Article: Twins Acquire Infielder Eduardo Nunez From Yankees

[tobi0040]

It sure seems like I'm in the minority here, but I really like this move. All this talk about how great Pedro Florimon is defensively, but the truth is he struggles to make the routine plays as well. Eduardo Nunez can at least hit and working daily will Paul Molitor should help his game defensively. He will be brought to MN to play on a regular basis. He will eventually become the everyday starting SS. The only issue I have with this move is WHY the team refuses to give Escobar a chance to play on a regular basis. Escobar is a much better all around player than Florimon. Bartlett is most likely gone. However, I would DFA Florimon before Escobar and it's not even close.

 

Nunez had a defensive WAR of -2.1 in just 90 games last year and he will be 27 in two months. I don't think Molitor is going to be able to even put lipstick on this one.

 

Given what we have, I do agree Escobar should be given a shot at SS. It is still a joke that these are the options.

[jokin]

It will take something better than that. They have Archie Bradley who will be up shortly. He is a complete stud and will fill someone's shoes. The only position prospect in MLB's 100 is Owings, who is already there. So a guy like Harrison, or Walker, or something like that could be the basis for a nice package.

 

I should have closed my comment with a smiley, but I'm sure you know I was being facetious, but some take lighthearted things too literally. I looked up the D-Backs prospect list, besides Owings, who we know is an early ROY candidate, they also have 3 other SS in their top 20, including one from the Upton trade who is also ready for promotion this year. Wow! Didi really is expendable, but I fear that the Twins would need a 3-way trading partner to get this done.

[jokin]

Nunez had a defensive WAR of -2.1 in just 90 games last year and he will be 27 in two months. I don't think Molitor is going to be able to even put lipstick on this one.

 

Given what we have, I do agree Escobar should be given a shot at SS. It is still a joke that these are the options.

 

Be wary of dWAR stats, especially small sample sizes. While his defense is hugely questionable, read what Phil Hughes had to say about him- there's a talented player underneath those scary numbers. There's a fighting chance for Nunez that, getting a fresh start, playing one position only, out of the shadow of Yankee Stadium, Derek Jeter, and escaping from a very all-encompassing skeptical media overkill spotlight environment...and most importantly, going into an atmosphere with polar opposite comparisons to Jeter and extremely low expectations to beat by comparison, and with the fiery Nunez playing with a chip on his shoulder....that he can defy his recent past. He certainly has more going for him than anyone else on the Twins pick-to-click SS list.

[tobi0040]

I should have closed my comment with a smiley, but I'm sure you know I was being facetious, but some take lighthearted things too literally. I looked up the D-Backs prospect list, besides Owings, who we know is an early ROY candidate, they also have 3 other SS in their top 20, including one from the Upton trade who is also ready for promotion this year. Wow! Didi really is expendable, but I fear that the Twins would need a 3-way trading partner to get this done.

 

I am guessing we have called the D-Backs, but after hearind the demands are holding our hope that one of the AA players we have will pan out at SS. They almost always do (sarcasm).

 

Finding a team like the D-Backs that have depth at the position is something we should have done a long time ago. We have about 15 OF prospects. We could go after one of the other 3 as well. Lot of things we could be doing outside of the re-tread (Bartlett) and AA prospect game (Pedor and Nunez).

[thetank]

He has promise.

[jokin]

I am guessing we have called the D-Backs and are holding our hope that one of the AA players we have will pan out at SS. They almost always do (sarcasm). Finding a team like the D-Backs that have depth at the position is something we should have done a long time ago. We have about 15 OF prospects.

 

And somehow, none are major league ready, which is probably the level of player that the D-Backs would be asking for: Pinto + a potential immediate #5 starter? We wouldn't want to give up Pinto and we don't have an expendable starter that qualified. They might find Gibson attractive, but it would cost much more than just him to get Didi- Vargas?

[jokin]

 

Finding a team like the D-Backs that have depth at the position is something we should have done a long time ago. We have about 15 OF prospects. We could go after one of the other 3 as well. Lot of things we could be doing outside of the re-tread (Bartlett) and AA prospect game (Pedor and Nunez).

 

The D-Backs. What a concept. They started the season with 3 major league ready SS, two of whom were/are BA Top 100 prospects. Meanwhile, the Twins love them their passel of OF guys.

[tobi0040]

And somehow, none are major league ready, which is probably the level of player that the D-Backs would be asking for: Pinto + a potential immediate #5 starter? We wouldn't want to give up Pinto and we don't have an expendable starter that qualified. They might find Gibson attractive, but it would cost much more than just him to get Didi- Vargas?

 

It is always tough to predict what a team sees their needs at or where they are. They were .500 last year, so a few players in low A with promise may get it done.

[TheLeviathan]

for a middle infielder with youth--which was ****ing unimaginable this time last year.

