Article: Should the Twins shop for a shortstop this offseason?

[Parker Hageman]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?1018-Should-the-Twins-shop-for-a-shortstop-this-offseason

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

I'm all for Maicer Izturis.

[Boom Boom]

The Twins should be shopping for a lot of things, not the least of which is middle infielders.

 

To be honest I think the Twins are more likely to sign a free agent shortstop than a starting pitcher.

[jimbo92107]

Florimon is fun to watch, and he is capable of learning. Lots of guys get better with the glove over time as they become more familiar with their home field and such. Meanwhile he covers a huge area, which Twins pitchers appreciate.

[mk]

Any chance the Rangers make Elvis Andrus available now that Jurickson Profar, baseball's #1 prospect, is in the majors? What would it take to get him on the Twins? Not saying the Twins should make the move, but all options should be examined.

 

Also, just taking a quick glance at SS that might be available via free agency, it doesn't seem like there's much to get excited about.

 

This scenario seems similar to the Pierzynski/Mauer situation. Baseball's top prospect, valuable defensive position, blocked in the majors by an all-star type player just about to get expensive.

[Seth Stohs]

I'm not against it, but in my mind, it should be all about pitching. Unless you can get Andrus for a reasonable price, I'd be OK with going to spring training with Plouffe, Florimon, Carroll, Escobar and Dozier for three positions and a utility spot or two. We generally agree that next year is not a competitive year for the Twins most likely anyway, right? Get them all some at bats and see if you can get a slightly above average player out of them.

 

I'm not willing to give up on Dozier yet. I wish he had not been called up for a few more weeks, and I wish he would have been sent down a month earlier so that he could actually work on all these things. Carroll is solid. Florimon and Escobar have good gloves. Get them some time rather than wasting $ that should go to pitching.

[Parker Hageman]

We generally agree that next year is not a competitive year for the Twins most likely anyway, right?

 

Then why worry about spending money on pitching?

[Mike Sixel]

Then why keep Mornreau, Span, or Willingham? If they really wanted to, they could try to compete next year. If they are not going to do that, those three and Doumit should all be trades. Yes, they should try to find a shortstop for next year.

[Top Gun]

The Twins have to many options at ss already, what will you do with them if not given a chance to play, The Twins young SP have look

good, maybe a vet like Guthrie and or Liriaro is all they need.

[sorney]

Pitching and SS should be their priority every single season until they figure it out.

[ashbury]

> outside of a geriatric doctor in Sarasota performing physicals

 

Ew.

[Brad Swanson]

I think you can hide a defense-only SS on a roster a lot easier than a complete lack of starting pitching.

 

Elvis Andrus is fantastic, but I am guessing Texas would want starting pitching back i any trade for him. They seem to have their lineup pretty well set, and might even want to keep him, move him or Profar to 2B and move Kinsler to the OF if Hamilton leaves. Good gravy, Texas is good.

[Winston Smith]

Trade for Hardy, sign Liriano and Lohse all set.

I wish they had a plan either spend some money and try to build a short term playoff team or rebuild.You have Morneau (13), Willingham, Doumit, Carroll and Span thru 14. Now either build a playoff team around these guys, which means spending some money or trade these guys and rebuild for 14 or 15 with youth. I'm not sure you can do both at the same time.

Pick one or the other, imo.

[strumdatjag]

Don't trade for a SS. Someone must step up between Florimon, Dozier, Escobar and even Nishioka (very good last two weeks of season at Rochester - raising his average from .245 to .258). So, don't waste any of our resources on a veteran - The Twins need soemone in their system to step in and do the job.

[greengoblinrulz]

Think Andrus will be dealt to ARIZ for Justin Upton, but if not I go after him hard!!!

His play alone will improve the pitching. Center the deal around Hicks/Arcia as MN has shown what they think of those 2 this Sept and they have the OF depth.

If not, Im all for taking a flyer on Stephen Drew & hope his ankle is healed.

If they go with a combo of Dozier, Florimon, Escobar etc.....another 90 loss season is ahead of them.

[Seth Stohs]

I know they may not all be consistent, but I think there is enough offense to be competitive. If the Twins don't spend most of their funds on pitching, they aren't going to compete. That's why my point is that if they can get a good deal on a SS, great. But the focus has to be on the pitching. Like others have said, give these other guys a chance to step up!

