Check out my post from earlier where I look into an interesting topic. If you were a GM and had to pick one player from anywhere in the Twins system to start a franchise, who would it be?

 

Don't forget to vote in the poll too...

Sano has to be the choice unless you need help sooner, at which point I'd choose Arcia.

Sano has to be the choice unless you need help sooner, at which point I'd choose Arcia.

 

I don't think Sano is the obvious choice. He has some VERY big question marks. Sure he can hit the ball a long ways but unless he improves his plate discipline will he ever hit enough to be a star? He could be Michael Restovich, Adam Dunn or Cabrera. There is also a good chance he ends up at 1B or RF. Both positions reduce his value considerably.

I don't think Sano is the obvious choice. He has some VERY big question marks. Sure he can hit the ball a long ways but unless he improves his plate discipline will he ever hit enough to be a star? He could be Michael Restovich, Adam Dunn or Cabrera. There is also a good chance he ends up at 1B or RF. Both positions reduce his value considerably.

 

If not Sano, who else is a viable candidate? The Twins don't have many impressive pitchers (and each have question marks) and Sano is more of a sure thing than anyone not named Arcia (or, if you stretch the term a bit, Hicks) in the realm of position players.

If not Sano, who else is a viable candidate? The Twins don't have many impressive pitchers (and each have question marks) and Sano is more of a sure thing than anyone not named Arcia (or, if you stretch the term a bit, Hicks) in the realm of position players.

 

I think persuasive arguments can be made for Arcia, Hicks, Buxton, Meyer and Mauer. That's not to say that Sano shouldn't be your choice. His power is certainly intriguing but I don't think he is the blatantly obvious choice either which was your view point.

I'm going for the true wildcard: TC Bear. Without his rousing antics, this team is nothing.

I think persuasive arguments can be made for Arcia, Hicks, Buxton, Meyer and Mauer. That's not to say that Sano shouldn't be your choice. His power is certainly intriguing but I don't think he is the blatantly obvious choice either which was your view point.

 

Buxton? No way. He has less than 200 PAs as a professional. Meyer and May (I assume that's what you meant), both have huge question marks surrounding them. You can't say Sano has question marks and then gloss over the much more significant question marks surrounding every Twins pitcher in the system (and Buxton, who is as raw as they get).

 

Hicks is a good player but he doesn't project to be anything extraordinary. A good player, for sure, but not one of the best in baseball. Arcia? I mentioned you can make an argument for him if you favor immediate production, as he's been a better hitter than Hicks and is a year younger.

 

But Sano is very young for his level, hasn't hit under .800 at any level (and cleared .900 most seasons), and projects as an 80 for power. He's pretty much a clear-cut choice here.

You need stars in the MLB and the only two possible stars in the Twins system are Sano and Buxton. I'd probably pick Sano. There are a lot of guys that could end up being "Denard Span's" on the team like Rosario, Arcia, Hicks, and Gibson. I think they have the potential to be very good players and maybe the occasional all-star, but they don't look like MVP type guys.

Dinkleman!!!!

Seriously though, I think you'd have to go with Mauer. He's got a strong bat, and holds down an absolutely critical position on the field as well as anyone.

 

Any of the other guys offered up could easily have a career derailing injury and never see the bigs. Sano could become a huge bat, but I wouldn't build a franchise around a guy solely for his bat, unless he's hitting homers every at bat. It's waaaay too early to know exactly what Buxton's future holds. Meyer has more experience, but he's got a long way to go to get to the big leagues and it's incredibly easy to get hurt throwing 90+ mph. Who knows, he could end up getting shifted to the bullpen or become a closer.

D'oh. I didn't realize that MLB players were an option. Thought it was prospects only.

 

In that case, I'd take Mauer... Probably. Things get a lot murkier at that point.

My opinion is Sano, Mauer, Arcia, Rosario, Buxton...in that order...just because I am not sure if Buxton is going to be like Bobby Bonds or Cameron Maybin

I'd have to go with the HoF catcher even if he is turning 30

Buxton? No way. He has less than 200 PAs as a professional. Meyer and May (I assume that's what you meant), both have huge question marks surrounding them. You can't say Sano has question marks and then gloss over the much more significant question marks surrounding every Twins pitcher in the system (and Buxton, who is as raw as they get).

 

Hicks is a good player but he doesn't project to be anything extraordinary. A good player, for sure, but not one of the best in baseball. Arcia? I mentioned you can make an argument for him if you favor immediate production, as he's been a better hitter than Hicks and is a year younger.

 

But Sano is very young for his level, hasn't hit under .800 at any level (and cleared .900 most seasons), and projects as an 80 for power. He's pretty much a clear-cut choice here.

 

You have made some very large assumptions about certain players abilities and outcomes as well as what a "franchise player" should be. Those underlying beliefs then point you to Sano. I have no problem with that. But that doesn't mean your crystal ball is any better than other peoples. I can think of rational reasons one might pick any of the 5 players I listed. Again, I have no problem with you picking Sano. I just take exception to your statement that Sano is the only logical choice.

 

P.S. I did mean Mauer.

I'll still pick Mauer. Maybe in a year I would pick Sano, Buxton, Meyer, Hicks or Arcia but right now there are too many question marks regarding them.

Sano. Mauer only has a couple of years left, and he costs $23MM per year. Sano has "easy power", and can play 3B or RF or 1B for most any team in the league in 3 years. Second choice for me is Gibson....you need 5 starting pitchers, and he has a legit shot at being a number 2 pitcher, though 3 is more likely. That is a super valuable asset, and he is much closer (meaning more likely to reach his potential) to the majors than Buxton. Buxton would be my third choice, but he's all projection at this point. That might change after this year, if he is successful and lives up to the hype, but I'm big on seeing production at a high level.

 

Mauer, while clearly one of the best players in the game, at a premium position, is just too old to start a team around, imo. Also, those other players are more likely to have trade value, if you later want to start your team again, or upgrade your team. I think Mauer is awesome, I just would not start a team with him due to his age.

Mauer, if we're including everyone. Sano, if we're talking about future players and in my mind he is the clear cut choice, #9 prospect in all of baseball and shown his explosiveness at every level so far, at a very young age. Despite all the great things about Hicks and Arcia, Sano's ceiling right now is through the roof by comparison.

Justin Morneau first, and then Mauer.

Berrios.

Clearly Mauer. If there was an expansion draft and only Twins organization players were available, Mauer would be the hands down choice. Consider that the team has the youngsters for six years until free agency, while Sano, Buxton, Meyer and company have a high likelyhood of being successful, the odds that Mauer is still a productive major leaguer for the next six years is still higher.

Sano. My theory is people like power. A legit contender for HR champion would get the fans in the stands in a hypothetical upstart team that would surely be horrible for a couple seasons.

From the players with MLB experience... Mauer is the only player you would consider to anchor a franchise.

 

From the Minor League options... Haven't seen enough of them but in theory... I'd go with the 5 tool guy because there are not many of those players around.

 

If Hicks is actually 5 tools. He'd be the one... Or Buxton... if he has all 5 tools like some say he does.

 

I ain't knocking Sano... I can't wait for his arrival... But... Power can be Miggy or it can be Mark Reynolds.