Five Free Agent Targets for the Twins
by Jesse on Jan 6, 2011 8:31 AM EST
in Speculation
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PrintAt this point I'm just making up Twins-related material. Forgive me, blogosphere gods.
This is a list loosely compiled on the following criteria:
- Each player must be brought in for a specific reason. No player is on this list "just because" or "because he's good". Every player has a purpose.
- None of the players should be expensive. If the Twins were to sign all five (which they couldn't, whether for roster requirements or redundancy) they wouldn't spend more than $10 million between them.
- The player is not Nick Punto, or Nick Punto in disguise.
Vladimir Guerrero, DH/OF
I love Jim Thome, but the Twins need a right-handed bat to help Young and Cuddyer even out the triumvirate of Mauer-Morneau-Kubel, and besides: the latest rumors have Thome looking for an $8 million dollar deal. That's too much for one guy, even one who hits like Jim Jam. Additionally, the market for Vlad is shrinking by the minute, as yesterday we learned that both of his primary options, the Rangers and Angels, are no longer interested. It seems the Rays may be a suitor, but he would be a great fit for the Twins. The biggest question is whether he'd get enough plate appearances, but I think I'd find a way to make it work.
Offer: 1 year, $6 million
Troy Glaus, 1B/DH
He's already 34, and there are two red flags: declining production and injury risk. Over the last few years he's dealt with oblique injuries (plural), problems with his left foot and left knee, and he missed a 132 games in 2009 with a shoulder issue. But there's a chance of squeezing out some value on a one-year deal that sees Glaus available to hit left-handed pitching and to backup Justin Morneau at first base. He's my backup plan if the Twins can't swing Guerrero.
Offer: 1 year, $1.5 million
Justin Duchscherer , RHP
The man cannot seem to stay healthy. But the talent is there. After missing all of 2009 he made five starts with the A's last April and, generally, pitched well. I'd use him exclusively as a relief pitcher to limit the duration of time he has to throw during a game, and he also has a higher strikeout rate as a reliever. If he is healthy and effective, Duchscherer could turn into a high-reward, low risk kind of pitcher.
Offer: 1 year minor league contract, invite to spring training
Jon Rauch, RHP
One thing we'd miss by losing both Rauch and Matt Guerrier: innings. Rauch gives reliability in the way of appearances, and truth be told he's not bad in terms of performance either.
Offer: 1 year, $2 million
John Maine, RHP
Maine turns just 30 in May, but considering how much hell he gave Mets fans over the last couple years I'm sure they'd say he'd already been around too long. But I think there's something worth salvaging here. He can get guys to swing and miss, his fly ball (and home run) rates may not be as much of an issue in what appears to be a pitcher-friendly Target Field, and if Rick Anderson can work on his accuracy then who knows? He's a project, no doubt, but if the Twins aren't comfortable paying $10 million a year for Carl Pavano or taking a shot on an injury risk like Ben Sheets, then there are a couple of middle ground risks available that might be worth a flyer. If he works out he could be a solid #3 kind of guy, and if not, we know the Twins have plenty of depth.
Offer: 1 year, $1 million
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Nothing on Bert going to the hall this morning?
"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have"
Thomas Jefferson
by RileysCannibalJct on Jan 6, 2011 8:37 AM EST reply actions
We talked about it yesterday.
I’m thinking about outlining Blyleven’s greatest games if I have the time.
Can Glaus not play third anymore?
Maybe it would be inadvisable with his shoulder history, but I like the idea of him being able to back-up Danny V as well. I still think Valencia is our third baseman for the foreseeable future, but there’s still the possibility that he slumps in his sophomore season.
As much as I love Thome and I’d love to see him hit no. 600 in a Twins’ uniform, at this point I’d much rather the Twins signed a right-handed power bat like Guerrero or Glaus.
I like these options actually.
If Thome is saying 8mil, I’m sorry, we need to say, “Thank you and Good Luck.” Vlad seems the next best option, and we do need a RH power hitter @ DH, IMHO.
I think Glaus would be valuable to give the infield depth and a bench bat, which we desperately need. And when we can get all these players for the same as what we’re talking about giving Pavano, I think that’s better value.
