Can the Twins Win With Jose Iglesias?

Two things: he may be cheap, and he can play other positions, thus keeping Nick Gordon out of the infield as a utility guy, although that would totally change the pecking order of the oufield.

We don't know about how soon Lewis could hit the majors again. And the status of Martin a short is up-in-the-air. And Brooks Lee may screw ebverything up and push Lewis elsewhere, too. Suddenly we have too many outfielders!?!

It would also be ncie to have a veteran presence in the clubhouse, and he would be a decent guy to come off the bench if, and when, other decisions are made.

But, best of all, he could fit into the budget.

Now, need a catcher!

He's a decent option especially since that gives you serious money to pursue other players as well. There are others (like IKF who may be non-tendered or available from the Yankees cheap because they are about to non-tender him, and we already know the Twins like him).

The key is to not blow $35 million at shortstop, but get a solid MLB-player there, and spend most of the (fairly unprecedented) FA budget on Rodón, a starting catcher (like Vasquez or Contreras), and a starting OF (like Hanigar or Benintendi). That should make us far better than this year. Spending big on SS means we'll be pretty much like we were in 2022.

If a stop gap, bring Simmons back, we NEED defense.

There are a lot of ways to build a lineup. And while it would be great to have an All Star type candidate at every position, it's just about impossible to have that. If Correa is not a re-sign, then a new reality applies to the 2023 Twins; "how best to spend $50M to make this the best team possible, and who plays SS next year?"

If the Twins truly believe in Lewis....to a lesser degree probably both Martin and Lee...then a stop-gap of some quality makes sense. And there are a few to choose from, with Iglesias being amongst them. Andrus would also apply as a solid option. The aforementioned IKF would also be a quality candidate, if made available cheaply or simply released.

For the short term, the offense would be obviously lacking much punch from the SS position. But the Twins offense would not be decimated in any way with a 100-120 game Buxton and a healthy Miranda, Arraez, Polanco, Larnach, Kepler with a RH OF option, Jeffers and a good partner, Kirilloff, Wallner, etc, etc. Plenty of potential for a non difference making SS in the batter's box for a half year or so with the lineup a healthy clubhouse should provide.

Just no butcher with the glove or sub .200 hitter please!

2 hours ago, RpR said:

If a stop gap, bring Simmons back, we NEED defense.

I can't tell if you are kidding.  I was a big fan but his offense has become so bad I just don't want to watch that all year.  His wRC+ was 27 and his WAR was negative.  How would this be a good idea?

30 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Settling for this type of player is exactly what also-rans do.

 

 

Then raise the payroll to 170 million, and we can get everything we want.

I am fine with a stop gap option at SS and see what happens with Lewis, Martin, and/or Lee can provide beyond 2023.  If they can get someone who isn't a complete liability for $5-7M, why not?  This also frees up a ton of money to pursue and catcher, another OF (someone who can play RF for sure), and a top end SP.

All I can say to your question is - we could not win with a Superstar.  It is about the team, not one individual.

4 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

I can't tell if you are kidding.  I was a big fan but his offense has become so bad I just don't want to watch that all year.  His wRC+ was 27 and his WAR was negative.  How would this be a good idea?

A team that may have the lousy defense of Jeffers, Miranda and God only knows what in Left Field, need an absolute top rank fielding Short Stop or they could put another rookie there who shows he is as good there as Palacios.

Then they become the team with a , run at will catcher and a big hole between 2nd and 3rd.

I would prefer IKF if not tendered, which seems likely.   Stop gap and spend money elsewhere. 

I've stumped for Iglesias for a few years.  Solid (not great) both offensively and defensively.  You know exactly what you're getting   For me...it's

1. Correa

2. Bogaerts

3. A stopgap like Iglesias and get ready for the Royce Lewis era...and spend the money on a catcher and pitching (any pitching...SP or RP)

Looking at Royce Lewis' error rate in the Minors, I do not think he will be the future Short Stop.

15 minutes ago, ashbury said:

He'll be fine.  He's made only 6 total errors in the last three years.

 

/ 0 games 2020-21.  Picky picky picky.

He had 20 in 2019 at SS in the minors and 52 in 4 seasons in the minors.

