Ryan Howard

[diehardtwinsfan]

I think the Twins would be best served bringing up some relievers and figuring out a way to dump Nolasco... Just my two cents.  Offense seems to be getting the job done, though they could use help in CF (not sold on Hicks yet) or Catcher.  I also think a resurgent Twins team should really be trying to convince Mauer to return to catching so they can put a better bat in at 1B.  He'd be an upgrade on Suzuki both offensively and defensively... but I know that ship has sailed.

[TheLeviathan]

Bautista?  Sure.

 

Howard or Revere?  No.  Just no.

[gunnarthor]

 

 

1. "Neither Revere or [sic] Howard are replacement level"

 

Ryan Howard WAR, 2012 - present: 0.0

 

Revere is slightly above replacement level, true enough.

 

2. "Neither block top prospects"

 

I guess we will just have to disagree regarding the prospect status of players such as Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano.

 

3. "you are overrating Reed and Hu (and Vargas)"

 

I'm not sold on Vargas either. We will just have to disagree on whether Reed and Hu are less valuable than one replacement level player and one 4th outfielder.

Howard's WAR value is destroyed by his defensive numbers.  He'd be DH here (although he has higher WAR this year than our first baseman). 

 

Neither Sano nor Buxton would be blocked by either guy. 

 

Depends on what we trade but both would be upgrades right now.  There might be better upgrades elsewhere but those two would probably be cheaper in terms of what we would have to give up.

[Vanimal46]

If our lineup was struggling I would consider something like this. But with our current lineup producing and 3 DH options already, why bring another DH only option into the mix?

[JB_Iowa]

It reminds me a little of adding Morales last year.  Not the same because this would be a trade and that was a FA signing (did we give up a pick, though?).

 

I just can't see it turning out well.

[h2oface]

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again: The Twins should trade no prospects this season. None. No matter what. In another year or two after we see how our top prospects are developing, maybe. But not now.

I would love to see a prospect trade including Danny Santana for Tulo to play short. Remember the 4 prospects for Santana? Only one was a keeper (Gomez), even though Gardenhire and Ryan ran him out of town. Tulo's contract is reasonable ..... 113 mil left for 6 years.......30 now. Maybe even include Meyer, as this org apparently is not helping his developement. The Rockies could get something, sure, but they may get nothing, or the Twins can keep the same. 

 

In regard to Howard and Revere...... it looks to me like Brad Johnson is just trying to create his own rumor.

[Sky]

Howard has been hot for a month, but there is little reason to expect it to continue and he adds very little outside of the occasional power. He plays no defense, has a BB% rate of 5% and K% of about 27% and his ISO right now is .282, it hasn't been near that level since 2009. Plus he is owed a lot of money over the rest of this year and next, which clogs a roster spot for a DH when internal options are available for much cheaper. Speaking of which, Arcia will be back soon and at worst he can perform equally to Howard offensively but comes cheaply and with upside.

 

As for Revere, he is a one tool player that has some value but not much. I would much rather see Rosario and Hicks continue to see playing time until Buxton and others force their way onto the major league club. Revere himself is not cheap either, and is a likely non-tender candidate this off-season. 

[spinowner]

Ben Revere may be the worst .300 hitter in the history of the major leagues. He takes almost no walks and he gets almost no extra base hits. Defensively he is spectacular at running down the ball and catching it but he's got a popgun arm. The Twins will come out ahead in the long run having Trevor May instead, especially with what's-his-name in Chattanooga looking like the center fielder of the next 12 years.

[ScottyB]

 

FA signing (did we give up a pick, though?)

 

 

 

No draft choice lost

[TheLeviathan]

 

Neither Sano nor Buxton would be blocked by either guy. 

 

Depends on what we trade but both would be upgrades right now.  There might be better upgrades elsewhere but those two would probably be cheaper in terms of what we would have to give up.

 

You don't think blocking the DH spot could hurt Sano?  Especially given the year Plouffe is having?

 

Just because someone could be argued to be an upgrade right now doesn't make it a smart move.  Especially when the upgrade is arguable at best.

[Brock Beauchamp]

If you were to ask Terry Ryan what were some of the stupidest things he could do in June or July of 2015, I think trading for Revere and Howard would be near the top of that list.

 

This is such a monumentally bad idea that I'm having a hard time even forming an argument; there are so many reasons not to do it, I don't even know where to begin.

[gunnarthor]

You don't think blocking the DH spot could hurt Sano?  Especially given the year Plouffe is having?

 

It's not really a concern right now. And the way Sano is playing, maybe the Twins bring him up soon anyway and make it moot. But no, I don't think the Twins will move Sano to DH soon.

 

Right now the Twins are getting nothing out of DH. This wasn't hard to see coming since Vargas seemed to be our first option. I don't think it's a bad idea for the team to add another bat (be it Howard or someone else).

