Carlos Santana Is a Perfect Fit for the Twins

If the price is bearable

I LOVE IT

Quick question, I see Santana is a switch hitter but what side is his dominate side? If he's another guy whose better side is batting right we got that covered.

It would be nice if he brought a veteran presence to this team.

Besides the cash, no downside. With Grossman likely gone, the OBP has to be a HUGE concern for the Twins as Tom so adroitly pointed to in this piece.

Walks in key situations are very exasperating for the team in the field, while strikeouts are exasperating to the team at the plate. I'm 100% behind putting Santana in Twins pinstripes. (Besides, it just doesn't seem normal not to have a player named Santana on the roster.)

Yuk. I sense another Morrison season coming. I hope the Twins do better.

Like Goldschmidt (31 until September). Or Donaldson.

Oh wait, too late.

Still........ I for one, hope they do better than another overweight older vet. 32 years old (33 in April) and ready for decline. He may get on base with walks, but good luck scoring from first on a double, or getting to 3rd on a single. The Twins hardly need another .220ish hitter.

This seems to be out of step with the mindset of the front office.  Plugging the gap at first base should be a priority but trading talent for a $20M per year with a guy that is moving around like a hot potato and is diminishing in the field...?  Not with you.  

Santana is too good for the Twins to pursue. They prefer guys like Cron, who are cheap. The trade of Goldschmidt is a perfect example why the Twins will never win another Championship. Other teams get the best players as the Twins settle for the leftovers that no one else wants. Dream baby, Dream!

Interesting, Tom.  Twins best deal would include taking on ALL the salary.  Would also have to include either Cron or Austin for roster purposes.  What else would Seattle demand....who knows.  Would be fine if it were a prospect from the high single digits to mid teens...say #7 to #16.  Looking at the MLB prospect list, that would begin with Rooker and end with Diaz.  Of that group, I would not include Thorpe or Javier.  

Normally, I don't like to speculate.  But is taking on all the cash, Cron/or/Austin and Rooker too much for Santana?  Personally, I wouldn't do it, although Austin vs. Cron is easier to stomach.  But some of the others in that 7-16 group would be doable.    

The Twins really need a bat against right handed pitching. My preference would be to take the full contract and maybe even get prospect value back. They can also look elsewhere but they must fill this spot.

"You're making the big bucks and you're not hitting or driving in runs so why should I?"

Twins do not need another Mauer salary in their lineup in 2019. Way too many ifs, ands or buts to believe that a Santana WILL make a bit of difference. WOULD or COULD ain't worth the risk.

While I certainly see and agree with the negatives, adding Santana's veteran Hispanic leadership could be of significant benefit - depending on the deal (of course).

Let's not overthink or overanalyze this.  Yes, please!

  On 12/6/2018 at 2:18 PM, Number3 said:

Way too many ifs, ands or buts to believe that a Santana WILL make a bit of difference. WOULD or COULD ain't worth the risk.

This could be said about any MLB player the Twins sign. You have no idea how that player is going to perform in the future... At least Santana has been consistently good for the last 8 years.

  On 12/6/2018 at 2:38 PM, nicksaviking said:

I'll be happy to take Santana if the Mariners are sweetening the pot with other talent.

 

But as much as I have always liked Santana, Cron, who nearly everyone is dissatisfied with, was a better hitter last year and is younger. At 33 years-old, I wouldn't expect Santana to start trending towards increased productivity.

I don't think you can just look at last years numbers and say that Cron is going to be better moving forward. Cron also posted a OPS + of 98 the year before.

Does not do anything for me.  If we send Cron and Austin in exchange I am fine.  Of if we have excess players we are not going to use like Curtiss that is okay too.  But in an exchange like this how much does the team gain?

Cron 2 WAR, 253/30/74 traditional stats, 816 OPS, -12 Total Runs above average fielding.

Santana 1.7 WAR, 229/24/86, 766 OPS, +3 fielding.  

So based on last year, the only gain we would get in Santana would be in fielding and yet the discussions say his is only a DH now.

Put me down in the not excited column.

  On 12/6/2018 at 4:13 PM, Mike Sixel said:

I'd still rather have SP and RP and a SS or 2B, even a flex 3B/SS/1B (not sure there is one other than Machado)

Marwin Gonzales is the guy.

  On 12/6/2018 at 4:13 PM, Mike Sixel said:

I'd still rather have SP and RP and a SS or 2B, even a flex 3B/SS/1B (not sure there is one other than Machado)

They have the money to do all of those things and trade for Santana. Problem is will they?

They always say money isn't an issue but the only time the GM spent up to the limit he got fired and the next year payroll was cut.

My guess is the payroll will end up about $23MM lower than last year, around $100MM.