Minnesota Twins trade Justin Morneau to the Pittsburgh Pirates

The Twins are finishing up their third straight terrible season.  As such, lots of changes have been made and lots of changes still need to be made.  Older and more expensive players don't have much of a future with this team.  Even so, there was one older and more expensive player that I didn't think the Twins would have the heart to deal.  I was wrong.

The Trade:  BREAKDOWN!

The Minnesota Twins traded Justin Morneau to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Alex Presley and a player to be named later or cash. 

Morneau was one of the more popular players on the Twins and one of the best Twins players of this past generation.  He's not an elite player anymore and he probably isn't much more than average, but he should help the Pirates regardless.

Presley is a 28-year-old outfielder who can play center, just not very well.  He's probably somewhere in the Clete Thomas range of ability/talent and he could be a DFA candidate within the next couple months. 

How do I feel right now?

I'm sadder than I thought I would be about Morneau.
— Brad Swanson (@bridman77) August 31, 2013

What a dork!  Oh wait, that's me.  When I saw the news, I said to my wife, "wow, they actually traded Morneau."  I had pretty much made up my mind that the Twins would hold on to Morneau for the rest of the season.  I thought that was a sentimental move and the Twins should unload Morneau for anything they could get, but I also thought that was how they would approach the situation.  I was wrong and now I'm a little sad. 

Morneau was not my favorite player or anything like that, but I did like him.  I enjoyed watching him play for the past decade and I have witnessed many exciting moments provided by him.  This move is also sad because it wouldn't have been necessary if the team wasn't so awful.  The heyday of the 2000s is long gone and the casualties are piling up.  Morneau has a legitimate place on a good team, but can basically only offer veteran leadership on a bad team.  

I am a Twins fan, so I will move on.  It will be odd seeing Morneau in another jersey, but it's certainly what is best for him.  He goes from one of the worst teams in the league to one of the best.  He also gets to play for a team that hasn't made the playoffs in 20 years and are on the verge of erasing that streak.  It should be more fun for him than going through the motions with a bad team. 

Why make the trade?

Normally, I'd find some quotes from a story, but this story is too brand new.  Instead, I'll riff.  Like jazz.

Is it easier to trade an incredibly popular player with a month remaining in the season or to let an extremely popular player walk during free agency?  I think the trade route is better for PR.  The Twins can always entertain the idea of bringing Morneau back during free agency.  This gives them a month for fans' memories of Morneau to fade.  Odds are that Morneau would have been playing elsewhere in 2014 anyway, so getting something for him at least shows the fans that the organization did not want to let him leave for nothing.

Of course, this return appears to be just about nothing.  I just compared Presley to Clete Thomas a couple paragraphs ago.  That pretty much sums it up.  The PTBNL still looms, and perhaps the Twins can sell hope that they will receive someone interesting in a few weeks.  Most times, the PTBNL is a guy with no chance for any success.  Occasionally, they become MLB players.  Once, they become David Ortiz.  Here is a slideshow with some of the most impressive PTNBLs of all-time.  You're not going to be pumping your fist with excitement after seeing it. 

Analysis

Most likely, this trade will not make the Twins any better in the present or the future.  I guess it depends a bit on who the player to be named later will be, but as I said earlier, those guys aren't typically future superstars.  You can even look to the trades the Twins have made during the 2013 season to see the disparity in who will ultimately fill that role. 

The Twins traded Drew Butera to the Dodgers for a PTBNL and received a 19-year-old lefty who is holding his own in the Midwest League.  He's not a top prospect, but he is certainly a surprising return for a back-up (at best) catcher.  Of course, he is also 5' 10" and some project him for the bullpen.  Even a surprisingly good return needs to be muted a bit.  The Twins also traded Jamey Carroll to the Royals for a PTBNL and they simply took cash.  Of course, Morneau is better than those two players, but he also makes a lot more money.  Who really knows?  We'll find out soon enough.

The real impact of this trade will be felt off the field.  I am 100% positive that there will be some fans who are so turned off by trading Morneau that they will "give up" on the team.  Trading Morneau also removes one of the more popular and marketable players from the roster.  While Morneau was likely leaving in a month anyway, this move could make selling September tickets just a bit more difficult.  Of course, the Twins will probably see an uptick in tickets sold to Alex Presley's family.    

Who won the WAR?

Obviously, this WAR is just beginning.  I would guess that Morneau provides more value than Presley for the rest of this season.  The Twins will win this WAR if Morneau bolts Pittsburgh after this month.  Even so, I don't see much chance for the Twins to get much value out of this trade, even in the long-term.

One Sentence Summary

Again, I am surprised by how sad I am; and what a dork I am.

20 Minnesota Twins Trades: Goodbye Wild Stallion

The 2012 Twins sucked.  They just sucked and you know what, sucky teams make sucky trades with sucky players.  

The Trade:  BREAKDOWN!

The Minnesota Twins traded Francisco Liriano to the Chicago White Sox for Eduardo Escobar and Pedro Hernandez. 

Liriano didn't fare well for the White Sox.  He struck out some dudes but walked a ton of dudes as well.  He made just 11 starts for the White Sox and posted a 5.40 ERA.  He left for Pittsburgh in the off-season, where he somehow re-blossomed at age 29.  The man is baffling. 

Hernandez and Escobar are end of the roster players who have each split time between Minnesota and Rochester.  Escobar is a slick-fielding infielder with a weak bat.  Hernandez is a lefty with good control who can't strike anyone out.  Each could be moderately useful while their young and cheap.  Neither rock.

How did I feel at the time?

Crushed.  I had recently discovered the world of prospects.  I found the Up and In podcast and enjoyed it.  Kevin Goldstein and Jason Parks introduced me to the world of baby baseball players and I just loved the concept.  I loved the promise, the tools, the hype and the hope.  So, I convinced myself that the Twins would be dealing Liriano for some great prospect or at least some secret sexy prospect.  Instead, they traded for a utility guy and a possible 5th starter.  I was crushed. 

Why make the trade?

Liriano had been rumored to be traded everywhere, including cities that did not have teams.  This ESPN.com story explains why the White Sox wanted to make this trade.  I guess.

The surprising Chicago White Sox have made a move to stay on top of the AL Central, acquiring left-hander Francisco Liriano from their division rival Minnesota Twins on Saturday night.

What?  I know all of those words, but that sentence makes no sense.  Trading for Liriano to stay on top?  Ok, whatever you say, guy.  I bet the White Sox manager was so fired up that he wanted to go punch Nolan Ryan. 

"I think (White Sox GM) Kenny (Williams) is just trying to do everything he possibly can to make us better pitching-wise," said Ventura.

