Article: What To Do With Logan Forsythe?

[Seth Stohs]

On July 31, the Twins traded popular second baseman Brian Dozier to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a deal that had been in the works for roughly 20 months. In return, the Twins acquired Double-A prospects Luke Raley and Devin Smeltzer. The Dodgers were willing to make the deal but insisted on the Twins taking back second baseman Logan Forsythe, and more important, his salary. Brian Dozier has been a big add for the Dodgers, but Forsythe has returned to his American League form with the Twins.With a 5-for-5 night on Thursday night at Target Field, Logan Forsythe is now 22-for-49, hitting .449/.500/.531 (1.031) with four doubles in his 14 games since joining the Twins. Obviously that is a very small sample. In his 70 games with the Dodgers this year, he had hit just .207/.270/.290 (.560) with ten doubles and two home runs.

 

It appears this will be a trade that could be beneficial to both teams. Brian Dozier has also played in 14 games since joining the Dodgers. He is hitting .255/.400/.532 (.932) with four doubles, three homers and 12 RBI (including a walkoff sacrifice fly in extra innings on Wednesday night in LA.

 

So what should the Twins do as it relates to Logan Forsythe? There really may be three options.

 

Should The Twins Try to Capitalize on Forsythe’s Hot Start by Looking to Trade Him?

 

There is just under two weeks before the August trade deadline. The Twins should try to trade him for something. While they aren’t going to find a GM in baseball willing to overlook his past two seasons because of two really good weeks, the Twins clearly want to continue accumulating talent for the future. They won’t get anything resembling a blue-chip prospect for five weeks of Forsythe, but they might find a suitor remaining for the versatile infielder.

 

Should The Twins Try to Sign Forsythe Right Now to a Contract for 2018?

 

The Twins could decide that Nick Gordon needs more time in AAA next year to continue his development. They may determine that they would like to have a one year stop gap, like Forsythe, to play second base until Gordon is deemed ready. Again, based on his struggles over the last couple of seasons in Los Angeles, and his injuries the last couple of years, he likely is a guy who would get a one-year deal in the neighborhood of $2 million. Derek Falvey and Thad Levine could reach out to Forsythe right now and make him that offer. There would appear to be little reason for Forsythe to accept it, though he could just as easily struggle over the next two or three weeks.

 

Should The Twins Sit Back and Let It Play Out?

 

Or they could just let it play out. Let Forsythe work to continue gain value the rest of the season as he looks to become a free agent at season’s end. From the Twins perspective, they certainly can see his value, especially on a one year, stop gap type of deal. No matter how strong Forsythe finishes the season, his next contract likely will remain a one-year deal at less than $3-4 million. The financial risk of waiting isn’t huge. The risk of him going to one of the other 29 teams if he becomes a free agent might be a little bigger.

 

 

Truthfully, there isn’t a wrong (or bad) answer in that group. Signing him to a one-year, low-cost deal makes a lot of sense. Forsythe is and has always been a very professional hitter. It’s great to see him playing like he did during much of his time in Tampa. So if the Twins can add another prospect with a chance, that’s not a bad deal for a three week rental. Or the Twins can just let him keep playing and see what happens.

 

Following the game, in an interview with FSN's Audra Martin, Forsythe said (regarding his 5-for-5 night), "Sometimes you get lucky."

 

Maybe in this case, the Twins got a little bit lucky.

 

 

 

Is there a best option in your opinion? Share your thoughts below.

 

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[Dman]

I hope the Twins can find a way to trade him and get a decent lottery ticket in return.

[jorgenswest]

Trade him for the best the market will offer and play Adrianza.

[Krusington]

I'll be the first person to say I have so far been proved very wrong when it comes to Forsythe. As you mentioned, very small sample size but so far so extremely good for the Twins. I don't think they'd get anything useful back in a trade and if they did get anything, the prospect would probably be a few years from the bigs. I honestly think trying to sign him to a very affordable one year deal makes sense. He plays until Gordon is ready. The Twins also have Arraez who has been performing relatively well at AA and both could get a chance next season but aren't quite there yet.

 

Either way, trading an expiring contract in Dozier, getting back Raley/Smeltzer and an upgrade at 2B (so far) is looking to be one of the best moves of the deadline. Think about it, in almost every aspect (fielding?) he's performed better than Dozier, you also have a top 20 prospect in Raley, and a solid pitching prospect in Smeltzer... I'll take a trade like that 100% of the time.

[nater79a]

I'd hang on to Forsythe till the end of the end of the year and not trade him.  Evaluate how he does the remainder of this season and, more importantly, evaluate how you think Gordon fits in for 2019 and beyond.  Then if a second base   bridge is needed you can circle back to Logan and see if a short term deal can be worked out at a decent price.