[DocBauer]

I know we are WAY PAST April Fools Day, but this is a joke, right?

 

Vargas shouldn't have been sent down, but at least is embracing the opportunity to kick butt and come back up hacking. Should be soon.

 

Arcia will be back soon, but might not be handed anything at this point. Still, he's super talented and needs to play.

 

We already don't appear to have room for Pinto on the roster.

 

But we would actually consider offering up even a marginal prospect for an over the hill hitter with next to nothing left because of a recent hot streak? Because said over the hill veteran is going to do what exactly for us? Block a young talent but somehow give us a couple more wins cranked out of his creaky old self?

 

How many languages can be quoted using variations of the word NO?!

[JB_Iowa]

I don't think anybody ever posted the original item (sorry if I missed it).

 

I've bolded the part where the writer (Brad Johnson) admits this is his own idea.

 

•The Twins aren’t yet buyers, but they’ll receive reinforcements when Ervin Santana and Casey Fien return to action. Santana is eligible to return from his PED suspension on July 4. Fien is currently on the disabled list. The club has received poor production from center field and designated hitter. They could stick with Aaron Hicks in center with Kennys Vargas as the primary designated hitter, but the addition of a “big bopper” would improve the overall outlook. My own speculation: I wonder if a combination of Ben Revere and Ryan Howard would make sense – assuming the Phillies ate enough cash.

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/05/rosenthals-latest-papelbon-marlins-padres-angels-twins.html#disqus_thread

[DaveW]

Howard isn't as bad as some of you are making him out to be, and no: Vargas, Arcia and Pinto do not give you similar numbers.

 

If Howard can stay healthy he is a very good DH option for you with 30 + HR power, none of Vargas pinto etc give you that IMHO.

 

I want nothing to do with revere bc of buxton on the way, but if we can get Howard for 6 mil or so and a non top 15 prospect, I think you gotta roll the dice, if he can stay healthy and effective he could be a steal.

 

He wouldn't be blocking sano, so that's fine, him blocking Vargas or Pinto isn't a big deal anyways. I would trade one of those two for catching help or relief help later on anyways.

 

Lastly; Bautista would be great, but he isn't going to come cheap at all, you are looking at Berrios as a starting point most likely.

[Monkeypaws]

Hunter has worked out well, but enough with the worn-out stars, especially at corner OF, 1B, DH slots.

 

I think the Twins have a surplus there; hell, we may have a surplus everywhere if these prospects keep developing.

 

Let's continue the rebuild from within: all our best teams were built the same way.

[jorgenswest]

Howard's contract goes through 2016 (25 million) and includes a 2017 buyout of 10 million. That is a commitment. Sure the Phillies will buy some of that out but not without a return of prospects from the Twins. 

 

 

Arcia, Vargas, Mauer, Pinto, Hunter... how many of those guys do we want in the field at the same time? Next year add Plouffe/Sano to the mix. Only one can play 3B. 

 

We have seen the difference in the outfield with Hicks in CF and Robinson or Rosario in LF. Let's not return to the days of statues in the corners and ball after ball landing in front of them.

[h2oface]

Howard could help the Twins set a new team strikeout record! Twins are only on pace for 1300 so far this year.... and the record was 1430 in 2013. Ryan would be good for that 130 for the rest of the year by himself.

[Hrbowski]

 

You don't think blocking the DH spot could hurt Sano?  Especially given the year Plouffe is having?

 

Just because someone could be argued to be an upgrade right now doesn't make it a smart move.  Especially when the upgrade is arguable at best.

Blocking the DH spot won't hurt Sano, he will stick at third.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Blocking the DH spot won't hurt Sano, he will stick at third.

Except then you're forcing the guy who has possibly been the Twins' best overall player (and no worse than second best) out of position.

 

That's not a good way to improve a baseball team. You make changes at the positions in the worst shape, not the best positions on the team. Right now, Sano would have more of an impact to help the team win if he was at DH, not third.

[Jham]

Let's be honest, Mauer is blocking everyone.  It hasn't been that big of a deal because he's been pretty much our best player, but as our team improves, it's become evident that the most obvious answer to our glut off of projected bats is that Mauer should be the odd (and most expensive) man out.  He needs to move back to catcher or we should consider trading him for whatever we can get while paying almost all of his salary...  unless by some miracle, he can play a corner outfield position.  His bat may not even be able to stick there...  That said, Howard was awful...  for like years, and this year... before his hot streak.  Pass.

[WyoTwin]

If the Twins are going to trade for someone they should trade for Troy Tulowitzki. He's the best ss in the game when healthy. Trade one of the young ss, pitcher, and of.

