First off, I was watching a movie at the local theater, when I got the text from Dan “so what do you think about the trade?” My first thought was Santana is gone. Then I started thinking about it, and realized it probably was the hot stove involving Garza that had boiled over into an actual trade with the Devil Rays.
The Twins and Rays completed a blockbuster six-player deal Wednesday night that sent pitcher Matt Garza, shortstop Jason Bartlett and Minor League pitcher Eduardo Morlan to Tampa Bay in exchange for outfielder Delmon Young and two other players.
Young, 22, is considered to be one of the game’s up-and-coming hitters. A first-round pick in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft, Young finished second in the American League Rookie of the Year voting behind Boston’s Dustin Pedroia. He played in all 162 games for the Rays in 2007, hitting .288 with 13 home runs and 93 RBIs.
Along with Young, the Twins received shortstop Brendan Harris and outfielder Jason Pridie in the deal.
Harris, 27, hit .286 with 12 homers and 59 RBIs last season and is expected to be a candidate to take over Bartlett’s spot at shortstop. Pridie, who can play center field, was a Rule 5 Draft pick for the Twins in December 2005 and spent the following Spring Training with the club. The Twins liked Pridie, but they didn’t have enough room on the roster to keep him.
First impressions are that I’m a bit surprised that the Twins parted with Garza. However, that they got such good quality in return makes me happy. As we know, the Twins are stocked in the area of pitching and needed help offensively. I’d rather have a guy that can contribute every day in the field than a guy that contributes once every five days.
Overall, next year isn’t looking too bad. We lose Hunter but gain Young (net win for the Twins). We lose Garza but gain Liriano (tend to lean towards net win for Twins but much rests on the progress of Liriano and his effectiveness). We lose Bartlett and gain Harris (net wash with a lean towards Twins win – although Harris seems to have a bit more power and average than Bartlett). We lose Morlan and gain Pridie (appears to be a net wash with a lean towards D-Rays win).
Our team definitely is getting younger. However, we’re also getting players with some proven ability in the big leagues. Overall, I’m happy with the direction the Twins are moving.