Free Agent Pipe Dream - Matt Wieters

[strumdatjaguar]

This unrestricted free agent is still only 29 years old.  Came back from Tommy John in June.  Great defensively.  Switch Hitter with some power.  He'd look great as Twins catcher with Suzuki as back-up.   Bottom Line: No Way!!!!!!!!!! 

[dgwills]

I think they have a chance. The O's have Joseph who is better defensively, cheaper, and has been hitting well this year. Weiter has really not had that great of a year, has an injury history, and is tall for a catcher which can be a red flag for many teams (probably should be for us too). The Twins have a good young nucleus and a nice new ball park. This should make them fairly attractive to free agents.

[DocBauer]

Maybe. Tempting. Orioles might let him walk. But a 29 yo catcher coming off injury no less, is not the same as a 29 yo OF or 2B.

 

Down year, recovering from injury, how much and for how long? If he and his agent are thinking high and long I'm out. I just wouldn't take the chance of paying big bucks to a guy who might be out behind the plate soon and/or regress.

[strumdatjaguar]

By the way, his agent is Scott Boros.  But, I'm not sure that is the dagger in any possible negotiation with the Twins that it used to be.

[High heat]

I would guess that boras is going to ask for the moon early and end up settling very late with a team on a one year deal. Or a team will vastly over pay for Weiters.

[Mike Sixel]

I actually think this is a real possibility, on a short term, prove it deal.

[Badsmerf]

If it's a short term deal cool. I'd rather get back a catcher from plouffe trade.

[Mike Sixel]

 

If it's a short term deal cool. I'd rather get back a catcher from plouffe trade.

 

both would be a good plan, imo.

[AlwaysinModeration]

From 2010-2013, Wieters posted 13 WAR, or 3.25 WAR per season. Last year and this year, injuries have made his contributions negligible. If he is a 3 WAR player, a free agent contract would conceivably pay for 3 wins+2.5+2+1.5 = 9 wins over four years. At $6MM per win, that would be a 4 year, $54MM contract. However, given the injury history, I don't think he can be billed as a 3 win player. If you say he is a 2.5 WAR player, that would mean paying 2.5/2/1.5/1 for 7 total WAR over 4 years, for 4/42, $10.5mm per year. If you could get him for 3 years, that would be 6 WAR, 3/36.

 

Maybe 3/36 with a $12mm option?

[SwainZag]

It's probably likely that the O's give him a qualifying offer and he turns it down, so he probably comes with losing the 2nd round pick as well.

[AlwaysinModeration]

By comparison, Suzuki posted 6.6 total WAR over the past 5 seasons, or 1.3 wins per season. His extension paid for about a win per season, 2/12 plus the 1/6 vesting option for 2017.

 

I'd much prefer the Twins try to pay more money for a younger catcher who is likely to post higher win totals. It also seems quite plausible that he get healthy again and get back to posting win totals over 3 or even above four. Consistently posts positive defensive numbers, and a switch hitter to boot.

 

He would be far and away target #1 for this off-season, in my opinion. Especially given the fact that Escobar seems to be establishing himself as a viable option, if not asset, at sad going forward.

[diehardtwinsfan]

it would be a first this year. Twins won't be drafting in the top 10. 

[nicksaviking]

Only 29? That's not exactly young for a catcher, his days behind the plate are likely numbered.  I'd take him on a short term deal and only if he doesn't get a QO.  He hasn't been all that good offensively this year and he wasn't very good in his last full year in 2013. 

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

I remember that when Wieters first came up he was going to be "a switch-hitting Joe Mauer with Power"  He hasn't quite hit that ridiculous standard, but he's definitely an upgrade over the current slate of choices in the Twins Organization. If they can convince Wieters to come for a one year make good deal, that would great.

 

I also support the offseason trade to bring in a 2nd catcher, with the 2nd guy being a younger guy with upside to take over for Suzuki and Wieters in a year.

 

I think Pinto is going to be somewhere else next year or at the very least not catching for the Twins, so the more depth the Twins can acquire behind the plate, the better.

