No one wants to be next year's Kendrys Morales (or Drew)

[stringer bell]

I think Boras might be inclined to have his clients accept a QO next time. The agents always want the years and a QO gives only one year, but some times what is best might be the short contract.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Sometimes things have to go wrong before they right themselves.

 

This offseason, teams will not offer QO because players will accept.

 

But it's hard to deny that this CBA has some pretty gaping holes in it.

[DocBauer]

Norichika Aoki

Emilio Bonifacio

Melky Cabrera

Nelson Cruz

Michael Cuddyer

Rajai Davis

Chris Denorfia

Jeff Francoeur

Jonny Gomes

Franklin Gutierrez

Tony Gwynn Jr.

Scott Hairston

Torii Hunter

Raul Ibanez

Reed Johnson

Darnell McDonald

Mike Morse

Colby Rasmus

Nate Schierholtz

Grady Sizemore

Seth Smith

Alfonso Soriano

Ichiro Suzuki

Ryan Sweeney

Vernon Wells

Josh Willingham

Chris Young

Delmon Young

 

That is the list of FA outfielders coming up this winter. More if options are not exercised. If they were a good player their options are generally picked up. I think I wouldd rather have an outfield of Santana and the rest of the shortstops and sign Hardy.

 

Respectfully, I'm going to disagree with you here. Now, you're right that there are some names on that list that don't thrill me either. But there are some names I like as say, 1 year stop gaps, in the right scenario, possibly for 2 or 1 with a workable option. For example; while his numbers are down this season, how about Hunter "coming home" for an encore and taking one of the corner spots to replace Willingham. He'd replace his RH bat, still has HR power and RBI potential. And I doubt salary demands would be large. Cuddyer could be a similar option, for the same reasons, though I'm not sure if Colorado will let him go, of if he'd want to leave at this point.

 

And NOT picking up an option doesn't necessary mean a player is washed up or worthless, especially as the aforementioned stop-gap option. It might simply be the option year is too pricy to pick up, or the team in question may have budgetary concerns, or a top prospect ready to take over.

 

It's certainly not about blocking young Twins prospects who may be part of a long and successful run with the rebuilt Twins. It's about fill-in options to keep the Twins viable, help the young kids up maintain a winning attitude and approach, and even supporting the pitching staff. We must be realistic, especially with some of the unfortunate events that have slowed some of the Twins young talent this season. Walker is at A ball, Vargas at AA for the moment, Sano rehabbing, Rosario getting back in to form, Buxton trying to get 100% and back on track. To pencil in any of these youngsters as key components for 2015, ready to go day 1, or May 1st, etc, is just not realistic.

[The Wise One]

Respectfully, I'm going to disagree with you here. Now, you're right that there are some names on that list that don't thrill me either. But there are some names I like as say, 1 year stop gaps, in the right scenario, possibly for 2 or 1 with a workable option. For example; while his numbers are down this season, how about Hunter "coming home" for an encore and taking one of the corner spots to replace Willingham. He'd replace his RH bat, still has HR power and RBI potential. And I doubt salary demands would be large. Cuddyer could be a similar option, for the same reasons, though I'm not sure if Colorado will let him go, of if he'd want to leave at this point.

 

And NOT picking up an option doesn't necessary mean a player is washed up or worthless, especially as the aforementioned stop-gap option. It might simply be the option year is too pricy to pick up, or the team in question may have budgetary concerns, or a top prospect ready to take over.

 

It's certainly not about blocking young Twins prospects who may be part of a long and successful run with the rebuilt Twins. It's about fill-in options to keep the Twins viable, help the young kids up maintain a winning attitude and approach, and even supporting the pitching staff. We must be realistic, especially with some of the unfortunate events that have slowed some of the Twins young talent this season. Walker is at A ball, Vargas at AA for the moment, Sano rehabbing, Rosario getting back in to form, Buxton trying to get 100% and back on track. To pencil in any of these youngsters as key components for 2015, ready to go day 1, or May 1st, etc, is just not realistic.

 

It pains me to type this. The stringers at fangraphs have Parmelee as a better right fielder than Hunter this year. Hunter's power numbers are going down as well.

 

Hunter is getting 14 million this year. With his career earnings and pride, I doubt he would be playing for less than 10m. I don't think he would come cheaply to a team that might be losing.

 

It is rare that an above average free agent signs a one year contract. One year contracts for outfielders that switched teams the last 3 years looks like dumpster diving with Morse coming out as the only rose. Nelson Cruz is a special category that I don't think will happen again. Many of these players as a 4th outfielder option might be preferential to what the Twins have now. I wouldn't argue that one. The question is regarding looking for the starters for next year. In looking for someone to hold down an outfield position for a year I just don't think you will find much.

[DocBauer]

It pains me to type this. The stringers at fangraphs have Parmelee as a better right fielder than Hunter this year. Hunter's power numbers are going down as well.

