Trading Places: Could Twins End Up with Brandon Crawford at Shortstop?

[Nick Nelson]

San Francisco needed a star and they got one, signing Carlos Correa to a $350 million deal earlier this week. He looks like a very nice fit in the Bay, with one notable catch: the Giants already have a beloved shortstop who's been their regular fixture at the position for a decade.

As it happens, Crawford would be a near-perfect fit for the team Correa just departed. 

Image courtesy of John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

 

At the beginning of the offseason, I highlighted Brandon Crawford as one of the three most probable shortstop trade targets for the Twins. Now that Carlos Correa has been signed to supplant the longtime Giants shortstop, it feels like an idea worth revisiting. 

The plan for now, supposedly, is for Crawford to slide to third base and make room for Correa. For Giants fans and followers, it comes as no surprise that the 35-year-old is willing to move away from the only position he's ever known for the good of the team. Crawford is renowned as a top-notch clubhouse fixture and team player.

He's also turning 36 in January, and entering his final season under contract, coming off an underwhelming season for the G-men. Crawford slashed .231/.308/.344 for an 85 OPS+ that ranks among the worst of any season in his career. Nearly all of his value came from fielding, but that value was considerable, with a 93rd percentile OAA contributing to his very respectable 2.0 fWAR.

Crawford has always been a very good shortstop and has never known anything else. His 1,525 defensive starts in the majors have ALL come at short. He's won four Gold Gloves. The idea of him playing elsewhere seems zany in concept, and much more so when you account for the fact that his whole value as a player by this point derives from shortstop defense.

In moving him to the hot corner, they're basically hoping that he'll adapt instantly and become a hugely valuable defender at a position he's never played – or they're hoping his bat rebounds, although he's generally been a pretty average hitter. Both feel like kind of a stretch?

For the Giants, it feels weird to be relying on such a gambit in a season where they've invested so much in pushing hard for immediate contention. For all of his intangible qualities, the on-field reality of Crawford as third baseman on a bonafide contender has the potential to be disastrous, and he'll be making $16 million to boot.

Given their druthers, San Francisco would surely love to unload Crawford on a team that needs a short-term veteran fix at shortstop and has many to burn. Hey! (Cue light bulb clicking.)

Of course, there's a hitch in that plan. Accordant to Major League's Baseball's 10-and-5 rule, Crawford has the ability to veto any trade. He has spent his entire career in San Francisco and is basically an institution there. Even if the Twins would really like to have him, and the Giants would really like to move him, it all comes down to the player himself. 

People who follow the team tell me the idea of Crawford willingly leaving to go to Minnesota for one year at the end of his contract in his age 36 season feels outlandish. And as I type out the sentence, it sure does feel that way. 

But maybe the Twins could sell him on the idea of taking over as unquestioned leader for an upstart hungry squad? A new challenge to round out a commendable career? Or maybe Crawford feels like shortstop is his home more than San Fran?

I'll admit, the whole thing feels like a stretch. But stretching my imagination is all I can do as I try to figure out how the Twins are going to burn their ample remaining funds, while trying to replace even a semblance of what they lost in Correa as clubhouse staple and steady presence at short, without making the gargantuan (IMO ill-advised) commitment it will require to get Dansby Swanson.

 

 

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[Nashvilletwin]

Falvey: Hey, nice job Zaidi, pinching Correa from us at the last minute like that. Hey, who am I kidding - we both know you were going to sign him once Judge was off the table.  Anyway, what are you going to do now with that old other shortstop Crawford? Want to trade him?

Zaidi: Why would you want him when you have Farmer (which btw is a legitimate question)?

Falvey: Well, I’m kinda backed into a corner with the fan base and, even though we think Farmer’s ok, he’s not going to put butts in the seats or lead us to the playoffs.

Zaidi: And Crawford will?

Falvey: Well, probably not, but I have to look like I’m doing something. Who do you want for him?

Zaidi: You know I’ve always liked you Derek and I’d never take advantage of you in your time of need. How about you send us that often injured guy - what’s his name, Lewis?  Yeah and throw in that Lee guy too.

Falvey: But those are my only two decent prospects I have left!

Zaidi: Hey, don’t get worked up - I was just joshing you.  I’ll take Gray and Lee. Take  it or leave it. You have one minute to decide - I’m just leaving to take my wife out to dinner to celebrate stealing Correa from you.

Lol

 

[Mark G]

Let me see........a 36 year old light hitting SS with a great glove for 16 mil.........how can I put this?

NO!!!!       Sheeezzzz......why not just bring Simmons back for a quarter of that money?  ?

We let Urshella go for a song, and we went and got Farmer instead to play.........where, if we were to bring in a guy like Crawford?  I actually have more faith in this FO than that.  

Just my extremely humble observation.  

[USAFChief]

Not your best work, Nick. 

