Day: August 25, 2011

The Watch has ended… for Thome at least.

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The word has come down the pipeline that a deal has been reached with the Cleveland Indians for Jim Thome and that he has waived his No-Trade Clause in order to facilitate the return.

I’m sure there will be a LOT of stories reporting on the various aspects – since we don’t know what we’re getting in return yet – but Mackey has the known details over at ESPN 1500.

I have to admit, I’m kind of a sucker for the story going this way. I really do want him to have the opportunity for a ring. He’s a fantastic guy and I think he deserves it. This is the team where he started and it’s kind of cool that he’ll likely end his career there… of course, he may surprise us all and keep going for awhile yet. Given how my “not-quite-40-year-old” body feels when I get up in the morning, I honestly don’t know how he still gets out there but I wish him the best of luck and at least I’ll have someone to cheer for in the off-season since the Twins won’t be there – and I’m pretty sure that the Indians still kind of count as an underdog since they still have to get past the Tigers.

Thank you, Jim Thome, for the incredible service you gave to Minnesota and the work ethic and class you brought to our organization no matter for how brief a time. You will be missed and we wish you well (even if it IS in the division!)

************

Just wanted to add my 2 cents… and to also thank Jimmer for the class he showed during his time with the Twins. I’ll be rooting for the Tribe to catch the Tigers and give Thome a shot at a ring.

The worst part of losing him is that the current batch of young Twins won’t have him in the clubhouse for the rest of the season. Then again, if they haven’t learned from him what being a Major League ballplayer is supposed to be all about by this point (and I see no indication that many of them have), the lesson is probably not going to to sink in with these guys.

Anyway… best of luck, Mr. Incredible! – JC

GameChat – Orioles @ Twins #4, 12:10pm

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I’m really curious how much energy there is in Twins Territory right now to even try to watch a day game. I know I am getting together for lunch with fellow Knuckleballer, TheatreBrian, and since he picked the restaurant, I’m not sure if the game will be available. I just don’t see a lot of people going out of their way to try to catch games right now. At least it’s a relief to see Cuddyer still in the lineup after last night’s hit and Thome is still here and not with the WSox… at least not yet. *crosses fingers that he says no*

But just in case anyone wants to talk about the Twins chances of at least avoiding a sweep by the Orioles, I’m putting a chat up.  Good luck folks, team & fans alike.

 

Baltimore

@

 Minnesota
Andino, 3B   Revere, CF
Hardy, SS   Plouffe, SS
Markakis, RF   Morneau, 1B
Guerrero, DH   Cuddyer, RF
Reynolds, Ma, 1B   Kubel, LF
Reimold, LF   Thome, DH
Adams, R, 2B   Hughes, L, 3B
Tatum, C   Tolbert, 2B
Angle, CF   Butera, C
  Reyes, Jo, P     Liriano, P

 

 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

R

H

E
Baltimore

0

1

0

0

0

2

3

0

0

6

11

0
Minnesota

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

7

0

 

*sigh*

If you didn’t believe me before, this series with the Orioles should basically PROVES that there is an injury curse attached to the foolishness of moving JJ Hardy on….

Not only did we get our butts handed to us offensively in a sweep by a team who basically SUCKS on the road, we had someone injured in every game they were here! Today, it was bad enough that we had Mauer on the bench with a stiff neck and Valencia out getting his wisdom teeth removed but then we added Liriano… yeah, that’s what we needed. Another hurt starting pitcher. At least Cuddyer stuck it out and stayed playing… I really have to admire his fire for the game although even I have to wonder if playing hurt is worth much this far out.

The good news is that the rumors seem to be saying that Cleveland is the claiming team for Thome. If you read the bit from LENIII I posted this morning, you know that he still has the ability to turn down any trade he wants. And I guess there is even a way for him to technically become a free agent if released by the Twins so that he could go to the Phillies if he so desired. I’m not sure what Thome wants at this point and I bet he’s spending some time in serious contemplation.

