New Twins general manager Bill Smith told Sports Headliners earlier this week that while emphasizing a group approach, final decisions on trades will be his responsibility.
The Johan Santana trade watch is in the news every day and earlier this fall the Twins made a major deal with Tampa Bay that included the acquisition of potential star Delmon Young, an outfielder with lots of upside as a hitter. Any deals are based on extensive work by Smith and those who assist him.
“Ultimately I’ve got to make the decision but I don’t make anything in a vacuum,” said Smith whose advisors include former general manager Terry Ryan. “We’ve got a tremendous group of evaluators. …We try and bring in a lot of information and sort through it. I try to let our evaluators go through it, sort it and come back with consensus opinions. Sometimes all I do is make the (final) phone call. They do all the work. They come up with the answers that hopefully are going to make us better.”
Smith must consider a lot of information about players and some of that may not be consistent. “You certainly get conflicting reports and that’s part of scouting,” he said. “Sometimes you have to worry a little bit if all your reports are the same. Sometimes you want that different opinion. ….Sometimes you can piece it together when you get conviction from one person on one skill and another person on a second skill, and maybe even a third report. …”
Smith was asked if fans can expect a trade between now and late January when TwinsFest takes place, a potential opportunity to introduce new players at the Metrodome event. “I hope so because at this point we’re not ready to open the season yet,” he said. “We’ve still got some holes. We’ve still got to fill the third base spot. We’ve still got to fill center field. …”
Those needs could be addressed in any of three ways–trades, free agent acquisitions or promotions from within the Twins organization. Should fans be optimistic about filling needs? “We’re gonna have to fill them all,” he said. “We have to be ready to go on March 31st. We’ll get them filled. We’re going to keep banging away and do the best we can to put a good product out there.”
Smith said the Twins goal is always to contend for the American League Central Division championship.