Ryan: Santana Still Most Athletic Shortstop In System

[Parker Hageman]

During Sunday's Inside Twins broadcast with Cory Provus, Provus asked Minnesota Twins General Manager Terry Ryan if Danny Santana was still regarded as the organization's top shortstop. 

 

Terry Ryan responded thusly:

 

“I would say he is. If you are looking at a complete guy as far as power, stealing a base, range, athleticism, agility, all that stuff Santana is probably that guy. He’s better defensively than a [Jorge] Polanco and when you look at [Eduardo] Escobar, Escobar’s proven he can play on an everyday basis up here, he’s done the job defensively, he’s provided some offense, so we’ve got a pretty good mixture here, it’s just a matter of who is going to end up reaching up and taking that job in spring training.”

 

They also addressed Santana's offense, which the rookie has shown a better propensity of handling right-handed pitching in comparison to lefties. Ryan said he is not worried about Santana's approach against lefties and should develop from the right-side:

 

I don’t know, I think he’s OK from the right-side. Of course, they are always going to see way more right-handed hitters in the minor leagues, especially. You don’t see many lefties down there. Consequently, they don’t do quite as well against lefties because they don’t see them, but like a lot of young hitters up here he’s going learn and experience and realize what people are trying to do with him. And between the video and scouting and advanced reports and so forth, you gotta think he’s probably going to improve.

 

He is strong – deceivingly strong – and he can hit a ball a long way from both sides. But I think he’ll be OK from the right-side and certainly his speed will allow him to beat out some of the ground balls and some of the bunts and some of the chops so he should be able to keep his average up for the length of his major league career the way he can run.

 

 

 

To listen to the segment in its entirety, click here. 

[drjim]

I wonder about the role Ryan plays in who plays how much at what position. When quoted, Ryan generally says that he provides the players and the manager makes the decision on the lineup. I do wonder if Ryan ever intervenes strongly on this as there does seem to be some conflict between trying to win games and trying to do what is best for the long term good of the org. I can't imagine Ryan is happy with Santana playing a lot of CF, but he also probably realizes there wasn't much of an alternative for most of the season.

 

Other GMs seem to be much more hands on, but that might also be exaggerated through media reports (both ways).

[Linus]

A really good shortstop is such a valuable commodity, that's why I believe Santana's upside is worth giving him a shot there, even though we have Escobar and don't have a CF.

 

Ryan was also very candid about Polanco's season, which he was not impressed with either the bat or the glove.

[Badsmerf]

Ryan had to completely get rid of Juan Castro to get Bartlett playing time. This is a slightly different scenario. I really hope he explores trading one of their MI pieces this winter. With Polanco most likely starting in AA next year, there is some depth at the position. Also, having a guy like Nunez on the roster provides a back-up plan in case of an injury. 

 

These quotes tell me more that JR isn't going to go MI dumpster diving this offseason and nothing more. I don't trust him to do what is in the best interest of the club anymore. I half believe the Span and Revere trades where handed to him on a silver platter. I hoped last season would change my opinion just as I hope this winter will. 

[Riverbrian]

A couple of things...

 

A. I don't like the idea of winning a job in spring training. It's just a Small Sample Size based against players from A-ball to the the bigs. I don't believe the Twins do this... So don't say it. Jason Batlett made the team last year after all. I'm also guessing that Hicks didn't win a job in spring training... I believe he was hand selected and his ST just confirmed it. If Plouffe hits .081 in ST... Will they cut him... Nope.. They won't.

 

B. On my 2nd point... I might be in the minority but that's OK with me... I think Escobar played well enough to get significant playing time in 2015.. I don't look for regression... I don't assume it... It's unfair to any player to say he was good but he won't be later. All players should be working to improve and if they do... We shouldn't scoff at it.

 

C. I think Santana playing CF and SS allows Santana a chance at a job somewhere on the field that he also earned.... And he provides a safety net for both positions. This is good for Santana and good for the Twins.