[Doctor Gast]

Crawford could be an option, if SF pays down his salary, He had a great '21 but it seemed like the only one he had in his career so far. Maybe being his contract year he'll be motivated to try to regain that '21 year. Who knows? Crawford wouldn't be my 1st option but he is an option. We should be open to all viable options

[CRF]

Absolutely not. 

[DJL44]

It wouldn't shock me if Crawford is traded but he would probably rather be traded to a team that can be a contender (Yankees).

[mikelink45]

Correa has been the staple of TD all off season - now we are milking tangents of Correa!  Lets go with Farmer and the prospects.

[hof282011]

No no no no. No trades for older players!

[dxpavelka]

He pretty much willed the Giants to 107 wins in 2021.

[jmlease1]

A non-starter. He's not going anywhere; I'm 100% certain he would veto any trade, even if the Giants approached him with one. I can't see why the Twins would really want him; he's likely to be worse than Farmer and for a lot more money. You'd basically be acquiring a guy for leadership and hoping that his bat isn't trash. The Twins need offense more than anything else right now, and betting on Crawford is a terrible bet, even if you could somehow pry him out of SF, which again sounds nigh-impossible.

 

[mikelink45]

I have to add a second comment - as I read about this aging SS I was thinking about how many of these SS contracts will end with similar descriptions - he is age 36.  All the contracts go to age 40+.   

[Richie the Rally Goat]

1 hour ago, Doctor Gast said:

Crawford could be an option, if SF pays down his salary, He had a great '21 but it seemed like the only one he had in his career so far. Maybe being his contract year he'll be motivated to try to regain that '21 year. Who knows? Crawford wouldn't be my 1st option but he is an option. We should be open to all viable options

I’d rather the Twins pay his salary, and trade very little in minor league capital to get Crawford.

Honestly, I think they should turn attention away from SS, now. They need hitters, and the available options at SS are not really upgrades from Farmer. Swanson could be, but with one season of good hitting, not sure I’d bet the Farm(er) on that.

[mike8791]

I'll have what Nick's drinking.  Really, why is everyone so down on Farmer?  He is a perfectly acceptable fill-in until one of the rooks is ready, that is providing the Wonder Boys fill in several gaping holes that still exist.

[gman]

If there is value in having Crawford coach Lewis into the position along with playing part time, even if Lewis starts on then backfields. I somehow don't think that would be worth 16mil plus any player traded for him.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

I don't think this is a good idea for the Twins to trade for Crawford. If the Giants are ready to move Crawford off SS at age 36, they are going to love Correa when he is 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, and 41.

[2wins87]

9 hours ago, Nick Nelson said:

Of course, there's a hitch in that plan. Accordant to Major League's Baseball's 10-and-5 rule, Crawford has the ability to veto any trade. He has spent his entire career in San Francisco and is basically an institution there. Even if the Twins would really like to have him, and the Giants would really like to move him, it all comes down to the player himself. 

People who follow the team tell me the idea of Crawford willingly leaving to go to Minnesota for one year at the end of his contract in his age 36 season feels outlandish. And as I type out the sentence, it sure does feel that way. 

 

Honestly this could probably just be the entirety of the article. It seems so unlikely that I don't really even see the point in discussing the merits of Crawford as a player.

[tony&rodney]

10 and 5 rights, an institution with the Giants, has a pile of young kids that love their life in the Bay - it would have been more likely to sign both Judge and Correa. Would the Twins have traded Joe Mauer before his last year? No way.

What can happen is that Falvey can pivot to sign Rodon to a 10/$200 M contract. That would be a normal deal.

[roger]

I sincerely hope that the front office isn't as far off reality as you are with this suggestion, Nick.

Seriously, add me to the list of those who want the Twins to pivot off shortstop and fill a few other holes in the roster.  Am 100% ok with Farmer being their shortstop until Lewis is healthy and begins his HOF career.

Moves that I hope the Twins make are: 1) Find that top notch late inning reliever to make the bullpen stronger; 2) Sign that veteran third catcher, preferably to a minor league contract and be available when Jeffers is injured; and 3) Find a solid right handed bat to fill in someplace, could even be the primary DH.

What I don't want them to do is panic and trade Arraez, any of the top prospects, or even Keps.

I also could care in the least if their opening day payroll is significantly lower than last year.  If they feel they gotta spend it, then I would be ok with overpaying Rodon...but not for too many years.

[Kipp35]

6 hours ago, Mark G said:

Let me see........a 36 year old light hitting SS with a great glove for 16 mil.........how can I put this?

NO!!!!       Sheeezzzz......why not just bring Simmons back for a quarter of that money?  ?

We let Urshella go for a song, and we went and got Farmer instead to play.........where, if we were to bring in a guy like Crawford?  I actually have more faith in this FO than that.  

Just my extremely humble observation.  

