Article: Is it too late for Joe Benson?

[Cody Christie]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?1147-Is-it-too-late-for-Joe-Benson

[Rosterman]

It may be too late. A player always has to worry about performance vs. where you are in the pecking order. If he has a decent (actually, needs to shine) 2013 at AAA, he could be tradebait. He would need a few more days in the major to add some luster. But, how. The Twins have three solid outfielders. Plus they have Parmelee. They have Mastro as backup. They might have Doumit and Hermann on the bench. If Hicks is added to the roster, both him and Arcia could get a call BEFORE Benson. Yet Benson showed no reason to be the 4th/5th bench guy this season and deplace Mastro. It shows the outfield depth the Twins may have that someone like Joe can get lost in the shuffle.

[Seth Stohs]

I think the idea of giving up on Joe Benson is absolutely crazy. It'd be like giving up on Gibson or Salcedo at this point. Injury was the primary reason that Benson struggled in 2012. Hamate bone is a big one that is painful and then takes awhile to return from. Then he had the knee injury that when they went in found out it was much more than they expected. The talent is still there and he's still just 25 years old. Just needs to be healthy.

 

Now again, the Twins do have outfield depth, and we'll see what Arcia and Hicks do early next year to see if they are legit big league candidates for late in 2013. Benson (and Tosoni) play into that whole equation... I still 100% believe in Benson and that he will be good whether he is with the Twins or elsewhere.

[gunnarthor]

I don't think he'll ever master the strike zone enough to be anything other than a fringe MLer. Hope I'm wrong but he'll be 25 next year and still only has about 50 games above AA (at AAA and ML) and really struggled in those games.

[righty8383]

I still think Benson could be a pretty good player. But, I don't really see him in the Twins' future. If he plays well in the minors, I think he'll be traded. If he continues to struggle and get injured, he will just be released eventually.

[johnnydakota]

im guessing he will be taken in the rule 5 draft in 2014

[greengoblinrulz]

Said it often & still believe he'll be dealt this offseason as I have believed that Mn/more so Terry Ryan isnt as high on him as some of the national people. If true, he will have some value this offseason if teams believe his struggles are due to injuries...not by himself but in a multi player deal for a pitcher

[Boom Boom]

Really can't trade him for anything right now. The Twins will give him another year to reclaim his status or else they'll remove him from the 40-man and he could potentially latch on somewhere else.

 

I think 2013 will be the year that we find out if Benson is more similar to Torii Hunter or Lew Ford.

[Twins Twerp]

Yes

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

I'm still pretty high on Benson and think he's about #8. The tools are just too good.

[glunn]

I hope that TR does not trade him while his stock is so low.

[Badsmerf]

Hard to give up on a guy that has as many tools and as much success as Benson. The Twins brought him north with the club last season, so they obviously feel the talent is there. Let the guy play in 2013 and then start to evaluate.

[Mr. Ed]

Nate Roberts another 2 hit day in Az. His development, IMO, makes it more likely that a guy like Benson gets dealt in a multi-player deal, as mentioned by Goblin.

 

Roberts should skip FM and start 2013 in AA; I think he's already proving he can handle that level.He's more complete in his abilities than anyone that played OF at the end of 2012 in FM.

[Mike Sixel]

Skip FM? This is the Twins we are talking about.....and the AFL is a ridiculous hitters league....

[Mr. Ed]

Skip FM? This is the Twins we are talking about.....and the AFL is a ridiculous hitters league....

 

Right. That's why I said they SHOULD.

 

But won't. Roberts will have to toil a 1/2 season in FM, then to NB for 1 1/2 years, on to Rochester, and debut as a 26 or 27 year old rook in the bigs, if he gets that far.

[clutterheart]

I think the idea of giving up on Joe Benson is absolutely crazy. It'd be like giving up on Gibson or Salcedo at this point. Injury was the primary reason that Benson struggled in 2012. Hamate bone is a big one that is painful and then takes awhile to return from. Then he had the knee injury that when they went in found out it was much more than they expected. The talent is still there and he's still just 25 years old. Just needs to be healthy.

 

Seth

From my memory he was healthy in the beginning of the year in 2012. He did not get injured until after he was sent to AA. So unless my memory is wrong, we can't blame his poor 2012 on injuries. Instead we need to blame his poor play.

[Fire Dan Gladden]

In Minnesota? Yep. Benson better hope for a trade, an injury (or two) or a torrid Feb-Apr to have a chance.

[beckmt]

If he is needed to complete a trade for pitching, I would throw him in. Do not think he will be more than a fringe major leagurer and the Twins have many outfielders coming in the next 3 years. Also agree with the thought that Roberts should start in New Britian.

[ALessKosherScott]

IMO, the biggest problem most people have with with prospects and young players is the tendency to overbuild hope when things are going well, and abandon ship too quickly when the stats go south.

 

Benson wasn't a future all-star in 2011. But he's at least got a a valid excuse in a bum wrist for what happened in 2012. At the bare minimum, he has the brand of defense and platoon spilts you like to see in a good fourth outfielder.

[E. Andrew]

... so next time a girl asks you "What bone did Joe Benson break?" You can point to it. On her.

[notoriousgod71]

Really can't trade him for anything right now. The Twins will give him another year to reclaim his status or else they'll remove him from the 40-man and he could potentially latch on somewhere else.

 

I think 2013 will be the year that we find out if Benson is more similar to Torii Hunter or Lew Ford.

 

I was thinking Chad Allen.

[Top Gun]

IMO, the biggest problem most people have with with prospects and young players is the tendency to overbuild hope when things are going well, and abandon ship too quickly when the stats go south.

 

Benson wasn't a future all-star in 2011. But he's at least got a a valid excuse in a bum wrist for what happened in 2012. At the bare minimum, he has the brand of defense and platoon spilts you like to see in a good fourth outfielder.

You are right on!

[Physics Guy]

Maybe this belongs in the "Hot Damn! Rub that Crystal Ball!! thread, but 2014 Twins OF:

 

LF - Arcia/Revere

CF - Hicks

RF - Benson/Arcia

 

Benson's ceiling is much higher than Revere's but his floor is also lower. At minimum I think he could be a valuable platoon guy since both Arcia and Revere are LH. Revere is arbitration eligible in 2014. I'm not sure he will be worth the increases in salary he will get. Revere's defense is well above average, but both Hicks and Benson are said to be above average to excellent in CF and should provide more punch at the plate. Of course all of this is wishful thinking.

[Physics Guy]

Maybe more likely mid-2014 or 2015.

[ssmart]

What's his status? Winter League..ReHab..Sitting at home with his feet up?

I agree, would like to keep him. But maybe more value in a, throw in/trade type guy.