Saying Iglesias has offensive ability and Simmons has none is patently wrong.  Iglesias' solid (quarter of a real season) 2020 notwithstanding, NEITHER has done much of anything since 2018.  The only difference is that Simmons was MUCH better prior to 2018.  No reason to believe that Iglesias would perform any better here in 2023 than Simmons did in 2021 other than wanting it to be true or possible.

2 hours ago, ashbury said:

He'll be fine.  He's made only 6 total errors in the last three years.

 

/ 0 games 2020-21.  Picky picky picky.

Now look at the number of games he's played over that time

10 hours ago, RpR said:

A team that may have the lousy defense of Jeffers, Miranda and God only knows what in Left Field, need an absolute top rank fielding Short Stop or they could put another rookie there who shows he is as good there as Palacios.

Then they become the team with a , run at will catcher and a big hole between 2nd and 3rd.

The answer is not a SS that is so horrible at the plate that he is below replacement value when both offense and defense are combined.  The answer is the best player in aggregate. 

Didn't you complain Larnach was going to be horrible too?  He was just fine.  Miranda had a small sample size at 3rd but I honestly don't recall him costing any runs at all in the time he played 3B.  I do recall him driving in the most runs on the team. 

Iglesias would be a decent move to bridge the gap to Lewis.  His net production would be better than Simmons and he could fill a utility role thereafter.

If payroll is $130-$150 mil and he's our starting SS opening day. Sign me up. We can win with him if we're filling out the roster with other quality free agents. If he's one of our main free agent signings and they run back the rest of this year's team minus Correa...I won't need to purchase any game tickets in 2023.. 

If we fail getting Correa back, my #1 priority would be to replace him with Bogaerts at a lot lower price tag.  X-Bog can flat out HIT and he's got a couple years at SS left in him.  That would fit well with the Lewis, Brooks Lee, Miller timeline. If Boston wakes up and resigns X-Bog then I'm focused on Kiner-Falefa who is a superior glove and who has positional flexibility.  I also would look to talk with the Royals about Mondesi and Lopez.  I just don't want to chase old guys like Iglesias or Andrus.  

6 hours ago, Karbo said:

From what I've read and heard, the Twins have about $60 mil to spend just to get up to league ang. 140 mil. That should leave enough $ to get a very good catcher and a good ss. IMHO they should resign Correa for 33-35 mil for 7 years. That still leaves enough $ to get a catcher and a RH outfielder and some pen help. Before this year I would have bet the house against that happening, but now I doubt it will, but you never know.

Wouldn't that basically be the same team we have this year plus a RH outfielder?  Would Mitch Hannigar makes this team anything close to a contender?  I am hoping for a more significant change.

When all else fails, lower your standards. 

23 hours ago, RpR said:

If a stop gap, bring Simmons back, we NEED defense.

no thanks

23 hours ago, RpR said:

If a stop gap, bring Simmons back, we NEED defense.

Simmons is no longer available. He signed a five year contract to play with a senior team in Curacao.

37 minutes ago, ashbury said:

I missed this tidbit, and can't find a confirmation online.  Where did you run across it?

I checked Google and MSN no such news but I did find this:

With the game already out of hand in the eighth inning, the Cubs put in shortstop Andrelton Simmons to pitch that final half inning. Now, Simmons is one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball history with a cannon for an arm. He’s been clocked throwing 94 mph from shortstop, which could have translated to some serious heat on the mound.

Simmons, though, went with a different approach.

Instead of showing off the arm, Simmons decided to throw exclusively looping breaking balls to the Reds hitters. He threw as slowly as 39 mph and topped out at 79 mph (once). He made history with this pitch to Kyle Farmer.

According to Codify Baseball, the 44.9 mph “slider” was the slowest pitch to draw a swinging strike in baseball history (or at least since these types of things were tracked). Farmer could only smile about missing that meatball of a pitch. He did eventually single on the at-bat, and the Reds went on to score five runs off Simmons who really should have showed off this arm

https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/cubs-andrelton-simmons-pitch-45-mph-reds-swinging-strike-video-reaction-mlb

They could get him for his defense, and pitching ability, much better than Gordon.?