Tuesday, July 6,
2010
Cliff Lee to Twins Rumors Heating Up
Be sure to read my StarTribune.com TwinsCentric blog today for discussion on the Cliff
Lee rumors, but here today, I want to focus on the later rumor, that the Twins
have allegedly offered Wilson Ramos and Aaron Hicks to the Mariners
for Cliff Lee. More accurately, it would be for two months (and hopefully a
strong October run) of Cliff Lee in a Twins uniform. The question has to be
asked: as good as Cliff Lee is, how much is too much? As Fanatic Jack pointed out on last
night’s SethSpeaks.net Weekly Minnesota Twins Podcast, Cliff Lee fits
the Twins to a T. The Twins need a true Ace. But they also love pitchers who
don’t want batters. Cliff Lee walks basically no one. He would really, really
help the Twins tremendously the rest of this year. But it is impossible not to
at least consider the negative affects of giving up
two such highly touted prospects for just two months. But you can’t mention the
two months without adding the part about October. It’s a vicious cycle to
consider this question. It could be debated all day. How much is too much? Is
there such a thing as too much? What does that question mean to you?
For me, I have to start with the minor leaguers in the package, and what
I would consider to be the Twins “Untouchable” players. In the past, we could
say “untouchable” but it always had the unwritten reality that the player was
untouchable except if someone like Albert Pujols
would become available. Well, Cliff Lee might fit into that category at this
stage, right? I mean, we can all see that his impact on the Twins might be at
that high level. So, when we are saying “untouchable”, we actually mean ‘untouchable.’
Here was my most recent Top 20 Twins prospect list, to use as a
reference. Remember this list is a month old and could very easily be updated and
altered again.
1. Kyle Gibson – RHP
2.
Aaron Hicks – OF
3.
Miguel Sano – 3B
4.
Wilson Ramos – C
5.
Adrian Salcedo – RHP
6.
Angel Morales – OF
7.
Joe Benson – OF
8.
David Bromberg – RHP
9.
Ben Revere – OF
10. Danny Valencia – 3B
11. Deolis Guerra – RHP
12. Alex Burnett – RHP
13. Trevor Plouffe – SS
14. Liam Hendriks
– RHP
15. BJ Hermsen
– RHP
16. Carlos Gutierrez – RHP
17. Rene Tosoni
– OF
18. Bruce Pugh – RHP
19. Jeff Manship
– RHP –
20. Chris Parmelee
– 1B/OF
After that point, there are players that I would rather the Twins not
trade, but it would be hard to call them untouchable, with the probable
exception of my #21 prospect, Max Kepler.
Seth’s Untouchables – Kyle Gibson (who could only be a player to be named later at this
time anyway), Miguel Sano and Joe Benson. That’s it for me.
Aaron Hicks is right on that next level. I could trade him, but I really,
really would rather not trade him in any scenario in this deal unless the Twins
and Lee are able to come to a long-term extension, which is not going to
happen. So, although I understand the Mariners asking for Hicks and Ramos, I
believe it is WAY too much for a rental player.
Wilson Ramos is obviously someone I would prefer that the Twins keep. I
think he’s much better than he has played in 2010 to this point, but I also
understand the reality that Joe Mauer is going to be around for a long time, so Ramos
is expendable.
Let me say this, I think that if two high prospects are required, the above
comments remain true, but that the top two prospects in the deal should not add
up to less than 12. In other words, if Wilson Ramos is made available and is
one of the players to go to Seattle, the second player should not be any of the
team’s top 8 prospects (4 + 9 = 13). So, Wilson
Ramos and Ben Revere, I would
probably be comfortable with it, but that is a hefty price to pay. However,
consider that Michael Cuddyer and Denard
Span will
certainly be back in 2011, and I would think that Delmon Young would be tendered another contract. In 2012, it could get
interesting, but I don’t think they’ll miss Revere since there are a lot of
quality outfield prospects needed for likely just one outfield spot.
So, I am not a fan, at all, of the Ramos/Hicks rumors (Because of Hicks),
but I’m not against giving up two very good prospects.
Now, what do you think? What would you trade? Who is untouchable in this
scenario?
And
don’t forget to listen to Fanatic Jack and I talk Twins on last
night’s SethSpeaks.net Weekly Minnesota Twins podcast. Oh, and be sure
to scroll down for information on the upcoming TwinsCentric
project and the Viewing Party on Wednesday at Park Tavern in St. Louis Park
which should be quite the event. Feel free to leave
your questions and comments here.