Article: Left Field In Need Of Upgrade

[Physics Guy]

Hopefully the new manager will not play DHs or infielders in corner OF positions (Willingham, Colabello, Parmelee, Herrmann any more)   On the other hand, based on what Ryan said about Sano, I am not holding my breath...

 

Hard to disagree with this.  Colabello, Parmalee and Herrmann are AAAA players.  Stash them in Rochester if you want to and bring them up in a pinch for a short-term fill-in.  If somebody is hurt for an extended time, bring up somebody who has a potential future with the club (Rosario, Sano....).

[GoGonzoJournal]

I've been calling for a Schafer/Hicks platoon in LF with Santana in center and Arcia in RF. That would make for above-average hitters at all three positions with just one defensive liability in Arcia. Giving more than one year to anyone is a mistake at any price, and I'd rather see what we have in Schafer and Hicks in what is hopefully the final year before Buxton's arrival.

[Physics Guy]

I've been calling for a Schafer/Hicks platoon in LF with Santana in center and Arcia in RF. That would make for above-average hitters at all three positions with just one defensive liability in Arcia. Giving more than one year to anyone is a mistake at any price, and I'd rather see what we have in Schafer and Hicks in what is hopefully the final year before Buxton's arrival.

I would amend this to have Hicks in CF when he is playing and Santana in LF.  He at least has more experience out there.  I think an occasional Shaefer LF, Hicks CF and Santana SS would be possible as well.

[DocBauer]

Parm passed thru every team when he was outrighted to Rochester. At that point he had zero trade value. He added a third position (LF), hit very well against left handed pitching and pretty well as a pinch hitter. I think some National League team could look at that skill set and see something at this point. However, the yield in a trade would be pretty small or low percentage, I would guess.

Initially, I felt the Twins mishandled Parmelee by not just letting him play more over time in '12 and '13 to try and develop and judge him once and for all. At the end of ST last season, I think they did make the right move. To their favor, he was passed over and assigned to AAA. It might have been better for him if they had just left him there for all or most of the season. (Similar to Herrman who would have been served to spend all year at Rochester at least one of the past 2 seasons)

 

I no longer hold out hope Parmelee is a long term reserve/piece of the Twins future. And I wouldn't devote a 40 man spot to him at this point, there's just too many young players we need to hold the rights to at this point. But unless claimed by someone else, I'd still bring him back with limited enthusiasm. In spurts at AAA and with the Twins, he's shown glimpses of turning at least a short corner and providing actual value. With Hicks...yes Hicks...Rosario, Buxton, possibly Schafer, Ortiz and Walker hopefully coming 'round the bend, Parm's options with the Twins may be coming to an end. But every year someone finds a former top prospect that either has the light come on, or just finds the right time and place, to become at least a useful piece. I'm still intrigued enough by flashes shown to want to keep him around for 2015 in some capacity.

[stringer bell]

I like this.

 

I've never dismissed Ortiz, but it is easy to forget about him with Hicks, Buxton, Rosario and Walker conversations. Always felt Rosario had more overall upside, but thought Ortiz could be a slightly lesser overall but similar talent option who could end being an excellent 4th OF option down the road. We might see a promotion at the end of that road with a solid season at Rochester this year.

It wouldn't surprise me if Ortiz gets a callup either during the season (short term) or in September. There are a lot of LH hitting candidates for platoon/4th OF on the Twins roster, but Ortiz' skill set might be a pretty good match for the Twins' needs.

[stringer bell]

Initially, I felt the Twins mishandled Parmelee by not just letting him play more over time in '12 and '13 to try and develop and judge him once and for all. At the end of ST last season, I think they did make the right move. To their favor, he was passed over and assigned to AAA. It might have been better for him if they had just left him there for all or most of the season. (Similar to Herrman who would have been served to spend all year at Rochester at least one of the past 2 seasons)

 

I no longer hold out hope Parmelee is a long term reserve/piece of the Twins future. And I wouldn't devote a 40 man spot to him at this point, there's just too many young players we need to hold the rights to at this point. But unless claimed by someone else, I'd still bring him back with limited enthusiasm. In spurts at AAA and with the Twins, he's shown glimpses of turning at least a short corner and providing actual value. With Hicks...yes Hicks...Rosario, Buxton, possibly Schafer, Ortiz and Walker hopefully coming 'round the bend, Parm's options with the Twins may be coming to an end. But every year someone finds a former top prospect that either has the light come on, or just finds the right time and place, to become at least a useful piece. I'm still intrigued enough by flashes shown to want to keep him around for 2015 in some capacity.

Mike Carp (2013) and Steve Pearce (2014) come to mind, although Pearce never was much of a prospect.

[Senior Softball Guy]

Dream outfield: Hicks/Schaeffer LF, Buxton CF, Arcia RF......nobody takes an extra base on these arms. My God this is going to be fun to watch!

[OldTimeTwinkie]

Have been going to AZ fall league games. I would not count out Max Kepler as one of our outfielders. Has power and a very smooth swing. Outfield defense looks more than adequate, arm strengh is very good. Big good looking athelete.

