The Twins are looking hard at Cliff Lee. And if that doesn't work out, they're looking at Roy.
But all indications are that the Twins are willing to make such a deal. They are also willing to look at Houston righthander Roy Oswalt if they can't swing a deal for Lee -- if they don't have to give up too much.
And in this piece, Ron Gardenhire is all for it:
"Everybody wants the best pitchers in baseball. So if there are upgrades that can make your team better, I think every manager in baseball will tell you the same thing -- sure."
The Star-Tribune breaks down the cost-benefit (bringing us back to William's question/argument):
Lee can become a free agent this fall, so a team trading him now would be renting him for three months at about $4.5 million, and Seattle will expect top young talent in return. Houston might not get as much for Oswalt, but he's owed about $7.5 million for the rest of this season and $16 million next year, with an option for 2012.
It seems that, regardless, there are two top-tier pitchers available in Lee and Roy. And there are at least two teams who need that top-tier pitcher. So the math adds up for a potential deal to get done.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
