Infield/DH Free Agent options

[Paul Pleiss]

over at http://www.talktocontact.com/2013/11/episode-58-brandon-warne-and-infield.html you can find the latest episode of the Talk to Contact podcast where we are joined by 1500 ESPN Twins beat reporter Brandon Warne and discuss Infield and DH Free agent options available for the Twins this off-season. Do you see any options that make sense for the Twins to bring in to man a spot in the infield?

 

I like Corey Hart at 1B/DH, and he'd also give the lineup some flexibility at a corner OF spot.

[Rosterman]

I agree that the Twins need a good solid DH who can also play first (would be an added plus) or be a bench bat that YOU WANT to go to in a pinch. Of course Corey Hart would be the guy to start instead of Parmelee or Colabello. With an outfield more than likely of Willingham and Pressly and Arcia with Mastro as the backup until Hicks finds his way, signing a first baseman/DH would pretty much spell endgame for Parmelee and Colabello with one being the reserve backup at AAA. Because...we also have to find playing time for Doumit and Mauer, too, I guess.

[beckmt]

Agree if you can find one for the correct price. I would rather spend the extra money on pitching and hope that Sano can arrive by midyear and push Plouffe to RF or 1B parttime. I see neither Colabello or Parmelee as an answer for the Twins except as a backup(shortterm)

[Kwak]

Agree if you can find one for the correct price. I would rather spend the extra money on pitching and hope that Sano can arrive by midyear and push Plouffe to RF or 1B parttime. I see neither Colabello or Parmelee as an answer for the Twins except as a backup(shortterm)

 

The correct price is zero. The need is starting pitching and the better the better!​ There are many internal options for DH including up-and-comers whose fielding isn't up to snuff, but their hitting is!

[MichiganTwins]

The correct price is zero. The need is starting pitching and the better the better!​ There are many internal options for DH including up-and-comers whose fielding isn't up to snuff, but their hitting is!

I agree that the money needs to go to starting pitching, but I dont think they will spend the entire budget on starting pitching. They will spend some cash on a batter, but I am not saying that batter will anything outstanding.

[goulik]

The correct price is zero. The need is starting pitching and the better the better!​ There are many internal options for DH including up-and-comers whose fielding isn't up to snuff, but their hitting is!

The current state of the Twins budget allows us to spend for two or three starting pitchers and a bat. Willingham and Doumit will also be off the books some time next year so spending the max budget won't handicap us for 2015. In other words getting Hart would not restrict us from getting All the pitching we need. It's mostly a matter of convincing those pitchers to come here for a rebuild year with up and coming prospects. That is the tougher sell.

[zchrz]

I think Morales would be a good investment but they won't spend the money, Hart or Loney is probably more in the price range. A ss/3b would be nice as well but they will probably roll with whats in house.

[nicksaviking]

I think Morales would be a good investment but they won't spend the money, Hart or Loney is probably more in the price range. A ss/3b would be nice as well but they will probably roll with whats in house.

 

I don't think I want to give up a 2nd round pick for Morales. He is terrible in the field and wants a 3 year deal. He'll surely have to be a full time DH soon if not immediately.

[Wookiee of the Year]

Good podcast, Paul.

 

If Mauer stays behind the dish, I'd support the Twins adding a 1B/DH type. He only gets brief mention on Talk to Contact, but my choice would definitely be Mike Morse. He's:

--Coming off a down year, so has upside (and on a one-year deal, could conceivably be traded at the deadline for value)

--Right-handed, which fits better with our line-up and means Parmelee might have a spot on the 25-man (which I prefer to Colabello)

--A great, fun-loving clubhouse guy, which could help the clubhouse atmosphere and set him up as a role model for some of the younger players

--Able to play a corner OF spot, so offers some positional flexibility

 

If Mauer moves to 1B, I'd think it would make sense to sign a veteran, defensive-minded catcher--otherwise we have a catching corps with no above-average defenders headlined by a rookie (Pinto), and if he needs seasoning at AAA I do NOT trust Doumit with the primary catcher job. If Mauer does move, I'd target Jose Molina to serve as Pinto's back-up and trust him to assume primary duties if Pinto does get sent down.