That's the issue. We are supposed to have faith these guys know what they are doing. I haven't seen it... When Correa came here, they were contacted by Borras, not the other way around. They can't/won't do ANYTHING.

[Bob Twins Fan Since 61]

Add to Roger's take of solid right-handed bat.  Three to consider and in order preference are:  1) Trey Mancini 1B-OF, 2) Brandon Drury 1B, 2B-3B, and 3) Brian Anderson 3B-OF.  The first two could platoon with some with Arraez at 1B.  Who splits between left and right-handed pitchers is pretty significant.  Would allow trading one of the left-handed outfielders for upgrade somewhere else.

 

[Thebigalguy]

I don't mind a trade, but not for a guy with one year on his contract at his age. Farmer can get the job done at SS. and the idea of trading Arraez is horsemeat. My contention is that the Twins have what they need on the roster and in the minors if most players live up to their potential and stay healthy. A good starting staff and a trustworthy catcher, with Jeffers under less pressure to grow, a premier relief staff, the batting king to lead off, some pop and power here and there, a premier defensive outfield. Infield defense is a possible weakness. I think we can be playoff bound with what we have.

[Nick Nelson]

If people don't think there's a chance Crawford accepts the trade, that's fine. Probably correct. But the idea he's not a legit upgrade over Farmer is puzzling to me. The Reds moved away from Farmer as their SS in August last year. The REDS! Here are their fWARs over the past 3 seasons:

2022
Farmer - 1.4
Crawford - 2.0

2021
Farmer - 1.9
Crawford - 6.4

2020
Farmer - 0.2
Crawford - 1.6

That's before you account for the off-the-field intangibles, which honestly is what I think would be the primary driver for the Twins pursuing a player like him. They're reeling from what they lost in that regard with Correa almost as much as the on-field impact. If there are other guys out there who could fill that void, I'm all ears.

[Nick Nelson]

Also, if people are wary of paying a bunch of money for an all-glove, no-bat SS in his mid-30s for ONE SEASON ... I've got some bad news about Dansby Swanson...

[Minny505]

I love this idea! He and Farmer make a roughly 3 WAR platoon at SS. That's right in line with, if not at a slight discount on, the going rate on the FA market for that level of production.

And depending on what the Twins offer, the Giants would pick up a portion of that one year salary.

But I never considered his 10-and-5 rights. That complicates things.

That said, there are other solid shortstops in the trade market that are likely available at a decent exchange rate. Unfortunately that can't be said of the SP trade market.

[mnfireman]

I think I would rather see Andrus or Iglesias for one season (not a fan of either).

[DocBauer]

1} Unless he's just really up for a new challenge and really wants to stick at SS, he's going to veto a trade to the Twins to stay with his only known team.

2} The Twins sure aren't going to pay $16M for 1yr of a defense first SS with a questionable bat. They MIGHT be willing to pay half of that. But even if SF eats half of his salary, the Twins aren't going to want to give up much for said 1yr of a defense first, questionable bat SS, even if he is a good guy and leader type.

3} Let's just say he agrees, the Giants eat half his deal, and it costs the Twins very little to get him. On that basis, I'm OK with the idea. It allows the Twins to use Farmer in a super utility role that he seems well suited for and deepens the bench and lineup. 

In fact, if Swanson isn't brought on board...and I'm not sure I want him at this point...I wouldn't mind another SS OR another utility type brought in...with a decent bat...to deepen the bench and lineup.

But I don't see this as a likely option.

[I wish the twins were good]

Just stick Farmer there and pray for rain until Lewis is back (with, ideally, a leg that is still attached at the knee), and hope he can run with it (which, again, would require a fully assembled leg.) That's a lot of hopes and prayers in one sentence, but if the Twins know anything about anything - questionable, I know - it's how to enter a season with substantial unresolved question marks (and body parts!)

[I wish the twins were good]

Just now, I wish the twins were good said:

Just stick Farmer there and pray for rain until Lewis is back (with, ideally, a leg that is still attached at the knee), and hope he can run with it (which, again, would require a fully assembled leg.) That's a lot of hopes and prayers in one sentence, but if the Twins know anything about anything - questionable, I know - it's how to enter a season with substantial unresolved question marks (and body parts!)

I should qualify this to say, if they don't take advantage of the money saved by going this route on improvements elsewhere on the roster, I'm tuning this team out for a season or three.

[Bigfork Twins Guy]

1 hour ago, Nick Nelson said:

That's before you account for the off-the-field intangibles, which honestly is what I think would be the primary driver for the Twins pursuing a player like him. They're reeling from what they lost in that regard with Correa almost as much as the on-field impact. If there are other guys out there who could fill that void, I'm all ears.

I thought Vazquez was bringing the clubhouse leadership in lieu of Correa.

From a performance standpoint I'd rather they sign Andrus as he could add more from a batting standpoint.