Well, it's an off day here in Twinsland, though not for Terry Ryan, and certainly not for Batgirl--or, more aptly, her intern. For the benefit of all the BatLings, the indefatigable BatIntern has unleashed a progression of articles about the upcoming trade deadline that prove interesting, although certainly not elucidating. That would be far too much to expect. Soon, soon this will all be over and we can get back to talking about which Twins are hot.
Yesterday's Pittsburgh Post Gazette explains a little more about Benson and has this to say of his future:
While Benson posed in the team photo yesterday, a deal is certain, according to sources inside and outside the organization. The front-runner is the Minnesota Twins, but no names have been agreed upon yet. It will not be Doug Mientkiewicz, who, at 30, stands to make $3.6 million next year. The Texas Rangers could get it done if they change their mind and part with outfielder Laynce Nix.
According to sources inside the Rangers' organization, the deal for Nix would not include the "y" in Laynce.
In this morning's Post-Gazette, an article headlined Twins Still Leader in Benson Quest suggests, well, that Twins are still the leader in the Benson Quest. But do they want more than the Twins will give?
The Twins remain the front-runner in the Benson trade talks, but they have not signed off yet on the player the Pirates want -- outfielder Jason Kubel, a Class AAA center fielder who is hitting .351 with 21 doubles, 7 home runs and 41 RBIs in 58 games at Rochester and is considered ready to play at the major-league level. If the Twins agree, the trade likely would be completed quickly.
Yes, the Twins have a great farm system with tons of prospects, but we can't just go trading these guys willy-nilly. I mean, we're the Twins; players come up through the system, get to the bigs, suck for a little while, then get really good, then get really expensive, then we trade 'em and call up some more prospects. It's the Circle of Life, Carl Pohlad style.
Anyway, Ryan isn't some noodle-brained Bitch Sox owner. According to this Fox Sports/Sporting News Story, Ryan ain't going to sell the farm for some fancy fur coat. Actually, the coat's not even that fancy. It might be made out of squirrel or something. But it's cold in October. But still: farm vs. coat made of squirrel, I'll take the farm.
The Twins, trying to close a deal with the Pirates for righthander Kris Benson, are unlikely to part with the Pirates' top target, Class AAA outfielder Jason Kubel, according to sources with knowledge of the negotiations. Twins 1B Doug Mientkiewicz will not be included in the deal.Twins general manager Terry Ryan is reluctant to part with Kubel, whom scouts say has a chance to be similar to A's CF Mark Kotsay, but with more power. The Twins would prefer to give up OF Michael Ryan or Class AAA OF Michael Restovich. The Pirates do not have interest in Restovich and would want a second player in the deal if the Twins would only trade Ryan and not Kubel.
In a major play for Benson Quest Coverage Supremacy, the competing Pittsburgh Tribune-Review totally scoops the Post-Gazette with the Michael Ryan story.
The Twins, armed with a bevy of young corner position players and outfielders, have been mentioned as an obvious trading partner for the Pirates. The latest name to surface is minor-league outfielder Michael Ryan, a local product who graduated from Indiana High School in 1996...According to a source, the Pirates recently had Ryan take a physical so they could determine the soundness of his shoulder. In 27 games with the Twins last season, Ryan batted .393 with five homers and 13 RBI. He had 31 homers at Class AAA Edmonton in 2002.
And finally, (phew) the Providence Journal reports that the BoSox wanted to do a whole kinky three-way thing, but the deals are falling apart, which, alas, is only to be expected. Next thing you know, Dougie, Benson, and Youkilis will all be Yankees.
In another proposed deal, the Sox, who have been trying to obtain first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz from the Minnesota Twins, were said to be trying to work a trade for him through the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates, who are eager to deal pitcher Kris Benson, have been talking to the Twins about a trade for Mientkiewicz and outfield prospect Michael Restovich. But not wanting to be saddled with Mientkiewicz's salary, the Pirates had spoken to the Sox about sending the first baseman to Boston for a package involving Kevin Youkilis.
Meanwhile, one of the things Batgirl loves about the Minnesota Twins is it's just one big happy family. One of her loyal and resourceful BatLings suggests you take a moment to get to know Kris Benson's slightly perverted wife.
Posted by Batgirl at July 29, 2004 05:25 PMHmmmmm....is Kris Benson really the Twins type?
Posted by: jayster59 at July 29, 2004 06:11 PMUm, Batgirl, respectfully, if you really want the boys to drool you need to send them to www.annabenson.net
Posted by: Mimiru at July 29, 2004 06:12 PMHoly Bat-Girl, that Benson girl is going all out in the name of... CHARITY!!!
"Awarded the pieceofass.com award... " I wonder if the other player's wifes like this gal???
Posted by: lackofintellect at July 29, 2004 06:48 PMIt's overly glam, jet-set, kinky BATTERS the Twins send East where that sort of thing is acceptable. You know, guys like Knoblauch and Cordova. Pitchers, we'll take all comers. Heck, I know just the neighborhood in Carver where Anna Benson would fit right in. There's a Hans Hagen home with their name on it. However, I am dubious about Anna's claim on her site that she read, understood, and enjoyed two different Toni Morrison novels. It's a bit like claiming to have read DeLillo's "Underworld" all the way through. It would be an achievement bordering on the superhuman.
Posted by: arrScott at July 29, 2004 06:58 PMWell, after reading the article about how Anna and Kris are half naked before they even get home from a game, I had to check out what he looks like, in case he comes to the Twins and enters into the hotornot contest.
Kris Benson is not.
