Twins righty Michael Pineda is drawing trade interest, tweets Jon Morosi of MLB Network. The 32-year-old takes the bump tonight at Target Field against Matt Manning and the Tigers, in what figures to be a well-scouted affair. According to Darren Wolfson of KSTP TV, the Twins have not held extension talks with Pineda, who’s due for free agency after the season. Wolfson notes that the Padres have scouted Pineda this month.
The cellar-dwelling Twins dealt one impending free agent last week as they shipped Nelson Cruz to the Rays. In addition to Pineda, Andrelton Simmons, J.A. Happ, Alex Colome, and Hansel Robles are set for free agency after the season and may be sent packing by Friday’s deadline. More desirable, but perhaps less likely to be dealt, are a trio of quality Twins players who are controlled through 2022: Byron Buxton, Jose Berrios, and Taylor Rogers. The Twins figure to be central to this year’s trade deadline action.
The Twins re-signed Pineda to a two-year, $20MM deal back in December 2019, despite the knowledge that he’d miss the first 39 games of 2020 due to a PED suspension. Assuming Pineda is making $10MM this year, more than $3MM will remain at the deadline. Pineda sports a 3.93 through 13 starts this year, missing time with thigh and forearm injuries. Pineda’s average fastball velocity is down to a career-worst 90.8 miles per hour this year. On a related note, he’s punched out only 21% of batters faced, his worst mark since 2014. Pineda’s strong control remains intact, with a walk rate south of 6%. As a flyball-heavy hurler, he’s always been prone to the longball.
Despite adding Yu Darvish, Blake Snell, and Joe Musgrove in the offseason, the Padres continue to seek starting pitching depth. Dinelson Lamet, working his way back from forearm inflammation, will make a temporary move to the bullpen once he returns. Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune previously linked the club to Kenta Maeda, Kyle Gibson, Jordan Lyles, Danny Duffy, and Jon Gray.
As Jon Heyman of MLB Network sees it, almost all contenders aside from perhaps the White Sox and Astros are prioritizing starting pitching. Morosi sees at least seven contenders as active in the starting pitching market at present: the Yankees, Red Sox, Giants, Dodgers, Padres, Astros, and Phillies. Though Morosi did not mention the Mets, SNY’s Andy Martino says they’re in the market for help in both the rotation and bullpen, with a focus on rentals.
Rays can fix him
Is a guy with a sub 4 ERA broken?
if you’re pitching in that division, probably
Not without pine tar. He’s a good back end guy in non-leveraged situations. Would you really trade for him at the deadline? Unless the idea was simply to get the team to October, perhaps. No way he’s on my playoff roster however.
Sounds like a great fit for Seattle.
What? Might not be one of the four starters the first time through the rotation in the postseason but the guys an effective pitcher so he’d definitely be on the roster
“Not on playoff roster” is perfect for the Mets. They’ve got deGrom, Walker, Stroman, and one or more of Carrasco, Syndergaard and Hill ahead of him…but I like the idea of Thor coming out of the pen for 2 IP instead of expecting him to start so soon after TJ.
Pine tar Pineda!
@luckyh- please just keep Pine tar Pineda as far away from the Yankees as possible. He’ll always choke in a big spot. We’ve seen it a many times before.
Has the foreign substance debate and ban made PED talks soften? I feel like I’m less critical than I was.
Wow, didn’t know that he’s only 32. Thought he was late 30’s.
Perfect Mets add in my opinion.
I agree. Not sure how much he’d cost in the way of prospects but it can’t be too much.
Book him to SF. This is just the type acquisition Zaidi likes and he’s got a ton of experience working with Twins GM
I don’t see the twins dealing with the giants any time soon after the Sam Dyson debacle a couple years ago.
@schwing They already dealt with the Giants post-Dyson. It’s that Wade Lamonte Jr. robbery that would have me thinking twice about trading with the Giants.
Mets have to look into a SS like Simmons with Lindor uncertainty
Great spot for him as Brewers 4-5 starter.
brewers need bats and bullpen arms first.
Keston needs to sit in the minors until 2022…
I have said since the Twins acquired him – dude is a reliever. Throws some gas through 3 innings, gets in trouble in the 4th and is taken out in the 5th. It’s so routine, you could book it Every. Single. Time.
Guy would be much more effective and durable as a reliever imo. I would never trade for him as a starter. He goes down quicker than a cheap hooker.
Pineda, Polanco and Colome to the Mets for a couple of low level prospects, AAA outfielder and Vientos?
I wouldnt mind that trade honestly myself,always liked Polanco a d Colome still has some life left in his arm,use Pineda until October,then either leave him off the post season roster if we make it there unless he is on fire then stick him in the pen.
Twins don’t need any outfielders. They have Rooker, Larnach & Kirilloff plus in the minors their #1 prospect is Royce Lewis. Buxton, Kepler & Nick Gordon on ML roster. Twins will not be handing players over for free.
I generally hate the idea of trading Vientos but that idea is intriguing.
Mets should grab Pineda and slot him into game 2 of tonight’s double header!
STINKS Pineda should go to the Mutts with the rest of the CRAPPY pitchers they have or have signed lately.
Buyer beware with Pineda. 32 years old and has more missed seasons (3) than seasons with 30+ starts (1). Get him for the stretch run but make sure he’s not your only acquisition
Get rid of Pineda and Happ if possible, they’re taking up space for young pitchers to learn and grow.