Has anyone heard what the Twins are wanting for Nathan?
My understanding is that the Twins are ready to replace Nathan with an internal solution: Pat Neshek. So having to give them someone like Qualls may not be necessary, but then again, if they want a solid 8th inning guy, I can't see how they won't ask for Chad. Add Chris Burke to replace the now departed Barrett (to the Rays) and you have the makings of a deal. One more minor league arm (Estrada? Guiterrez? Not Paulino, Guervacio?) would probably do it.
But that is a three for one deal for a one year rental (albeit a cheap one year rental of 6 million dollars). In the open market, Nathan is going to be worth more than Cordero so I doubt Houston will want to pay him that much and will let him walk after 2008. You have to believe that if Milwaukee was willing to pay Cordero 10 million per year and give him four years to boot, then they could make a deal for Nathan easily with their stable of young arms and good prospects. But what is Minnesota looking for? Qualls/Burke are major league ready and Guervacio is a lower minor league prospect. Surely Milwaukee can beat that, can't they?
If the Astros traded Qualls, rest assured they've effectively got rid of Lidge/Wheeler/Qualls in less than one year's span. That is three quality arms in the bullpen that will be hard to replace. Albers to the pen? I think that would open up for him, as well as giving Sarfate, Paulino and perhaps Guitterrez a clear shot at a pen job next season (Sprinkled in amongst the veteran arms of Brocail, Geary and Villareal). BTW - Oscar Villareal last I heard is having a damn good winter league stint in Mexico and one scout said he looks like the old Villareal that pitched for the Diamondbacks. That would be huge if true because that gives him the open shot at a #8 inning setup man.
Now, where is that lefty arm that they need coming from?
