Eduardo Nunez

[jorgenswest]

Does he look like a guy the Twins should keep on the 40 man roster?

 

At 27 years old and nearly 1000 major league plate appearances, this is probably close to his skill level. A career OPS+ of 86 might play if he was a good defender at SS or trending up. Neither of those are true. Bernier was outperforming him in AAA. He probably should have got the call earlier this summer.

[iTwins]

He fits the mold as a nice super utility player. He can fill in at third, short, second and I guess, the outfield (ugh). I think he sticks around until the Twins get either A) a true starting SS  or B ) a true starting CF (so Santana can move to short). Either scenario would allow the Twins to move Escobar to the super utility role and make Nunez a luxury.

[Badsmerf]

Nunez is gone after the year IMO. They already have Plouffe and once Sano is up Plouffe will move to a utility role most likely. 

[Brandon]

He'll be gone when the Twins have better long term options, or he gets too expensive for his production, or if he gets traded or released. 

 

He'll finish out the year and likely be a good bet to be back next year.  There's no real reason to get rid of him at the moment.  But next year when Sano and Buxton come up he could be a casualty then.

[Shane Wahl]

Santana has to eventually move back to SS, so a roster with Santana, Plouffe, Escobar, and Nunez seems like a bit of overkill.

[Mike Sixel]

I wouldn't be shocked if he's here, but I'd think he does not need to be here next year.

[TheDean]

I agree with the others here.  He fills a useful spot on the roster for now with Plouffe at 3B, Santana in CF, and Eddie E at SS, but once that situation changes, he could be gone.  He could stick if some of the bottom-order bats get traded in the offseason.  Not sure if he, Plouffe, Eddie E, Parms, Colabello, et al. could really fetch much, but I can see at least a few getting moved/DFA'd if Hicks, Ortiz, and/or Polanco make the team next year (I'm assuming Sano and Buxton will get more time in the EL).

 

Really, I'm happy with Nunez so far. I haven't facepalmed as much with him in field as Yankees fans promised me I would, and 84 wRC+ isn't great, but he's a bench utility guy that replaced Butera on the roster, so what do you expect?

[Otto von Ballpark]

Nunez is arbitration eligible this offseason for the first time, so he's not going to be super-cheap anymore  either (unless we non-tender him and then sign him back, I guess).  But he will be cheaper than Plouffe and almost certainly more trusted in the middle infield, if not corner outfield too.

 

I'd guess they probably try to keep him through the winter, at least.  If they acquire another MLB CF or infielder, pushing Santana back to SS or Escobar back to utility, Nunez can be traded or cut at that point.

[diehardtwinsfan]

The Twins have some interesting 40 man decisions to make this offseason.  I think that is good in terms of decisions that need to be made for the 25 man, because those spots will be at a premium.  I suspect Nunez is gone, as I cannot see keeping 4 infielders with Sano coming up next year too.

[Winston Smith]

If Santana is the SS of the future he should be playing there every day! This no center fielder on the roster is beyond dumb.

[Seth Stohs]

Does he look like a guy the Twins should keep on the 40 man roster?

 

At 27 years old and nearly 1000 major league plate appearances, this is probably close to his skill level. A career OPS+ of 86 might play if he was a good defender at SS or trending up. Neither of those are true. Bernier was outperforming him in AAA. He probably should have got the call earlier this summer.

Absolutely. He isn't necessarily an every day guy, but teaming him and Escobar, that's a pretty good utility infield core, especially with Nunez's ability to play the corner OF spots too. 

[Mike Sixel]

If Santana is the SS of the future he should be playing there every day! This no center fielder on the roster is beyond dumb.

 

What if Buxton is your LF of the future, Santana is your CF, and Polanco is your SS? What if that is the plan?

[Willihammer]

utility infield core

Does anyone have a melon baller?

[biscuit]

Too many utility players permeate this roster.  The team is atrocious  with runners in scoring position. They work hard, they try hard, and they play hard.  They just ain't good enough.  Well these guys should never be regular starters on a Major League ballclub: Plouffe, Arcia, Colabello (sp?) Parmelee, Nunez, Escobar, and maybe Dozier. That's 7 out of 12 fielders/hitters.  Pretty pathetic bunch. 

[jorgenswest]

Farris is more useful on this roster than Nunez right now. He can play CF and 2B. The only up the middle position Nunez can play is a poor SS. The Yankees DFA'd him because Dean Anna could play 2B. If he is a corner guy, he needs a better bat.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Too many utility players permeate this roster.  The team is atrocious  with runners in scoring position. They work hard, they try hard, and they play hard.  They just ain't good enough.  Well these guys should never be regular starters on a Major League ballclub: Plouffe, Arcia, Colabello (sp?) Parmelee, Nunez, Escobar, and maybe Dozier. That's 7 out of 12 fielders/hitters.  Pretty pathetic bunch. 

