Hello, SBG fans, and welcome to the post-trade deadline edition of SBG, The Mag.

Well, the Twins didn't pull the trigger on anything before the trade deadline and with their dismal 4-8 road trip, the Twins come limping home (literally) with a four game deficit in the Wild Card standings. They come home to a seven game homestand against Boston and Oakland. Yes, if they sweep the A's they can make up that deficit. (Of course, they have two teams ahead of them.) But, that's not likely, now, is it.

I'm not all that disappointed that they didn't get a rent-a-player like Alfonso Soriano. Soriano is a supremely talented player, but he wasn't going to be the difference maker. Soriano has an average or slightly worse (especially this year) OBP. In that sense, he fits right in with Hunter and Jones. But he's got a lot of punch. Already this year, he has 54 extra base hits. By comparison, Hunter leads the Twins with 38. Soriano has 26 home runs and has averaged 35 home runs a year in the three years prior to 2005. When's the last time a Twin averaged 35 home runs over a three year period? Harmon Killebrew, from 1969-71. So, Soriano would have been the best slugger this team has had since Killer. Better than Puckett? Better than Hrbek? In terms of hitting the ball over the fence, yes.

The problem with trading for Soriano is that the Twins would never had been able to sign him next year. Soriano made $7.5 million this year and will likely be a $10 million player next year. In other words, he'd play for the Twins for two months. I'm sure that he would cost at least one good prospect (and probably a starting pitcher). Let's face it. Even with Soriano's bat in the lineup, this team is not going to win a playoff spot.

I think, however, that the Twins need to get a player like Soriano on next year's team. This team's offense is, well, offensive. The Twins need a big right handed bat to anchor this offense. Torii Hunter has proved that he can't carry an offense. The Twins should move him to clear his $10 million off of their payroll. The Twins have room for one $10 million player. They need to give that money to an offensive player. Hunter has an OPS+ of 99 coming into this year. And as I discussed this weekend, Hunter's had a pretty crappy year for the most part. Nevertheless, Hunter has some value, even if he is making a ton of money. I'd try to convince the Yanks to take him. If they'd flip us Robinson Cano, I'd be ecstatic. I don't think that'll happen. I first mentioned this trade back on June 28. It was a lot more doable then.

I'd also move Shannon Stewart, if possible. He's not worth his contract either, but I think it'll be hard to trade him. Why? Because he's an absolute liability in left field. He's turning into a statue out there and he throws like SBG. He's having his worst season as an everyday major leaguer offensively, by far. If Stewart doesn't hit, he's not worth having on the ballclub.

Let's assume that trading Hunter and Stewart nets a good young player like Cano and prospects. It also clears $16 million off of the payroll. That's enough to sign an impact offensive player and another decent starter (or sign Jones, who's a better player than Stewart). With a cheap young starter and two more impact players, the Twins could be ahead by moving these guys. Then, assuming that Bartlett can play shortstop (and he might be ready now), the Twins could be upgraded without impacting the payroll. Of course, Pohlad could scrape some of the mold off of his billions and increase the payroll up to say $65 million and sign another bona fide offensive player.

In any event, it's clear that the Twins have to make some major changes to retool this offense. Only Kansas City has scored fewer runs than the Twins this year (and only by one run). Drastic changes need to be made. Trading Hunter and Stewart and signing some real offensive players seems to be the logical move.

What do you think? What should the Twins do to address their offensive woes? Leave a comment.

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