Emilio Bonifacio a logical Twins Target?

[DocBauer]

Think about it for a minute. All logic dictates the Twins should bring in someone, from somewhere, to compete for at least a share of the CF job in 2015. What decent to top player will be available, OR, willing to sign with a team who's top prospect is a CF and one of the top prospects in all of baseball?

 

Now, if you're the Twins, and you're being smart...and be honest, they usually are...you can't feel comfortable going in to 2015 with Hicks and Schafer as your lone CF options. Sure Santana is an option, but isn't he destined for a full time SS audition? Rosario is talented and intriguing and definitely an option before being moved to LF, but that's a pretty big push/gamble even with his ability and a solid start in the AFL.

 

Benifacio was mentioned often this past offseason as an interesting piece to the puzzle. The 29yo switch hitter is nothing special, but he does bring a few things to the table. He switch hits, is experienced and versatile, brings speed to a lineup, and probably comes pretty cheap. It's not hard to look at the Twins potential roster for position players next year and find it mostly set, barring surprises or unexpected big move. Suzuki and Pinto at C, Mauer and Vargas at 1B and DH. Dozier, Santana, Plouffe, Escobar and Nunez in the infield. Arcia in RF. That leaves CF and LF in the hands of Hicks, Schafer, and possibly a FA and possibly Parmalee.

 

Bonifacio, Hicks and Schafer could compete for CF, or a share of it in a platoon situation. While I like Nunez and think the only thing he's guilty of is being a role player, I like him. But Bonifacio could end up replacing him as a potential utility player with speed and an OK bat, even if he only grabs a share of the CF spot.

 

If the Twins were to acquire a legitimate LF option via trade or FA, you could see a battle between Hicks, Schafer, Bonifacio, Nunez and Parmelee for the CF/last 3 spots on the opening day roster.

[stringer bell]

I think I banged the drum second hardest for Bonifacio last year.  While I do like what he brings to the table, I don't think he's really a fit for the Twins.  The current Twins candidates for the vacant outfield position(s) have a lot of LH bats and a lot of speed.  Bonifacio has that, too.  However, one of his best assets is versatility and with five guys to fill three positions already, there really isn't much need to bring in a speedy switch-hitting infielder.  Unless, Bonifacio's RH splits are very good, color me disinterested.

 

OK, I checked.  Bonifacio clearly was a better RH hitter last year (good!), but in his previous two years, he was pretty terrible from the right side.  In his career, his numbers are better right handed, but the split isn't that wide. 

[The Wise One]

No No No No No No. Another scrap heap player is the last thing the team needs.  Emilio can't hit, his career OPS+ is in the disaster category. Why not target someone who can play all facets of the game? You want a utility player than can play all over the field. Hire a center fielder and Santana should bring more to the table than Emilio. Escobar could do anything Emilio can do and hit better.

[jay]

I'm going to land on 'no thanks' here. I like his flexibility, but I'd like to see the Twins ingrain that on a few of the current players. The Twins have enough players of similar caliber to sort through as it is.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

If the Twins didn't already have Danny Santana and the two Eduardos, I would say go for it - he would have seemed like a smart pick up in 2014 for the Twins - they didn't have Nuñez yet, and they didn't know what they had in Escobar or Santana.

 

I think he'd be better to have on the team than Nuñez, but only because his OF defense is marginally better. I don't think he brings more to the table than the guys already on the roster, namely Danny Santana.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Uhhhh. NO.

 

Can someone explain to me in what capacity Emilio Bonifacio is better than, say, Aaron Hicks?

 

At least with Hicks, you have some prospect status lingering. Bonifacio is a bad player and has been for quite some time.

 

Bonifacio had an OPS under .560 three months of 2014. That's not bad. That's horrible.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

I do recall that Bonfacio had a really fast start in April and some folks on TD were losing their minds over the Twins passing on him. Granted, MN had Hicks in Center with no backup and had dumped Alex Presley in favor of Jason Bartlett...

 

His line of .337/.385/.406 and 10 SB in March/April was fueled by a BABip of .415

[Physics Guy]

Bonifacio isn't a better option over Schaefer or Hicks, IMO.  Yes, he can play in the IF, but that isn't a problem right now (Santana, Escobar, Nunez). 

[Physics Guy]

It's also possible Rosario would be a better option soon.

[pierre75275]

No. They need to get away from the status quo of signing mediocre players. I am well aware that there is a place on every roster for such a player. The problem is the Twins have several and don't need to be looking for more.

[jorgenswest]

Replacing Schafer with Bonifacio would be an significant improvement. Only one set of projections are out but Schafer projects to a 615 OPS. Schafer is a poor defender in CF and below average in LF. He doesn't play IF.

 

It isn't enough improvement though. I want them to stick with Schafer so that it is easy to bring up Rosario if he starts well. If not Rosario, then Sano and move Plouffe to LF. If not Sano, then Buxton. If not Buxton, then give Hicks another long shot. The one projection out has him improving to a .668 OPS.

 

It is too easy to sign below average players because the other opening day choice is even worse. The player signed, though, gets far too much playing time.

 

I am all in if they want to sign a top quartile player at any position. Barring that, they need to avoid the below average and invest in the future.

[adorduan]

Replacing Schafer with Bonifacio would be an significant improvement. Only one set of projections are out but Schafer projects to a 615 OPS. Schafer is a poor defender in CF and below average in LF. He doesn't play IF.

 

It isn't enough improvement though. I want them to stick with Schafer so that it is easy to bring up Rosario if he starts well. If not Rosario, then Sano and move Plouffe to LF. If not Sano, then Buxton. If not Buxton, then give Hicks another long shot. The one projection out has him improving to a .668 OPS.

 

It is too easy to sign below average players because the other opening day choice is even worse. The player signed, though, gets far too much playing time.

 

I am all in if they want to sign a top quartile player at any position. Barring that, they need to avoid the below average and invest in the future.

Schaefer isn't a poor defender in CF or below average in LF.

[jorgenswest]

Schaefer isn't a poor defender in CF or below average in LF.

This is what Twins a Daily member and Brave blogger BiggentleBen said upon his acquisition.

 

"He's a CF in speed only at this point as his instincts in the field are terrible and simply have not gotten better. The only thing worse than his first step is his routes, so not exactly the guy you want to rely on for covering a spacious outfield. His best defensive asset is his arm. His speed does allow him to make up for his first step on quick shots, but on long runs, his poor routes often bite him, and he misses a ball most center fielders can make."

 

He was DFA'd when the Braves acquired Bonifacio. The Atlanta Constitution Journal wrote about the upgrade in outfield defense Bonifacio would provide.

 

Don't trust those that saw him over a long period of time? You can always look at the defensive metrics that have him in the negatives in both defensive runs saved and UZR.

 

Is poor CF too strong? How about bad? Is below average too strong for LF? How about mediocre? He doesn't have the bat to be a platoon LF in any case.

 

A fifth OF, great pinch runner on a team with 11 pitchers is a perfect major league role. I hope the Twins find a manager who will platoon and that 4th OF spot needs to be a solid enough hitter to merit those at bats.

[stringer bell]

I have no reason to believe that Schafer will be a star or even put up positive offensive numbers.  I would agree that  Bonifacio has been a far better player than Schafer, both with their best tool of being expert base stealers. The thing that was so appealing about him was his versatility, which would be negated by a Twins team with both Nuñez and Escobar.  Bonifacio will be 30 for 90% of the 2015 season. After an extremely good start, he slowed considerably and suffered injuries.  Schafer did better for the Twins than his replacement, Bonifacio, did for the Braves.  I don't think spending millions on a guy who might not be a regular is a good allocation of resources.