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Guest
Guest
No way the Twins trade for Lee. They'll let the rumors dangle to get people excited because that's free but when it comes to shopping, the Twins discuss Ferraris and buy Yugos.
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***OFFICAL MINNESOTA TWINS 2010 THREAD*** (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Dungeon Master
- Start date
Gopher State
Footballguy
St. Peter: Payroll can still grow
By LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune
Twins President Dave St. Peter said Friday that the club is willing to add to its $97 million payroll in order to improve the roster as the trade deadline approaches.
Last year, the Twins responded to concerns from players and fans and added shortstop Orlando Cabrera and pitchers Carl Pavano, Jon Rauch and Ron Mahay, and all four helped the Twins reach the postseason.
The Twins are in first place in the AL Central, but ownership is willing to explore ways of improving the team. St. Peter confirmed that, during a routine meeting Friday, the Twins discussed ways to improve as the July 31 deadline for trades without waivers approaches.
"We think we have some flexibility," St. Peter said. "The last couple of years we have had some flexibility to try to make the team better."
St. Peter wouldn't discuss whether the Twins are willing to go as far as to trade top prospects for a midseason rental, such as Seattle lefthander Cliff Lee. But he did acknowledge that every option will be explored.
"We feel like we are well-positioned, if we so choose, to make a move to make the team better," he said. "Ultimately, we are about trying to get better. If that means trade, if that means kids from the minor leagues, great."
Good to see the Twins looking to improve
By LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune
Twins President Dave St. Peter said Friday that the club is willing to add to its $97 million payroll in order to improve the roster as the trade deadline approaches.
Last year, the Twins responded to concerns from players and fans and added shortstop Orlando Cabrera and pitchers Carl Pavano, Jon Rauch and Ron Mahay, and all four helped the Twins reach the postseason.
The Twins are in first place in the AL Central, but ownership is willing to explore ways of improving the team. St. Peter confirmed that, during a routine meeting Friday, the Twins discussed ways to improve as the July 31 deadline for trades without waivers approaches.
"We think we have some flexibility," St. Peter said. "The last couple of years we have had some flexibility to try to make the team better."
St. Peter wouldn't discuss whether the Twins are willing to go as far as to trade top prospects for a midseason rental, such as Seattle lefthander Cliff Lee. But he did acknowledge that every option will be explored.
"We feel like we are well-positioned, if we so choose, to make a move to make the team better," he said. "Ultimately, we are about trying to get better. If that means trade, if that means kids from the minor leagues, great."
Good to see the Twins looking to improve
Gopher State
Footballguy
I agree the Twins of old would not trade for Lee. But this is the new Twins with a pocket full of money. Just try to buy Twins tickets, about all thats left is standing room only at 22.00 each for the rest of the season
the moops
Footballguy
This is not exactly breaking the bank.Rauch was owed a few hundred thousand dollars and their was a team option for this year. Cabrera was owed just over a million when they got him. Pavano only made 1.5 million last year, and played for less than half they year for the team. Ron Mahay somehow fangaled a 4 million dollar contract from the Royals (god they are dumb), but again he played very little with the Twins.So, they spent about 3 million dollars in upgrading their team last year. Wow.
Limp Ditka
Footballguy
Can Scott Baker please stop being a pain in my ###?
When I start this guy, he's 2-4 with a 6+ ERA and a 1.50+ WHIP
When I bench him, he's Cy f'in' Young
When I start this guy, he's 2-4 with a 6+ ERA and a 1.50+ WHIP
When I bench him, he's Cy f'in' Young
Doctor Detroit
Please remove your headgear
Sounds like a managerial problem.
Gopher State
Footballguy
The homers are hoping we trade him to seattle for Lee
G
Guest
Guest
They still won't do it. Bank it.If they trade for Cliff Lee it will be 4 or 5 years from now when he's a reclamation project.Gopher State said:
G
Guest
Guest
That's one of the dumbest ideas ever. Take a guy who is about to hit his prime for a pitcher, is making about what pitchers make in arbitration or less and will be for the next 3 seasons, and trade him for guy who is who is going to only a one step upgrade (if that) for half a season.If Bill Smith actually did that, he should be mandated by MLB to wear a "Kick Me" sign on the back of his shirt and drink from a sippy cup at winter meetings.
Gopher State
Footballguy
The Twins farm system is full of "Baker" type pitchers. Guys that have to get the ball in play to get outs, no over powering stuff. You seen the best you going to see of Baker. Mr. Baker is no better then a #3 starter. Lee is an ACE. If you get Lee and win the WS your a hero, if you don't you just call up another "Baker" from the farm system. If the Twins don't get Lee, and if they win the central, they be one and out in the playoffs, and Smith knows that.
G
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Guest
This is some serious not knowing baseball right here. If Baker can get his gofer balls under control, he's on the verge of being an elite pitcher in MLB, hardly organizational depth that you can just throw away and replace.
G
Guest
Guest
Btw, if you're right, the Twins will be one and done in the playoffs because no way in Duluth are they going to trade for Cliff Lee.
BeTheMatch
Footballguy
Nice effort out of Gardenhire today. Brilliant moves all around.
And it's good to see that Cuddy is taking his late-game choke jobs out into the field with him now too. It's a nice change of pace from losing the game at the plate with the game on the line.
And it's good to see that Cuddy is taking his late-game choke jobs out into the field with him now too. It's a nice change of pace from losing the game at the plate with the game on the line.
