Article: Morales Signing Signals Shift in Twins' Mindset

[Beezer07]

The Twins signed a potentially good player/solid contributor and let loose a known non-good/below average contributor. What is there to complain about with respect to this move? I get there are still gaping holes and they were allowed to linger, but the Twins haven't signed a HR hitter in quite some time, let alone during the middle of the season. They have money to spend and spent it on a guy who should​ be an upgrade over the guy(s) he replaced. No downside here, IMO.

[jokin]

I am a little surprised at the nay-saying going on about this move. Think about the upgrade of Nunez over Bartlett and now Morales over Kubel. These are significant improvements. Trevor May for Correia really should happen immediately. Maybe it will after one more start for each of them.

 

Worst case scenario the Twins falter and have Morales to trade at the deadline with Willingham, and both could really bring back nice players.

 

And maybe another mini-haul for Suzuki.

[jokin]

I get your point, kind of, but in retrospect what can they do now about CF? Other than trade, if there's something worth trading for. At this time, there's not much out there for FA CF. I think the Morales signing just shows they are willing to go for it this year, at least give it a shot. Now I won't be convinced until they make some corresponding moves within the next week or two which include like many have said, calling up May for Correia. Then either DFA or move him to the pen to replace Burton who's obviously lost what he's had the last couple of years. Then also give Deduno a short leash with Darnell/Meyer/Johnson down in AAA.

 

So I think the mentality has slowly been shifting towards trying to contend this past year as the prospects get closer and this signing is just further evidence of that shift. If the Twins can keep around or maybe just above .500 I'll be interested to see if they pursue any talent at the deadline.

 

FA CF are the 2 Cubans. John Jay's name has been floated in the media if/when the Cards deem him expendable

[jokin]

If this is a mindset change move, it was served up to them on a silver platter -- how often do you have a fairly young, healthy quality free agent available for nothing but modest cash in June, at the same time that all of your internal options at the same position have struggled mightily over the season's first two months? I'll give them some credit for spending the money -- just like I did after the Nolasco deal -- but all that's basically saying is they're not epically cheap at the moment!

 

Although I endorse the Morales signing, if we really want to contend, a better mindset change move might be to avoid a collapse at a position before addressing it.

 

More spilt water under a bridge too far....

 

At least the sense of urgency has reached all the way to ownership, according to TR, he called Jim Pohlad 10 days ago on starting a negotiation with "Mr Boras", the toughest SOB agent out there, and Mr Pohlad didn't even a bat an eye before he said, "Get her done!:"

[halfchest]

FA CF are the 2 Cubans. John Jay's name has been floated in the media if/when the Cards deem him expendable

 

Are they available yet? I don't know much about them but the money should still be there. The problem with that is they are likely longer term signings and I assume the Twins are still counting on Buxton soon enough.

 

How much would John Jay cost in prospects I wonder? I'd be all for it but again, his bat doesn't play in the corners but he's young enough and good enough I can see them wanting something decent for him.

 

I don't think the Morales signing would prohibit either of these moves if they need to be made.

[jokin]

Are they available yet? I don't know much about them but the money should still be there. The problem with that is they are likely longer term signings and I assume the Twins are still counting on Buxton soon enough.

 

How much would John Jay cost in prospects I wonder? I'd be all for it but again, his bat doesn't play in the corners but he's young enough and good enough I can see them wanting something decent for him.

 

I don't think the Morales signing would prohibit either of these moves if they need to be made.

 

John Jay would be costly, but you'd be getting almost 2.5 years of team control, and at least in theory, he could be dealt in a similar trade at this same time next year should Buxton prove ready to come up. It sounds like the the Cubans could be signed by early July. There is speculation that both would quickly move right to their major league signing club. At least one of them sounds like his bat plays in the corners.

[sabrtoothtiger]

Is it just me or is Morales a more-developed version of the player that Arcia is? At the end of the day, they are both in the majors because they are power hitters who hit for a pretty good average. They don't walk much and they don't play stunning defense. But Morales has turned into a decent veteran player. Maybe Arcia has a higher ceiling, but we can't know that yet.

[Kwak]

If there was a "mind set" change it occured during the off-season. "...guys who have 'won' before..."--Gardenhire. The Twins went out and signed beaucoup veterans to staff this season's team. Kubel is the latest to be released--likely there will be more. The Morales signing is simply another step in the same plan of providing "guys who have won before"--at affordable prices. The fundamental plan was to put a competitive team on the field to try to regain attendance and TV ratings. What will be interesting is to see what happens six weeks from now. I guess we will just have to wait and find out.

