Wily Mo Pena?

[twinsfan34]

http://wapc.mlb.com/cutfour/2014/05/14/75453676/watch-wily-mo-pena-hit-a-490-foot-homer-off-the-osaka-dome-ceiling

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

http://wapc.mlb.com/cutfour/2014/05/14/75453676/watch-wily-mo-pena-hit-a-490-foot-homer-off-the-osaka-dome-ceiling

 too high.

[Mike Sixel]

What m the downside?

 

They give him a MLB spot

They don't sign a younger guy for the minors, because he is there

They spend any of their limited budget on him, and not a younger player, or a better player

He takes a AAA spot from a guy, and pushes him to AA

It signals to fans they are stuck in some odd place, not rebuilding, not going for it

It continues a trend of awful decisions.from last year.

 

There are dozens of possible bad outcomes here.

[jorgenswest]

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.

I disagree. Like Kubel and Bartlett last year, bringing him in means they don't look elsewhere. He takes a spot even as a minor league sign. Those spots are better used on mid 20s players that are failed prospects elsewhere. If you find a JD Martinez or Chris Davis or Chris Carter, you have something for the future. Signing a decline phase player who has a career OPS+ below Chris Parmelee's doesn't make sense. I don't believe the rumor.

[Boom Boom]

I certainly hope the Twins don't give Pena one of those minor league deals with a *wink* like they gave Kubel last year.

[Seth Stohs]

I disagree. Like Kubel and Bartlett last year, bringing him in means they don't look elsewhere. He takes a spot even as a minor league sign. Those spots are better used on mid 20s players that are failed prospects elsewhere. If you find a JD Martinez or Chris Davis or Chris Carter, you have something for the future. Signing a decline phase player who has a career OPS+ below Chris Parmelee's doesn't make sense. I don't believe the rumor.

 

Why can't they look in both places? They can sign international players, minor league free agents, and still make waiver claims. Just because they didn't choose to add JD Martinez doesn't mean they don't look at claiming guys. And, we have to stop going back to Kubel and Bartlett as examples of minor league free agent signings that didn't work. There are plenty of examples of minor league free agents who have contributed too.

[jorgenswest]

The number of at bats and time in the field is finite. They have a plan for some number of non roster pitchers, catchers and hitters. They can't and won't bring in so many guys that the others don't get enough work in.

 

When they bring in a decline phase player with little long term value, they lose an opportunity to bring in a mid 20s player that also comes with team control should he produce.

 

Even if Kubel had approached his career norms last year, they didn't have him under control for this year. They aren't any better off today.

[TheLeviathan]

I'm ok with the general idea behind this, but Wily Mo Pena hasn't really ever been relevant and certainly not even remotely so for awhile.

 

Add to that the fact he's a poor defending corner OF and there is just nothing about this that makes much sense for this team.

[Seth Stohs]

I'm ok with the general idea behind this, but Wily Mo Pena hasn't really ever been relevant and certainly not even remotely so for awhile.

 

Add to that the fact he's a poor defending corner OF and there is just nothing about this that makes much sense for this team.

 

 

It's weird because I'm sure I sound like I'd be in favor of signing Pena, and I'm not necessarily in that camp. However, we just don't know anything about him right now. He was a huge prospect who completely flopped in several big league opportunities. However, he has been in Japan. Maybe he's made some adjustments. Maybe his elite power has been controlled enough and he won't strike out as much. I don't know. I just think it's great to hear names coming from all venues. 

[stringer bell]

If Santana is truly going to be a shortstop, the Twins need two (2) outfielders, both of whom should be average or better to give their pitching staff a fair chance.  Unless they want to use Peña as a DH/PH, he really doesn't fit the bill. He will run into quite a few so-so fastballs and a couple of hung breaking pitches, but he can be pitched to.  He's probably a small upgrade from Colabello, but that is damning with faint praise as I see it. 

[TheLeviathan]

It's weird because I'm sure I sound like I'd be in favor of signing Pena, and I'm not necessarily in that camp. However, we just don't know anything about him right now. He was a huge prospect who completely flopped in several big league opportunities. However, he has been in Japan. Maybe he's made some adjustments. Maybe his elite power has been controlled enough and he won't strike out as much. I don't know. I just think it's great to hear names coming from all venues. 

 

Even if he has become Josh Willingham...aren't we now fully aware that playing another Josh Willingham is not good for our pitching staff?  The only alternative is him taking at-bats from Vargas and I can't see how anyone would be behind either of those scenarios. 

