Jump to content

Has anyone heard this RUMOR?


Jabroni

Recommended Posts

Apparently every team that Houston has talked to for a big league bat e.g Texas about Soriano wants Brandon Backe as part of any package. Jason Lane could be traded, although the Astros wouldn't want to give him up. But the Twinkies could be doing this to get all their pitchers locked up especially Santana to a long - term deal, but no this is the first I've heard of it, and I think it's probably BS.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For what in return?

An assortment of players -- possibly Morgan Ensberg, Tim Redding, Brandon Duckworth, and 2 minor league prospects. And it kind of makes sense because the Twins need some starting pitching help and another 3rd baseman since they lost Corey Koskie. Also, the Twins are salary dumpers and Torii Hunter is set to start earning the FAT part of his 4-year, $32 million contract. Dugout Dollars says that Hunter will earn $8 million in 2005 and $10.75 million in 2006. I'm sure Jamie Burke will be happy if this rumor is true. :P

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(Jabroni @ Jan 23, 2005 -> 11:14 AM)
An assortment of players -- Morgan Ensberg, Tim Redding, Brandon Duckworth, and 2 minor league prospects.  And it kind of makes sense because the Twins need some starting pitching help and another 3rd baseman since they lost Corey Koskie.  Also, the Twins are salary dumpers and Torii Hunter is set to start earning the FAT part of his 4-year, $32 million contract.  Dugout Dollars says that Hunter will earn $8 million in 2005 and $10.75 million in 2006.

 

Where'd you hear of this rumor?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Where'd you hear of this rumor?

Various message boards and Astros fans. With the Twins' payroll constraints it kind of makes sense since Torii is set to make alot of money in 2005 and 2006. And don't forget that the Twins have a load of young, cheap outfield talent in Lew Ford, Michael Restovich, and Jason Kubel who are all MLB-ready.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's more likely the Twinkies would trade Jackass Jones before Hunter anyways.

Not really. Jackass Jones has no where near the trade value that Hunter has. Plus, Jones is only making $5 million this year. They could trade him at the deadline quite easily if they want to. This is similar to how Beane traded his best two pitchers in Hudson and Mulder instead of Zito because they had the most trade value. In other words -- buy low, sell high.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(Jabroni @ Jan 24, 2005 -> 03:22 AM)
Not really.  Jackass Jones has no where near the trade value that Hunter has.  Plus, Jones is only making $5 million this year.  They could trade him at the deadline quite easily if they want to.  This is similar to how Beane traded his best two pitchers in Hudson and Mulder instead of Zito because they had the most trade value.  In other words -- buy low, sell high.

Jones @ 5 mill - .254, 20 HR's and 80 RBI's.

Hunter @ 8 mill - .271, 23 HR's and 81 RBI's.

 

I wouldn't say Hunter would have real high value right now, he could go back to his 2003 form and teams will be wary of this. But Jones would be easier to replace than Hunter as well, unless they decide Lew Ford is ready to be the everyday CF instead of the DH. Houston would be the only team I could see with a real need for a guy like Hunter, considering they really need a stud defensive CF, Craig Biggio ain't going to cut it. Whether Tim Purpura does this, I don't know, I think he just lets the young guys play, or trade for someone a bit cheaper, but a team like the Cubs could still acquire Jones, if they are stuck with Sosa, and can't sign Maggs. Still a lot of possibilities for the off-season leading up to spring training.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

And if you think the Twins will never trade Torii Hunter, consider this:

 

Hunter will earn $8 million in 2005 which is approximately 15% of the Twins' payroll and $10.75 million in 2006 which will be approximately 20% of the Twins' payroll. They just can't afford to keep Hunter, especially when they have Ford, Restovich, and Kubel earning nothing. Lew Ford can play CF.

 

Jones @ 5 mill - .254, 20 HR's and 80 RBI's.

Hunter @ 8 mill - .271, 23 HR's and 81 RBI's.

 

I wouldn't say Hunter would have real high value right now, he could go back to his 2003 form and teams will be wary of this. But Jones would be easier to replace than Hunter as well, unless they decide Lew Ford is ready to be the everyday CF instead of the DH. Houston would be the only team I could see with a real need for a guy like Hunter, considering they really need a stud defensive CF, Craig Biggio ain't going to cut it. Whether Tim Purpura does this, I don't know, I think he just lets the young guys play, or trade for someone a bit cheaper, but a team like the Cubs could still acquire Jones, if they are stuck with Sosa, and can't sign Maggs. Still a lot of possibilities for the off-season leading up to spring training.

The Twins aren't going to pay Hunter $10.75 million in 2006. Not a chance in hell.

 

And don't forget that the Astros just lost Beltran which was a big blow for the fans. Keeping Clemens for one more year definately helps but it isn't enough to put them above the Cardinals and the Cubs. They need someone who can play that CF because Biggio damn sure can't.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(Jabroni @ Jan 23, 2005 -> 10:34 AM)
And if you think the Twins will never trade Torii Hunter, consider this:

 

Hunter will earn $8 million in 2005 which is approximately 15% of the Twins' payroll and $10.75 million in 2006 which will be approximately 25% of the Twins' payroll.  They just can't afford to keep Hunter, especially when they have Ford, Restovich, and Kubel earning nothing.  Lew Ford can play CF.

The Twins aren't going to pay Hunter $10.75 million in 2006.  Not a chance in hell.

 

Scratch Kubel.

 

Roto  Latest News  Nov. 23, 2004 - 3:22 am et

Jason Kubel will have surgery on Dec. 2 to repair torn ligaments in his left knee.

The Twins don't expect Kubel back next season.

Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(Jabroni @ Jan 23, 2005 -> 12:34 PM)
And if you think the Twins will never trade Torii Hunter, consider this:

 

Hunter will earn $8 million in 2005 which is approximately 15% of the Twins' payroll and $10.75 million in 2006 which will be approximately 25% of the Twins' payroll.  They just can't afford to keep Hunter, especially when they have Ford, Restovich, and Kubel earning nothing.  Lew Ford can play CF.

The Twins aren't going to pay Hunter $10.75 million in 2006.  Not a chance in hell.

An extremely astute observation. An outfield of Ford/Jones/Restovich contains all of the three elements that the Twins desire in an outfield - cheap, cheap and cheap.

 

I think that Kubel is pretty much a no-go next year because of his injury.

 

Because of Kubel's injury, I have doubts that the Twins would move Hunter this year (his $8 million is manageable this year while Santana is still relatively cheap). However, I would be surprised if the Twinkies don't move hime before opening day 2006 to avoid his $10.75 million in salary. With Kubel healed, I'd expect a Kubel/Ford/Restovich outfield.

 

Jones will undoubtedly be gone after 2005, if not by the trading deadline.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

#1-Hunter isn't that good outside of defense, so who cares.

 

#2-Considering the money he's getting and the fact that they have suitable replacements (their outfield will be Stewart/Ford/Jones), trading him would be a pretty good idea.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...