Gordon should absolutely be back next year.

Ehire Adrianza was rocking a career wRC+ similar to Gordon's when he came to Minnesota after being DFA'd by SF even though they had made it a point to pay Adrianza on a $600k contract to avoid his first year of arbitration. Adrianza was then claimed by Milwaukee, who also promptly DFA'd him only to have him be claimed by the Twins a few days later.

Why does that matter? To me, it's illustrative of what many teams view as a utility player. Cheap. Playable when you need to fill a spot, but not somebody you want to play as a starter. Still better than rotating typical AAA talent through the roster. Gordon is young, but has no options. Sticking him in as a utility player protects his upside while not costing the Twins any competitive edge on the field.

The Twins deviated from that recently, though. Marwin Gonzalez was viewed as a full time utility player. A guy who would be platooned across the team as a starter and the Twins paid through the nose to get it by utility standards with a 2 year $21MM contract leading to 2.0 fWAR (adjusted for shortened 2020). Maybe 2-3x the production of the average utility player at 20x the price.

Just have to see what they do.

A utility guy is often just that, a versatile stop-gap until you promote the next generation from the minors to play everyday. He gives people on the roster a rest. Maybe has a skillset like a defensive replacement in blow-out games, a speedy runner if looking for base advancement, someone who hits a sacrifice fly (possibly) or puts a ball in play to move a runner.

If that person can also play an everyday role when called upon, for the short-term, it is a bonus. Cave did it before in the outfield. Players like Reboulet and Hocking did it regularly for the Twins. Ehire was fine. WIllians Astudillo can, but also has a price cap for how well he can.

Gordon has earned another good look in spring training, and also the inside chance of making the roster. After getting some at bats, have to see how he will change his game, so to speak, and what he can add top his skill set.

Otherwise, you go with the Riddles, Maggis, and others.

To answer the question posed in the headline, he did as much as he could with what he was given. 

Despite impressively transitioning to the OF/CF on the fly, he was still used a bit inconsistently in a losing year. There were absolutely additional opportunities to play he could have been given.

His offense wasn't great, but was solid enough for a utility type. He showed a little pop and no question the speed he displayed is very welcome. 

He's always been know for building on his previous experience at a repeat of a level. That should hopefully be the situation here. Additionally, what would a good, healthy 10-15 pounds do for this kid? Sure hope to find out.

I’m a big believer in Nick Gordon’s talent and his goodness as a fit for being a Twins asset for several years.

To me Gordon deserves a spot on the club.  They way they have jerked him around all year he did whatever they needed and did it well.  Unfortunately the Twins have a reputation for not treating their young players fair.  They leave them dangle in the minors for years then USE that person for their own benefits.  You don't USE players you develop them and promote them

I was very impressed with Gordon. If he can't make our lineup next year it means we are going to have one hell of a team. I say Gordon sticks around for a few years ..

21 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Gordon should absolutely be back next year.

Ehire Adrianza was rocking a career wRC+ similar to Gordon's when he came to Minnesota after being DFA'd by SF even though they had made it a point to pay Adrianza on a $600k contract to avoid his first year of arbitration. Adrianza was then claimed by Milwaukee, who also promptly DFA'd him only to have him be claimed by the Twins a few days later.

Why does that matter? To me, it's illustrative of what many teams view as a utility player. Cheap. Playable when you need to fill a spot, but not somebody you want to play as a starter. Still better than rotating typical AAA talent through the roster. Gordon is young, but has no options. Sticking him in as a utility player protects his upside while not costing the Twins any competitive edge on the field.

The Twins deviated from that recently, though. Marwin Gonzalez was viewed as a full time utility player. A guy who would be platooned across the team as a starter and the Twins paid through the nose to get it by utility standards with a 2 year $21MM contract leading to 2.0 fWAR (adjusted for shortened 2020). Maybe 2-3x the production of the average utility player at 20x the price.

Just have to see what they do.

Three things: 1) Ehire Adrianza was (and is) a legitimate shortstop. That factor increases his value greatly. Gordon can't make that claim. 2) Not sure about this, but if Gordon has no options remaining, trying to send him to the minors probably would end his time in Minnesota. 3) Adrianza and Gonzalez are both switch hitters without discernible platoon splits. Gordon hits left handed and isn't a great fit for (limited) platoon duty, especially with Arraez around without a regular postion.

3 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Three things: 1) Ehire Adrianza was (and is) a legitimate shortstop. That factor increases his value greatly. Gordon can't make that claim. 2) Not sure about this, but if Gordon has no options remaining, trying to send him to the minors probably would end his time in Minnesota. 3) Adrianza and Gonzalez are both switch hitters without discernible platoon splits. Gordon hits left handed and isn't a great fit for (limited) platoon duty, especially with Arraez around without a regular postion.

I'm not saying Nick Gordon is Ehire Adrianza's clone. I'm saying Nick Gordon fills the typical profile for a utility player. Cheap. Not somebody you think you want to start, but still has some potential upside. Able to cover a lot of defensive positions.

1. The Twins made it clear they don't trust Nick Gordon at shortstop at the MLB level; however, they also made it clear they viewed him as a shortstop by playing him the vast majority of his time across 4,500 MiLB innings. Some utility players are viewed as defensive wizards, but not all of them. Danny Santana and Eduardo Nunez were horrible shortstops and Adrianza was mediocre.
2. Yes. If Gordon cleared waivers on a DFA, analysts and fans would be stunned. 
3. Gordon hasn't hit left handed pitching well as a lefty, but platoon players are generally players who do not hit effectively against both righties and lefties. I don't see the Twins platooning Arraez with anybody next year. With Donaldson on the roster and Miranda pounding at the door, the need for Arraez to cover 3rd is neglible. He can't play shortstop or cover center field making Arraez a poor option for utility, not to mention he's proven to have the talent to be a starter and has a ton of trade value. Arraez is certainly not pushing Polanco off 2nd base and what a debacle it would be to move Polanco back to shortstop. Bottom line, Arraez/Polanco/Donaldson/Miranda are an incompatible, not complimentary group.

If the Twins think his bat is going to stay around a 79 OPS+ bat, then they should move on. I  like what else he gives us but his bat needs to improve. He really struggled in July and August (limited at-bats) but his bat heated up a bit at the end of the year, with more consistent playing time. 

With 26 man benches, his speed and versatility makes sense but you have to be Nick Punto to get away with such a low OPS+.

I would like to see what he could do at short for a while IF we can't get a mid-tier free agent or perhaps trade for a starter until Lewis is ready. Otherwise who else do we have? I strongly say NO to moving Polo back, just leave him alone to do his thing at 2nd, and it will take some time before Lewis is back in game shape. Looking down the minors is it Polacios? I don't think so, not yet anyhow.

Gordon had a few stretches batting that tantalized among long stretches of futility and didn’t field well enough. I’d think he earned enough to not get DFA’d until the spring and compete to be a super-utility player, but not enough that I’d be willing to consider him in a starting role in ‘22. He would not be a 26 man lock for me at this point.

I will hold onto my ballot until I see more, which I think he deserves. I think he gained confidence as the season wound down. 

One guy who can play infield and outfield might be enough. Maybe it will be Gordon

Anything to keep Cave off the roster.........

Gordon can play multiple positions, can hit a little and can run well. He's a keeper in my book as a utility player and medium term fill in for an injury.