Article: What Will The Twins Do With Danny Santana?

[stringer bell]

 

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.

I don't know how much things have changed since the Gardy era, but regulars were regulars and the bench guys were the ones who had to be versatile. As far as Santana backing up third base, I do think the Twins should look at him there in ST. If they keep Plouffe, it likely won't be an issue, of course.

 

Ditto for the outfield. Both Hicks and Rosario played a lot in right last year, so Santana probably wouldn't have to play that position. Robinson played 36 innings there in '15 and he was the fourth OF. FWIW, if a guy can capably play short, it should be relatively easy to adjust to third and we all know Santana has plenty of arm for any infield position. The same with transitioning from center to a corner.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Santana strikes me as the type of guy that has value to a rebuilding team, as they can let him take his lumps as a starter.  I'm fine with him in the 2016 futility role, and I'm also fine with the idea of trading him as a part of a package to a bad team with a good player at a position of need as their lack of competitiveness will let him take his lumps as a starter.  As it is, we also have Polanco in the high minors who will at some point be requiring a roster spot too, and there's also a resurgent Levi Michael.  At some point, the Twins will have to shed some of these guys. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

I'd have no problem trading Santana if Ryan can get value for him... But that'll be a tough sell. Maybe bundled into a deal with another player might work.

 

And good point about Michael. He looks like he might be a futility guy, though I don't think he can play short.

[dxpavelka]

 

but should Polanco really be blocked by Santana? Or any of the actual OFers in the minors?

How about best guy plays-regardless of whether it's Santana of Polanco?  Seems reasonable to me.  Let it be decided in camp.

 

[laloesch]

 

He had negative value on the team last year, trading him for nothing would have made them better last year. There is little in his minor league career to indicate that will dramatically change, is there?

Why are we worried about losing Danny Santana, when you have:
Buxton, Rosario, Hicks, Arcia, Kepler
Escobar, Dozier, Polanco, (even Nunez), Gordon, and some other guys in AA or even AAA that could be utility guys

Where does Danny Santana fit in in HELPING this team win next year? Or are we punting next year also?

 

Agreed.  Time to move on.  Trade Santana to another team that could use him.  Twins have options on the way up and he's only taking up a valuable roster slot.  Trade him.

[stringer bell]

 

How about best guy plays-regardless of whether it's Santana of Polanco?  Seems reasonable to me.  Let it be decided in camp.

It won't be that way and shouldn't be that way in this instance. Santana is out of options and will be playing for the Twins in the major leagues or traded. He certainly won't make it through a DFA. Jorge Polanco is not being blocked by Danny Santana. The Twins don't want and even younger guy with a considerable upside to be a bench player.

[stringer bell]

 

Agreed.  Time to move on.  Trade Santana to another team that could use him.  Twins have options on the way up and he's only taking up a valuable roster slot.  Trade him.

The spot Santana figures to take belongs to the much-maligned Eduardo Nunez.

[DocBauer]

 

The spot Santana figures to take belongs to the much-maligned Eduardo Nunez.

The Twins, and many teams, have a history of carrying 2 utility players, as opposed to just a single. Especially if one can fill in the OF or 1B, etc. There is room...and I say reason...for the Twins to keep both. Multiple roster constructions I put together sees room for both.

[gil4]

 

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

And Duensing.  Isn't it one of the TD rules that Duensing must be included in any irrational trade?

[BrianTrottier]

 

Santana is an all around mediocre player, though I would keep him as a util guy over Nunez or any of the other real options.

 

Santana's 2015 line in 277 PAs: .215/.241/.291; .532 OPS, 44 OPS+, 11.3 K/BB, -2.2 bWAR

Nunez's 2015 line in 204 PAs: .282/.327/.431, .758 OPS, 104OPS +, 2.4 K/BB, 1.5 bWAR

 

Are you sure about that statement? Even if Santana improves to somewhere between his 2014 and 2015 seasons, we'd be pretty lucky for him to come close to Nunez's production from this past season. I know that Nunez put up better numbers in 2015 than he has in any other year, but he's never come close to demonstrating the futility that Danny Santana (who I might add always seems to look frightened when he's playing) did this year.

 

(Edited to add Nunez's OPS+)

Edited November 3, 2015 by BrianTrottier

[jorgenswest]

I hope the Twins aren't trying to project the performance of Santana or Nunez or Escobar based on one season of data in which none of the three was a regular throughout the season. Projection should be based on 3-5 years. I would think based on that and age, Nunez would come out with little upside offensively or defensively. Santana's glove would certainly be better up the middle. Nunez would be a better fit at 3B. His value would increase with a Plouffe trade.

Edited November 3, 2015 by jorgenswest

[Shane Wahl]

Even though Santana was never as a high of a prospect as Aaron Hicks, he always seemed to me to be on the same kind of development track. That means, don't skip nuthin'. 2014 would have been full AA. 2015 would have been full AAA. Now, if you look at career MiLB numbers and his career MLB numbers, they are close to identical:

Minors: .276/.319/.399 (.717)

Majors: .278/.309/.401 (.710)

 

And I think that is what he is. If Escobar has issues this year or gets hurt, this is ok. Or if Santana is a long-term utility player, this is ok too.

 

I actually think Santana could be a better defensive third baseman than shortstop or second baseman because there is so little time to do anything but react with instincts. And he has the arm for it.

[ashbury]

And Duensing.  Isn't it one of the TD rules that Duensing must be included in any irrational trade?

Who is this Duensing you speak of? I see no one by that name on the 40-man roster.

 

http://www.mlb.com/team/roster_40man.jsp?c_id=min

 

 

[stringer bell]

 

I hope the Twins aren't trying to project the performance of Santana or Nunez or Escobar based on one season of data in which none of the three was a regular throughout the season. Projection should be based on 3-5 years. I would think based on that and age, Nunez would come out with little upside offensively or defensively. Santana's glove would certainly be better up the middle. Nunez would be a better fit at 3B. His value would increase with a Plouffe trade.

If Plouffe were traded, I expect Nunez will be a Twin next year. If not, I don't think he's a real fit as the second utility guy, although he hit pretty well last year. As I said earlier, I don't think Santana's season in 2014 should be forgotten, but it should be put in perspective.

 

Danny is still a young player who figures to get better with some confidence and playing time. If he comes back with a season closer to 2014, he has value as either a Twin or a trade chip. It only makes sense to give him that opportunity.

[gil4]

 

Who is this Duensing you speak of? I see no one by that name on the 40-man roster.

 

http://www.mlb.com/team/roster_40man.jsp?c_id=min

 

meme_is_dead.jpg

He's gone? Really? 

Wait, that can't be.  I don't see Kershaw's name there, either.

[Mike Sixel]

Not every young player gets better......

[Craig Arko]

Who is this Duensing you speak of? I see no one by that name on the 40-man roster.

 

http://www.mlb.com/team/roster_40man.jsp?c_id=min

 

meme_is_dead.jpg

Interesting that Escobar is listed as an outfielder.

[dxpavelka]

 

The spot Santana figures to take belongs to the much-maligned Eduardo Nunez.

Who in 2015 had the highest batting average of any Twin with more than 10 plate appearances.  Just sayin.