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  • Painted Into A Corner (Infield Crunch)

    Cody Christie

    By Cody Christie

    Something had to change. MLB rosters are limited to 25 active players each day and someone wasn't going to be around when Trevor Plouffe returned from injury. Paul Molitor discussed the possibility of demoting Miguel Sano before his big weekend in Tampa Bay. Sano stayed and Byron Buxton was expendable as he continues to struggle at baseball's highest level.

    This recent roster shake-up brought to the forefront a glaring roster issue. Minnesota currently has a plethora of options when it comes to corner infielders and designated hitters. There are also more alternatives playing well in the minor leagues. It's important to have plenty of hitting options but the Twins 40-man roster is overloaded and something is going to have to change moving in 2017.

    Image courtesy of Richard Mackson, USA Today Sports

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    Each player offers a different skill set so the new general manager will likely have some tough decisions to make in regard to each of these players.

    Joe Mauer, 1B

    Contract Status: Signed thru 2018

    Mauer is in year six of his eight-year deal and this season is his third since being forced to move out from behind the plate. He has been one of the best defensive first baseman in the American League. His offensive numbers have lagged as he transitioned to first base but there have been flashes of the old Mauer this season as he has posted a .382 OBP and a .795 OPS. Mauer isn't going anywhere so he will be part of the big picture next season.

    Trevor Plouffe, 3B

    Contract Status: Arbitration Eligible 2017, Free Agent 2018

    Plouffe's days in Minnesota seemed to be numbered and he might have already been traded if he were healthy leading into this year's trade deadline. Plouffe became serviceable at third base after working hard on his defense but those skills seem to be declining now that he is in his 30s. He's hit 14 or more home runs in each of the last four seasons and has a career OPS over .720. With younger and cheaper options already on the roster, this might be Plouffe's last season in Minnesota.

    Miguel Sano, 3B/DH

    Contract Status: Arbitration Eligible 2019, Free Agent 2022

    There was probably little chance of Sano putting up the number he did during his 80 game rookie campaign. Things were going to come back down to earth. Minnesota's attempt to turn him into an outfielder was a massive failure and now he has struggled as he transitions back to third base. He currently ranks fifth on the team in fWAR and his 18 home runs are four behind Brian Dozier for the team lead. Even with the rumblings out the Twin Cities that Sano might not be working hard enough, he's still on track to be one of baseball's best power hitters.

    Kennys Vargas, 1B/DH

    Contract Status: Arbitration Eligible 2018, Free Agent 2022

    Vargas has been up and down during his big league tenure. He showed some promising signs as a rookie back in 2014 with nine home runs and a .772 OPS across 53 games. Last year wasn't nearly as good as he struggled to hit over .240 and his slugging percentage dipped to .349. Since being recalled this season, Vargas has been one of the team's best hitters. Vargas is hitting .278/.404/.569 with 13 extra-base hits in 21 games. If he continues on this pace, Minnesota might have to consider him for the full-time DH role in 2017.

    Byung-Ho Park, 1B/DH

    Contract Status: Signed thru 2019, Team Option for 2020

    Park held his own during the first month of the season with a .848 OPS and six home runs. Things took a nosedive from there as he hit .136/.224/.303 for the month of June. In 26 games since being demoted to Triple-A, he has hit nine home runs and compiled a .862 OPS. However, his batting average is .234 and he's only getting on base 31% of the time. With other players doing well in front of him, there doesn't look to be a spot for Mr. Park. His story line will be an interesting one to follow in the coming months.

    Even with this list of players, there are others making their way to Target Field that could be better suited for a designated hitter role. Adam Brett Walker continues to mash home runs at every level. Daniel Palka has been powerful during his first season in the organization and could be added to the 40-man roster in the off-season. Where do both of these players fit into the team's long-term plans?

    Minnesota's offense seems to be clicking so maybe having lots of power hitting options is a positive. This still leaves the new general manager with an interesting corner to paint himself out of during the offseason. Time will tell which players will make their marks for 2017 and beyond.

    If you are the GM, what corner infield options will be on your roster? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

    Cody Christie is a Twins writer and content contributor. His writing can be found exclusively at Twins Daily and his voice can be heard on radio stations throughout the Upper Midwest. Outside of the Twins, he is a father, high school teacher, and avid runner.
    Follow Cody Christie on Twitter: nodaktwinsfan

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    Brock Beauchamp

    Brock Beauchamp 39,328

  • Administrator

    • Posted

     

    I was fine with the Park signing, but like everyone else (including Terry Ryan likely), I thought that mean Plouffe was going to be traded.

