They just signed Drew Stubbs with an invitation to Spring Training.   Both in the Cleveland and Texas organizations past few seasons.  Played with 3 teams last season, can play CF.   He is 32.

Edited February 8, 20179 yr by Thrylos

Not a bad RHB option who plays good defense as well. Surely this spells the end of the Danny santana era?

I don't think this is necessarily the end for DanSan.

Stubbs has been released by 4 teams over the last 12 months.

 

On the surface, a minor league deal can't really hurt anyone, but where is he going to play? We don't have enough quality OFs to play for Rochester?

Edited February 8, 20179 yr by Oldgoat_MN

Could just be AAA depth -- he's spent time in the minors each of the past 2 seasons.

I think Stubbs ends up being our 5th OF and potentially platoons with Rosario against tough lefties.

2015 ALB PCL AAA 38 137 22 36 52 4 3 2 20 24 0 39 6 3 .263 .376 .380 .755 0.97
2015 RR PCL AAA 7 27 6 6 7 1 0 0 0 3 0 7 4 0 .222 .300 .259 .559 0.56
2015 [-] 2 teams - Minors 45 164 28 42 59 5 3 2 20 27 0 46 10 3 .256 .364 .360 .724 0.88
2015 COL NL MLB 51 102 14 22 44 3 2 5 10 9 1 50 2 1 .216 .286 .431 .717 0.74
2015 TEX AL MLB 27 21 6 2 3 1 0 0 0 5 0 10 3 0 .095 .269 .143 .412 0.80
2015 [-] 2 teams - MLB 78 123 20 24 47 4 2 5 10 14 1 60 5 1 .195 .283 .382 .665 0.75
2016 RR PCL AAA 12 39 10 9 19 4 0 2 10 10 0 8 2 1 .231 .373 .487 .860 1.00
2016 RAN AZL ROK 3 9 0 2 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 3 0 0 .222 .300 .222 .522 0.33
2016 [-] 2 teams - Minors 15 48 10 11 21 4 0 2 11 11 0 11 2 1 .229 .361 .438 .798 0.88
2016 ATL NL MLB 20 38 6 9 12 0 0 1 3 4 0 20 4 0 .237 .310 .316 .625 2.33
2016 TEX AL MLB 19 20 6 6 12 0 0 2 3 4 0 7 4 0 .300 .400 .600 1.000 1.00
2016 BAL AL MLB 20 22 1 3 3 0 0 0 1 4 0 11 1 1 .136 .296 .136 .433 0.60

http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=453211#/career/R/hitting/2016/ALL

 

Danny Santana has no worries and we have no need for a signing like this. 

Stubbs can be a good 4th-5th OFer. If he takes major AB's away from Rosario, Buxton, and Kepler, I will be pissed and tune out.

 

I think Stubbs ends up being our 5th OF and potentially platoons with Rosario against tough lefties.

 

Each of the last two years he has hit RH pitchers better than LH pitchers.

That's when you want Rosario & Kepler in the lineup.

It used to be that trading Duensing was the answer to all our problems, not its DFA'ing DanSan. I just knew the new FO would make a difference! .

Unless he shows marked improvement in ST, I don't see Stubbs on the Twins' opening day roster. He's either released or in AAA.

I guess I would've liked to see better splits against lefties for this spot.

He's still better than Santana on the defense alone IMO.

But yeah I won't lose any sleep if Stubbs doesn't make the team. Mainly I just really want Santana off the roster, bc Molitor will continue to give him too much playing time IMO.

Good sign. You could get a nice backup piece for nothing. Look at where Grossman was last year. Or he doesnt do much and is AAA fodder, nothing lost. I'm liking the guys they have been bring in these last few days. They are putting a group of guys together to battle for spots. Win the job or pack your bags. Hope to see 2 to 5 more signings like this. Need a vet 3B for depth as well.

A guy who is signed and cut 8 times in two years probably has some character or substance abuse issues. 

 

I doubt this will last long.

Not what I was waiting or hoping for. Showed power and speed his first few years but little to nothing in production the past couple of seasons. Still...despite a 2-1+ ratio of facing LHP vs RH, his BA, OB and SLG all show a 40-60 point up-swing against LHP for his career. He could provide an interesting bench option.

