Twins in on Mark Reynolds

[jcphitman]

My apologies if this was already posted. I tried to scan for a Reynolds topic, but did not see one.

 

Anyway, from MLB Trade Rumors:

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/12/new-york-notes-reynolds-baker-murphy-tejada.html

 

Earlier today, the Yankees reached agreements with both Brian Roberts and Matt Thornton.They're likely to continue adding pieces, however. A source confirmed to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News (Twitter link) that the Yanks have spoken to Mark Reynolds' agent, though nothing is close on that front. Here's the latest on Reynolds, the Yankees and the Mets...

 

• The Yankees are in on Reynolds, tweets Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, but they'll face competition from the Twins, Angels and others in their attempt to land him.
  

 

Reynolds' stats:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/reynoma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.typepad.com

 

What interests me:

Classic power hitter. Reminds me somewhat of Russell Branyon (not comparing stats ... just see his HR total with the low BA and K's seems to think hit or miss.

 

He was released last year by Cleveland and signed by the Yankees. I'm not much of an expert on him. What do others think of him? His stats page says he plays first and third. If he plays third, there is a good chance he could get into the lineup regularly until Sano comes up. If he's more of an emergency 3B, then I think we might be best to pass up on him. We have enough of the 1B/DH players.

 

Thoughts?

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

Reynolds should never play 3rd base. He's a terrible, terrible defender and the only use for him is as a DH.

[TheLeviathan]

I can't imagine his high strike-out rate is going to be tolerated well by this team. And as extreme as he is it may be a valid issue.

 

He might be a decent fit here and I'd prefer him over Doumit, but I just can't see him being our kind of guy.

[Kwak]

"...tolerate a high strike-out rate..."​ ? My Gosh, he fits right in!

[Trautmann13]

The "Twins are in" thing is likely just to raise his price. Ryan wouldn't get a high strike out guy for this team. He has said himself that the DH role will be used to give guys like Willingham and Doumit rest. If Ryan signs him I swear....

[DaveW]

Dude has some real nice power, I might actually prefer him at a DH role over Doumit. However with Willingham and Doumit on the roster he is a little redundant, I guess he could be an early season insurance plan for Plouffe, but his defense makes Trevor look like a gold glove winner.

 

Who knows, maybe they are planning on trading Doumit? If that is the case, a Kubel/Reynolds DH platoon honestly wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

[MNfan34]

Pass. Infield version of the Willingham last year. As in the bad version.

 

I would choose Doumit. Bad as he was, he outhit this guys last year. Basically the same SLG. 25% fewer homeruns, more singles and x2 doubles.

 

Why? We need table setters. Not more rally killers.

[MNfan34]

 

Who knows, maybe they are planning on trading Doumit? If that is the case, a Kubel/Reynolds DH platoon honestly wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

 

Sound theory. Probably saves them money . . .

[gil4]

Reynolds should never play 3rd base. He's a terrible, terrible defender and the only use for him is as a DH.

 

Completely agree. if there was a way to be a bad defensive DH, he would find it.

[DaveW]

Pass. Infield version of the Willingham last year. As in the bad version.

 

I would choose Doumit. Bad as he was, he outhit this guys last year. Basically the same SLG. 25% fewer homeruns, more singles and x2 doubles.

 

Why? We need table setters. Not more rally killers.

The Twins need more hitters, period. The Twins weren't exactly full of power guys last year.

 

Against LHP in his career Reynolds has a .359 OBP. He also is more durable then Doumit IMO.

[DaveW]

Sound theory. Probably saves them money . . .

 

The more I think about it, the more sense it makes:

 

Career numbers:

Kubel vs RHP: .823 OPS

Reynolds vs LHP: .834 OPS

 

Not terrible for potentially 2-3 mil total spent combined.

[TheLeviathan]

We don't platoon and Bremer's head would explode from the strikeouts by game 8 of the season.

[DaveW]

We don't platoon and Bremer's head would explode from the strikeouts by game 8 of the season.

 

The Twins also didn't ever make a splash in free agency prior to this year as well...

[gil4]

The more I think about it, the more sense it makes:

 

Career numbers:

Kubel vs RHP: .823 OPS

Reynolds vs LHP: .834 OPS

 

Not terrible for potentially 2-3 mil total spent combined.

 

I guess on the surface it doesn't sound too bad. He could be some insurance in case Willingham really is as bad as he looked last year. I dread seeing him in the field, especially at 3B, and the right-handed platoon partner usually gets more AB vs. RHP than the lefty does against LHP, which means we might want to look again at his other split.

 

OPS vs RHP

Last year - .684

Career - .777

 

Not as bad a I thought. He's 30, so not as old as thought.

[TheLeviathan]

The Twins also didn't ever make a splash in free agency prior to this year as well...

 

True enough, but Ryan has been pretty definitive with his thoughts on that issue. I don't disagree with him in principle either, just I think the Twins should be more open to the idea.

[DocBauer]

Dude has some real nice power, I might actually prefer him at a DH role over Doumit. However with Willingham and Doumit on the roster he is a little redundant, I guess he could be an early season insurance plan for Plouffe, but his defense makes Trevor look like a gold glove winner.

