Does Andrew McCutchen Do Anything For You?

[LA VIkes Fan]

14 hours ago, DocBauer said:

Can't disagree with you. The key to 2023 and beyond is getting healthy...an exhausted comment I know, but factual...and setting up the young talent to actually succeed.

I'm with you on that. I think most would agree. 

Where we might disagree, somewhat, is still trying to win as many games at the same time. And I don't think either approach is mutually exclusive. The rotation has a chance to be pretty good, and offers some young talent and young depth. The bullpen, especially with another quality addition, maybe two, has a chance to be good to great. But right now, there really is NO-ONE to fill the role of RH OF bat to augment the lineup and depth. Martin isn't ready yet, and I think most of us agree Celestino has the tools to be a solid overall player, but lacks polish and has been rushed. And neither, at this point, seems to be a power plant type of bat. (Maybe in time). And that's OK.

And yes, someone probably has to be moved in some sort of deal to alleviate the crowded picture in the OF. But a RH bat who might add a couple more wins still does, potentially, do exactly that, add a couple more wins. And said bat wouldnt/shouldn't necessarily be an every day performer who blocks the young LH bats. He'd be time sharing and filling a role. And I believe there's room to make that addition, flesh out the lineup options, competing for as many wins as possible, while still running with the young guys. 

I don't think you and I are too far off. I agree that we're missing a RH middle of the order bat to hit 5 or 6 and could really use that kind of player. For me, adding that RH bat to mostly play a combination of DH and either 1B or LF works IF Kepler is traded. I want at least one OF position and half of the DH ABs open so Kirilloff, Larnach and Gordon can each be playing 5 days a week. I just don't see how we do that AND play Arraez, Kepler and Gallo 5 days a week. You have to think that Gallo has been promised an every day spot or he wouldn't have come to the Twins. Arraez is the defending batting champion and Kepler's defense is such that you have to think they are regulars going forward. We only have innings and ABs for these 6 guys at LF, RF, 1B, and DH. That's not enough for 6 players to play regularly, especially when they all hit left handed.   

I absolutely agree that adding a solid RH bat would help this lineup tremendously and could give us a few more wins. The problem is that I can't square that with getting enough innings and ABs for Gordon, Larnach, Kiriloff, and eventually Wallner, Lewis, Lee and Julien in 2023. I think the two ways to add the RH bat and create enough space without a tear down is either to trade Kepler to create an OF spot OR commit to playing Gordon 4-5 days a week at SS. Even then we're one starting spot short but that may be cured by injury or ineffectiveness. 

I think that there's a real choice here that we should make going into the season. One choice is to stay with what we have and add a RH bat. A few more wins, but not enough to contend in my view, and that choice would be made at the cost of needed development time for the guys mentioned above.  My choice would be to trade Kepler to create room for those guys to play even at the cost of a few wins. IF we trade Kepler there potentially is room for a RH bat as long as he's willing to play part time, but not for a full time guy. For me, the most important value is getting ABs for this next wave in 2023. 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

18 hours ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

 

 

 

 

My view is play the young(ish) guys like Larnach, Kirilloff, Gordon, Miranda, and Lewis when he's ready, plus Wallner and Lee in the second half. Don't sign a McCutcheon type to take away ABs unless you really think we can contend. I don't. In fact, I see the only way to contend being to play the young guys and hope they fulfill their promise quickly.  Assuming health, get Miranda 600 plate appearances this year, 500+ for Gordon, Larnach and Kirilloff, and 250+ for Lewis, Lee and Wallner in the second half if you can. If possible and deserved by early performance, add Julien and Martin into the mix. Get 30 plus starts for Ryan and Ober, and 10-15 for Varland and SWR. Try to get Paddack back in the rotation for 8-10 starts after his TJ rehab. If that means trading vets at the deadline, moving Maeda to the BP, and/or living with a lesser defensive SS who hits while Farmer becomes the UTl who can play SS, do it. Most of these guys are 25 or 26, not 21 or 22.  Play them and play them this year. Live with the consequences. 

I agree with this proposal. The young guys need the experience and can only get it by playing. That is why I disliked the Gallo signing so much. It wasted $11,000,000 but more than that, it delayed the answer to the BIG QUESTION, which is, "Who among the young players will succeed and what is the ceiling for each of them?"

[Fire Dan Gladden]

So the Twins have something like nine OF on the 40-man, they just signed Joey Gallo to an eruption of negativity, and you want to gauge the whether the Twins should sign another OF that brings virtually nothing to the table but a name? 

[bap3141]

I don't mind "Cutch" at the right price and getting some DH matchups.

[HoskenPowell]

No way I'd bother with him at this point.  Pitching and more pitching is what this team needs.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

4 hours ago, HoskenPowell said:

No way I'd bother with him at this point.  Pitching and more pitching is what this team needs.

Welcome, friend!! 

I agree with you about the pitching. 

[Shaitan]

If they think there's a huge gap in the clubhouse, aka the Nelson Cruz or Correa angle: possibly maybe. But I still don't see a fit. And both of the others I named were full-time players who were still above league average.

I like McCutchen as a player but it wouldn't move me in any way unless there's a big OF 40-roster shakeup in the works.