The Twins have pulled off one trade today (Sam Fuld for Tommy Milone), and overall just two trades as we get near the trade deadline (if you count Kendrys Morales to Seattle, which I do). With most of the horses still in the stable, here's a last-minute update where everyone stands.
Kurt Suzuki
After hearing earlier today that the Twins had re-initiated extension talks with Suzuki, it quickly became apparent that, no, actually, the sides were still nowhere near getting something done.
#Twins and Kurt Suzuki still "very far apart'' in extension talks, says a BB source.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 31, 2014
Source: #Twins, Kurt Suzuki NOT close on extension.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) July 31, 2014
Whether or not the front office can actually reach a middle ground with Suzuki's agents that's equitable for both sides remains to be seen, but whatever happens here won't happen quickly. I still believe that anything more than two years and anything more than $7 million per is robbery in favor of Suzuki.
Josh Willingham
#Yankees taking this down to the wire. Willingham, Denorfia types of names under consideration. Byrd, too; talks currently at impasse.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2014
Now hearing #Yankees are out on Marlon Byrd. #Phillies could be out of places to send him
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) July 31, 2014
I still think that there is some lukewarm interest in Willingham, but it's quite possible that he's not everyone's top choice. We know that the Yankees are desperate for help scoring runs, and that's something that Hammer could do. Let's be honest: that's what he's built to do, and it's all that's left that he can do well. He may not be the 35-homer monster that we watched launch home runs that torched the skies back in 2012, but he's not done yet.
Kevin Correia
Crickets. This isn't happening until August, if it happens at all.
Bullpen
Casey Fien has been brought up as a relief candidate locally, because we all know exactly how good of a reliever he is. But I haven't seen or heard anything about him on a national level. Brian Duensing, on the other hand, would be a fantastic option for teams who lost out on the Andrew Miller sweepstakes.
Stay tuned. It's almost over.