Postgame: More thoughts on the Liriano trade

I was about to wax poetic about tonight's 12-5 victory for the Twins, when word came (via the White Sox on Twitter), that the Twins had just traded Francisco Liriano.

So, I had about 30 minutes to write that (and an abbreviated game story) for our first metro editions. To anybody who gets one of those papers -- or anyone who saw that slop online -- I apologize. Hopefully, my late-edition stuff is more legible.

And I'm not complaining. If I thought the trade turned my night upside down, imagine the three players involved.

Besides getting traded to the Twins, along with Eduardo Escobar, Pedro Hernandez was with his wife in Fort Wayne, Ind., as she gave birth to their daughter. That second bit of news came just minutes after the trade was announced.

It's going to be whirlwind time for all three of these ballplayers -- Liriano, Hernandez and Escobar -- so here's a quick glance at each situation.

FRANCISCO LIRIANO

He was scheduled to start for the Twins on Sunday against Cleveland. Now he's going to wait around the Twin Cities because the White Sox are heading to Target Field for a three-game series that starts Monday. He'll likely pitch in one of those three games -- against the Twins -- but White Sox manager Robin Ventura wasn't ready to say which one.

"I didn't want to do it," General Manager Terry Ryan said. "Number one, I didn't think it was fair to him any longer. He had his name out there and everyone was out there talking about it. I know he was concerned. I didn't want him to go out there for many reasons. That's one, and another is I certainly didn't want him to get hurt.

"I waited as long as I wanted anymore to have go through all of this. For him to pitch here tomorrow, I'm not sure that would've been fair.

"If he would've spun one up there and done great or had a stinker, I don't think it would've affected it. When you evaluate guys, when you see what you like, you never forget that. They know what they're getting and I know what we're giving up."

PEDRO HERNANDEZ

The White Sox had the 23-year-old lefthander make a spot start at Fenway Park on July 18, and he gave up eight runs over four innings before getting sent back to Class AAA Charlotte.

Ryan believes Hernandez has the stuff to be a full-time big league starter, though the GM didn't want to label him a potential No. 1-5, etc.

"He has enough stuff," Ryan said. "He's got a fastball, slider and a change. He throws a lot of strikes, which is good, but I'm not going to say he pitches to contact. No, he doesn't do that. He pitches to get outs."

EDUARDO ESCOBAR

In another awkward twist, Escobar has been on Chicago's major league roster all year, but after this trade, he'll be joining Hernandez in Class AAA Rochester.

Listen kid, you might have been good enough for the first-place White Sox, but you're heading back to the minors before you can expect to play for these vaunted Twins.

Another 23-year-old Venezuela native, Escobar has received limited playing time behind shortstop Alexei Ramirez and second baseman Gordon Beckham. Escobar is 18-for-87 (.207) with no homers and 14 runs scored.

The Twins think Escobar can become an everyday shortstop or second baseman.

"He's a switch-hitter who can run," Ryan said. "He's got tremendous energy. He's strong enough. He can play shortstop. He can play second. He doesn't really profile at third offensively, but he can play there. Defensively you wouldn't have any problem with any of the three."

OTHER NOTES

* Brian Duensing will start Sunday's game in Liriano's place. Ryan said he's not sure if Duensing will remain in the rotation. It could depend on how well he pitches. Liam Hendriks has been very good for Rochester, but he had a rough outing tonight.