Article: Sano Won't See Outfield (Game) Action In Winter Ball

[Parker Hageman]

Don’t look for “OF” to be next to Miguel Sano’s name in any of the box scores in the Dominican this off-season because he won’t be there.On Saturday, a writer covering Sano’s Estrellas Orientales, William Aish, tweeted that Sano told him that the Twins did not want him to receive actual playing time in the outfield, only to practice in the outfield. Sano would continue to play third base and DH in winter league games. While manager Paul Molitor told reporters at the Torii Hunter press conference that the team wants to have Sano see reps in the outfield, the message, as passed along from Ryan to the Star Tribune’s Lavelle Neal in today’s article, was that the organization expects him to get comfortable and get a feel for being out there, only during batting practice.

 

With the 2016 unclear, Ryan also said that he is not looking to trade away any of the existing players. The potential signing of Byung-ho Park added a wrinkle. If the Twins were truly interested in keeping Trevor Plouffe at third, Joe Mauer at first and using Park as the DH, then Sano would undoubtedly need to learn a new position. Could this signal the team's intention of trading Plouffe, as Nick Nelson discussed on Monday? Or is it possible that the Twins move an outfielder like Eddie Rosario...but do the Twins have that much confidence in their staff to teach Sano the nuances of left field in just two months?

 

If everything remains the same, the Twins will need to find an position for Sano in the field but, for now, there does not seem to be urgency to get the young star acclimated to a new position.

 

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[Hambino the Great]

Not a chance he plays OF in the MLB.

[Mike Sixel]

Not a chance he plays OF in the MLB.

Based on the fact other teams have never done this (hint, they have)? He might get 1-3 chances a game at 3B....practicing in the OF in practice is going to give him dozens more reps, dozens.

[gunnarthor]

I guess I'm not too worried about him playing RF after watching Torii, Hammer and Arcia in the OF the last few years.  I think he'll be ok.  He's faster than he looks and his arm will play there.  I'm not sure he'll have the instincts to make a good read but I also don't know that he won't.  

 

The only concern I have is if he gets hurt but that's probably me being overly concerned.  He's a big dude but that doesn't mean he's not in shape.  

[Hambino the Great]

 

^{Based on the fact other teams have never done this (hint, they have)? He might get 1-3 chances a game at 3B....practicing in the OF in practice is going to give him dozens more reps, dozens.}

 

^{I am not aware of any team playing Sano in the OF.}

 

 

[Seth Stohs]

I've always said that I think he  could play the OF because of his athleticism and speed. Not great range, but like Cuddyer in his quality defensive RF days. 

 

Do I think he will in the big leagues? I still lean toward him not, but we shall see.

[Winston Smith]

Might make more sense to trade him to the Red Sox for one of their extra outfielders. Ortiz is getting old and he could take over his DH spot in time. 

 

It seems odd to screw around with your best prospect like this.

[Pardon My Dinger]

 

Based on the fact other teams have never done this (hint, they have)?

 

^{I am not aware of any team playing Sano in the OF.}

 

I am aware of a team trying to play Hanley Ramirez in the outfield. How'd that go?

 

 

[Mike Sixel]

Miguel Cabrera played OF for WS champion, I think, after playing a handful of games in the minors.

 

I'm not saying it is a good idea or not, I'm saying it is not impossible to happen, and it has happened.

[JaleelWhite FanClub]

I'm don't want to derail the conversation and turn this into a M___r discussion, but the guy is the elephant in the room no one (with the Twins) is talking about that is causing all the musical chair talks.

 

So the Twins need to trade Plouffe (2.5 WAR) or Rosario (2.3 WAR), move Sano (2.0 WAR over 1/2 a season) to the outfield, bring in a 29-year-old rookie from Korea who's considered to be a "boom-or-bust" prospect who would force Kepler (Twins Minor Leaguer of the Year, Top 20-30) to an already crowded outfield, opening him up to a potential future trade, like with Hicks (1.5 WAR) once Buxton arrives because they can't (won't) do anything with a 0.3 WAR first baseman on the downside of his career?

