Article: What Will The Twins Do With Danny Santana?

[Parker Hageman]

Escobar, Dozier, Polanco, (even Nunez), Gordon, and some other guys in AA or even AAA that could be utility guys

 

 

I get Escobar and Dozier, but I'm not sure Polanco is necessarily ahead of Santana on the depth chart. He made 20 errors himself in 880 innings this year. Gordon is several years away. Nunez might not be with the team. 

 

Frankly, I don't know what his role would be or how Molitor would use him. That's up to what he does this spring. I just know that he has enough positives to want to keep around to see if he can improve his results. 

[tobi0040]

 

I get Escobar and Dozier, but I'm not sure Polanco is necessarily ahead of Santana on the depth chart. He made 20 errors himself in 880 innings this year. Gordon is several years away. Nunez might not be with the team. 

 

Frankly, I don't know what his role would be or how Molitor would use him. That's up to what he does this spring. I just know that he has enough positives to want to keep around to see if he can improve his results. 

 

This is very similar to my thoughts.  He is talented enough to be a better utility guy than guys like Nunez.  And has some chance to taking back the SS job.  His trade value is not high and he won't cost much.  So I think you pencil him in as your utility guy and give him the chance to prove he can do more.  

[Mike Sixel]

How does he prove anything playing maybe 1 game a week? I'm trying to be super practical here. It's hard to see how he "proves" anything if he is lucky to get 4 ABs a week.

 

It isn't the end of the world if he's the utility guy, but I don't see what he's good at. As Parker points out, Polanco is no gold glove SS.....but which one would you rather PH with?

[stringer bell]

I don't think 2014 should be forgotten, but it should be put in perspective. Split the difference between 2014 and 2015 and you have a fairly decent young player. Regarding his OF defense, by the end of the season last year, I thought Danny was pretty good, especially for his limited experience.

[Mike Sixel]

I don't think 2014 should be forgotten, but it should be put in perspective. Split the difference between 2014 and 2015 and you have a fairly decent young player. Regarding his OF defense, by the end of the season last year, I thought Danny was pretty good, especially for his limited experience.

and he plays where in the OF next year?

 

Rosario, Hicks, Arcia, Buxton, Santana OR

 

Rosario, Hicks, Arcia, Santana (with Buxton up later) OR

 

Rosario, Hicks, Arcia, FA placeholder while waiting for Buxton, Santana

 

Kepler does what after July while Santana is the 4th or 5th OF?

Edited October 30, 2015 by Mike Sixel

[Parker Hageman]

How does he prove anything playing maybe 1 game a week? I'm trying to be super practical here. It's hard to see how he "proves" anything if he is lucky to get 4 ABs a week.

 

 

We all know the baseball season doesn't work like that. It may start as Escobar/Dozier but who knows if Escobar maintains his second-half production. Then there's injuries. Plus Santana would also be a decent option to pinch run (the Royals have essentially won ballgames because of their pinch running speed off the bench) or maybe a defensive replacement in the infield (particularly if Sano is playing third base). If Buxton starts the year in AAA, Santana gives the Twins a backup CF to Hicks. 

 

Polanco probably has a higher offensive ceiling, sure, but there is no harm it letting him start the season in Rochester. If Santana doesn't figure things out, showing little progress in the spring, put him through waivers and see if he goes through (if he does, that speaks volumes). The Twins have options. Depth isn't a bad thing.

 

I'd just advise against rushing him out the door. 

[Mike Sixel]

All fair, I just don't see him as best for any role for this team, compared to other options (based on the players they have now, things can change).

[Shane Wahl]

Get him some time in LF and 3Bover winter and his speed makes him a nice super utility player who you don't mind starting for a few weeks if there is an injury.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Many of these same arguments were made about Dozier and Plouffe a few years back. Hicks may be on this list as well, time will tell.

 

At this point, I think Twins fans should know better than to write off an early 20s up-the-middle guy, especially one who posted pretty good - albeit luck-fueled - numbers just ~14-20 months ago.

 

There's room for Danny Santana on this team and the Twins would be foolish to part ways with him at this point.

[Mike Sixel]

Dozier and Plouffe had options. The Twins were bad when they were struggling. There were no other in house options. It is a very different time for this team next year than four years ago.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Alexi Casilla didn't kill the Twins when they were good in the 2000s. Santana has the same kind of upside. It didn't work out with Casilla but that doesn't mean Santana can't make adjustments in a backup role.

 

Discarding athletic up the middle players before they turn 25 is short sighted.

[Brock Beauchamp]

The question to ask yourself about Santana is "if exposed to waivers today, would he be claimed?"

 

That answer is a resounding "yes". There many teams that would want to claim Santana immediately. The kid has upside, athleticism, and is 24 years old.

 

That's not a guy you let walk away without giving him another chance.

[Brock Beauchamp]

To post three times in a row because it's fun, there are many good baseball teams through history that have filled the back of their roster with toolsy, unpolished players. Those guys have uses: late inning double-switches, pinch-running, occasional fill-in roles. Santana can do all those things.

