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Home | Sports | Twins

Core players plead for help from front office

Twins' All-Stars say it's time a serious trade-deadline move.

By LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune

Last update: July 28, 2009 - 7:50 AM

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ANAHEIM, CALIF. - The Twins' front office historically has been unable to make a significant July trade to help a playoff run.

Twins players want this year to be different.

In what amounted to a plea to General Manager Bill Smith, several players interviewed during the weekend series against the Angels said it's time for the front office to make a significant deal to help their chances of winning the American League Central.

Joe Nathan, Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer spoke over the weekend about how tough it is to be a Twins player at the trade deadline when in most of their years with the club, they have been within striking distance of the postseason before the July 31 deadline for trades without waivers.

"I think, for the most part, we feel like we've had teams that could win,'' Nathan said. "We've fallen short a couple times, and most of us feel like maybe that one little piece of the puzzle to help us out might have been the difference.

"A lot of times it's not that anyone feels we need something to help this club out, more-so to show that everyone is on the same page and everyone is trying to get better and get over the hump and that everyone is on board with one goal: to get where we need to be.''

Mauer said that, ultimately, the team has to win with what it has in the clubhouse. But the failure of the team to make an impact July trade has conditioned him to believe that nothing will happen, once again, this season.

"Yeah, there's frustration," Mauer said, "but I've learned over the last few years not to try to get my hopes up that we'll have something, then get disappointed.''

The players have heard the reports that the club is interested in Oakland shortstop Orlando Cabrera and reliever Michael Wuertz. They've heard about the interest in Pittsburgh infielder Freddy Sanchez and that the club contacted Toronto about its relievers and infielder Marco Scutaro.

All they ask for is to close a deal.

The players contend that it's time to win now when the front office remains cautious about holding on to its prospects.

"It's frustrating, very frustrating,'' Morneau said. "You hear about the future, the future. I don't know who gets to decide when that is or when they think that is.

"You have a core of a lineup that can compete with anyone in the league. One of the best closers in the game. Young starting pitching that might be missing one veteran guy to show them the way.

"It makes a difference to have someone like that.''

Smith was told of Morneau's and Nathan's comments on Sunday.

"I have great respect for guys like Morneau and Nathan," Smith said. "They are in there grinding it out, day after day after day. Certainly, every year we get to this point and we hope to be able to supplement this club and that's the case this year."

The Twins' last key July trade came in 2003, when they traded Bobby Kielty to Toronto for Shannon Stewart. Stewart hit .322 and helped the Twins reach the postseason.

Twins players who were around in 2007 still haven't forgotten how they felt when then-GM Terry Ryan dealt leadoff hitter Luis Castillo to the Mets when they needed offense to try to catch Cleveland in the Central. "That left a bad taste in our mouths," Nathan said. "Are we trying?''

Bullpen help was a priority last season. The only move the Twins made was an August trade for former Twin Eddie Guardado, who ended up getting passed over for Jose Mijares down the stretch.

Now, with Mauer set to be a free agent after the 2010 season, Morneau and Nathan said the front office should show the St. Paul native that it's serious about winning.

"If we don't do anything this year, I can't see how he's going to want to come back and go through this every year,'' Morneau said.

Said Nathan: "It's important to show the hometown boy that this organization wants to win."

Added Mauer: "I think Morny and Joe, the guys you talked to, are the same way. They want to win. We want to have chances to win. That's going to be a big factor into my decision. But I don't have to make that decision for a while.''

Smith, when told of those comments, declined to respond.

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