     

    When Ryan saw the market for Plouffe wasn't what he expected, he really had three realistic options at that point. 1) Trade Plouffe for peanuts and possibly eat some salary. 2) Non-tender Plouffe. 3) Tell Paul Molitor in no uncertain terms that barring injury Plouffe would be a bench bat and a utility player until further notice.

     

    Bottom line, I think other organizations could have signed Park under the same circumstances but would have been able to deal with this situation in a way that would not have left us still talking about it in August. Option 4) was just ridiculous, though I guess there should be a modicum of credit for really, really thinking outside the box.

    Sure. My point is there were multiple options available to avoid Sano playing games in right field. Obviously, none of them were explored.

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    jorgenswest

    jorgenswest 5,941

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    Predictions made, which is ridiculous since we don't even know who the GM is:

     

    Park is in the minors or on another team next year.

    Dozier is here, and the 2B next year

    Plouffe is traded or non-tendered this off season.

    Sano is the 3B next spring and also plays DH (no OF, w/o an in game emergency)

    Mauer is the 1B next year.

    Vargas is the regular DH.

    Polanco plays SS, 3B, DH, 2B (from most games to least)

    Escobar is the bench guy, and plays SS when Polanco does not

    Like this.

     

    Polanco in LF seems more plausible than Sano in RF. I would think he can at least get close to the Robbie Grossman level of defense. He helps because Rosario, Kepler, Buxton and Santana all hit better against right handed pitching over their major league at bats. It doesn't need to be a strict platoon but it would help if Polanco took LF against a left handed pitcher for one of the starters and sitting or shifting Rosario to one of the two other spots.

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    Mike Sixel

    Mike Sixel 41,021

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

     

    Let's look forward.

    Tendering Plouffe will give him a contract that is not tradeable. Do they tender him? If not, do they let him go without compensation if claimed this August?

     

    I would, but I'm not the GM (and everyone should be happy about that).

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    kab21

    kab21 2,459

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    Predictions made, which is ridiculous since we don't even know who the GM is:

     

    Park is in the minors or on another team next year.

    Dozier is here, and the 2B next year

    Plouffe is traded or non-tendered this off season.

    Sano is the 3B next spring and also plays DH (no OF, w/o an in game emergency)

    Mauer is the 1B next year.

    Vargas is the regular DH.

    Polanco plays SS, 3B, DH, 2B (from most games to least)

    Escobar is the bench guy, and plays SS when Polanco does not

    This is what I prefer although I would probably start Escobar and let Polanco get 2 starts at SS (Escobar sit) and 2 starts at 3B (Vargas and Mauer sit one) each week.

     

    I also see everyone's favorite Danny Santana returning. I would actually like this if they would play him like a 25th player on the roster instead of starting him 3-4 times/wk.

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    Vanimal46

    Vanimal46 28,724

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

     

    Let's look forward.

    Tendering Plouffe will give him a contract that is not tradeable. Do they tender him? If not, do they let him go without compensation if claimed this August?

    Absolutely not on tendering Plouffe. I'd be perfectly fine letting him go for nothing this off-season. 

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    Willihammer

    Willihammer 4,021

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted

    Molitor absolutely must devote 100% of the rest of 2016 to figuring out if he can deal with Sano's glove over the entire 2017 season. The Twins can tender / non-tender Plouffe with confidence that way, and figure out a plan to deal with the surplus 1B/DH players if necessary. But the worst thing Molitor could do is split up 3B PT the rest of the way and go into 2017 still uncertain about Sano's glove. Non-tendering Plouffe only to find out midway through 2017 that Sano's glove won't cut it, opens up a bunch of PT to Escobar or another futility player.

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    Squirrel

    Squirrel 37,605

  • Community Leader

    • Posted

     

    Predictions made, which is ridiculous since we don't even know who the GM is:

     

    Park is in the minors or on another team next year.

    Dozier is here, and the 2B next year

    Plouffe is traded or non-tendered this off season.

    Sano is the 3B next spring and also plays DH (no OF, w/o an in game emergency)

    Mauer is the 1B next year.

    Vargas is the regular DH.