Gopher State
Footballguy
This is some serious not knowning the numbers here. Baker has a 4.72 ERA this year with 15 HR's, this guy is nothing more then a 500 pitcher check his career stats. If 4.72 ERA is elite with a 500 rec,I guess were not watching the same guy. I guess we have to agree to disagree, and let Baker's numbers speak for himself. I hope your right and he becomes a great pitcher, but for someone who is going to turn 29 years old, he better hurry and put the numbers up.This is some serious not knowing baseball right here. If Baker can get his gofer balls under control, he's on the verge of being an elite pitcher in MLB, hardly organizational depth that you can just throw away and replace.
G
Guest
Guest
I'll let Ray Flowers break it down for you.This is some serious not knowning the numbers here. Baker has a 4.72 ERA this year with 15 HR's, this guy is nothing more then a 500 pitcher check his career stats. If 4.72 ERA is elite with a 500 rec,I guess were not watching the same guy. I guess we have to agree to disagree, and let Baker's numbers speak for himself. I hope your right and he becomes a great pitcher, but for someone who is going to turn 29 years old, he better hurry and put the numbers up.This is some serious not knowing baseball right here. If Baker can get his gofer balls under control, he's on the verge of being an elite pitcher in MLB, hardly organizational depth that you can just throw away and replace.
He then goes on to talk about Baker's concerning HR rate. I'd paste in the whole article, I'm not trying to avoid bad information, but I don't know what the rules are on pasting whole content, even when it's free. So you can read it for yourself.But the upshot is that Scott Baker is a very good pitcher who, with some minor adjustment keeping the ball down to get more grounders, would start getting Cy Young votes. The 2 stats you quoted, ERA and Wins, are among the worst measures of true pitcher performance. ERA isn't horrible, but it's probably middle of the pack at best. And Wins is just dumb. Maybe 20 or even 10 years ago that argument might've had validity but definitely not now. Baker's xFIP, his expected Fielding Independent Pitching, puts him at a very respectable 3.8 right now. And wins depends upon team offense as much as anything else. In a market where Gil Meche!!!! is making $12.4MM!!!!! Baker being locked up for the next 3 years at around $4MM per is an absolute steal. To trade away his salary and his skillset for half a season of Cliff Lee is the exact opposite of the savvy trades that the Twins have made in the last 20 years that have given them the reputation of being an astute franchise.
Scott Baker might not be a franchise player yet but there's no way that any team has a pack of pitchers just like him, kicking around the time in AAA.
Vladislav Tretiak
Footballguy
Gardy will NEVER take this team to the promised landReach 90-100 pitches? I better get you out of there because your arm is going to fall off. He is so F!N clueless when it comes to pitchers. Let the guy keep going and maybe he reaches 110-120 pitches. Just think that in 1991 he would have pulled Morris in game 7
Gopher State
Footballguy
Thome passes Killer for 10th on home-run list
Jim Thome was touched by Harmon Killebrew's kind words for him after the Twins DH caught, then passed the Hall of Famer with two home runs.
By JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune
CAREER HOME RUN LEADERS
1. Barry Bonds 762
2. Hank Aaron 755
3. Babe Ruth 714
4. Willie Mays 660
5. Ken Griffey Jr. 630
6. Sammy Sosa 609
7. x-Alex Rodriguez 595
8. Frank Robinson 586
9. Mark McGwire 583
10. x-Jim Thome 574
11. Harmon Killebrew 573
Note: x-active
Twins designated hitter Jim Thome hit two home runs Saturday at Target Field to tie and then surpass Harmon Killebrew for 10th place on the all-time list.
Killebrew is in the Hall of Fame with 573 homers, and Thome now has 574, including 10 this season for the Twins.
"Good for [Thome]; he's a good guy," Killebrew, who hit 559 homers in 21 years with the Twins franchise, said by telephone from Arizona. "I talked to Jim quite a bit when I was in spring training. I told him, 'Don't feel bad if you pass me up, because I passed up a lot of guys in my career.' "
Thome's two home runs Saturday came off Tampa Bay's Wade Davis. He lined a 345-foot shot down the left field line in the second inning, then hit a 424-foot blast over the left-center field wall in the fourth inning.
That ball landed in the Rays bullpen and bounced into the Twins bullpen, where it was collected by eventual losing pitcher Matt Guerrier. Killebrew had taped a tribute to run on the video board, and after taking his second curtain call of the afternoon, Thome was clearly touched.
"Any time a baseball game stops and somebody like that speaks, it's humbling," Thome said after the 8-6 loss. "It's an honor to have a man like that do that [tribute], it was really cool. That's something that will go down in my book as one of the better moments in my career, for sure."
Thome just missed hitting No. 575 in the ninth inning when he hit an RBI double high off the right field wall.
"Jim is a credit to baseball, and a credit to the teams he's played for," Killebrew said. "I just wish we had gotten him when he went to the White Sox [in 2006]. We might've won a World Series if that had happened."
Hardy returns from DL
Shortstop J.J. Hardy returned from the disabled list, creating ripple effects on Nick Punto and Danny Valencia's playing time.
Manager Ron Gardenhire said he has no set plan for third base moving forward, but Michael Cuddyer started there again Saturday, keeping Punto and Valencia on the bench. Punto replaced Cuddyer at third base in the eighth inning, with Cuddyer moving to right field. Punto also will spell Hardy at shortstop and Orlando Hudson at second base.
"Nicky's definitely going to move around a lot," Gardenhire said. "He's been playing great baseball. We'll put him out there as much as we possibly can."
