Minnesota Twins Sign Joey Gallo

[Werbellik]

There has to be more moves coming.

[big dog]

I think there's a mistake here- the author of this piece must be Randball Stu. Only possible explanation.

[beckmt]

I don't have the hatred of this move that most of you have.  Kepler will probably be traded and maybe packaged for a pitcher.  I tend to like players who work the pitcher and the count, it tends to wear on opponents pitching staffs. 

As has been stated here, Kepler is what he is,  More concerned with the double plays he hit into than the rest.  A few more hits will bleed through,  but his exit velocity is not good, Gallo's is sure to be better, but less contact.  There will not be much difference with the second baseman on the edge of the infield dirt and the SS one step to the left of second base. You still have to hit the ball hard to get it through the holes.

Next, Kirlloff's surgery is an unknown, we have no clue on whether the player will recover from this. We all can hope, but this move seems to be more covering unknowns than a total bust.  Laurach and Wallner still have to prove they can play here, Laurach being healthy.  So for me not a great move, but more of a cover move, just in case.  If the season goes sideways we will have a fire sale, but more likely they will try and extend one of Gray or Mahle (if not both).  

 

So let's cool the angst and let this play out.  You could be right, but I am a long term we shall see.

For the FO bashers, with the pandemic it will have taken this long for the pitching pipeline to be build, we have about two years to see if this works, and cleveland had as many starters acquired in trades as in house developed. 

[lukeduke1980]

1 hour ago, Werbellik said:

How about this. Trade Kepler, Polanco, and one of the young left-handed outfielders (not Wallner) for a for a top or near top of the rotation starter. Araez at first, second and DH, Joey in right, left, first and DH, Farmer wherever, and figure out shortstop on the fly. Mix and match and see what we have. 

Nobody will give up a near top of the rotation starter for that

[Doctor Gast]

OK, I vented. I'll give this FO the benefit of the doubt. FO fetish of hoarding big bats  and focusing on "moonshots" has killed Simmons and Sano careers offensively with Jeffers on the way. Yankees has the same theory and it spoiled Gallo, we aren't going to help him.  

 It absolutely make no sense to have 6 LH hitting corner OFers. Are we trading 3 of them? Kepler, Larnach and Kiriloff we'd selling low; Gordon we absolutely need to sub Buxton (don't be deceived Gallo can't play CF); That leaves our Wallner. There's a lot of interest in Kepler is there any way we can recoup his projected value? Still that makes Gallo very redundant, especially at $11MM.

It otherwise makes no sense and it better be one heck of a trade. FO good luck because I can't fathom any such trade.

[Werbellik]

Yeah. I woke up in the middle of the night. Never mind.

[Major League Ready]

4 hours ago, adorduan said:

prove it deals aren't for 11 million dollars...

When I first saw the announcement, I wondered if the calendar had rolled a head to April 1st.  This deal makes no sense.  There has to be other deals are already in the works.  However, Verlander got a prove it deal after TJ for $25M and Bellinger just got $17.5M.  Gallo once upon a time produced at a level that would pay $30M on a long deal, especially with his defense and flexibility.

I think a big part of this is also Gallo's ability to back-fill CF.

[HokieRif]

Didn’t we just not re-sign Sano for this same level of performance?  And we added an outfielder which is exactly what we didn’t need. The only scenario I can see him filling is a DH role but just that - no more platooning parade of who needs an off-ish day. 

[chpettit19]

5 hours ago, adorduan said:

you don't pay 11 million for "depth".

Oh, he's towards the front of their depth. Like 2nd best outfielder they have. He was brutal in NY and LA. No doubt about it. But he was a star in Texas. 

I don't love the move. My entire point is that it's crazy that so many people are acting like Gallo has no upside and we should just be clearing the way for the young players while ignoring the real possibility that the young players have no upside. I get it, the Ks are brutal. Not fun to watch. But he's a better defender than every one of the young guys, and it's not particularly close. He's shown, in 2 of the last 3 full seasons, that he can be an elite bat, even with the Ks. That's 2 more seasons than all the young guys combined have shown.

Larnach and Kirilloff have had 2 seasons to show they can stay healthy and produce. They've failed both times (not blaming them, but let's not stick our heads in the sand and act like they're more than they are right now). Gordon has had 2 years to stay healthy and produce, and he's done it for half a year. Wallner is a 25 year old rookie who's a terrible defender, and his offensive ceiling is a poor man's Joey Gallo. Kepler is just a different version of Gallo. Elite defender with severely flawed bat (just different flaws).

