GM Smith Trying To Make A Trade

Minnesota Twins’ General Manager Bill Smith is working hard to find some help before the trade deadline.  Throughout the LA Angels series, many of the core Twins’ players expressed their opinions about trading for some players, to make a playoff run.  The most notable players who spoke about this topic  were pitcher Joe Nathan, first baseman Justin Morneau and catcher Joe Mauer.

The Twins have been linked to the Pirates’ relievers and infielder Freddy Sanchez, Oakland’s shortstop Orlando Cabrera and reliever Michael Wuertz, as well as some of Toronto’s relievers and infielder Marco Scutaro.

None of those deals appear to be anywhere close — yet.  The Twins had a scout watching the Pirates Sunday in Phoenix, presumably to watch Sanchez.

Those deals are not completely dead, and the GM still has time remaining before the trade deadline.  Smith appears to still be working the phones and trying hard to land some help for the Twins.

“We are working away, there is a lot of conversation going on,” Smith said. “I think, all teams are out there working the phones, and we’ve got a lot of people out, seeing major league games and we’re going to see if we can pull something together in the next few days.

Smith has a little extra pressure this trade deadline, because the hometown star, Mauer, will be a free-agent following the 2010 season.  If the Twins want to sign Mauer beyond next season, they would need to show the all-star catcher they are looking to win at all times — not just the future.

The Twins could use some help in the middle infield, as well as some bullpen help.  A couple spots in their young rotation are still a bit shaky and inconsistent, so the Twins should be buyers for almost all players available at the trade deadline.

A few days remain, so let’s see what Smith can do.

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