Next year's outfield

[ppearson50]

Even if the Twins only slightly improve this year, it will be fun to watch Buxton join Hicks and Arcia in the outfield next year. They could stay together for a few years, I hope. Hicks looks really good this spring. Of course, he did last spring as well.

[minnymadness]

Would love to see hicks show he is as good as advertised this yr put together a successful season. You put hicks and buxton in the outfield together and the defense gets leaps and bounds better. I actually think Arica turns into the DH and they find another outfielder. Either way I like any outfield where hicks and buxton are playing and productive.

[stringer bell]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I have real doubt that Hicks has enough bat to be a regular corner outfielder. If Buxton progresses as expected, Hicks becomes a high-value trade chip, assuming that he proves to be a capable starting center fielder.

[jorgenswest]

If Hicks is the best defensive corner OF in baseball he doesn't need to have he power bat to play corner. Plenty of winning teams have had corner outfielder that brought great defense and speed.

[lightfoot789]

I'd rather have solid defense and great power personally. Until we have lights out pitching (San Francisco / Tampa Bay style) we need run producers. You still have to outscore other team to win. Not poor defense at corner spot but solid defense with an amazing CF works (aka Angels).

[minnymadness]

Agreed you don't need a true power hitter In the corner outfield. Speed and defense effect every game. Not to mention he has shown he has some power both gap power and hitting it over the wall.

[Zephrin]

Hicks - Buxton - Arcia could be a very productive trio offensively and defensively. If someone else comes up and pushes Arcia to a DH so be it, but I won't lose sleep over that outfield.

[Guest USAFChief]

You don't need "great power" to be an effective offensive player. However, it's very difficult to be an effective offensive player without at least a little power...enough to keep the SLG up over .400.

 

And it's very, very difficult to hold onto a major league corner OF spot for very long if you aren't an effective offensive player. Great corner OF defense is a nice add on for a player, but isn't enough by itself. Hicks will have to hit if he's going to eventually move to a corner. I think he will.

[ScottyB]

What are we talking here as far as power goes? Last year Hicks couldn't hit a lick and still put 8 balls into the seats. He reminds me of a young Torii Hunter. I think he will turn it around, just as Torii did and be able to average 20-30 dingers a year while playing outstanding defense. Besides, they both have double vowels in their names.

[tobi0040]

Hicks - Buxton - Arcia could be a very productive trio offensively and defensively. If someone else comes up and pushes Arcia to a DH so be it, but I won't lose sleep over that outfield.

 

I think Arcia may push himself to DH or 1B. His offensive WAR was +1 in 100 games last year. His defensive WAR was -2.

 

I would bet Mauer would be a better defensive OF than Arcia. Either way I think you have Buxton in CF, Hicks or Rosario in at least one corner.

[Siehbiscuit]

Aaron Hicks prospect status has always been tied to his ability as a centerfielder. Big arm, good range in addition to what he brings offensively. The reason the corner OF stereotype exists is because you can hide an average to even below average fielder there, because the bat is very good. Aaron Hick's bat tool has never been considered to be in the 'very good' range. If Buxton is on the major league roster by let's say June of 2015, he and Hicks may get the opportunity to see what they can do together. If Hicks is hitting .275/.350/.450 while also hitting 15+ HR's and stealing 20+ bases, but is relegated to RF on the Twins, he could be worth a king's ransom! We wouldn't have to trade him, but we could still run Arcia and his bat out there but then flip Hicks for several high upside prospects or a MLB-ready SS. He is a CF that will be very sought after if he gets his bat going.

[nicksaviking]

Good defense at the corner OF spots is a luxery, and not one that should come at the expense of offense. It's not a defensive priority position. Especially if we're talking about RF at Target Field. It's more important to find someone with a good arm and is smart about playing the wall. Not much range is needed for the postion as there's no foul territory and it's not very deep. It just plays deep because of the towering wall.

[tobi0040]

Aaron Hicks prospect status has always been tied to his ability as a centerfielder. Big arm, good range in addition to what he brings offensively. The reason the corner OF stereotype exists is because you can hide an average to even below average fielder there, because the bat is very good. Aaron Hick's bat tool has never been considered to be in the 'very good' range. If Buxton is on the major league roster by let's say June of 2015, he and Hicks may get the opportunity to see what they can do together. If Hicks is hitting .275/.350/.450 while also hitting 15+ HR's and stealing 20+ bases, but is relegated to RF on the Twins, he could be worth a king's ransom! We wouldn't have to trade him, but we could still run Arcia and his bat out there but then flip Hicks for several high upside prospects or a MLB-ready SS. He is a CF that will be very sought after if he gets his bat going.

 

 

Since the emergence of Buxton last year, I have thought Hicks gets moved as well. If he figures it out he could be a top 10-15 CF in the league, but not in a corner. He would still have some value. But when a guy could provide more value to a team with a hole in CF a trade opportunity exists. With glaring needs at SP and SS, something could be worked out that could benefit both parties.

[LaBombo]

Good defense at the corner OF spots is a luxery, and not one that should come at the expense of offense. It's not a defensive priority position. Especially if we're talking about RF at Target Field. It's more important to find someone with a good arm and is smart about playing the wall. Not much range is needed for the postion as there's no foul territory and it's not very deep. It just plays deep because of the towering wall.