Delmon is a corner Outfielder
he’s 25 and he was dropped in a brand new ballpark last season.
I might rather see him in RF than Left, but he’s got an outfielder’s arm. He’s not ‘just’ a DH.
by Shawn Gillogly on Jan 6, 2011 6:38 PM EST up reply actions
And...
he won a gold glove in the Metrodome. He might have caught the roof cave in. And thats just because he couldnt have got out of the way.
Vlad would be a steal at $6 million
I’ve also heard that part of the hold up with Thome is he wants a two-year deal. At his age,and with his chronic back problems, I would pass on that.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
2010 vs. RHP
thome: 189 a/b, 14 2b, 2 3b, 19 HR, 53 bb, 50 k
vlad: 442 a/b, 18 2b, 1 3b, 22 HR, 21 bb, 45 k
and you can put it on the boaaaaaard YES, HELL YES
Yes
Ideally, Glaus or Vlad would be in a strict platoon with Kubel, plus occasionally spelling Morneau at first against lefties (putting Repko in RF, Glaus/Cuddyer at 1B, and Vlad/Cuddyer at DH)
"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
45 K and 21 BB in 442 AB
That is an impressive display of swinging at everything and actually hitting it.
"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
Vlad has always been one of my favorite players to watch for just that reason
And I wouldn’t mind watching him do it for the Twins
I'm pretty sure he'll drive me nuts
But I do like the RH power. Love Thome though. For what it’s worth, Thome was obviously also a great clubhouse fit. That hardly justifies $8M or 2 years, but it does weigh in his favor if all other things are relatively equal.
probably bad
Vlads talent to make contact with anything within 5 feet of the plate is a very unique talent that Delmon does not posses.
that's why you have a hitting coach.
Let Vlad be Vlad while you coach up the guys who aren’t set in their ways.
by Shawn Gillogly on Jan 6, 2011 4:30 PM EST up reply actions
question: will kubel be arbitration eligible after 2011?
as i understand it he won’t since he will have served 6 years or more.
and you can put it on the boaaaaaard YES, HELL YES
He'll be a free agent
They can offer arb to a free agent
Yes and no
Any player with three years of service time who finishes a contract is eligible for arbitration, but Kubel’s at the point (the six years you mentioned) where he isn’t required to accept it. If the Twins offer it to him, he can decline it and become a free agent.
The Twins offered Pavano arbitration each of the last two years, but he only accepted the first time. Generally, players who are eligible for free agency only accept arbitration offers if they’re not expecting to do as well on the free agent market as they would in arbitration (which is why the Twins didn’t offer to some of their guys).
"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
He would have been a Type-A this year.
Another year like last year, though, and I’m sure he’ll be a Type B.
kubel and cuddy will get their swings then
gardy will platoon delmon with mauer at DH. assuming morneau stays healthy, then either thome or vlad would just be an expensive bench ornament.
and you can put it on the boaaaaaard YES, HELL YES
Well, Kubel and Cuddy were going to get their swings anyway.
And I’m sure we’ll see a DH rotation for a lot of guys—Mauer, Morneau, Young, Cuddyer and of course Kubel.
I think calling either Thome or Vlad an expensive bench ornament does’t do them justice. In some sense it might be true, particularly with Thome who won’t play any defense, but guys like that aren’t ornaments. They’ll get playing time by finding it at the expense of cold-hitting corner outfielders and, at least in Vlad’s case, against LHP.
For me, $8 million for two years is too much for Thome, so it’s not a luxury that’s worth it to me. But if Vlad is available for one year at $6 million, and I doubt he is, that’s a luxury worth paying for.
Thome for 2 years at 8 million?
Is that an option? That would be great! We’re paying Kubel over $5 million for one year and he hits like the pale, pale shadow of Jim Thome.
I think he means $8M per year
I don’t have ESPN Insider, though, so I haven’t been able to actually read the article he linked to.
"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
8 mil over his age 40 and 41 seasons
Doesn’t sound great to me, it sounds risky. Thome’s not Barry Bonds, which is a good thing, but makes it harder to justify giving him any sort of multi-year contract.
