Article: Do The Twins Need To Add a Right-Handed Bat?

[Tomj14]

Todd Frazier is my guy, really OBP, and plays third. Which we may need.

I am done with Vargas, IMO the more he plays the more he gets exposed. Don't have proof or numbers just feels that way.

[Doomtints]

Everyone has been saying YES the Twins need to do this, and there has been a lot of talk about how they are trying to do it... But I don't see it as a priority.  

[sdangus]

I really don't see any of these guys as a fit except Carlos Gomez, and he may too expensive. And I don't see any RH batters in either AAA or AA at this point that could work. So I say go with what we have and hope they get it going.

[Thegrin]

NO! nononononono !

 

an experienced right handed bat would take up at bats.  The future of the Twins is in its youth.  Let the young hitters sort it out amongst them.  Let the kids get all the ABs.  

[sdangus]

 

NO! nononononono !

 

an experienced right handed bat would take up at bats.  The future of the Twins is in its youth.  Let the young hitters sort it out amongst them.  Let the kids get all the ABs.  

The trick is to balance letting the young guys mature and capitalizing on a chance at a pennant run. 

[Thrylos]

 

NO! nononononono !

 

an experienced right handed bat would take up at bats.  The future of the Twins is in its youth.  Let the young hitters sort it out amongst them.  Let the kids get all the ABs.  

 

When a team competes, it is about the present not the future.  If the kids are good enough to produce at the major league level then they are the present.  If not, the Twins need someone who can.

[Mike Sixel]

 

NO! nononononono !

 

an experienced right handed bat would take up at bats.  The future of the Twins is in its youth.  Let the young hitters sort it out amongst them.  Let the kids get all the ABs.  

 

There are no young alternatives in AA or AAA right now. If there were, I might agree. But, they are all left handed, or they don't exist.

[rogrulz30]

Carlos Rodon, Daniel Norris, Danny Duffy, Mathew Boyd are the AL central SP's. Of course every team has a few decent LHP relievers, but the Twins have a very nice lineup vs the AL central SP. With that being said I feel it is important to have flexibility on the bench and injuries. I think Holliday has been a class act and could be a nice player to have, but don't we have to give Vargas a true opportunity? Granite can spell some OF depth, Vargas can probably produce just as well at the plate than all of them for a fraction of a price. I would save some money for deadline opportunities and pitching of any kind. The only person I would think about would be Holliday. P.S. @Twins please sign one of the top 4 FA SP this week!!!

[markos]

 

There are no young alternatives in AA or AAA right now. If there were, I might agree. But, they are all left handed, or they don't exist.

Also, while I can understand not wanted to turn Kepler into a platoon guy yet, one of the biggest candidates for a platoon is Mauer. If this team is serious about squeezing every last win this coming season, they should seriously consider finding someone to take 100-150 of Mauer's PAs against lefties. For example, Holliday's worst season against lefties in the past 4 seasons is better than Mauer's best season. Last year, the Twins were 8th highest in total L-on-L PAs (590 total PAs), but were only 18th in wRC+ in that situation. It shouldn't be hard to switch ~200 PAs to better right-handed hitters next season.

[gil4]

 

I'm gonna be petty and say no to Napoli since he turned down more money from us last year to sign with a team that didn't make the playoffs. That's kind of insulting. 

 

He clearly has bad judgement and we don't need that in the clubhouse. 

I had forgotten that. You're now in charge of the grudge department around here. (I don't want to sign him because I don't think he's any good anymore.)

[caninatl04]

What about Mitch Garver as a RH DH / LF?  I know his 2017 in the pros didn't go as well as one would have hoped, but he does have hot tools.

 

It would be interesting to see how he does after, say 400 ABs in a combination of C, DH (1B?) 

 

He could also play some LF and spell Kepler (LF would switch to RF) against LHP.

 

I tried to find his MiLB splits against L/R, but couldn't.

 

I do like internal options since I'd rather FA money be spent on pitching.  Besides, I still think the plan is to go for it in '19 rather than '18.

[caninatl04]

By the way, as I wrote a few months ago, the perfect fit from a quant point of view would be Ryon {sic} Healy who was with the A's but is now with the Mariners.

[Matthew Lenz]

 

I'm gonna be petty and say no to Napoli since he turned down more money from us last year to sign with a team that didn't make the playoffs. That's kind of insulting. 

 

He clearly has bad judgement and we don't need that in the clubhouse. 

I know (think) you're being sarcastic.

But honestly, this is a reason reason I want him here.  He doesn't care about the money.  Just cares about hanging banners, baby!

[Deduno Abides]

Signing JD Kong would change a lot of perceptions about the Minnesota Twins.

 

Is he healthy? Only one season with more than 123 games.

[Thrylos]

 

What about Mitch Garver as a RH DH / LF?  I know his 2017 in the pros didn't go as well as one would have hoped, but he does have hot tools.

 

It would be interesting to see how he does after, say 400 ABs in a combination of C, DH (1B?) 

 

He could also play some LF and spell Kepler (LF would switch to RF) against LHP.

 

I tried to find his MiLB splits against L/R, but couldn't.

 

.304/.427/.557 in 2017 in AAA against LHP.

 

Garver played a grand total of 18 games in the OF and his defense is worse than Grossman's.

 

If you have one good thing going (OF Defense) why disrupt it.  This team's Achilles is its pitching.  Getting Garver's glove at OF will hurt it more, than getting his bat in the lineup.

 

I still have PTSD from seeing Doumit "play" the OF.