Valencia figured he was headed back to Class AAA Rochester to clear a roster spot for Hardy, but the Twins instead put infielder Matt Tolbert on the DL because of a bruised right middle finger. Valencia has started just two of the past 11 games, but he went 2-for-2 with a walk and the game-winning RBI on Friday against Rays lefthander David Price, raising his average to .333.
Gardenhire said he might continue starting Valencia against lefties. In those games, Cuddyer would return to right field, Jason Kubel would return to DH and the lefthanded-hitting Thome would be on the bench.
"We'll just see how it goes," Gardenhire said. "I don't want [prospects] sitting around for five, six days."
Etc.
• Closer Jon Rauch had pitched three days in a row, but Gardenhire said the Twins would have used him for a save situation Saturday.
• Kevin Slowey will get a full week between starts after taking a liner off his right ankle Wednesday. The Twins pushed Slowey back one spot, while using Monday's off day to keep Carl Pavano on regular rest. Pavano will pitch Tuesday in Toronto and next Sunday in Detroit. Slowey will start Wednesday in Toronto.
• After tossing three scoreless innings for Class A Fort Myers on Friday, reliever Clay Condrey will move to Class AAA Rochester, continuing his rehab from a right elbow injury.
Jim Thome was touched by Harmon Killebrew's kind words for him after the Twins DH caught, then passed the Hall of Famer with two home runs.
By JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune
CAREER HOME RUN LEADERS
1. Barry Bonds 762
2. Hank Aaron 755
3. Babe Ruth 714
4. Willie Mays 660
5. Ken Griffey Jr. 630
6. Sammy Sosa 609
7. x-Alex Rodriguez 595
8. Frank Robinson 586
9. Mark McGwire 583
10. x-Jim Thome 574
11. Harmon Killebrew 573
Note: x-active
Twins designated hitter Jim Thome hit two home runs Saturday at Target Field to tie and then surpass Harmon Killebrew for 10th place on the all-time list.
Killebrew is in the Hall of Fame with 573 homers, and Thome now has 574, including 10 this season for the Twins.
"Good for [Thome]; he's a good guy," Killebrew, who hit 559 homers in 21 years with the Twins franchise, said by telephone from Arizona. "I talked to Jim quite a bit when I was in spring training. I told him, 'Don't feel bad if you pass me up, because I passed up a lot of guys in my career.' "
Thome's two home runs Saturday came off Tampa Bay's Wade Davis. He lined a 345-foot shot down the left field line in the second inning, then hit a 424-foot blast over the left-center field wall in the fourth inning.
That ball landed in the Rays bullpen and bounced into the Twins bullpen, where it was collected by eventual losing pitcher Matt Guerrier. Killebrew had taped a tribute to run on the video board, and after taking his second curtain call of the afternoon, Thome was clearly touched.
"Any time a baseball game stops and somebody like that speaks, it's humbling," Thome said after the 8-6 loss. "It's an honor to have a man like that do that [tribute], it was really cool. That's something that will go down in my book as one of the better moments in my career, for sure."
Thome just missed hitting No. 575 in the ninth inning when he hit an RBI double high off the right field wall.
"Jim is a credit to baseball, and a credit to the teams he's played for," Killebrew said. "I just wish we had gotten him when he went to the White Sox [in 2006]. We might've won a World Series if that had happened."
Hardy returns from DL
Shortstop J.J. Hardy returned from the disabled list, creating ripple effects on Nick Punto and Danny Valencia's playing time.
Manager Ron Gardenhire said he has no set plan for third base moving forward, but Michael Cuddyer started there again Saturday, keeping Punto and Valencia on the bench. Punto replaced Cuddyer at third base in the eighth inning, with Cuddyer moving to right field. Punto also will spell Hardy at shortstop and Orlando Hudson at second base.
"Nicky's definitely going to move around a lot," Gardenhire said. "He's been playing great baseball. We'll put him out there as much as we possibly can."
Valencia figured he was headed back to Class AAA Rochester to clear a roster spot for Hardy, but the Twins instead put infielder Matt Tolbert on the DL because of a bruised right middle finger. Valencia has started just two of the past 11 games, but he went 2-for-2 with a walk and the game-winning RBI on Friday against Rays lefthander David Price, raising his average to .333.
Gardenhire said he might continue starting Valencia against lefties. In those games, Cuddyer would return to right field, Jason Kubel would return to DH and the lefthanded-hitting Thome would be on the bench.
"We'll just see how it goes," Gardenhire said. "I don't want [prospects] sitting around for five, six days."
Etc.
• Closer Jon Rauch had pitched three days in a row, but Gardenhire said the Twins would have used him for a save situation Saturday.
• Kevin Slowey will get a full week between starts after taking a liner off his right ankle Wednesday. The Twins pushed Slowey back one spot, while using Monday's off day to keep Carl Pavano on regular rest. Pavano will pitch Tuesday in Toronto and next Sunday in Detroit. Slowey will start Wednesday in Toronto.
• After tossing three scoreless innings for Class A Fort Myers on Friday, reliever Clay Condrey will move to Class AAA Rochester, continuing his rehab from a right elbow injury.
Gopher State
Footballguy
Trade needed, even if not wanted
Justin Morneau suggests the current players just need to be more consistent, but the rotation and bullpen require help.
By JIM SOUHAN, Star Tribune
Suddenly the Twins find themselves asking the same question our country has confronted for the past few years:
When does a recession become a depression?
Since the beginning of June, the Twins are 13-18. They've become a middle-rung American League team benefitting from alignment in a weak division.