So, again, I don't love the move. It doesn't make them contenders suddenly. All I'm doing is trying to provide a little perspective on the situation. Yes, he was brutal last year, but so was Bellinger (he's actually been brutal for 2 years), and he got 17.5 million (minimum when you account for the 5.5 buyout). People need to get over their sticker shock. Either accept that free agents are more expensive than you'd like or stop asking for free agents to be signed.

Free agents are expensive. The young guys don't deserve jobs being handed to them (unless you're asking for a rebuild, in which case you should be asking for trades of all the 1 year contract veterans). Joey Gallo is a 2 time all star and 2 time gold glove winner in 2 of the last 3 full seasons. None of that means we should be jumping for joy or the offseason is suddenly great, but suggesting it's unthinkable to pay someone with his proven upside 11 million for 1 year doesn't make sense to me. He's been a star in this league before. Something very few other guys on the roster can say. 

[kenneth frank]

Unbelievable, 2 gut punches in 5 days

[Old Crow]

So now instead of trading Kepler we've cloned him.  Hopefully this is part of another deal which is yet to unfold.

[silverslugger]

UNCLE

[In My La Z boy]

43 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Oh, he's towards the front of their depth. Like 2nd best outfielder they have. He was brutal in NY and LA. No doubt about it. But he was a star in Texas. 

I don't love the move. My entire point is that it's crazy that so many people are acting like Gallo has no upside and we should just be clearing the way for the young players while ignoring the real possibility that the young players have no upside. I get it, the Ks are brutal. Not fun to watch. But he's a better defender than every one of the young guys, and it's not particularly close. He's shown, in 2 of the last 3 full seasons, that he can be an elite bat, even with the Ks. That's 2 more seasons than all the young guys combined have shown.

Larnach and Kirilloff have had 2 seasons to show they can stay healthy and produce. They've failed both times (not blaming them, but let's not stick our heads in the sand and act like they're more than they are right now). Gordon has had 2 years to stay healthy and produce, and he's done it for half a year. Wallner is a 25 year old rookie who's a terrible defender, and his offensive ceiling is a poor man's Joey Gallo. Kepler is just a different version of Gallo. Elite defender with severely flawed bat (just different flaws).

So, again, I don't love the move. It doesn't make them contenders suddenly. All I'm doing is trying to provide a little perspective on the situation. Yes, he was brutal last year, but so was Bellinger (he's actually been brutal for 2 years), and he got 17.5 million (minimum when you account for the 5.5 buyout). People need to get over their sticker shock. Either accept that free agents are more expensive than you'd like or stop asking for free agents to be signed.

Free agents are expensive. The young guys don't deserve jobs being handed to them (unless you're asking for a rebuild, in which case you should be asking for trades of all the 1 year contract veterans). Joey Gallo is a 2 time all star and 2 time gold glove winner in 2 of the last 3 full seasons. None of that means we should be jumping for joy or the offseason is suddenly great, but suggesting it's unthinkable to pay someone with his proven upside 11 million for 1 year doesn't make sense to me. He's been a star in this league before. Something very few other guys on the roster can say. 

I think I like this. I choose to be optimistic this morning. Happy Saturday everyone!

[theBOMisthebomb]

With the chatter about Gallo's defense being a plus, I thought I'd check it. MLB.com has his OAA for the 2022 season as -3, 95th place out of 125 outfielders. Kepler is sixth place at 11 OAA. 

Expanding the search back to 2016 (when this stat started), Max holds steady in sixth place with 60 OAA, tied with Mookie Betts. Gallo is 55th place with 6 OAA.

I can't say that I have any memories of Gallo in the field. Could someone enlighten me as to how he gets categorized as a plus defender. Does he get "bonus points" for being a 6' 5" guy who can move a little bit?

[chpettit19]

2 minutes ago, theBOMisthebomb said:

With the chatter about Gallo's defense being a plus, I thought I'd check it. MLB.com has his OAA for the 2022 season as -3, 95th place out of 125 outfielders. Kepler is sixth place at 11 OAA. 

Expanding the search back to 2016 (when this stat started), Max holds steady in sixth place with 60 OAA, tied with Mookie Betts. Gallo is 55th place with 6 OAA.

