Five Hours and Counting
by Jesse on Nov 19, 2009 7:06 PM EST
in Speculation
11 comments
Free agency looms. Will any of the Twins five free agents return?
It's been confirmed that the Twins have had opening talks with Carl Pavano's agent, but other than Ron Gardenhire saying he'd be interested in bringing back Orlando Cabrera as his second basemen there's been no news on the rest of Minnesota's remaining free agents.
Redmond's had a distunguished career, and he's earned himself a reputation as a "gamer". He plays hard, he's a leader and he's a mentor. With Joe Mauer as the game's best catcher and Jose Morales getting his feet wet with some decent results, Redmond's time in Minnesota as a player is likely done. He'll be 39 next May, and NBP has done the expected and said he'd like to remain with the Twins.
During his five seasons in Minnesota Redmond hit .297/.339/.359 in 931 plate appearances, with 44 walks and 85 strikeouts. I'll remember him for the "Smell 'Em" bit, for hitting .341 in '06 and for being pretty much the best backup a team could ask for.
Odds for a return in 2010: Improbable
The 38-year old southpaw pitched about as well as you could ask him to down the stretch for the Twins, and he helped to solidify the LOOGY role when Jose Mijares lost his mind and threw at Adam Everett. Over the course of his career he's been a pretty decent relief pitcher, succeeding as a middle relief guy especially when used as that lefty-one-out-guy. Mahay's struggled with his command for most of his career, and he's averaged 4.4 BB/9 across his last three years.
With fewer positions available than there are arms already it doesn't make sense to bring in a LOOGY when it's going to take seven digits to get him to commit, especially when Mijaries can do the job for a fraction of the cost. Thanks for the contributions sir, but I think it might be time to shake hands.
Odds for a return in 2010: Improbable
He was excatly as advertised in 2009: great with the glove, some pop in his bat, can't get on base and can't stay on the field. At points over the last few weeks I've advocated the possibility of bringing Joe back on a similar contract to the one he signed last February, but the more I tihnk about it the worse of an idea it becomes. If you're going to shell out for a free agent, make sure it's a guy who has a good chance of playing. Don't pay millions for a guy who will require a contingency plan because he's almost a guarantee to miss stretches of time. Nick Nelson spells it out much better than I have.
Crede isn't opposed to returning, and I have to agree with Nick: if the Twins wait this out and try to make something happen at third base but can't by February, then sure, give Crede another shot. In reality, he might get another shot. But I won't be upset if he signs elsewhere, and I'm hoping that I can remember him as the guy who hit the grand slam to put us over the White Sox early in the year.
Odds for a return in 2010: Possible
O-Cab was a high-energy guy who brought a buzz to the team when they needed it. Like Crede he came up with some massive and memorable hits, but also like Crede his overall production doesn't warrant a whole lot of consideration for a return. He's already showing decline, and at 35 he's not going to get better.
Cabrera was great to have around and I'll remember him not just for his homer in game 163, but for his relationship with Carlos Gomez and Alexi Casilla, and for giving the club a shot of adrenaline. Unfortunately second base isn't going to make his millions any more palatable, particularly when there are so many second base upgrades on the free agent market.
Odds for a return in 2010: Possible
This season was a bit of a revival for Pavano, and he proved himself to be a big game pitcher for the Twins down the stretch. When he's healthy he's can strike a few guys out and has good command, and while he'll be 34 in January he's still young enough to have another good season or two to give.
Pavano has stated he'd like to return to the Twins, and naturally the prospect of playing for a competetive team like Minnesota will have some draw. Minnesota's interest is likely mutual, but Pavano's future here (unlike the rest of the guys on this list) will depend greatly on what kind of interest he draws from other clubs and how much they'll be willing to pay him next year.
I expect Pavano to get an offer from the Twins within the next couple of weeks.
Odds for a return in 2010: Realistic
0 recs |
11 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
Pavano and Crede
I’m guessing both get brought back. Crede will get a deal for 1.5M base with incentives. Pavano will get a 2 year deal. I just hope that isn’t all they do. Hoping they still end up with Brandon Phillips, Dan Uggla, or Felipe Lopez, and possibly Ben Sheets as well.
by diehardtwinsfan on Nov 20, 2009 8:18 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Reddog
He wasn’t a bad backup and I’m not as sold on Morales as I was, but he’s lost a step or three. It’ll be interesting to see what the FO does. Who else is going to hold naked batting practice after all?
I hope if he does stop playing, he’ll stick around the Twins system as a coach of some kind.
"Is it normal to wake up in the morning in a sweat because you can't wait to beat another human's guts out?" -Joe Kapp
by less cowbell, more 'neau on Nov 20, 2009 10:33 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
My ideal winter
Resign Pavano. Do not resign Mayhay, Redman, Cabrera.