Splits are subject to small sample size variation. His career splits are normal. I'm fine with him in AAA or as a 5th OF if he looks decent in ST and it means no more DanSan.

Good sign. You could get a nice backup piece for nothing. Look at where Grossman was last year. Or he doesnt do much and is AAA fodder, nothing lost. I'm liking the guys they have been bring in these last few days. They are putting a group of guys together to battle for spots. Win the job or pack your bags. Hope to see 2 to 5 more signings like this. Need a vet 3B for depth as well.

Yes. Someone for Rochester...with all hope Goodrum goes crazy good...for organizational depth that won't embarrass himself if brought up.

So who shares DH duty with Kenny Vargas? I know it will not be Stubbs, just curious.

Kubel and Bartlett were more promising signings. Stubbs no longer hits or fields well. He hasn't had a positive UZR in CF since 2012. He has one season with an RC+ over 100 since 2010 that was fueled by a BABIP over .400. Santana is a much more useful bench piece given his ability to run and play more positions.

 

I argued at the time Kubel and Bartlett were signed that it does matter. The Twins are only going to bring so many guys to camp. They will have a finite number of at bats to give in spring training. While Kubel and Bartlett were in camp the Twins missed an opportunity at JD Martinez. The likelihood that Stubbs will turn into the 2010 version of himself is so remote that it can't possibly be worth an invite to spring training. Maybe he won't get that invite.

I really like the signing, especially on a minor league deal. No risk... And... here's what I'd like to see...

 

vs RHP

 

1B - Mauer

DH - Vargas

LF - Rosario

 

vs LHP

 

1B - Vargas

DH - Grossman

LF - Stubbs

 

Stubbs can definitely play CF as a backup. Makes a ton of sense. 

I'm glad to see Santana is facing competition for his roster spot, but I don't think Stubbs has much upside. He may have a little pop and speed, but his penchant for strikeouts and age make him undesirable. I'd rather not see him make the Opening Day roster.

I guess I'd see this more as a backup to Grossman than competition for Santana.

 

A guy who is signed and cut 8 times in two years probably has some character or substance abuse issues. 

 

I doubt this will last long.

No evidence of that. It's just that Stubb's has s played awful, save for one year when he was 24 years old when he showed real promise.

What a complete and total surprise ... a former Ranger/Indian signed to a deal. Low risk, no risk, don't care. The only thing more worn out than Stubbs' swing are the zippers on his luggage.

 

A guy who is signed and cut 8 times in two years probably has some character or substance abuse issues. 

 

I doubt this will last long.

 

Pretty sure that's not an issue at all. 

 

A guy who is signed and cut 8 times in two years probably has some character or substance abuse issues. 

 

I doubt this will last long.

Either that, or he's just not very good at baseball.

 

I also really doubt he plays for the Twins.

Corey Brown, Alex Presley,  Whit Merrifield,  Matt Murton, John Andreoli, Tyler Ladendorf........

The list of players that are not going to be above average, older, and no longer have the mythical upside is long. These players make up a part of most every team's  AAA roster.

 

I really like the signing, especially on a minor league deal. No risk... And... here's what I'd like to see...

 

vs RHP

 

1B - Mauer

DH - Vargas

LF - Rosario

 

vs LHP

 

1B - Vargas

DH - Grossman

LF - Stubbs

 

Stubbs can definitely play CF as a backup. Makes a ton of sense. 

 

who would you sit against LHP?   The guy who is hitting .202/.271/.319 or the guy who is hitting .279/.308/.416 (Rosario) against them?   

 

Not sure that I get the bias against Rosario; the Mendoza line guy against LHP is Kepler...

For a minor league deal I think it is a good move. Have an open competition this spring for the 25th bench spot between D-San, Stubbs, and possibly someone else. I'd like them to sign a few more vets for an open competition.

Certainly not an overly exciting signing but can't hurt to add some competition or injury insurance.   Watched him the last couple of years when he played for Texas - he was a fill-in type last player on the bench player.   Interestingly, for a time period he was used as a late inning Defensive replacement in CF - he had some good wheels.