    Polanco plays SS, 3B, DH, 2B (from most games to least)

    Escobar is the bench guy, and plays SS when Polanco does not

     

    but I'm not the GM (and everyone should be happy about that).

    I think you did okay as GM. That was the purpose of the article, what would you do if ... and I think you laid it all out pretty well. You're hired!

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    sthpstm

    sthpstm 220

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    Deal from strength to improve a weakness. The issue is that trading Plouffe, Vargas, and/or Park will not bring much back right now.

    If you want an ace you have to deal high value back. I would trade Sano, as difficult as it is. My target would be a controllable pitcher such as Steven Matz, Lucas Giolito, Julio Urias, or someone similar. With Matz, I would consider including Kyle Gibson but would need something additional (Rosario is the dream or Cecchini the fall back). 

    You still may need to trade one of Vargas or Park.

    Next years infield is Mauer/Dozier/Plouffe/Escobar/Polanco/Vargas or Park with Cecchini and Vielma ready in AAA. Your rotation is now Matz/Santana/Berrios/Santiago/Duffy/Meija/May/Wheeler, and the current AA pitchers (Gonsalves) in waiting.

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    Brock Beauchamp

    Brock Beauchamp 39,328

  • Administrator

    • Posted

     

    If you want an ace you have to deal high value back. I would trade Sano, as difficult as it is. My target would be a controllable pitcher such as Steven Matz, Lucas Giolito, Julio Urias, or someone similar. With Matz, I would consider including Kyle Gibson but would need something additional (Rosario is the dream or Cecchini the fall back). 

    Whooaaaaaaa.

     

    1. Trading a position player for a pitcher is a risky game, as pitchers collapse into oblivion much more regularly. Plus, they only play every fifth day.

     

    2. Sano and Gibson for Matz? No. NONONONONONO.

     

    On his own, Sano is a more valuable player than Matz. I wouldn't even do that trade straight-up, much less throw in another player. The Mets would be certifiably insane not to jump on that trade before you even finished the sentence, which means your offer is askew.

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    Brock Beauchamp

    Brock Beauchamp 39,328

  • Administrator

    • Posted

     

    Pitching and defense, and more pitching. There would need to be other pieces, but yes, I think the Twins should consider a Sano trade if it brings back a top SP.

    I just don't see it. Sano is a cornerstone piece. You're swapping cornerstone pieces at that point.

     

    If you can pull from the minors and deal a combination of Jay, Polanco, Gordon, etc. to get a pitcher, maybe... But not Sano. Never Sano.

     

    And I still don't get why people are so hung up on "ace=success". There are plenty of teams that get by without Clayton Kershaw, who has zero World Series rings himself.

     

    Yeah, any time you improve at a position, your team gets better. That's great. But with Berrios already on the roster, the Twins *may* not need an "ace". If Berrios turns into a #2, pick up another #2 and then your pitching staff is suddenly pretty good. If your offense is bonkers (which the Twins might have next year), that's a very good team.

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    Mike Sixel

    Mike Sixel 41,021

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

     

    Pitching and defense, and more pitching. There would need to be other pieces, but yes, I think the Twins should consider a Sano trade if it brings back a top SP.

     

    While I would love to get an "ace".....It is super risky to trade a star hitter for a star pitcher. Pitchers get hurt. A Lot. If you knew Sale would be healthy, or whomever, sure, teams would do that.....but imagine how expensive pitchers would be if we could keep them healthy...

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    Brock Beauchamp

    Brock Beauchamp 39,328

  • Administrator

    • Posted

     

    While I would love to get an "ace".....It is super risky to trade a star hitter for a star pitcher. Pitchers get hurt. A Lot. If you knew Sale would be healthy, or whomever, sure, teams would do that.....but imagine how expensive pitchers would be if we could keep them healthy...

    Yeah, ask the A's how they feel about Sonny Gray or the Diamondbacks how they feel about Shelby Miller.

     

    And those guys are "healthy".

     

    Pitching is too fickle compared to positional players. Never mind the risk of injury or Tommy John surgery but how common is it to see a pitcher lose just that "little something" and turn a great pitcher into a mediocre pitcher or a good pitcher into a bad pitcher? We see it throughout baseball every year.

     

    I'm all on board with the Twins pursuing a good starter. I'm probably not on board with them auctioning the farm for an "ace". Too much can go wrong there.