 

I think you're a little harsh on a couple of those guys, but, it kind of proves your point -- maybe you can make a case for any individual guy, but not all these guys. Of the players you named, I feel Nunez is the most expendable. 

[Linus]

I think he is back.  The whole point of a utility player is that they are not starters.  Santana should be the SS with Escobar and Nunez on the bench.  Very flexible and both can swing the bat a little bit.  Their roles are completely unrelated to Collabello, Parmelee, etc.

 

I do agree that the Twins have too many bad glove, 1st base, DH types but that is not Nunez or Escobar.

[goulik]

Strategically with bench guys you want flexibility to pinch hit, pinch run, or play better defense than the starter. For instance, Bottom of the 8th Sano gives you a one run lead on a HR. Do you bring in Nunez as a defensive substitute in the top of the 9th...

What I am really saying is, how do these utility men complement the starters? There is your starting point for the discussion. If we see Parmalee, Plouffe, Escobar, Nunez, and Colabello as bench players, they should only stick around in how they complement the rest of the team.

[Thegrin]

in the TD Roster & Payroll there is no indication that the Twins have any control over Nunez for 2015, or am I reading it wrong ?

[Linus]

The other reason why he will be back is that it is really unlikely that Sano starts the season with the Twins.  Plus, the idea that Plouffe will end up being a "super utility" guy just doesn't hold water.  Reminds of politics in Washington DC: if something is repeated often enough it becomes fact.

 

Plouffe has done nothing to indicate that he can be even marginally effective defensively playing multiple positions.  Just because you can play several positions in below average fashion does not make you a utility player.  When Sano arrives, you could give Trevor a shot in left field if nobody else has arrived but his highest and best use at that point is likely trade bait.

[Thegrin]

According to http://www.baseballreference.com

Eduardo Nunez

27 5 Traded 2.117 SFX 1 yr/$577k (14) $576.9k

 

2015 Arb-1

2016 Arb-2

2017

Arb-3

 

2018  FA

 

 

[TheDean]

They should DFA Colabello today and bring up one of the triple A guys that is hitting well for a reward and an opportunity. Teams not hitting well and not scoring any runs, time to give some new faces a chance. I would rather give any at bats Colabello or Parmalee are getting to a Vargas or Pinto type of player.

Hitters with over 100 PA at Rochester in 2014, ranked by OPS:

Parmelee

Herrmann

Pinto

Colabello

Romero

Bernier

 

After Bernier, the list is all <.700 led by ... Florimon

 

No one on that list screams "I should get ABs instead of CC or Parms" to me, with the exception of Pinto.  Heck, there really aren't any new faces at AAA to begin with. A little depressing.

[old nurse]

It is still not too late to package Nunez and Duensing to get some organization's #12 rated prospect.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

in the TD Roster & Payroll there is no indication that the Twins have any control over Nunez for 2015, or am I reading it wrong ?

 

Anything that is blank is pre-arb years...

 

unless there is a "-" in their number column, in which case they are no longer with the team. 

 

I also hadn't added the arbitration years in for Nunez, cause when he came over he was in the minors. He will be first-year arbitration-eligible next season. My ballpark projection for him was $1m. I think he'll stick around for that price. 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Santana has to eventually move back to SS, so a roster with Santana, Plouffe, Escobar, and Nunez seems like a bit of overkill.

that seems like options to me. I like Nunez and Escobar as bench players. Escobar is obviously better fielder, but both play several positions adequately in back up roles and hit well in a variety of fielding positions and pinch hitting situations. Both good options off the bench with some speed and ability to make contact.

[jorgenswest]

I am sure he is inexpensive. If necessary, pay more for a guy who can be an asset. They need to evaluate him as a player. He is no longer a prospect. He is 27 with nearly 1000 major league plate appearances.

 

It really struck me yesterday when Dozier came up injured and the Twins had to move their starting shortstop off his position because their utility player can't play 2B. It struck me again as I realized he can't play CF either. Does he hit well enough to be predominantly a corner guy?

 

Should the Twins be looking for a better option this winter? If they nontender him, they are going to need to look for someone else. Last year had they signed a true utility guy like Bonifacio, they would have had a asset to offer in trade. Maybe Farris can be that guy. Why not give him some time now? I know he would have been at 2B yesterday. I know he can back up CF.

 

Nunez is showing his skill level at his peak age. Is it valuable enough to keep him on the 40 this winter? The Yankees didn't think so.

[Thrylos]

I have seen enough Santana play at SS the last 3 seasons to think that he is better suited as utility than Escobar at this point (and he can play the OF.)   Polanco is now the starting SS at New Britain and would likely be the SS of the future (until Mr Gordon or Mr Vielma has anything to say about that.)  I do like Nunez more that someone like Carroll, and he can play LF better than either Parmelee or Willingham right now that has some value as defensive replacement. 