I can't say that I have any memories of Gallo in the field. Could someone enlighten me as to how he gets categorized as a plus defender. Does he get "bonus points" for being a 6' 5" guy who can move a little bit?

Fielding Bible has Gallo at 42 DRS and Kepler at 48 since 2016. And that's with Kepler having 6700 innings to Gallo's 4116. Gallo with an OF Arm score of 24 to Kepler's 4. Gallo has 2 gold gloves if you care about such things.

Gallo has long been considered an elite defender with an elite arm. He's every bit the defender Kepler is.

[Riverbrian]

7 hours ago, adorduan said:

you don't pay 11 million for "depth".

No matter what you pay and who you pay... You pay for depth. If we would have signed Correa for 351 million. The addition of Correa deepens the team. The question is: Is the player you are adding better than the player who comes off the 40 man. I assume Contreras. 

I believe that Correa is better than Contreras and I know that might be controversial to some.  ?

Is Gallo better than Contreras? That is really the debate. Or could they have reached a deal with someone else who is better than Contreras of course.

As things stand right now. Celestino just got pushed off the 26 man to St. Paul and that's good because he should start in St. Paul. 

I'll wait for the off-season to conclude to pass judgement. 

 

 

 

[jmlease1]

59 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Oh, he's towards the front of their depth. Like 2nd best outfielder they have. He was brutal in NY and LA. No doubt about it. But he was a star in Texas. 

I don't love the move. My entire point is that it's crazy that so many people are acting like Gallo has no upside and we should just be clearing the way for the young players while ignoring the real possibility that the young players have no upside. I get it, the Ks are brutal. Not fun to watch. But he's a better defender than every one of the young guys, and it's not particularly close. He's shown, in 2 of the last 3 full seasons, that he can be an elite bat, even with the Ks. That's 2 more seasons than all the young guys combined have shown.

Larnach and Kirilloff have had 2 seasons to show they can stay healthy and produce. They've failed both times (not blaming them, but let's not stick our heads in the sand and act like they're more than they are right now). Gordon has had 2 years to stay healthy and produce, and he's done it for half a year. Wallner is a 25 year old rookie who's a terrible defender, and his offensive ceiling is a poor man's Joey Gallo. Kepler is just a different version of Gallo. Elite defender with severely flawed bat (just different flaws).

So, again, I don't love the move. It doesn't make them contenders suddenly. All I'm doing is trying to provide a little perspective on the situation. Yes, he was brutal last year, but so was Bellinger (he's actually been brutal for 2 years), and he got 17.5 million (minimum when you account for the 5.5 buyout). People need to get over their sticker shock. Either accept that free agents are more expensive than you'd like or stop asking for free agents to be signed.

Free agents are expensive. The young guys don't deserve jobs being handed to them (unless you're asking for a rebuild, in which case you should be asking for trades of all the 1 year contract veterans). Joey Gallo is a 2 time all star and 2 time gold glove winner in 2 of the last 3 full seasons. None of that means we should be jumping for joy or the offseason is suddenly great, but suggesting it's unthinkable to pay someone with his proven upside 11 million for 1 year doesn't make sense to me. He's been a star in this league before. Something very few other guys on the roster can say. 

Gallo might be better defensively than the young guys...or he might not. He wasn't particularly good defensively last season, and there's a reasonable chance we've already seen the best of Gallo as a defender. (he was bad with the Yankees in every possible way, including defensively. Dodgers he was better defensively)

You're correct that Kepler is a different variant of Gallo when it comes to production, except that Kepler's floor seems to be higher (Kepler didn't have a good year and still produced 2.1 bWAR and Gallo fell apart so badly he clocked in at 0.5 bWAR. That's not a small difference). But despite Kepler's still solid overall production, we've all been talking about trading Kepler...so why would we pay more money for a higher-risk version?

Wallner is a poor defender, but we really don't know what he is in MLB for sure. But if he's Joey Gallo at the plate, then he'd be doing it for a lot less money. Kirilloff and Larnach have been good when healthy, but if you wanted to hedge your bets against their health, you'd still want to do it with a RH bat, not another lefty. I'd much rather have Wil Myers at 2/$20M or even 3/$28M than Gallo at 1/$11M.

Good grief, we're giving Gallo more money than he's ever made in a single season coming off a rotten year when he's a redundant player with significant risk (and injury history of his own). Gallo's a 2-time all-star, but in both years he had a hot start and did nothing in the second half (once because of injury, once because he was awful after the trade to the Yankees) so it's difficult to get too excited about that aspect as one to hang your hat on.