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    Brock Beauchamp

    Brock Beauchamp 39,328

  • Administrator

    • Posted

     

    Never trade Polanco.  Ever.

    It would take quite a bit to pry Polanco away from me but if he's part of a package to return a good #2 pitcher, that's a move you have to consider.

     

    The Twins have Dozier and Escobar on the team. They have Gordon in the upper minors next season. I don't *want* to trade Polanco but if it improves the team, I give it a lot of thought.

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    South Dakota Tom

    South Dakota Tom 291

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    Of all the options, I like the 26-man roster the best!    I can see that being a part of the next cba, given the super-specialization and the union wanting that many more players with big league deals.

     

    Mauer, Dozier, Polanco/Escobar, Sano; Rosario, Buxton, Kepler; Centeno/Murphy, plus Vargas, DanSan and Grossman.     Means dropping Suzuki (no multi-year deal, please) and Plouffe (August or non-tender).

     

    Gives us a bench of a back-up catcher (possibly Garver instead of one of the above), Escobar, DanSan, Grossman.    IF (big if) we can go down to 12 pitchers at any point, there is a spot created for Park or ABW or Palka.

     

    In my mind this creates positional flexibility at 1b (Mauer, Park, Vargas, Kepler, Palka), 2b (Dozier, Polanco, Santana, Escobar), SS (Escobar, Polanco, Santana), 3b (Sano, Polanco, Escobar), and a primary three outfielders with Santana, Walker, Palka, Grossman also available.   I'd like to see Vargas get lots of at-bats at DH, but also find a way to get Park/ABW/Palka into the lineup at DH occasionally.    That is a young, fast, powerful team.

     

    Then we buy (or trade milb talent for) the best starter we can find.  Gibson, Santana, Berrios, new starter and competition between May, Duffy, Santiago, Mejia for 5th starter spot, plus necessary placeholders when starters go down.    You add one fine name to that list (help me here, please?) and you have a serviceable rotation.

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    jimmer

    jimmer 9,961

  • Verified Member

    • Posted (edited)

     

    It would take quite a bit to pry Polanco away from me but if he's part of a package to return a good #2 pitcher, that's a move you have to consider.

     

    The Twins have Dozier and Escobar on the team. They have Gordon in the upper minors next season. I don't *want* to trade Polanco but if it improves the team, I give it a lot of thought.

    For me, Escobar is a non-factor and we have no idea how Gordon will be in a few years.  I wouldn't take either of them into consideration. 

     

     

    Dozier, he should be putout there for trade bait as an established 2Ber so we can have the younger on base machine (Polanco) play 2B.  He won't be, but should be. 

     

    Polanco should be the everyday shortstop right now until Gordon forces him out (if Gordon is ever good enough for that to happen). Then he needs to be moved to 2B to replace Dozier.

    Edited by jimmer
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    Brock Beauchamp

    Brock Beauchamp 39,328

  • Administrator

    • Posted

     

    For me, Escobar is a non-factor and we have no idea how Gordon will be in a few years.  I wouldn't take either of them into consideration.  Dozier, he should be putout there for trade bait as an established 2Ber so we can have the younger on base machine (Polanco) play 2B.

    Sure, I'd rather trade Dozier but if a team is looking to deal a cost-controlled pitcher, it's possibly (probably likely) they will only consider Polanco.

     

    But there are other players (mainly MiLB) I'd try to push out the door before Polanco. I think he can be part of the core of the team for a while.

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    alarp33

    alarp33 2,765

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted

     

    Polanco and your 2nd or 3rd favorite AA pitcher for Archer? He hasn't been great this year.......

     

    Check out Archer's contract.  Going to take WAYYY more than that.  Wouldn't surprise me if it took more to get Archer than it will to get Sale

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    nicksaviking

    nicksaviking 26,755

  • Community Moderator

    • Posted

     

    For me, Escobar is a non-factor and we have no idea how Gordon will be in a few years.  I wouldn't take either of them into consideration. 

     

    I'm hopeful on Gordon, but there's no way I'm presuming he's going to be good enough to make Escobar a non-factor.

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    Mike Sixel

    Mike Sixel 41,021

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

     

    Check out Archer's contract.  Going to take WAYYY more than that.  Wouldn't surprise me if it took more to get Archer than it will to get Sale

     

    Ya, my only hope was his "bad" year.......and this is a Polanco thread.....but ya. And no, Sale is more expensive, imo, as he's just better.

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