Maybe writers are bored....but there is still talk of the Twins moving Liriano to the Yankees. I thought that would shrivel up a couple of weeks ago...but the rumor has a decent life span. Several media-types ruminating on the subject in the last couple of days.
The latest would be the Yanks sending Joba, Nova, and a prospect to the Twins for Liriano. Seems about right on the return, depending on the prospect in question, assuming the Twins want pitching (assuming of course they really want to engage in this move at all! LOL).
The Twins plan has always been to throw copious amounts of slightly above average pitching out there night after night for 162 games. A guy like Santana propped things up for any strugglers just like Liriano did last year when a guy like Nick Blackburn was getting roasted on a spit. This deep average-pitching philosophy works for the Twins in the regular season but I believe its their achilles' heel in the post-season where Strikeouts and power hitting rule the day for the most part. (the whole idea that you have to "manufacture runs" in the post-season is one of the biggest loads of nonsense that lingers in baseball) That's why I personally don't think their lack of success is all that much about Gardenhire....I don't think he has the pitching horses all that often....at least not the power pitching starters I believe gives you the best shot in the posties.
So why would the Twins move Liriano? Its obvious why the Yankees would want him...not a lot of investigation needed there. But Liriano is the Twins only real power pitcher....but the thing is, I don't think they really value that all that much. Liriano is in the doghouse w/Gardenhire and Smith over conditioning and work ethic quite often. He's a free agent after '12 and I think its highly unlikely the Twins look to extend him despite their new willingness to expand payroll. So they might look to cash in now while his value is high coming of his really great season last year....
Plugging Nova into their rotation gives them another guy who is in that "average starter" range and maybe they believe Joba Chamberlain should be starting. A lot of how this is judged may be in what else is included in a deal if it were to occur. The Yankees have some nice prospects at several levels.
I still doubt the Twins make a deal......I actually kind of hope they don't. I think Liriano is kind of combustible. His injury track record and rocky relationship w/management might derail his last two seasons in MN. (He might also continue to dominate like he did last year....but do remember he posted a 5.80 ERA in '09...that's not too long ago) I'd actually think the Twins could swing an advantageous deal now if they choose to. The Yankees are in the market and that's a good thing for driving up value most of the time. Also w/the new CBA coming there might no longer be Draft Pick compensation waiting for the Twins if they keep Liriano and lose him to FA down the road (or at least less Draft Compensation than there is now).
It will be interesting if the big blockbuster happens or if this is much ado about nothing a few weeks from now.
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