This would be a great signing to our bench! However, would this rule out the possibility of adding Lopez/Hudson? Thome expects a drop in payroll…coming to the Twins he better. Somewhere around $3 million for Thome and then stretch the budget a tad for Lopez, at $4 million.

if this is a precursor to a move (Kubel/Young) for an infielder/SP. Of course, the other way to look at this: Kubel – everyday LF, Young DH’s vs. LHP/platoons with Kubel, Thome DH’s vs. RHP….

Thome on a roster that already has Kubel slated to DH.

Nice fit.

I think that would slide Kubel into the 4th outfielder role, which he could do. Problem being Span would have to play virtually all the games in CF, as noone else could really handle that. He would give us some pop off the bench, which we could definately use, but at what price…If it helps Mauer think we’re serious enough about winning to sign an extension, good enough reason for me. lol we could definately do worse… Better than having Harris or whoever pinch-hitting late in games.

It certainly would be a nice luxury to have a bopper that could hit late in games, but Thome has zero defensive value. He can even adequately play 1B?

Unless there is a trade, one has to figure the following players are locks on the roster:
C: Joe Mauer, Jose Morales (or 2nd catcher in case of sustained injury)
1B: Justin Morneau
2B: Nick Punto
SS: JJ Hardy
3B: Brendan Harris
OF/DH: Denard Span, Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel, Delmon Young
SP: Scott Baker, Kevin Slowey, Nick Blackburn, Carl Pavano
RP: Joe Nathan, Jon Rauch, Matt Guerrier, Jesse Crain, Jose Mijares

That leaves 3 spots each for pitching and fielders:
P: Francisco Liriano, Pat Neshek, Clay Condrey, Glen Perkins, Brian Duensing
IF/OF: Matt Tolbert, Alexi Casilla, Jason Pridie (or 4th outfielder)

I think we can safely assume that Liriano and Neshek (if he’s healthy) are near locks and Condrey looks like a logical addition after his signing. Duensing would make a lot of sense, too, however he may get squeezed.

For fielders, it’s obvious we need a 4th outfielder whether its Jason Pridie or not. They’ll also need a backup infielder and that’s where Tolbert comes in.

So now we have one spot left. Do you use that on Jim Thome, or do you sign a 2nd/3rd baseman? If you do both, do you go with a 6-man bullpen or do you get rid of Tolbert’s flexibility?

As 1B (3820 AB) .282/.412/.587
As 3B (1624 AB) .289/.404/.533
As DH (2180 AB) .262/.393/.528
As PH (80 AB) .213/.333/.338

I say this because Baseball Prospectus recently had an article showing that hitters are significantly worse coming off the bench. Somewhat worse as DH, but much much worse as pinch hitters.

Although, while im at it:
At the metrodome: .321/.406/.633

That would leave us with Mauer-Morneau-Punto-Hardy-Harris-Kubel-Span-Cuddyer-Thome as the starting 9, with Young, Morales/Ramos/Butera, and Tolbert/Casilla on the bench. One open bench spot, assuming we carry 12 pitchers.

Now, we could go one of two directions with that bench spot. If we sign a 2B (my preferred option, assuming as are willing to add around $8M more in payroll, perhaps a stretch), then Punto goes to 3B/Bench, Tolbert to AAA, and Casilla is waived (I think he’s out of options). We STILL end up with an open bench spot for our backup CF at that point. If we decide to save payroll and go with Tolbert/Casilla, then we fill the bench spot right away with the backup CF.

The main reason I like this scenario, it means we don’t count on Delmon (remember, he’s never provided above replacement level value with the Twins) as an every day starter. Kubel-Span-Cuddyer-Thome gives us our best possible OF/DH combination, IMO. Kubel or Young can take over as DH when Thome needs a rest, and heck, Young-Span-Kubel-Thome with Cuddyer moving to 1B on those days when Morneau needs a rest.

If we were also able to land a real 2B, I’d be downright giddy with Punto-Young-Backup CF-Backup C on our bench, and solid 2+ WAR players at all positions.

Other teams will raise their offers to him. The team that signs him will have less money for other players, which will leave the Twins one of the few teams left still signing FA.

No? Okay.

If he’s very cheap, there are dumber things the Twins could do, probably.

I thought one had to actually be able to put on a glove to be a bench player. The current bench is defensively challenged as it is. And with 12 pitchers, there’s really no room for a guy who only pinch hits against right handed pitchers. Maybe Kubes could move to left against righties and make room for Thome to DH. That might be worth something. But not as pinch hitter.

Off the top of my head, I think every closer in the AL Central is right handed. And I can only think of a handful of left handed starters in the AL Central (Buehrle, Danks, Laffey, Robertson, ?). Maybe that is what Bill Smith is thinking? Thome could get a lot of key 9th inning at bats and a lot of starts at DH within the division?

Joe C mentions that the Twins have had “internal discussions” about Miguel Tejada, Orlando Hudson and Felipe Lopez as well. It sounds like Tejada has struck a deal with the Orioles this morning, but its good to hear that the Twins are perhaps finally thinking like the rest of the blogosphere.

Of course the note also came with the disclaimer that they’re waiting for prices to come down. It will be interesting to see how much Tejada signed for and whether that will knock down prices on OHud and Lopez as Miguel himself was asking for a pricey deal.

wants the Twins to sign Jim Thome and put Delmon on the bench, who then platoons at DH with Thome. This is the only scenario I would accept.