 

Trying Sano in the outfield over the offseason and spring is fine. But if the Twins decide to trade some of their young core as a result of the move or if Sano's impact is limited by the shift, then it becomes a problem.

 

It's starting to seem like 2019 can't come soon enough.

[SwainZag]

 

Might make more sense to trade him to the Red Sox for one of their extra outfielders. Ortiz is getting old and he could take over his DH spot in time. 

 

It seems odd to screw around with your best prospect like this.

 

Giving him some fly balls in batting practice is screwing with him, eh?  

[gunnarthor]

 

I'm don't want to derail the conversation and turn this into a M___r discussion, but the guy is the elephant in the room no one (with the Twins) is talking about that is causing all the musical chair talks.

 

So the Twins need to trade Plouffe (2.5 WAR) or Rosario (2.3 WAR), move Sano (2.0 WAR over 1/2 a season) to the outfield, bring in a 29-year-old rookie from Korea who's considered to be a "boom-or-bust" prospect who would force Kepler (Twins Minor Leaguer of the Year, Top 20-30) to an already crowded outfield, opening him up to a potential future trade, like with Hicks (1.5 WAR) once Buxton arrives because they can't (won't) do anything with a 0.3 WAR first baseman on the downside of his career?

 

Trying Sano in the outfield over the offseason and spring is fine. But if the Twins decide to trade some of their young core as a result of the move or if Sano's impact is limited by the shift, then it becomes a problem.

 

It's starting to seem like 2019 can't come soon enough.

Mauer isn't going anywhere, he has a full no-trade clause, he can't go back to catcher.  Here's what might happen.

 

The team starts the year with Sano in RF, Plouffe at 3b, Park at DH and Mauer at first.  Buxton and Kepler are at AAA.  After six weeks, Sano and Park are just what we've been dreaming about - taking walks, hitting HRs, major offensive bats.  Plouffe is putting up his standard .250/.315/.430 line.  But Mauer is struggling - .265/.325/.330 while Buxton is hitting .400 in Rochester.  

 

At that point, the Twins might start to think about moving Mauer to a part time bench spot.  

 

Of course, we can also dream and hope that instead of a .265/.325/.330 line Mauer is putting up a .300/.380/.410 line instead.  

[Platoon]

Sano is way quicker, and faster than Willy, Cuddy, or Ploofy! And his arm easily plays well in the OF. Can he catch fly balls? I can, so I imagine he can. Will his pitchers end up crouching down and holding their head in their hands after a ball lands that Hicks, Buxton, Rosario, and yes even Hunter would have caught? Very likely. What I dread is him coming in and diving for a ball, and seeing him holding his shoulder. Big guys like him do not land like cats!

[USAFChief]

Mauer isn't going anywhere, he has a full no-trade clause, he can't go back to catcher.  Here's what might happen.

 

The team starts the year with Sano in RF, Plouffe at 3b, Park at DH and Mauer at first.  Buxton and Kepler are at AAA.  After six weeks, Sano and Park are just what we've been dreaming about - taking walks, hitting HRs, major offensive bats.  Plouffe is putting up his standard .250/.315/.430 line.  But Mauer is struggling - .265/.325/.330 while Buxton is hitting .400 in Rochester.  

 

At that point, the Twins might start to think about moving Mauer to a part time bench spot.  

 

Of course, we can also dream and hope that instead of a .265/.325/.330 line Mauer is putting up a .300/.380/.410 line instead.

 

It is a sad statement of affairs if .300/.380/.410 is truly the best one can dream and hope for from a big league first baseman.

[gunnarthor]

 

It is a sad statement of affairs if .300/.380/.410 is truly the best one can dream and hope for from a big league first baseman.

A .380 OBP would be third in the AL last year and that would be the most important part.  Sure, the 110 .iso is low but that could be forgiven (and, in fairness, Mauer had a better .iso last year).  That stat line would have been pretty good, frankly.  It wouldn't have been an all-star but it would probably been about 3-4 WAR.

