Sano now- and going forward

[Doubles]

Man, some ominous-sounding quotes about Miguel Sano's status last week:

 

“I’m going to keep hoping that something turns this thing in the right direction at a faster speed,” manager Paul Molitor said. “But obviously the days are dwindling.”

 

“I don’t want to go out there and hurt myself and miss the rest of the season and not be ready for next season,” Sano said.

 

Sano talking about not being ready for next season makes me incredibly skeptical of him returning this season.

 

So, if Sano indeed does not return this season-  does that change your outlook for him for next season?  And what position do you see him playing next season?  I would love to see him back at third base in the spring, but can the Twins count on that?  What types of contingency plans do the Twins have to make as it relates to Sano & their team vision for next season?  

[wsnydes]

I think you might be reading a bit too much into the "next season" comment.  I read his statement to say that he doesn't want to make things worse or aggravate his current condition which would force him to miss the rest of the season and potentially be behind next season.  To me, he's concerned about coming back too soon and making things worse which would then bring into question his availability coming into next season.

 

Though, I do agree that that concern does seem to put in doubt his ability to get back this season.  His comments don't sound like a guy that's close to returning to the field to me.

[Mike Sixel]

His history, imo, shows you need someone in AAA that can play 3B, or maybe even a backup in MN....that might be Escobar, it might not. But you need someone.

[gunnarthor]

I think Souhan might have been correct about the weight concerns the team has. I think next year he plays 3B/1B/DH with maybe 60% of the time being DH and fairly evenly splitting the two corners. Long term, he's a first baseman or DH only.

[Buddy Holly]

The fix for Sano is "Josh Donaldson". The Blue Jays have their 3b of future at AAA. How good would Donaldson look in middle of Twins lineup. Sano is always going to be a injury waiting to happen. Sano is a DH.  Maybe Twins could get Blue Jays to bite on Sano and a couple Minor league players.

[gunnarthor]

 

The fix for Sano is "Josh Donaldson". The Blue Jays have their 3b of future at AAA. How good would Donaldson look in middle of Twins lineup. Sano is always going to be a injury waiting to happen. Sano is a DH.  Maybe Twins could get Blue Jays to bite on Sano and a couple Minor league players.

Pretty sure the Blue Jays would do Donaldson for Sano straight up but the Twins would be idiots to do that.

[diehardtwinsfan]

he fouled a ball off his shin, right?  Painful I know, but that really doesn't seem like a season ending type injury. Got to wonder if something else is going on here.

[Darius]

Molly just said in MLB Network that "he's not encouraged," and "getting him back at this point would be a bonus, not something I'm counting on."

 

It's always something as an MN sports fan. Having him at DH would make this arguably the best lineup in the AL.

[drjim]

 

he fouled a ball off his shin, right?  Painful I know, but that really doesn't seem like a season ending type injury. Got to wonder if something else is going on here.

 

Conspiracy!

[Darius]

The fix for Sano is "Josh Donaldson". The Blue Jays have their 3b of future at AAA. How good would Donaldson look in middle of Twins lineup. Sano is always going to be a injury waiting to happen. Sano is a DH. Maybe Twins could get Blue Jays to bite on Sano and a couple Minor league players.

Donaldson is making like $20 mil per year, maybe slightly less (top of my head). Zero percent chance the Twins take on a contract like that, nor should they for a 33 year old on the downslope, IMO.

 

Also, they're pretty similar hitters. Big power numbers, high on-base. Sano Ks more, but Donaldson Ks enough in his own right. Defensively, Donaldson has the edge.

 

Overall, Donaldson is about 1 WAR better than Sano this year. Sano is much younger, much cheaper, under team control for the foreseeable future, and IMO will get even better. 1 win for a huge salary difference, that could return a serviceable starter AND a solid bullpen peice, just doesn't add up.

 

That would be an awful trade.

 

Then, as we watch Donaldson decline, or worse (retire, leave via free agency, etc), we get to watch Sano be one of the elite hitters on earth for the next decade.

 

So far this year, I've seen:

 

Calls to outright Gibson. He's carried the rotation since the end of July.

 

Calls to trade Rosario for whatever pitching they can get. He's one of best LF in the AL, and has been one of the best hitters in the game since before the All-Star break (this take was on Sept 7, mind you, which is hilarious).

 

Throw in the typical Mauer takes to frost th cake.

 

And, the best of all. The high-end certifiable institutionalizeable take: for Granite to replace Buxton,and trade Buxton for whatever they can get at his lowest point. Buxton turned around to be a top 5 position player in baseball since July 4.

 

I feel pretty good about what Sano will do going forward now that we got the first "He's a bum, get rid of him" take out of the way.

[Darius]

His history, imo, shows you need someone in AAA that can play 3B, or maybe even a backup in MN....that might be Escobar, it might not. But you need someone.

I think Escobar has done enough to show that he can play at this point.

 

My only hesitation would be wanting to get Escobar a full-time position, as opposed to sitting on the bench 50% of the time in a utility role.

[mickeymental]

bilateral shin weakness?

[Thrylos]

he fouled a ball off his shin, right? Painful I know, but that really doesn't seem like a season ending type injury. Got to wonder if something else is going on here.

Here is what is going on: The Twins called it "stress reaction" here is what that means (other than the psychological meaning) :

 

Medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) is an overuse injury or repetitive-stress injury of the shin area. Various stress reactions of the tibia and surrounding musculature occur when the body is unable to heal properly in response to repetitive muscle contractions and tibial strain.

 

Fouled ball cannot cause it. It is an acute singular event. So he either has a stress reaction because of the continual use (btw, a synonym of a stress reaction is stress fracture, but they really don't want to give the message that he has a broken leg), or he has an acute bruise or even a fracture from that singular event.

 

If it were a bruise, the recommended treatment is no activity until the swelling goes away (usually a week or so) and slowly but steadily build up. I think that, based on what they are saying, this looks like his time table or treatment.

 

On the other hand, it does not respond, which makes me think that it might be worse. A fracture treatment is 6-8 weeks of rest then slow but steady build up.

He has been off for a month, so we are looking for another month or so before he will be playing. I think that the hope was that he could swing (without putting any weight on his chin?) and be a DH, but I do not see that happening this season.

 

As far as the future goes, he is this team's third baseman of the present and future. Yes he is not skinny, but he has a strong muscular base to hold his weight and his glove is better than Koskie's at that development level at third, and will improve. There will be some thought to turn him on the other side of the diamond in 2018, but Rooker's arrival as Mauer's replacement will put an end on this thought.

[Vanimal46]

Miguel Sano:

Now: I'd like for him to make a return. Don't really care if he plays in the field or just DH's. His bat is needed for the stretch run.

 

In the future: He'll most likely continue to be a hybrid 3B/1B/DH. 3B for 90 some games, 1B for 30 some games, DH for 20 some games. And 20 some games for days off, minor injuries, etc. That ratio will continue to skew towards 1B as he gets older. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

he fouled a ball off his shin, right?  Painful I know, but that really doesn't seem like a season ending type injury. Got to wonder if something else is going on here.

My understanding is that it's in danger of becoming a stress fracture if not rested and healed properly. It seems weird for him to be out this long but that makes some sense (going from information read a week or two ago, a little hazy).