Yeah, and he does have chronic back problems
Last year was a good year health-wise. I wouldn’t bet on his next two years to match 2010.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
Orlando Cabrera
I’d still like a veteran backup infielder to avoid seeing a lot of Trevor Plouffe and Matt Tolbert
He's certainly an energizer.
Depending on how much you buy into intangibles like that, he’d be an interesting pickup. I’m not sure his production will be any better than Plouffe’s or Tolbert’s at this point in his career, but he’s at least been there before.
Yeah, I'd sort of prefer going with our kids over Cabrera.
There’s a lottery ticket there if one of them decides to break out that just isn’t there with Cabrera.
Most of the time lottery tickets are worthless
You could also get an o-fer June with a bunch of errors from Plouffe
Yeah, but O-Cab's no great shakes these days either and he's on the wrong side of 36.
Small sample size, but when he played Tolbert was every bit as good as him last year.
I think that's the decision.
If you pay a guy to hit .240/.290/.330, do you give it to a league minimum guy or do you give $1 million to an aging has-been?
Honestly, I'm not sure I don't give it to the aging has-been.
Experience should count for something, right? Energizer Bunny points?
That might be optimistic for Tolbert
His career line is .246 / .306 / .347 but that’s in part-time duty, he’s never played everyday.
Plouffe has only hit .253 / .303 / .419 in AAA.
Those guys are fine as plan C and D. I think they need a better plan B.
Has Craig Counsell been signed?
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
I think I'm OK with our middle infield
We’ve gotten by on worse, and I think it might be a good place to save some money. If the young guys flail, we can always make a trade midseason. (Note: being OK with our middle infield assumes Hardy is already gone. I am still not pleased he left – I just don’t see anyone else out there that I want enough to spend $ on given our other holes)
Not sure I want another DH-type
as long as Kubel is on the team. That would leave room for only one backup infielder and one backup outfielder.
What’s the deal with Rauch? With all the crazy contracts for relievers I can’t believe he is still available.
They did it last year
Actually, last year they didn’t even have a backup outfielder at the start of the year – they just avoided giving Span days off and put Cuddyer or Casilla in center a couple times, until they finally brought up Repko.
From last year, it appears that Gardy considers Cuddyer a backup option at third and an emergency option at second, and that would probably be enough to get by with just Tolbert (who can play anywhere) as the primary backup infielder.
"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
I'd rather they didn't do it this year (and it was only half of last year)
Kubel took over in RF once Cuddy moved to 1b, so they didn’t have a DH sitting on the bench. You are correct about Cuddyer being the backup for every position except SS and catcher. That is one reason why I don’t want the team to find themselves in that position again.
Casilla is the starting SS, so he isn’t an ideal candidate to be the backup CF. I can see the case for Vlad and I think he would bring a lot to the team. I also think we shouldn’t be too quick to dismiss the value of defense and defensive flexibility.
I think they will got with Repko as the fourth outfielder and Kubel as the DH
I’m starting to think the bench will look like this:
Repko
Butera
Tolbert
Hughes
Maybe it’s just low blood sugar. If Thome wants a two-year deal and Vlad is holding out for 6+ million, this seems like the most likely scenario. Glaus would be an upgrade over Hughes, perhaps, and he fits our price range. I’d love a veteran to replace Tolbert. But I’m not optimistic either will happen.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
I think it's very realistic
to think that, come February, if there’s a fit still on the market then the Twins will act on it. Glaus strikes me as a guy who could fit that description. Infield guys like Eckstein and Hairston Jr fit that mold, and if Adam Kennedy or Felipe Lopez are still available I could see us taking a shot at them, too.
I don't know about Glaus
It’s hard for me to imagine Gardy being satisfied with only one backup MI. The other guys you listed sound like reasonable options as well as another player whose name I dare not mention.
He Who Shall Not Be Named
This makes me really hope that the Twins re-sign Nick Voldemort.
"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
I think the Twins are nuts if they don't replace one of those guys
with one of the low-priced DH options out there. Kubel, Cuddyer, and Young are really good as your 4th through 6th best hitters, but pretty damn mediocre as your 3rd through 5th.
In a buyers’ market for the Thomes and Vlads of the world, you buy. I believe that with a near-religious fervor. (Future HoFers for cripes sakes! And they’re still good!)