They are poor on the road. During a long weekend at Target Field, they lost three out of four to a Tampa Bay team that made the Twins look unathletic by comparison. Most frightening, a bullpen that had overachieved most of the season is showing signs of wear.
About a year ago, Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer argued that the Twins' front office would have to prove it could make midseason upgrades if Mauer was going to re-sign with the team, and if Morneau was going to want to stay with the team.
I would argue that this year's team needs Cliff Lee at the top of rotation, if not to win the division, then to have a chance to win its first playoff series since 2002.
I would argue that this year's bullpen needs a B-12 shot in the form of a trade, or a contribution from within the organization.
Strangely, Morneau didn't agree, or at least didn't admit that he might agree. A year after challenging his front office to upgrade the roster, Morneau offered a more mature and cautious assessment of his team.
"I don't think so," he said when asked if his team needed a jolt. "I was just thinking about it a little while ago. Sometimes you look around and say, 'Man, if we had this guy in our lineup, if we had that guy in our lineup,' but we have all the guys in our lineup that we need.
"You're not going to trade to take someone out of our lineup."
How about the pitching staff?
"What we have is definitely good enough," he said. "We have guys who have been there before and have succeeded before. You look at Blackie [Nick Blackburn], he's pitched a lot of big games for us, must-win games for us, and he can get back to that point.
"We believe that. You look at a guy like [Kevin] Slowey, it's the same thing. He has the stuff and he's capable of doing well. You just look at Pavano, the way he goes about his business and attacks the strike zone, and Frankie [Liriano] can be lights out.
"We're just looking for that consistency from everyone, and we have the players to do that."
Morneau has learned that begging for a trade is a direct insult to current teammates.
"You always want to get better,'' he said. "But if somebody new comes in, that means someone you've been playing with for a long time goes out. For me, I've got caught up in that stuff in the past, and if you're asking for this and that and it doesn't happen, what do you say to the guys who are still here?
"It's not a good situation."
The lineup reorchestration, with Michael Cuddyer playing third and Jim Thome continuing his climb up the home run list, has distracted us from what matters most about this team: The young righthanded starters -- Scott Baker, Slowey and Blackburn -- have been horrid on the road, and the patchwork bullpen belatedly looks like it misses Joe Nathan, Pat Neshek and Glen Perkins.
On the day Morneau made his fourth All-Star team, he was unwilling to blame the pitching staff. "We're not getting the big hits as consistently as we need to," he said. "We're not putting teams away when we're ahead. Like [saturday], we could have made that a 7-1 game instead of 4-1, and then they're out of it. Kind of like they did to us [sunday], they get that double that puts them up by six. We've been missing those hits.''
The Twins actually aren't failing in the clutch so much as they are hitting into too many double plays, an inherent flaw of a team of station-to-station sluggers.
I asked Morneau if he's as confident in this team in the midst of this slump as he was in April. "Yeah, definitely," he said. "Cuddy had a pretty good April, and he's done everything this team has asked, playing right field and third and even first, but he's a guy who hit 30 home runs last year. He's a guy who is capable of doing that. He'll tell you that offensively he hasn't done as well as he would have liked.
"And Koob [Jason Kubel] got off to a slow start, and this is my lowest RBI total heading into a break since '05. We're not scoring as many runs as we need to."
I admire Morneau for refusing to beg for a trade. I just hope his front office doesn't listen to him.
Justin Morneau suggests the current players just need to be more consistent, but the rotation and bullpen require help.
By JIM SOUHAN, Star Tribune
Suddenly the Twins find themselves asking the same question our country has confronted for the past few years:
When does a recession become a depression?
Since the beginning of June, the Twins are 13-18. They've become a middle-rung American League team benefitting from alignment in a weak division.
They are poor on the road. During a long weekend at Target Field, they lost three out of four to a Tampa Bay team that made the Twins look unathletic by comparison. Most frightening, a bullpen that had overachieved most of the season is showing signs of wear.
About a year ago, Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer argued that the Twins' front office would have to prove it could make midseason upgrades if Mauer was going to re-sign with the team, and if Morneau was going to want to stay with the team.
I would argue that this year's team needs Cliff Lee at the top of rotation, if not to win the division, then to have a chance to win its first playoff series since 2002.
I would argue that this year's bullpen needs a B-12 shot in the form of a trade, or a contribution from within the organization.
Strangely, Morneau didn't agree, or at least didn't admit that he might agree. A year after challenging his front office to upgrade the roster, Morneau offered a more mature and cautious assessment of his team.
"I don't think so," he said when asked if his team needed a jolt. "I was just thinking about it a little while ago. Sometimes you look around and say, 'Man, if we had this guy in our lineup, if we had that guy in our lineup,' but we have all the guys in our lineup that we need.
"You're not going to trade to take someone out of our lineup."
How about the pitching staff?
"What we have is definitely good enough," he said. "We have guys who have been there before and have succeeded before. You look at Blackie [Nick Blackburn], he's pitched a lot of big games for us, must-win games for us, and he can get back to that point.
"We believe that. You look at a guy like [Kevin] Slowey, it's the same thing. He has the stuff and he's capable of doing well. You just look at Pavano, the way he goes about his business and attacks the strike zone, and Frankie [Liriano] can be lights out.
"We're just looking for that consistency from everyone, and we have the players to do that."
Morneau has learned that begging for a trade is a direct insult to current teammates.
"You always want to get better,'' he said. "But if somebody new comes in, that means someone you've been playing with for a long time goes out. For me, I've got caught up in that stuff in the past, and if you're asking for this and that and it doesn't happen, what do you say to the guys who are still here?