 

And when you get right down to it, we're talking about possibly losing Nunez here. Is that really much of a loss? Given the potential make-up of this team, one athletic, toolsy guy at the back of the roster isn't going to get in the way of success. There are plenty of bench bats available should the Twins want a bat-first player in pinch-hitting situations: Vargas, Arcia, Pinto... Never mind that Santana had a pretty nice season in AAA, even if he stunk up the joint in Minnesota.

 

There's potential there... I didn't want Santana starting after May 1st of 2015 but that doesn't mean he should be off the team entirely.

 

At least not until we get another look at him.

[DocBauer]

I guess I'm just going to echo a lot of the same things already said.

 

He may not be the hitter he was in 2014, but he is also not the hitter he was in 2015. Too much talent, too much potential, too quick of hands, and a decent milb track record of hitting/offense indicates he should produce at least some. That little hitch in his swing looks just awful. Makes him look like he's swinging all arms and not using his hands at all.

 

I've never understood the idea that a utility player has to be good field bad bat. Back in the day, Ron Washington, for example, wS an excellent utility player for the Twins. He played all across the diamond and was an OK defender with a solid bat. He "helped" the club by being able to fill in for guys or give them a day off and perform adequately with a decent bat. Santana has that ability, plus the ability to play the OF.

 

I proposed months ago that Santana be turned in to a multi purpose utility player. And I believe that is exactly his role for NOW. With the Twins, or another club, he still has the youth and potential to settle in as a dynamic player at a couple of positions. But if he could be something close to Tony Phillips...previously mentioned...wow!

[Rosterman]

I say goodbye to Nunez and keep Danny as the benchguy for 2016 and see if he steps up in any way. The Twins need a placesetter at short for at least 2016 and possibly 2017 and between Escobar (who if he remains consistent can be tradebait) and Santana, I feel the Twins have adequate coverage.

[USAFChief]

Alexi Casilla didn't kill the Twins when they were good in the 2000s. Santana has the same kind of upside. It didn't work out with Casilla but that doesn't mean Santana can't make adjustments in a backup role.

Discarding athletic up the middle players before they turn 25 is short sighted.

Actually, an unhealthy reliance on Casilla-types was a primary reason the Twins always seemed overmatched in the postseason.

 

I would be fine with Santana as the futility infielder in 2016, but be ready to dump him if necessary.

[stringer bell]

If Kepler and Buxton start the season in the minors, there might be considerable outfield time available for Santana. Has he ever played left or right? If he were capable in left, he could essentially be the fourth outfielder in addition to getting some starts at second and short, maybe even third. I can actually see a bench with both Nuñez and Santana on it.

 

He's not proven in any respect, but he has tools and he sustained his over-his-head performance for over 100 games last year. He should get a lot of rope before the Twins give up on him.

[curt1965]

I can't believe the number of posters that want to throw Santana under the bus. The history of baseball is littered with successful players who struggled early in their careers. Santana's success in 2014 didn't happen in a vacuum. You aren't lucky to hit .319 for the year, despite what naysayers want to say about is inflated BABIP.

I'm not saying he will turn out like Big Papi, but give the kid a chance. I'd hate to see him be the starting SS for 10 years with another team!

[jimbo92107]

Actually, there is a very important difference in the two swings. In Santana's 2014 swing, his hip pop comes just before the bat snaps through the zone, propelling the bat. In the 2015 version, his hip pop is simultaneous to the bat coming through the zone. If that swing is representative, then Santana's kinetic chain has been broken, removing power from the swing, which must surf a wave of force created from low to high. No rhythm in the 2015 swing. 

 

Also, his belt buckle (hip) isn't turned far enough, so his torso isn't transferring power to his swing. Belt buckle must turn all the way towards the pitcher, or slightly past that, to generate whip. 

[Reider]

There is a reason why people say that playing professional sports is 90% mental.

 

Florimon and Santana both have excellent tools to play SS, but both have had mental meltdowns.

 

Plouffe and Dozier were both failures at SS. However, with hard work and working things out mentally, look where they are now. Dozier is an all-star 2nd baseman and Plouffe is a solid 3rd baseman.

 

I really like Santana's skill set. Defensively, he has the tools to be a very solid SS. He just needs to keep working hard and figure things out mentally. If he doesn't get his mind straightened out, he's not going to succeed at the MLB level, even though his skill set is arguably "above average."

Edited October 31, 2015 by Reider

[stringer bell]

Perhaps Santana's struggles last year explain some of Terry Ryan's apparent affection for middling veterans. I predicted last year that at least one of the Twins' partial season break-outs (Santana, Vargas, or Arcia) would spend time in the minors in 2015. Unfortunately, all three did. I will make the same prediction for the 2015 class-Rosario, Sano, and Duffey. One of those three will get optioned at some point in 2016. It is the nature of the game of baseball and it is also why there needs to be a backup plan for players until they are fully established.

 

Specific to the case of Santana, he can't get down on himself and needs to play free and easy like he did in 2014. Maybe, knowing that his role will be as a utility player going in will help. He showed he can be far better than he played this past season, so there is potential, but he has to play with confidence to approach that potential.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Actually, an unhealthy reliance on Casilla-types was a primary reason the Twins always seemed overmatched in the postseason.