Sign. Felipe Lopez, Wasburn and Pedro Ruiz.
If you cannot sign Ruiz then sign Crede in February.
Starting Rotation: Baker, Pavano, Slowey, Blackburn, Washburn. (Trade Perkins or make him eat his hat in the bench in the minors)
Starting Lineup:
Span CF
Lopez 2B
Mauer C
Morneau 1B
Cuddyer RF
Kubel DH
Ruiz (Crede) 3B
Young LF
Hardy SS
I think it can be done under budget. Come on Billy. For ther first time in my life I think I might actually get what I want in the offseason. Don’t chicken out and put punto back at 2nd to be cheap.
by Twinsfan1977 on Nov 20, 2009 11:06 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Yes
Third-bagger for the Phils last year. Was thinking of Carlos Ruiz’s name at the same time. Although Pedro Ruiz isn’t a bad ball players name. If I was going to invent one for myself I think that might be it :o)
by Twinsfan1977 on Nov 20, 2009 11:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
-1
Your ideal offseaon won’t do much to upgrade 3B and will likely be a pitching downgrade.
I don’t get the love for either Washburn or Pedro Feliz. Both are horrible. Feliz’s upside is Joe Crede’s downside at the plate with less defense in the field to go with it. Brendan Harris could probably out perform him, as could Valencia. I’d rather 100 games of Crede at 1.5 M than Feliz.
Same with Washburn. His peripherals are horrible and his good season was only due to playing in Seattle’s cavernous pitchers park with a gold glove defense at every outfield position. Put him with a normal outfield (like he was in Detroit), and you will get his Detroit numbers. Washburn has Livan Hernandez and Ramon Ortiz written all over him. Stay away. I’m fine bringing back Pavano, but if you want another pitcher, take a flier on a guy like Ben Sheets for cheap, who if he is healthy, WILL perform at a high level.
by diehardtwinsfan on Nov 20, 2009 2:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Cabrera should be marked "Improbable"...
… if not “Highly Improbable.” Do you honestly think there’s a chance in hell that he plays second base for the Twins next year? I sure don’t. I know Gardy said that he would like Cabrera at second, but you need to realize when a manager is giving a departing player he likes some praise and when retaining him actually makes any sense.
As a shortstop, Cabrera is an average fielder. Average. I certainly wouldn’t expext him to be even that good if you moved him to a position he hasn’t played since 2000. There’s also a deep free agent pool for second baseman this offseason. The Twins will have plenty of options to fill the role, and Cabrera will be more valuable on the market as a shortstop than a second baseman. I bet he’ll want a multi-year contract as well. Let’s not forget that he also 35 years old.
I just don’t see how Cabrera at Second makes sense for either side.
-Flip
by Flip27 on Nov 20, 2009 11:29 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
If it were up to me?
Hell no. Keep O-Cab away from the Twins, no matter what position. But I think the FO puts a little stock in what Gardy likes, and if the Twins meet with Cabrera and interest is mutual, I think it’s very reasonable to think that they’d make him an offer. I wouldn’t do it, but that’s not the premise I was working off of.
As for his fielding, the free agent pool, all that stuff…you’re preaching to the choir. I never have, and never will, champion a return of ze O-Cab.
by Jesse on Nov 20, 2009 3:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Well, hopefully Bill Smith is smarter than that.
Putting stock in what Gardenhire likes is fine. Just make sure you don’t let him lead you off a cliff. Let’s not forget that Gardy had mentioned the possibility of Cuddyer moving to center field after Torii Hunter left. I don’t think that the front office ever considered that even a remote option.
I know you were working from what Gardenhire said, but sometime you have to take his personnel preferences (pun) with a grain of salt. I don’t put any stock in his man-cursh on Cabrera, and I doubt that Bill Smith does either.
-Flip
by Flip27 on Nov 20, 2009 4:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I hope you're right
and that the Cabrera noise is just praise or even misdirection.
However, one thing nags me regarding Cabrera. 2009 defense. UZR of +8 and +14 in 2007 and 2008, no signs of slowing down. Then in 2009, he posts a -15 UZR. Do we expect his defense to remain well below average next year, or do we expect a bounce back? I suspect his nagging hamstring injury limited his range this year, so it’s a matter of whether we expect Cabrera to be healthy this year.
At this point, I hope we go in a different direction (Felipe Lopez) at 2B, but I could see Cabrera being a viable (though not all that good) option late in the game if we still have holes at 2B and 3B. And please don’t bat him in front of Joe Mauer!
by Adam Peterson on Nov 20, 2009 8:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Twinkie Town
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