"It's not a good situation."
The lineup reorchestration, with Michael Cuddyer playing third and Jim Thome continuing his climb up the home run list, has distracted us from what matters most about this team: The young righthanded starters -- Scott Baker, Slowey and Blackburn -- have been horrid on the road, and the patchwork bullpen belatedly looks like it misses Joe Nathan, Pat Neshek and Glen Perkins.
On the day Morneau made his fourth All-Star team, he was unwilling to blame the pitching staff. "We're not getting the big hits as consistently as we need to," he said. "We're not putting teams away when we're ahead. Like [saturday], we could have made that a 7-1 game instead of 4-1, and then they're out of it. Kind of like they did to us [sunday], they get that double that puts them up by six. We've been missing those hits.''
The Twins actually aren't failing in the clutch so much as they are hitting into too many double plays, an inherent flaw of a team of station-to-station sluggers.
I asked Morneau if he's as confident in this team in the midst of this slump as he was in April. "Yeah, definitely," he said. "Cuddy had a pretty good April, and he's done everything this team has asked, playing right field and third and even first, but he's a guy who hit 30 home runs last year. He's a guy who is capable of doing that. He'll tell you that offensively he hasn't done as well as he would have liked.
"And Koob [Jason Kubel] got off to a slow start, and this is my lowest RBI total heading into a break since '05. We're not scoring as many runs as we need to."
I admire Morneau for refusing to beg for a trade. I just hope his front office doesn't listen to him.
Frostillicus
Footballguy
I saw that too. I have to think it's bogus, because if it was true I would think the Mariners would have said yes immediately.
Gopher State
Footballguy
Twins really need to trade for Lee if they want to catch the Tigers, but I thinking the Mets end up with Lee.Frostillicus said:
Gopher State
Footballguy
MLB Trade Rumors
Tim Dierkes
Cliff Lee Rumors: Tuesday
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [July 6, 2010 at 9:28pm CST]
The Twins offered prospects Wilson Ramos and Aaron Hicks to the Mariners for Cliff Lee, according to a report by Jeff Fletcher of AOL FanHouse yesterday. Reports have since indicated that the two clubs are not close to a deal. If nothing works out between the Twins and Mariners, other teams, such as the Yankees, Mets, Rangers and Reds would likely be involved. We'll keep track of all the day's Cliff Lee rumors right here, so check back later in the day to see if we have moved this post back to the top of the page with updates.
ESPN.com's Buster Olney (Twitter link) hears that Lee trade talks are "heating up," since some teams want to add the southpaw as soon as possible.
An official from one team interested in Lee tells AOL FanHouse's Ed Price that his club has yet to hear back from Jack Zduriencik regarding what sort of return the Mariners are seeking.
B.J. Upton, now involved in the Lee rumors, tells Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times that he doesn't want the Rays to trade him (Twitter link). Joe Maddon also talks to Topkin about the Upton rumors, saying there's "nothing from our end regarding that being true."
The Yankees believe they could trade for Lee if they wanted to, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (via Twitter).
The Yankees are “kicking the tires” on Lee, a source tells Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The source estimates that the Yanks have less than a 50% chance of obtaining Lee and suggests the Yankees could flip Javier Vazquez to another team if they do acquire Lee.
The Rays are on the periphery of the Lee sweepstakes, according to Rosenthal’s sources, who confirm that B.J. Upton-Cliff Lee trade talk surfaced amoung scouts last night.
The Tigers like Lee, but aren't optimistic about acquiring him, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter).
Olney hears that the Mariners "really like" Brewers prospect Brett Lawrie (Twitter link). The 20-year-old second baseman recently made Baseball America's mid-season All-Star team. Lawrie "still strikes out too often and is a work in progress at second base," but is among the offensive leaders at AA. The Mariners have 2009 first rounder Dustin Ackley, also a second baseman, hitting well in AA, though Ackley's presence doesn't mean they can't pursue Lawrie.
Morosi hears that talks between the Mets and Mariners have not progressed much (Twitter link).
Jerry Crasnick's sources estimate that there's a 60-100% chance that the Mariners trade Lee this month. The Mets prefer Lee to innings eaters and the Yankees ‘covet’ him, but the Phillies would be more likely to pursue Dan Haren if they go after an ace, according to Crasnick’s report for ESPN.com. One AL executive suggested the Mariners might have to explore three-way trades to get as much as possible in return for the left-hander.
A rival executive told Ed Price of AOL FanHouse that the Twins will ‘go hard’ after Lee. Some believe the Rangers called Omar Beltre up to showcase him for the Mariners.
Peter Gammons hears rumblings of a Lee-B.J. Upton deal and wonders if a third team could be involved along with the Mariners and Rays (Twitter link).
Rosenthal hears that no deal between the Twins and Mariners is imminent. Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik declined to characterize the talks he has had with the Twins, but Jon Paul Morosi hears that the Mariners have scouted the Twins extensively.
Twins need to look hard at Lee
Tim Dierkes
Cliff Lee Rumors: Tuesday
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [July 6, 2010 at 9:28pm CST]
The Twins offered prospects Wilson Ramos and Aaron Hicks to the Mariners for Cliff Lee, according to a report by Jeff Fletcher of AOL FanHouse yesterday. Reports have since indicated that the two clubs are not close to a deal. If nothing works out between the Twins and Mariners, other teams, such as the Yankees, Mets, Rangers and Reds would likely be involved. We'll keep track of all the day's Cliff Lee rumors right here, so check back later in the day to see if we have moved this post back to the top of the page with updates.
