The Twins have acquired outfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker from the Rays organization in exchange for cash, the Twins’ top affiliate in Rochester announced today. Hazelbaker, who is not on the 40-man roster, has been assigned to Triple-A Rochester.
Hazelbaker, 30, opened the season in the D-backs organization but was quickly traded to the Rays in early April. He hasn’t had a very good season to date, hitting just .210/.293/.397 in 239 plate appearances with the Rays’ Triple-A affiliate in Durham. That said, he’s been swinging the bat better since June 1 and has a solid overall track record in parts of seven Triple-A campaigns, where he’s a lifetime .265/.328/.442 hitter in 1341 PAs.
Minnesota has a good bit of outfield depth on the roster already, and it seems unlikely that Hazelbaker would be called upon to return to the big league level at any point in the near future. To his credit, Hazelbaker does have a solid big league track record, however, despite his poor showing in Triple-A this year. In a small sample of 285 MLB plate appearances, he’s a .258/.327/.500 hitter with 14 homers.
trident
Twins really going for it.
xabial
They never say how much cash… how much you worth
jd396
Reports indicate that the Twins gave the D-Backs $200 and the Short Line railroad in exchange for Hazelbaker and the Water Works.
baseballpun
Gotta think Levine is gonna check in with Texas about the Electric Company.
jd396
Wheeling and dealing, always exciting. Like last year when the Astros picked up Marvin Gardens and Ventnor Avenue in a waiver wire deal at the end of August.
GareBear
Meanwhile, Dealin’ Dipoto managed to net Broadway and is already planning to build a hotel.
Kslaw
This string of comments was very well done!
lippy10195
I’m LOLing. Pretty funny.
luclusciano
Finally – now that we know it was the Twins that got him we can get on with the other trades.
Solaris601
Now we can look forward to the MLBTR article “Reactions to the Hazelbaker Trade”. PREVIEW: Phillies’ Matt Klentak’s initial reaction – “There goes our playoff hopes. Tampa passed up a package of Sixto Sanchez and Arquimedez Gamboa, but Minnesota busted out the cash card, and money talks, right?”
Phillies2017
Seeing as how he cleared waivers, I’d imagine <$20,000.00
xabial
Rays acquired Rob Refsnyder from CLE for $90,000.
How is that relevant? Glad you asked.
To this day, that’s the only MLB transaction (feels like ever?) where the cash amount was disclosed. I realize it’s demeaning to the guys traded, but I wish more cash considerations amounts were disclosed for trades.
I find that stuff really interesting!
espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/22935437/tampa-bay-rays-ac…
Connorsoxfan
It’s also relevant because Refsnyder is a future HOFer though, along with Swihart.
Doc Halladay
In 2014, the Oakland A’s acquired Brad Mills for one dollar.
Phillies2017
Dolla Dolla Mills
xabial
2011: Brewers traded Wil Nieves to the Braves for one dollar.
More Dollar Trades:
In 2008, Phillies traded Wes Helms to Marlins for one dollar.
Thanks. I didn’t know any of this before today!
Col. Taylor
T’ins going ALL IN Pohlad style.
Rezonator
Blockbuster.
Fuck Me Bitch
Do you know that the original meaning of blockbuster was a bomb big enough to bust up a city block? That’s some information you didn’t expect to get today, did you?
Phillies2017
Well if thats the case then the failed movie rental chain lived up to its name
CobiEven
Always the same bad jokes.
sufferforsnakes
New home, new beginning? Or will it be new beginning of the end?
Solaris601
Seems like only yesterday Cards fans were all abuzz over this guy: “Blah, blah, blah, blah….Jeremy Hazelbaker…blah, blah, blah, blah.”
Jjbeach
At least it’s good to see that the Twins are buyers
after the All-Star Game.
Paul Griggs
Hazelbaker will be one of the more potent threats at Rochester with his .210 BA. The Red Wings have nobody that looks capable of being a help offensively in Minnesota. Maybe Petit.
Paul Griggs
It seems like the FO Wunderkind are making lots of moves that neither help nor hurt. We’ve drafted or acquired a couple of dozen catchers and they won’t let Garver take a decent shot of starting more regularly. Wilson must be one incredible defensive catcher because he can’t hit a lick. We saw him hit a scorching line drive to the second basemen, who was trimming his nails waiting for it to get to him.