 

I don't mind the approach behind it, but this news combined with the reports about Hunter lead me to believe the Twins are going down the wrong path for their OF issues.

[jokin]

 

 

I don't mind the approach behind it, but this news combined with the reports about Hunter lead me to believe the Twins are going down the wrong path for their OF issues.

 

It's not so much that it's the WRONG path they're going down, which it is (Willingham is going to be remembered as a gazelle in LF if they throw Pena out there), it's the fact that it looks like the SAME path that has helped contribute to all of these 90 loss season.  This would imply that they aren't relying very much on the data, or are willfully ignoring said data, that is telling them where they need to make improvements.

[jokin]

If Santana is truly going to be a shortstop, the Twins need two (2) outfielders, both of whom should be average or better to give their pitching staff a fair chance.  Unless they want to use Peña as a DH/PH, he really doesn't fit the bill. He will run into quite a few so-so fastballs and a couple of hung breaking pitches, but he can be pitched to.  He's probably a small upgrade from Colabello, but that is damning with faint praise as I see it. 

 

He has a split disadvantage, as well.  Are they really that dismissive of what Vargas can bring in 2015?

[jokin]

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

 

Considering the source of the agitation, it's certainly reasonable to expect such reactions.  Supplying more rumors and tweets around guys like Abreu, Hughes, Suzuki, Garza, Santana, Tomas, Anderson, Masterson..., will significantly alter the firestorm/bandwagon-jumping quotient.

[Rosterman]

Hey, Albers could come back and be another starter in waiting?!

 

Again, who do the Twins DH Beyond Vargas? Bernier? Rodriguez? Beresford? They could add Hunter with the potential to DH (remember, Vargas may not be the same Vargas we saw last year, shades of Pinto and Parmelee). 

 

But out of the gate, unless he has an absolute horrid spring, Vargas needs that 40-game window.

 

Parmelee, Colabello, Pena?

[jay]

It's not so much that it's the WRONG path they're going down, which it is (Willingham is going to be remembered as a gazelle in LF if they throw Pena out there), it's the fact that it looks like the SAME path that has helped contribute to all of these 90 loss season. This would imply that they aren't relying very much on the data, or are willfully ignoring said data, that is telling them where they need to make improvements.

I'm not in favor of this move. However, I can't possibly understand taking this one tweeted rumor of some potential interest, turning that into a determination that the Twins view him as their next starting outfielder and then using that to proclaim that the Twins aren't relying on data.

[jokin]

I'm not in favor of this move. However, I can't possibly understand taking this one tweeted rumor of some potential interest, turning that into a determination that the Twins view him as their next starting outfielder and then using that to proclaim that the Twins aren't relying on data. I'm sorry, but that is completely bizarre.

Who has said anything like this? No. One. No one has presumed anything.  And you conveniently ignore the fact that this is not one lone tweet, it is, in fact, the second OF name being bandied about that would also be a defensive liability. We are only working with projected OF from the new names the Twins have supplied as possible additional options, to this point. And pointing out, in response to this news, that based on current data, neither would be desirable as a starter. Torii Hunter and Wily Mo Pena. Throwing Bourjos into the mix, with Arcia in RF, and one of the above might be something they're considering, but that might net out only to a tiny incremental improvement in the OF defense. Or they might be thinking of moving Plouffe to LF with Mauer to 3rd and Pena and Ortiz splitting the duties as 1st, which might also net a small improvement.  But pointing out that inside sources are saying that the already-defensively challenged Twins defense are now bringing up 2 OF names that by themselves, and the current data, says they don't make the defense better, is the exact opposite of "completely bizarre."

 

And the source on Pena is the opposite of some fever swamp, up-all-night, anonymous Twitter poster, but the very guy who has been the best reporter on Twins developments (he even has two inside sources on the Yang deal, one possibly a KIA manager):

 

 

Mike Berardino ‏@MikeBerardino

Wily Mo Pena had .830 OPS, 32 HR, 90 RBI in 572 PA for Orix in 2014. Turns 33 in January. Interest in #MNTwins is reciprocal, source says.                                        

[Riverbrian]

Moderator Note:

 

Jay and Jokin... I have edited your posts... Not very well... But I did it.

 

Let's not spiral downward or warnings will be handed out.