ESPN.com's Buster Olney (Twitter link) hears that Lee trade talks are "heating up," since some teams want to add the southpaw as soon as possible.
An official from one team interested in Lee tells AOL FanHouse's Ed Price that his club has yet to hear back from Jack Zduriencik regarding what sort of return the Mariners are seeking.
B.J. Upton, now involved in the Lee rumors, tells Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times that he doesn't want the Rays to trade him (Twitter link). Joe Maddon also talks to Topkin about the Upton rumors, saying there's "nothing from our end regarding that being true."
The Yankees believe they could trade for Lee if they wanted to, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (via Twitter).
The Yankees are “kicking the tires” on Lee, a source tells Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The source estimates that the Yanks have less than a 50% chance of obtaining Lee and suggests the Yankees could flip Javier Vazquez to another team if they do acquire Lee.
The Rays are on the periphery of the Lee sweepstakes, according to Rosenthal’s sources, who confirm that B.J. Upton-Cliff Lee trade talk surfaced amoung scouts last night.
The Tigers like Lee, but aren't optimistic about acquiring him, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter).
Olney hears that the Mariners "really like" Brewers prospect Brett Lawrie (Twitter link). The 20-year-old second baseman recently made Baseball America's mid-season All-Star team. Lawrie "still strikes out too often and is a work in progress at second base," but is among the offensive leaders at AA. The Mariners have 2009 first rounder Dustin Ackley, also a second baseman, hitting well in AA, though Ackley's presence doesn't mean they can't pursue Lawrie.
Morosi hears that talks between the Mets and Mariners have not progressed much (Twitter link).
Jerry Crasnick's sources estimate that there's a 60-100% chance that the Mariners trade Lee this month. The Mets prefer Lee to innings eaters and the Yankees ‘covet’ him, but the Phillies would be more likely to pursue Dan Haren if they go after an ace, according to Crasnick’s report for ESPN.com. One AL executive suggested the Mariners might have to explore three-way trades to get as much as possible in return for the left-hander.
A rival executive told Ed Price of AOL FanHouse that the Twins will ‘go hard’ after Lee. Some believe the Rangers called Omar Beltre up to showcase him for the Mariners.
Peter Gammons hears rumblings of a Lee-B.J. Upton deal and wonders if a third team could be involved along with the Mariners and Rays (Twitter link).
Rosenthal hears that no deal between the Twins and Mariners is imminent. Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik declined to characterize the talks he has had with the Twins, but Jon Paul Morosi hears that the Mariners have scouted the Twins extensively.
Twins need to look hard at Lee
Gopher State
Footballguy
Nice win by the Twins last night
M & M boys each hitting a homer
First time since 1968 that the Twins have had two players voted as starters in the all star game
M & M boys each hitting a homer
First time since 1968 that the Twins have had two players voted as starters in the all star game
Bill Brasky
Footballguy
I agree with this guy.This is some serious not knowing baseball right here. If Baker can get his gofer balls under control, he's on the verge of being an elite pitcher in MLB, hardly organizational depth that you can just throw away and replace.
Bill Brasky
Footballguy
Jesus christ does the ball get out easy in the SkyDome or whatever the hell they're calling it these days. Home runs everywhere these first two games.
Gopher State
Footballguy
Cliff Lee picture still unfocused
By JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune
TORONTO - The Twins have expressed interest in trading for Mariners lefthander Cliff Lee, but the sides haven't exchanged the names of the players the Twins would send in return, a person familiar with the discussions said Wednesday.
For now, the Mariners are busy scouting the Twins' best young players, just as Seattle is doing with other clubs, since there are several teams interested in acquiring Lee before the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline.
The Twins are considered one of the favorites to get Lee, and another major league source said the Mariners have been gathering information about Twins catching prospect Wilson Ramos and pitcher Kevin Slowey. It's unclear if the Twins would have to give up more than that.
AOL Fanhouse reported, via Twitter, that another major league source heard that the Twins had offered Ramos and 2008 first-round draft pick Aaron Hicks.
But the person familiar with the discussions called reports of any actual offers "pure speculation."
Slowey and Ramos for Lee, I don't know, I rather see them give up Baker.
By JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune
TORONTO - The Twins have expressed interest in trading for Mariners lefthander Cliff Lee, but the sides haven't exchanged the names of the players the Twins would send in return, a person familiar with the discussions said Wednesday.
For now, the Mariners are busy scouting the Twins' best young players, just as Seattle is doing with other clubs, since there are several teams interested in acquiring Lee before the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline.
The Twins are considered one of the favorites to get Lee, and another major league source said the Mariners have been gathering information about Twins catching prospect Wilson Ramos and pitcher Kevin Slowey. It's unclear if the Twins would have to give up more than that.
AOL Fanhouse reported, via Twitter, that another major league source heard that the Twins had offered Ramos and 2008 first-round draft pick Aaron Hicks.
But the person familiar with the discussions called reports of any actual offers "pure speculation."
Slowey and Ramos for Lee, I don't know, I rather see them give up Baker.
Bill Brasky
Footballguy
3rd place!
Gopher State
Footballguy
Tigers should be printing T-shirtsBill Brasky said:3rd place!
urbanhack
Fight The Power!
Why?Tigers should be printing T-shirtsBill Brasky said:3rd place!
