Yes, the Minnesota Twins appear to be buyers as this year's Major League Baseball non-waiver trading deadline approaches.
Minnesota has some spots which could use upgrading -- and some which won't be touched (See: First base, second base, third base).
With the non-waiver deadline July 31, here's a look at some players around the league who might be on the block and of interest to the Twins. (Note: statistics through July 21; contract information courtesy Cot's Baseball Contracts)
Joaquin Benoit
The Padres are likely in selling mode and they have some pitching to deal and the right-hander might be at the top of their list. Since 2010, Benoit has a 2.36 ERA and 0.93 WHIP while striking out 10.1 batters per nine innings while pitching for Tampa Bay, Detroit and San Diego. This season for the Padres he has a 2.43 ERA and 0.861 WHIP. Now the negatives: Benoit turns 38 on July 26 and his Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) this season is 4.09. He also makes $8 million this year and has an $8 million option for 2016 (with a $1.5 million buyout).
Jay Bruce
Bruce could provide the Twins with some left-handed pop in the batting order. Of course, he would have to not mind playing left field and agree to join the Twins. Minnesota is one of eight teams Bruce can block a trade to (also Arizona, Boston, Miami, NY Yankees, Oakland, Tampa Bay, Toronto). Not to mention Minnesota would have to take on some big salary. Bruce is owed $12 million this year, $12.5 million in 2016 and has a $13 million option for '17 (with a $1 million buyout).
Steve Cishek
Yes, Carter Capps would be preferred, but why would Miami deal Capps, who can't be a free agent until 2020? Cishek's numbers aren't world-beaters this season -- 4.65 ERA and 1.645 WHIP -- but there is hope. His FIP is 3.45 and since a stint in the minors to fix his mechanics, he has a 0.77 ERA while holding batters to a 256/313/279 slash line. He is owed $6.65 million this season and is arbitration eligble in 2016. UPDATE: Traded to St. Lous on July 24
Tyler Clippard
Has experience as a setup man in Washington, but likely will have interest in the market as a closer. This year for Oakland he has a 2.63 ERA, 1.115 WHIP with 17 saves. Is making $8.3 million this year and will be a free agent in the offseason. UPDATE: Traded to New York Mets on July 25
Neal Cotts
Like Cishek, Cotts' statistics aren't overwhelming, be he's been decent: 3.32 ERA, 1.263 WHIP, 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings. On the flip side, his FIP is 4.19 and he's allowed 1.4 home runs per nine innings. However, he hasn't allowed a homer since May. In fact, Cotts has been stellar in June and July, allowing just one extra-base hit in 67 plate appearances and two runs in 16 1/3 innings. In addition, lefties are hitting only 186/222/288 off him. He is making $3 million this season and will be a free agent in the offseason.
Carlos Gomez
A reunion in Minnesota seems unlikely, but Gomez certainly could give the lineup a charge and settle down the center field position, allowing Byron Buxton to get a little more seasoning. Plus, Gomez has playoff experience (do you want to throw Buxton into the fire of a potential pennant race?). Gomez isn't quite performing like he has the past two years, but he still has an OPS+ of 113 (271/338/442) and is of course a top-notch outfielder. He is making $8 million this season and due $9 million in 2016. With Scott Boras as his agent, no doubt he'd test free agency. Gomez would cost a lot to acquire and do you want to block Buxton in '16?
Shawn Kelley
Another of the Padres relievers available and perhaps could be had on the cheap. The right-hander has a 3.18 ERA and 1.088 WHIP with a 2.53 FIP and striking out 10.3 batters per nine innings. One key to his success this season has been his control: Kelley is walking only 1.9 batters per nine (he entered this season averaging 3.2 BB/9). He has experience pitching in the American League (Seattle from 2009-12 and New York in 2012-13) and is making only $2.835 million this year. He'll be a free agent in the offseason.
Jonathan Lucroy
Lucroy's name has been mentioned in trade speculation, but why would the Brewers deal him? His value is low right now, as injuries have seemingly hampered his offensive production this season, and he has an extremely friendly contract: $3 million this year, $4 million in 2016 and a $5.25 million option in '17 (with a $250,000 buyout). Lucroy would be an interesting addition, but the cost would be high and it remains doubtful if Milwaukee is even considering dealing him.
