May 28, 20188 yr Scouting report from a couple years ago: https://www.minorleagueball.com/2016/5/17/11679022/mlb-rookie-report-taylor-motter-of-tampa-bay-rays Taylor Motter, OF-INF, Tampa Bay Rays Bats: R Throws: R HT: 6-1 WT: 195 DOB: September 18, 1989 SLEEPER ALERT!! Motter was a 17th round pick in 2011 out of Coastal Carolina University. He has quietly outperformed numerous more-heralded prospects and was added to the 40-man roster over the winter. Despite his relative lack of press attention Motter has numerous assets, including 55-60 grade speed, a strong throwing arm, surprising power, and good sense for the strike zone. Second base is probably his best position but he is at least competent at shortstop, and third base, and left field, and right field, and even center field. This is a heck of a package for a super-utility player. The main negative is age: he’s already 26, but there’s nothing left to prove in the minors. He would be an ideal bench asset given his versatility. Grade C+.
May 28, 20188 yr https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/05/twins-claim-tyler-motter.html "Motter has spent most of this season at Triple-A, and given that he has an option remaining, he’s able to serve as minors depth without issue. But it’s possible he’ll eventually get an opportunity at short in Minnesota, where starter Ehire Adrianza has been woeful at the plate."
May 28, 20188 yr Expecting a corresponding move of some sort....Motter is headed to AAA and using Hughes’ 40 man spot. Seems like a depth move, could be bad news for Petit. He seems to have a little pop, decent defense, and a good base stealer, but he hasn’t figured out how to hit and he’s already 28.
May 28, 20188 yr He's not a solution, but I see the appeal in having him around. He has hit AAA pitching fairly well and struggled with MLB pitching....so he might be that typical Quad-A guy. But with speed, versatile defensive ability, and he hits right handed....it's worth a gamble I guess. If you aren't willing to call up Gordon that is.
May 28, 20188 yr I like Motter as a potential bench guy. Can play all over the place, hits right handed and has both some pop and some speed. He hasn't had much success in the majors, but he's slugged .446 in 277 games in Triple A, the majority of which were played in the International League with Durham. But, I'd be shocked if they gave him a run as the regular shortstop over Gordon, if it came down to it.
May 28, 20188 yr Triple A Slash Lines Taylor Motter.264/.338/.446 .784 OPS (1,227 PAs) Kennys Vargas.241/.358/.422 .780 OPS (945 PAs) And here's Motter's games played per position in his time in Triple A:83-SS67-RF61-3B35-2B15-CF14-LF4-1B
May 28, 20188 yr If he could hit .264 in the majors he'd be one of the Twins best hitters! Don't we have a Utility guy? .... Escobar. Edited May 28, 20188 yr by rv78
May 28, 20188 yr Santana and May need a 40 spot. They will likely try to get him through waivers when they need the second spot. Castro will be moved to the 60 to create the other.
May 28, 20188 yr If he could hit .264 in the majors he'd be one of the Twins best hitters! Don't we have a Utility guy? .... Escobar.Escobar is a starter, at least until Polanco comes back.
May 28, 20188 yr Castro will move to 60-day when May comes off. So don't need roster spot. But the decision with May will involve LaMarre/Grossman or Petit/Adrianza. I believe Petit would have to go thru waivers if he is sent down. Correct me if I am wrong, so the Twins may be looking at this loss. Not sure who they knock off the Red Wings roster. Featherstone, sadly, perhaps. But yes, let's delay Gordon more (who is also probably better at second base, right)?
May 28, 20188 yr And there is this article from fangraphs from early next season, comparing him to several present and former Twins... He is 28. Probably worth a spot ahead of Petit or LaMarre in the pecking order. AAA depth right now, but I just have a feeling that the Twins are not done making moves.
May 28, 20188 yr Scouting report from a couple years ago: https://www.minorleagueball.com/2016/5/17/11679022/mlb-rookie-report-taylor-motter-of-tampa-bay-raysHe's 26 but born in 1989?
May 28, 20188 yr Depth. Another almost 30, .200 hitter in show time. Just the kind of depth that gets me tingling. Potential just screaming at me. Edited May 28, 20188 yr by h2oface
May 28, 20188 yr He's 26 but born in 1989?It's a skill, that until now, only seemed to be found in Dominican players.
May 29, 20188 yr From Twins site: Motter, 28, appeared in seven games with the Mariners this season, going 4-for-15 with a homer and two walks. He's a career .198/.269/.326 hitter with 10 homers and 36 RBIs in 132 games over three seasons with the Rays and Mariners. He has experience at all four infield positions as well as left field and right field. Wow. A career .198 hitter. Is it too soon to reserve my World Series tickets?
May 29, 20188 yr It could be the end of Petit or Adrianza. Escobar probably will shift to primarily 3b when Polanco gets back. If the Twins are still on the south side of .500 at that time, it is pretty likely that Logan Morrison will be packing his bags and Sano shifted to DH full time.
May 29, 20188 yr Wow. A career .198 hitter. Is it too soon to reserve my World Series tickets?The panel would also have accepted "WE GOT HIM!!!!"
May 29, 20188 yr Escobar probably will shift to primarily 3b when Polanco gets back. Missing something or just a hater?
May 29, 20188 yr Missing something or just a hater?I don't think it's crazy to consider Polanco back as a starter when he returns, as Escobar could be better suited for super utility use. I imagine they'll likely rotate Polanco and Escobar at short the first week or two and continue to play whoever has the hotter bat.
May 29, 20188 yr Missing something or just a hater?Sano hasn’t played 3b since coming back. What makes anyone think that will change?
May 29, 20188 yr Sano hasn’t played 3b since coming back. What makes anyone think that will change? Watched the game just before you wrote that?
May 29, 20188 yr This move provides another guy for depth and competition on the roster and at Rochester. What's wrong with that? Nobody said this was a big move. Team's are always looking to tweak the entire roster and AAA/milb depth.
May 29, 20188 yr Very versatile and fast. FWIW, a RH bat. Probably a much better fit than LaMarre, especially if he has an option remaining.
May 29, 20188 yr As long as he does not take reps from Gordon....adding players with options is much better than adding older players w/o options.
May 29, 20188 yr Agree with most of you, this move didn't exactly jump off the page. A light-hitting middle infielder...the Twins already have a bunch of guys like that. Of course, as mentioned above, this wasn't a big move. Simply done to provide some competition in AAA and provide some emergency help if needed, I guess. We should not be expecting Motter to help the major league club, nor was this move meant to do much at the big league level.
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