Let’s start with the starters: everybody wondered how Liriano would do, presumably striding to the mound Tuesday night with a chip on his shoulder as he faced his former team. He responded well, going 6 innings and striking out 8. Nobody talked about Nick Blackburn, though, except maybe with a dismissive roll of the eyes. He also appeared to pitch with an edge (for some reason), delivering 8 outstanding innings and surrendering only 2 runs. It was a very promising and surprising sight for Twins fans, even if Blackburn’s handsomeness factor has gone down significantly since he is now beardless.

Liriano left the game with some feathers in his cap, striking out Joe Mauer and Josh Willingham twice each. The second strikeout of Mauer came with 2 on and 2 out on a close called third strike. In a rare animated show of emotion, Mauer screamed at home plate umpire Mike Muchlinksi. Presumably it sounded something like this: “It might have been a strike Mike, but seriously, these people are turning on me! Help me out here! They’re already on edge about the Frankie trade, and now this! You’re killin’ me dude!”

Blackburn almost outdueled Liriano Tuesday night. Image: Jesse Johnson-US PRESSWIRE

Ultimately the results of the game came down to two nondescript members of the two respective bullpens: Addison Reed of the White Sox and Jeff Gray of the Twins. With the game 2-2 entering the 9th inning, Gray surrendered 2 runs on a A.J. Pierzynski home run in the top of the frame and Reed surrendered only 1 in the bottom half. The Twins will try to take the rubber game tomorrow afternoon with their de-facto ace Scott Diamond on the hill against Jake Peavy.

As for the trade deadline, it appears that the Twins did not hear enough in any offers for Denard Span, Glen Perkins, Jared Burton or any other players to move them. It makes sense; if they did not feel their trading partner was overpaying in a deal, there was no reason to move any of these players. They can now keep them as key building blocks moving forward. The Twins might also be thinking that they will make deals in August with players who must first clear waivers. It is quite possible that Carl Pavano, Matt Capps, and others will go the way of Jim Thome sometime during August.

For now, the Twins will continue to do what they did tonight; cringe and look on in fear, clinging to hope that Liriano does not figure out how to be consistent while wearing another uniform. And definitely not while wearing a White Sox uniform.

Span's other great catch last night. Image: Jesse Johnson-US PRESSWIRE

Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports reports that the Texas Rangers, in their exhausting derby with the division rival Los Angeles Angels, have started talks with the Twins about stud relief pitcher Jared Burton. If a “pitching for pitching” deal for Burton were to take shape, the Twins would have to be sure they were making a decided improvement to their system. Otherwise, it is hard to imagine a scenario where it is worth parting with a guy who might be able to solidify the situation in the back of the bullpen for the coming years.

Liriano faces his old team tonight. Image: Jesse Johnson-US PRESSWIRE

The urgency to trade LHP Francisco Liriano had been lingering for at least the last month. While some wondered if management reached out to him about a contract extension, GM Terry Ryan said that they never spoke about a long term deal. Now that we know that, we know they needed to trade him. While some do not like the return the Twins got in the deal, the time had come. The fact that this is Liriano’s free agent year combined with his checkered past with the team meant that they had to get something for him rather than watch him walk for nothing. Teams most likely knew that the Twins had no choice, costing them some leverage in negotiations.

Remember also that this is the same guy who was demoted to the bullpen with a 9+ ERA a few months ago. You can bet that hurt his value as a trade target when teams knew he would be a free agent at season’s end. Given the choice, many teams were probably willing to wait to pursue him without having to give up any players from their farm system for an inconsistent but promising pitcher. Think of it this way: if I told you back in May that the Twins would be able to get two admittedly underwhelming prospects for Liriano, wouldn’t you have done cartwheels? Shouts of joy would have rang: “They got professional baseball players for him!”

Let's make a deal? Image: Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE

With Liriano the Twins did not have the option of holding out for the perfect package. They do have that option with their remaining players whom other teams are targeting: Josh Willingham, Justin Morneau, and Denard Span. All three are under contract beyond this season; if the Twins are not overwhelmed by a package in which their trading partner overpays for one of them, they will keep them. This truth has unfolded recently with the rumors surrounding Span and Morneau. The Twins have said they will not take anything less than a Major League starter for Span. Talks with the Dodgers about Morneau have cooled because the player they wanted, Nathan Eovaldi, is no longer available after the Hanley Ramirez trade. There is no need to trade any of the three just for the sake of making a deadline deal as a seller.

We cannot say for sure what the case would have been as far as needing to trade Pavano, Capps, and their respective injured shoulders today. We will have to see what happens in August and beyond after they have returned to the team. At that point any rumor will be qualified with: “If they clear waivers…” For that reason alone the Twins will have to handle those situations differently, and perhaps with less urgency, than any deals before the deadline in the next 3.5 hours.

As always, stay tuned.