If Don can turn him into functional pitcher again, then we need to take a long hard look at replacing our pitching coach–which might not be a bad idea anyway.

And if there was a potential bump, there would be an equal decline in value with a bad start. He could also get injured. They took the best offer they had. It sucks, especially because he’s so talented.

In the end, we’re talking about, at best, a bump up from marginal prospects to slightly less marginal prospects. None of the players were talking about in even the best case scenario is anywhere close to a difference maker.

They got something. They got a pitcher who will likely be a lefty reliever. And they got a utility player with an extremely good glove. Not great. I’m not exactly jumping for joy, either. But I think in this case the Twins should get the benefit of the doubt. They did what they had to do.

Incidentally, I’m 100 percent sure that, if you walked into Twins offices today and talked privately with the front office, they’d say that they’re disappointed with the return, too.

Liriano was a risky asset. If I sold you a television, and told you that it only works from time to time, you’d pay me less for it and then hope you can figure out how to fix the thing.

Mazeville: I absolutely do NOT assume that. I am saying: if he were bad again, SO WHAT? They didn’t get anything of value.

But if he were good, two things happen. One: he was good, so his value gets a bump. You can argue it would be small. I disagree, but fine. However: Two: they actually come up against the deadline, and teams are forced to make real “final offers”.

If these two things added up to “no better offer” or even “no offer, period,” SO. WHAT?

They didn’t get a worthwhile player for him. They got a pitcher with anemic milb strikeout rates and sky-high flyball rates. IOW, they got a guy who is overwhelmingly likely to be a terrible MLB pitcher. Just as he was in his sole run-out as a White Sox starter. Oh yes: and they got a fungible good glove, no-hit replacement player.

Ortiz, Pierzynski, Koskie, Hunter, Radke, Santana, Redmond, Jones, Thome, Crain, Kubel, Cuddyer, and Nathan are just a few former players who made the Twins exciting and gave the team its character over the last decade. And now Liriano.

The Twins are no longer a small-market, low-revenue team. So, I found it odd that an extension for Liriano was not even offered.

I can’t figure out the direction Terry Ryan wants to take with this current team. But, to be honest, many of us fans are losing interest. We were spoiled with very good teams during 2002-2010. The current Twins just don’t inspire much of anything.

As for the trade, it’s over now. I just hope that the team realizes that to get value, you need to give up value. And, I think they need to trade for some legit pitching, so I hope they deal from strength and deal some OFing for some SPing.

I, for one, am a bit disappointed, but maybe for different reasons. I wasn’t expecting much of a return for Liraino, but I’m pretty sure I’m in small company when I say Liriano is (was) my favorite Twin. I’ll never forget his 2006 season when he was the best pitcher on a team that produced the Cy Young award winner. When he took the mound that year you knew the Twins were going to win, period. I know he’s never been the same but I love watching him pitch, you never know what you get, sometimes you get 3 innings of disaster, sometimes you get a no-hitter. I also know that his inconsistency is difficult to manage but it was fun, I loved watching his slider when he was on. I can’t help but wonder what could have been if the pitching staff hadn’t tried to get him to ‘pitch to contact’ if those rumors are in fact true. I understand it makes managerial sense to get rid of Liriano but I can’t help being disappointed that he’s gone.

I wish he hadn’t gone to my least favorite team. And I might be alone in saying this but I’ll be a lifetime Liriano fan. I wish him the best, and if I could, I’d thank him for the show he put on in 2006 that I’ll never forget.