Limited Options for Twins outside Organization

When it comes to the Twins, it seems that nothing is going right these days. I am not harping on GM Bill Smith or Ron Gardenhire, but part of the team's problem extends from the fact that we signed Joe Mauer to an 8 year extension knowing his injury history. I am not saying that it was a bad deal or anything, but what happened next is what led to our short depth at catcher. First we trade Wilson Ramos to Washington for Matt Capps. Not a bad deal since we needed some extra depth in the bullpen. Besides Joe Mauer was doing pretty well at the time. So we decided that all we need is some sweet Drew Butera so it was time for Jose Morales to leave.

As it currently stands, both transactions are horrible because of Joe Mauer's current condition. Right now our catching depth consists of only Butera and Steve Holm. There is Butera who shouldn't even in the majors and Holm who is a career minor leaguer. As a result the Twins will have to make a catching transaction someday. The options below the jump.

These players are free agents:

1. Brad Ausmus: He is a 42 year old free agent who is an ok batter but the truth about him is that he might have played his last game in the majors. Will he sign, maybe but I doubt it.

2. Chad Moeller: The good thing is that he is 35, but, like Joe Mauer, he has had injury trouble. Still this shouldn't stop the Twins from trying to sign him since he could make a decent third catcher.

3. Gregg Zaun: At 35 he is also the best of the lot though he is "Retired." However this "retired" is was so the San Diego Padres could give his roster spot to another player. He is considered a good defensive catcher with a good bat.

The nuclear option

There is only one option, in terms of trades, and it will likely cost us dearly.

The Twins trade for minor league catcher Bryan Anderson.

He is considered a pretty good catcher but the problem is that the Cardinals have major depth in that position in the majors. The main thing is that he projects to be a average to slightly above average catcher.

My Analysis

I don't know what the Twins will do but I predict that the Twins will try to go the free agent route first.because it is the easiest way to go. For the record, I am guessing that Gregg Zaun will be the player targeted despite his age. He seems willing to play in 2011 and would be an offensive improvement compared to Drew Butera and maybe to the point that Carl Pavano and Gardy will be mourning his release.

As for the trade option, I don't want to go here but I must because Bryan Anderson is a property of the St. Louis Cardinals, and I mean in a sense that he isn't a slave despite what Adrian Peterson says, but in a sense he has a contract to play for the Cardinals organization just like Adrian has a contract with the Vikings. As a result, the Cardinals will likely play hardball for him and means we will give up either Carl Pavano or Nick Blackburn or both since the Cardinals will want a starting pitcher to replace Adam Wainwright.

Do I like it, no but our management made some stupid decisions in the past, but Bryan Anderson will allow for some depth as starting catcher should Joe Mauer be forced into retirement due to an illness that couldn't be predicted well in advance. Still the Twins needed a congentency plan in case the unthinkable happen to Joe Mauer and Ramos was that plan since he was the only catcher within the organization that had starter qualities. Thankfully for Bill Smith, the worst deal in Minnesota sports remains the Vikings sending the foundation of three World Championships to the Dallas Cowboys for Herchel Walker.

Update, the Twins say that it was a viral infection. Hopefully that is the case, but I don't want to give my hopes up and hear that he has to stay on the DL or eventually retire because of his current illness. As stated by me and other posters, this is a illness that could be only related to the flu, but could also mean something much worse including but not limited to ALS.

Update: Not a good article from Patrick Reusse. He is claiming that Joe Mauer was in workout room shape and not baseball shape when the Twins left Florida. He predicts that Mauer will need a rehab assignment at Fort Myers when he comes off the DL on April 28th.