[blairpaul715]

 

From 2010-2013, Wieters posted 13 WAR, or 3.25 WAR per season. Last year and this year, injuries have made his contributions negligible. If he is a 3 WAR player, a free agent contract would conceivably pay for 3 wins+2.5+2+1.5 = 9 wins over four years. At $6MM per win, that would be a 4 year, $54MM contract. However, given the injury history, I don't think he can be billed as a 3 win player. If you say he is a 2.5 WAR player, that would mean paying 2.5/2/1.5/1 for 7 total WAR over 4 years, for 4/42, $10.5mm per year. If you could get him for 3 years, that would be 6 WAR, 3/36.

Maybe 3/36 with a $12mm option?

I dont think he would even consider a 3 yr/$36......he would take a Q offer and build his stock up on a one yr $16M deal, or at least take his chances on that.

[blairpaul715]

 

 

I dont think he would even consider a 3 yr/$36......he would take a Q offer and build his stock up on a one yr $16M deal, or at least take his chances on that.

And if he doesnt get a Q offer, he will get offered more on the market if a team doesnt have to give up a 1st Rd pick.........My prediction is if he doesnt get at minimum a 4 yr $60M he will take a one yr contract to prove himself to teams and become a FA in 2017.

[spinowner]

With Boras as his agent he's not likely to sign early. We'll probably have time to explore a trade involving Plouffe first, which I think is the proper path.

[zenser]

I know this is a Weiters thread but as long as the topic is catching this might be relevant.  MLB trade rumors just identified three needs for the Brewers.  Item 2 is trade appealing contracts and they point out Lucroy.  Item 3 is identify permanent corner infield solutions. 

 

Plouffe for Lucroy?

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/09/three-needs-milwaukee-brewers.html

 

[James]

 

It's probably likely that the O's give him a qualifying offer and he turns it down, so he probably comes with losing the 2nd round pick as well.

Like diehardtwinsfan said, it would be a 1st round pick for the Twins.

 

If things were to stay the same in the drafting order, the Twins would have to give up the 20th overall pick.  Depending on the number of players that get QO's, that would put the Twins picking somewhere around 50 (give or take a few picks) for their first draft pick if they were to sign him.  

 

If the Twins pull ahead of Texas they would slide down to pick #21 if everything else stayed the same. 

 

I definitely wouldn't give up that pick for Wieters on a 1 year deal.

[Thrylos]

Wieters has a bit of Hicks' disease.  This season he has .778 OPS against LHPs and .638 against RHPs; and career .826 vs LHPs and .707 vs RHPs.    I think that a 3 year contract at $13M per might be what he is worth, but he will be looking for McCann $ who signed a 5 year, $85M at the same age as Wieters is now.   Not my money, but not worth it.

 

Speaking of McCann, the Twins might want to look seriously in his backup (who is blocked,) 24 year old former second round pick, JR Murphy or even 22 year old Gary Sanchez, their AAA starter who will be a monster.   I think that a trade with Plouffe for Sanchez as the core, plus others potentially for relievers from the Yankees (Wilking Rodríguez is a name to remember) might be more in the Twins' interest.

[Loosey]

If Brewers ever offered up the idea of Plouffe for Lucroy the Twins would most likely instantly say "deal", followed by "no backsies".

 

I know this is a Weiters thread but as long as the topic is catching this might be relevant.  MLB trade rumors just identified three needs for the Brewers.  Item 2 is trade appealing contracts and they point out Lucroy.  Item 3 is identify permanent corner infield solutions. 

 

Plouffe for Lucroy?

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/09/three-needs-milwaukee-brewers.html

 

[nicksaviking]

 

I know this is a Weiters thread but as long as the topic is catching this might be relevant.  MLB trade rumors just identified three needs for the Brewers.  Item 2 is trade appealing contracts and they point out Lucroy.  Item 3 is identify permanent corner infield solutions. 

 

Plouffe for Lucroy?

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/09/three-needs-milwaukee-brewers.html

 

The Twins would probably have to throw in more.  Maybe Gibson? 