 

Hunter is getting 14 million this year. With his career earnings and pride, I doubt he would be playing for less than 10m. I don't think he would come cheaply to a team that might be losing.

 

It is rare that an above average free agent signs a one year contract. One year contracts for outfielders that switched teams the last 3 years looks like dumpster diving with Morse coming out as the only rose. Nelson Cruz is a special category that I don't think will happen again. Many of these players as a 4th outfielder option might be preferential to what the Twins have now. I wouldn't argue that one. The question is regarding looking for the starters for next year. In looking for someone to hold down an outfield position for a year I just don't think you will find much.

 

Oh Wise One, I do not disagree with a single point made here.

 

But a few points:

 

 

In regard to Hunter, while an option, and a favorite player of mine, I offer him as an example. Pride be damned, he's reaching the end of the line, and he knows it. And the last year of any contract is no indicator of true market value unless the player is in top form, and usually 30 or younger, or early 30's to be sure, as teams are paying for what's to come, and not what might be left in the tank. The Tigers didn't give Hunter the contract they gave him expecting a 14M all star player in 2014. It's the way contracts are simply positioned. You end up getting value, hopefully, the first couple seasons, and often overpay the last season or two. It's common practice and we all know this. No matter my love of Hunter, I'd rather have Cuddyer if available. But again, these are just examples.

 

I also mentioned 2 year and 1 year with an option as other examples of potential signing contracts. The reality is, once you get past the big name FA's every year, there are always bargains to be had. Some are poor, some OK, and some steals. It's up to the FO of any team to try to make that determination. And also, every year, for various reasons, there are those veteran players who are available on 1 year make good contracts.

 

The Twins have money to spend without blowing budget, and also shave nearly 12M just with Willingham and Correia alone being gone. I am certainly not opposed to the Twins spending big money on a big FA signing, but I doubt, for various reasons, that this will happen or prove prudent. And while I greatly value the depth of talent in our milb system, and feel we're a good year away from trading any top prospects for that final piece or two, I would not be opposed to a trade for a young or young-ish, productive corner OF. Logic and personal preference simply dictate to me to go the FA route on 1-2 year deals to supplement and bridge.

 

And I believe and advocate we look at the best available FA options for a year or two to provide those options at CF, (where Rosario, and maybe even Santana and even Hicks might compete until Buxton is ready), and especially an OF corner where we need a productive and solid player until CF is settled, and another talented prospect, possibly even Plouffe, is ready to take over.

[Kwak]

I fear a continuation of the "half-in, half-out" management philosophy. This inevitably leads to a mediocre season and the FO saying "all fixed", just allow the young players to mature (while pocketing huge amounts of cash).

[diehardtwinsfan]

Hunter and Cuddy are both going to fall into the QO territory, both of whom would be wise to accept it if offered.

[snepp]

Hunter and Cuddy are both going to fall into the QO territory, both of whom would be wise to accept it if offered.

 

Hunter? The Tigers would be have to be completely nuts to give him a QO.

[Guest USAFChief]

Hunter? The Tigers would be have to be completely nuts to give him a QO.

Which is why he'd be wise to accept!

 

In all seriousness, I doubt either Cuddy or Hunter gets a QO this winter.

[PseudoSABR]

Which is why he'd be wise to accept!

 

In all seriousness, I doubt either Cuddy or Hunter gets a QO this winter.

And if you're right, the whole QO market suddenly shifts to sensibility, for a single off season.

[h2oface]

No one wants to be this year's Morales, either. At least not as he has performed so far. The guy turned down 14.1 million this year. He clearly thinks he is worth more than he is. And it is becoming painfully apparent that the Twins thought he was worth more than he is, too. Maybe things will change. But I doubt it. Even if he ends the season with a .270 average, he is overpaid.

[Twins33]

Indeed, we might see fewer top-tier free agents next year as a result of what happened to Drew, Morales, and Cruz

You probably didn't mean this the way I interpreted, but what do Drew, Morales and Cruz have to do with "top-tier" free agents? By that I mean, those guys don't fall into that category at all.

 

Cano smartly turned down the QO. He's a top tier free agent. You wouldn't lump him in the same category with those players...or shouldn't. Top tier guys are not the guys who are having the issues. Those guys get paid no matter what, they're highly sought after. They "deserve" way more term/dollars than the QO provides and they are nearly guaranteed to get that.

 

When I look at Drew, Morales and Cruz...in my opinion they aren't worth 12-15M per at all. One year, 3 years...doesn't matter. I would never want the Twins to pay that much per year on any one of those guys. You can argue that you could overpay on a one year deal and it wouldn't really hurt a team because it's just one year. I'd agree with that, but those players still aren't 12-15M per guys in my opinion and I'd call them overpaid if they got that much.

 

The QO really hurts the middle tier guys who think they are better than they actually are, which all those three guys listed are. That's who is hurting the most. The fact that those three turned it down was completely amazing to me and what happened to them was 100% expected, at least I expected it.