3 Bench Players Demonstrate Minnesota’s Depth

#1] Cave produced his first go round. For whatever reason...pressing perhaps...he really struggled the first part of 2019 before getting his legs under him. While I doubt he is any late start STAR in the making, his strong start shouldn't surprise. My #1 problem with Cave has been he absolutely has the tools to be a decent CF, allowing him to fill in there, and allowing Kepler to stick in RF most of the time. And he's made some nice plays there. He's also made some terrible plays there and either not tracked the ball well or tried to make a tremendous play vs a safe play. If experience and/or work can allow him to play a solid CF defensively, he just raised his value to another level. I know it's only a couple of games, but he just looks more comfortable there to me. More importantly, Rocco seems to think so.

#2] Adrianza has done nothing since the Twins signed him but come off the bench and contribute. He is, absolutely, a utility player. And he is no member of the Bomba squad. But he has done nothing but hit decently, maintain a decent contact rate and OB, pop some XBH here and there, and play quality defense. What more could ever be asked? As much as I love former contributors such as Newman, Reboutlet, Hocking and Pinto over the years, I think I'd take Adrianza over all of them.

3] Gonzalez did last season pretty much what he has done his entire career: produce and play well. His OPS in 2019 basically matched his career line. No matter how much we can debate about roster construction, depth and versatility, as well as flexibility, some guys are just everyday starters and some guys are role players. All he does is come off the bench a few days a week and play solid to good defense at a number of spots, hit, take professional AB, club double digit 2B and HR and make a real contribution to the lineup/team.

IMO, there are very few teams in MLB that have a 3sum off their bench like the Twins have. Now, there is hope that soon we could have guys like Gordon, Blankenhorn and others...maybe even Lewis as he breaks in...who could be as good or better but this is a really, really good bench to work with right now. And I'm not sure that all 3 won't be back in 2021.

I kind of wish, Cody, that "bench depth" might have included pitching. Or is that a 2nd article you have planned?

that is a tough question because all of them are so good. since i cant say 1a, 1b, and 1c, i have to say Marwin, Ehire, then Jake. Key points, Marwin is a better hitter than Adrianza. Marwin and Adrianza are switch hitters, Cave is not. Cave may have the best power but in a playoff game without Buxton the lineup will have Gonzalez in left, Kepler in center, and Rosario in right. In reference to a previous comment about pitchers being included in this article, i am sure there will be an article about bullpen depth and rotation depth. Never have i heard of pitchers being part of bench depth.(unless you are Lorentzen, Ohtani, or Mckay-Rays).

Woah woah woah: Justin Morneau has a bunny rabbit?

Depth is crucial to winning in both the regular and post-season. All three of these players are important. IMO, Adrianza is the key reserve. He is the only capable backup SS on the team.

Let's not forget Avila either. He's a solid backup catcher.

I look at Cleveland's outfield, and I believe Cave is far better than any of them.

All three will be key contributors to whatever success the Twins have in 2020.

What I am interested in is whether any or all will return in 2021 when we hopefully have a regular baseball season. With the talent coming up from the minors, which may be delayed due to inactivity this year, I see Gonzalez as the least likely to return in part due to his higher cost. I see and hope the Twins resign Adrianza to a reasonable one or two year contract to return as their main infield utility man.

Not certain what the future holds for Cave. His biggest value to the team may be the return he would bring in a trade. As stated above, yes, he is better than many current starters on other teams including some who consider themselves contenders. Will Cave continue to play like he started this year and continue to get opportunities? If so, the return could be very high. But the Twins may also see his value to them for this short season and wait to pull the string on a trade until the off season.

 But the Twins may also see his value to them for this short season and wait to pull the string on a trade until the off season.

I feel as if his value would be highest during the season. During the offseason, teams can sign free agents, so there'd be a bigger pool of talent to choose from without necessarily having to give up MLB talent or prospects.

Cave is probably not the headliner of a deal, but may be a piece added to not have to give up both Lewis and Kirilloff to get a top notch starter.

Avila will prove to be a solid bench asset too.

I feel as if his value would be highest during the season. During the offseason, teams can sign free agents, so there'd be a bigger pool of talent to choose from without necessarily having to give up MLB talent or prospects.

 

Cave is probably not the headliner of a deal, but may be a piece added to not have to give up both Lewis and Kirilloff to get a top notch starter.

Just as the Twins haven't gone all in to sign a top notch free agent starter, I am not certain they are going to try to get one in a trade. Whether its dollars or assets, the Twins may be adverse to putting too much into one top line pitcher. The reason I think this could be true is the risk associated with all those top arms. 

Rather see them building a pitching staff like last winter, assemble a group of good starters so they have depth to overcome injuries to any one or two starters. Then work the system to develop several starters who have the potential to be above average. 

Or keep Cave, Kiriloff, and Larnach and trade Buxton for an ace pitcher, someone at the level of Syndergaard. Buxton is who the Mets asked for.

An ace with a big contract is a risk, but Buxton won't be cheap much longer himself. Add a front line pitcher and this would be the team to beat and a popular world series pick.

Of course Buxton can make a lot of pitchers look like an ace with his defense. I'm not trying to run him out of town. I love seeing him in center field. I'd rather get an ace by seeing Balazavic or Duran break out. I'm just saying, in keeping with the topic of this post, our outfield depth is such that we could afford to trade Buxton for a star pitcher of that's what it took. And that is a good option to have.