March 9, 2012; Tampa, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves center fielder Antoan Richardson (4) workout prior to the game against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Richardson, a native of the Bahamas,  is listed at 5’8″ and 165 lbs, and is known as a speedster on the base paths with defensive range in center field and a weak arm. Think Ben Revere, without the gaudy batting average.

Unlike Revere, however, Richardson draws a lot of walks and owns a career OBP of .398, more than 120 points higher than his batting average. He’s doesn’t mind taking a pitch to the ribs, has stolen bases at a career 84% mark, and has swiped as many as 66 bags in a season. He also had a grand total of nine extra base hits last year.

Richardson was drafted four times, twice by the Orioles, so teams have seen potential in him in the past. However, at age 29 and having spent just 27 games above AA, Richardson is most likely organizational depth, and his ceiling is probably that of a defensive fourth outfielder and pinch runner. On the right ball club, there is definitely value to be had in that type of player, but with a plethora of organizational outfield talent, chances are the 2013 Twins aren’t that ball club.

Bernier is a slick-glove, small-bat player who has thrived defensively as a middle infielder but has experience at all four infield positions. He’s spent the past six seasons at AAA, including two stints in the Yankees organization. At 33 years old in June, he has even less MLB experience than Richardson’s nine games with the Braves, but still has the potential to be a solid defensive utility player in the right situation.

While Bernier hits for neither average nor power, he does own an OBP of .337 in those six years of AAA, as well as a fielding percentage of .956 in nearly 500 chances at third base. With little in the way of middle infield depth and intended backup Jamey Carroll potentially spending another season as a starter in 2013, Bernier could find his way onto the roster at some point this season.

It’s not clear whether either player has been extended an invitation to spring training.

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With his smile, Ben Revere will look good in any uniform. Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Welp, one of the main points from my article yesterday turned out to be incorrect.  Ben Revere will not be the Twins starting center fielder next year.  Revere was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies today, for starting pitcher Vance Worley and starting pitching prospect Trevor May.  This move seems to further the notion that the 2013 Twins will be a part of a rebuilding process.  However, if the Twins continue to make moves like this, and continue to acquire young starting pitching in exchange for players that come from a place of organizational depth, the rebuilding process could accelerate significantly.

I’ll miss Ben Revere.  He was very fun to watch.  I have often made points that there are players that we think are better than they actually are and players that we don’t realize are as good as they actually are.  I felt that Denard Span was better than what we see, and I feel that Revere is not as great as we think.  He didn’t get on base all that well, for someone with his batting eye and speed.  You can read about how BABIP really influences his value, if you read what I wrote yesterday.  He has zero power to speak of.  However, his exciting defensive plays and stolen base prowess make him an exciting player.  He is young and cheap, so he has value.  Clearly, the Phillies agree.  From an entertainment stand point, this is a huge loss.  From a personnel standpoint, this is a loss the Twins can absorb.

Vance Worley will join Scott Diamond in the rotation next year.  Worley is very much a Twins style pitcher, as he puts a lot of balls in play and relies on his defense.  While that is true, he can get strikeouts.  In his MLB career, he has a 19.9% strikeout rate.  This is certainly higher than most of the Twins pitch to contact stars of the past.  League average is 19%, so Worley is right there.  He is 25 years old and has 2 full-ish seasons under his belt.  In 2011, his K rate was higher and he had better luck with balls on play, and that resulted in a good season (3.2 WAR).  In 2012, his K rate dipped and he gave up a lot more hits, which resulted in a 0.7 WAR season.  If he can pitch like he did in 2011, this trade is a win for the Twins.  Of course…

Trevor May was also included.  May is another good prospect from a National League East team.  May was drafted in the 4th round of the 2008 draft.  He is 6’5″ and can hit mid-90s with his fastball.  He has three secondary pitches (curve, slider, change) and all can be great at times.  He needs to work on his command.  The Twins have shown that they can develop control, so this could still be a challenge and command does not necessarily equal control.  His strikeout rates in the minors have been consistently good.  His walk rate should be monitored closely.  If he can improve in that area, he can be a great pitcher.  Right now, he’d probably be the Twins’ 3rd best starting pitching prospect, behind Alex Meyer and Kyle Gibson.  Add in Jose Berrios and the Twins legitimately have 4 good starting pitching prospects.  They have doubled this number in the course of 10 days.  Not bad.

