Wily Mo Pena?

[gmarais66]

In my 40+ years of being a Twins' fan, this has to be one of the most perplexing rumors I've ever heard.... Why???

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/11/wily-mo-pena-becomes-free-agent-twins-have-interest.html

[jay]

Why???

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/11/wily-mo-pena-becomes-free-agent-twins-have-interest.html

I was about to post that article with literally the exact same thought. This one is strange.

[JB_Iowa]

http://blogs.twincities.com/twins/2014/11/22/twinsights-twins-showing-interest-veteran-slugger-wily-mo-pena/

 

 

 

Pena saw regular playing time with the Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox between 2004-07. He pounded 45 combined homers (in 647 at-bats) for the Reds in 2004-05 before being traded the following spring to Boston for right-hander Bronson Arroyo.

 

That was one of the first key moves made by then Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky, who later returned to the Twins’ front office as a special assistant to general manager Terry Ryan.

[maxisagod]

I get it. 

 

You have a Lefty in Jordan Schafer who can steal you 30-40 bases in year and a Righty in Wily Mo Pena who just hit 30 HR last year. And Roserio in AAA who doesn't have to start in the majors, but can take over if he gets hot by mid year. Nobody blocks any one, but you fill the need in left for the start of the year.

[jorgenswest]

While the Twins were trying to squeeze a year out of Bartlett and Kubel, the Tigers were claiming JD Martinez. The Twins had no need for Martinez at the time. They had already signed Kubel.

 

Some teams teams seek to fill out spring training roster looking for upside of a mid 20s DFA or minor league free agent. Other teams dream on the hopes of squeezing out one more year from a decline phase player in his 30s.

 

At some point someone is going to say it can't hurt to give Pena a shot on a minor league deal. It hurt last year. When they brought in a Kubel, they stopped seeking other options. They have a planned number of slots they want to fill for spring training. They need to fill those spots betting on the upside of younger players rather than hoping to get a season out of a decline phase player.

[Boom Boom]

Pena isn't even really an outfielder. I think this means that the Twins aren't counting on much from Vargas.

[Steven Buhr]

Well if there was one thing that might get me thinking Torii Hunter wouldn't be the worst idea for a FA OF signing, this might be it.

[jay]

If the idea is that he can compete with Parmelee and Colabello for the last spot as a bench bat, maybe. Or, more likely replace Colabello in that competition.

 

Anything more than that, hellz no.

[Rosterman]

I, too, was perplexed at the passing the Twins took on JD Martinez, who they had once drafted and should've grabbed for a looksee, but wait, they had Kubel.

 

If you can get Wily Mo for a minor league deal, do so. He could be a productive bench bat or someone you'd want if Vargas flames out and needs more seasoning. The trick is, can you start either at AAA, not have both on the roster. After his alst disaster in the bigs, I'm sure people are knocking down others to get to him (sic).

 

The Twins keep signing more of their free agents. First Hermsen and Beresford and Hanson. Then Bernier. Now Daniel Turpen returns for another go around. But the younger Deolis moved on. 

 

I guess our exciting Twins off-season news continues to be the weekly announcement of who is coaching.

 

I'm buying my Twins tickets now!

 

Wait, they won a bid on that Korean lefty!!!!!

[TheLeviathan]

He's still a thing?

[jokin]

While the Twins were trying to squeeze a year out of Bartlett and Kubel, the Tigers were claiming JD Martinez. The Twins had no need for Martinez at the time. They had already signed Kubel.

 

Some teams teams seek to fill out spring training roster looking for upside of a mid 20s DFA or minor league free agent. Other teams dream on the hopes of squeezing out one more year from a decline phase player in his 30s.

 

At some point someone is going to say it can't hurt to give Pena a shot on a minor league deal. It hurt last year. When they brought in a Kubel, they stopped seeking other options. They have a planned number of slots they want to fill for spring training. They need to fill those spots betting on the upside of younger players rather than hoping to get a season out of a decline phase player.

 

They seem to be working off of the exact same script as last offseason.  Recruiting a guy to play out of position and cripple your OF defense, yet again?  They even have Molitor playing the role of Gardy and talking up the possibility of the next "team chemist" in place of Bartlett. 

[jay]

They seem to be working off of the exact same script as last offseason. Recruiting a guy to play out of position and cripple your OF defense, yet again?

I've seen the script of dramatic reactions stating what the Twins are doing based on very minimal information turn out completely wrong often enough.

 

I'm going to wait until we hear a lot more on this one before going there, yet again.

[Seth Stohs]

Cecil Fielder came back from Japan and became a pretty prolific power hitter for a few years.

 

OK, I wouldn't expect Pena to do that, but it's great to hear that the Twins are talking with players and their representatives from every avenue; Korea, Japan, Latin America, minor league free agents... I have no issues with this, preferably on a minor league deal... but it's intriguing.

