Twins trade rumors: deal with Blue Jays close?
[picappgallerysingle id="9418564"]Tom Pelissero of ESPN 1500 is holding steady with the report that the Twins are close to a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. The purported deal would give the Twins some pitching help – either in the bullpen, or in the starting rotation – in return for a prospect. Given the recent performances from Scott Baker, Kevin Slowey, and Brian Duensing, I think that a trade for a reliever is more likely than for a starting pitcher – but you never can tell.
The pitchers available from the Blue Jays include starter Shaun Marcum, and relief pitchers Scott Downs, Kevin Gregg, and Jason Frasor.
Frasor, 33, is the least likely of the three relievers to go to the Twins, with an ERA of 4.66. Frasor was replaced as the Blue Jays’ closer by Gregg, 32, who has an ERA of 3.72 and 23 saves on the year in 39 appearances, according to ESPN. Frasor had a terrific July up until the doubleheader with the Detroit Tigers, with an ERA of 1.13 for the month; however, Frasor finished June with an ERA of 6.75. Frasor salary is currently $2.65 million; Gregg’s is $2 million.
It seems that 34-year-old Downs, a left hander (which the Twins need in the bullpen after shifting Duensing to the starting rotation), is the front runner right now. According to ESPN, Downs has a 2.41 ERA and 33 strikeouts under his belt so far this season. Downs can be a free agent next year (as can Frasor), and his salary is currently a cool $4 million.
However, Pelissero describes starter Shaun Marcum, 28, as the “dark horse” in this deal, which would reportedly send a prospect to the Blue Jays. Given all the noise about giving up a prospect for Cliff Lee earlier this season, I’m not sure that this deal will, in fact, happen if the Blue Jays want a prospect for a pitcher.
That said, Marcum – after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2008 – has an impressive 9-4 record this season, with an ERA of 3.36 and 97 strikeouts. Plus, according to ESPN, Marcum is only making $850,000 and has two years left before free agency. Also, in his recent game against Detroit, Marcum held the Tigers to 2 runs and threw 64 strikes in 97 pitches. That sounds pretty good to me.
So, if the Twins and Blue Jays are indeed close to a deal, it sounds as though that deal would send either Downs or Marcum to the Twins in exchange for a prospect.
That’s all for now. The details are hazy, but Pelissero thinks the Twins-Blue Jays deal could happen very quickly.
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