What does this mean for the 2013 Twins?  First, with improved command, May could debut next year.  It might not be until September though.  His command and control will dictate his ETA.  In addition, center field is now wide open.  I am guessing Aaron Hicks, Joe Benson and even Darin Mastroianni will be given a chance to win that job.  Hicks might be the front runner, but Benson has the chops as well.  Do not count him out.  Hicks remains the most logical choice, as he could also fill the newly formed void at the top of the lineup.  Mastroianni could be a dark horse, as he has the requisite on base skills and fielding ability to handle the job until Hicks and/or Benson are ready.  Regardless of who wins the job, the reality is that the 2013 Twins could be significantly worse, with the loss of Revere and also Denard Span.

While 2013 could be another lost season, the future looks bright.  The Twins are making shark moves right now.  Getting Worley AND May for a borderline starting outfielder is a big deal.  Revere is super fun to watch on the field, but also a very replaceable player with a very limited skill set.  He may improve, but he may always be Juan Pierre with a big smile.

I think this move might also signify that more moves are on the way.  I am guessing the Twins would happily move Justin Morneau for another pitcher.  They would be smart to try to move Josh Willingham as well.  The returns they received for Span and Revere show that they have to be open to this idea.  In addition, the Twins would be smart to take calls on Ryan Doumit and even *GASP* Joe Mauer.  Although, I’d need to be blown away to trade Mauer.

All in all, this Revere trade was a true shark move (obviously, I love that term).  They traded a popular, although expendable player for the most important missing resource in the system.  They got not one, but two young pitchers under team control for many years.  Terry Ryan has been maligned for doing nothing this off-season, and that may be true in the free agency world.  It is important to remember history though, he has built this team from the bottom once, and seems to be on the way to doing it again.

Ben looks sad; sad from the trade block.  Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE

Once the playoffs end, rumors begin.  Right now, all teams have the same record.  Twins fans are in a place where rumors are more exciting than reality.  The reality is that the Twins have had two consecutive terrible seasons.  The reality is that the Twins rarely make a splash in free agency.  The reality is that the Twins are typically a very conservative team with trades.  Rumors have been cycling around stating that the Twins are looking at various starting pitchers and also looking to trade their excess outfielders to improve their rotation and middle infield.  Some of these rumors seem crazy, while others fit the Twins’ mold more closely.  Let’s investigate a few of the rumors that I have seen over the past few weeks.

The Twins and the Cincinnati Reds

I have seen some speculation that the Twins and Reds would be good trading partners.  The Reds seemingly need an outfielder.  They got a surprisingly good season from Ryan Ludwick, but he is a free agent.  They also got a surprisingly awful season from Drew Stubbs.  Stubbs’ poor play creates a need in the outfield and in the lead-off spot of the lineup.  Denard Span would be a nice fit and Ben Revere could work as well.  The Reds have a young shortstop named Zack Cozart and a younger shortstop prospect named Didi Gregorius.  The Twins need a shortstop, as has been true since the early 90s.

There is some logic here.  I’d like to think the Twins can do better than Cozart or Gregorius for Span, but if this is the best offer, it might be worth taking.  It would surprise me if the Reds could find a better player than Span, but they probably can find someone better than Revere.  If the Reds would take Revere for either of these players, I’d do it.  If they demand Span, I’d look for something better.  If nothing better is out there, I’d come crawling back and sheepishly accept Gregorius.  He is nothing special with the bat, but the glove is outstanding.  He is a real shortstop, but one who will never have stats that reflect is true value.  He’d likely be a player that fans don’t embrace, but one who really helps the team win games.

Julio Teheran is a hoss. Don’t forget that. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-US PRESSWIRE

The Twins and the Atlanta Braves

I have read that the Braves are interested in Denard Span and/or Josh Willingham.  I can’t find the Willingham rumor, but it doesn’t make sense to me anyway.  Willingham is barely an outfielder at this point, so going to an NL team seems unlikely.  Span makes  a lot of sense for many teams, and the Braves are one of them.  Michael Bourn is a free agent, so they, like the Reds, need a leadoff hitter and center fielder   In addition, the Braves have a lot of starting pitching.  If the Braves want to make a deal, the Twins should listen and listen good.  I’ll put the likely available Braves arms in reverse order, based on my preference.

Paul Maholm.  No way.  Not for Span anyway.  He is 30 years old and a free agent after 2013.  If the Twins can’t get a young player for Span, they need someone a lot more established than Maholm.  I know some feel that Maholm isn’t that bad, but come on fans, let’s start aiming higher than “isn’t that bad.”