 

D. The last thing I want to see is a starter barely winning a job and then playing every day. If Escobar and Hicks are named the starters. I hope that doesn't mean Santana becomes a pinch runner with one start a week. Having two SS's is a good problem to have and a problem we haven't had. Let's not play one while killing the other. And Yes.. I think Gardy does this from time to time. A little lineup creativity would be awesome.

[Linus]

Actually, he held out on the Span trade until he got Meyer.  It was reported that trade had been discussed nearly a year prior but Ryan wouldn't do it without Meyer and the Nats refused the first go around and then came back to him.

 

I know people like to be critical of Ryan but his track record making trades is pretty darn good.

 

I don't think he manipulates his answers for media purposes.  He gives honest answers - his actual opinions and that's it.  Of course, whether you like them or not is a different thread(s).

[Platoon]

A couple of things...

A. I don't like the idea of winning a job in spring training. It's just a Small Sample Size based against players from A-ball to the the bigs. I don't believe the Twins do this... So don't say it. Jason Batlett made the team last year after all. I'm also guessing that Hicks didn't win a job in spring training... I believe he was hand selected and his ST just confirmed it. If Plouffe hits .081 in ST... Will they cut him... Nope.. They won't.

B. On my 2nd point... I might be in the minority but that's OK with me... I think Escobar played well enough to get significant playing time in 2015.. I don't look for regression... I don't assume it... It's unfair to any player to say he was good but he won't be later. All players should be working to improve and if they do... We shouldn't scoff at it.

C. I think Santana playing CF and SS allows Santana a chance at a job somewhere on the field that he also earned.... And he provides a safety net for both positions. This is good for Santana and good for the Twins.

D. The last thing I want to see is a starter barely winning a job and then playing every day. If Escobar and Hicks are named the starters. I hope that doesn't mean Santana becomes a pinch runner with one start a week. Having two SS's is a good problem to have and a problem we haven't had. Let's not play one while killing the other. And Yes.. I think Gardy does this from time to time. A little lineup creativity would be awesome.

U just used the terms "Gardy" and "creativity" in the same paragraph? Of the current twins, Santanna is the only true lead off option. Which is the problem with him as a super utility guy. Nothing in Gardy's history makes anyone think he will be able to keep Santanna in the lineup in that role.

[nicksaviking]

I would welcome Santana at SS full time, however there is a ton of value in a guy like Ben Zobrist who can competently bat at the top of the order and play MI or OF depending on what's most pressing at the time.  If Santana can handle the position uncertainty, I'm fine heading into 2015 without him having a defined role assuming it's not on the bench.

[ericchri]

As long as Santana plays, I'm not bothered by what position it is.  Ideally he'd have a set position, and I'm sure he would rather that too, and that would preferably be SS.  But if he has to bounce around a little to make the strongest team we can put out on the field (next year), so be it.  The arrival of more guys from the minors is going to shake things up some more, but I like his versatility for the benefit of the team, and I suspect he prefers a major league paycheck to playing SS at AAA.

[Brandon]

Santana could be the future LF anyways and may not stay at SS

[DocBauer]

I'm actually pleasantly surprised by Ryan's comments. Seems to me he's always been a pretty close to the vest kind of guy. For that matter, so has been Gardy. And TK for that matter. And yet, both TK and Gardy have been pretty effusive in their praise for Santana in the past, even before he came up to make his mark this season. And to hear Ryan say the same things speaks volumes to me.

 

Say what you want about a few of Ryan's very first moves a long, long time ago, or his reluctance at times past to spend, he has a very strong reputation and resume as a scout and trade maker.

 

I wonder a bit, with no disrespect to Ryan's comments, or Santana's abilities and performance and potential, to "most athletic" in the system because you still have to consider young Gordon as well as young Goodrum, who played out of position most of the season. But overall talent and ability plus being higher than up the chain than others, how could you possibly argue with his evaluation? I think we have all come to realize we have a potentially special player here. Someone who slipped under the radar a bit despite his potential.