 

Is Nunez a utility guy in a championship squad?  Not that sure, but maybe.  Santana would be a better choice for the job.

[jorgenswest]

Bonifacio has had a good career as a utility player. Santana may be a little better offensively and defensively. His ability to play anywhere up the middle may allow the Twins to carry an extra bat on the 25. There would be no need for both a back up in CF and middle infield. The right manager could utilize him 5 times a week in that role and everyday when an up the middle guy is injured.

 

With Nunez, I think they still need a second utility guy. I think the Twins can do better.

[DocBauer]

Strategically with bench guys you want flexibility to pinch hit, pinch run, or play better defense than the starter. For instance, Bottom of the 8th Sano gives you a one run lead on a HR. Do you bring in Nunez as a defensive substitute in the top of the 9th...

What I am really saying is, how do these utility men complement the starters? There is your starting point for the discussion. If we see Parmalee, Plouffe, Escobar, Nunez, and Colabello as bench players, they should only stick around in how they complement the rest of the team.

I think this an excellent post!

 

However, I disagree on one point. "Strategically with bench guys you want flexibility..." is a very accurate statement. But there are two varying thoughts here to be considered.

 

A) a utility player, similar to a Nick Punto type, who might not hit the best, but can battle, run a little, bunt well maybe, play excellent defense at multiple positions to give a starter a break, or even PR or be a late game defensive replacement. Former Cardinal Jose Oquendo might be the ultimate example of this.

 

a utility player who can play multiple positions with a solid bat, possessing decent to good power who is so-so with defense, but is OK when not over exposed, and gives you that occasional start to rest a starter, can PH, maybe even DH on occasion. I'm sorry, but I'm drawing a mental blank on some of the guys who's names are on the tip of my tongue, but in Twin's history, guys like Ron Washington, Gene Larkin, Randy Bush and even Roy Smalley late in his career come to mind.

 

Ideally, a bench has a couple of each kind of utility player.

 

I rather like what I've seen of Nunez, at least in the short term. I believe he still posses some untapped potential. And I'd like to see him work more at LF next ST to increase his ability there because yes, I think he's back, and a decent utility/role player in 2015. I believe he'll be a utility options, possibly along with Escobar, depending on how much SS Santana plays. Which may make Escobar a starter, a semi-starter/utility player, or full time utility.

 

Longer term, with Sano up, Polanco behind him, the roster situation shuffles and Nunez may not have a spot. He does for now.

 

As to Plouffe, also mentioned so I will as well, the jury is still out. He's a bit of a late bloomer, nothing wrong with that at the end of the day, he's still not old, and his total ML games and AB's is at that breaking point where he either washes himself out, or proves himself a viable ML ballplayer. Note, I didn't say stud. If you really look at everything from draft selection to original drafted position to age hitting the majors, to bouncing around at various spots on the diamond, the parallels to Cuddyer are almost eerily similar. That is not to say he will become Cuddyer part 2. But, he has picked this year to have his best overall season defensively, and has, overall, had his most consistent production as a hitter. I see him as a poor man's Cuddy. When Sano arrives, he might provide solid trade value to someone who could really use a ML average 3B. He also has enough athleticism, decently developed glove and strong arm with a functional bat and power to perhaps be one of those solid offensive performing utility guys who can fill in variously. Could he take his arm, double and HR potential and become a viable starter in the OF when he can relax a bit more and concentrate on his offense, yes. Not betting on it, but I could see it happen.

 

The point being, he still offers various degrees of usefulness and potential.

[Otto von Ballpark]

If you really look at everything from draft selection to original drafted position to age hitting the majors, to bouncing around at various spots on the diamond, the parallels to Cuddyer are almost eerily similar. That is not to say he will become Cuddyer part 2. But, he has picked this year to have his best overall season defensively, and has, overall, had his most consistent production as a hitter. I see him as a poor man's Cuddy. 

Cuddy was a dominant hitter almost his entire minor league career, was a top 20 prospect in all of MLB for multiple years even as a corner player, debuted a year and a half earlier, and logged about one season of play at AAA versus Plouffe stalling out at that level for 3-4 years.  And he broke out as an above-league-average hitter a full year younger and 600 PA behind where Plouffe is now.  Other than that, yeah, they're practically twins.  

 

The other problem with being a poor man's Cuddy was that Cuddy ultimately wasn't particularly valuable once he started getting expensive.  He wound up being pretty brutal just about everywhere on the diamond (except maybe pitcher ), and while he's flashed a 125 OPS+ peak bat that Plouffe hasn't yet, he's alternated some poor seasons with the bat too, suggesting he's not a great bet as a DH either.