OAKLAND, CALIF. – Brian Dozier agrees that the Twins could have done more, won more, to persuade the front office to keep adding to the roster.
They have not had more than a four-game winning streak this season, so they have been unable to get on a run that would have certified their playoff worthiness.
Still, when Dozier awoke to the news on Sunday that the Twins had traded lefthander Jaime Garcia to the Yankees for two pitching prospects — only six days after acquiring him from Atlanta, and a day before the nonwaiver trade deadline — it was as if hot coffee were poured in his lap.
"That's frustrating within itself, to not go on a little run," Dozier said. "A couple of games could have gone differently. We should be adding [players]. It's frustrating.
"I know all these guys feel the same way."
The reality is that the Twins are seven games behind Cleveland in the American League Central and five behind Kansas City for the last AL wild-card spot.
Their position prompted Chief Baseball Officer Derek Falvey and General Manager Thad Levine to switch gears. So Garcia was traded for pitching prospects Zack Littell and Dietrich Enns. The Twins sent the Yankees a little over $4 million in the Garcia deal, allowing New York to pay Garcia the minimum the rest of the season.
Garcia won his only start for the Twins, giving up three runs in 6 ⅔ innings on Friday at Oakland. He is expected to make his Yankees debut on Thursday at Cleveland.