Other information:
He's from Superior (home of Keyport Liquor!), which is practically Minnesota, his favorite team growing up was the Twins (!), and his real first name is Kristin. Oh yeah, Anna and he have three children. I would probably stick my head in an over if my mother was babbling on and on about all the sex they were constantly having.
He has a girl's name. What????
Posted by: Donnalove at July 29, 2004 06:58 PM*Skorch puts "Underworld" on his list of books to attempt after "Finnegans Wake"*
I don't know what you're all talking about, I think she'll fit in just fine in the midwest...
Posted by: Skorch at July 29, 2004 07:52 PMCurious minds want to know: does Batgirl have a rule about abstinence before blogging?
Posted by: frightwig at July 29, 2004 11:28 PMESPN is reporting that the Mets are now interested in Benson as part of some kind of three way deal that involves *ahem* the Bitch Sox. Now what's worse: losing Mientkiewicz but getting Benson or letting the Bitch Sox possibly add in another piece to their pennant run? Now I'm worried.
(Read the ESPN story at http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1848914 )
Posted by: FPM2K at July 29, 2004 11:30 PMI heard that too...and it said the Bitch Sox are not getting anyone out of the deal, just giving Pittsburgh some prospects so Benson doesn't come to MN. That's what Sports Center said tonight.
Posted by: Stacy at July 30, 2004 12:05 AMSo is it paranoid of me to suspect that this latest trade rumor (Benson to Mets for Wigginton, prospect, White Sox minor leaguer just to keep Benson off the Twins) is someone's bit of media manipulation, trying to jack up the price for Benson? Either that or a fantasy that some major-market sportswriter desperately wants to believe is true.
Is there any precedent, in any major league, for Team 1 sending a player to Team 2, just to insure that Team 2 won't deal with Team 1's division rival?
I think this story just plain smells, and I hope it doesn't affect Terry Ryan's decisionmaking. I will eat my words if it turns out to be accurate.
Posted by: Peter at July 30, 2004 01:34 AMI'd have to say the closest thing I've ever heard of to this new rumor involving the White Sox would be what Boston and New York did during the offseason. But even still, this sounds like the White Sox get nothing in return for their player, where as with the A-Rod trade, it was one player for another. Granted I'm not the ultimate baseball historian or anything, but I've never really heard of a trade like this. It's actually borderline questionable, in that couldn't the usually hated Bud Selig reject such a trade? My guess is that he probably wouldn't, but who knows.
That being said, in 1931, a Chatanooga shortstop by the name of Johnny Jones was traded to Charlotte for some turkeys, so the Chatanooga team could have a turkey dinner. So stranger trades have happened, I guess.
Finally, I hear Kris Benson gave a toast in the Pirates locker room recently:
"Here's to all the buccos,
May we never, ever disagree.
But in case we do,
The hell with all of you,
And here's to me!"
Here, here!
(That was actually Dave Parker in his anticipation for a trade away from the Pirates, but whatever.)
Posted by: FPM2K at July 30, 2004 02:10 AMPeter,
I think it's the NY Media pushing the deal. It's probably got just as much chance of happening as the Twins deal. Maybe a little more since Wiggington is cheaper than Dougie.
crap it's late...
Posted by: drake33 at July 30, 2004 02:28 AMI would like to thank Batgirl for providing me with a story as disturbing as the one about Kris Benson’s… um… post-game activities *wink, wink*. I now know if I ever meet Kris Benson and his wife in a parking lot to never, under any circumstances, shake their hands. Who knows where they’ve been? And if they ever ask you to “come over to watch a video,” run immediately in the opposite direction.
Posted by: fer at July 30, 2004 08:55 AMDoes anyone else think that trying to get Todd Walker from the Cubs to replace Rivas would be a good idea? Walker is a better hitter and fielder and is currently stuck behind Grudzielanek. He might cost a little more than the Twins want to spend, but they could at least ask.
Posted by: The 7th Angel at July 30, 2004 08:58 AMIf Kenny Williams wants to give up another prospect to try and prevent our team from getting marginally better instead of being used to improve his own, I say let him. It's an interesting approach, I'll give him that.
They've got so many holes to fill right now it's easier to sabotage another than better his own team. There just aren't a whole lot of power-hitting catchers that can pitch every 5th day on the market.
Let me rephrase that: The Sox don't need another power-hitter in their lineup. Still, there aren't a lot of high OBP, base-stealing catchers that can pitch every 5th day on the market.
Posted by: Skorch at July 30, 2004 09:20 AMI feel sorry for Kris Benson's three kids. When they get older their friends are going to find that webpage, print it out, and tape it up on their lockers.
Posted by: Roscoe at July 30, 2004 09:38 AMI totally agree, Roscoe.
Posted by: rods59 at July 30, 2004 09:58 AMDear 7th Angel -
I agree Todd Walker is a better hitter than Rivas - but fielding?? Uh - no - his fielding is a liabilty and a reason why the Red Sox chose not to resign him
Posted by: Wonder Woman at July 30, 2004 10:26 AMThe 7th Angel: As a Cub fan, I believe there is zero chance we will trade Walker.
Posted by: Rob at July 30, 2004 10:30 AMTodd Walker did nothing but whine when he was with the Twins the first time. He and Marty Cordova had pose-offs with the third base fans to see who was the fairest of them all. No thanks.
ESPN threw in a wee little mention of the Twins going after Mike Maroth of the Tiggers should the Benson thing collapse.
for the record ... well, i'll eat some of my words. a trade similar to what was talked about did happen: wigginton+a mets prospect+a royals prospect to pgh, benson to the mets, another mets prospect to KC. or something like that.
still, the "chisox send a prospect to spite the twins" scenario proved false.
Posted by: Peter at July 31, 2004 02:13 PM