Article: Trevor Plouffe Has Given The Twins A Great Problem

[jimmer]

 

As much as I want to see Nolasco off of this team, that is way too steep of a price for Hamels. Having a guy like him and Mauer making a combined $46 million for the next 5 years won't work out well for the Twins when Buxton and the other young prospects are due for a pay day.

Phillies are going to have to eat a good chunk of Hamels contract if they want any type of quality prospect in return.  

[Vanimal46]

 

Phillies are going to have to eat a good chunk of Hamels contract if they want any type of quality prospect in return.  

 

 

Definitely if they want to have any of our prospects. If the big dogs come into play like the Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox, etc. they won't even flinch at the $22.5 million price tag for Hamels. 

[jimmer]

 

Definitely if they want to have any of our prospects. If the big dogs come into play like the Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox, etc. they won't even flinch at the $22.5 million price tag for Hamels. 

I think even the big boys will need the Phillies to eat some money if they want any quality prospect.

[Mike Sixel]

I'd ask Mauer to consider early retirement and a settlement. He'll never be worth that contract at this point, imo.

 

I'd keep Plouffe, and keep him at 3B. He's good at his job. No idea why you deal a youngish, good, player. Sano could still be a year or more away (though I doubt it). I'd consider moving Sano to RF or 1B. If they are in contention, I'd call him up to DH after the ASB, assuming he is hitting. I do think he should be getting reps at 1B and RF in AA, but they aren't doing that. That, to me, indicates they either plan to do something with Plouffe, or just are not planning well, again....

 

Kepler, imo, is your RF or 1B, assuming he works out, in the future (again, another reason to try to get Mauer to consider retirement).

 

Then you have Vargas and Arcia, neither of whom should probably be in the field. Really, given Mauer's cost and production...........

 

But, bottom line, I have no idea why anyone wants to move Plouffe this year at all. He's youngish, and good.

[Boom Boom]

It's come to a point where I believe that Joe Mauer is going to hold this team back- not just because of his salary, but because he's playing a position where the Twins will have better options than him, sooner rather than later.

 

I get all the gushy hometown kid stuff... but a tough decision is going to need to be made. Either he is moved to a different position, or *gasp collectively* another team.

 

Think about this-if Mauer was a free agent after 2015, how in demand would he be as a FA first baseman? What kind of contract would the Twins be willing to give him to stick around and provide less-than-premium offense at a non-premium defensive position?

 

Bottom line- I believe Plouffe is a better player than Mauer right now, and given a choice between the two, I would pick Plouffe.

[Blackjack]

 

It's come to a point where I believe that Joe Mauer is going to hold this team back- not just because of his salary, but because he's playing a position where the Twins will have better options than him, sooner rather than later.

I get all the gushy hometown kid stuff... but a tough decision is going to need to be made. Either he is moved to a different position, or *gasp collectively* another team.

Think about this-if Mauer was a free agent after 2015, how in demand would he be as a FA first baseman? What kind of contract would the Twins be willing to give him to stick around and provide less-than-premium offense at a non-premium defensive position?

Bottom line- I believe Plouffe is a better player than Mauer right now, and given a choice between the two, I would pick Plouffe.

 

How many years are left in Mauer's contract?

[Boom Boom]

How many years are left in Mauer's contract?

Three, I believe.

[Blackjack]

A decision on trading Plouffe or Sano doesn't need to be made until this winter. Plouffe can play there until September when Sano comes up, then they can split time at third, see how Sano really does field.

 

In the long run, Plouffe is a nice player but you don't trade a potential stud like Sano. The more studs you have on a team, the better your chance at a championship.

[USAFChief]

As much as I want to see Nolasco off of this team, that is way too steep of a price for Hamels. Having a guy like him and Mauer making a combined $46 million for the next 5 years won't work out well for the Twins when Buxton and the other young prospects are due for a pay day.

it's not 5 years, it's thru 2018 For both Hamels and Mauer.

 

And the difference between paying Nolasco and paying Hamels is 10m in 2016 and 2017. only 2018 would require paying Hamels full salary, a year when presumably there should be plenty of salary room. Buxton won't be expensive by 2018.

[Brandon Warne]

 

Phillies are going to have to eat a good chunk of Hamels contract if they want any type of quality prospect in return.  

 

That is not accurate.

[Brandon Warne]

 

Having a guy like (Hamels) and Mauer making a combined $46 million for the next 5 years won't work out well for the Twins when Buxton and the other young prospects are due for a pay day.

 

Incidentally, yes it would. That's when paydays start to get unwieldy is around that time.

[USAFChief]

It. Isnt. 5. Years.

[TheLeviathan]

 

 

But, bottom line, I have no idea why anyone wants to move Plouffe this year at all. He's youngish, and good.

 

Plouffe is closing in on 29, I wouldn't call that young.  He's in the heart of his prime right now, but that's the peak of the hill.  Not the upslope.

 

Personally I don't WANT to deal Plouffe.  But I strongly believe that any player approaching 30 that you don't have a long-term commitment already in place with....should be on the trade block.  Not that you have to deal him, but you damn sure shouldn't be shutting the door without listening either.  

[Mike Sixel]

Not shutting the door is different than people saying they should trade them. That's pretty clear, I think.

