soured the Twins on his ability, and that has unfortunately put Slowey at the top of the Twins' trading block. Look for Slowey to be dealt, regardless of whether the Twins are competing for the division come July or not.
5. Denard Span - This is probably my absolute least favorite option for a trade. I am a huge Denard Span supporter. I think what he's done for the Twins at the top of the order over the last two season has been outstanding. He's not going to hit for power like some center fielders do, but he's always hustling. There isn't a team in baseball that wouldn't appreciate a player like that on their roster. What's hurting Span is the emergence of Ben Revere as the Twins top outfield prospect. With all the injuries this season, especially that of Jason Kubel, Revere has had an opportunity to show what he can do at the Major League level. What the Twins are seeing is a potential Denard Span clone. An all-out hustling outfielder who can hit for contact, get on base, and put opposing teams on their toes. The biggest problem with this is that it makes Span expendable, at least in the eyes of some. For me, Span offers much more than just great defense, speed on the bases, and a .300-hitting lead-off hitter. Span's clubhouse presence appears to be a good one. He's always smiling, and always going 100% every day. That type of behavior seems to sometimes be a premium in baseball. Even if Revere is similar in nature, giving up on a guy like Span would be a mistake, regardless of what you could get in return. However, that being said, and with that type of player being coveted by many teams, his value could potentially be too high to pass up, and could possibly bring more talent to the team through a trade. Personally, Span is one of my favorite players to watch on this team, so I'm hoping they find other ways (i.e. trading Delmon Young) to get Revere into the lineup full time.
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