Long time lurker, first time FanPoster.  I plead for mercy.

I’ve been toying with a 2011 Twins Blueprint that revolves around the Twins moving JJ Hardy, Ben Revere, and additional pieces for Colby Rasmus.  I fully understand that a move like this presumes a number of things, including:

1.       The Twins would be comfortable with Nishioka and Casilla as their starting middle infield in 2011.

2.       The Cardinals are not comfortable with Ryan Theriot as their starting shortstop in 2011.

3.       There is enough fire to the “Rasmus and Larussa cannot get along” smoke that the Cardinals would actually make the trade.

4.       The Cardinals value Hardy as highly as I think they should.

5.       The Cardinals value Revere more than they probably should.

6.       The Twins are willing to part with the potentially significant “additional pieces” it might take to outbid the other teams that would clamor for the opportunity to trade for Rasmus.

If Rasmus is actually available, obviously a lot of teams would bid for his services. That said, I think the Twins might be uniquely situated in that they have both an above average major league shortstop and an almost-ready-CF-prospect-to-replace-Rasmus-in-the-near-future available for trade. To be sure, the Cardinals will want some solid prospects in a Rasmus trade, but they also want to compete in 2011 so they wouldn’t make the trade unless they could substantially upgrade another position.  Not every team can offer that, but the Twins can.  So, TwinkieTown, what do you think?  What “additional pieces” might it take to pry Rasmus away from the Cardinals?  Would it be worth it?  Slam away.

P.S. I’m a big JJ Hardy guy, but if the Twins are concerned about his nagging injuries and don’t want him in 2011, then they should trade him. And daydreaming of a Span-Rasmus-Hicks outfield in the future makes me all antsy in the pantsy.