Yardbarker: Minnesota Twins

Ode to the OC

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:05:21 -0500

When the Minnesota Twins acquired shortstop Orlando Cabrera on August 1, they were only three games out in the American League Central division standings, but were treading water at .500 (52-52). Cabrera was excited to arrive in the Twin Cities because he was escaping the purgatory that was Oakland, and playfully wondered “Who doesn’t like M & M’s?” Cabrera was brought to Minnesota to offer the leadership and passion of a World Series winner, two-time Gold Glove recipient and veteran of four playoff appearances. In short, Cabrera was added in an attempt to instill life into a team that had performed far below expectations. The OC didn’t disappoint. Cabrera immediately established himself as a leader for the Twins in the clubhouse, forever reminding his teammates...

Analysis: JJ Hardy

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:12:00 -0500

You did not have to delve too deep into the TwinsCentric Offseason GM Handbook to realize where the Twins had a surplus. In fact, we wrote it out in play English: “Two quality players overlapping playing time should suggest an area of excess.” Thanks to Heater Magazine’s supplied Playing Time Constellation chart, one can easily glean that Ron Gardenhire treated his center field situation with a duel banjo system. For a while, Carlos Gomez would get his solo before giving stage to Denard Span,...

Organization Review (Center fielders)

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:01:22 -0500

Although the top prospect in the organization probably is a catcher and the best power prospect a first baseman/corner outfielder, center field is clearly the top position in the organization. Not only are the following Top Ten the strongest group of any position, the organization has two very good players capable of playing center field who were included with the corner outfielders...Joe Benson and Rene Tosoni. The tenth ranked center fielder is a ...

Twins exercise 2011 option on Michael Cuddyer

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:50:33 -0500

Twins exercise 2011 option on Michael Cuddyer The Minnesota Twins exercised their $10.5 million option on Michael Cuddyer for the 2011 season. They apparently think the market will have rebounded by next offseason.

Thoughts on the Hardy for Gomez Deal

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:29:58 -0500

More photos » by Steven Senne - AP about 17 hours ago: FILE - In this Feb. 23, 2009, file photo, Minnesota Twins' Carlos Gomez poses for a photograph. The Milwaukee Brewers traded J.J. Hardy to the Twins on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, for outfielder Gomez. (AP Photo/Steven Senne,file) Browse more photos » I like the acquisition of Gomez, before we start putting any context on this trade. He's a r...

Minor League Report...November 7, 2009

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:22:03 -0500

A couple items of note this week include the Twins outrighting Brian Buscher to Rochester. This cleared a 40-man roster spot before the five free agents are removed in the next week. Why this was done at this time remains a mystery? My best guess is that the Twins were in discussion on some deal from which they may have needed an open spot on their roster. It turned out to not be the case with the J.J. Hardy deal. Maybe during the Hardy discussions there were...

Minnesota: Fielding TargetView Before & After JJ Hardy

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:01:00 -0500

Twins 2009 UZR/150, before JJ Hardy/Carlos Gomez Trade See the excellent BtB analysis of the trade HERE. Team Fielding Comparison after the jump. Twins UZR/150, after JJ Hardy/Carlos Gomez Trade Revised Chart assumption: Cuddyer takes CF after solid work there this season, leaving Span in RF, Young in LF, and Kubel on the bench. Metrodome Target Field Difference LF 343' 339' -4' CLF 385' 377' -8' CF 408...

JJ Hardy to Twins, AA sits on Sidelines

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:08:42 -0500

JJ Hardy to Twins for Bag of Balls Via ESPN The Minnesota Twins completed a trade Friday to acquire shortstop J.J. Hardy from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for centerfielder Carlos Gomez. I’ve never been as high on Hardy as fellow Jays bloggers over at Ghostrunner on First and the Blue Jay Hunter. Still, I winced when I [...]

Hardy for Gomez: A Defensive Win-Win

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:49:22 -0500

More photos » by Jim Mone - AP Minnesota Twins' Carlos Gomez lays down a sacrifice bunt against the Houston Astros in the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, June 19, 2009, in Minneapolis. He'll get to do more of that now that he's heading to Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) Browse more photos » The hot stove just keeps a'burning, as news has come out that the Milwaukee Brewers have dealt...

Twins - Acquired Hardy

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:14:35 -0500

Minnesota Twins - Acquired SS J.J. Hardy from the Milwaukee Brewers for CF-9th Carlos Gomez. Hardy had a terrible 2009, capped off by a trip down to Nashville. That being said, Gomez hasn't really developed as a hitter at all and at this point, I'd take the player who has actually been a good player over the one who hasn't. The Twins tried to get Gomez to be more selective at the plate, but if you look at Gomez when he's trying to be selective, he doesn't appear to realiz...

Twins Acquire JJ Hardy

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:05:00 -0500

It didn't take long for the Brewers to make the trade everybody saw coming. "The ticker tape was still falling in Manhattan on Friday when the Brewers dealt shortstop J.J. Hardy, a staple of trade rumors this year, to the Twins for speedy center fielder Carlos Gomez. The Brewers announced the trade on their official Twitter feed."From the Twins' perspective, this trade is a major boon. Before acquiring Orlando Cabrera from the A's last July, the Twins struggled to find a...

MLB Trade Rumors: Brewers Trade J.J. Hardy to Twins for Carlos Gomez

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:38:50 -0500

More photos » by Pat Sullivan - AP 2 months ago: Milwaukee Brewers' J.J. Hardy connects for a single in the second inning against the Houston Astros in a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Houston. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) Browse more photos » As has been rumored for a few weeks now, the Brewers have traded shortstop J.J. Hardy to the Twins for outfielder Carlos Gomez. The Twins get the shor...

J.J. Hardy Traded to Twins for Carlos Gomez

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:35:04 -0500

J.J. Hardy Traded to Twins for Carlos Gomez This is already being discussed in the comments of today's Morning Prowl, but if the Tigers were looking at acquiring shortstop J.J. Hardy from the Brewers, the Twins beat them to it. Hardy was traded to Minnesota today for outfielder Carlos Gomez. Check out what Twinkie Town and Brew Crew Ball are saying about the deal.

Hardy to the Twins.

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:24:10 -0500

In exchange for centerfielder Carlos Gomez. Fair deal for both sides. I think Gomez has the potential to be a stud. Damn. http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/69379917.html This puts a crimp in the plans to potentially acquire him, assuming the Twins aren’t going to treat him like the M’s did Aaron Heilman. Well, we’d better get used to our backup plan. Jack Wilson. [...]

Twins Trade Gomez For JJ Hardy

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:11:01 -0500

The Orlando Cabrera era in Minnesota is likely over. According to Tyler Barnes of brewers.com’s Twitter, the Twins have traded Carlos Gomez to Milwaukee for JJ Hardy. Gomez had just a .277 wOBA while Hardy had a .292 mark. However, Hardy is at .325 for his career, making him pretty close to average, while Gomez [...]

Twins Acquire J.J. Hardy

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:57:57 -0500

The Twins acquired shortstop J.J. Hardy for center fielder Carlos Gomez, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.