[rghrbek]

Option 2 should not be an option based off 2 weeks.  Option 1 or 3 are fine with me.

 

There is no way I want the Twins to bring him back as a starter.  It's most likely Gordon will not be ready by next year at the start, so I don't mind the idea of brining someone in for a year, just not LoFo.

[ND-Fan]

My first opinion was to trade him and his recent run has been help to the Twins but I would like to see Gordon called up in September see if he could handle big league pitching. So I am back to trading him because I just don't see he has future here with Minnesota and if he does it means were in rebuilding phase again. 

[MikeW]

We have no one ready at 2B considering Gordon isn’t hitting well and makes a lot of errors. The best hope for middle infield is Royce Lewis who isn’t going to be ready for a while.

 

If he continues to hit, sign him for the ‘19 season.

[jimbo92107]

Unless the Twins plan to bring up Gordon for a cuppa, I'd keep Logan Forsythe for the remainder. He's a skilled batsman, but looks like strictly an arm hitter that flips his wrists for singles, not getting his hips involved in the swing. As a fielder he appears to be better 2B than Dozier was. Quicker, stronger arm, good on the double play. If he can play other infield positions, cool, but there's no reason to switch him. 

 

No idea what the Twins FO will do, but I know what I would do: Trade him in the off season, then bring up Gordon, who will look a lot like Logan Forsythe, but younger and with more upside. Gordon won't hit for Forsythe's current average, but neither will Forsythe. 

[howeda7]

You're not going to get anything great for him. How many lottery tickets do we need? I would rather evaluate if he's a fall-back option for 2019. He certainly loves hitting at Target Field for some reason.

[curt1965]

You're not going to get anything great for him. How many lottery tickets do we need? I would rather evaluate if he's a fall-back option for 2019. He certainly loves hitting at Target Field for some reason.

[mickeymental]

he should run for governor.

[Shane Wahl]

Trade him. That is the only option. I laugh at any notion of keeping him in 2019. Anyone can get hot for a few weeks.

[twins_89]

If a deal for a real prospect comes along take it, otherwise keep him. The Twins don't have anybody at AAA or AA that stands out as ready to take over at 2B, so I wouldn't trade him just to add a borderline C level prospect.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Isn’t it obvious? Trade him to the Rays. For whom? He’s on first base, that’s Hu.

[wsnydes]

I'd try to trade him first and if there are no takers just let it ride out this season. There's virtually no way I re-sign him unless it's a team friendly deal with the understanding that I'm bringing in a younger guy to start in front of him.

 

While probably unlikely, my hope is that Gordon is able to force his way north after ST.  

[Blackjack]

As long as its just a one year contract, I'd be ok with signing him. He appears to be the type of 'professional' hitter that the Twins like (kind of like Grossman) and Gordon doesn't look like he's ready.

[bighat]

I'm happy Logan Forsythe is playing well. And that's about it. He's a warm, veteran body who can play 2nd base. He is hitting well in a low-pressure situation with nothing to lose. I am glad to see it.

 

What to do with him? I think the Twins will do what they planned all along: have Logan Forsythe fill in at 2nd base until the season is over.

[rdehring]

I see him as their second option for second base next year.  The first is resigning Escobar.  Let his agent know they have interest and come back to him if Mighty Mouse signs elsewhere.

[mikelink45]

Let's see what Gordon looks like. We have time left in this season and nothing better to do then test our minor league players. If Gordon fails Forsythe is fine for a one year.

[RatherBeGolfing]

Option 1 or 3. 2 makes no sense at the moment

[USAFChief]

 

Unless the Twins plan to bring up Gordon for a cuppa, I'd keep Logan Forsythe for the remainder. He's a skilled batsman, but looks like strictly an arm hitter that flips his wrists for singles, not getting his hips involved in the swing. As a fielder he appears to be better 2B than Dozier was. Quicker, stronger arm, good on the double play. If he can play other infield positions, cool, but there's no reason to switch him. 

 

No idea what the Twins FO will do, but I know what I would do: Trade him in the off season, then bring up Gordon, who will look a lot like Logan Forsythe, but younger and with more upside. Gordon won't hit for Forsythe's current average, but neither will Forsythe. 

Going to be tough to trade him this offseason. His contract expires on the last day of this season.

[Tibs]

Doesn't matter what the Twins do with him this year.

 

Maybe the Twins will sign Machado and move Polanco to 2B. 