[Dave The Dastardly]

15 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

So, I guess Gordon is on the bench now. As is Larnach, and Wallner in AAA. Not sure how Larnach shows he belongs while sitting on the bench. Martin is in AAA now, maybe AA. 

Sounds like Buck is going to have lots of people to talk to during games.

[chpettit19]

4 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

Gallo might be better defensively than the young guys...or he might not. He wasn't particularly good defensively last season, and there's a reasonable chance we've already seen the best of Gallo as a defender. (he was bad with the Yankees in every possible way, including defensively. Dodgers he was better defensively)

You're correct that Kepler is a different variant of Gallo when it comes to production, except that Kepler's floor seems to be higher (Kepler didn't have a good year and still produced 2.1 bWAR and Gallo fell apart so badly he clocked in at 0.5 bWAR. That's not a small difference). But despite Kepler's still solid overall production, we've all been talking about trading Kepler...so why would we pay more money for a higher-risk version?

Wallner is a poor defender, but we really don't know what he is in MLB for sure. But if he's Joey Gallo at the plate, then he'd be doing it for a lot less money. Kirilloff and Larnach have been good when healthy, but if you wanted to hedge your bets against their health, you'd still want to do it with a RH bat, not another lefty. I'd much rather have Wil Myers at 2/$20M or even 3/$28M than Gallo at 1/$11M.

Good grief, we're giving Gallo more money than he's ever made in a single season coming off a rotten year when he's a redundant player with significant risk (and injury history of his own). Gallo's a 2-time all-star, but in both years he had a hot start and did nothing in the second half (once because of injury, once because he was awful after the trade to the Yankees) so it's difficult to get too excited about that aspect as one to hang your hat on.

Thus I don't love the move. I've said over and over that I don't love the move. It's not a move that I would've made. I just think the reactions here are way more negative than they should be. Kepler's 2.1 bWAR is all defense. And defensive stats aren't something I care about because they're super unreliable. As shown a few comments up where another poster points out how low Gallo's OAA was during the 2016-2022 stretch and I counter with him being much better than Kepler in the same stretch according to the fielding bible. 

I don't want Kepler or Gallo. But I also don't want the jobs just handed to the young guys who haven't been great when they were healthy (Larnach has a ton to prove still. Like if he can hit off speed pitches at all, that wasn't a health thing), and Wallner's career ceiling is Gallo-esque, but I'm not banking on him jumping straight into the majors and doing that as a rookie who the league now has some tape on and will have a gameplan for him to start the year. Yes, a right handed bat would've been much better. Unfortunately there's not a whole lot of that left. It's why I was so upset to see the Twins wasted 2 months offering Correa 285 when they should've moved on and signed realistic targets like Mitch Haniger.

I'm not telling people to like the move. I've said over and over that I don't love it. I'm just saying we're seeing the same overreaction that we do to almost every individual move. People freaked out like this over Beckham signing a minor league deal last year. Joey Gallo isn't the answer. I've said that over and over. This isn't some huge win. I graded it a C in the poll that's up. It's not a needle mover either direction. He's a nice insurance piece for after they trade Kepler which has felt like a foregone conclusion for weeks. It's not outrageous to think he's one of the guys who struggles under the bright lights of NY and LA (which is why I'm glad it's a 1 year deal, because that means he's probably not great in the playoffs and I don't want him around as part of the big picture plan) and will be back closer to his Texas self now that he's in a low/no-pressure situation.

Comparing Gallo's salary to his pre-arb and arb years is disingenuous. Those weren't market rates. I said before he signed yesterday that I'd be open to bringing him in for less than 10 million if they traded Kepler. So 11 is higher than I'd like. But Bellinger has been nearly unplayable for 2 years in LA and he just got 17.5 guaranteed. This is the price of doing business on the open market. We need to stop being shocked that it costs more to sign free agents. That's just how it works.

[Riverbrian]

11 hours ago, D.C Twins said:

11 is likely 11 million more than the 0 dollars being offered by another MLB team right now

This stuff drives me crazy. 

It's one thing to be disappointed in a front office in comparison with their peers. Or the most often used... They didn't do what I wanted them to do... viewpoint. 

It's another thing to suggest that they would pay 11 million when nobody else is offering anything. 

