Roberts is having his best big-league season since ‘05.

But the folks who found Rincon’s steroid use unacceptable – and went into great detail trying to show how his stats proved (to them) that Rincon benefited greatly from these mysterious substances – will have to pass. Roberts’ ‘05 stats just as convincingly show him to be a steroid user.

The Twins will not give up major talent at this point, 2 games out of first. Why would they?

They will fill from within. Between Harris, Casilla, Tolbert, Punto, and Hughes, they’ve already got what it takes.

Roberts really is a good player—much better than any of the Twins middle infielders. However, I suspect the price would be very high.

Jack Wilson has his ups and downs offensively, but is a better defensive player than anyone on the roster.

Theriot doesn’t really interest me.

There might be a few third basemen available as well, which would be another obvious place to upgrade.

Theriot’s .390 OBP intrigues me, would fit well with Casilla at the top of the order (moving Gomez to #9). That said, I’m not sure I’d want to buy high from the Cubs.

Roberts is still my favorite option. He’d be expensive, but we have the pieces to get something done. Actually, I suspect that the holdup might ultimately be on Baltimore’s side. Roberts is about the only star left on the O’s after trading Bedard, Tejada, etc. MacPhail approached us in the offseason, but that was before the other trades.

IF we picked up Roberts, I’d be inclined to bat Casilla leadoff, Roberts #2 and move Gomez to #9. With Roberts’ gap power (31 doubles!), he could drive in a lot of Gomez-Casilla runs as well as set the table for Mauer and Morneau.

I certainly would like for Casilla to continue to be productive. He is productive hitting second and playing second, so leave him alone. That rules out Roberts.

San Diego is out of it in the NL West—-perhaps the worst team in baseball. If they are rebuilding, they might trade their SS, Kahlil Greene. Greene hit righthanded, has decent power, is 28 and is a good defensive SS. The Pads certainly could use someone with Span’s abilities leading off and playing center. Perhaps Span and Bonser for Greene and a prospect?

Why no mention of Cristian Guzman? He’s in a contract year so he’s playing well, his glove is still solid, good speed, he’s familiar with the nuances of the dome. I realize that he’d be just a rental but he’d definitely be an upgrade. Span and Duensing?

Long time reader, first time poster.

First off, I agree with Alexi Casilla All-Star. Casilla is productive at 2nd and batting second – why on earth would you mess with that?!

Third base and short? I’ve been reading a lot of stuff about possible trades at these positions lately. I wasn’t really aware there was a problem in this area. I was under the impression that Buscher had all but sewn up 3rd base. He’s certainly been productive with the bat. This whole thing with Gardy moving Harris to third strikes me more as him trying to get more flexibility out of his line up than any kind of permanent platoon situation. I still think Harris will see plenty of time at short. Much more than he will see at third. You also have Punto – and we all know how Gardy feels about Punto.

There also is still Macri, Tolbert and Everett on the DL. I haven’t been paying to much attention to their progress, but isn’t at least one of them due to come off the DL soon? Even if they aren’t, they will eventually. When they do, we’ll have a glut of infielders. It seems to me, the last thing we need is more. I would also be curious to see what a gold glove caliber SS plays like compared to what we have now. I don’t thing Everett was 100% at any point this season and we haven’t yet seen what he is actually capable of.

The problem with trading for something is you have to give something up to get it. Throwing names like Lamb and Boof around just ain’t going to get it done. You aren’t going to get anything worth having that way. In my mind, more often than not, the best trades are the ones that don’t happen.

I just don’t see any problem in the line up that won’t work itself out internally eventually. All the kids seem to be playing well and there is no reason to believe their defense won’t get better with time and experience.

I also don’t see a trade for Roberts or Elvis as being even in realm of possibility. If the Roberts window didn’t close once the O’s made all those trades over the winter, then it certainly did once they started winning a few games. And there is no way the Rangers give up their number one prospect. It would be one thing if they even had a prayer at getting into the post season, but they don’t, so it isn’t going to happen. They love their bats too much for that.

Now, if you want to talk trades, there is a possibility that’s been kind of intriguing to me, though I think we wouldn’t need to do it. It’s just one of those little things I tend to daydream about when I’m supposed to be working.

I think everybody agrees that Sabathia's days in Cleveland are over.  Right now, it looks like he's headed for the Brewers.  But that's a moot point.  Sabathia has already said he's planning to test the free agent waters once the season is over.  Personally, I think the Yankees will wind up with him.  I think Cashman is out and Hanky Panky is ready to do what he does best - throw huge sums of money down the drain on over priced free agent All-Stars.  I think he's finished with "the kids".  Quite frankly, I'm surprised they haven't tried to make a trade for C.C. themselves.  I also think the Skanks will throw money at Pettite and Mussina to keep them on the roster.

And that leaves Hughes and Kennedy as potential odd players out.

I think both of these guys could be had fairly cheaply at some point in the near future. If not by the Twins, then by some team.

Please keep in mind, that this is not something I see happening or think the team just has to do. This is all about personal satisfaction. A daydream and nothing more. After everything that happened last winter with Santana, I think it would be fun to nab them and watch them blossom in our system. A sort of last laugh kind of thing for all the fans that felt cheated when the trade didn’t go that way last winter.

Just some thoughts.

—Scott aka sploorp

It looks like part of my post didn’t make it, leaving the last third of my making no sense at all. It was my first post and I had no idea there was a space limit. I also didn’t realize my post was as long as it was either, sorry about that. I’ll try to edit myself a little better in the future.

Basically, I said no matter who winds up with Sabathia, he’s more than likely headed to the Yankees via free agency this winter. I think Cashman is out and Hanky Panky is done with the kids. He’s ready to do what he does best and that’s overspend on over priced all-star free agents. Not only do I think he’ll go after Sabathia, I think he’ll throw all kinds of crazy money to keep Mussina and Pettitte on the roster as well.

That’s why I feel Hughes and/or Kennedy might suddenly become a trade possibility. I’m just surprised the Yankees haven’t been pursuing a trade themselves. Maybe they have and I just haven’t heard anything.

Anyway, ‘nuff said. Good night all.