The Twins Probably Need an Outfielder. What's Available?

[Major League Ready]

2 hours ago, Nick Nelson said:

I'm not sure how signing Kevin Pillar or Odubel Herrera to be a fourth OF impedes anyone's development. Especially because part of the development plan, IMO, should involve entrenching Kirilloff at 1B and trading Kepler.

They're not taking development time away from anyone by signing another OF, just like they're not blocking paths for pitching prospects by signing a couple more starters. There will be plenty of chances for everyone who deserves them in a long injury-riddled MLB season. When's the last time a good Twins prospect was "blocked"?

I think Pillar or Herrera would be good additions.  However, you were looking well beyond 4th OFers in the original post and previous comments which is what I found objectionable.  

[LA VIkes Fan]

On 12/14/2021 at 6:19 AM, roger said:

Interesting.  Couldn't see the Twins this year on tv, so I can't speak from personal viewing.  But most of the comments/articles I read here say AK is one of the better defensive first basemen in the league while being so-so in left field.  They also indicate that Sano was well below average at first.  

With Sano at DH most of the time, you don't lose his 30+/- home runs, you just improve the overall team defense by having him on the bench.  He would play first when AK needs a day off or is banged up.

That's doable but we need the DH spot for Donaldson at least 50-60 games a year. He won't last playing 130 games at 3B. We also need a spot for Arraez' bat, either at 3B or DH- he won't get much playing time at 2B unless Polanco (aka our best player other than Buxton) gets hurt.

This is my problem with the idea of moving Kirilloff to a full time 1B spot "because he's better there". That's only a small part of the equation. Unless there is a trade, you have to find a place for Kirilloff, Sano, Donaldson, Garver, and Arraez to each get 500-600 plate appearances next year. You can't do that with a full-time DH because both Donaldson and Arraez can't get there without having days where they can DH. That rules out the possibility of making Sano a full-time DH a la Nelson Cruz.  Based on our present roster construction, it seems like the best way to keep all of those bats relatively fresh, healthy, and consistently in the lineup means Kirilloff has to play at least part time in LF. Basically you have Donaldson and Arraez holding down 3B, with a healthy dose of DH duty for Donaldson (60 plus games), and a healthy dose of LF (30-40 games)  and DH (30-40) for Arraez. You also want to have some open DH days to give Buxton, Polanco. Garver and Kepler a partial day off, and possibly if you have a guy tearing up AAA we want to get in the lineup like Miranda. In other words, there just is no Room at the Inn (seasonal reference) for  Sano to even get 300 at-bats in the DH spot much less the 500 to 600 that he should get if we're going to keep him. Sano has to play at least 100-120 games at 1B if for any get the value out of his bat - really the only reason to keep him around. Kiriloff gets 100-20 games or so in LF assuming he hits, and can play another 30 or 40 at 1B when Sano either sits or is the DH. 

Bottom line for me is that we don't need to pick up an outside player to play LF, we already have that position filled by Kirilloff. That only changes if we trade or bench Sano, and I don't think were going to pay him $10 million next year to sit on the bench.  

[LA VIkes Fan]

2 hours ago, Nick Nelson said:

I'm not sure how signing Kevin Pillar or Odubel Herrera to be a fourth OF impedes anyone's development. Especially because part of the development plan, IMO, should involve entrenching Kirilloff at 1B and trading Kepler.

They're not taking development time away from anyone by signing another OF, just like they're not blocking paths for pitching prospects by signing a couple more starters. There will be plenty of chances for everyone who deserves them in a long injury-riddled MLB season. When's the last time a good Twins prospect was "blocked"?

I see your point regarding a 4th OF, although I would like to see Celstino as that guy at some point in 2022,  but trading Kepler doesn't give you a chance to entrench Kirilloff at 1B. You still have the same problem regarding Donaldson, Garver and Arraez needing multiple games at the DH spot to keep them healthy and productive while still in the lineup. I think the only way you can entrench Kirilloff is by trading Sano. I would not be against trading Sano but I think the only way to get a decent pitching return is to pair him with a pitching prospect like Winder, SVR, or Balzovic and even then I'm hard pressed to find a trading partner who both has starting pitching you want and would be willing to take on Sano's contract, Oakland, Miami, Tampa, and Cincinnati all seem to be out on that contract.   

I just think that for next year Sano is the primary 1B and Kirilloff  is the primary LF. That's not going to be pretty in the field, although not too ugly, but it is the work around to get 500 plus ABS from Donaldson, Arraez, Sano, Kirilloff and Garver (400 plus for Garver) because it leaves the DH spot open for multiple players. 

[TopGunn#22]

I'd make a strong play for Suzuki at 5-yrs $55.00 million.  He's in our price range and could hit on a par with Bryant and Castellanos while providing better defense.