Should The Twins Shop Miguel Sano?

[Crackedfungo]

I think this is just idiocy.  Bauer is NOT going to come here without another debilitating contract like Donaldson.  He is also a major HEAD CASE.  Rosario and Sano have their faults, but to get rid of them both for a prospect or two (that has also missed a year of development) and expect that the add of Bauer will improve our regular season and playoff record over what it is (while starting every 5th day) is just daft.  Also, why would you go all 'youth movement' at core everyday positions and WISH for the best, but not bring up a talented 5th started like Duran, and save the later years Bauer money to keep some of the now/future core, when Duran can only impact you negatively every 5th day (versus the rookie regulars almost every day).  This, to me, is simple.  You have 3 solid starters.  You sign a lower priced 'prove it' pitcher like a Teheran, and allow Duran and Dobnak to compete for the last two rotation spots. 

 

You also have a very impressive line-up that struggles with injury (Donaldson), or playoff performance - take your pick from: Kepler, Polanco, Rosario, Sano, Buxton, Garver, etal.  Which one or two of these players performed the past two years in the playoffs?  I would argue that Kepler has performed the worst.  Yet, he seems untouchable in all these discussions, and I am not convinced you wouldn't get more back for him (than Sano or Rosario - and I would not give up Rosario for nothing like a DFA, as he is an asset). I would still give the core one more year, or consider trading Kepler and using some of the $ for a tender to Rosario, keeping this asset until it pans out or we can unload it later when it has value (once the 2021 prospective impact is known or experienced). 

 

I would also lose Gonzalez, Adrianza, Cave,Avila, Bailey, Hill, Romo, Clippard, and May (he wants out), and go in-house to replace them.  I would re-up the rest, and sit/trade from among Rosario, Sano, and Polanco the minute their performance is off in 2021 before trade deadline (with Lewis, Kiri, Rooker, and Larnach filling Adrianza/Gonzalez, Donaldson's, Cave, and Lamont's spots and ready to take over full-time the minute one is not meeting expectations). ......FIRE AWAY at my suggestions, but at least they are realistic.  We also NEED to bring along a young starter or two next year that will be relied upon in 2022 (and I don't believe this will be from among Smeltzer, Thorpe, or even Dobnak).

[DocBauer]

To the actual headline of the OP, NO, I don't shop him. Like anyone else on the roster, you listen if someone calls. They might make you a deal you can't pass up. But I don't shop him.

 

At some point, we all have to get over the fact he wasn't an All Star 3B who looked like a possible HOF player at age 24-25. He won't be 28yo until after 2021 starts. My concern is what he bas been thus far, and what he could be the next 3-8yrs.

 

1] Despite some regrettable injury situations, he has been mostly 100% physically healthy since getting over the weird/fluke heel injury in early 2019. (Covid early 2020 doesn't count). By all accounts he has grown and re-dedicated himself to better conditioning and preparation.

 

2] Even with missed time, he has a career OPS of .829 thus far with an OPS+ OF 120. Ummm...thats pretty good folks. If you don't want to allow for 2020 being a weird season for him, or other Twins, or a number of quality and even high profile players from other teams, then I have no arguement for an outlier season than to tell you a bunch of All Star caliber players must just be bums all of a sudden.

 

He's stubborn and won't adapt? He was heaped with praise in 2019 for his new found conditioning and hard off season work, as well as working with and being attentive to Cruz. His OPS in 2019 was .923 and his OPS+ was 139! He was a major recruiter for Donaldson joining the team and even sent him a video imploring him to sign.

 

Defensively, he was OK at 1B with some issues. What were those issues? They were two-fold. He was out of place at times after a lifetime playing the left side of the diamond and trying to get to balls he shouldn't have. And he about demolished a couple teammates chasing foul balls he should have let someone else gather in. Those are part of adapting and learning. He caught about everything thrown his way and was good to great in his scoops. He will only get better the more he plays there.

 

Roster-wise, no doubt he could move to DH in a couple years to acomidate Kirilloff or Donaldson. Maybe 1yr depending on how the roster shakes out eventually. And that's not to say he can't stick at 1B for a few years plus, or fill in there for lineup variation and flexibility.

