Future Twins OF...just for fun

[DocBauer]

This occurred to me recently as an idea/possibility.....just for fun.

 

Sometime in the VERY near future, whether it be September of this year, or April, May, June, etc of 2016, Buxton will be in CF and Sano will be handling the hot corner. And despite the ability, potential and huge presence of these top 5 overall exceptional talents, Polanco may actually be the most easily and early ML ready positional talent in the system. (And at arguably a more difficult position) This clearly represents improvement of talent on the parent club, but also signals changes to be made in the roster. Forgoing unpredictable injury issues or any trades, I find myself wondering about possibilities.

 

Plouffe is not Cuddyer, and doesn't have to be, to be a quality OF convert. But like former #1 pick and SS prospect, I am in the camp that believes former #1 pick and top SS prospect Plouffe, (who is a better 3B than Cuddyer was) has the athletic ability, baseball acumen, and requisite arm to be at least an OK RF.

 

Hicks seems to be finally growing up as a baseball player, (observation, not a personal shot) but isn't the talent Buxton is, may or may not yet prove to be productive enough to be a starting ML corner OF, but could be a great fit as a now mature 4th OF.

 

While a fan of Arcia, there have been injury issues and inconsistency surrounding tremendous talent and flashes of great ability. Is the question time and experience? Or maturity? We don't know yet.

 

Kepler, Walker, Harrison aren't quite there yet, though Rosario could be close. (And he and Arcia could blow the idea of this article out of the water.) So we have, somewhat easily, 2/3 of a nice, solid, quality and productive OF. So who plays LF?

 

Santana. He moves from SS to make room for Polanco, though he could still see action there as he did in '14, though it may not be necessary with Escobar still around. Santana played a credible CF in '14. Not great, but credible. Especially considering the situation handed him. Plus, he has spent the majority of his baseball career on the left side of the field. It wouldn't be that big of a stretch, would it, to expect him to play a solid LF? He would certainly have the range and arm for it and the OF. And we've seen his offensive potential. Perhaps it could be better realized in LF where he might be a dangerous entity at the top of the order best case scenario, and a dangerous bottom of the order entity, turning the lineup over again, worst case scenario.

 

Again, this is just for fun.

 

Although......

[drivlikejehu]

Plouffe is a 3rd baseman, end of story. He will play there for the Twins or for another club.

[gunnarthor]

Soon, not quite sure when, the OF will be Rosario/Buxton/Sano with Arcia at DH and Plouffe at 3B - Hicks may be a 4th OFer. 

 

I think Plouffe has played himself into a longterm option at third for the Twins. Sano's arm should be fine in right.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Plouffe has turned out to be too damned valuable to play anywhere but third. If the Twins can't play him there, he should be traded.