I think that is probably a good assessment, perhaps.  Clearly, the White Sox manager was not head over heels for Liriano.  You can't blame him.  Liriano had an ERA over five and had just recently been shelled.  By the White Sox:

In his most recent start, the White Sox tagged Liriano for seven runs in 2 2/3 innings on Monday.

See?  There were many that wanted the Twins to make a Liriano trade before that start could occur; basically petrified of what could and did happen.  Before that start, the Twins might have gotten some good prospects.  Just not from the White Sox because their farm system sucks.  And they wouldn't have gotten good prospects.  

What did Liriano's new teammates think?

"He just has to come here and be solid," said Chicago first baseman Paul Konerko. "He doesn't have to throw shutouts. He just has to give us a chance to win. That's all we're looking for."

Check.  Walking over five per nine is solid, right?  As least he managed to average just over five innings per start.  Adam Dunn doesn't know what it's like to be terrible, so what does he think?

"Hopefully the change of scenery will help," White Sox designated hitter Adam Dunn said. "If he'll buy in to what we're doing over here, he can get back to what we know he's capable of doing."

I'm sorry, but that's nonsense.  You can interpret it how you like, but that is just a bunch of nonsense. 

Of course, this trade wasn't just about Francisco Liriano.  It was also about hurting Eduardo Escobar's feelings:

"It's a tough one team-wise," Ventura said. "(Escobar) is kind of like a little brother or a son to most guys. He's taking it hard. It's just part of baseball. It happens to a lot of people. It will make us better though."

It's going to be so funny when the Twins finally make Escobar feel at home in Minnesota and then trade him to Miami. 

Analysis

Liriano was an impending free agent and he had basically worn out his welcome with the organization and the fans.  He went from rookie phenom to injured star to a martyr of sorts within seven years.  Near the end, he was being portrayed by commentators as some sort of wild stallion who needed to be tamed by the immortal Drew Butera.  Liriano was very inconsistent, but his talent was tantalizing.  In reality, Liriano's 2012 season was a microcosm of his career.  There were wild ups and downs, but ultimately he did not meet the hype and did not fulfill his promise.  Sad.

On the positive side, the Twins did turn an impending wild stallion of a free agent into two future MLB players.  Escobar may just be a utility player at his peak and Hernandez may just be a lefty specialist at his peak, but those are roster-worthy players who can provide value for multiple seasons.  When you think of it that way, it was not a bad trade.  Basically, the Twins turned two months of Liriano into two guys who can play.  Of course, the Twins are probably super pissed that Liriano has reinvented himself in Pittsburgh.  Oh well.

Who won the WAR?

Hernandez with the Twins:  -0.2 WAR

Escobar with the Twins:  0.2 WAR

Liriano with the White Sox:  0.3 WAR 

WAR won by the White Sox!  Thus far...

One Sentence Summary

Francisco Liriano is pitching really well for the Pirates, in case you had forgotten.  

20 Minnesota Twins Trades: JJ Hardy for some relievers

After the 2009 season, the Twins decided to make a smart move and deal from outfield depth to address a position that had been a weakness on the team for the better part of 20 years.  Just one year later, the Twins decided, "meh, shortstops are for dorks" and traded that same player away for a couple of relievers.  Buckle up folks, it's very hard to be even remotely positive about this trade.

The Trade:  BREAKDOWN!

The Minnesota Twins traded J.J. Hardy and Brendan Harris and cash to the Baltimore Orioles for Jim Hoey and Brett Jacobson. 

Harris and Jacobson never played for their new teams, so we can just move past them. 

Hoey was one of the worst Twins relievers in recent memory.  He only threw 24.2 innings for the Twins.  In those innings, he posted a 5.47 ERA, which was actually a career low!  He walked 13 batters and only struck out 14.  He nearly posted a 2.0 WHIP.  He was brutal.

After a disappointing 2010 season with the Twins, Hardy bounced back in 2011.  He hit 30 home runs for the Orioles and was worth 4.3 WAR.  His offense slipped to an 82 OPS+ in 2012, but his defense and power helped make him a 3+ WAR player anyway.  In 2013, He has been somewhere in between 2011 and 2012, but would still be much better than Pedro Florimon and Tsuyoshi Nishioka sharing a uniform and trying to use their four arms to their advantage. 

How did I feel at the time?

Not pleased.  I thought acquiring Hardy was a very smart move and I wasn't happy that the Twins gave up on him after a season.  I was not on the Nishioka bandwagon at all and I didn't think that trading away a power-hitting shortstop is the kind of thing a good team does.  I'm not going to state who was right or wrong. 

Why make the trade?

That is a question that I can't really answer.  Here's an ESPN.com article that tries it's best to make sense of the senseless. 

"We're looking for a little more offense to our regular shortstop position, and we're confident he can provide that," Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said. "We also talked to other shortstop targets."

I love it!  Adding a great offensive shortstop is a great way to improve a team.  We sure are lucky that MacPhail is back and making shrewd moves.  Wait.  This is what the Orioles did.  Oops.  Well, I'm guessing the Twins were targeting some high upside arms, right?

Hoey and Jacobson are two hard-throwing minor leaguers who could eventually help replenish Minnesota's bullpen.

Yeah!  Hard throwing.  Now I get it.  Let's bring in some hard throwing relievers.  They will certainly match the value of a good shortstop.  They'll pitch like 60 innings apiece and all will be well.  The question remains:  who are these people?

The 27-year-old Hoey was 4-0 with a 3.38 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings at Triple-A Norfolk. He pitched for Baltimore in 2006-07, going 3-5 with an 8.13 ERA.

Well that doesn't look promising.  Although, there was nowhere to go but up, I suppose.  What about the other guy?

The 24-year-old Jacobson was 8-1 with one save and a 2.79 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 71 innings at Class A Frederick. The Orioles got him in August 2009 from Detroit in a trade for Aubrey Huff.

Hmm.  Not terrible.  Of course, this ignores the fact that Jacobson was 24 and repeating A ball.  Whatever, the Twins needed relievers, as they were about to lose Jesse Crain and Matt Guerrier.  Of course, the Orioles needed relievers too, as evidenced here:

The Orioles also reached a preliminary agreement with pitcher Koji Uehara on a one-year contract for $3 million. The deal is pending a physical.  The 35-year-old Japanese righty was 1-2 with 13 saves and a 2.86 ERA in 43 games for Baltimore last season.

Three million was only slightly less than what the Twins were going to pay Nishioka.  Uehara was only good as an MLB pitcher, not good as a class A pitcher.  So, it just depends on which league you value more. 

Analysis

If you want to even try to make sense of this move, then you are trying very hard to be positive.  However, the logic behind the move must have gone like this:  Nishioka is coming, Guerrier and Crain are gone, this will balance things out.  Hardy wasn't great in 2010 and the relievers acquired were young.  There is a hint of logic there.  A hint.  I'm not willing to go any further than that. 

