Last winter the Minnesota Twins led fans on by suggesting that, despite a $30 million payroll reduction, the team would try to use the resources it had to improve the roster. The offseason began with speculation that Jorge Polanco would be traded to help add frontline starting pitching, but ended with the team sheepishly salary dumping him in one of the most meaningless trades of the year.
Of the five players traded in that deal, only Polanco and Justin Topa played in games with the latter missing almost all of the season with constant injuries. Anthony DeSclafani suffered a season-ending injury before Opening Day, Gabriel Gonzalez moved down in prospect rankings, and everyone sort of forgot about Darren Bowen who is at High-A Cedar Rapids.
That sour taste ended up lingering all season, not because the trade busted but because of the mindset the led to it being made in the first place. Derek Falvey did what he could under the direction of not adding to the payroll, but the fact that the Twins salary dumped an All-Star fan favorite to save a few bucks was embarrassing at the time and aged even poorly as the season went on.
It seems as though Twins fans are about to endure yet another offseason where an All-Star player is dumped for no logical baseball reason.
Willi Castro is a frustratingly prime salary dump candidate this offseason
Twins insider Aaron Gleeman suggested some players who might get shopped this winter and once again Willi Castro's name came up. This isn't terribly surprising given the circumstances surrounding his arbitration this offseason, but the reasoning behind moving him is the part that stings.
"There would be no logical reason to trade Castro if not for their payroll situation. He’s high-end depth on a team certain to need plenty of it, $6.2 million is a reasonable salary for a super-utility player and it’s tough to imagine a big return in trade. But when money is tight, clearing $6.2 million and getting something in return for a “bench” player becomes an option," Gleeman wrote.
The idea that the Twins would dump Castro isn't surprising, which is what makes it so frustrating. No matter how it's framed, the Pohlad's care only about money and not about putting together a competitive team. Sweet nothings were whispered last season, but the veil has dropped and a season of getting proverbial rocks thrown at them has led to the quiet parts getting shouted at fans who are sick of seeing the team's potential wasted.
Greed has been the captain for decades in Minnesota, and it would almost be out of character for ownership to approve deals like keeping Castro around. It's a tough rock-and-hard place situation for fans, as the Pohlads have them over a barrell this winter.
If Castro is traded then the team is weaker in the trenches, but if he stays then he'll effectively be used as the free agent signing fans want the team to make given the money he'd be owed. Fans are in a no-win situation, and the embrassing way the team is run has us living through yet another cold winter where the only warmth is our rage.
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