Jair Jurrjens.  No way.  Not for Span either.  Jurrjens is younger and has had some really great statistical seasons.  His 2009 and 2011 look great, unless you at any stat that indicates future success.  He has a low K/9 without a low BB/9.  When he doesn’t give up home runs, he has success.  When he gives up home runs, he is sent to AAA.  The Twins can do better than Jurrjens for Denard Span.

Brandon Beachy.  6 months ago, this would have been ideal.  Now, there are too many questions with Beachy’s Tommy John surgery.  If for some reason both teams are in this same situation next off-season, Beachy could be a good target.

Kris Medlen.  Probably off limits after his crazy second half in 2012, but I’d pass anyway.  He’s legit, but I’d want to see it over a longer period of time before I’d trade Span for him.  It would be unwise to overpay based on recent returns rather than long term potential or success.

Randall Delgado / Julio Teheran.  I’d trade Span for either of these guys.  Going into 2012, these were the two top prospects in the Braves system.  Both had disappointing and confusing seasons, but both are extremely talented and super young.  Both of these players have a higher ceiling than Kyle Gibson, a player most Twins fans are really excited about.  Delgado is not a prospect anymore, but Teheran, disappointing season notwithstanding, would likely be right there with Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton at the top of Twins prospect lists.

Tommy Hanson / Mike Minor.  I’d trade Span for either of these guys too.  It just depends on whether the Twins would want a young player (Hanson or Minor) or a super young player (Teheran or Delgado).  Minor was better than Hanson last year, but Hanson is more established.  Hanson had a bad 2012, but if he can get his walks down, he should return to the performance he showed from 2009 to 2011.  Both players are young enough to still be promising for the distant future and established enough to help in 2013.

For the record, I’d trade Revere for anyone on this list.  I doubt the Braves would trade any of these players for Revere (maybe Jurrjens).  I’m not convinced the Braves would take Span for anyone but Maholm or Jurrjens either.  Sadly, as I pointed out last week, trades are really hard.

The Twins and the Seattle Mariners

Speaking of Ben Revere, I read that the Mariners might have some interest.  They definitely have starting pitching to spare.  The Mariners have 3 really great starting pitching prospects:  Taijuan Walker, Danny Hultzen and James Paxton.  There is no way the Mariners are desperate enough for an outfielder to trade any of those three for Revere.  A lesser pitching prospect might be possible, but I’d be shocked if the Twins could pry Walker, Hutlzen or Paxton for Revere.

For Span?  Perhaps.  I don’t think Seattle would trade Walker for anyone in the Twins system.  Hultzen had a rough 2012, but pretty much had a floor as a number 3 starter when drafted.  Paxton has a ton of promise too.  I’d like to think Span could net the Twins Paxton and/or Hultzen, but I’m not so sure on Hultzen.  I’d probably make those moves too.

The Twins and the Starting Pitching Free Agent Market

The Twins have been rumored to be anywhere from “interested” to “kicking the tires” on all of the following pitchers:  Brandon McCarthy, Joe Saunders, Joe Blanton, Ryan Dempster, Brandon Webb, Brett Myers, Zack Greinke, Anibal Sanchez, and Edwin Jackson.  Whew!  I outlined what I think of many of these arms a few weeks ago.

Of those names, I feel Saunders and Blanton are the most likely to pitch in Minnesota in 2013.  I could see Myers and Webb as well, if the Twins either miss on bigger names, or actually sign someone like Greinke, Sanchez or Jackson (unlikely as it may seem).  Over the coming weeks and months, these players will start to sign.  Honestly, the Twins need so much pitching, that two or three of these names could be possible.  Is that likely?  Based on the Twins’ history, probably not.  If the Twins want to start changing their future, they should probably try to sign a big name and buck the trends of their free agent history.

BIONIC ELBOW!!! Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

The Twins and the Arizona Diamondbacks?

Apparently Trevor Bauer is available.  There isn’t a player on the Twins roster who Arizona would take for Bauer.  Bauer is one of the five best pitching prospects in baseball.  The Twins have some great prospects, but no one on Bauer’s level.  The Diamondbacks are openly looking to trade Justin Upton, so something tells me they aren’t in the market for Josh Willingham or Denard Span.  Even Joe Mauer is out of the question, at his salary and with Miguel Montero in Arizona.

Bauer is a pipe dream, but that is part of the fun.  In the off-season, every team has a chance at Trevor Bauer.  Rumors are fun.  Even if there is no realistic possibility that Trevor Bauer pitches for the Twins next year, we can dream.  Everyone dreams in the off-season.

What rumors are you hearing that entice you?  Share with me on Twitter – @bridman77 or in the comments below.  For the record, speculation city is Shoreview, Minnesota.