 

I gotta pick your post apart a bit here Psuedo because it's not making sense to me. Acquiring "middle infielders with youth" is hardly a difficult thing to do. Acquiring ones that are good at being middle infielders is the issue. I don't see how Nunez qualifies as a guy that's good at being a middle infielder.

 

If we're reading into the move that Bartlett isn't a SS - can anyone explain to me what the heck he actually is then?

[cmathewson]

I don't have strong feelings about this move, but I lean towards being positive. I never expected so much in return for Butera. I was very disappointed to hear about Sulbaran's condition this spring. I had him at 14 in the offseason. But if he can't make the Cedar Rapids rotation, it' best to get what we can for him while his value is high. I'm not high on Nunez, but he is versatile and could be an injury replacement at some point this year.

[Dman]

I don't think it is possible to "overvalue" a player whose name you cannot spell, for starters. I don't think that the Twins see much ceiling in Sulbaran, and he does have discipline issues. I saw him pitch in Fort Myers and I am thinking that his ceiling was Jose Mijares. Just no stamina as a starter. I think that the Twins likely feel that the have the following LHRP in the organization ahead of him: Ibarra, Williams,Ferreira, Bixler, Martinez, Rogers, and possibly Lee and Melotakis, if not get to start.

 

Nunez will be on the top of the IF/UT depth charts in the minors for the Twins.

 

No-brainer.

 

Thanks for the insight. I guess I don't understand how Sulbaran could have better stats than Berrios in A ball but be considered such a lessor talent? Even though Nunez is slightly better than what we currently have why not try and trade for someone better or with higher upside at SS? I guess I am a bit dense when it comes to these things.

[Otto von Ballpark]

He was DFA'd. The Yankees had a 10 day window to trade him.

 

He is a better hitter than Triunfel and there was a reasonable chance that someone like the White Sox or Astros would have put in a claim since he did not have to go one the 25 man roster.

 

I know Nunez was a DFA too, but Triunfel didn't have to go on a 25 man roster either, or at least he was able to be outrighted (and a few DFA outfielders were passed by too).

 

Not that I think Sulbaran is a heavy price for anything. Just wondering if we should have been more aggressive in adding infield depth earlier, hopefully the Bartlett flier didn't lead us to pass on there other options (like Bonifacio too).

[Otto von Ballpark]

While his defense is hugely questionable, read what Phil Hughes had to say about him- there's a talented player underneath those scary numbers.

 

Because we are sure that Phil Hughes would comment on his former and likely near future teammate without bias?

 

I'm pretty bad evaluating defense, particular minor league defense, but given the context, I wouldn't take Hughes' comments as evidence of much here. Hoping for Nunez to become an acceptable glove at SS might be only a slightly better bet than hoping for Florimon to become an acceptable bat.

 

Besides, with Santana at SS in Rochester, I am pretty sure they view Nunez as a utility guy, which lowers the bar for his SS defense a bit but also lowers his potential value.

[tobi0040]

Because we are sure that Phil Hughes would comment on his former and likely near future teammate without bias?

 

I'm pretty bad evaluating defense, particular minor league defense, but given the context, I wouldn't take Hughes' comments as evidence of much here. Hoping for Nunez to become an acceptable glove at SS might be only a slightly better bet than hoping for Florimon to become an acceptable bat.

 

Besides, with Santana at SS in Rochester, I am pretty sure they view Nunez as a utility guy, which lowers the bar for his SS defense a bit but also lowers his potential value.

 

My gut says, if an offensively minded team like the Yankees conclude he can't hack it at SS, the odds are next to zero he meets the Twins expectations.

 

So this has to be a utility thing, I agree. I can't help but think Pedro, Bartlett, or Escobar will be cut (likely Bartlett). I don't think Terry would give up a prospect like this just to fill in as the utility guy while Bartlett is on the DL. We can argue about his upside, but he was 20 and had a 2.96 ERA with 102 K in 112 IP last year in low A, and a lefty to boot.

[TheLeviathan]

My gut says, if an offensively minded team like the Yankees conclude he can't hack it at SS, the odds are next to zero he meets the Twins expectations.

 

Did you see who we ran out to LF the other day? I think the "defense first" Twins identity died several years ago.

[Mike Sixel]

Right, "the TWins way" is a mythological thing at this point. At least assuming it means doing little things well, and playing good defense......if it means the opposite of that, well, then it is real.

[tobi0040]

Did you see who we ran out to LF the other day? I think the "defense first" Twins identity died several years ago.

 

With regard to SS, I think the Twins way is alive and well. Here is a quick list of players drafted or signed as SS, who were moved. Plouffe, Dozier, and Sano. Soon to be Polanco, Nunez, Goodrum, and Danny Santana.

 

I think Arcia and Willingham are one off's. We want Josh to have NL trade interest and while we suspect Arcia is a DH long term, he is 22 and we stink, so let's roll him out there so we know for sure.