The bad news (other than the fact that the Twins can’t win a game to save their lives) is that Kubel appears to have been claimed by the White Sox. Anyone else surprised that they might be looking for a DH? *snigger* That being said, if we send him to the WSox, we damn well better get something WORTH it because I really can’t condone improving their team without some improvement of our own.

Oh well, enjoy your evening folks…

Waiver Watch – Thome & Kubel

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Once again, in trying to figure out exactly how this waiver situation works for different players given their specific situation, I was trying to do a little research. I figured I would then assemble the various input and spit it back out to you once I hopefully understood what might happen. 

Happily, LENIII over at the StarTribune did a BEAUTIFUL job putting together exactly what kind of factors will come into play and how much power Thome actually has to decide which team he gets to go to.  For that reason, I’m going to just share his article in its entirety – with full credit of course – and link you there.

Kubel, Thome deals may be near

Article by: LA VELLE E. NEAL III , Star Tribune – Updated: August 25, 2011 – 12:52 AM

Twins designated hitter Jim Thome, always the gentleman, smiled as he said, “I have no comment.”

Reports on Wednesday had the Chicago White Sox as one of the teams placing a waiver claim on the Twins slugger, raising the possibility he could jump out of a Twins ship that’s taking on water for a life raft headed for the Windy City, where the White Sox were 6 1/2 games out of first place in the AL Central.

An ESPN report also had Twins outfielder Jason Kubel claimed as well. As of Wednesday night, it was not known if Chicago had won the claims or not.

Thome said that he didn’t know what was going to happen to him over the next two days. At least he knows that, ultimately, nothing will happen unless he says so.

That’s the power that comes with having a no-trade clause, which Thome has in his $3 million contract with the Twins for this season.

Thome can’t be moved unless he agrees to waive the clause, which allows him to leap into a pennant race if he wants to. And, based on comments after he hit his 600th career home run — the one thing he’s missing is a World Series title after losing the series twice with the Indians.

How far the Twins are willing to go to accommodate Thome is not clear. But there is some concern in-house that owner Jim Pohald wouldn’t be comfortable signing off on an elaborate veto-release maneuver that could allow Thome to become a free agent and sign with the team of his choice, which could be the Phillies, where he would be reunited with manager Charlie Manuel.

Thome could veto a deal (Chicago is not a lock for the postseason and neither is Cleveland). The Twins would then put Thome on release waivers, and Thome could reject a move to any team that tried to claim him. That would make him a free agent, able to sign wherever he wants. And, since he’s about to turn 41, Thome likely wants to be on a sure thing for the postseason, which the Phillies are.

If Thome is willing to go to Chicago, the Twins and White Sox could work out their first trade since 1986, when the Twins received Juan Agosto and Kurt Walker for Pete Filson. And who knows? Another team could be in play.

Don’t expect a big-time prospect in return for Thome if he does agree to be traded. Chicago sent Thome, who had cleared waivers, and cash to Los Angeles on Aug. 31, 2009 for infielder Justin Fuller, who is 28 years old and still in the minors.

Another thing to consider is that a team like Chicago puts in a claim on Thome and Kubel just to block other teams from getting them. The Twins then would pull them back off waivers and they can’t be traded.

If a deal is possible, the Twins could get more for Kubel who, like Thome, is a free agent after the season.

“We’ll see what happens,” Kubel said. “Maybe something will happen, Maybe nothing will happen.”

Kubel didn’t show signs of the reports affecting him, as he broke a 0-for-14 skid Wednesday with a double off the right-center field wall.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said his concern is how players handle trade rumors.

“It happens,” Gardenhire said. “Just like the [July]trade deadline happens. You just have to live with it and move on.”

The next two days will be interesting. If the Twins have a chance to negotiate a trade, they have until noon on Friday to make it happen.

It just so happens that Friday is Jim Thome Wind Up Walker night at Target Field.

Maybe, when you wind it up, it will walk all the way to Chicago. Or Cleveland. Or Philadelphia.