This article lists the top 100 players in baseball as of this moment.  The Twins only have one of them -- Eduardo Nunez at #63.

 

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/ranking-the-top-100-players-in-major-league-baseball-right-now-june-edition/

 

My sense is that to compete a team would need at least 3 or 4 top 100 players. If all teams were equal then each of the 30 teams would have 3.33 of the top players.

 

Next year I would hope to see Buxton, Sano and at least one pitcher (Berrios or Chargois?) on this list.

 

What players in the Twins organization do you see as potentially making this list next year

 

 

Sano I suspect.   I think Chargois could too.  I'll say Park as well. 

Usually I am excited to post some predictions, but my crystal ball is broken this year. I want to see how the rest of season plays out with the players.

 

Hell, a year from now, Eddie Rosario might be on the list. The MN Twins Baseball Dreamer in me has gone into hybernation for the time being.

 

When this season ends, I'd be happy if Mauer, Sano, and maybe Nunez* are on the top 100 list. That is wishful thinking I do admit.

 

*Sometimes players have career years you cannot explain, Nunez is definitely a MLB player, probably more a non-starter? He has talent and at one time he was the heir apparent to take over Jeter's spot when he retired.

What a funny conversation to have when you think back to the beginning of the season when it was hardly a consensus that Nunez was among the 25 best Twins players on the 40-man.

If things play out similarly next year, it'll be Jepsen.

He was the guy who was originally supposed to be Jeter's successor. Perhaps we have a late bloomer.

Even if Nunez does continue to hit like this (which he won't), he's still a horrendous fielder, rendering him barely above average overall. 

Making the list next year.  Ricky Nolasco, Brian Dozier, Byron Buxton

 

Even if Nunez does continue to hit like this (which he won't), he's still a horrendous fielder, rendering him barely above average overall. 

 

I know that "Nunez is a terrible fielder" has gotten to be kind of a mantra around here, but he ranks 23rd out of 43 SS with 50 or more at bats and 32nd out of 53 3B.

Not soon to be confused with Brooks Robinson or Omar Vizquel (you youngsters have no idea how good he was not all that long ago), but he's not the stone glove that the Yankees gave up on.

 

He is also 9th of 43 SS in WAR this season (all data sourced from FanGraphs).

 

His hitting this year has more than made up for his fielding gaffes. 

 

Next years top 100 Twins

Sano- will be out of the sophomore slump and slugging HRs at a pace the national media will notice

Buxton- will light up ESPN with some defensive outfield plays and his speed on the base paths

Berrios- will be highlighted on ESPN 2-3 times for Ks in a game and a couple of no hitters through the 6th or 7th inning. He will either make the bottom of the 100 or be an honorable mention.

Next year:  Meyer, Gibson, Chargois, Burdi, Sano, Polanco, Mauer.

 

Re: Nunez.  His fielding is not attrocious.  Playing every blue moon on the field in 2-3 different positions takes its toll.  Last season in the plus/minus metric, he was +4 at SS.  This season he is -1.  Same at 3B and same at LF.  He is pretty horrendous at 2B, and should never play at the other side of the diamond without a good time practicing, because it is pretty much the opposite movements and mentality from playing 3B and SS.  I'd love to see what would happen if he plays consistently one position for 15 days in a row.   

Cannot improve a position by siting on the bench or rotating around.  That simple.  Check Zombrist's fielding numbers if you don't believe me.  

Edited June 7, 201610 yr by Thrylos

Im happy to eat crow in regards to Nunez, but I still think this is the time to sell high on him.

 

The twins have zero other real tradable assets (assuming Bux and Sano and Berrios are off limits)

However at this stage I wouldn't trade him just to trade him (like dozier and plouffe) but if they can get back a solid front end pitching prospect I think you need to think about doing it.

 

I know that "Nunez is a terrible fielder" has gotten to be kind of a mantra around here, but he ranks 23rd out of 43 SS with 50 or more at bats and 32nd out of 53 3B.