 

I don't think it would be wise though.  A 30-year-old catcher with concussion issues?  I think I've seen that movie before.

[kab21]

The Brewers are not trading for Plouffe.  They will be in full blown rebuild mode if they trade Lucroy and want prospects so if you want to make that trade then first you have to trade Plouffe for prospects like I have been saying all along.

 

The Yankees just signed Chase Headley and he is a similar caliber player as Plouffe.  I'm really not sure why they would trade away a capable backup (murphy) when they have a 32 yr old starting catcher.

 

Wieters is a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation.  There aren't younger catchers to sign at more money.  It is even hard to find young catchers that teams are willing to trade because it is a scarce injury prone position.  Derek Norris is the one obvious tradeable catcher that is an alternative for the Twins.  Everyone needs to stop mentioning Hedges in other threads the Padres should go into full blown rebuild mode and they will strongly prefer to keep Hedges.

 

 

[dgwills]

 

I know this is a Weiters thread but as long as the topic is catching this might be relevant.  MLB trade rumors just identified three needs for the Brewers.  Item 2 is trade appealing contracts and they point out Lucroy.  Item 3 is identify permanent corner infield solutions. 

 

Plouffe for Lucroy?

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/09/three-needs-milwaukee-brewers.html

Lucroy would be the best. I don't think we could get him for Plouffe alone though. I liked how there #1 priority was a GM who can develop pitching prospects. Good to know other clubs have that problem.

Oops! This was already covered. I liked the "No backsies"

[Riverbrian]

I'd love to have him in a Twins uniform but Supply and Demand will probably make it unlikely. 

 

If you look at the FA C options. Weiters will be at the very top of a short pile. Other teams will also be looking for catching. 

 

I'm guessing his price will rise to the point where it makes more sense to spend that kind of cash on someone with better numbers at any other position regardless of how we sit at that position. 

 

Impact player type money for a guy who really hasn't produced impact type numbers is my feeling right now... but... I could be wrong. 

[kab21]

The next best catcher is Iannetta so if you don't think Wieters makes sense then try to rationalize 32 yr old Iannetta on a (albeit much smaller) multi-year deal.

 

One option would be to buy low on Alex Avila and hope for a bounce back.  .778 OPS against RHP and suzuki platoons the other days (no platoon split).  Oakland has been platooning their catchers like this with sneaky brilliance.

[Shaitan]

I'd take him on a 1-2 year deal, maybe with the second year as a player option so Boras can use 2016 to rebuild value post-injury. Boras has been known to do 1 year deals to revisit the market later. If he costs a 1st round pick, prob not worth it.

 

On the other hand, one of the key reasons nobody talks about for the 2011-2014 Twins record, I think, is that their draft picks were always in that #20-30 overall range, which in MLB is way spotty compared to #s 1-10. Maybe it's worth giving up an overall pick if their record moves the pick down enough.

 

Knowing the Twins, I expect a Pat Borders, Henry Blanco or, at best, Mike Redmond pickup until Suzuki walks, but one never knows. The C FA market is damn near the CF one as far as bloated contracts for above replacement value starters.

 

[darin617]

NO. Another guy with Boas as his agent. He will get a 5-6 year deal and has only had 3 good years in his career. 32% career throwing out runners no thanks.

[D. Hocking]

 

Knowing the Twins, I expect a Pat Borders, Henry Blanco or, at best, Mike Redmond pickup until Suzuki walks, but one never knows. The C FA market is damn near the CF one as far as bloated contracts for above replacement value starters.

  

and hopefully the Mike Redmond pick-up would not actually be Mike Redmond as the annual off-season returning veteran announcement.

 

[mnfireman]

I would pass. I don't think he goes for a 1 or 2 year deal because of his age and position and agent. Too many teams have seen what has happened with Mauer, great value as a C, not so much at 1B (and I am a huge Mauer fan). Wieters has no value as a DH and doesn't have enough appearances at another position (also 1B, if anybody is interested). 

 

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wietema01.shtml