[beckmt]

Twins are going to need Forsythe for next year whether or not they resign Escobar.  Gordon does not look ready and other options are 1 to 2 years away.  Forsythe will not be the offensive threat Dozier was, but will probably be the better defender.  This would also give the Twins the option of Sano playing first and Escobar if resigned playing third.  I just do not see Twins giving Mauer the money he would be happy with, so this would be plan A, you could always circle back to plan B if you do not resign Escobar.  My biggest issue would be that Forsythe could take the first decent contract offered and you may not get a chance at resigning him if you wait too long to see what develops in the market.  

Whether you resign Forsythe now or wait until the market opens, I feel this would be plan A.  Forsythe may just be one of those players who plays better in a less stressful market.  He will do fine here.

[Kelly Vance]

Good timing for Logan to collect 5 hits. 

 

If he plays like this, sign him to a 2 year extension.  If he reverts back, trade him next year at the deadline.

[Yoke]

I wouldn’t be mad if the Twins signed him for another season at a super cheap number, especially if they can’t get Escobar back. Gordon isn’t ready. There isn’t anyone at AA that’s ready to play 2B in the majors. Might as well let Forsythe be a placeholder until somebody shows that they can take the job and run with it.

 

Really, you give him one more year and Lewis could be ready for 2020, especially if he keeps playing this well in AA and AAA. Then Polanco can switch to 2B.

 

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'd try and trade him, which probably means sitting it out as I doubt another GM offers a ticket for him.

 

I would not extend him. He's been bad for 2 years now. We need to set our sight a bit higher for 2019.

[ashbury]

Let's see what Gordon looks like. We have time left in this season and nothing better to do then test our minor league players. If Gordon fails Forsythe is fine for a one year.

Gordon's only 22. He's currently flailing at AAA - you can "see what he looks like," there, and I don't think you'd like it much, either on offense or on defense. I don't see a reason to press the panic button and try to accelerate a work-in-progress.

 

With that underlying it, I would have no problem with a LoFo contract for 2019. Other GMs will discount the SSS too, so whatever trade value he has this August will probably be available next season, if someone else steps up and Forsythe proves to be redundant by mid-year.

[strumdatjaguar]

Gordon's numbers are NOT good.   Sign Forsythe to a one-year if it can be done.   Based on his poor production in LA, I wouldn't sign him to a multi-year deal..   If Gordon proves his worth, Forsythe is versatile enough to be a good utility guy at 2B, SS and 3B - if we can get him enough at bats not to stagnate like he did in LA..

[purppride1]

Y'all are coming around! 

 

As I said in my post last week, I prefer option 1 if you can get any kind of a prospect with upside. At this point I think that only happens if a strong playoff team loses their 2B to injury and is desperate.  

 

If that doesn't happen, I love the idea of a 1 year, prove-it deal towards the end of the season, if he doesn't cool way off. Several reasons: 

• Table setter - he doesn't have Dozier's power, but if he can get on regularly like this (won't stay this high, I know, but he is showing good, professional at-bats, using all fields, not just getting lucky) having him at the top of the order is nice. Mauer is likely gone next year. MAYBE Buxton is back, but I doubt they have him at the top of the order early.  Forsythe is a solid 2-hole hitter in next year's lineup. 
• Insurance - There's no way Gordon performs well enough down the stretch here to write him in for 2019.  Something has been exposed in AAA that he needs to figure out. I still love him and see him as a long-term fixture, but I think he HAS to go back to AAA next year and at least have a couple solid months before he comes up. You can't bank on that, so you need a stop-gap vet. A guy like Murphy isn't going go come here knowing he will get bounced around unless we dramatically overpay him.  Someone like Forsythe makes more sense as insurance. We saw what happened this year when we banked on Sano, Buxton and Polanco being keys to the team in 2018. Young players are volatile.
• Roster Flexibility - As has been mentioned in the other thread, if Gordon DOES figure it out and take over at 2nd, you still have tons of flexibility with Forsythe. 
• FA Flexibility - The key to everything Falvine has done from a fan's perspective is what do they do this offseason? People aren't excited about a rebuild, but if they spend the money with a good FA class, it will pay off.  (I know...loading up the system was good too, just focusing on the fact this doesn't have to mean long-term "rebuild").  They will have plenty of payroll flexibility, they SHOULD be active, but they can't sign everyone. Getting a value filler at 2B to bridge the gap to Gordon could help them overpay for someone at another position (or three).
• Old School - this is more personal preference, but I love that Forsythe is looking like your old school middle infielder.  Like a Greg Gagne type. Not special, but solid player you can count on most days.  

Of course, there's always the chance he regresses to his LAD form, but there's enough in his history from Tampa to think this could be sustainable (at a more reasonable level of course) and maybe LA just wasn't a good fit for him.

 

Time will tell...