Star Tribune columnist Jim Souhan suggested on July 11 that the Twins trade left fielder Delmon Young for a starting pitcher. Since then Young has made a place for himself among baseball’s best hitters. His performance indicates that following previous seasons of mediocrity he’s ready to make good permanently on his considerable offensive potential.
The opportunity to vote for shipping Young out of town for a quality starter could have created long lines at the polling booths earlier this year. Souhan’s suggestion made sense then but now the 24-year-old Young is hitting .362 in his last 10 games with two home runs and nine RBI, and he’s fifth among American League leaders in both batting average at .330 and RBI with 82.
The Twins, though, may yet part with an outfielder in a trade, likely for a good starting pitcher. That move won’t be this season but could come sometime in 2011 and involve either Jason Kubel or Michael Cuddyer, both of whom have played most of their big league careers with the Twins in the outfield.
The Twins have options on the contracts for both players next season. After that, or before, the front office will need to make some decisions.
Kubel looks like the least expensive option. He is finishing a two-year deal that pays $7.2 million, according to Cots Baseball Contracts website. Cuddyer is in the last season of a $24 million three year contract, per Cots.
Ball players are usually not looking for smaller paychecks from their next contracts unless their careers are clearly near dead end. That isn’t the case for Kubel, 28, and Cuddyer, 31, although age and money figure to be factors involved with decisions by the Twins on who to retain.
The Twins will have plenty of payroll demands in the near future including commitments to top earners Joe Mauer, Joe Nathan and Justin Morneau, and those looking for larger contracts like Francisco Liriano, Matt Capps, Denard Span and, oh yes, that left fielder named Young. But if there are enough bucks in the piggy bank, Cuddyer seems the better option for the Twins to keep around.
Both are good guys but Cuddyer is more of a leader. He’s also a superior fielder with a stronger arm. Cuddyer is the more versatile player, too, able to play a fancy first base and even willing to help out at third base.
Cuddyer’s hitting resume is more established than Kubel. Cuddyer began his career with the Twins in 2001, playing in eight games. Coming into this season he had a major league average of .270 with 107 home runs and 429 RBI. Kubel has played with the Twins for five seasons through 2009, compiling a batting average of .278, with 71 home runs and 279 RBI. He hit 28 home runs last season while Cuddyer had 32, and both are figures that may remain career highs regardless of how long either plays.
Kubel hits left-handed but the Twins are already formidable from that side of the plate with Mauer, Morneau and Span. And Kubel struggles hitting left-handed pitching.
The futures for Kubel and Cuddyer with the Twins are also likely to be impacted by Aaron Hicks and Ben Revere. They are both outfielders and two of the better prospects in the club’s farm system. Both show promise as hitters and fielders, and like other beginning major league players their payroll cost comes cheap.
Throw out the payroll considerations (a heavy toss) and Cuddyer is the preferred choice to keep around for a few more years. But regardless of who stays it sure looks like one of them is a bargaining chip to fill a major Twins need, another quality starting pitcher.
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