 

I'd also like the Twins to add some SS depth--Florimon is fine for now, but with his bat I wouldn't want him in a starting role for more than a year or two (and I don't want all my eggs in the Danny Santana basket). I'd love to see the Twins trade for Danny Espinosa of the Nationals. He's at a buy-low moment, and the Nats are looking to bolster their bullpen and bench this offseason, so I'd offer Duensing or potentially Thielbar and maybe Burton or maybe Ryan Doumit (as a 5th OF/bench bat/catching depth if Ramos is hurt).

[Paul Pleiss]

I like the idea of adding Morse; I agree that a RH bat fits better, and if the Twins are off to spend money, choosing Morse could be a good choice.

 

I also agree that Morales is not the right fit; as soon as Seattle offered him a QA his value took a hit, the Twins should not waste the draftpick on Morales.

 

If they move Mauer off the dish they need to sign a veteran catcher, I totally agree. What I don't agree with is moving Mauer from behind the plate. I think the right move is to have Mauer start the season at catcher unless he's physically unable to perform those duties. Hell, a guy like Henry Blanco might be around (even after the start of the season) if Mauer needs to get moved off the position and an emergency catcher is needed.

 

Danny Santana is not the long term option at SS. I think the Twins will need to look to trades or FA to find someone to play SS if Florimon is not the answer. Maybe we could see the Twins sign a couple dozen minor league players to find someone who might fit. Who knows. Maybe we get a marginal SS prospect in a deadline deal in 2014. But I don't think the organization can count on Santana as the heir apparent.

[Mike Sixel]

If they are not maknig the playoffs, why risk Mauer's health behind the plate? What good comes from having him back there, unless you think they can really compete?

 

Move Mauer to first, sign a catcher, have Pinto and random guy catch. 3B is covered in 6-12 months. Second base if hopefully covered. That leaves SS. I'd roll the dice on the guys they have, and spend money on pitching and a good catcher to pair with Pinto. Probably somone that can play 1B in a pinch.

[Steve Penz]

I have not listened to the podcast yet so I may be missing some info because I don't see any point in going after a DH and/or infielder. That is not to say that those spots could not get better. I feel they need to go after pitching and only pitching and then embrace platooning. With Willingham, Ploufe Colabello, and Parmalee I see know reason to go after more corner OF/DH-type guys because those types of players are always available and all of the Twins focus needs to be on pitchers. SS is not the same story but I just don't get focusing on that now until the pitching staff is in order.

[kab21]

I have not listened to the podcast yet so I may be missing some info because I don't see any point in going after a DH and/or infielder. That is not to say that those spots could not get better. I feel they need to go after pitching and only pitching and then embrace platooning. With Willingham, Ploufe Colabello, and Parmalee I see know reason to go after more corner OF/DH-type guys because those types of players are always available and all of the Twins focus needs to be on pitchers. SS is not the same story but I just don't get focusing on that now until the pitching staff is in order.

 

You just listed 4 players that shouldn't be starting OF'ers. Willingham should start at DH while at best you could get a solid platoon out the other guys. That leaves you with both Hicks and Arcia starting and both of these players might be best off starting out in AAA.

[Steve Penz]

You just listed 4 players that shouldn't be starting OF'ers. Willingham should start at DH while at best you could get a solid platoon out the other guys. That leaves you with both Hicks and Arcia starting and both of these players might be best off starting out in AAA.

Yup. Between those guys, Maestro and Pressley I think they can put something together until younger players arrive. Focus on pitching now.

[Paul Pleiss]

Things have changed a bit since this post went up. With Mauer at first I think the Twins need to signs veteran catcher to provide depth so Pinto can work on his game behind the dish. I think Florimon can stay at SS for now and maybe he gets a little better with the bat. Stephen Drew is the only real FA option at SS this offseason and I'm not sure it would be wise or cost effective to sign him. It sounds like Plouffe will have the chance to hold onto third base until Sano arrives and that's probably for the best. Hammer/Doumit can share regular DH duties.