Article: Does the Logan Morrison Signing Make Sense for the Twins?

[Tom Froemming]

There are still a number of the top free agents still looking for work, and even after a busy offseason it appears the Twins are still shopping. One of the names the Twins have shown interest in is Logan Morrison, but would a left-handed hitting first baseman be a fit in the organization right now?

 

***UPDATE*** The Twins have reportedly signed Morrison!Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press was first to report the Twins had interest in Morrison, and that new acquisition Jake Odorizzi has put in a good word on the team’s behalf.

 

***UPDATE***

 

The DH spot is the only real apparent opportunity for an upgrade in terms of the starting lineup at the moment, but wouldn’t a right-handed, lefty killer make more sense?

 

Maybe not.

 

The Twins were much better against right-handed pitching than they were against lefties last year, but it’s not like they were hopeless against southpaws. As a team, they had a .744 OPS vs. lefties, which ranked 14th in all of baseball. Also, let’s take a look at Cleveland’s projected rotation:

 

Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Trevor Bauer, Josh Tomlin and Danny Salazar. Mike Clevinger would be the sixth guy. What do they all have in common? They’re all right-handers. That squad has dominant lefty Andrew Miller in the bullpen, but you can always play matchups late.

 

The best left-handed starting pitcher in the AL Central right now is Kansas City's Danny Duffy. After him it's guys like Carlos Rodon of the White Sox and Matt Boyd of the Tigers.

 

But Target Field is a terrible place for left-handed power bats, right? Well, not really.

 

Last season, the platoon splits were pretty much dead even. Right-handed hitters had a .802 OPS and homered in 3.68 percent of their plate appearances while lefties combined for a .794 OPS and 3.62 home run percentage.

 

It also doesn’t hurt that LoMo has been a beast at Target Field. In just nine career games, he has six home runs and a .387/.472/1.065 line. That’s right, a 1.537 OPS. It’s only a small sample of 36 plate appearances, but it certainly doesn’t hurt his case.

 

Plus, Morrison held his own against same-sided pitchers last season, posting an OPS of .761. But the 30-year-old’s strength is definitely hammering right-handers. He had a .905 OPS and hit 32 of his 38 home runs against right-handers in 2017.

 

If signed, Morrison would slot in as the DH, but could definitely fill in at first when Joe Mauer needs a rest. There’s an open spot on the 40-man roster at the moment, but LoMo’s arrival would probably mark the eventual end of either Kennys Vargas or Robbie Grossman’s tenure on the Twins. Or maybe both, depending how things work out.

 

To me, it seems like the biggest factor to take into account would be Miguel Sano’s health. If he’s looking less mobile after having a titanium rod inserted into his leg over the offseason, it would make a lot of sense for the club to leave the DH spot flexible.

 

What do you think of the Morrison signing?

 

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[Andrew Thares]

Personally, I think a LoMo signing would be a great replacement for Kennys Vargas if Falvine is ready to give up on him. Even though LoMo is a lefty, his 109 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers would have been the 4th best mark by a Twin with at least 75 PAs against a lefty last season. 

 

LoMo also had 0.365 xwOBA last season, which was tied with Kris Bryant and Jose Abrue. To me this suggest that his breakout 0.363 wOBA last season might not have been a fluke.

[nater79a]

Would prefer a right-handed version of LoMo to take Vargas' AB's.  But I would be fine with the left-handed version since he mashes at Target Field.

[Mr. Brooks]

Those Target Field numbers were against Twins pitching. Plus, extremely small sample size. They aren't meaningful.

[USAFChief]

I think a RH bat who can play corner OF makes so much more sense.

[Andrew Thares]

Looks like they just signed him to a 1-year, $6.5M with a vest option for $10M in a 2nd year. I think that is a pretty good signing.

[Danchat]

 

I'm all aboard this deal. Morrison was worth 3.6 WAR (source: Baseball Reference) and hit 38 HRs. He can slot in at DH/1B and give us a reasonable option to play 1B in 2019 if Mauer leaves. With the 1B/DH market being slow the past couple years, I'm expecting the Twins will be able to pay him a fair price. Getting Morrison ABs over Grossman and Vargas is definitely a win.

 

This also explains why Chargois was outrighted. I'm thinking this will be the Twins last FA move, as I don't think they're going to sign Lynn or another other starters. I wouldn't complain if they did but that's just my hunch.

[GP830]

A one year deal makes even less sense, right? He’ll overlap with Mauer and not bridge the gap to Rooker. Hmmmm.

[Brandon]

Grossman OBP + Vargas power = Logan Morrison. With him and Aybar and Granite in camp both Grossman and Vargas have to be on the lookout. Especially Vargas since he has no positional flexibility.

[Brandon]

And Logan signed with Twins

[ashbury]

A one year deal makes even less sense, right? He’ll overlap with Mauer and not bridge the gap to Rooker. Hmmmm.

I think the vesting option answers that concern, doesn't it? If he performs, the team has him for the following season. If he doesn't, he'll be benched enough to not vest. (I'm not certain that a vesting option binds both parties but I think it does.)

[ashbury]

Grossman OBP + Vargas power = Logan Morrison. With him and Aybar and Granite in camp both Grossman and Vargas have to be on the lookout. Especially Vargas since he has no positional flexibility.

This puts the Twins 40-man at 15 position players and 25 pitchers. I somehow still don't see them cutting ties with a batter for now, despite the flexibility issue; they still have a month before any 25-man decisions have to be made. A lot can happen.

[h2oface]

May as well get rid of the farm with trades. This FO won't be using/needing them. 

[Andrew Thares]

 

May as well get rid of the farm with trades. This FO won't be using/needing them. 