[Shane Wahl]

The animosity towards Pedro Florimon, the best defensive shortstop the Twins have had in a very long time and one of the top 5 defensive shortstops in all of baseball, is interesting. There have been seven games, and he should have been DLed due to not being ready after his appendectomy in the first place.

 

Nunez's glove is well-known to be abominable. I give him a chance to utility it up in Rochester for awhile and see if he really is better than Beresford and Santana (clearly Bartlett will be sent down or he will opt to, like, retire or something).

[tobi0040]

The animosity towards Pedro Florimon, the best defensive shortstop the Twins have had in a very long time and one of the top 5 defensive shortstops in all of baseball, is interesting. There have been seven games, and he should have been DLed due to not being ready after his appendectomy in the first place.

 

Nunez's glove is well-known to be abominable. I give him a chance to utility it up in Rochester for awhile and see if he really is better than Beresford and Santana (clearly Bartlett will be sent down or he will opt to, like, retire or something).

 

I think the issue is, 20 guys in the minors could come up and pick it like Pedro, and hit .200. He does not have an MLB bat, plain and simple.

[cmathewson]

I think the issue is, 20 guys in the minors could come up and pick it like Pedro, and hit .200. He does not have an MLB bat, plain and simple.

 

I disagree with your first statement. Gloves like his are special. I do agree that his bat is not up to snuff. The Twins might have one guy who has a chance to be that good (Vielma).

[tobi0040]

I disagree with your first statement. Gloves like his are special. I do agree that his bat is not up to snuff. The Twins might have one guy who has a chance to be that good (Vielma).

 

I was not very clear. I meant 20 guys in all of the minors, not in the Twins system.

[Willihammer]

The Twins must like the 45th pick of this draft more than Sulbaran.

[tobi0040]

The Twins must like the 45th pick of this draft more than Sulbaran.

 

I am not following this. We aren't getting the 45th pick if Nunez leaves are we?

[Willihammer]

I am not following this. We aren't getting the 45th pick if Nunez leaves are we?

 

There is one FA SS out there, unsigned, who probably would be an upgrade on Florimon's bat and Nunez's defense. But he would cost several million dollars and the ~45th draft pick.

 

Maybe the Twins can do better at 45 than a Miguel Sulbaran. He has been traded twice in the past year after all. I don't know. Just an observation.

[tobi0040]

There is one FA SS out there, unsigned, who probably would be an upgrade on Florimon's bat and Nunez's defense. But he would cost several million dollars and the ~45th draft pick.

 

Maybe the Twins can do better at 45 than a Miguel Sulbaran. He has been traded twice in the past year after all. I don't know. Just an observation.

 

A Drew reference. Got it.

[Riverbrian]

 

The D-Backs would not be asking for Sano/Buxton/Meyer type talent and we have an extremely deep system.

 

I have no idea what it would take and assumptions like this are impossible for us mere mortals. It takes two teams to trade.

 

However... Based on last year... I'm not sure your quote is close to the ball park.

 

Just a year ago... The price tag for Didi was:

 

Shin Soo Choo and 3.5 Million in Cash to get him from the Reds

 

and

 

Trevor Bauer to get him from the Indians

 

Bauer was Buxton... Sano or Meyer like in terms of prospect status last year.

 

I have my doubts that the D-Backs are going to turn around and give him to the Twins for much much less because Owings showed up or because Didi OPS'ed .704 in 400 at bats last year.

 

Neither plunges his value in my opinion.

 

I'd love to have Didi but... is it possible that trade ideas occasionally floated about are simply harder to make happen in real life?

[cmathewson]

I was not very clear. I meant 20 guys in all of the minors, not in the Twins system.

 

I know, and perhaps every team has a Vielma. I don't know. The last one we developed from within was Zoillo. Smalley, Gagne, Guzman, Bartlett and Florimon were all acquired. In the history of the Twins, we've developed more Mearses than Florimons.

[Mike Sixel]

Bauer wasn't close to Buxton last year. Not even on the same planet. Bauer might have been Berrios, but even that isn't sure. The league had soured on Bauer, very much.

 

Of course trades are harder to make ..... but it sure would be nice if they could find a SS.

[PseudoSABR]

Bauer wasn't close to Buxton last year. Not even on the same planet. Bauer might have been Berrios, but even that isn't sure. The league had soured on Bauer, very much.

 

Of course trades are harder to make ..... but it sure would be nice if they could find a SS.

Bauer was a top 15 prospect before last season, higher even before then.

[Mike Sixel]

Not from what I read at the beginning of the year, but whatever. It won't take Buxton or Sano or Meyer to get Didi, if that is the point that was trying to be made.

 

Frankly, any P they don't think is a legit starter (or even some of their potential legit starters) should be traded for a potential SS at this point. Go get 2-3 more potential SS, because right now I don't see an obvious one in the entire system.