Vladislav Tretiak
Footballguy
I rather Blackburn goGopher State said:
Gopher State
Footballguy
Great job of pitching by Baker tonight 
, and some people think he will be a great pitcher 
, and some people think he will be a great pitcher
Bill Brasky
Footballguy
Agree 100%. If there's a starter they're going to deal, he makes the most sense.
Bill Brasky
Footballguy
one bad inning tonight isn't going to change my mind.Great job of pitching by Baker tonight
Bill Brasky
Footballguy
So...how long before the Royals catch the Twinks too?
Gopher State
Footballguy
How about a 4.87 era for the season. The only pitcher with a worst era currently on the Twins roster is Blackburn with a 6.00 era. You going to lose more games then you win giving up almost five runs a game. I be shocked if Baker finishes with a 500 record this year.one bad inning tonight isn't going to change my mind.Great job of pitching by Baker tonight
Tremendous Upside
Footballguy
Made my way to Target Field last Sunday for the 4th of July game versus the Rays
You guys have a beautiful ballpark there and a very friendly fanbase
Very enjoyable trip
You guys have a beautiful ballpark there and a very friendly fanbase
Very enjoyable trip
Bill Brasky
Footballguy
Never said he was having a good season.Gopher State said:How about a 4.87 era for the season. The only pitcher with a worst era currently on the Twins roster is Blackburn with a 6.00 era. You going to lose more games then you win giving up almost five runs a game. I be shocked if Baker finishes with a 500 record this year.one bad inning tonight isn't going to change my mind.Great job of pitching by Baker tonight
Bill Brasky
Footballguy
Made my way to Target Field last Sunday for the 4th of July game versus the RaysYou guys have a beautiful ballpark there and a very friendly fanbaseVery enjoyable trip
the moops
Footballguy
He makes the least sense because he sucks and nobody else would want him.
Wooderson
Fight The Power
Tigers Should Print T-Shirts????
When will the Royals catch us????
OP with negative comments in the title of the thread????
What is happening Twins nation. We are not negative fans. It's way to early and we are very much in the race. Twins have always been a pesky team. It always seems like the fans were pesky as well with a never give up attitude.
Some come on Twins fans lets turn this thing around.
All together now.
We're going to win Twins
We're going to score
We're going to win Twins
Watch that baseball soar
Crack out a home run
Shout a hip-ho-rae
Cheer for the Minnesota Twins today
When will the Royals catch us????
OP with negative comments in the title of the thread????
What is happening Twins nation. We are not negative fans. It's way to early and we are very much in the race. Twins have always been a pesky team. It always seems like the fans were pesky as well with a never give up attitude.
Some come on Twins fans lets turn this thing around.
All together now.
We're going to win Twins
We're going to score
We're going to win Twins
Watch that baseball soar
Crack out a home run
Shout a hip-ho-rae
Cheer for the Minnesota Twins today
Gopher State
Footballguy
ok woody, I get back on the bandwagon. But it's note easy with no Cliff Lee, and the way the Twins are playing yuck :XTigers Should Print T-Shirts????When will the Royals catch us????OP with negative comments in the title of the thread????What is happening Twins nation. We are not negative fans. It's way to early and we are very much in the race. Twins have always been a pesky team. It always seems like the fans were pesky as well with a never give up attitude. Some come on Twins fans lets turn this thing around.All together now.
Frostillicus
Footballguy
Thanks GB. I like it too.Made my way to Target Field last Sunday for the 4th of July game versus the RaysYou guys have a beautiful ballpark there and a very friendly fanbaseVery enjoyable trip
Vladislav Tretiak
Footballguy
Somebody wanted Dontrelle Willis who is one of the worst pitchers I've ever seen the past couple years.OH YEAH! He beat the Twins this year!This team is going no where. Cliff Lee...nopeRoy Oswalt?...Doubt it.Is Sean Bergman still around?Why not call Brad Havens or John Butcher? Dave Goltz is alive still.
Gopher State
Footballguy
Minnesota has won five division titles since the turn of the century. Only once, the first title run in 2002, have they held a lead in the standings at the All-Star break. They trailed by 7 games in 2003, 11 games in 2006 and 4 games last season before mounting rallies each time to take the title.
Lets hope for another second half RALLY
Lets hope for another second half RALLY
Wooderson
Fight The Power
That's what I'm talking about. Go TwinsJoe MVP tonightGopher State said:Minnesota has won five division titles since the turn of the century. Only once, the first title run in 2002, have they held a lead in the standings at the All-Star break. They trailed by 7 games in 2003, 11 games in 2006 and 4 games last season before mounting rallies each time to take the title.Lets hope for another second half RALLY
Gopher State
Footballguy
Twins place Morneau on disabled list
The veteran first baseman, who last played on July 7, still has lingering concussion symptoms. He would be eligible to be reactivated July 23.
By JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune
Twins first baseman Justin Morneau landed on the 15-day disabled list because of lingering concussion symptoms Thursday, and said he'll probably wear an oversized batting helmet when he returns.
The new helmet, a Rawlings model which features significantly more padding than standard helmets, was on display during Tuesday's All-Star Game. Several players wore the helmet, which has been modified since the Mets' David Wright wore one last year, drawing playful comparisons to The Great Gazoo.
Morneau has been out since he took a knee to the head on a slide into second base on July 7 in Toronto.
"I don't think [the new helmet] would have really made a difference in this case," Morneau said. "You never really know, but for safety sake, I guess we'll try and use that new helmet. It didn't look as bad in the All-Star Game so we'll see how it goes."
Morneau would be eligible to come off the DL on July 23. To fill his spot on the roster, the Twins promoted reliever Jeff Manship from Class AAA Rochester. There had been plans to activate Matt Tolbert from the DL, but his bruised right finger hasn't healed.
