Jays Cut Thomas

Frank Thomas was cut by Toronto today, leaving the 39-year old free to finish his career with a team who will likely see the post-season. It will be interesting to watch which teams Thomas will garner interest from, as many of the favorites for October are set at 1B/DH.

about 4 years ago Jesse 18 comments 0 recs |

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The Twins should sign him

"I don't care about feelings." - Lou Piniella

by natetheskate on Apr 20, 2008 9:42 PM EDT reply actions

I doubt he wants to be here

seems to me he’s going to be one of those “go where playoffs linger” types.

by BD57 on Apr 21, 2008 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

Particularly at this point in his career. If he wants another ring, he doesn’t have the luxury of waiting for something to develop.

by Jesse on Apr 21, 2008 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Thomas does not want to platoon, we have no room for him

by .mnqwerd on Apr 21, 2008 1:58 AM EDT reply actions

No room

We have no room, because he wants to start. DH would be the only option, and it’d basically be like getting rid of Kubel for a year of a questionable Thomas.

"Don't take anything for granted, because tomorrow is not promised to any of us."

by Twins Territory on Apr 21, 2008 8:26 AM EDT reply actions

Or we could flip Kubel for some slammin' prospects

cut Monroe and actually save money by upgrading DH with Thomas at league minimum and dumping Kubel’s payroll. Next year we can figure something else out.

"I don't care about feelings." - Lou Piniella

by natetheskate on Apr 21, 2008 2:29 PM EDT reply actions

You would cut the future for one year of a washed up asshole?

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Apr 21, 2008 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions

His line in '06 and '07

.170/.381/.545 with 39 HR and 114 RBI and .277/.377/.480 with 26 HR and 95 RBI, respectively. This is attached to a league minimum salary.

Now you look at that situation and blame Thomas, but I see a manager with a track record of personnel conflicts and a management that is pretty clearly (I say that because what is Toronto’s backup DH option) trying to screw Thomas out of a vesting provision in his contract. I don’t really blame Thomas-a player that’s still got enough pop to be a + DH on an AL team-for wanting to finish up his career in a place that respects him. I’ve personally always thought of Thomas as a class act, and it would be sweet to see him mash in the dome as per usual… but this time on our side.

As for Kubes, ok he’s got a lot of upside but that means he’s valuable to other teams too. Maybe we can get some good prospects back for that. Use some imagination.

Finally, just in case you people don’t realize how insane Thomas’ numbers have been career-wise, according to the NYT, “Thomas is one of four players with at least a .300 average, 500 home runs, 1,500 R.B.I., 1,000 runs and 1,500 walks. The others are Mel Ott, Babe Ruth and Ted Williams.”

"I don't care about feelings." - Lou Piniella

by natetheskate on Apr 21, 2008 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Correction

‘06 line .270/.381/.545 not .170 BA

"I don't care about feelings." - Lou Piniella

by natetheskate on Apr 21, 2008 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Thomas

If I legitimately thought the Twins would contend for a playoff spot this season, I’d say go for Thomas. There would be a way to do it, if they wanted to, but it would mean sacrificing Kubel’s development. And if you’re going to do that at this point you might as well punt him.

But the Twins won’t contend this year, and so there’s little use in picking up a guy who’s focusing on 2008, especially when it would mean throwing Kubel on the sacrificial alter, when he’s part of the Twins plans for next season and beyond.

I’m with you in that I think Thomas will be able to help someone—I just think the Twins would be shooting themselves in the foot by making the necessary moves to accomodate him. If he were willing to take a bench spot, which he’s apparently not, that’d be something else to consider.

by Jesse on Apr 21, 2008 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Fair enough

I’m not really that impressed with the rest of the AL Central and I haven’t given up on the Twins yet. Maybe that’s just me being a fan, and reacting like a fan, but yeah if we got a shot this year I don’t really think dishing Kubel for some help on the left side of the infield is too much of a mortgage. We have been hurting for a DH for the entire existence of the Twins franchise and we’re still not really straight with it, we just have too many outfielders. Here comes a legitimate chance at 50 + added runs for $350,000 or whatever. Sounds good to me, but yeah, I get your point too.

"I don't care about feelings." - Lou Piniella

by natetheskate on Apr 21, 2008 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Kubel's payroll

Kubel is only making a little over $1 million this year, and he’ll maybe get $10 million for each of his last two arbitration years. Shedding his payroll isn’t going to make much difference.

"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein

by BeefMaster on Apr 21, 2008 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions

flip Kubel for some slammin' prospects

That sounds like a very dumb thing to do. He is quite young and has tremendous upside potential.. Thomas is old and his future is short..

by MagikLair on Apr 21, 2008 2:36 PM EDT reply actions

he's young and has tremendous upside

that’s why we can flip him for slammin’ prospects, dude.

"I don't care about feelings." - Lou Piniella

by natetheskate on Apr 21, 2008 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions

This is not the year

Thomas is good for, what, one year? So you bring him in, and he helps you win a few more games. Say you win 85 instead of 81. And he’s gone. To bring him in, you trade a guy who’s coming into his own for a few prospects. Next year, when you really have a chance to contend (Liriano is fully back, lots of other arms are coming online), you don’t have perhaps your best hitter anymore because you traded him for prospects. Then you have to wait at least another year to contend. I just don’t get it.

Thomas will go to Seattle, hit 25 homers with respectable peripherals, and that team won’t make the playoffs. Kubel will outhit him THIS YEAR, the Twins will sign him to a long-term contract and have perhaps the most formidable line-up in the division for years to come.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Apr 21, 2008 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Kubel

Kubel will outhit him THIS YEAR, the Twins will sign him to a long-term contract and have perhaps the most formidable line-up in the division for years to come.

I’d love to see this; it’d be great to see Kubel finally pull it all together now that he’s fully healthy. But I think you might need to define which categories Kubel will outhit Thomas in…because I might have to fly to the States and buy you lunch if it happens.

by Jesse on Apr 21, 2008 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions

HR, RBI, OPS

People keep saying he hasn’t put it together yet. Well, I think he has, just not for a full season. Give him a full season, and he’ll live up to my “nuts” projections for him this year. If he does, you’re on. I’ll have one of those big steaks Tony refers to in the Delmon ad.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Apr 21, 2008 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions

One more thing

I don’t think Thomas will match his production from last year. If nothing else, his first month will be mostly lost with this Toronto fiasco. And it’ll take time for him to get into a groove again once he does catch on with another team. That doesn’t happen very fast for guys his age.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Apr 21, 2008 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions