Sox: Ellsbury, Lester, and Lowrie. (That is the absolute best you could hope for, IMO).

Yanks: Hughes, Cabrera, Jackson/Tabata.  

Which do you prefer?  Here's the thing about this: the most valuable piece in either of these offers is Hughes.  There's no question that he's the one guy among the above that could regularly be competing for post-season awards.  

But, Ellsbury and Lowrie really help you solve problems with potentially above average players, and both of them are serfs for 3 years.  Lester is probably a mid-rotation guy at best.

Do you take the potential star difference maker, or the more well rounded package?

It is down time as everyone is travelling to Nashville. Although the meetings don't start until Monday, I'm sure there's lots of face-to-face happening in the lobbies of the hotels, as well as the suites. Hopefully Santana (or his agent) are in attendance. Yes, there is a 72-hour window once a team has finalized a trade that a signing can/cannot happen.

If the Twins trade with the Sox or the Yankees, I'm sure they won't be done. Not having Santana or Hunter on the payroll frees up funds. Could they sign ATkins, perhaps, for 2-3 years to play third? Actually go after a decent free agent?

Back to Viola, yes, Punto is an Al Newman or a Denny Hocking. He isn't bad if you need to replace someone injured for a period of time.

And, yes, Ellsbury would be better than Crisp. The upside is there. After his past two seasons, don't see Crisp getting better, unless he sees free agency stars in his eyes and really pops in 2009. Crisp could work in the Twins plan, though, if he can lead off, show some speed, and get that average up. Ellsbury virtually means that combined with Young you don't need any new outfielders for five years or so...what does that do to any prospects in the Twins system. Same with Lowrie at short...is he a better upside than Poluffe or anone else getting at bats at rookie or A-ball right now?

Once you start adding folks like a Hughes or Lester to you already mix, it means a few prospects in the system become more expendable and eitehr worth more, or less, depending on how badly you want/need to keep them.

Again, no one says being a general manager is easy. You have to balance present players with players obtained elsewhere against what you are building in your system.

If the Twins do get Lowrie, do they package out Plouffe soon for someone else? And is Moses tradable (like with Nathan).

Just don't let the teams in the Santana hunt turn their attentions elsewhere. You either get something done, or just pull back and wait until July 31st, I guess.