Would you pay $100 bucks for milk when it's priced at $5. 

The accusations that are made lack the important element of real life perspective.  

 

[Riverbrian]

8 hours ago, adorduan said:

how are they supposed to reach their potential with Joey Gallo blocking them? they aren't going to bench him with a 11 million  dollar salary, even if he sucks.

Now this is what my pre-mature concern would be with this acquisition.

What if he is 2022 and 2021 Gallo? If he is... this 11 million was a mistake. Will they double down on that mistake? I don't mind them making the 11 million dollar mistake... all teams make those and those mistakes don't kill you if you step away from it. What kills you is doubling down on the mistake by playing the mistake over and over. Gallo can't keep hurting us if we don't put him in position to hurt us. Make Gallo earn the playing time.      

They doubled down on the Morrison mistake?  I about lost my mind over it. Didn't matter how loud he struggled. He kept getting shoved out there instead of trying anybody else.

We don't have to keep turning to Gallo if he is struggling or Kepler for that matter.... or anybody on the 26 man roster. We can make them EARN that playing time. We can make them compete fairly for playing time with Gordon, Larnach, Kirilloff and Garlick. The players will tell you who should play by their actual play.

Many think we should just hand the job to Larnach... I'm ok with Larnach getting the job providing that he is performing better than the others. I have no problem with Gallo and his 11 million dollars watching Larnach play if Gallo is going to be Gallo from 2021 and 2022.   

Just giving someone a job without any competition is a recipe for eventually having Jake Cave in your OF during a pennant chase. 

If I could make one request of this front office it would be this. Quit shoving these failing players like Morrison and Pagan at us over and over again because the projections suggest they are supposed to be better. It's crappy play that kills you... don't reward it.  

Based on the dollars... I assume Gallo is going to be on the roster. I'll give him a chance... I won't give him chance after chance after chance. If they eat 11 million... they eat 11 million. Do not double down.

I'll reserve judgement. 

[rv78]

More dumpster diving. Tell me, what's the purpose of signing a good catcher if your other moves are not going to move the needle in the same direction? Gallo does nothing to improve this team. This FO fell in love with the Bomba Squad and will stop at nothing to try to bring it back. As for Gallo being part of another move/trade forthcoming..... who wants him for $11M besides the Twins? The IKF deal was all about clearing a hefty Donaldson contract to what eventually led to Correa fleecing the Twins and now the Giants. If Gallo is a fill in for losing a Larnach or Kirilloff or some other young prospect that is going to be part of a trade then I'm going to be more than furious. What a waste of a roster spot. When I was scanning all of the potential FA outfielders the Twins could and should add, Gallo was at the bottom of the list. Why would anyone want to add another Sano? Another hole in the lineup? And don't you bet against Rocco using him every chance he can, because it didn't matter how bad Sano was, he was in the lineup when he was healthy enough to play. The same will happen with Gallo. The FO doesn't spend $11M and expect their Manager to sit him on the bench. The fact that he can play all 3 spots in the OF plus 1B besides the DH means he will be used all over with Rocco at the helm. Which brings up another interesting trend the FO is on. Getting players that can be used at multiple positions. Farmer is that type and now Gallo. It's as if, due to the massive number of injuries last year, they now think they need to hedge against that and get players that can play multiple positions. Keep it up FO. Rocco has to be thrilled. He could quite possibly have a different lineup for every one of the 162 games next year. The chance of the Twins and Rocco having that record is more likely to happen than them ever setting the HR record again. It's too bad that the Twins committed to Buxton, because due to his history a backup CF is a must which leads to these types of moves.

[Riverbrian]

3 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

When I first saw the announcement, I wondered if the calendar had rolled a head to April 1st.  This deal makes no sense.  There has to be other deals are already in the works.  However, Verlander got a prove it deal after TJ for $25M and Bellinger just got $17.5M.  Gallo once upon a time produced at a level that would pay $30M on a long deal, especially with his defense and flexibility.

I think a big part of this is also Gallo's ability to back-fill CF.

It certainly wasn't what I expected... and I will also go on record saying that he wasn't my first choice and probably not my 12th choice either. 

However... you make a good point. Bellinger just got 17.5M. If Bellinger can get 17.5 for what he did two years ago. Gallo at 11M doesn't seem so crazy in comparison. 

There is player value and there is market value. Market Value has gone through the roof this year. 