The reality is that the Twins finally had a decent shortstop and they basically gave him away.  They gave him away much like they gave Jason Bartlett away just a few years prior.  It seems that the Twins aren't able to see a good defensive shortstop, unless it is very obvious.  As I type this, Pedro Florimon is manning the Twins' shortstop position and he certainly is defense-only.  However, Bartlett and Hardy might not make their defensive prowess as apparent as Florimon does.  They were both extremely solid but maybe didn't always look the part.  Whatever the issue was, the Twins let two very valuable players slip away. 

Of course, Hardy wasn't defense-only.  He has great power at a premium defensive position.  Hardy could bat 5th, play short and probably do so for another 3-4 years.  He'd be around when the Twins get good again.  Instead, the Twins will likely have a gaping hole at the position for the foreseeable future.  That being said, he's not a superstar.  True, the Twins let him get away, but he isn't without some major flaws.  He's inconsistent and he doesn't get on-base at even an above-average rate.  He's still a whole lot better than Nishioka, Hoey and Jacobson. 

Who won the WAR?

Hoey with the Twins:  -0.6 WAR

Hardy with the Orioles:  10.9 WAR

WAR won by the Orioles!

One Sentence Summary

Did anyone really think that the Orioles lost anything related to this trade?

20 Minnesota Twins Trades: Wilson Ramos for a proven closer

Ok, let's all just try to be cool here.

The Trade:  BREAKDOWN!

The Minnesota Twins traded Wilson Ramos, Joe Testa and cash to the Washington Nationals for Matt Capps. 

I'm not sure Twins fans remember this, but Capps was really good in 2010.  He took over as closer and fired off 27 innings of 2 ERA.  He saved 16 games down the stretch and helped the Twins make the playoffs.  The problem was that he was declining already and the Twins didn't see it.  He was much worse in 2011, seeing a huge drop in his strikeout rate.  The Twins still didn't see it and signed him again for 2012.  He was hurt and awful and hasn't pitched in the Majors since.

Ramos is great when he's healthy.  He has posted a 112 OPS+ with Washington, but he has only played 198 games in just over three seasons.  I'd love to see what he could do in a full season.  He's slugging almost .500 this year and is going to be a breakout candidate until he actually breaks out. 

Testa is playing independent ball now.  The cash was reinvested into the organiz... Ha!  I'm sorry, but that's just too funny to pass up. 

How did I feel at the time?

I had mixed feelings.  I actually liked Matt Capps.  I "found" him back before he was a closer.  In 2007, Salomon Torres was the Pirates' closer.  I was a fantasy baseball player.  We weren't a match.  However, I knew Torres sucked, so I stashed this dude named Capps and hoped the Pirates would reach the same conclusion that I had.  They did.  However, I liked Ramos too.  I did feel he was somewhat redundant with Joe Mauer signed forever and awesome.  So, I liked the idea of getting value for Ramos and I liked Capps.  I was wrong.

Why make the trade?

The Twins are a very traditional team.  If there is a traditional role to fill, they will fill it.  As such, the Twins needed a "proven closer" for the 2010 stretch run.  Or at least, that is what this ESPN.com article indicates:

"The motivation is that this makes us a better club," said general manager Bill Smith, whose Twins trail the Chicago White Sox by 1½ games in the AL Central. "This gives us more depth in the back of that bullpen. Matt Capps is an established, veteran closer who is going to give us a better chance to win our division and advance to the World Series."

I can't imagine a world where Matt Capps makes a team a World Series contender.  Jon Rauch had closed for the first half and had done a really nice job.  There was really no need to trade for a closer.  Any right-handed bullpen arm would have made the team stronger.  Unfortunately, a "closer" carries more weight than a "good reliever who doesn't close."  Thus, Ramos was sent away.  Weak. 

"Jon Rauch stepped up and has been phenomenal for us," Smith said. "This gives us three quality, veteran guys late in the game. I can't say enough great things about what Jon Rauch has contributed to this club and we expect him to continue to be a huge contributor to our success."

This quote doesn't make a whole lot of sense.  If Rauch had been phenomenal, then it would stand to reason that trading a prized catching prospect to replace him falls in the "bad idea jeans" category.  This is especially true when you consider...

"He's a tremendous talent and he's got a bright future," Smith said. "Anytime you're going to get an All-Star closer, you have to give up a good player. It was a tough decision, but one we felt we had to make."

I do agree that you have to get to give, but this give was too much for what they wanted to get.

The addition of Ramos to a talented young core led by ace Stephen Strasburg gives the Nationals the flexibility to move slugging catcher Bryce Harper, the No. 1 overall pick in the June draft, into the outfield.

Well now that just seems unfair.

Analysis

This is another trade that looks terrible on paper but the idea isn't completely insane.  Deal from strength to improve the team.  However, trading a 22-year-old catcher with big upside for one of the least impressive closers in baseball is just not worthwhile.  Ramos is probably going to be providing Washington with value for the next 5-6 seasons.  Even if he does remain injury prone, he'll be good when he can play.  He'd be a perfect player in the Twins' Ryan Doumit role, but alas, it was not meant to be.

This is the danger in worrying about a "proven closer."  The title carries more weight than it should.  If you put a good pitcher in the 9th inning, they will likely still be a good pitcher.  If you take a pretty good pitcher and call them a "closer," they become more valuable than they really are as a player.  Matt Capps isn't a proven closer any more than Jon Rauch, but if you give him enough save opportunities, he becomes one.  I guess that's just how baseball works, but it certainly clouded the Twins' judgment in this case. 

Who won the WAR?

Capps with the Twins:  2.0 WAR

Ramos with the Nationals:  4.2 WAR

WAR won by the Nationals!

One Sentence Summary

Fantasy baseball is a terrible way to learn about players.

20 Minnesota Twins Trades: Carlos Gomez for J.J. Hardy

After the 2009 season, the Twins were riding high.  They had just won the vaunted AL Central and were looking to improve the team by dealing from depth.  They had four solid outfielders in Denard Span, Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel and Delmon Young.  They also had an extremely talented train wreck who was a major part of a blockbuster trade just two years prior.  Why not shore up a position that had been an issue for years and years and years and years and years and years and...

The Trade:  BREAKDOWN!

The Minnesota Twins traded Carlos Gomez to the Milwaukee Brewers for J.J. Hardy. 

Hardy only played 101 games in a Twins uniform.  He was injured and slow during his one season with the Twins.  However, he was a good defensive shortstop, just as he had always been and has been ever since.  The Twins didn't like what they saw in their short view of Hardy and shipped him off after the 2010 season (more on that next week). 

