If you were Minnesota...

[Tim]

and had Jesse Crain waiting in the wings, would you trade Nathan to get a big bat?

[sethuel1]

and had Jesse Crain waiting in the wings, would you trade Nathan to get a big bat?

yes.

[RynoRules]

and had Jesse Crain waiting in the wings, would you trade Nathan to get a big bat?

 

No, unless that big bat belonged to someone of Manny Ramirez's ilk.

[rawaction]

Crain's numbers look a lot like Danny Kolb's from last year, except Crain walks more people.

[CoolHandLuke]

I dont really understand why his K rate is down SO much. I understand that the move to the majors is a big move but it was over 11/9 in his minor league career.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Not yet, Crain isn't ready. Personally, I think he may have been on steroids. His velocity was down this year to about 90-91, and his slider was nowhere near as sharp or as hard.

[HoopsCubs]

and had Jesse Crain waiting in the wings, would you trade Nathan to get a big bat?

 

Excellent question. My answer is that it depends on how much the big bat costs. Here's the Twins problem. Their payroll in 2005 was $57M. Nothing has been suggested to indicate that it will be higher next year, so we must assume that it will be around $57M. The Twins already have committed close to $49M to 11 players (including Radke, Hunter, Stewart, Santana, Nathan, Silva, Romero, Castro, Redmond, Mauer and Rincon).

That only leaves them $8M for 14 additional players. And, Lohse, Rivas, LeCroy and Punto look to be arbitration eligible plus there's a 500K buyout on Joe Mays if they don't pick up his $8.5M option.

 

Looking at that, it makes complete sense why Torii Hunter's name has been speculated as being shopped this offseason. I completely understand why beat writers have asked Radke if he's planning to retire. Today, I read that JC Romero could probably be available. There is just no cash flow here.

[LoneStarCubFan]

If I were the Cubs I wouldn't trade for him.

[Mark_R]

If I were the Cubs I wouldn't trade for him.

 

What about to the Phillies for Ryan Howard?

[TheDude]

The Twins have something good with their 7-8-9 bullpen. I wouldn't break it up if I were them.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

The Twins have something good with their 7-8-9 bullpen. I wouldn't break it up if I were them.

 

See Hoops' post, they may not be able to afford it.

[HoopsCubs]

and had Jesse Crain waiting in the wings, would you trade Nathan to get a big bat?

 

Speaking of Minnesota, I laugh to myself everytime I think about this: the Twins actually non-tendered David Ortiz after the 2002 season. I guess hindsight is 20/20, but how stupid was that move? Big Papi...

[HoopsCubs]

The Twins have something good with their 7-8-9 bullpen. I wouldn't break it up if I were them.

 

See Hoops' post, they may not be able to afford it.

 

Can anyone see a Todd Walker + good pitching prospect for Brad Radke deal going down?

[Mark Priors Calves]

The Twins have something good with their 7-8-9 bullpen. I wouldn't break it up if I were them.

 

See Hoops' post, they may not be able to afford it.

 

Can anyone see a Todd Walker + good pitching prospect for Brad Radke deal going down?

 

Todd Walker's name has been thrown around a lot for heading to Minnesota in a trade, but if I remember correctly, the relationship between the Twins and Walker ended horribly. I just don't see the Twins reacquiring Walker if he's gonna be a headache for them.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

The Twins have something good with their 7-8-9 bullpen. I wouldn't break it up if I were them.

 

See Hoops' post, they may not be able to afford it.

 

Can anyone see a Todd Walker + good pitching prospect for Brad Radke deal going down?

 

I hope not. Radke's only marginally better than Maddux.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

The Twins have something good with their 7-8-9 bullpen. I wouldn't break it up if I were them.

 

See Hoops' post, they may not be able to afford it.

 

Can anyone see a Todd Walker + good pitching prospect for Brad Radke deal going down?

 

I hope not. Radke's only marginally better than Maddux.

 

Yup. They are statistically very similar. Both have huge K/BB ratios b/c they don't walk many people. Both are susceptible to the long ball and have average BAA.

 

That's not bad, but you'd better not be paying a guy like that upwards of 8M a season.

 

We don't need another salary drain on this team.