So, about that backlog in Minnesota…looks like it’s been taken care of, for now at least.
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A day after trading catcher Chris Herrmann to the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Twins sent Aaron Hicks to the Yankees in a trade that brought back catcher John Ryan Murphy, the team announced.
Hicks was originally selected by the Twins in the first round (14 overall) of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft.
After years of doing nothing but hoping their young players would develop, the Twins are not in a position to get rid of those who aren’t developing enough. The move suggested a Trevor Plouffe trade was imminent, and it still might be, but today’s developments give more credence to Ryan stacking upside talent where available and affordable.
The Twins have made two trades in two days, and the second is considerably bigger than the first. Suzuki is still signed for $6 million in 2016, but it wouldn’t shock me at all if Murphy began to get the bulk of the playing time for the Twins behind the plate.
With the Yankees having Brian McCann locked in as their starting catcher, getting a young, talented outfielder like Hicks for a backup catcher isn’t a bad move.
Trade rumors have been swirling around Gardner at this week’s GM meetings in Boca Raton, with the Mariners among the teams interested in acquiring him.
Minnesota did pretty well to upgrade their catching while giving up a guy who really didn’t seem to be in their long-term plans.
Murphy was sort of caught in limbo between McCann and stud prospect Gary Sanchez.
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Why would the Twins trade Aaron Hicks, a five-tool centerfielder coming into his prime?