I don't think this is true. The deal is for 1, maybe 2 years. None of the main hitting prospects seem all that poised to fill a role with the big club this season, so this signing makes perfect sense to add to a team that is ready to compete now.

[Mike Sixel]

Preferred Gomez, as he can play an actual position. Gonna be hard to play Sano at DH at all now. Hopefully he won't ever need rest. I don't know what to expect of LoMo, hope he's very good

[Squirrel]

Hmm, who’s out ... Vargas? Guess they have time to make that decision since there’s an open roster spot.

[Riverbrian]

I'm for improving this team in any way possible. I'm for gathering assets any way possible. I'm happy with the signing because LoMo can help us win games.  

 

Many people forget that LoMo has also played 254 career games in the outfield. I have always wanted 25 guys who can play and roster flexibility so everyone can actually play by moving some people around from time to time to accommodate. 

 

I assume he isn't Byron Buxton in the OF but I also assume that he can play some OF so Sano can DH and Escobar can play 3B on occasion or if necessary. LoMo playing some OF doesn't mean that Kepler gets splinters if the manager gets it.

 

A creative manager can rotate players around. We need power insurance because we don't know what is going to happen to Sano this year. I'm hoping LoMo can hit 40 dingers. 

 

I also don't believe it is necessary to cut Vargas to make room although that will probably happen.

 

Because he can play a little OF... You could in theory cut Adrianaza or Grossman to make room although that probably won't happen. 

[Rosterman]

People say it would be ahrd to play Sano at DH. Logan makes sense as a DH and also a bench bat, and someone to spell Mauer, who could then also be a bench bat. Overall, a decent signing...but the Twins might NOW need to carry only 12 pitchers rather than 13.

[Tom Froemming]

Real quick just wanted to add my reaction to the actual signing. At the price, I think it was a no brainer. I still have concerns about Sano now really being required to play third, but you can't turn your back on a guy like Morrison on such a low-cost/low-risk deal.

 

The more the Twins add and the more these prices seem to come down, the more it makes sense to keep signing guys. I think right now the realistic target is still a wild card, but if they could reel in one of those top three starting pitchers, the AL Central title would become a much more realistic goal.

 

Also, some of the FAs who may have been turning up their noses at the Twins earlier could view the Odorizzi and Morrison adds as indication this team is legit, and a desirable destination. Good stuff all around.

[Roaddog]

Well, it could mean several things. Maybe it's added depth in advance of a trade. All I know I'm ok with adding a slugger in what should be the prime years of his career

[DaveW]

130 ops+

38 hr

Low risk high upside contract

 

Nothing to not like about this signing.

[Deduno Abides]

Taking advantage of what the market gives them. Good move.

 

Could be curtains for both Grossman and Vargas, because they are positionally limited and have not been awesome at the plate, despite glimpses. Granite is a much better choice for fourth outfielder if fielding is a priority. Vargas’ friendship with Sano may not be a factor in his favor. Would be good to see if Billy Beane would give anything for Grossman.

 

The funny thing about lefty/righty issues is that there aren’t many good lefty starters and thus not as much need as expected for right-handed hitters. Nobody of either hand hits the top lefty relievers, like Chapman and Miller. Even funnier is that two of the best lefty starters, Sale and Quintana, have often been owned by the Twins.

Edited February 25, 2018 by Deduno Abides

[Roaddog]

Gotta say, not a huge Grossman fan. Wouldn't be surprised to see him or Vargas traded shortly.

[Deduno Abides]

May as well get rid of the farm with trades. This FO won't be using/needing them.

 

Starters from the farm: Mauer, Dozier, Polanco, Sano, Rosario, Buxton, Kepler, Berrios, Gibson, Rogers, Hildenberger.

 

Others include Vargas, Garver, Granite, Duffey.

 

Players acquired while minor leaguers include Mejia, Pressly, Busenitz, Enns, Moya, Adrianza and Escobar.

 

Slegers, Gonsalves, Romero and Curtiss are likely to make appearances this year, and Lamonte Wade could be one injury or hot stretch away.

 

Seems like plenty of opportunities for players from the farm system.

[Darius]

Really like him slotted in at DH instead of a Grossman, Escobar, etc. This guy, when healthy, can crush the ball.

 

You can't tell me adding a 25-30 HR caliber power bat into the DH slot in this lineup is a bad thing at this point.

 

Dozier, 2B

Mauer, 1B

Buxton, CF

Sano, 3B

Morrison, DH

Rosario, LF

Kepler, RF

Castro, C

Polanco, SS

 

....that's a nice looking lineup against RH SPs (aka most SPs, especially good ones within the division). Then you're left with Garver, Vargas, Escobar, Grossman that can swing from the right side for Castro, Mauer, Kepler. That's a high-end offense.

Edited February 25, 2018 by Darius

[Deduno Abides]

Didn’t realize how big he is. Can we call him Morrison County?

[Nine of twelve]

Wouldn't be surprised to see Grossman or Vargas traded shortly.

That would appear to be a logical move at this point, especially Vargas. I'd think we could get decent return in a trade involving them. Edited February 25, 2018 by Nine of twelve

[beckmt]

Doubt Vargas is worth any more than a throwin on a trade, more likely a release candidate.  More likely Grossman is traded, since do not see a role for him here.  Twins still need one more bench type. 

Edited February 25, 2018 by beckmt

[crapforks]

Every AL central LH reliever in the upper minors is excited. Every central team needs at least 2 LH relievers when they face the Twins

[Deduno Abides]

Every AL central LH reliever in the upper minors is excited. Every central team needs at least 2 LH relievers when they face the Twins

Last year, Andrew Miller had better stats against righties. Who are the other lefty relievers to worry about?