For two and half seasons with the Brewers, Gomez looked a lot like the player he was with the Twins.  He was excellent in center, but maddening at the plate.  Then, in the second half of 2012, Gomez broke out.  He started hitting for power and he actually posted an OBP over .300!  He carried that success into 2013, and has looked like a potential superstar with his combination of power, speed and defense.  

How did I feel at the time?

I liked this trade quite a bit.  Hardy was brutal in 2009, but had been a really productive player in 2007 and 2008.  Gomez was really fun to watch one minute and extremely frustrating to watch every other minute.  As much as I had high hopes for Gomez, I was happy that the Twins seemed to be addressing one of the biggest holes in franchise history.      

Why make the trade?

This ESPN.com article outlines things in clear terms:

"This was a good fit," Smith said. "We had one too many outfielders and they had one too many shortstops, so it worked out for both teams."

Seriously?  They had too many shortstops?  As a Twins fan, that makes me just want to puke all over your head, sir. 

Hardy was looking for a change of scenery, after being sent to the Minors during the 2009 season:

"I definitely knew I was going to get traded once I got sent down," Hardy said. "Once I got the call this morning, I was pretty excited about it."

It was reasonable to expect that Hardy would rebound after a poor 2009.  He had been productive in the two previous seasons and he was hitting that famed "age 27 season."    

I'm not even sure the Twins considered it "giving up on Gomez" anyway:

"To give up Carlos Gomez, and four years of control with the player, it's important to get somebody that we're going to have for more than a year," Smith said.

It was important to get someone who they would have for more than one year.  Yes.  That is true.  You should have followed that advice, Bill Smith.  

It seemed that Hardy was going to be the shortstop for the foreseeable future.  The Brewers may have been giving up on Hardy more than the Twins were giving up on Gomez.  The Twins were willing to take the chance on Hardy:

"He's got a strong arm. He's got good range and he's got power," Twins general manager Bill Smith said. "He had a bad year this year. We've talked to a lot of people and we have a lot of opinions in our organization. We're all on board that this was a good acquisition for us."

What is odd is that the perception of Hardy changed after one season.  Of course, two bad years is certainly more concerning than just one. 

Gomez was looking for a chance to play every day:

"Last year, I can't do nothing about it, because I didn't play every day," Gomez said. "You don't play every day, it's tough."

Gomez played fewer than 100 games in his first two seasons with Milwaukee.  Of course, he was awful offensively, so he didn't earn the playing time that he wanted.  Milwaukee's patience with Gomez does seem to have finally paid off.

Analysis

This was a smart trade.  You have to separate it from the next J.J. Hardy trade.  If you just look at this as it is, it was a smart move.  The Twins had outfield depth (although much of that depth would be gone very soon) and they had needed a shortstop for decades.  Literally decades.  I'm not sure how you feel about Pat Meares and Cristian Guzman, but Hardy was the best and most talented shortstop that the Twins have had since Greg Gagne. 

Some will criticize the Twins for how they handled Gomez.  Many feel that he was forced into the MLB lineup to justify the Johan Santana trade.  He wasn't ready for the Majors, and could have really used delicious seasoning in AAA.  I don't have a huge problem with pushing Gomez.  He was certainly raw at the plate, but he was ready for center field.  As bad as Gomez hit, he still produced 2.1 WAR in his first season with the Twins. 

The following season was not good.  Gomez made such poor contact that he was relegated to a more part-time role.  A part-time role is not really ideal for a 23-year-old with raw, developing tools.  The Twins decided to see what they could get for Gomez, rather than use at-bats developing him.  They bought low on a quality shortstop and filled a need while jettisoning a frustration.  Gomez has blossomed, but it took a very long time.  I do wonder how Twins fans would feel about this trade had the Twins simply kept Hardy.  We'll never know.  Unless we invent time travel and decide to use it for the most trivial of all reasons.   

Who won the WAR?

Gomez with the Brewers:  11.8 WAR

Hardy with the Twins:  1.2 WAR

WAR won by the Brewers!  Ouch.  (Since this trade, both players have produced exactly 11.8 WAR.)

One Sentence Summary

This trade was not a mistake, but it did directly lead to a huge mistake just one year later. 

20 Minnesota Twins Trades: Carl Freaking Pavano

The 2009 Twins were hungry to return to the playoffs after a two-year absence.  The team was good, but not great.  Another starter would really help.  Cliff Lee was available at the deadline.  Cliff Lee was excellent.  The Twins should have traded for Cliff Lee.  That would have been sweet.  Of course, the Twins did not trade for Cliff Lee.

The Trade:  BREAKDOWN!

The Minnesota Twins traded a player to be named later (Yohan Pino) to the Cleveland Indians for Carl Pavano.

Pavano was nothing special for the Twins in 2009, but he did give the team savvy veteran innings and he had a memorable mustache.  Pavano had an excellent 2010 season, throwing over 220 innings with an ERA under 4 and 17 wins.  He was still an innings eater in 2011, but his overall results diminished.  In 2012, he was injured and ineffective.  That was the end of his Twins career.    

Yohan Pino hasn't pitched an MLB inning, but I was sure he was a future ace judging by how upset some people were when he was traded away.  He is still kicking around and pitching pretty well for Cincinnati's AAA team.   

How did I feel at the time?

Carl freaking Pavano?!?  I distinctly remember Paul Allen of KFAN having that very reaction when talking about the trade.  Essentially, Allen, and all Twins fans really, wanted the team to make a bigger splash and bring in a bigger name/better pitcher.  I get that.  However, under the circumstances (waiver trade, early August, not much to offer in the way of prospects/young ready MLBers), the trade made sense.  I wasn't elated and I wasn't downtrodden and there is nothing in between. 

Why make the trade?

Isn't it obvious?  T-shirts.  Trading for Carl Pavano leads to better t-shirt sales.  Actually, that's untrue.  Perhaps the Twins always wanted to have a free mustache giveaway, but needed the right face to attach them to.  That's unlikely.  In reality, there were baseball reasons to make this trade, according to this ESPN.com story:

Craving help for their starting rotation, the Minnesota Twins have turned to Carl Pavano.

Cravings are tough.  It's generally best to just give in to them. 

"It's kind of uncharted territory for him, but we'll see how it plays out," Twins assistant GM Rob Antony said. "It's no mystery that our starters have struggled. We think this is an opportunity to add a guy who can hopefully help us out."

Ah, The Mystery of the Scuffling Starters.  I think that might be my favorite Choose Your Own Adventure book.  Antony was right, Pavano did help.  The rotation was super young and he was certainly better than the guy who he replaced:

Francisco Liriano's starting spot has been in question after another poor performance on Wednesday that led to his 11th loss, tied for most in the league.

It wasn't just losses either.  Liriano was walking almost five batters per nine innings, he was giving up a lot of home runs and he was wildly inconsistent.  Pavano is no Cliff Lee, but next to 2009 Francisco Liriano, he looks a tad like Cliff Lee.