Yup, even Parmelee looked good in right. And there's also the fact that Buxton will probably be covering a whole lot of ground in center next year, making the lateral range of the corner outfielders even less important.

 

Hicks' future as a Twin depends mainly on how his bat plays in left or right. But it also depends on the development of other players and the lineup in general. If Buxton, Pinto and Arcia become everyday players who chip in above average offense, there's less pressure for Hicks to hit like a true corner outfielder. And if Sano is able to stick at third, it's much easier to visualize an above average lineup even without a a lot of offense from one corner OF spot.

 

But if Sano can't stick at third, then does he become a 22 year old DH so that Mauer can stay at first and Hicks plays left or right? One more reason they need to have a much better idea of what they have in Arcia, Pinto, and Hicks before the season is over.

[VandyTwinsFan]

Arcia - LF

Hicks - Center

Parmelee - RF

 

Why Parms? Because I feel like it. As I think the Twins rarely push people quickly unless out of need, Buxton will still be in AAA/AA. If not, then Hicks struggled to make contact and they brought up Buxton to help out. Swap Buxton for Hicks.

After Kubel fails to catch up to anything resembling a fastball and Willingham falls apart, Parms will play enough to not embarrass himself nightly this year. We still won't tell anyone that he plays for us though. He won't be THAT good. Thus, he will be in RF to start next year. If he hits with the power people thought he had...then he's the prototypical slow-footed RF that y'all have been talking about.

 

Just throwing out some hastily written thoughts. I'd much rather have Arcia, Hicks, and Buxton...but that means all 3 have to figure it out.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Honestly, I suspect this is going to play out based on how some other bats develop. If something clicks with Parm or Plouffe, I have to think that Hicks goes on the block if he's also successful. If Hicks can hit .270ish with 15-20 home runs though while playing GG defense in the corners, he's still going to be well above average for a corner OF. I do agree that his value is higher as a CF and if a taker was willing to give us that SS we've needed, or an ace pitcher, I'd flip Hicks in a heartbeat. If not though, he's still quite valuable in the corner.

 

Now if he cannot hit that well, then I'd flip him as a CF for whatever I could get and go sign someone in FA if Parm or Plouffe don't figure it out. I don't think it's a good philosophy to stick him in the corner and say that because we have Mauer, Buxton, Sano, etc. that Hicks doesn't need to hit. I cannot stand that philosophy.

[Craig Arko]

I suppose I'd wait to worry about it until the need arises. By the time it does, the answer may be a bit clearer.

[Thrylos]

Buxton will likely not be ready for the majors in the beginning of 2015. I think that he might be a September call up. Still has issues making contract with breaking balls. He needs to solve those to be MLB-ready.

[KirbyHawk75]

What would you say is Hicks ceiling? Could he be a 20/20 guy?

[Mike Sixel]

A bit premature to be betting on Hicks, imo. But I disagree with Nick. If he can hit like a good CF, and field like the best corner OF, I think that is valuable. Is that as valuable as trading him for a legit SS or C? Not sure.....but I think Nick and others are undervaluing defense some.

 

But, let's see if he can actually hit at all first.....I'd 100% rather he be in LF than CF, though. let's see what he can do at his eventual Twins' position, not his position for some other team.

[DAM DC Twins Fans]

I want to see Hicks in the OF this year to see how he will hit MLB pitching over a season. We know he can cover the ground. If he hits well and Buxton comes up, then move him to a corner OF, let Parmalee, Plouffe, and Rosario battle it out for the other OF spot (figuring Sano at 3B) and give Arcia the DH spot--WHEN Buxton is ready. Until Buxton is ready, keep Hicks in CF.

[tobi0040]

Arcia - LF

Hicks - Center

Parmelee - RF

 

Why Parms? Because I feel like it. As I think the Twins rarely push people quickly unless out of need, Buxton will still be in AAA/AA. If not, then Hicks struggled to make contact and they brought up Buxton to help out. Swap Buxton for Hicks.

After Kubel fails to catch up to anything resembling a fastball and Willingham falls apart, Parms will play enough to not embarrass himself nightly this year. We still won't tell anyone that he plays for us though. He won't be THAT good. Thus, he will be in RF to start next year. If he hits with the power people thought he had...then he's the prototypical slow-footed RF that y'all have been talking about.

 

Just throwing out some hastily written thoughts. I'd much rather have Arcia, Hicks, and Buxton...but that means all 3 have to figure it out.

 

I don't see a scenario where Parmelee is in the OF, or on this team beyond this year. The only options for him are RF, LF, DH, or 1B. The in-house options for LF/RF are Arcia, Hicks, Rosario, and probably Plouffe. Wild cards are Sano or Mauer. And this is a relatively easy place to find a bat in free agency.

 

I don't think he has the batting average or power to justify one of these positions. He is a career .246 hitter in 600+ at bats, with only 17 HR. 3 to 1 K/BB ratio. Compare him with what Rosario may be able to put up in a corner. The offense should be similar or even favor Rosario and defensively Rosario would be the equivalent of another CF out there, i.e. much better than Parmelee.

 

I think Arcia is a DH long term, but he will provide enough offense that the Twins will give him a shot to improve and stick in the OF

 

Hopefully we are in a place 12 months from now where the fringe AAA guys are off the team or relegated to the 4th OF/INF utility role.