[TheLeviathan]

...slowly...inexorably...the mighty leviathan gave way to a positive thought about the prospects for Twins pitching...

 

Why would anyone be positive about this starting staff at this point? They've been bad and aren't going to get any better with this group as is.

[jokin]

Is it just me or is Morales a more-developed version of the player that Arcia is? At the end of the day, they are both in the majors because they are power hitters who hit for a pretty good average. They don't walk much and they don't play stunning defense. But Morales has turned into a decent veteran player. Maybe Arcia has a higher ceiling, but we can't know that yet.

 

Oswaldo swings a lot more, makes contact a lot less. He'd be wise to watch and listen to Kendrys, perhaps make him a role model....and hey, what do you know, they literally speak the same language.

[jokin]

Why would anyone be positive about this starting staff at this point? They've been bad and aren't going to get any better with this group as is.

 

Except you just had nice things to say about Gibson and the potential young arms....baby steps to positivity...I'll take it. And haven't even reacted yet to Hughes, thus far.

[TheLeviathan]

Except you just had nice things to say about Gibson and the potential young arms....baby steps to positivity...I'll take it. And haven't even reacted yet to Hughes, thus far.

 

Hughes has been great and Gibson has been much improved. My issues with the pitching staff have been Correia, Pelfrey, and the idea that Nolasco > Garza. Pretty much 3 for 3 on those guys.

[frightwig]

So, Morales is a good hitter, but not significantly better than the DH options already on the team. In fact, his production last year was worse than what Twins DH's have done to this point in the season. He's not likely to make the Twins a contender, if he makes the team significantly better at all. He also probably blocks Pinto and other young players from needed playing time, which could mean that they're less prepared to play at their potential next season.

 

Management made the move anyway, perhaps because Ryan and Gardy are feeling pressure after three losing seasons to show that the team is turning around. Maybe Gardy really wanted another veteran bat. Maybe Ryan felt he could use some good PR to get fans and media buzzing right about now. Anyway, they decided to throw something against the wall. If it doesn't stick, at least people will be pleasantly distracted for awhile.

 

Nick essentially admits this, but still we're excited because it signals a shift to "win now" mode? But if the team is likely to win 75 games or less, with or without Morales, why do we want the front office making this sort of splashy but marginal move at the expense of player development? Why is it so good to see Ryan deviate from the long-term plan for no great reason?

[Tibs]

Hughes has been great and Gibson has been much improved. My issues with the pitching staff have been Correia, Pelfrey, and the idea that Nolasco > Garza. Pretty much 3 for 3 on those guys.

You're due for regression. That rate isn't sustainable, all SSS things considered.

[TheLeviathan]

You're due for regression. That rate isn't sustainable, all SSS things considered.

 

Stupid regression to the mean.....

[Jack Torse]

He's also great trade bait. If 15 other team wanted his services now they will want them in 6 weeks too if he plays well.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

So, Morales is a good hitter, but not significantly better than the DH options already on the team. In fact, his production last year was worse than what Twins DH's have done to this point in the season. He's not likely to make the Twins a contender, if he makes the team significantly better at all. He also probably blocks Pinto and other young players from needed playing time, which could mean that they're less prepared to play at their potential next season.

 

Management made the move anyway, perhaps because Ryan and Gardy are feeling pressure after three losing seasons to show that the team is turning around. Maybe Gardy really wanted another veteran bat. Maybe Ryan felt he could use some good PR to get fans and media buzzing right about now. Anyway, they decided to throw something against the wall. If it doesn't stick, at least people will be pleasantly distracted for awhile.

 

Nick essentially admits this, but still we're excited because it signals a shift to "win now" mode? But if the team is likely to win 75 games or less, with or without Morales, why do we want the front office making this sort of splashy but marginal move at the expense of player development? Why is it so good to see Ryan deviate from the long-term plan for no great reason?

 

Welcome to the Glass Half Empty club. There are plenty of open chairs for us to sit.

 

I still see a management mindset that favors veterans at the end of their careers over youth. The Morales signing is ok, at least it's proactive, but there's so much else to do.

[drivlikejehu]

I still see a management mindset that favors veterans at the end of their careers over youth. The Morales signing is ok, at least it's proactive, but there's so much else to do.

 

What concerns me the most is player evaluation. They throw players out there who just don't have it - Kubel, Correia, etc. - as if they have no ability to discern what the player is currently capable of.

 

Of course fans are excited when this haphazard strategy works, e.g., Phil Hughes, but it doesn't seem like a winning formula to me.

[whydidnt]

What concerns me the most is player evaluation. They throw players out there who just don't have it - Kubel, Correia, etc. - as if they have no ability to discern what the player is currently capable of.