Pavano was pretty excited:

"It's pretty exciting, a move up in the standings," said Pavano, who arrived at Comerica Park to join his new teammates before Minnesota took batting practice.

But, were his new teammates excited to have him?  The 2009 Twins had trudged through a challenging season as a team.  Who was this new guy to try to horn in on their success and replace one of their own?  If only there was a good clubhouse guy to act as a Pavano Liaison:

Pavano and Twins backup catcher Mike Redmond were teammates with the Florida Marlins when they won the World Series in 2003.  "He's pitched in some big games and pitched against some good teams," Redmond said. "He changes speeds, not a guy who's going to overpower you. ... He's smart."

Upon completing this sentence, Redmond took all of his clothes off, put TC Bear's head on, turned on the sprinklers, and hit fungos to the Twins' outfielders.  As he did every day. 

Analysis

The 2009 Twins were surprisingly good, but the 2009 rotation was awful.  The team hadn't made the playoffs in the two previous seasons, after reaching the playoffs in four of the previous five seasons.  You can see why the front office would want to do something to improve the team, but not do anything hasty.  Trading a 25-year-old AAA pitcher with limited upside for a proven, veteran starter with limited upside is a good move.  Honestly, you make that move every time if in the Twins' situation back in 2009.

The 2009 rotation was littered with bad and/or underperforming starters.  Only Nick Blackburn posted an ERA+ greater than 100 and he's Nick Blackburn.  Think about that for a second, Nick Blackburn was the best starter on a playoff team.  Only in Minnesota!  Pavano himself only posted a 95 ERA+ in 12 starts, but he gave the team effective innings.  He replaced Francisco Liriano, who couldn't even approach what would be considered "effective pitching."  It was an upgrade, even if it wasn't exciting.  In the end, the Twins made the playoffs after a thrilling game 163 against the Tigers.  I doubt the Twins make the playoffs without Pavano.

Who won the WAR?

Pavano with the Twins:  6.1 WAR

Pino with the Indians:  nada

WAR won by the Twins!

One Sentence Summary

Carl freaking Pavano was a pleasant surprise.          

20 Minnesota Twins Trades: The Johan Santana Grift

Ok, I'm going to need a second.  It's just... it's hard to talk about this one.  I mean... it's Johan.  He was my favorite... PLAYER! BLAHAWAAWA!   I'm sorry.  I'm sorry!  I can't do it!  I'M JUST SO UPSET.  I MEAN, HE'S JOHAN SANTANA, WHY DID THE TWINS HAVE TO TRADE HIM AWAY?!?  ...

YOU'RE CRYING!  ...

NO!  JUST LEAVE ME... I DON'T NEED TO BLOW MY NOSE!  OH JOHAN, WHY?!?!?

The Trade:  BREAKDOWN!

The Minnesota Twins traded Johan Santana to the New York Mets for Carlos Gomez, Philip Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra. 

Johan Santana is the greatest.  Santana was fantastic for the Mets from 2008-2010.  He was robbed of the Cy Young Award in 2008, much like he was robbed in 2005.  He should really have four Cy Youngs.  Four!  There were some signs of decline in 2010 and then he missed all of 2011 with an injury.  He returned last season but succumbed to another injury in 2013 and may need to retire at the age of 33.  That makes me a sad panda.

Carlos Gomez seemed like the kind of guy who might round the bases the wrong way, if you just let him do his thing.  He was an exciting player though.  He flashed power and speed and was always an excellent defender.  Humber and Mulvey were nothing special and have done nothing special.  Nope, neither guy has done anything special ever.  Especially Humber.  Nothing special.  Guerra was viewed as the crown jewel of the trade, but has yet to pitch an MLB inning and it is looking more and more like he never will. 

So, that's all a bummer.

How did I feel at the time?

Awful.  We all knew this trade was coming.  In fact, it had been a long time coming.  Santana was upset as far back as the second Luis Castillo trade, which was as hard to swallow as the second Bald Bull was to knock down.  The rumors had been floating around for such a long time and so many different players were involved that it almost seemed like it would never actually happen.  Of course, with Santana's contract running out, time was running out on getting value for one of the best pitchers in Twins' history.  I felt awful, but I moved on.  But man, sanding that Santana tattoo off of me hurt like crazy.

Why make the trade?

We all remember this trade and the hoopla vividly, so I'm not going to bombard you with quotes.  I did find some good stuff from this ESPN.com article that was written just prior to the trade actually occurring:

"If Santana agrees to a deal -- and it is thought he will seek a six-year, $150 million contract -- then he also would have to pass a physical.  In return for Santana, the Twins would receive center fielder Carlos Gomez and pitchers Phil Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra -- a package which some talent evaluators believe could be the fourth-best offer that Minnesota received during this process."

In the Wild Card era, the fourth-best team usually makes the playoffs.  So there.  In reality, the Twins delayed this process so much that some of their Johan suitors dropped out.  Which is exactly what you want in a bidding war. 

Mets third baseman David Wright was ecstatic about Santana possibly joining the team  "If it's true, obviously, you're getting arguably the best pitcher in the game," Wright said, according to AP.

Is it possible that Bill Smith made this trade entirely with the focus on making David Wright happy?  If so, that certainly changes my perception on how successful this trade was. 

David Wright aside, perhaps the other packages were filled with garbage:

In early December, the Yankees had offered a package built around pitcher Phil Hughes and center fielder Melky Cabrera, and the Red Sox talked about two separate deals, one built around left-hander Jon Lester and the other around center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, with pitcher Justin Masterson and infielder Jed Lowrie prominently involved.

Well, I've never heard of any of those players, so clearly this article is stupid.  If we're going to be serious, the Twins should have taken the Lester package.  He's been up and down, but he is also the closest to Santana that the Twins could have received in return.  Hindsight is nice.  So is opportunity:

With Santana gone, there is a big opening in the Twins' rotation. Francisco Liriano is on track to return after missing last season following elbow surgery, but Carlos Silva signed with Seattle as a free agent, leaving youngsters Scott Baker, Boof Bonser and Kevin Slowey as the starters with the most experience.

What we didn't know when this article was written is that the Twins were planning to sign Livan Hernandez to join those studs in the rotation.  Of course, that signing directly lead to the Great Chocolate Bunny shortage of 2008, so it wasn't a total win. 

We've read about how this trade will affect the Twins' rotation, but how will it affect Joe Mauer?

"Joe Mauer's job, and my job, just got a lot tougher," backup catcher Mike Redmond said. "We're going to have to work a lot harder to help these guys out the best we can."

Upon completing this sentence, Redmond took his pants off, put his cup on his head like a tiny beret and went and took batting practice.  Just like he did every day. 

