Trade of Knoblauch in ’98 Paying Off for Twins

The Minnesota Twins are finally getting what they hoped for when they traded Chuck Knoblauch for four minor leaguers.

It took three years, but heck, who’s counting? Certainly not the Twins after the way they’ve started this season.

With key contributions from the players they received for their star second baseman, Minnesota is off to its best start since 1972 and going into the weekend had the best record in the majors.

Yes, those Twins.

“It feels pretty good and our pitchers deserve all the credit,” third baseman Corey Koskie said. “I think we have a pretty good team here.”

The Twins wouldn’t be as good if not for that trade in February 1998.

Knoblauch wanted a new home, the New York Yankees needed a leadoff hitter, and Minnesota needed, well, all the help it could get.

So the Twins shipped Knoblauch to New York, which plugged him into the machine that has won every World Series since. The Twins lost 92 games or more in each of the years that followed and ran their streak of sub-.500 seasons to eight straight.

At first the trade looked as if it worked out better for the Bronx Bombers. But look now at the players the Twins got in the deal.

Minnesota’s No. 2 starter Eric Milton has emerged as one of the best lefties in the league, and Cristian Guzman’s rapidly improving offensive game now matches his smooth glove at shortstop. Plus, he’s just plain fast. Very fast.

Even Brian Buchanan, a trade throw-in, is on the roster as a reserve outfielder. Minnesota also got right-handed pitcher Daniel Mota in the trade, but he’s still in the minors.

Because of Knoblauch’s throwing woes at second, he moved to left field this season with the Yankees, who entered the weekend 9-7 and three games behind Boston in the AL East.

Milton and Guzman have helped put the Twins atop the AL Central, although it’s easy to question whether they can keep up the pace.

“They are trying to play the game the right way, and not just the basics,” manager Tom Kelly said. “It’s nice, of course, but there are a lot of things out there we need to work on.”

The Twins were counting on good pitching and defense, but the offensive support has been stunning. The Twins, 13th in the American League in runs scored last season, entered the weekend leading the league in batting average (.298), on-base percentage (.367) and slugging percentage (.511).

Such stats sound sweet to general manager Terry Ryan, who had to cope with owner Carl Pohlad’s payroll-slashing in 1998 and ’99.

“It wasn’t that we wanted to trade” Knoblauch, Ryan said. “He wanted to be traded. And when we made the deal, people were concerned that we didn’t get anybody back.

“The Yankees have won three World Series, and Knoblauch’s been a part of that. And you have some players here that give us the ability to grow. We both got what we were looking for.”

Knoblauch--perhaps spoiled by getting a ring as a Twins rookie--had grown tired of losing since Minnesota’s 1991 championship, and his attitude didn’t help in the Twins’ clubhouse.

Minnesota fans were angry when the four-time All-Star declared he wanted no part of the team’s gloomy future. These days, they might want to send him a thank-you note.

“The chemistry’s been great” since the trade, said utility man Denny Hocking, one of only three position players on the team who played with Knoblauch.

“Milton and Guzman had the talent, and they came in and fit in right away. That’s what we needed. Anytime you make a trade with your superstar, you want to show the team and the community that you made the trade for a good reason.”

Ryan has done a good job rebuilding the Twins, who had the smallest payroll in the majors on opening day, $24.3 million, about $9 million less than the closest team, the Oakland A’s. The Yankees, meanwhile, had the highest, $109.7 million.

Top starter Brad Radke signed a four-year extension with the Twins last season, Milton and Guzman have both been locked up for four years, and Koskie is signed for three.

So, the small-market Twins seem to be in good shape for the next few seasons if their young players continue to improve.

“One of the toughest things in baseball is to be patient,” Ryan said. “You know these guys ultimately have a chance to be pretty good, but you’ve got to grow with them, work with them and watch them.

“There will be some mistakes that you shake your head at, but ultimately they’ll be better for it in the long run.”