Article: Report: Twins Agree to Sign Kendrys Morales

[Shane Wahl]

Apparently there is some plan to get Hicks time in RF:

 

–Aaron Hicks could start taking more fly balls in right field in order to get him and rookie center fielder Danny Santana in the lineup at the same time, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. With Oswaldo Arcia ailing (sprained right ankle), Jason Kubel got the start in right over Chris Parmelee. It was just the second start in right for Kubel since the season’s first week.

 

http://blogs.twincities.com/twins/

 

It was going to happen anyway with Buxton arriving at some point next year (let's hope). It might be easier for Santana to stay in CF as he has been primarily an infielder and have Hicks, an outfielder, move to a new position.

[John Bonnes]

When was the last time the Twins acquired a player as good as Morales during the season? Shannon Stewart?

[kydoty]

Luckily for Morales there's nothing up here to celebrate over.

[drivlikejehu]

I don't think they see it that way. The Tigers are looking pretty vulnerable. My guess is that the Twins powers-that-be are seeing a situation like 2009.

 

Not necessarily the way I see it but the Twins do have some experience with somewhat wacky seasons.

 

Clearly the Twins do not see it that way. The point is, they are wrong, and their erratic decision-making is a huge problem.

[Trevor0333]

I guess they have a better relationship with Scott Boras than I thought

 

Believe it or not Ryan & Boras have known each other well long before he was a gm

[mlhouse]

Why?

[John Bonnes]

Morales also hit 3rd or 4th just about every game he played for the Mariners last year. With Santana leading off and Dozier hitting second, could this bump Mauer back down the lineup?

 

1 - Santana

2 - Dozier

3 - Morales

4 - Willingham

5 - Arcia

6 - Plouffe

7 - Mauer

8 - Suzuki/Pinto

9 - Escobar

 

That is a damn sexy lineup.

[Tibs]

Twins trying to make the playoffs this year?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Why indeed? This signing stopped making sense when Willingham and Arcia came back.

[howeda7]

There aren't going to be huge crowds for an 80 win team. The Twins need to contend to get their attendance back up. Right now they are hurting themselves, not helping.

 

They didn't trade prospects for him. They're not hurting anything. They will still need to make an assessment of where they are on 7/31 and trade those who should be traded if they're not in contention. Who's to say Morales won't be one of them?

[Monkeypaws]

Pretty surprising. If Hammer and Arcia keep hitting, this season could get kinda interesting.

[howeda7]

Morales also hit 3rd or 4th just about every game he played for the Mariners last year. With Santana leading off and Dozier hitting second, could this bump Mauer back down the lineup?

 

1 - Santana

2 - Dozier

3 - Morales

4 - Willingham

5 - Arcia

6 - Plouffe

7 - Mauer

8 - Suzuki/Pinto

9 - Escobar

 

That is a damn sexy lineup.

 

I like that. If Mauer ever heats back up, leave him 3rd and drop Willingham to 6 and Ploufe to 7.

[Mike Sixel]

Wow. I am speechless. I approve of this move. Let's hope it means more changes to come.

[whatever54]

When was the last time the Twins acquired a player as good as Morales during the season? Shannon Stewart?

 

This is the exact question I had when I first read of Kendrys signing! It's pretty clear to me the FO hasn't written this year off yet.

[jokin]

When was the last time the Twins acquired a player as good as Morales during the season? Shannon Stewart?

 

We've been debating that very point. Now, how do the Twins demote the Face of the Franchise to the bottom of the order?

[Tibs]

Bizarre move. It means less ABs for Pinto, which is a negative.

 

Are there any positives to this move, in your opinion?

[jokin]

Wow. I am speechless. I approve of this move. Let's hope it means more changes to come.

 

Yeah, Mike...it's like they actually read Twins Daily!!!

[jokin]

Why indeed? This signing stopped making sense when Willingham and Arcia came back.

 

I disagree. This is forward thinking if the Hammer is on the move. You can put Santana in LF with Morales DHing full-time. In the meantime, the deadwood that is Kubel, and possibly Parmelee are possibly bye-bye.

 

If the Twins are out of it on July 31, they flip him for another good prospect if Morales does well.

[Craig Arko]

When was the last time the Twins acquired a player as good as Morales during the season? Shannon Stewart?

 

Since then O-Cab was about the next best, I guess. Morales should surpass that.

[drivlikejehu]

Are there any positives to this move, in your opinion?

 

It improves the team a bit. They still aren't contenders.

 

My concern though is - if you are a contender, how can you throw Hicks out there with no backup plan? If you are a contender, how can you keep throwing Correia with an ERA of 7?

 

It doesn't work to be half-in, half-out.

[jorgenswest]

The order won't matter as much as who is in the line up.

 

They can sit Mauer and DH Pinto against lefties where Pinto is catching.

 

This does not need to take away at bats from Pinto.

[ScottyB]

Wow. I am speechless. I approve of this move. Let's hope it means more changes to come.

 

I'm with you Mike - pitching changes next please (Corriea, Guerrier, Burton and Duensing gone)

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Morales also hit 3rd or 4th just about every game he played for the Mariners last year. With Santana leading off and Dozier hitting second, could this bump Mauer back down the lineup?

 

1 - Santana

2 - Dozier

3 - Morales

4 - Willingham

5 - Arcia

6 - Plouffe

7 - Mauer

8 - Suzuki/Pinto

9 - Escobar

 

That is a damn sexy lineup.

 

It is sexier.. I like that you moved Mauer down the order; not his team anymore I might even put Arcia third and Morales fifth.

 

i am just real uneasy with Santana as a starting center fielder on a contending team. He's still so green. I am warming to him, but...

[JB_Iowa]

• LaVelle E. Neal III ‏@LaVelleNeal 30s
  Guessing Morales has to go to minors for awhile to get game ready.Twins source told me: ``I knew you would be stunned.'' No bleeping kidding
   
   
  Stunned? Pretty much everyone, I would guess.
   
   
  

[notoriousgod71]

When was the last time the Twins acquired a player as good as Morales during the season? Shannon Stewart?

 

 

How quickly you forget about one Bret Boone.

[ScottyB]

They would never acknowledge it until the Twins do. Which is lame.

 

It's now on the Twins web site - you'd think they'd say something now

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I disagree. This is forward thinking if the Hammer is on the move. You can put Santana in LF with Morales DHing full-time. In the meantime, the deadwood that is Kubel, and possibly Parmelee are possibly bye-bye.

 

If the Twins are out of it on July 31, they flip him for another good prospect if Morales does well.

 

I do think the signing provides cover for releasing Kubel. Now they can tell him they have no room, instead of making it about his ability.

[notoriousgod71]

It's now on the Twins web site - you'd think they'd say something now

 

Dick mentioned it a couple innings ago.

[JB_Iowa]

I do think the signing provides cover for releasing Kubel. Now they can tell him they have no room, instead of making it about his ability.

 

That's the other thing holding up an "official" announcement, apparently. They have to clear a space on the 40 man and aren't going to do that mid-game.

 

Also, they have a policy of waiting until the physical is complete.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

It improves the team a bit. They still aren't contenders.

 

My concern though is - if you are a contender, how can you throw Hicks out there with no backup plan? If you are a contender, how can you keep throwing Correia with an ERA of 7?

 

It doesn't work to be half-in, half-out.

 

My thought exactly. You can't sign Morales for 2014 and in the same breath claim that Santana needs to play center to gain experience, or that if Willingham stays hot you can move him and be sellers at the deadline, or that... and so on.

 

I'm not opposed to this signing I just don't know if it makes as much sense now, as it did before.