(almost) time to trade Plouffe for a catcher

[jimmer]

 

Always folks wanting to trade Plouffe. You culture a player, patience pays off, and then you don't want him anymore right when he is what you have always hoped he would be. Then the team is always strangers. Stats and strangers. I guess that is the way now. I don't have to like it. I can't help myself being a Twins' fan, even though I might not like the players that don't really seam like Twins.

I am not in the trade Plouffe camp.  I am just asking for trade suggestions.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Ankle perhaps?

 

I've wondered the same thing lately, but I thought that may be a reason.

I assumed it was due to ankle concerns. No evidence to back that up, just a hunch.

[Monkeypaws]

Who woulda thought AJ would have more value than Mauer at this point - crazy old game this.

[Rosterman]

I would not see a problem moving Plouffe. Again, I don't know if he will be worth $9-12 million in 2017. And if we move him, Escbar can play everyday at third.

 

[Kwak]

I sincerely doubt that anybody other than a #2 catcher could be had in a trade without a (good) SP included in the Twins offer.  Plouffe alone won't get it done.

[mudcat14]

Sano must be the 3B for the Twins in 2016, and going forward. He will be an elite offensive threat at a position that must provide production above 'league average,' if you want to contend. Plouffe has become serviceable, at best. Moving him to another position is pointless, because his numbers would be sub-standard at 1B or a corner outfield spot. We are committed to Mauer at 1B, no matter what. Let's aim higher at 3B, LF, RF & DH. We have cheaper options with more potential than Plouffe already in uniform. Why keep him around? At best, he's a #7 or #8 line-up hitter on a contending team. His only value is at 3B, and we've got better.

[TheLeviathan]

Always folks wanting to trade Plouffe. You culture a player, patience pays off, and then you don't want him anymore right when he is what you have always hoped he would be. Then the team is always strangers. Stats and strangers. I guess that is the way now. I don't have to like it. I can't help myself being a Twins' fan, even though I might not like the players that don't really seam like Twins.

We have a younger, likely better replacement, and Plouffe's age and team control are going to force some choices soon. Personally, I'm shopping him because he represents one of our best options to improve the team.

 

Say you move him for Plawecki, then Sano slides to 3b, the DH opens up, and you get a viable catcher. That makes the team much better.

[Kwak]

 

Who woulda thought AJ would have more value than Mauer at this point - crazy old game this.

Which is why, I think, Aj wasn't "brought back"--he would have been unbearable.

[Jham]

We've got good veteran pitching for once.  I think we need to take advantage of this window.  Trading a top 12 3rd baseman for probably a bottom 1/3rd catcher seems like a surefire way to make the team worse in my opinion. Getting a veteran catcher makes more sense, but we already have one, and more can be signed in FA.  McCann is going to catch in Detroit.  Avila will want Avila to test free agency and make the most money he can.  Unless we get a catcher who should at least be in the top half of the league next season, I think we need to roll with Suzuki, Pinto, and take a run at a FA.  

[zchrz]

No way should Plouffe keep Sano from playing 3rd.  Look at guys like Scott Rolen, Troy Glaus, and Miguel Cabrera (early in his career)  they were not to big for 3rd.  Even if Sano is a below average defensive 3rd, and with his arm and ability to move he should be more than that, his bat is a massive force to be able to plug in at 3rd.  He isn't going to balloon into Fielder/ Sandoval territory and should have a decent chunk of his career played at the hot corner.