Analysis

Disgruntled superstar trades kind of suck.  First, there is a limited market for such a devastating and therefore, expensive player.  Second, the other team knows that the trading team is desperate to move the unhappy player and can make low-ball offers.  Finally, unhappy players are often unhappy for legitimate reasons.  In this case, Santana was upset that the Twins were cheap and only thought of the future.  In some ways, he was right, although the Twins did offer him $20 million per season on a couple occasions. 

Therefore, the player packages were going to be prospect heavy and were going to come from just a few teams.  The Yankees had some fun prospects, but apparently none that fully intrigued the Twins.  The Red Sox had two elite prospects, but rightfully did not want to part with both.  The Dodgers were offering Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw, but the Twins passed.  That's not true, but I definitely remember it that way and lie to people about it to this day.  In the end, the Mets offered three starting pitching prospects, one with very high upside, and an outfielder who could "go get it."  The package was reasonable, but the players didn't pan out at all.  Very sad. 

The impact of the trade was felt immediately in 2008 as the Twins lost to the White Sox in Game 163, thus missing the playoffs by one game.  You will never convince me that having Santana on that 2008 team wouldn't have added at least one win to the Twins' total.  Never!

Who won the WAR?

Santana with the Mets:  15.2 WAR

Gomez with the Twins:  2.6 WAR

Mulvey with the Twins: 0.0 WAR

Humber with the Twins:  -0.1 WAR

WAR won by the Mets!

One Analogy Summary

Say you have a hundred dollars and you want to cut down to smaller bills.  One friend is going to give you two fifties.  One friend is offering five twenties.  Another friend is offering a fifty, a twenty and three tens.  One friend is offering you a twenty, a used postage stamp, Kevin Mulvey and some sidewalk chalk.  Which deal do you take?

And yes, I am aware that Philip Humber pitched a perfect game.  I like jokes.

20 Minnesota Twins Trades: Hot-head for Hot-head plus Shortstops

It's hard to imagine a scenario where the Twins would trade a promising young starting pitcher for a young stud hitter.  However, back in 2007, that very scenario played out.  While the trade did not work out for the Twins, the idea may not have been completely off-base.  Of course, if the jewel of the trade was able to get on-base more, that may have helped. 

The Trade:  BREAKDOWN!

The Minnesota Twins traded Matt Garza, Jason Bartlett and Eduardo Morlan to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for Delmon Young, Brendan Harris and Jason Pridie. 

Young spent nearly four seasons with the Twins, posting a .287/.234/.429 triple slash.  That works out to a 103 OPS.  Not bad, but not what the Twins were looking for when they dealt Garza.  Even in 2010, when Young provided good offensive value, that positive value was completely offset by putrid fielding.  Harris was once labeled a "doubles machine" by a very stupid blogger/person writing this right now, but wasn't a very good player for a machine.  Jason Pridie played 11 games for the Twins. 

Garza has been an average or better pitcher since he left the Twins.  He gave the Rays two good seasons, one average season and then the Rays used him to acquire a package of prospects that included Chris Archer.  Bartlett may have been the hidden jewel of the trade, providing the Rays with 10.0 WAR over the next three seasons.  As the Rays are wont to do, they dispatched Bartlett once his value was used up.  Morlan never reached the Majors. 

How did I feel at the time?

I was furious.  I loved Matt Garza.  His debut was electric.  He was young and seemed to represent a bit of a departure from the Twins' Radke-style pitchers of old.  I loved Brad Radke too, don't get me wrong, but the Twins seemed hell-bent on replicating that success and finding a new Radke.  Radke is rare, man.  Garza was a fireballer and he was a spit-fire and he was other things related to flames as well.  A flamethrower.  Although, Delmon Young was on the cover of my 2005 Baseball America Prospect Handbook, so that soothed my fire.  Not Garza's though. 

Why make the trade?

All along, the Twins said that they wanted a clumsy outfielder who could get drunk and spout off bigoted remarks.  Wait.  This ESPN.com story explains it better:

"Coming into the offseason our first priority was to improve our offense," new Twins general manager Bill Smith said. "We took a hit last week when Torii left, but Delmon Young has been the guy we've been targeting since the end of the season. We feel he is the best bat available, and we're excited to get him."

It was not crazy at the time.  It seemed reasonable that Young could replace Hunter's bat.  The outfield defense was another story, but he was young and athletic.  Well, when he stayed slim anyway.  At least he was a good dude:

Young, however, has a hotheaded history for a 22-year-old. The first overall pick in the 2003 draft famously flipped his bat into the chest of a Triple-A umpire in 2006 and received a 50-game suspension for that. He got a three-game ban in 2005 for bumping an umpire in Double-A.

So... 

Of course, this was all very easy to explain:

"He's got one bad incident on his record. He made a terrible mistake," Smith said. "We've done a lot of work on his makeup, and we've had an awful lot of people tell us he's a very good teammate, he's a fierce competitor, he wants to win, and he's the first one to arrive at the ballpark every day."

I wonder how many umpires Smith talked to.

The Rays were happy with their new toys:

"He's a guy we project to get a lot better quickly," Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said. "We feel like we strengthened two areas of need, shortstop and starting pitching."

18.5 combined WAR over three years would seem to qualify under the category of "strengthened."  Plus, Garza and Bartlett were later traded for about 50 prospects.  Friedman also noted an old adage:

"The trade is about the present, not the future. We're a better ballclub because of this deal," Friedman said. "To get good young players you have to give up something good, and that's what we did."

Upon reading this, Delmon Young immediately tripped over his shoes and fell in a swimming pool. 

Garza chimed in with a quote:

"He's ready to roll. That's what I like to hear. He made me feel at home, and all I can feel is that things are pointed on the up and up," Garza said from his home in Fresno, Calif. "It'll be fun to see how it plays out."

Well that's just a bunch of nonsense.  Is that how they talk in  Fresno? 

But wait, the Rays can't get all the credit for this trade:

Friedman called the right-handed Morlan "one of the best young bullpen prospects out there."

Ha!  Nice scouting, idiot!  You only traded Delmon Young and Brendan Harris for two good players, not three!  What a maroon!  See, the Rays aren't perfect. 

Analysis

Again, I don't disagree with the premise behind this trade.  The 2008 rotation could have been reasonably projected to include promising young starters like Nick Blackburn, Scott Baker, Kevin Slowey, Matt Garza, Boof Bonser, Francisco Liriano and Glen Perkins.  Stop laughing; you stop laughing right now!  The Twins offense wasn't great and was going to take a step backward with the midseason trade of Luis Castillo and then Torii Hunter's departure.  Trading one of the young arms for a young bat was a logical idea.  The players involved just weren't quite right. 

