Twins Free Agent Targets: Catcher and Infield

In the market for a catcher?

Dollars are going to be at a premium in 2021 with their budget going down.  So I bring back Adrianza for a salary similar to last year. It was $1,500,000, wasn't it?

The second option for infield backup will be from the minors and signing some AAAA vet with some major league experience. Also shouldn't be a need for the utility guy to play any first base as that will be taken by either Rooker or Kirilloff.

I would prefer to go with what we have (Blankehorn, Gordon) and sign some minor league free agent deals with a couple veteran C's and MI's.  Put our money towards pitching, bringing back Nelson Cruz, and getting a backup CF who bats RH.

I wouldn't make a move for a catcher. With Garver, Jeffers and Astudillo(emergency use only), there are other positions of greater concern. As far as utility guy, if money is an issue then you have to go with the youth movement now. I know everyone says Lewis needs another year in the minors but he can play multiple positions and will be the cheapest option. Maybe the Twins should quit babying their prospects and let them learn at the major league level. Other teams do it.

My bench would include him with Blankenhorn, Gordon and Wade Jr.

Larnach, Buxton, Kirilloff/Rooker in the outfield.

New 1st baseman or Rooker/Kirilloff, Arraez, Polonco. Donaldson in the Infield.

Resign Cruz for DH.

Trade Sano, Kepler, Cave, Let Rosario, Marwin, Adrianza walk.

Garver/Jeffers at catcher maybe sign vet to minor league deal for insurance. Like Adrianza as 2nd utlility infielder, he was best defensive infielder for Twins last year and can play all 4 positions. Then sign Hernandez type as primary utility infielder. Twins FO like to have multiple options, can see Gordon/Blankenhorn/Lewis for callups incase of injury.

First, another great podcast! Sorry I wasn't able to join in for this one.

There are a couple key points that just make this exercise maddening! 1} of course is final payroll number. 2} what affect will 2020 and financial losses for the season combined with the unknown for 2021 mean to the FA market? And, obviously and of course, all of this is connected.

It wasn't stated in the podcast, but I HAVE to believe the numbers discussed and posted here are based on normal parameters and a normal season. If not, then I have real questions about some of the salary numbers listed here.

Has anyone tried to build a lineup without BOTH Cruz and Rosario and not felt their knees get weak? I understand we haven't had a podcast concerning OF/DH yet, but it's not hard to project. Sorry, but unless there is a really nice bat to be brought in cheaper than Cruz, how does the lineup possibly compensate for both?  And again sorry, but with the NL now not having the DH for 2021, plus a depressed market, I don't see Cruz getting $14M. I just don't unless the Twins scoff at a payroll reduction and just keep status quo. (understanding possible pro-ration). 

Catcher: Avilla is probably a milb invite with a split contract. He might make the most sense. Vogt was the guy I wanted last offseason. $2M sounds right, OK and affordable to me. I'm OK with Castro as a second option for the same $2M.  Otherwise, Avila with a split deal, coffee invite, and maybe an opt out clause. i DO very much like a veteran 3rd option for depth and experience. Makes so much sense we shouldn't even have to debate it/

Infield: Easy part is bringing back Adrianza as the #2 guy. We need someone who can bring a good glove anywhere he plays, especially SS. I see no better option than bringing him back at $1M+. How is he suddenly old at 31 when his glove was just as good last year as ever? Offensively, 2 decent, solid years followed by an awful year. 2020 is a curse. I'm betting a return offensively to something a little more decent in 2021. And he provides a fill-in for Gordon and maybe Lewis.

The BIG discussion here is the PRIMARY utility guy. You know, the Marwin replacement who plays multiple positions and brings a solid bat as a 10th starter type. All the options presented make sense for different reasons. But I still question the $ values assigned. There is NO WAY I'm paying any of the guys listed $7+M per! Marwin was signed for better yearly average before the world went nuts. So again, can we assume the numbers being proposed are based on "normality"? 

If so, hell yeah! Sign the best option you like for $7-8M per! If the Twins bite their thumb at reductions and decide to stay status quo, PLEASE offer Hernandez or Profar or La Stella the kind of $ presented because they offer offense and versatility. But if we are talking reduction and payroll crunching, and despite an expected FA crunch we still can't afford those guys, I'm kind of excited about Cabrera as a veteran bat/player who can fill that 10th man roll on a 1yr deal for $2.5-3M. Like Adrianza, we are buying veteran experience and decent production on the cheap while allowing guys like Gordon, Blankenhorn and Lewis to get  little more time

Is Drew Butera available?

I want a ss who can throw from deep in the hole. Range. And a bat to go with him.

I actually LIKE a Twins lineup WITH Cruz but WITHOUT Rosario.  Give me a Kiriloff or Rooker in Eddie place and I'm fine with that.  Simmons intrigues me because he's such a great fielding SS.  What would it take?  That would make Polanco our super-utility guy in the infield.  If our OF'ers are Buxton, Kepler, Rooker, Kiriloff and Cave/Wade we're O.K.  Larnach could be part of the mix if Sano is traded (I hope so) and Kiriloff becomes our 1B-man.  With his injury history, what would Simmons cost?  What about Jose Iglesias ?  I think we're fine with Garver, Jeffers and the Turtle.

I wouldn't make a move for a catcher. With Garver, Jeffers and Astudillo(emergency use only), there are other positions of greater concern. As far as utility guy, if money is an issue then you have to go with the youth movement now. I know everyone says Lewis needs another year in the minors but he can play multiple positions and will be the cheapest option. Maybe the Twins should quit babying their prospects and let them learn at the major league level. Other teams do it.

My bench would include him with Blankenhorn, Gordon and Wade Jr.

Larnach, Buxton, Kirilloff/Rooker in the outfield.

New 1st baseman or Rooker/Kirilloff, Arraez, Polonco. Donaldson in the Infield.

Resign Cruz for DH.

Trade Sano, Kepler, Cave, Let Rosario, Marwin, Adrianza walk.

I agree with you that there are other better areas to invest given we have Jeffers and Garver. I do not agree other teams have promoted players with MiLB performance similar to Lewis. He has 33 games at AA with a wRC+ of 88. I have a very hard time believing their are examples of other teams promoting a player with a similar MiLB history but I would be happy to eat crow if you can provide examples.