Kudos to the Twins for finally being on the right end of a trade. The two-for-one deal with Philadelphia bringing pitchers Vance Worley and Trevor May in exchange for Ben Revere is a welcomed switching of roles. Usually, it’s the other teams getting a bargain on quality Minnesota hurlers while giving up just a marginal hitter or two.
As we’ve witnessed for the past two years, this is a franchise in desperate need of effective arms. While the likes of Samuel Deduno and Cole Devries are interesting stories and seemingly decent people, they hardly strike fear into opposing hitters. Last season was especially dismal, as only two teams in all of Major League Baseball finished below the Twins in pitching.
Worley, a 25-year-old righthander, won eleven games for an outstanding Phillies team in 2011 and appears to have a pretty decent upside. He should, along with Scott Diamond, give the Twins two established major league starters. While it won’t solve all the pitching woes, it should be a clear improvement on the patchwork staff that staggered through the last half of 2012.
May and the recently-acquired Alex Meyer are a pair of highly-rated prospects on the brink of being ready to challenge for spots in the starting rotation. Meyer is particularly intriguing. Traded straight-up from Washington for Twins outfielder Denard Span, he was considered a top prospect for a Senators organization rich in pitching talent.
While losing two outfielders certainly leaves a void, it’s trumped by the need for pitching. Span especially will be difficult to replace. His professionalism and steady play have made him a staple in the Twins lineup for several years. Though injuries have hampered his production in recent campaigns, it will be difficult to find a player with his overall skill.
In contrast to some, I don’t think the Twins will miss Revere all that much. Though he swung the bat well for the first half of last season, his production dropped markedly as the summer wore on. He struggled mightily late in the year, regressing to the below-average hitter he’s been for most of his career. While he makes the occasional highlight-reel catch in the outfield, it’s hardly enough to consider him for a long-term contract.
I’d like to see the Twins swing a few more deals to obtain additional pitching, and am curious about the trade value of Justin Morneau.
I’d like to see the Twins resist the urge to deal Morneau because: a) I’m not ready to throw in the towel on 2013 just yet, and b) I don’t think his value is all that high after a couple injury-ravaged seasons and a mediocre 2012. I fully expect him to return to the player he was pre-injuries, thus boosting his value for a potential trade-deadline deal in July … if the Twins are going nowhere.
Thanks for the feedback.
I’m just happy the Twins are trying to improve the pitching staff.
The biggest problem, which won’t be going away anytime soon, is Mauer’s enormous contract. You can’t pay a singles-hitter that kind of money and expect to compete, especially for a franchise unwilling (not unable) to spend a lot to improve the roster. Seattle did the same with Ichiro and got little in return as far as winning.