[chinmusic]

16 hours ago, Lasorda_This_Out said:

Part of a bigger trade to come where Gallo is a piece?

Wouldn't surprise me at all.

 

[tony&rodney]

Who gets a roster spot if Gallo is the same in Spring Training as he was for the Yankees and all of Martin, Gordon, Larnach, and Wallner tear it up? I would guess we know and say that Spring Training doesn't mean anything, which means that the competition for a roster spot doesn't apply to Gallo. 

While it doesn't matter to me what a player makes in salary, it does matter to the Twins. The Twins seem to continually have about $30 million per year in mediocre players but cannot afford Carlos Correa. That doesn't add up. I can support financial realities and understand if Correa was too much. I'm ok with using Kyle Farmer or whomever until Royce Lewis is ready but also want the team to transition to a more watchable game. The signing of Gallo must portend a series of trades and they will need to be major moves to improve the roster. 

 

[USAFChief]

2 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

. He's shown, in 2 of the last 3 full seasons, that he can be an elite bat

Stop it.

He's put up a borderline elite OPS once, in 2019, in less than 300 PAs. Based on a ****load of walks and some all or nothing power.

He's had 100 hits in a season ONCE. Never driven in 100 runs. Never scored 100 runs.

Joey Gallo is not an elite hitter. Not close.

 

 

 

[tony&rodney]

10 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

Bellinger just got 17.5M. If Bellinger can get 17.5 for what he did two years ago. Gallo at 11M doesn't seem so crazy in comparison. 

I would not have signed Bellinger with his option. His contract is for $12.5M with a $5M buyout. Bellinger was an MVP and suffered a bad injury a couple of years ago. There is some thought that he may be finally healed. If you consider both players, the Gallo contract doesn't seem so crazy. I agree. However, in consideration of the needs of the team the signing was pointless at any price. 

[MABB1959]

18 hours ago, ScottyB said:

Yawn. Too many lefties in OF. Not gonna draw fans. Bad/boring move.

A big name even if past his prime may be exciting to some.  Those who follow closely will not be excited and unhappy 

[GeorgiaBaller]

More poor plays and bandaids from a front office who needs to add iron to their diet.  Anemic. 
When attendance and revenues were down last year, this is what the answer is?  And in what world is a faltering Gallo any upgrade from Kepler?  The amazing thing is, fans and sportswriters alike continue to make excuses and say “this is a hard market to bring in talent because of the climate”.  Did you ever think this is a hard market to bring anyone into because they don’t want to play with a weak roster and end up at the bottom Of the division?

Falvine is a feeble FO who has a boring game approach and fields a feeble roster.  And a manager who should be a bench coach.  But there are always golden prospects, right?  Eye-roll.

 

[chpettit19]

3 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Stop it.

He's put up a borderline elite OPS once, in 2019, in less than 300 PAs. Based on a ****load of walks and some all or nothing power.

He's had 100 hits in a season ONCE. Never driven in 100 runs. Never scored 100 runs.

Joey Gallo is not an elite hitter. Not close.

Do walks not count? Aren't people on these boards during every game complaining that the Twins don't work the count, walk, or get on base enough?

His OPS in Texas was .833 for his 6+ seasons, and over 2000 PAs, there. That would've put him 20th in baseball in 2022, tied with Xander Bogaerts who just got significantly more than $11 million. Maybe top 20 isn't "elite," but it feels awfully close.

But, again, for the 1 millionth time, I'm not suggesting Joey Gallo is going to come in and be the 20th best hitter in baseball in 2023. I'm simply pointing out that when he was in Texas he showed more upside than any bat in the Twins lineup not named Buxton. Jorge Polanco has a career OPS of .779. .833 is slightly higher than that, no? In fact, Polanco only OPS'd above .833 1 time in his career (2019).

He's a frustrating guy to watch with the Ks and BA. No doubt. Not a huge fan of that. But suggesting that he has no upside is ignoring a whole lot of previous upside. He was awful in NY and LA. Is that because he's fallen off a cliff and is Chris Davis now? Or is that because he couldn't handle the pressure there? The former means this is going to be an awful signing and he's hopefully DFA'd by June. The latter means he's at least useful during 1 regular season, and could possibly then be flipped at the deadline if he's back to OPSing .800+.

If you care about how someone gets their OPS you may not like him because of the lack of BA. If all you care about is that they get their OPS then .833 should be a little intriguing.