 

Trade him, shop him, absolutely NO. There is so much good ahead for him. But listen to offers that are really good? Of course!

[diehardtwinsfan]

while I'm high on Rooker, I don't think his 19 MLB at bats outweighs his minor league career. If you're concerned about streaky hitters, replacing a guy like Sano with Rooker will likely not yield better results. I'd rather get a bit more data on Rooker before I rely on him...

 

As for Sano, I think we're going to have to do some moving around, like it or not. I'm not sure a lineup stacked with boom or bust types is going to get us much more than the elusive play off win, much less a world series. So for the right offer, I'd probably move him... it would have to be a good offer though. 

[jrod23]

Take the jump.  Trade him.  Kirilloff WILL be a better option in the short term and long term than Sano.  If you follow Kirilloff, you wouldn't be surprised by that statement.  Also, SANO IS NOT AND WILL NOT BE DAVID ORTIZ.  Look up the stats.  The only thing they have in common is size and power.  Every single intangible goes to Ortiz.  Sano is not going to become the next Ortiz.

Shedding Rosario and Sano will open up space for players who are disciplined and will pan out if you trust what the FO has been doing.

I like what one mentioned about Larnach in LF and Rooker as the 4th option in the outfield/DH/1B.

Until Cruz shows significant drop or decline, we need to try to retain him.

 

Let's part ways with this enigma of Sano and move on.  Trade him to the National League so he won't come back and mash against us.

[DocBauer]

while I'm high on Rooker, I don't think his 19 MLB at bats outweighs his minor league career. If you're concerned about streaky hitters, replacing a guy like Sano with Rooker will likely not yield better results. I'd rather get a bit more data on Rooker before I rely on him...

 

As for Sano, I think we're going to have to do some moving around, like it or not. I'm not sure a lineup stacked with boom or bust types is going to get us much more than the elusive play off win, much less a world series. So for the right offer, I'd probably move him... it would have to be a good offer though.

 

I agree it's a little hard to get overly excited about Rooker's 19AB. But I think he "looked ready" which is subjective as an arguement, of course, but an arguement that shouldn't be dismissed, IMO. Previously, he had struggled some when reaching a new level before adjusting. I was pleasantly surprised that he didn't seem to struggle in his SSS. It seems like he's been around for a while now simply because he's a little older...not ancient...and we've been talking about him for a while now. But he's only had 3 milb seasons plus the 2020 taxi squad. He has consistently produced after the previously mentioned adjustments. So maybe we shouldn't be surprised he looked the part in his short time with the Twins.

 

That Sano is a streaky hitter is no surprise. He may always be to some degree. I had hoped be would build on 2019 to even out the peaks and valleys...certainly the depth and length of the valleys...in 2020, but no. I'm still hopeful that experience and a normal season will show continued development and a more even plane of performance.

 

I am predicting no goodness or greatness for Rooker in 2021 or beyond, but I wonder if it's accurate to refer to him as a streaky player, despite the aforementioned "level up" adjustments he's had to make in the past. While it's true he is a power hitter prone to SO...313 times in 965 milb AB...he also hit .267 with a .357 OB to go along with his. 505 SLG and .861 OPS. Surprisingly, his quad slash line in the minors is ahead of Sano.

 

Now, week to week and month to month, I don't know if Rooker has or has not been prone to any large degree of peaks and valleys. And how good he could be is a complete unknown. And I'm not ready to bank on him for 2021 either as a replacement for Sano or anyone else. But watching his short ML stint and looking at his milb numbers again, I'm feeling encouraged.

[ALessKosherScott]

Always listen. But don't be surprised if you're nonplused by the offers for a 1B/DH coming off a 104 OPS+ season.

[Trov]

I am all for shopping Sano, or any player at that matter.  We have no players that cannot be had for the right price.  I would not sell low on Sano if Twins feel the interest is low.  I bet you can find 1 team out there that feel they can unlock his ability to make contact at even a 40% clip.  For how hard he hits the ball he will do well if he can decrease his K rate.  He has been around long enough that may not happen, but teams will always be willing to try.  I would be fine moving forward with Sano as well.  I do not even know who would want him or what they have the Twins would want either, but never hurts to look.