Available RH Hitting Outfielders

[stringer bell]

On another thread, I mentioned that the holdovers for the Twins in the outfield lean left handed.  In my estimation, candidates for 2015 outfield jobs in the organization are:  Oswaldo Arcia (only guaranteed starting OF), Jordan Schafer, Aaron Hicks, Chris Parmelee, Chris Herrmann, Eddie Rosario, and perhaps Danny Ortiz.  All except Hicks are left handed hitters and Hicks is a switch hitter.  We can also add in Danny Santana if the new manager wants to keep him in the outfield. 

 

It would appear to me that the team needs to go out of the organization to acquire a right handed hitting major league outfielder who can play good (or better than good) defense.  I have come up with five names, some free agents, some not starters on their current team:  Peter Bourgos, Craig Gentry, Chris B. Young, Chris Denorfia, and Alex Rios.  The last three guys are free agents.  Bourgos and Gentry are not starters on their current team.

 

Do any of these guys interest you?  Are there others who should be considered?  Thoughts?

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Parmelee has a reverse platoon split - he actually hit lefties better than righties in 2014, if that's meaningful...

 

Nelson Cruz will be extended a Qualifying Offer by Baltimore, which he will decline, making him a free agent again. He will be the biggest RH bat on the market. 

 

Yasmany Tomas is RH, too - the Twins were rumored to be trying to meet with him again. Not likely, but there's been more than the usual amount of smoke regarding this particular Cuban defector.

 

But yes, if defense is your thing...

 

Bourjos would be the guy...

[nicksaviking]

Aside from Thomas, the only one of those guys I would not be depressed seeing start is Rios.  His speed and power were down last year but he may still have a bounce back year.  He's already had three or four bounce back years, you'd think he's an expert at it by now.

[beckmt]

Non of them interest me.  Now trading for one, that is a different matter.  Dozier or Perkins or a combination of both are still the way to bring back a big time outfielder.  Friedman going to the Dodgers will hurt, because that is one of the teams I thought we might get an advantage deal done with

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Maybe, maybe not - I'm guessing that Friedman will want different prospects than Ned Colletti's staff would have asked for, but I don't think Friedman's arrival means that those three big contract veterans will now become unreasonably more expensive in terms of prospects to trade. Friedman may be even more eager to move those guys than Colletti was. 

[TheDean]

It's strange that the potential lineup options happened to shape up like that.  Obviously the IF is a bit better balanced; Mauer is the only LH - Escobar, Vargas, and Santana (if SS) are switch.

 

If I were the manager, and TR couldn't get me a RH LF, and the FO didn't want to try the Sano/Plouffe OF experiment that has been thoroughly discussed elsewhere...my options would be limited against both LH SPs and LOOGYs.  I think it's important, in that case, to have Pinto/Suzuki ready to PH on off-days.  That means more of a gambler mentality than Gardy ever had, or carrying Fryer/Herrmann too...

 

 

[DocBauer]

Honestly, that list is pretty depressing overall. Of course, there are always surprises and bounce back candidates. As a recent example, think of Francoeur a couple years ago with KC. One great year, followed by a so-so year and then poof. Finding that right guy is a combination of scouting, with a bit of hope, luck and coaching all mixed together.

 

Alex Rios is the one guy who might be that inexpensive, bounce back steal option.

 

To me, there are 4 smart choices for a FA LF next season. (Not including the possibility of Rios). The first is M Cabrerra. He might be the "safest" choice. The former CF should provide decent defense in LF, can hit, and has some reasonably projection as a power and RBI threat, and provides a veteran influence to a lineup that will include several young bats including Santana, Arcia, Vargas, Dozier and eventually Sano and Buxton amongst a couple others. He's also probably the most expensive option, and I've heard a wide mix of speculation as to what he may cost.

 

My second two options bring a lot of debate with them, but I think both are viable candidates/considerations. They are Torii Hunter and Michael Cuddyer. And it's NOT because they are favorite ex sons of the Twins, that is purely co-incidental. Now hear me out:

 

BOTH are long in the tooth and about done. But BOTH have actually been quite productive each of the past two seasons, both offer an experienced veteran presence and are well known for leadership and presence. Both should be available for a "near the end" discounted price. Both could be motivated for one more year in the sun, back with their original team. Even with regression, based on production over the past two seasons, it isn't hard to speculate at least one more solid, productive season. Even with age/athletic regression, is it so hard to see either of them play at least a decent defensive LF compared to the likes of Willingham, Kubel, Parmalee and whoever we tossed out in to LF for most of the season for 2014?

 

The last two years, Hunter hit .304 and .286 with solid slugging and OPS numbers along with 80+ RBI.

 

The last two years, Cuddyer hit .331 and .332 with even better slugging and OPS than Hunter, though injury shortened his 2014 season. And at last check, his road vs home splits did not show an appreciable home field advantage.

 

I don't think we should dismiss either of these two lightly as an inexpensive, productive and veteran presence on a one year deal. In Cuddyer's case, possibly an option year.

 

My last option, though I prefer a RH hitter, I like Rasmus as a CF by past trade who should do well in LF, could cover CF if necessary, and might be had on the cheap after a down 2014. He didn't deserve the $7M he got last season, is a viable bounce back candidate, and he may be looking for a 1 year deal at only 28yo. Even if signed for 2-3 years of solid pay, it could still be a win-win for both sides ultimately.

[Rosterman]

You have to think that Cuddyer might have value to the Twins right now. He would be better than Parmelee. Can also play third and first, or be a designated hitter. So even if you went two years (and maybe an option) he would be a nice guy to have in the clubhouse and more valuable because of his infield backup experience than, say, a Torii Hunter, who would only suffice if you needed ANOTHER name to add to a marquee signing to build season ticket interest, perhaps.

 

Of course, if you knew if the Twins may be Wild Card and post season bound, you would want to snatch up Delmon Young, who is a aprt-time player, or so his salary says he is.

 

If you took a flyer on Cabrerra, you could always use him for potential tradebait, if he doesn't implode.

 

I'm getting the impression that we may see the bigger mid-tier names looking for more years, but a better salary, saying $12-15 million a year. I don't really seeing more than 3-4 guys getting $100 million contracts from teams they haven't played for. I may be wrong. 

 

But Cuddyer does have value to the Twins, but he won't be playing in Colorado, either.

[stringer bell]

I am as big a Cuddy guy as there is.  I think he was underappreciated in Minnesota and probably would put up good offensive numbers wherever he plays next year.  That said, he is not a fit for what I see this team needs.  The club needs good defensive outfielders and not even I can say that Cuddyer is a good defensive outfielder.  Beyond that, the vacancy is in left field.  Cuddyer has played less than 10 games in left and those games were more than a decade ago.  So, to play Cuddyer in the outfield, the corresponding move would be to move Arcia to left--not worth it for a one or two year bridge player.  Further, there is the injury history.  Cuddyer missed more than half the season with injuries, he was on the DL in 2013 and missed more than 50 games in 2012. 

 

The role I can see for Cuddy is if Vargas, Arcia, or Mauer is injured and would miss most or all of the season.  He does have the versatility to play first, right or DH.  I have always loved Cuddyer's attitude and if he were brought in as a part-time player, he could be a mentor for some younger players, but I am confident that he wants to continue to be a regular.