Garza was probably the best pitcher and possibly the best pitching prospect of the seven listed above.  In addition, Garza has been the best pitcher since that trade, although that knowledge comes with the benefit of hindsight.  Garza was also a bit of a loose cannon and may have been considered to be emotionally unstable (his recent Twitter rampage would back that idea up a bit).  Delmon Young was considered a top notch hitting prospect.  He was said to be a power/average guy with surprising speed.  He did have surprising speed, I guess.  The logic is there.  The execution failed. 

What if we could substitute Ben Zobrist and Nick Blackburn for Young and Garza?  What if we could invent a device that helps us travel back in time to stop ill-advised trades?  What if we could make fuel out of ice cream?  What if?

Of course, there is the separate issue of the Twins not recognizing Jason Bartlett's value.  Although, who is to say the Rays make this trade without Bartlett included?

Who won the WAR?

Garza for the Rays:  8.5 WAR

Bartlett for the Rays:  10.0 WAR

Young for the Twins:  0.9 WAR

Harris for the Twins:  -0.6 WAR

Pridie for the Twins:  -0.2 WAR

WAR won by the Rays!  Ouch. 

One Sentence Summary

I mean, seriously, if we could fuel cars with ice cream, we could eat the fuel and solve the energy crisis at the same time.    

20 Minnesota Twins Trades: Romero for Casilla

Who could possibly care about a trade involving J.C. Romero and Alexi Casilla?

The Trade:  BREAKDOWN!

The Minnesota Twins traded J.C. Romero to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (or whatever the H they were called then) for Alexi Casilla.    

When Romero wasn't walking every batter in the history of Major League Baseball, he was relatively productive for the Twins.  In his one season with the Angels, he threw 48.1 innings, struck out 31 and walked 28.  That kind of dominance will get you a 6.70 ERA.  He posted a swell -0.9 WAR that season and the Angels shockingly did not want to retain his services for 2007, allowing him to walk as a free agent. 

Simply by not being J.C. Romero, Alexi Casilla saved the Twins 1 whole win.  He played 9 games, had 6 plate appearances and posted a 0.1 WAR.  How much did J.C. Romero have to suck to get so soundly out produced?  A lot is the answer.  Casilla went on to play seven mostly uninspiring seasons with the Twins, even eclipsing that -0.9 WAR twice (-1.1 WAR in 2007 and -1.5 WAR in 2009).  What a trade!

How did I feel at the time?

You may have already picked up the fact that I was not fond of Romero.  First, the walks.  He walked everyone!  I hated that.  Second, he had that one "good" season in 2002 and it took me a few years to realize that it was a fluke and he would never be that good again.  Third, I just didn't like him.  I didn't like how he pitched.  I didn't like how he behaved on the mound.  I was not cool with Romero.  I had never heard of Alexi Casilla, but he instantly became my favorite player. 

Why make the trade?

Apparently Romero was upset and wanted a trade.  Oh no!  Here's a stupid quote from an ESPN story:

"When you feel disrespected, and feel you can't do anything about it, that's when you get frustrated," Romero said in a teleconference. "You have to move on. If you don't move on, you're going to be a mediocre pitcher and a mediocre person."

Obviously, Romero felt disrespected his whole career, which totally explains why he was always mediocre.  Romero was apparently upset because he didn't have a well-defined role.  Romero was not on board with the burgeoning sabermetric movement.  Here's a fun quote from this MLB.com story:

"In 2004 and 2005, I had no clue where I was going to pitch or even if I would pitch," Romero said. "My routine completely changed after 2002 and my innings dropped drastically. I have myself to blame for some of that, but now I know what to expect with the Angels."

Well, my guess is that you will pitch from the mound.  The rationale for your innings dropping is that you only get credit for an inning pitched if you actually record outs.  Perhaps you forgot that the goal of baseball was get outs and not walk batters.  That's on the Twins, I suppose.  Or your Youth Baseball coach.

"I totally believe that in a team, you have to have communication," Romero said. "Sometimes communication wasn't there the way I wanted it. I expect a little more."

You see.  If the Twins had simply communicated the rules of baseball to him, none of this would have happened.  Of course, this little spat didn't help either:

Things really started to sour last season when Romero got into a spat with Gardenhire during a game against Kansas City on Sept. 28. After hitting two batters in the seventh inning, Romero stormed off the mound just as Gardenhire had emerged from the dugout to make a change. Gardenhire met with the pitcher the following day, but it appears the meeting didn't go as well as was initially believed.

It's so strange that a manager would want to replace a pitcher who just hit two batters.  Again, if the Twins had communicated to Romero that trying to throw holes through opposing players wasn't a viable strategy, things could have been avoided. 

Even after all that lack of communication, Terry Ryan was diplomatic:

"I thought that a change of scenery might be the best thing for both parties," Ryan said. "The way that things have transpired in the last year or so, it was the right thing to do for all involved."

To his credit, I guess it was immediately water under the bridge for Romero:

"I really from the bottom of my heart thank them. I hold no grudges. This is a business decision. I'm a man. Gardy's a man. He's probably happy this happened, too. It's time to move on."

Yeah, I bet Gardy was cool with losing that tight 6.70 ERA that Romero posted the following season.    

There's more here.  I'm missing something...  Oh yeah, the other guy in the trade:

"He's a middle infielder that can run, he can throw, has quick hands and can swing that bat on the ball," Ryan said. "We believe that he is a player who has a very high ceiling and one that will at some point surface at the Major League level."

None of those things were false, but the degree to which he could actually do those things varied drastically.  However, getting a utility guy for a reliever with little utility is a great upgrade in my eyes. 

Analysis

Let's be clear:  I did not like J.C. Romero.  More than that, he was never really a good pitcher.  He was a walk machine even in that good 2002 season and the few good seasons he somehow lucked into with Philadelphia.  I mean, Sam Deduno probably looks at Romero's Baseball Reference page and thinks "man, that guy needed to work on his control." 

Bad to mediocre relievers can catch lightning in a bottle and post a good season despite poor peripheral numbers.  Romero certainly did.  His career 5.1 walks per nine innings ranks somewhere between awful and cat crap.  He basically walked a batter in every other inning of his career.  Terrible.  And yet, the Twins did manage to trade him for Alexi Casilla.  Casilla was hardly a stud, but provided some exciting moments as a Twin.  He also looked like he was having fun when playing baseball. 

Who won the WAR?

Romero with the Angels:  -0.9 WAR

Casilla with the Twins:  4.2 WAR

WAR won by the Twins!  But, seriously.

One Sentence Summary

The Twins turned J.C. Romero into a living human being capable of playing baseball and therefore won this trade.    

20 Minnesota Twins Trades: A Tale of Two Castillo Trades

We're in the 2005 off-season and the Twins were buyers!  It's true.  The Twins were looking to add a quality piece to supplement their team and fill a hole after a disappointing 2005 season. 