[Physics Guy]

Have been going to AZ fall league games. I would not count out Max Kepler as one of our outfielders. Has power and a very smooth swing. Outfield defense looks more than adequate, arm strengh is very good. Big good looking athelete.

You mean in 2106 or 2017, correct?  No way does management move him from A to the bigs this year.  Polanco did it for a few games in a pinch and he was a more highly regarded prospect. 

[OldTimeTwinkie]

I would not count out for next year. The pitching in the league is very good. Today three pitchers that threw 96-97. This is their cream of the crop. He is so smooth at what he does. The nall jumps off his bat.

[OldTimeTwinkie]

When I watch Buxton hit he dosent look ready. His defense does but has a way to go at the plate.

[stringer bell]

There was a lot of dissing of Kepler on the minor league thread, based on his "bad" year at Fort Myers and "slow start" in the AFL.  Kepler finished pretty strong in the FSL (a pitcher's league) and his AFL numbers look pretty good now (much better than Buxton).  He's young and he's missed much playing time with injuries.  When I saw him in Florida, taking BP with Sano and Buxton, he looked every bit as impressive as the two mega-prospects.  Of course, that was two and a half years ago. 

[OldTimeTwinkie]

Today he had a triple and a double, line drives jump off his bat. He actually looks a lot like Morneau did. Dont know how long he had played in the outfield but he looked very comfortable out there.

[nytwinsfan]

With Kepler, people forget that he hasn't been playing baseball his entire life against the same level of competition as many western hemisphere players have, so he is definitely a candidate for a slow, late development. And 1+ years of dealing with injuries also hasn't helped in that regard. It is way too early to give up on him, especially in light of how he finished off the 2014 season and his solid AFL numbers so far. Even though he has a long way to go, I really think it would be a mistake to drop him from the 40 man.

[tobi0040]

With Kepler, people forget that he hasn't been playing baseball his entire life against the same level of competition as many western hemisphere players have, so he is definitely a candidate for a slow, late development. And 1+ years of dealing with injuries also hasn't helped in that regard. It is way too early to give up on him, especially in light of how he finished off the 2014 season and his solid AFL numbers so far. Even though he has a long way to go, I really think it would be a mistake to drop him from the 40 man.

 

I see no risk with dumping Kepler off the 40 man right now.  That would only expose him to the Rule 5 draft I believe.  A team that picks him in the rule 5 would have to add him to their big league team.  He is 21 and coming off an injury riddled 100 games at high A, where he posted a .726 OPS.  Seems like a very low risk of that happening.  A year or two from now is a different story.

[Mike Sixel]

No one forgets that he had less experience....but he is in A ball, and on the 40 man......that's the issue.

[nytwinsfan]

No one forgets that he had less experience....but he is in A ball, and on the 40 man......that's the issue.

But the 40 man is full of players with significantly less upside then him. Pryor, Pressly, Thompson (who?), Darnell, Fryer, Nunez, Parmalee, Colabello, Herrman. The low risk of him being selected is I guess somewhat plausible, although I don't know what other teams' rosters look like.

Edited October 23, 2014 by nytwinsfan

[tobi0040]

But the 40 man is full of players with significantly less upside then him. Pryor, Pressly, Thompson (who?), Darnell, Fryer, Nunez, Parmalee, Colabello, Herrman. The low risk of him being selected is I guess somewhat plausible, although I don't know what other teams' rosters look like.

 

I can't argue that our 40 man is riddled with guys I would not mind being plucked by another team. But I think a few of those names will be dropped shortly....Nunez and at least one of Parmelee and CC for starters. We will cut some folks and need to make room for any signings and/or young prospects eligible for the next rule 5....Sano, Meyer?  not sure where those guys sit but players more likely to be grabbed.

 

Most of those guys are big league depth though.....not neccesarily kept for upside. 

Edited October 23, 2014 by tobi0040

[Physics Guy]

I see no risk with dumping Kepler off the 40 man right now.  That would only expose him to the Rule 5 draft I believe.  A team that picks him in the rule 5 would have to add him to their big league team.  He is 21 and coming off an injury riddled 100 games at high A, where he posted a .726 OPS.  Seems like a very low risk of that happening.  A year or two from now is a different story.

There is no reason to dump Kepler from the 40 Man right now.  If you put him on there last year, he should be on there this year.  He was much more likely to make it through the Rule 5 draft last year.  There are plenty of options filling the 40 Man right now that can be dumped before Kepler.  If he hasn't made a dent at AA next year, then maybe they think about it.  He has continued to progress through the system. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

Hold up -- I think the Kepler discussion started with the suggestion that he could be in the mix for our 2015 outfield (which is pretty crazy, IMHO -- would love him to take steps forward, but Kepler really shouldn't enter into our offseason planning at the MLB level).

 

I don't think there is any pressing need to remove him from the 40-man at this point, is there?

[tobi0040]

Hold up -- I think the Kepler discussion started with the suggestion that he could be in the mix for our 2015 outfield (which is pretty crazy, IMHO -- would love him to take steps forward, but Kepler really shouldn't enter into our offseason planning at the MLB level).

 

I don't think there is any pressing need to remove him from the 40-man at this point, is there?