Your general point is right (Nunez's hitting has him above average overall this year), but if you are looking at dWAR on the batting leaderboard, there is a better way.  (dWAR is a counting stat, and on that leaderboard it contains all of the dWAR accumulated at all positions, even if they are not primary SS or 3B -- not sure what criteria Fangraphs uses to determine "qualifiers" at a position. dWAR also includes a positional adjustment which isn't helpful when comparing guys at the same position.)  There is potential for very skewed and misleading results there.

 

Better to select the position from the drop-down "Split" menu as it will only include AB and WAR accumulated at that position.  And best to simply check the fielding page directly, as it will only show the innings at a particular position and can be sorted by a rate stat like UZR/150.  Still Nunez does pretty well this year, 19th out of 34 at SS:

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=ss&stats=fld&lg=all&qual=140&type=1&season=2016&month=0&season1=2016&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=24,d&page=1_50

 

And 21st out of 38 at 3B:

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=3b&stats=fld&lg=all&qual=140&type=1&season=2016&month=0&season1=2016&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=24,d&page=1_50

 

(Minimum 140 innings at each position.)

 

Still, it's a pretty small sample for defense, and Nunez still has a negative score at both positions by all the major metrics (UZR, DRS, TZ), but at least for 2016, his bat has easily outweighed his glove.

I just don't see Nunez sticking at SS everyday, I think he could stick at 2B or 3B for a ML club, but with Sano the future at 3B (for hopefully the next 2-3 years) Nunez doesn't have a spot unless Dozier is traded (I would be cool with that)

 

Of course if he keeps hitting like he is, his bat could play anywhere.

I wonder what a Nunez trade would get back in return.  He is probably hitting a little bit better than what could be expected to be his long-term returns.  I personally think he is a good hitting infielder and a trade isn't necessary unless the returns are right. 

 

If the Twins do not trade him and give him arbitration in 2017 and 2018, (Gordon should be about ready to see MLB time by then) would Polanco net a nice front end pitching prospect or other position of need in return such as catcher . . .

 

 

Interesting ranking system.  I agree with others on positions for Nunez:  left side of the infield are his best spots, i.e. more instinctive.  From what I've seen, he has some footwork issues at 2nd.  Take what you got and run with it!

 

However at this stage I wouldn't trade him just to trade him (like dozier and plouffe) but if they can get back a solid front end pitching prospect I think you need to think about doing it.

 

You'd need to add Duensing to balance that trade

 

Front end pitching prospect for a quarter season miracle utility player?  

 

Next year:  Meyer, Gibson, Chargois, Burdi, Sano, Polanco, Mauer.

 

Re: Nunez.  His fielding is not attrocious.  Playing every blue moon on the field in 2-3 different positions takes its toll.  Last season in the plus/minus metric, he was +4 at SS.  This season he is -1.  Same at 3B and same at LF.  He is pretty horrendous at 2B, and should never play at the other side of the diamond without a good time practicing, because it is pretty much the opposite movements and mentality from playing 3B and SS.  I'd love to see what would happen if he plays consistently one position for 15 days in a row.   

Cannot improve a position by siting on the bench or rotating around.  That simple.  Check Zombrist's fielding numbers if you don't believe me.  

Meyer Burdi and Gibson? and a pig will fly over the eiffel tower next year. Gibson will be lucky to be in the rotation

 

I wonder what a Nunez trade would get back in return.  He is probably hitting a little bit better than what could be expected to be his long-term returns.  I personally think he is a good hitting infielder and a trade isn't necessary unless the returns are right. 

 

If the Twins do not trade him and give him arbitration in 2017 and 2018, (Gordon should be about ready to see MLB time by then) would Polanco net a nice front end pitching prospect or other position of need in return such as catcher . . .

I'm thinking theres no use in the catcher option. Plank really should be starting 2nd base. Dozier should land a couple decent prospects. Polanco in his 22-27 seasons > Dozier 28-31 seasons. Plus Dozier gets better return in trade.