[Brad Swanson]

Last 10 years, here are the SS that either played the most or played down the stretch for each WS winning team:

 

2011: Rafael Furcal

2010: Juan Uribe

2009: Derek Jeter

2008: Jimmy Rollins

2007: Julio Lugo

2006: David Eckstein

2005: Juan Uribe

2004: Orlando Cabrera

2003: Alex Gonzalez

2002: David Eckstein

 

The take-away? Obviously, get Juan Uribe.

[Boom Boom]

Last 10 years, here are the SS that either played the most or played down the stretch for each WS winning team:

 

2011: Rafael Furcal

2010: Juan Uribe

2009: Derek Jeter

2008: Jimmy Rollins

2007: Julio Lugo

2006: David Eckstein

2005: Juan Uribe

2004: Orlando Cabrera

2003: Alex Gonzalez

2002: David Eckstein

 

The take-away? Obviously, get Juan Uribe.

 

I don't know, I like this Eckstein kid you mention. He's a gamer who battles his tail off and knows how to win.

[Rosterman]

If the Twins are going to competitive next year and actually sign an arm of two that will be around for at least three seasons, yes, explore something for the 2B/SS/3B position. You can hope that Plouffe bats an acceptable .240 with 20 homers and a few more rbis. You would like some speed eitehr at 2B/SS, as Alexi has shown, but a bit more in the BA department, as well as the ability to over runners around. Dozier hasn't impressed in the field. Florimon not much better. Carroll is the parfect utility guy. But if the Twins aren't competitive, then don't purchase any starters yet. Give guys more of a look. Have a payroll of $70 million and lots of empty seats to go with your announced attendance of 25,000 a game.

[greengoblinrulz]

biggest gripe on Dozier was his age coming into the season.

Florimon is 6 months older than Dozier and when MN sent him thru waivers this spring to clear him off the 40 man.....not a single other team was interested.

THAT is the player I want goin into the future.

[nokomismod]

Stay with what you have like Seth said. All free agent resources go into pitching, and trade Span for pitching.

[greengoblinrulz]

I actually believe we should put the resources into pitching also.....but MN has failed to address the middle infield for the entire Gardy regime, cept the one ODawg/Hardy year. They have chosen weak hitting fringe MLB players to man the middle infield spots. Would love for them to address this eventually, but that will be after Gardy is out of office.

[Thrylos]

Should they?

 

No

 

Will they?

 

Cannot remember the last season they did not shop for a middle infielder of one type or another... (looked it up, it was 2007 when Bartlett and Castillo, who finished 2006 as the starters, began 2007 as the starters as well, but that was the year of the revolving door at 3B: Punto/L Rod/Butcher/Watkins/etc)

[prairiejack]

Please no more. You know that Gardenhire continues to look for clones of Nick Punto, and wouldn't trust a shortstop who hits for power. (See J.J. Hardy) If they bring another one in it will be one more projected #2 hitter who hits little but really hustles out there. Enough already.

[Top Gun]

You know how many free agent OFers are out there? Lots!!

[greengoblinrulz]

Gardy era

SS-Guzman, Castro, Bartlett, Punto, Cabrera, Hardy, Nishi, Dozier, Florimon

2B- Rivas, Punto, Castillo, Casilla, Hudson, Escobar

 

notice the similarities.....fail to address this yearly

[Riverbrian]

Gardy era

SS-Guzman, Castro, Bartlett, Punto, Cabrera, Hardy, Nishi, Dozier, Florimon

2B- Rivas, Punto, Castillo, Casilla, Hudson, Escobar

 

notice the similarities.....fail to address this yearly

 

lol... Yeah... We won a lot of division titles with those guys. Until Nishi came to town and wrecked everything.

[beckmt]

I agree with the comments that starting pitching is the first priority. I do not think a middle infielder will be a big priority this offseason, Let's see what we have next year.

[Guest USAFChief]

Next offseason?

 

Can we trade for one before Saturday's game??

[greengoblinrulz]

options are buying low...ala ARIZ with Aaron Hill. Hill turned around and now one of games best again.

Would anyone be ballsy enough to look at Dan Uggla?? What if ATL picked up Blackburn/Nishi's deal back to cover 9m of his 39m deal left?? Sometimes ya gotta take a chance. He still has 17HR 64RBI & leads NL in walks w/80, what production do we have at the position?? They were rumoured in for Span at one time. Also been a positive UZR fielder this season.

We all want to deal Span for pitching, but how much can ya get for him. Wash's Danny Espinosa was heavily mentioned for him last yr, is currently one of games rising middle infielders (minor league SS) and they have the depth (SLombardozzi) to deal him.

Just a couple names.