I agree with you
Then again, I just raided the Christmas stocking.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
Not sure about Vlad
I like all the other options. I have been thinking Glaus could really help as a RH DH and fill-in 1B. I do think the Twins are still looking to add players, but they have to fit financially.
by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Jan 6, 2011 1:29 PM EST reply actions
yea, the twins have plenty of DH's
the only thing that kind of makes sense to me is to nap thome just to get him off the market, and maybe deal him or kubel later.
and you can put it on the boaaaaaard YES, HELL YES
How does that make sense?
You’d pay 8mil for a player just to trade him? What value is he going to have?
A RH power hitter actually makes sense. Unless you like watching a team neutralize our lineup just by trotting a LHP to the hill.
by Shawn Gillogly on Jan 6, 2011 3:07 PM EST up reply actions
teams could be willing to deal good players once the season gets going
for a lefthanded bat.
i kind of like stockpiling them, especially since there’s a dearth of quality lefthanded pitchers the twins will have to face next year.
and you can put it on the boaaaaaard YES, HELL YES
There's not enough room on a 25-man roster to stockpile players.
If you bring them in, it’s because they make you better. Unless you’re the Royals, you don’t bring in veterans with plans of dealing them later for prospects, it’s just a bad business model for a contending team.
Your last point is well-taken.
It’s how the Twins have always operated, and even when they brought in Hudson and Thome last year they were both steals. Those are the kind of guys the Twins will be sitting on this year, too. In this sense, I don’t expect Guerrero to be available come February, and I certainly don’t think he’d give too much thought to a one-year contract worth $6 million on a team where his playing time may be compromised at the expense of guys like Kubel and Cuddyer, not to mention DH days for Mauer and Morneau. As far as looking at it from Vlad’s perspective, there are probably better fits for him than Minnesota.
If Berkman got $8 million from STL
Thome is easily worth 8 million
Cowboys fan since 1978.. I was 3 years old
For one year, maybe. Not two.
And he’s definitely not worth that to the Twins. Also, Berkman doesn’t look like he should be worth $8 million either. We’ll see if that turns out to be a massive overpay.
Berkman can still play the field
That is worth a few million. Thome is a DH only, that cuts his market value in half or more.
For those guys, I don't know.
At this point in their careers you’re paying them for how they hit. If Thome could limp through 10 games at first base, or if Berkman can be a statue somewhere on the field for a few innings each year, I wouldn’t be paying either of them for it.
I'm starting to agree more and more on passing up on Thome
It would make no sense to pay that much for a part-time player, and having Morneau back full time is really all we’ll need as far as what’s expected of Thome, plus the ability to play first full-time. Vlad sounds fantastic, although I hope they have money left over for another starter and name reliever.
Glad to see I’m not the only one who wants Jon Rauch back as well.
When I was a kid, I would cover a blue futon with a white blanket, prop it up with a fan set on high, and pretend it was the Metrodome. That should tell you a lot.
by MarshalltheIrish on Jan 6, 2011 6:16 PM EST reply actions
sounds like there is a lot of favre 2.0 bad after taste going on here
and you can put it on the boaaaaaard YES, HELL YES
Why, are the Twins sending Mauer, Baker and Valencia out to bring back Thome?
by Jesse on Jan 6, 2011 8:21 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Good one!!!!!
But I would Send Mauer, Span, and Kubel to bring back Thome and Pavano.
Duscherer
I know he can only pitch about 30 innings at a time between injuries, but those 30 innings are always spectacular! My only concern would be clearing out a roster spot for him.
What is the deal about 30 innings
Duscherer could end up pitching over 300 innings without injury for the Twins in 2011. And he ends up making the last out of the World Series and wins the ALCS MVP, Cy Young, and MVP awards.
The 40 man
Are the Twins at 38 including Hacker? They have some space.
by AM. on Jan 6, 2011 8:43 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Mike Sweeney
I know he’s had chronic injury problems, but when he’s healthy he can hit. Also, he could fill in for a couple of days at first base if Morneau needs a couple of days.
by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Jan 8, 2011 10:47 AM EST reply actions
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