Meyer

Adam Brett Walker

Santana

Take the balls out of the humidor at Coors Field where you can bring back home field advantage. When you think Rockies now or from the early years it's all about the hitters. Walker could hit 45 hr, Meyer could be the third starter behind Gray and Butler. Santana could fill in at short. The Rockies would have to eat some payroll but the Twins have been stating the Polads are willing to spend money.

 

Or include a third team with Plouffe for more young pitching.

[h2oface]

Exactly. As I said earlier in this thread........Get Tulo. He is going to be traded. We have 4 shortstops....... Santana, Escobar, Polanco, and Gordon. Let then take their pick. I would even include Meyer now. I would hate to, as a Meyer apologist, but I think this org is not helping Meyer at all. I would not include Plouffe in the trade at this point. 

[ExpectMorePayLess]

 

Howard could help the Twins set a new team strikeout record! Twins are only on pace for 1300 so far this year.... and the record was 1430 in 2013. Ryan would be good for that 130 for the rest of the year by himself.

 

The Twins have the 5th best record in Baseball after today.  Do the strikeouts bother you that much?  Howard's 100+ RBI would and could only help with our offensive production.  Strikeouts and all.  Howard's 2012 and 2013 seasons were filled with injury.  Last year was a solid return considering he was coming back from a major injury.  This year is a typical Howard year.  

[brvama]

I sure hope however ventured this idea didn't drive home. It is a holiday and the cops are everywhere. OTOH, maybe this guy should be ticketed.

[gunnarthor]

 

 Right now, Sano would have more of an impact to help the team win if he was at DH, not third.

That's the problem.  Right now, Sano is a AA player not a ML option at third base or DH.

 

If the Twins think they can compete for a playoff spot, they should no longer be waiting on prospects.  That doesn't mean give up on the important guys still in the system.  But right now, today, the DH position is not flooded with good options.  Vargas hasn't shown that he's better than Parmelee and a playoff team shouldn't rely on Parmelee to plug an important offensive position.

 

Maybe Howard isn't the right guy to target.  I think he's a decent fit b/c his salary and length of commitment to him is low.  He wouldn't cost a lot in prospects and he has a pretty decent track record of hitting.  But maybe he's done.  Another poster noted his worsening walk and strike out numbers.  So maybe pass on him.  But the team, if it thinks it's a playoff contender, should do something about the lack of production from CF and DH.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I think they can shore up DH easily. Put Arcia there.

 

Then the team is open to start exploring corner outfield options. Center can be manned by Buxton.

 

Lots of options, very few needs that require going outside the org right now. Try internal options first. We haven't even rolled over into June yet.

[gunnarthor]

 

I think they can shore up DH easily. Put Arcia there.

Then the team is open to start exploring corner outfield options. Center can be manned by Buxton.

Lots of options, very few needs that require going outside the org right now. Try internal options first. We haven't even rolled over into June yet.

and waiting is fine, too.  I don't think Rosario is quite ML ready yet and Robinson isn't a starter but I do think a healthy Arcia will be a big improvement when he's back, regardless of whether it's LF or DH. 

 

As you say, it's not June yet and we don't know what this team is or how a trade might disrupt it.  But eventually they need better hitting, either out of the players they have or to get new players. 

[TheLeviathan]

 

It's not really a concern right now. And the way Sano is playing, maybe the Twins bring him up soon anyway and make it moot. But no, I don't think the Twins will move Sano to DH soon.

Right now the Twins are getting nothing out of DH. This wasn't hard to see coming since Vargas seemed to be our first option. I don't think it's a bad idea for the team to add another bat (be it Howard or someone else).

 

The beauty of the DH spot is you don't have to "move" anyone there.  You just put the guy there that either can't field or there is a positional logjam.  Adding Howard takes that flexibility away at the price of a player who could easily go pumpkin.

 

If the Twins want to truly upgrade a position and block a player I'm all for that if the player and the cost is right.  But that isn't Howard.

[h2oface]

 

The Twins have the 5th best record in Baseball after today.  Do the strikeouts bother you that much?  Howard's 100+ RBI would and could only help with our offensive production.  Strikeouts and all.  Howard's 2012 and 2013 seasons were filled with injury.  Last year was a solid return considering he was coming back from a major injury.  This year is a typical Howard year.  

Well......... it was a tongue in cheek joke. Sorry to get you all worked up. But I am still in the No NO NO  NO   NO camp. And since you asked, strikeouts always bother me. I can live with them, and prefer them to grounding into a double play, but otherwise.... not a fan of strikeouts from the hitters, but a big fan of Ks from the Twins' pitchers. I want Tulo. I don't think Santana or Escobar are the answer. Maybe Polanco or Gordon, but I want Tulo. Trade Santana, Meyer, and Arcia (I like outfielders who can play the position and hit, and I like Vargas better for DH) for Tulo.