Twins: Buy or sell?

As the trade deadline has been approaching (July 31), there has been talk about whether the Twins should be buyers or sellers.

That is, should they be looking to make trades that would improve the team for the final two months of the regular season — and hopefully then the playoffs — or should they forget about this season and make trades looking to the future?

Monday night's ugly stomping at the hands of the Texas Rangers has made Star Tribune blogger Howard Sinker sadly certain.

On twinkietown.com, there is discussion of a trade rumor involving Denard Span. I agree, the question marks that have long followed Ben Revere about his hitting have returned as he is in a slump in which he repeatedly hits the ball back to the pitcher (when he hits it at all). Span has flaws but this is not the time to dump him.

Bleacher Report says it's time to get rid of Francisco Liriano. I was telling the guys in the office the same thing Monday; he might wake up somewhere else, but I don't think it's going to happen here.

(The same site offers some possible players for the Twins to consider if they decide to be buyers, including Austin native Mike Wuertz).

As trades are pondered, the positions targeted often are ones where minor league prospects appear close to ready. For the Twins, aside from starting pitcher Kyle Gibson and perhaps outfielder Joe Benson or pitcher Liam Hendriks, no one seems to fit that description, according to a post at twinkietown.

The right-handed-hitting Benson has speed and flashed some power in AA last year but not this season (also at AA). Hendriks, a right-hander, was very sharp (8-2, 2.70 ERA, 4.6-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio) at AA before being recently promoted to AAA.

Gibson has been striking out about one batter per inning in his first full season at AAA but is 3-8 with a 4.81 ERA and has yielded 11 homers in 95 innings. Which explains why he hasn't been brought up to bolster the inconsistent and injury-plagued Twins rotation.

-- Craig Swalboski