 

Pressing need?  I doubt it.  But if we sign a couple guys and are facing a tough decision - nobody will claim the guy.  That was my point. 

 

It would be pretty proposterous to me a team would claim him and either have him as a starting OF this year OR a 4th OF that gets no at bats, which is what he needs.  A ton of at bats.

Edited October 23, 2014 by tobi0040

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Kepler would likely be safe from a Rule V draft, but would he be able to elect free agency if he was removed from the 40-Man?

 

I'm guessing that he had to be added for a reason, was he coming up on minor league free agency already?

 

I felt that Polanco was added early last year, too, but it turned out that the Twins were in danger of losing him and it also ended up being important to have him on the 40 Man so he could fill in for some of the wounded infielders for a couple cups of coffee.

[DJL44]

Removing Kepler from the roster would require them sending him through waivers and he would get picked up by somebody even if that team just wants to try to send him through waivers again.

[DJL44]

I think due to age at signing that Polanco and Kepler get 4 option years.

 

 

"I'm guessing that he had to be added for a reason, was he coming up on minor league free agency already?

 

I felt that Polanco was added early last year, too"

Edited October 23, 2014 by DJL44

[Otto von Ballpark]

Kepler would likely be safe from a Rule V draft, but would he be able to elect free agency if he was removed from the 40-Man?

Not free agency, but waivers.  Like when the Twins wanted to remove Liam Hendriks from the 40-man last winter, they had to waive him, even though he had a minor league option remaining.  The claiming team was able to then option him to AAA.

 

Had he not been added to the 40-man, Kepler would not have been eligible for minor league free agency until after 2016, I think.

 

 

I think due to age at signing that Polanco and Kepler get 4 option years.

Correct.  So a team could very easily claim Kepler on waivers and stash him in the minors until opening day 2018, for only the cost of the 40-man roster spot.

 

The decision point was last offseason -- the Twins could in theory have waited until as late as after the 2016 season to add him to the 40-man, assuming nobody claimed him in the intervening Rule 5 drafts.  But all that would have gained them would be option years in 2018+, at ages 25+.  If he's not a clear MLBer by that point, option years don't really matter (see Parmelee, Chris, spring 2014).

[nytwinsfan]

Not free agency, but waivers.  Like when the Twins wanted to remove Liam Hendriks from the 40-man last winter, they had to waive him, even though he had a minor league option remaining.  The claiming team was able to then option him to AAA.

 

Had he not been added to the 40-man, Kepler would not have been eligible for minor league free agency until after 2016, I think.

 

Correct.  So a team could very easily claim Kepler on waivers and stash him in the minors until opening day 2018, for only the cost of the 40-man roster spot.

 

The decision point was last offseason -- the Twins could in theory have waited until as late as after the 2016 season to add him to the 40-man, assuming nobody claimed him in the intervening Rule 5 drafts.  But all that would have gained them would be option years in 2018+, at ages 25+.  If he's not a clear MLBer by that point, option years don't really matter (see Parmelee, Chris, spring 2014).

Ok, then he definitely stays on the 40 man.

[nicksaviking]

Dream outfield: Hicks/Schaeffer LF, Buxton CF, Arcia RF......nobody takes an extra base on these arms. My God this is going to be fun to watch!

 

You need better dreams.  I think the first 1/3rd of that was actually a nightmare.

Edited October 23, 2014 by nicksaviking

[Major League Ready]

I don't like the idea of Santana spending another year in CF.  His highest potential value is at SS.   Of course, CF is also very though/expensive to fill through free agency.  There are not many options in LF but there are a couple that seem feasible.  Then, a platoon of Hicks/Schaefer would be workable because they also serve as 4th outfielders/pinch runners and defensive replacements. 

 

I wish I knew more about Tomas.  He could be part of the rebuild which has much more merit than an aging place holder.  Yes, the Twins have not done this in the past.  However, we need to keep in mind that the Twins were among the lower tier of teams from a revenue perspective until very recently (historically speaking).  Now, they are still middle of the pack in terms of revenue but this type of acquisition is much more realistic with the incremental revenue produced by moving to Target field.

 

Tomas in left with a Hicks/Schafer platoon in CF and Santana to SS seems like the best rebuilding plan to me.  Hopefully, Rosario keeps raking and we see him in the mix.  I would probably roll with Nolasco / Hughes / Gibson with May, Meyer and Milone competing for the 4th and 5th starter.  Milone was pretty darn good and it is time to test May & Meyer.  It is time to fully embrace we are rebuilding.  However,  I would not object to Masterson on a 1 year deal. 

[Physics Guy]

I felt that Polanco was added early last year, too, but it turned out that the Twins were in danger of losing him and it also ended up being important to have him on the 40 Man so he could fill in for some of the wounded infielders for a couple cups of coffee.

If I remember correctly, Polanco was brought up because he was on the 40 man, and it didn't require the team to waive somebody. He was the best option on the 40 man since Santana had already been promoted (or may have been on DL). Bernier or even Beresford would have been better options, but they would have needed to be added to the 40 man to come up

Edited October 23, 2014 by Physics Guy