 

Keep it civil... Less defensive and less offensive please.

[jokin]

Moderator Note:

 

Jay and Jokin... I have edited your posts... Not very well... But I did it.

 

Let's not spiral downward or warnings will be handed out.

 

Keep it civil... Less defensive and less offensive please.

 

I start each day with this motto....  "Up, up and away"...or this one.... "to infinity and beyond..."

 

It doesn't always work out that way...   unfortunately, sometimes it ends up with-  "there's going to be fines and suspensions!"

[jay]

Less defensive and less offensive please.

In a thread on Wily Mo Pena.

 

...I see what you did there.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Wily Mo Pena was awesome in MVP Baseball! I have no problem at all with a minor league deal and a spring training invite. If he has a better spring than Colabello, he can have Cola's job. To me, that's where he'd fit on this team.

 

He can DH on Mauer's off days (Vargas at first) and sure, throw him out in RF every now and then to give Arcia a day off.

[Otto von Ballpark]

He can DH on Mauer's off days (Vargas at first) and sure, throw him out in RF every now and then to give Arcia a day off.

Exclusive backup DH is a thing we need?

 

I guarantee you, such a backup would almost certainly see more action in the OF than you suggest. He would be the top replacement for any injury -- and we have seen how much this team has resisted DL stints at times. I do not even want that temptation around if the guy is not an average defensive OF.

 

If he wants to go to AAA, preferably not even on the 40-man roster, maybe.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

I'm not even a little bit worried about Wily Mo Peña - he's not under contract with the Twins, and he probably won't be. If (big big if) the Twins sign him, there's no guaruntee that he makes the team out of spring training.

 

Several months and several breaks have to happen before he's wearing a Twins Uni.  

 

That being said- if he is signed and does beat the competition in Spring Training - why not have him instead of Colabello?

 

I'm hoping that the Twins sign some talented defensive outfielders, and Wily Mo Peña will be a moot point.

[Otto von Ballpark]

IThat being said- if he is signed and does beat the competition in Spring Training - why not have him instead of Colabello?

Because Colabello's role probably doesn't belong on this MLB roster either?  Or arguably not even the 40-man roster?

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Sure - they haven't signed anybody yet. My opinion is that Peña would be better than Colabello in 2015, and therefore if those are the options available on the 40 Man, that's where my vote would be.

 

I hope that's not the only option that the Twins have.

[AWOLNATION_11]

Fangraphs had an article about the Right-Handed Power Problem the other day.  Why not take a look at Pena?  He doesn't have to be a long-term piece.  Maybe he shows some power and the Twins can flip him for an interesting player at the deadline.  Maybe he doesn't and they give him the boot in favor of a minor leaguer that needed some AAA refinement.

[twinsfan34]

I like looking. Again, Chris Carter cleared waivers for all MLB teams, could be had for $500K.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cartech02.shtml

 

If he beats out the AAA or AA guy, I want the guy who beats out the other guys. I do like putting in the young guys - more than most.

 

Speaking of a AAA or AA guy, who are you referring to?

 

Willy Mo Pena is a .350/.440/.710 AAA player...who the Twins got in AAA that would hit that well?

 

I don't think he'll stick with the Twins after ST, but he's worth a look IMO.

[tobi0040]

With news that Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval have been signed by the Red Sox, I think the move would be to trade for Mookie Betts.  Allegedly they are going to move Hanley to the OF.  They have like six OF's.

[nicksaviking]

Eh, so what.  Anyone that signs Pena will surely only do so to a minor league deal.  The Twins were rumored to be interested in doing the same thing to Casey Mcgehee last year and probably realized they were on the right track when he turned out to be a servicable player. 

 

Last year I was just fine with the Kubel, Bartlett and Guerrier signings, they were all worth a no risk flier. Clearly the flaw was simply not making them earn their spots on the MLB level.   I give Ryan a lot of flack, but he wasn't the one making the decisions to give those three 25-man spots, that was Rob Anthony.  I don't think Pena, or any other minor league signing is going to be given a free pass onto the MLB roster this year, at least not after last season's fiasco.

[LimestoneBaggy]

Eh, so what.  Anyone that signs Pena will surely only do so to a minor league deal.  The Twins were rumored to be i I don't think Pena, or any other minor league signing is going to be given a free pass onto the MLB roster this year, at least not after last season's fiasco.

 

Bless your optimism sir (this pulled me out of a four month lurk).