[TheLeviathan]

 

Not shutting the door is different than people saying they should trade them. That's pretty clear, I think.

 

I think there is a lot of muddling that distinction from both ends of the issue.

[Willihammer]

I wouldn't actively shop him but I'd be really curious to see what he could fetch. A young catcher who can frame and hit would fit in nicely I think. Not so much interested in more 30+ year old starters at this point, even Hamels.

[Vanimal46]

 

It. Isnt. 5. Years.

 

I stand corrected. 4 years. http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/1172/cole-hamels

[Mike Sixel]

 

I wouldn't actively shop him but I'd be really curious to see what he could fetch. A young catcher who can frame and hit would fit in nicely I think. Not so much interested in more 30+ year old starters at this point, even Hamels.

 

Sure, if you can get younger and better, sure.....seems doubtful to me. And by younger and better, I mean MLB player......where they don't have a good/soon prospect.

 

So, Catcher, and 1B (maybe) and corner OF. Oh, and maybe 3B if you lose Plouffe.

[Willihammer]

Sure, if you can get younger and better, sure.....seems doubtful to me. And by younger and better, I mean MLB player......where they don't have a good/soon prospect.

 

So, Catcher, and 1B (maybe) and corner OF. Oh, and maybe 3B if you lose Plouffe.

Oh, right. Loserville, USA. None of our players are worth anything, woe is me, etc. Is it so far fetched that one of our better players might, hypotethically, return someone interesting at a position of need? I guess I didn't get that memo.

[ashbury]

I wouldn't actively shop him but I'd be really curious to see what he could fetch.

This would be a great question for TR or someone close to him in the front office. How often does the phone ring, with other GMs asking about your players? Is it always the same two or three (Buxton, Sano, Berrios, say)? Do you get any real feel for what a player's current market is, without initiating those phone calls yourself?

 

I wonder if we got misled by watching Brad Pitt work all those trades.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Oh, right. Loserville, USA. None of our players are worth anything, woe is me, etc. Is it so far fetched that one of our better players might, hypotethically, return someone interesting at a position of need? I guess I didn't get that memo.

 

You read that 100% wrong. Plouffe is a top 10 player at his position.......it is rare to get more MLB talent in return, it usually comes in the form of prospects. My post was pretty clear, I thought, that it would be hard to get more talent, that is younger, that is MLB ready than you give up.

[jimmer]

Oh, right. Loserville, USA. None of our players are worth anything, woe is me, etc. Is it so far fetched that one of our better players might, hypotethically, return someone interesting at a position of need? I guess I didn't get that memo.

That's not what Mike was saying. He was saying that Plouffe likely wouldn't get us a player already at the major league level that is better than him at positions of need and also younger (where we don't have a young prospect on the verge). Then he listed possible positions.

[jimmer]

 

You read that 100% wrong. Plouffe is a top 10 player at his position.......it is rare to get more MLB talent in return, it usually comes in the form of prospects. My post was pretty clear, I thought, that it would be hard to get more talent, that is younger, that is MLB ready than you give up.

Yes, the meaning of your post was very clear.

[TheLeviathan]

I would suggest there is this other element of the roster dealing Plouffe could also help with - SP.  Sometimes it's just finding the right match - a team with a need and an excess.

 

I'm not saying that exists, but sometimes that partner comes out of nowhere and a player like Plouffe is exactly the type to make that happen.

[Willihammer]

 

You read that 100% wrong. Plouffe is a top 10 player at his position.......it is rare to get more MLB talent in return, it usually comes in the form of prospects. My post was pretty clear, I thought, that it would be hard to get more talent, that is younger, that is MLB ready than you give up.

He is a top 10 player at his position, thus it seems reasonable that other teams might pay a fair price for his services. Fair, not lopsided. I don't know how you inferred that.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Truth of the matter is this: A contender is going to trade a key piece for Plouffe. Plouffe will bring home a prospect, and it may be an AA/AAA type guy, but he's going to bring home something we have to finish developing.

 

I'm fine with that. I think you evaluate a trade towards the end of this season. If Sano's May becomes his June-August, then I think Sano gets his cup of coffee this September and likely will be handed the job in 2016. That makes sense. Yes, the Twins absorb some risk there, but I would assume they are picking up something nice (or possibly shedding something difficult such as Nolasco) in the process.

[drivlikejehu]

Plouffe is interesting. He was drafted in 2004 but didn't figure out minor league pitching until 2011. It translated to the Majors in 2014. Anyway, if another GM wants Plouffe, they can call Ryan, and it's rare for a player to be truly untouchable. Plouffe certainly isn't.

 

But I do have a hard time seeing what kind of trade would make sense. He's not good enough to bring back elite talent, but he's too good to give up for a limited return. And he only has 2 years left under team control after this season.

[Kwak]

Considering the misfits the Twins have employed at 3B since Koskie left, I am very skeptical that the Twins would trade Plouffe unless he said "I want out."  Please remember that Pohlad used the phrase, "...prospects aren't players...". 

[USAFChief]

 

   Please remember that Pohlad used the phrase, "...prospects aren't players...". 

concur.

[twinsnorth49]

Another stellar game by Plouffe, at the dish and in the field tonight. Stock keeps rising.