[twinsfanstreif]

I'm too lazy to look it up but who was it that we signed back from Japan a few years ago (could be more like 7, time flies you know?) exactly like this and he sucked? For the life of me I can't remember but I think he was a 3rd baseman

[notoriousgod71]

Clearly Ryan has just got done simming a season of MVP Baseball 2005.

[twinsfanstreif]

I'm too lazy to look it up but who was it that we signed back from Japan a few years ago (could be more like 7, time flies you know?) exactly like this and he sucked? For the life of me I can't remember but I think he was a 3rd baseman

I just remembered, Tony Batista, this reminds me of that situation. didn't work out then, probably won't work out now

[jokin]

I've seen the script of dramatic reactions stating what the Twins are doing based on very minimal information turn out completely wrong often enough.

 

I'm going to wait until we hear a lot more on this one before going there, yet again.

 

"Going out where, yet again?" "Often enough?"  This is exactly what they've done with Willingham, Kubel, Bartlett.  Last I looked, Wily Mo is said by some to be close to 270 pounds and his last productive year in the majors was NINE seasons ago, in 2006.  If you're telling me that they envision Mauer moving to the OF, with Pena only playing 1st base, and primarily against LHP, then they might be able to make a case for Pena, but hopefully it's on a make-good deal... nine years ago...

[GoGonzoJournal]

While the Twins were trying to squeeze a year out of Bartlett and Kubel, the Tigers were claiming JD Martinez. The Twins had no need for Martinez at the time. They had already signed Kubel.

 

Some teams teams seek to fill out spring training roster looking for upside of a mid 20s DFA or minor league free agent. Other teams dream on the hopes of squeezing out one more year from a decline phase player in his 30s.

 

At some point someone is going to say it can't hurt to give Pena a shot on a minor league deal. It hurt last year. When they brought in a Kubel, they stopped seeking other options. They have a planned number of slots they want to fill for spring training. They need to fill those spots betting on the upside of younger players rather than hoping to get a season out of a decline phase player.

Kubel and Bartlett weren't a complete loss. Their demise was the reason we claimed Sam Fuld, who netted Tommy Milone.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Kubel and Bartlett weren't a complete loss. Their demise was the reason we claimed Sam Fuld, who netted Tommy Milone.

Although Fuld was available as a free agent as late as February, and then signed with a team where he was unlikely to start or even make the roster (he only did so temporarily as an injury replacement).

 

We may have noticed Fuld earlier if we hadn't already reserved spots for the "non-guaranteed" Kubel and Bartlett...

[ashbury]

Kubel and Bartlett weren't a complete loss. Their demise was the reason we claimed Sam Fuld, who netted non-tender candidate Tommy Milone.

ftfy

[jokin]

Although Fuld was available as a free agent as late as February, and then signed with a team where he was unlikely to start or even make the roster (he only did so temporarily as an injury replacement).

 

We may have noticed Fuld earlier if we hadn't already reserved spots for the "non-guaranteed" Kubel and Bartlett...

 

Or they could have claimed Emilio Bonifacio around the same time frame, and later traded him for a 20-year-old, 2nd round pick, switch-hitting, offensive-minded Catcher by the name of Victor Carafini, who is now ranked #10 in the #1-ranked Cubs farm system.

[jokin]

Kubel and Bartlett weren't a complete loss. Their demise was the reason we claimed Sam Fuld, who netted non-tender candidate Tommy Milone.

 

ftfy

 

Ouch.

 

Tommy Boy could be just another guy heading to Pittsburgh.

[strumdatjaguar]

No No No.  Why do we need another guy with some power to back up first base?  We have Vargas and Parmalee already.  I don't get the attraction, unless the Twins are just beefing up the roster in Rochester.

[jorgenswest]

Wily Mo Pena - career OPS+ 93

Chris Parmelee - career OPS+ 96

[Bark's Lounge]

I am of the opinion that Wily Mo Pena would be better off sticking in the Nippon League. Sure, the language and cultural differences are maybe a bit more difficult in Japan v. the US, of this I am not too sure because Pena is a DR Republic Citizen, but money is money. Pena has had his chances in the MLB and they have not worked out too well.

 

I have to believe Matt Murton, Wladimir Balentien, Brad Eldred and others are staying put because they are aware of this. Pena will fail in the MLB. Go make your 1-2 million per season in Nippon for the next 3-4 years, retire and have a good retirement. Damn, I wish I had this opportunity.

[howeda7]

Eew. No. Just no.

[jokin]

Eew. Mo. Just Mo.

 

Wayne Krivsky FIFY.

[The Wise One]

The sky is falling

[Linus]

Its that time of year at Twins Daily, where every rumor and tweet creates a firestorm.

[twinsfan34]

Woah, woah, woah...this guy isn't getting 10 years $200M. It's a mutual interest. What do you risk? Cecil Fielder sucked. Chris Davis sucked. Chris Carter sucked. Until they didn't. The guy is one of the most powerful hitters in the world. Stanton of the Marlins is in his league, not the other way around. Bring him in for a look, this isn't going to be 10 year contract $200M contract. There's little to no risk involved here.