Dioner Navarro
With Kurt Suzuki struggling, could Navarro be an upgrade? He hasn't seen that much playing time in Toronto as he's the backup to Russell Martin, with just 109 plate appearances in 30 games. Navarro is batting only 229/284/333 this season, but has some pop (25 homers combined in the last two seasons). He is throwing out 33 percent of attempted base stealers this year as well. He'd be a pure two-month rental as Navarro, who is making $5 million this season, will be a free agent in the offseason. He wouldn't cost much, although the Twins would have to hope for a bit of a rebirth with a move to Minnesota.
Oliver Perez
The Twins could use a quality left-hander in the bullpen (besides Glen Perkins, of course), and Perez could be that guy. Since moving to the bullpen in 2012, Perez has a 3.12 ERA, 1.321 WHIP and 11.0 K/9. This season with Arizona, he has a 3.46 ERA (3.29 FIP), 1.308 WHIP and 10.7 K/9. He's not a multi-inning pitcher, though, as in his 43 appearances he has all of 26 innings pitched. Perez is only making $2.5 million this season and will be a free agent in the offseason.
A.J. Pierzynski
The former Minnesota third-round pick hasn't played for the Twins since 2003, but could a reunion be in order? The 38-year-old has been solid at the plate for Atlanta this season, batting 280/316/432 (OPS+ 107), although defensively he is only throwing out 21 percent of attempted base stealers. His salary isn't really an issue -- he is due $2 million, but does get $50,000 each for 55, 60, 65, 70, 75 and 80 starts (he's already at 60), and $100,000 each for 85, 90, 95 and 100 starts. His personality rubs some people the wrong way, but no question he'd bring some kind of spark.
Jimmy Rollins
The Twins' shortstop position has been unsettled all season. Would Rollins provide some stability? He's batting only 204/259/322 (OPS+ 62) this season. Maybe a change of scenery would help (provided the Dodgers are ready to go with Corey Seager at short), although Rollins didn't hit that well in his final couple of seasons in Philadelphia, either. He's also making $11 million this season (the Phillies pay $1 million of that). Could be a buy low, hope for the best kind of candidate (and also hope the Dodgers pay for a portion of his salary).
Jean Segura
The Brewers don't need to trade Segura -- he makes the minimum salary (in his case $534,000) and is under control through 2018 -- but Milwaukee has two good shortstop prospects, thus making him a trade candidate. Segura has not followed up on his 2013 All-Star season, batting 246/289/326 last season and 282/310/361 this year. He has shown signs of life in July, batting 429/458/482, however he has only two extra-base hits since June 1 (home runs on June 5 and July 21). Possibly worth the risk, depending on the cost.
Junichi Tazawa
If the Red Sox are in sell mode, Tazawa could be a good one to target. Since 2012, he has appeared in 220 games with a 2.63 ERA, 1.108 WHIP, 9.3 K/9 and a 5.41 strikeouts-to-walks ratio (he has walked only 1.7 BB/9 in that span). Tazawa is making $2.25 million this season and is arbitration eligible in 2016. If he were left-handed, he'd be a great trade candidate, but alas he's a righty. Still, he'd be a solid addition.
Dale Thayer
Yes, another Padres reliever. Thayer posted good stats from 2011-14, but has slipped this year to a 4.11 ERA and 1.370 WHIP. His strikeouts per nine innings has dropped as well, to 5.9 (he was at 7.3, 8.9 and 8.5 the past three years). He's making only $1.375 million this season (and is arbitration eligible in 2016), so he's not exactly a payroll-shredding kind of guy for San Diego. Thayer's velocity hasn't dipped, so there's a chance of a rebound and he likely wouldn't cost too much, if available.
Troy Tulowitzki
Who knows if Colorado will finally deal the star shortstop, but he seems to be on the wish list of a lot of Minnesota fans. We know he can hit (when healthy, always an issue), but he definitely is much better at Coors Field. In his career at home, he's hitting 323/395/561 compared to 277/349/469 on the road. Then there's the issue of salary. Tulowitzki is due $20 million every year through 2019, $14 million in 2020 and has a $15 million club option in 2021 (with a $4 million buyout). His salary can increase by $6 million in both 2020 and '21 based on meeting certain criteria. In addition, if traded, Tulowitzki gets $2 million -- and he can only be dealt once during the length of his contract. So the question is: Is Tulo worth it, especially knowing how much the Twins would have to give up? UPDATE: Traded to Toronto on July 27
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