The Trade:  BREAKDOWN!

The Minnesota Twins traded Scott Tyler and Travis Bowyer to the Florida Marlins for Luis Castillo.

Tyler never played an MLB game, and was out of pro baseball at the age of 25.  Bowyer threw 9.2 innings for the Twins in 2005, but never donned a Marlins uniform.  In fact, he never played in the Marlins organization at all.  He was out of pro baseball after that 2005 season.

Castillo was considered a major get.  He was a good second baseman who could run, hit and walk.  In 2006, he posted a .296/.358/.370 triple slash, good for a 91 OPS+.  He did get on base and he did steal 25 bases.  It was all good for a 2.3 WAR.  Of course, he was the second baseman of the future as well, right?  More on that later.

How did I feel at the time?

I'll admit, I was excited.  The Twins were selling off Minor League "assets" for a guy who could hit for a high average and steal bases.  Plus, he played second base, so Luis Rivas was nowhere near my favorite team.  It was all very alluring. 

Why make the trade?

"The Twins have spent the offseason looking to improve offensively and defensively. On Friday, they made one acquisition that addresses both needs."

That's according to this MLB.com story.  Terry Ryan agreed:

"I know people don't know a lot about him in our market," Ryan conceded. "But I know people in the National League have a good appreciation for him. He can run. He takes good at-bats. He puts the ball in play but isn't afraid to walk. He's the type of guy expected to maintain because he's only 30 years old."

It seems like he is trying to justify the trade.  All he really needed to say was "we decided to spend some extra money and we gave away nothing to get him, and he's good."

Mike Redmond was also impressed:

"He's probably the best second baseman I've ever played with or seen play," Redmond said from his home in Spokane, Wash. "He'll be even better playing on the Astroturf. He comes ready to play and he'll give you everything he has. Our pitchers will love having him back there."

He then went out onto the field and took batting practice while just wearing just his cap and batting gloves.  Once done, he added more:

"I'm excited and pumped I'll get to play with Luis again," Redmond said. "He'll be great in Minnesota. I think fans will love him."

I think the fans did like him, but Castillo didn't have the charisma to be loved.  Redmond certainly seemed to love him. 

Analysis

For me, the only thing keeping this trade from full-fledged overrated transaction territory is the players who the Twins gave up to get Castillo.  The fact that neither guy played an inning for Florida is significant.  Castillo was a part of the second Florida fire sale and the Twins grabbed him for nothing.  However, he was a slightly overpaid player who was on the downside of his career.  That doesn't mean he wasn't productive for the Twins, but he was hardly a major piece added to a potential Championship team.  He was fine, but little more. 

But wait, there's more!

It's 2007 and the the Twins are now sellers!  What a world!  It was the middle of that 2007 season and they were tired of their new toy.  Why not try to save some cash and pick up a couple new Minor Leaguers?

The Trade:  BREAKDOWN!

The Minnesota Twins traded Luis Castillo to the New York Mets for Dustin Martin and Drew Butera. 

Dustin Martin became a Rochester lifer, giving them three seasons of relatively uninspiring play.  Butera is currently the Twins' fans whipping boy, but has provided good defense as a back-up catcher over a few seasons with the Twins.

Castillo finished the 2007 season well enough to earn a four-year deal from the Mets, through 2011.  He made over $6 million each season, but didn't finish out that contract as a member of the Mets' active roster.  In fact, he alternated good seasons with bad in New York and retired after the 2010 season. 

How did I feel at the time?

Crud.  I guess all good things come to an end.  Castillo had been everything I had hoped he would be.  He hit for average, got on base and stole a few bases.  The worst part of this trade was how the aftermath affected Johan Santana.  I loved Santana and this trade specifically upset him.  Therefore, it upset me too. 

Why make the trade?

According to this ESPN.com story, the trade made sense because Castillo was easy to replace in-house:

With Casilla, current third baseman Nick Punto and top prospect Matt Tolbert, Ryan said he's satisfied with what the team has at second and third for the future. He also said he was comfortable enough with Casilla that the Twins can still stay in the playoff chase despite losing their leadoff hitter.

Well, Casilla nearly replaced Castillo, but he fell a "t" and an "o" short.  He did have an extra "a" though.  Now, the idea made sense.  Casilla was a somewhat promising player and Castillo wasn't really all that special at this point.  Casilla was loads cheaper and would be team-controlled for a few years.  If he faltered, Punto was right there to step in.  Matt Tolbert looked like a bird and was never worth a roster spot. 

More from Ryan:

"No, we're not giving up at all," Ryan said. "We're six-and-a-half games back, and we're better than we were last week. If we didn't think we could absorb this, we certainly wouldn't have done it."

The clubhouse was quiet while players and coaches came up for hugs and handshakes with Castillo, and the Twins certainly weren't happy to see one of their best players go.

"That's acceptable, and that's expected and I know that happens within the confines of the clubhouse, but I have a job to do," Ryan said.

I agree with Ryan here.  He thought there was a suitable replacement, so he dealt off an overpaid and redundant player.  Other players were unhappy, and rightfully so, but Ryan has to make the moves that he feels make the team better in the short and long term.  He can't let his job be dictated by players who know a whole lot less about running a team than he does. 

Plus, Gardy was on board:

"He's not dumping. He's rearranging, maybe to try to find someone that might help us," Gardenhire said.

There was no concurrent move.  This was a salary dump, but maybe a bit justified based on Castillo's performance. 

There was the whole Johan Santana portion of this trade.  I'm not going to include his quotes, but here's a link to a really interview with Santana.  He does not pull punches and in reading this, I can't say I'm surprised that he didn't continue his career in Minnesota.  I like that he spoke his mind. 

Analysis

Castillo wasn't anything special to begin with.  Really, the first Castillo trade was more symbolic than impactful.  It showed that the Twins wanted to win and would buy the players they thought could help them do so.  In 2007, the second Castillo trade showed that it was business as usual.  Trade away a expensive, veteran player to save some cash. 

I can see why Santana was upset, but Castillo was hardly the player to make his points in regards to.  Castillo was overpaid.  He could be reasonably replaced with cheaper players.  At least, in theory.  The Twins really haven't replaced him at second, and it's now 2013.  Maybe Brian Dozier will finally lay the Castillo demons to rest.  Santana did have a point though.  If the Twins are constantly looking to the future, when does the future become the present?   

Who won the WAR?

Castillo with the Twins:  3.6 WAR

Castillo with the Mets:  2.9 WAR

Butera with the Twins:  -1.2 WAR

WAR won by the Mets; nice work Butera, you dingus.

One Sentence Summary

The Luis Castillo trades were more symbolic of greater organizational issues than what Luis Castillo ultimately provided and then took with him to New York.