Edited January 30, 2018 by Thrylos

[USAFChief]

 

What about Mitch Garver as a RH DH / LF?  I know his 2017 in the pros didn't go as well as one would have hoped, but he does have hot tools.

 

It would be interesting to see how he does after, say 400 ABs in a combination of C, DH (1B?) 

 

He could also play some LF and spell Kepler (LF would switch to RF) against LHP.

 

I tried to find his MiLB splits against L/R, but couldn't.

 

I do like internal options since I'd rather FA money be spent on pitching.  Besides, I still think the plan is to go for it in '19 rather than '18.

Outside of a good AAA season in 2017, Garver's minor league career is pretty pedestrian.

 

He's not going to be an offensive force in MLB, if you ask me.  

[rv78]

Why would a veteran DH/1B type player like Napoli even be on the radar? Just because he has some power and hits right-handed is no reason to even go down that road. We have a player that fits that mold already in Sano. Yes, it's a given he's suppose to be the everyday 3B but everything else points to him being a DH/1B. Let's forget the aging washed-up dumpster diving veterans for once. If we are going to add a right-handed bat, get someone really good or forget it. Geeze I'm tired of settling for the old cheap crap!

[ChrisKnutson]

Does anyone think a reunion with Danny Valencia would be worth it? He plays 1st, 3rd, and corner outfield, he mashes left pitching (look at career splits), and could play 3rd of DH to start the year if Sano is suspended. I don't wanna hear he's bad clubhouse guy (when we got Sano on our team) because honestly Danny's consistency as a role player is a better fit for the Twins compared to question marks like Bautista, Napoli, Maybin, Young, and Holiday.

[Riverbrian]

 

I had forgotten that. You're now in charge of the grudge department around here. (I don't want to sign him because I don't think he's any good anymore.)

 

Great... More responsibility. 

[Secondary User]

Kemp + Prospect from LA.  Let them sign Darvish.  Lance Lynn.  End of offseason

[Winston Smith]

 

Great... More responsibility. 

Don't let the promotion go to your head!

[DocBauer]

I like Grossman overall, as a solid role player. If he could take his weird reverse splits the past 2 seasons and even them out, is like him a lot better. But I just don't see an improvement over him here.

 

Then there is still the possibility of Vargas. Sano may have to DH some, allowing Escobar to play 3B.

 

I just don't see a guy or need unless someone is available inexpensively to replace Grossman.

[Otwins]

I would explore the trade market. Check in on Domingo Santana, Nick Castellanos and Matt Kemp. All poor fielders but right handed hitters with power.  All are available. Don't think the price would be that high.

[Darius]

I'd take Vargas over any of the options mentioned (because JD Martinez isn't an option). I like the idea of Todd Frazier, but it's not very realistic.

 

Does the team really need a RH bat that badly? Buxton, Sano, and Dozier are locked in every day. Polanco, Escobar, Garver, Grossman, and Vargas all can swing from the right side. I'd let Rosario and Mauer ride most nights against lefties. That leaves Kepler and Castro as the only "true lefties," who you need to get out of the lineup every single time a lefty comes up, IMO....and Kepler still may improve his splits and Castro's defense may offset giving up the out in the 8-hole.

 

Also, the only way to get a young guy like Kepler to turn the corner on his splits is ABs. He's not going to figure it out watching from the bench.

 

I just don't really see a scenario where anyone good enough to warrant a few ABs in lieu of Kepler's development would accept that role.....or that someone willing to accept that role here would warrant a few ABs. Maybe Chris Young hits that sweet spot?

[Mike Sixel]

I would explore the trade market. Check in on Domingo Santana, Nick Castellanos and Matt Kemp. All poor fielders but right handed hitters with power. All are available. Don't think the price would be that high.

Matt Kemp can't hit either. And he is super expensive. They would trade him for anyone

[Mike Sixel]

Eduardo Nunez? He can play third when needed

[mudcat14]

Was wondering if MIguel Cabrera was a potential salary dump pick-up for a DH/RH Bat candidate, until I saw he has a minimum 6-years and $184mil remaining on his contract.  OUCH!!!

[jmlease1]

 

Eduardo Nunez? He can play third when needed

 

I'd say we sold high on him once, not really looking to bring him back. He's not as good as Escobar in the INF, he really shouldn't play OF, and I have trouble believing he'll hit as well as he did in Boston last year (he had his best hitting season as a pro at age 30, seems like a prime candidate for regression).

 

If we didn't have Escobar, I'd be interested, but they're similar players who fill a similar niche so I'd rather keep the younger switch-hitter and I don't see room for both on the roster.

[Vanimal46]

I would explore the trade market. Check in on Domingo Santana, Nick Castellanos and Matt Kemp. All poor fielders but right handed hitters with power. All are available. Don't think the price would be that high.

Domingo Santana is a year too late... He broke out last year hitting 30 HRs, .876 OPS, and 3.3 fWAR. The Fangraphs guys are speculating about him being a headliner in a potential Archer trade on their podcast.

[AWOLNATION_11]

I don't think the ideal right-handed bat is out there on the free agent market, and I think with the switch-hitters on the roster it isn't a must.   It will be interesting the next few weeks to see if the market develops.   If the 1B/DH market lags I would like to see the Twins try and swoop in on Logan Morrison if they can get him on an affordable deal.   I know he is left-handed, but I'd take him over Vargas in a heartbeat, and if we're talking strictly replacing Vargas as the left-handed side of a DH platoon, then I'd take Lucas Duda or Adam Lind over Vargas too if the price for this type of player stay low.