Bringing Hope

By David Jensen

It’s been one hell of a November for Bill Smith. He’s made one small trade, one big trade and is rumored to have two giant ones in the making. He’s made no free agent signings, which is good and bad, and isn’t really letting on what will happen with Johan Santana.

Smith’s priority this winter has been to improve an offensive lineup that featured six outs in 2007. The first trade he made should have shocked no one. He sent a player to be named to the Cubs for OF Craig Monroe. Monroe is a middle of the road player you would expect the Twins to go after, and they won’t lose much. Before being traded to the Cubs in August, the 30 year old Monroe had spent his entire career in Detroit, playing mostly in LF. In five full seasons in the majors, he has a .256 batting average, .303 on base percentage, 104 hr, 388 RBI, with a career high 92 coming in 06. He has walked 165 times in his career, while averaging 99.2 strikeouts a year since 03.

A few days after making that trade, Torii Hunter signed a five year, $90 million deal with the Angels. The Twins offered Hunter a 3 year deal worth $45 million, despite knowing he would not sign such a short term contract.

On the 28^th, under cover of darkness, Smith shocked realist Twins fans. He made a six player trade with Tampa Bay. The trade brought Delmon Young, Brendan Harris and Jason Pridie to Minnesota. Pridie is a promising young outfielder who batted .304 with 14 hr and 66 RBI between double A and triple A last season. In his first season in the Majors, Harris batted .286 with 12 hr and 59 RBI in 07.

The centerpiece of the deal is OF Delmon Young. You may remember him for throwing his bat at an umpire in 06, which got him suspended for 50 games. In 07, Young had troubles with manager Joe Maddon. Young was pulled from a game in September for not running out a ground ball. Young later apologized and was allowed to play in the season finale. Despite his troubles, he is an outstanding talent. In 07, he compiled a .288 BA, 186 hits, 38 doubles, 13 HR, and 93 RBI on his way to being voted 2^nd in the AL Rookie of the Year race. He was 2^nd in the league in AB (645) and 7^th in singles (135) with out missing a game. He also had 16 outfield assists with four errors in RF and CF. But there is room for improvement. He struck out 127 times to only 26 walks and led the league in double plays (23) and outs (492). With experience and coaching, he’ll develop plate discipline.

Going to the Devil Rays are Jason Bartlett, Matt Garza and Eduardo Morlan. The trade shakes up a Twins infield in which Bartlett was presumed to be the short stop of the future. Now, it appears, Harris, Nick Punto, and Alexi Casilla will be competing for the middle infield positions with help at 3^rd base coming in another trade or free agent signing. The most surprising part of the trade is the previously off limits Matt Garza. But a chance to get one of the best young hitters in the game proved irresistible, especially when we still have Boof Bonser, Kevin Slowey, Francisco Liriano and Johan Santana.

Juan Rincon was thought to be part of the trade, but was replaced by Morlan at the last minute.

Still Twins: Johan Santana, Joe Nathan, Juan Rincon and Jason Kubel. But, for how long?