It's kinda weird to pin some of the Twins' postseason failures on a guy who received zero postseason plate appearances with the team (but played in three seasons the Twins made the playoffs).

 

If you want to talk about the Twins starting Juan Castro or Nick Punto as part of their problems in the 2000s, that's a fair conversation... But the backup middle infielder? I don't see an argument to be made about that, especially one as talented as Santana (who has a higher ceiling than most futility guys).

[USAFChief]

It's kinda weird to pin some of the Twins' postseason failures on a guy who received zero postseason plate appearances with the team (but played in three seasons the Twins made the playoffs).

 

If you want to talk about the Twins starting Juan Castro or Nick Punto as part of their problems in the 2000s, that's a fair conversation... But the backup middle infielder? I don't see an argument to be made about that, especially one as talented as Santana (who has a higher ceiling than most futility guys).

I said "Casilla-types".

 

And it was in response to a post claiming Santana has "the same kind of upside."

 

Anyway, for the record, when Casilla played, it was mostly as a starter, not as a backup. The Twins took way too long to decide he wasn't ever going to be an effective major leaguer, and I hope they don't continue to make that kind of mistake.

 

I don't have a problem giving him a shot as a spare part. He'll, I didn't have a problem starting him at SS last spring.

 

But if that fails, don't let inertia, loyalty, or something else drag the problem out for a few years.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I said "Casilla-types".

 

And it was in response to a post claiming Santana has "the same kind of upside."

 

Anyway, for the record, when Casilla played, it was mostly as a starter, not as a backup. The Twins took way too long to decide he wasn't ever going to be an effective major leaguer, and I hope they don't continue to make that kind of mistake.

 

I don't have a problem giving him a shot as a spare part. He'll, I didn't have a problem starting him at SS last spring.

 

But if that fails, don't let inertia, loyalty, or something else drag the problem out for a few years.

Fair enough. I don't think we're really arguing here. I want to see Santana get one more shot... After that, I'm not sure.

[ScrapTheNickname]

 

This is a no brainer.  Trade him and Ricky Nolasco for Clayton Kershaw

I like that. New definition of "no brainer." No brain. Har, har. 

[Brandon]

If we could package him with say Nolasco and another prospect maybe Zack Jones to SD for Norris and Benoit. ..I think the hardest part of this trade is the last year on Nolasco contract otherwise it could work.

[Thrylos]

 

If we could package him with say Nolasco and another prospect maybe Zack Jones to SD for Norris and Benoit. ..I think the hardest part of this trade is the last year on Nolasco contract otherwise it could work.

 

You do realize that Benoit will be 39 next July and very likely will be a free agent (Padres will not pick his $8M option,)  I hope

 

Norris is an interesting situation, because he is blocking Padres' uber-prospect Austin Hedges, but the Padres have Jedd Gyorko & Cory Spangenberg in middle infield in the majors (both young former top 100 prospects), have Benji Gonzalez as a young MIF/UT bat at AAA, former Twin Yangervis Solarte at third, but better as a super-utility, and 26 year old Alexi Amarista as a super-utility player in the majors right now.  So middle infield is not something that the need and Santana would be like 6th in their depth chart...

Edited October 31, 2015 by Thrylos

[DocBauer]

I almost started this post with a whole bunch of sarcastic, "he's an obvious bum, throw him to the wolves" horse hockey. Guess I am just in a mood.

 

But seriously, age 22 at AA; .297/ .333/ .386/ .719 with 22Dbls/ 10 Tpls/ 2HR/ 30SB

 

After that, he spent a whopping 27 games and 108 AB's in 2014 at AAA as a 23yo. He was placed in CF as the Twins primary option there, with occassional work at SS. In a season of extreme disappointment, he was an unexpected spark plug for the Twins. He hit and produced, kept on hitting and producing, got hurt, came back, and continued to hit and produce. I was so impressed, such a fan and believer, that I actually wasn't worried about him going in to this past season.

 

I knew and expected some regression. But I also believed he'd improve in some areas even as he regressed in others. He had shown outstanding talent, resiliency and confidence previously. Not only should/could he build on experience, but he was going to now return to his natural position.

 

I don't know if it was pressure to perform, pressure to do more, or what. But at the ripe old age of 24, with the talent he possesses, flashes he has already shown us, we should be EXCITED about his potential on the roster as a utility role player, tons of potential and bounce-back potential without the same pressure, instead of tearing him down as just another guy.

[h2oface]

 

I would be fine with Santana as the futility infielder in 2016........

 

futility infielder...... I love it!

[Lonestar]

Has anyone noted that Danny Santana has only played one game at 3B in the minors and that was in 2010.  If the Twins trade Plouffe, who would be the backup 3B? Escobar? Nunez? Hermmann?

 

I could see Santana becoming a super utility type. Except he only has played two games in LF (also in 2010) and none in RF.

 

I think Danny needs to focus on SS this year (and backing up CF if/when Buxton is in the minors).  Escobar is more versatile and has less need to focus as long as he's not played in OF.  I would make Escobar the regular SS, but have him back up 2B and 3B with Santana filling in at SS.