Michael Cuddyer will continue subbing for Morneau at first base.
"We're not going to take any chances [with Morneau]," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "I do know that."
Morneau said he woke up Thursday feeling well enough to try a 25-minute workout on an elliptical machine. That's when the fog returned.
"Things aren't working right," Morneau said, explaining the symptoms. "It's not registering right, just walking around. When that's not right, it makes it a little difficult trying hit a 90-mile-per hour fastball. Just error on the side of caution. The good thing is it's been getting better every day, and I think we've been handling it the right way."
This would be the second time in Morneau's major league career that he's gone on the DL because of a head injury. The other came in April 2005 after he was beaned with a pitch from Seattle's Ron Villone. Morneau also suffered head injuries growing up playing hockey and basketball.
"Hopefully when it's time to come off [the DL], we'll be 100 percent ready to go without there being any questions -- What happens if I dive? What happens if I go in to break up a double play? -- you don't want that," Morneau said. "You want to be able to go out there and play and not have those thoughts, and be able to be aggressive."
Morneau, 29, is friends with former Twin Corey Koskie, whose career ended after he had a concussion playing for Milwaukee in 2005. Morneau also has friends from the NHL who've had concussions.
"I've talked to the guys who have dealt with that for a long time," he said. "They've warned me of stuff to look out for, and stuff you don't want to mess around with. Everything's been pretty good so far, so it's not a concern. Most of the time, the guys who've missed a lot of time are guys who've had minor concussions and try to come back too quick and something happens and it ends up turning into a real long-term problem. I think that's what we're trying to avoid."
Morneau was on an MVP pace prior to getting hurt
The veteran first baseman, who last played on July 7, still has lingering concussion symptoms. He would be eligible to be reactivated July 23.
By JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune
Twins first baseman Justin Morneau landed on the 15-day disabled list because of lingering concussion symptoms Thursday, and said he'll probably wear an oversized batting helmet when he returns.
The new helmet, a Rawlings model which features significantly more padding than standard helmets, was on display during Tuesday's All-Star Game. Several players wore the helmet, which has been modified since the Mets' David Wright wore one last year, drawing playful comparisons to The Great Gazoo.
Morneau has been out since he took a knee to the head on a slide into second base on July 7 in Toronto.
"I don't think [the new helmet] would have really made a difference in this case," Morneau said. "You never really know, but for safety sake, I guess we'll try and use that new helmet. It didn't look as bad in the All-Star Game so we'll see how it goes."
Morneau would be eligible to come off the DL on July 23. To fill his spot on the roster, the Twins promoted reliever Jeff Manship from Class AAA Rochester. There had been plans to activate Matt Tolbert from the DL, but his bruised right finger hasn't healed.
Michael Cuddyer will continue subbing for Morneau at first base.
"We're not going to take any chances [with Morneau]," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "I do know that."
Morneau said he woke up Thursday feeling well enough to try a 25-minute workout on an elliptical machine. That's when the fog returned.
"Things aren't working right," Morneau said, explaining the symptoms. "It's not registering right, just walking around. When that's not right, it makes it a little difficult trying hit a 90-mile-per hour fastball. Just error on the side of caution. The good thing is it's been getting better every day, and I think we've been handling it the right way."
This would be the second time in Morneau's major league career that he's gone on the DL because of a head injury. The other came in April 2005 after he was beaned with a pitch from Seattle's Ron Villone. Morneau also suffered head injuries growing up playing hockey and basketball.
"Hopefully when it's time to come off [the DL], we'll be 100 percent ready to go without there being any questions -- What happens if I dive? What happens if I go in to break up a double play? -- you don't want that," Morneau said. "You want to be able to go out there and play and not have those thoughts, and be able to be aggressive."
Morneau, 29, is friends with former Twin Corey Koskie, whose career ended after he had a concussion playing for Milwaukee in 2005. Morneau also has friends from the NHL who've had concussions.
"I've talked to the guys who have dealt with that for a long time," he said. "They've warned me of stuff to look out for, and stuff you don't want to mess around with. Everything's been pretty good so far, so it's not a concern. Most of the time, the guys who've missed a lot of time are guys who've had minor concussions and try to come back too quick and something happens and it ends up turning into a real long-term problem. I think that's what we're trying to avoid."
Morneau was on an MVP pace prior to getting hurt
Gopher State
Footballguy
• In 2003, Twins were 7 1/2 games out of first place on July 17. They won the division by four games.
• In 2004, Twins were a half-game out on July 24 and won the division by nine games.
• In 2006, Twins trailed by 10 1/2 games on Aug. 7 and won the division on the last day of the season.
• In 2008, Twins trailed by three games on July 26 and lost a Game 163 playoff to the White Sox.
• In 2009, Twins trailed by 6 1/2 games on Sept. 8 and won a Game 163 playoff against the Tigers.
Yes we can
GO TWINS
• In 2004, Twins were a half-game out on July 24 and won the division by nine games.
• In 2006, Twins trailed by 10 1/2 games on Aug. 7 and won the division on the last day of the season.
• In 2008, Twins trailed by three games on July 26 and lost a Game 163 playoff to the White Sox.
• In 2009, Twins trailed by 6 1/2 games on Sept. 8 and won a Game 163 playoff against the Tigers.
Yes we can
GO TWINS
Limp Ditka
Footballguy
The White Sox already won the first game of the series, but don't let that get in they way of your dreams.