 

Of course fans are excited when this haphazard strategy works, e.g., Phil Hughes, but it doesn't seem like a winning formula to me.

 

To me, it seems like they think they are smarter than everyone else and can bring in guys with questionable track records and turn them into good players. They've been doing this for some time now, and their track record is not good. I would much rather have them spend 15 Million for a guy everyone knows will be good than 5 million each on three question marks like Corriea, Pelfry, etc.

[the blade]

Super Two deadline is now-ish, right? Meyer and May, get up here. Let's do this. Nobody wants to see Correia vs. the Blue Jays in 2 days...

 

amen, brother.

[Oldgoat_MN]

If this is a mindset change move, it was served up to them on a silver platter -- how often do you have a fairly young, healthy quality free agent available for nothing but modest cash in June, at the same time that all of your internal options at the same position have struggled mightily over the season's first two months? I'll give them some credit for spending the money -- just like I did after the Nolasco deal -- but all that's basically saying is they're not epically cheap at the moment!

 

Although I endorse the Morales signing, if we really want to contend, a better mindset change move might be to avoid a collapse at a position before addressing it.

 

Our DH position has actually hit quite well.

 

And I don't know what your checking account balance looks like, but I bet the Pohlads don't consider $7,500,000 to be 'modest cash'.

[whydidnt]

7,500,000 sounds like a lot, but based upon a net worth around 2 Billion, it's quite modest. Less than a grand for someone with a net worth of 250k. It's all relative.

[oldguy10]

^^^frightwig is 100% accurate in his remarks here in my mind, once again smoke blowing by Twins' management, how many of us will swallow all of that nonsense anymore? Can't they please get serious about cobbling together a decent team instead of all of the "window dressing" machinations? It is way beyond tiresome to have to repeatedly suffer through all of this drama all of the time.

[snepp]

It is way beyond tiresome to have to repeatedly suffer through all of this drama all of the time.

 

Funny that, I was just thinking the exact same thing.

 

 

Only not about the Twins.

[jay]

To me, it seems like they think they are smarter than everyone else and can bring in guys with questionable track records and turn them into good players. They've been doing this for some time now, and their track record is not good. I would much rather have them spend 15 Million for a guy everyone knows will be good than 5 million each on three question marks like Corriea, Pelfry, etc.

 

Problem is, you can quite easily spend 15 million and not know the guy will be good...

[Blackjack]

Funny that, I was just thinking the exact same thing.

 

 

Only not about the Twins.

 

 

This deserves more than just a Like!!! Double thumbs up!!! Twins add a good player and its still bad, bad, bad!!! Enough to make you stop reading the comments - except its almost funny after awhile.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Our DH position has actually hit quite well.

 

It's the 2014 Twins DH paradox: our overall line is pretty good there, but all of our potential DHs have struggled mightily or are needed at other positions.

 

And I don't know what your checking account balance looks like, but I bet the Pohlads don't consider $7,500,000 to be 'modest cash'.

 

In MLB terms, $7.5 mil is fairly modest. The Twins just spent $2 million for two months of Jason Kubel hoping he could rebound from a terrible 2013 and a terrible 2014 spring training. $7.5 mil for 4 months of a good, healthy player is a modest outlay by comparison.

[PatG]

I think the Twins are bringing in guys with a winning track record; Kubel with the Twins, Morales with the Angels....

 

And then just some half-way decent players, Willingham, Corriea; to see if they become decent players who help make the Twins "Pennant Race" capable

 

About Meyers/Mays, the Red Wings are in a pennant race, I think it would be wise for the Twins to let them try to win said pennant race, as opposed to bringing them up for a month or so of Major league experience (at least this year)

[Willihammer]

As long as Morales hits, the Twins will be fine. If they tank, they flip him for another Alex Presley and dump the balance on a contender. If they stay competitive, attendance will stay strong. The only way they lose is if Morales lays an egg.

[tobi0040]

It's the 2014 Twins DH paradox: our overall line is pretty good there, but all of our potential DHs have struggled mightily or are needed at other positions.

 

 

 

In MLB terms, $7.5 mil is fairly modest. The Twins just spent $2 million for two months of Jason Kubel hoping he could rebound from a terrible 2013 and a terrible 2014 spring training. $7.5 mil for 4 months of a good, healthy player is a modest outlay by comparison.

 

They paid Pelfrey what will amount to about $1M per start. Jason Marquis make $3.5M to make 8-10 starts one year. One day the Twins will realize it doesn't make sense to pay Felix Hernandez type money on a per start basis for the likes of Jason Marquis and Mike Pelfrey. One can hope anyway.