[SwainZag]

 

It is a sad statement of affairs if .300/.380/.410 is truly the best one can dream and hope for from a big league first baseman.

 

People need to get over the old timey thinking that a 1B HAS to hit a ton of HR and be a big slugger to be considered an asset.  Sure, last year's Mauer should never ever cut it, but .300/.380/.410 would be a huge asset to this offense.

[ShouldaCouldaWoulda]

The biggest concern I have with the possibility of Sano in the OF would be the greater chance of injury. 

 

One thought I have not seen mentioned in Plouffe trade attempts is to Atlanta, since they are now converting Olivera to the OF there. Not sure what type of packages would/could be sent both ways in this case, but at least it seems like a reasonable trade partner in need of a 3B. If you look around the league, there are not many teams with a need at the position, and most have good young options currently. 

 

Who is our backup 3b next year, if Sano starts there and Escobar starts at SS?

 

*On a side note, how is Dozier's arm, and would he even possibly fit as a potential 3B? I am not looking for answers if the Twins would play him there, as they seem to behind the curve in creating positional flexibility and maximizing rosters with position movement, but just want to know if he'd even profile there.

[dougkoebernick]

 

Sano is way quicker, and faster than Willy, Cuddy, or Ploofy! And his arm easily plays well in the OF. Can he catch fly balls? I can, so I imagine he can. Will his pitchers end up crouching down and holding their head in their hands after a ball lands that Hicks, Buxton, Rosario, and yes even Hunter would have caught? Very likely. What I dread is him coming in and diving for a ball, and seeing him holding his shoulder. Big guys like him do not land like cats!

Great post - couldn't agree more. This is not your garbage man filling in for your neurosurgeon. 

[Dantes929]

I don't want Sano in the outfield but I kind of wanted him to be DH.   People see his weight and height stats and think Vargas, Dave Ortiz and Cecil Fielder but look at his picture above.   If a guy can be 6'5 and weigh 250 but still look lean and athletic it is this guy.    I think he can be an outfielder based on his speed down the line but I want him to mash and he can do that from the DH spot or fill in for Plouffe or Mauer.   I am also fine with him at 3rd in case of a Plouffe trade.

[Dantes929]

 

It is a sad statement of affairs if .300/.380/.410 is truly the best one can dream and hope for from a big league first baseman.

Its not what I dream of for Mauer.   I dream of .320/.400/.440 but would put him in the 2 spot (which is where I would have put him his entire career) and love his .380 OBP on an OBP starved team in a heartbeat.   Seemed like nearly every homer Sano had was with Mauer on base.   Having power in the middle of the order is great but it means a lot less with no one on board.  I don't really care where he plays if he gets on base nearly 40% of the time.

[Thrylos]

So Sano will have exactly as much OF experience this winter as any Catcher and Pitcher who is not pitching that day: snagging fly balls at the OF during BP

 

Zero % of Sano playing the OF in 2016, unless he actually plays some in the Spring...

The last thing you want is to have him collide with someone or twist a knee out there.

 

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

Probably don't want him seeing game action in the OF this soon due to the risk of a collision, eh?

[DocBauer]

I'm don't want to derail the conversation and turn this into a M___r discussion, but the guy is the elephant in the room no one (with the Twins) is talking about that is causing all the musical chair talks.

 

So the Twins need to trade Plouffe (2.5 WAR) or Rosario (2.3 WAR), move Sano (2.0 WAR over 1/2 a season) to the outfield, bring in a 29-year-old rookie from Korea who's considered to be a "boom-or-bust" prospect who would force Kepler (Twins Minor Leaguer of the Year, Top 20-30) to an already crowded outfield, opening him up to a potential future trade, like with Hicks (1.5 WAR) once Buxton arrives because they can't (won't) do anything with a 0.3 WAR first baseman on the downside of his career?

 

Trying Sano in the outfield over the offseason and spring is fine. But if the Twins decide to trade some of their young core as a result of the move or if Sano's impact is limited by the shift, then it becomes a problem.