 

Who knows, maybe they are planning on trading Doumit? If that is the case, a Kubel/Reynolds DH platoon honestly wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

 

I think there is real merit to this idea IF, and probably a very big IF, Kubel can regain his stroke. When healthy, he's always had a nice swing and power, and while not great range, in his previous time with s his glove was OK and his arm pretty good, so he could provide a little corner OF play on occasion.

 

However, making a complete turn from my potential agreement with Dave is that Reynolds is RH. I truly feel we need to sign someone who can play sme 1B, 3B, PH and maybe even DH on rare occasions from the left side in the INF.

 

Once again I bring up Betemit, Chavez and Chad Tracy as LH options (switch hit in the case of Betemit) as viable options to back up Mauer and Plouffe, and even provide some platooning a 3B with Plouffe. We need that LH option to balance. And once again, whenever Sano is ready to take over, regardless if Plouffe is traded, or turned in to a poor man's Cuddyer, (not a bad thing) that LH reserve bat provides real value.

 

I won't get all grumpy if we add Reynolds as a bench bat, but I just think it is the wrong direction.

[DaveW]

True enough, but Ryan has been pretty definitive with his thoughts on that issue. I don't disagree with him in principle either, just I think the Twins should be more open to the idea.

DH would likely be a platoon more or less one way or another this year. I get having the same 9 guys 8 guys behind the pitcher each day, but DH just seems like a no brainer for a platoon.

[DaveW]

I think there is real merit to this idea IF, and probably a very big IF, Kubel can regain his stroke. When healthy, he's always had a nice swing and power, and while not great range, in his previous time with s his glove was OK and his arm pretty good, so he could provide a little corner OF play on occasion.

 

However, making a complete turn from my potential agreement with Dave is that Reynolds is RH. I truly feel we need to sign someone who can play sme 1B, 3B, PH and maybe even DH on rare occasions from the left side in the INF.

 

Once again I bring up Betemit, Chavez and Chad Tracy as LH options (switch hit in the case of Betemit) as viable options to back up Mauer and Plouffe, and even provide some platooning a 3B with Plouffe. We need that LH option to balance. And once again, whenever Sano is ready to take over, regardless if Plouffe is traded, or turned in to a poor man's Cuddyer, (not a bad thing) that LH reserve bat provides real value.

 

I won't get all grumpy if we add Reynolds as a bench bat, but I just think it is the wrong direction.

 

Couple issues I see, again I don't think Reynolds is some world beater, but he would come cheap, and if you needed him to play 10-15 games at 3B and another 5-10 at 1st base it wouldn't kill you that much IMO.

 

-Betemit is terrible defensively, extremely likely even worse than Reynolds. Betemit also hits pretty poorly. I don't see the real reason to bring him in at all personally.

 

-I like Chavez as a player, but he is 36 to enter next year, he is extremely injury prone and doesn't give you any real help against LHP. If Sano's timeline was 1 year out at this point, then I could see bringing him in, but I think he might cost to much to bring in for a couple months to potentially just be insurance for Plouffe (until Sano is up) Since he can't hit LHP he becomes a bit redudant at DH IMO. With that said, I wouldn't mind the Twins bringing him in, I just don't want to see them out bid the other 7 teams interested in him (per MLBTR) His defense has slipped as well. Frankly, I think Kubel has a much better chance to help out the team than him because of some of those reasons.

 

-I don't understand with the appeal of Tracy at all, other than a fluke 2012, his 4 other prior seasons (and 2013) were very ugly offensively. Defensively he isn't bad, but really isn't anything special and it hardly makes up. The upside frankly is not there. In the last 4 years he only had one where he didn't have a negative WAR.

 

Reynolds certainly has his warts, but he did have some solid somewhat recent success. I think he has significantly more potential upside then anyone else mentioned.

[johnnydakota]

Mark makes Trevor look like brooks robinson

[Marta Shearing]

I'd personally love the signing. Let Reynolds and Kubel split the atbats at DH. Go with Willy, Presley, and Arcia in the OF.

[JP3700]

If you're looking for a lefty masher, sign Jeff Baker instead. Baker is better than Reynolds at hitting lefties.

 

He can play the corner outfield, corner infield and second base which gives them positional flexibility off the bench. It would also allow them to move Willingham to DH against lefties.

[thetank]

Reynolds is only a possibility because of saber metrics being used now. What a strikeout machine.

[Alex]

DH would likely be a platoon more or less one way or another this year. I get having the same 9 guys 8 guys behind the pitcher each day, but DH just seems like a no brainer for a platoon.

 

Having a committee DH,which is where it looks like the Twins are headed, is different that platooning.

 

A platoon at DH, ie taking up two players for a spot there, is a great way to end up with an incredibly inflexible bench. It would leave the Twins with two spots (assuming 4 bench spots and one a catcher), essentially one iF and one OF.

 

This team is flush with only bat guys who have, so Reynolds make no sense. They need to upgrade hitters that will also play in the field.

