Suzuki: Extend or Trade?

[LaBombo]

A 90 wRC (2011) is actually pretty solid for a catcher. It would be a low end starter or great backup but when the next option behind Pinto is a 50-60 wRC type then Suzuki is pretty important even if he's only a 200 PA guy for the Twins.

 

His wOba and wRC in 2011 ranked 27th and 25th respectively, so "low end starter" is accurate. He'd probably be a decent backup with the right deal, but the Twins aren't going to get the right deal if he continues hitting well enough to be a legit Plan B for Pinto. So Catch 22 factor is in play. Also, at age 30, the likelihood of decline is fairly high.

 

And the optimism over Suzuki's very nice 7 weeks aside, that's the real issue for me. Committing significant salary to a guy likely to regress is bad but forgivable. Putting Josmil Pinto behind the plate at a rate that's on pace for roughly 45 games this season is, to me, inexcusable.

 

Have heard the whole 'let him learn from the bench' thing; just disagree. So barring the firing of Gardenhire, the only assurance this situation won't continue to hinder Pinto's development is that the Twins don't hand Gardy the keys to the Suzuki next season.