 

It's starting to seem like 2019 can't come soon enough.

 

I hope...I hope...I hope we see a return of the old Mauer...(young Mauer? normal Mauer?). If not, the way the team seems to be constructed now, and with so many good young OF's, Mauer would be best as the veteran LH PH/DH/backup 1B. I don't know that the Twins would be bold enough to do that. Or if most anyone would, for that matter.

[DocBauer]

People need to get over the old timey thinking that a 1B HAS to hit a ton of HR and be a big slugger to be considered an asset.  Sure, last year's Mauer should never ever cut it, but .300/.380/.410 would be a huge asset to this offense.

 

I really like this post. Now...hitting .260 with limited power and an OB of .330-.340 may not cut it either. But teams Re all constructed differently. The Twins don't have a bopper at 1B? Well, very few teMs have a 2B who hits like Dozier does.

 

I watched Grace, Joyner and Hernandez win gold gloves, make all star games, and have long and productive careers despite being more contact, line drive hitters than boppers.

[Old Twins Cap]

Ryan is doing what he has to do:  not leave Plouffe out there as raw trade meat, exposed, naked, alone.

 

But, at the end of the day, Plouffe will be traded and Sano will play third.

 

It's just something you learn at GM finishing school:  don't cut the legs out from under anyone in your own organization.

 

Though, in a way, announcing that Sano was going to get reps in the outfield was a kind of knee-capping of Sano.  It's just that it isn't true, and Sano and everyone knows it.

[Thrylos]

 

Ryan is doing what he has to do:  not leave Plouffe out there as raw trade meat, exposed, naked, alone.

 

Is this Hamlet?

[Old Twins Cap]

 

Is this Hamlet?

 

Are you Shakespeare?

[JaleelWhite FanClub]

 

Mauer isn't going anywhere, he has a full no-trade clause, he can't go back to catcher.  Here's what might happen.

 

The team starts the year with Sano in RF, Plouffe at 3b, Park at DH and Mauer at first.  Buxton and Kepler are at AAA.  After six weeks, Sano and Park are just what we've been dreaming about - taking walks, hitting HRs, major offensive bats.  Plouffe is putting up his standard .250/.315/.430 line.  But Mauer is struggling - .265/.325/.330 while Buxton is hitting .400 in Rochester.  

 

At that point, the Twins might start to think about moving Mauer to a part time bench spot.  

 

Of course, we can also dream and hope that instead of a .265/.325/.330 line Mauer is putting up a .300/.380/.410 line instead.  

 

Yes, I never considered Mauer being moved. But I think the timetable for transitioning him to a part-time role should be accelerated if it means saving the team from trading away younger, more valuable assets or screwing with a cornerstone's position.

[JaleelWhite FanClub]

 

I really like this post. Now...hitting .260 with limited power and an OB of .330-.340 may not cut it either. But teams Re all constructed differently. The Twins don't have a bopper at 1B? Well, very few teMs have a 2B who hits like Dozier does. I watched Grace, Joyner and Hernandez win gold gloves, make all star games, and have long and productive careers despite being more contact, line drive hitters than boppers.

 

Agreed. But if the 1B is only average, at best, and slugs under .400, the .340 OBP loses a little pizzazz.

[DocBauer]

There have been a lot of infielders, top draft choices and prospects even, that have converted to the OF and had very good careers. Danny Tartabul, Gary Sheffield and just recently Alex Gordon are just a few that come to mind. (Wasn't Albert Belle a 3B when first signed?) Even the Twins Michael Cuddyer is, of course, an example. And, of course, there are many others. Including some who moved to the OF later in their careers, such as Robin Yount, due to injuries or to help prolong careers.

 

But most of these moves were made because there was a quality bat or potential involved, but a definite lack of everyday infield defense. There is nothing, no report from anyone, stating that Sano can't play defense, and can't improve his defense. He could, in fact, develop in to a very good OF and huge hitter. But his bat, at 3B, is like finding another Mike Schmidt...potentially. Why on earth wouldn't you want that kind of bat at 3B vs the OF?