Cleveland on Thursday made the kind of high-cost, precision trade that can decide a division and lead to a World Series. The move became the latest concerning development of the week for the tea-leaves-reading Twins.
By trading for All-Star closer and Minnesota native Brad Hand, along with rookie reliever Adam Cimber, Cleveland sacrificed an excellent catching prospect and provided a reminder that timing can be as important as talent.
The Twins won with a walkoff grand slam Sunday to finish a 9-2 homestand and raise hopes in the clubhouse that the front office would stand pat or look to add a key player or two via trade, but in the past six days, the team's hopes have taken these kidney punches:
• Center fielder Byron Buxton was placed on the disabled list at Class AAA Rochester because of a sore wrist. For a player whose iffy hitting mechanics were in the midst of an overhaul, the setback could prove costly.
• Third baseman Miguel Sano left his Florida boot camp to visit an ailing relative in the Dominican Republic just as he was to begin playing in games every day. Maybe a few days off won't hurt him, but it will slow his progress toward returning to the big leagues.
He is now three steps away — playing every day at Class A Fort Myers, cutting down on his strikeouts and then succeeding against Class AAA pitching. The delay won't help with a timetable that could prove crucial to the Twins' ability to chase Cleveland.
• Cleveland traded for Hand and Cimber, fortifying a poor bullpen that was the team's only obvious flaw. Cleveland ranks second in the American League in starter ERA and next-to-last in reliever ERA. Two-time All-Star reliever Andrew Miller, out since late May because of an inflamed right knee, is on a minor league rehab assignment and could return to the Indians soon.
The Twins have gone from being 7½ games behind a flawed team to being 7½ games behind a team that might be on par with the other powerhouse teams.
