WAITING FOR THE PHONE NOT TO RING.

The MLB trade deadline: that special time when all we seem to talk about are potential scenarios involving telephonic speculation and best guesses, possible three-ways, and sometimes things actually called "considerations." There are always one or two big move stories, but mostly it's a lot more talk than action (and there are very few three-ways -- settle down).

I watch it all with a casual curiosity, never too much anticipation either way since the Twins are rarely players on either end of the market. But this year is different; this year all eyes are on our big, beautiful, wry-witted, big-swinging, Canadian, MVP first baseman.

Hey, that's me.

I really only have one eye on it because I can hardly bear to watch. I get it. We all get it. Now it's this big game between agents and owners and stat heads and on-paper this and building for the future that... I'm not going to run through it all here (it's certainly all broken down smartly on Aaron Gleeman's blog) other than to say: This is one of those rare times I don't care so much about the numbers and that I just really, really want Justin to stay.

I want him to stay for me, for all of us, because, I, we, just fucking like him so much. He's a legacy player. He's a great presence in the clubhouse, on the field, in the Twin Cities. He could be really good again. There's no one right in line behind him who is better. And he wants to stay. He's always said that wants to retire here and I believe him because, come on.

I  also want him to stay for him. One of the things I hate the most to watch is when formerly (even very recently formerly) great players go down the free-agent rabbit hole, hopping from team to team and filling in where they need a thing (maybe offensive spark, maybe defensive leadership) more than they need a player. So many great players end up as basically well-meaning mercenaries for hire or trade for a season here, half a season there, until they just sort of disappear. That is the wrong ending for Justin Morneau.

We all know this in our baseball souls.

But we also know in our baseball minds that what's right is rarely the lead player in this game. I won't be shocked if tonight's is Justin's last game as a Twin, but I won't be happy either.

So, stay, Justin. Just, stay.

Ciao, buddies.
-christine