[DaveW]

Having a committee DH,which is where it looks like the Twins are headed, is different that platooning.

 

A platoon at DH, ie taking up two players for a spot there, is a great way to end up with an incredibly inflexible bench. It would leave the Twins with two spots (assuming 4 bench spots and one a catcher), essentially one iF and one OF.

 

This team is flush with only bat guys who have, so Reynolds make no sense. They need to upgrade hitters that will also play in the field.

 

Sign Stephen Drew. Trade Doumit for whatever. Sign Reynolds. Sign Suzuki.

 

Position players:

RF- Arica

CF- Hicks or Pressley

LF- Willingham

3B- Plouffe

SS- Drew

2B- Dozier

1B- Mauer

C- Pinto

DH- Kubel (Can also provide depth at LF/RF if need be)

 

Bench:

1.*Pressley or Mastroanni (If hicks wins CF job) either guy would be fine as a 4th OF

2. Florimon- Perfectly fine as the only MI utility guy, can handle 3rd if need be as well.

3. Suzuki/Back up C

4. Reynolds- DH Platoon/Bench Bat/Can give Mauer/Plouffe a day off at 3rd

 

And you still have enough room for 12 pitchers at the beginning of the season (thus allowing you to stash one or two of Worley/Diamond/DeDuno without exposing to waivers.

[stringer bell]

Not a fan of Drew. I'd save the money (and draft choice) spent on Drew and go with Michael Young instead of Reynolds. I also don't see why Florimon would figure as a utility guy. I like Escobar in that role and think that he has a chance to get regular at-bats if someone falters.

[Mike Sixel]

Puts Willingham back in the OF for sure.....not sure that is a good idea, frankly. But I would have to think about it more.....because I am not sure I hate the idea either.

[Thrylos]

Willingham/Doumit/Parmelee/Colabello belong at the OF as much as Kubel does. Cannot have any of them out there esp. when you have fly ball pitchers. Arcia is in that category as well, but he is young so he can learn and will be better if the manager plays him in the correct position (RF).

 

So basically as is you got 5 DHs for 1 or 2 bench spots. I'd rather see some of them go.

 

Instead of Reynolds I want to see the Twins get Eric Chavez who will push Plouffe to the OF where he belongs and is (when he played) better that the aforementioned; he can also spell Mauer out at 1B. When Sano is ready, Chavez can start against tough RHPs and be part of the DH/PD rotation. Or even just move Plouffe at the OF when Sano is ready and start with Presley at LF. I can live with a Plouffe-Hicks-Arcia (L-R) OF with Presley as a late inning defensive replacement. The last thing this team needs is another DH.

[Riverbrian]

Parmelee was a nice defensive outfielder. Good Arm... He plays the RF wall better than anyone and he has surprising range.

 

He is multiple steps above Arcia... Doumit... Willingham and Colabello defensively.

 

To group or imply that Parmelee is a DH type (especially with his struggles at the plate) in consideration of his defense... is severe mis-casting.

 

Kinda of like putting Buddy Hackett in the lead of 50 shades of Grey.

 

As for Reynolds... I want competition for Plouffe... So OK... However... With the team strikeout totals in 2013. Adding Reynolds and his strikeout totals isn't my first choice.

[Alex]

Sign Stephen Drew. Trade Doumit for whatever. Sign Reynolds. Sign Suzuki.

 

Position players:

RF- Arica

CF- Hicks or Pressley

LF- Willingham

3B- Plouffe

SS- Drew

2B- Dozier

1B- Mauer

C- Pinto

DH- Kubel (Can also provide depth at LF/RF if need be)

 

Bench:

1.*Pressley or Mastroanni (If hicks wins CF job) either guy would be fine as a 4th OF

2. Florimon- Perfectly fine as the only MI utility guy, can handle 3rd if need be as well.

3. Suzuki/Back up C

4. Reynolds- DH Platoon/Bench Bat/Can give Mauer/Plouffe a day off at 3rd

 

And you still have enough room for 12 pitchers at the beginning of the season (thus allowing you to stash one or two of Worley/Diamond/DeDuno without exposing to waivers.

 

It's more palatable if they trade or release Doumit, but Thrylos sums up the current situation nicely. Willingham should probably be a full time DH, Pinto might also be more of a DH than C, but I think he needs to get a chance to work that out. So, I also think that signing a more versatile OF that pushes Willingham to DH and backup OF (and Doumit out) is the better way to go than to sign a guy who would only be used as a DH against LHP and can't really field.

[Alex]

Reynolds is only a possibility because of saber metrics being used now. What a strikeout machine.

 

Maybe, maybe not. I think there are places he could be valuable and a decent signing, but I don't think he's "only a possibility" because of sabermetrics. I mean, he's a 5 WAR player over 7 seasons (BR, 8 by Fangraphs), so not sure anyone would argue he sabermetric friendly.

 

On the other hand, he's going to be thirty and it's likely his bat speed is dropping, leading to more Ks and fewer HRs. We'll see. Either way he's not a fit for the Twins as they stand right now.