Twins Want Hunter Back

[RealTwinsFan357]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/09/dan-duquette-orioles-angelos.html

 

I can't say this excites me too much...

[Winston Smith]

Not a fan of this. Time to move on with the kids.

[twinsnorth49]

Wut?

[Jarends703]

Also troubling is that it is phrased as "at least one more season." 

[D. Hocking]

I was kind of hoping this was an old post bumped from last fall....

 

This year for the most part worked out better than I thought it would, I am skeptical next year the positives would outweigh the negatives.

[Shane Wahl]

I can't even.

[DocBauer]

NOT going to panic or look for a bridge when it's just a rumor in September before the season is even over and nothing officially released to the press from the Twins.

 

However....I would be surprised and rather disappointed. If anything, we need a LH veteran type to come off the bench as a role player. PH type.

 

For a lower salary, and no promises or expectations, I won't freak. But then again, he's still not LH.

[darin617]

So much for thinking about Max Kepler in 2016 with this move. Not gonna have him up as a 5th outfielder.

[jimmer]

hahahahahahaha.  not the least bit surprised.

[Danchat]

This isn't surprising, but I don't see room on the team for him. He absolutely can't be a starter. He's not good enough defensively to be the 4th outfielder. He could be a pinch hitter, but that's taking a spot away from Arcia, Vargas, or even Pinto.

 

If they can get him to be a bench coach or something like that, I think that'd be great.

[mickeymental]

coach? yes, please. player? no, thank you.

[TheLeviathan]

http://m.memegen.com/kq5ahw.jpg

[Rosterman]

If the price is right and if there is a place for him.

 

As a bench bat and fourth outfielder (assuming Buxton breaks camp) I would rather see Arcia.

 

If Plouffe stays and Sano is primarily a DH, then Vargas is also a bench bat and backup at first (Kepler spends time in Rochester).

 

Santana is probably the reserve infielder. Assuming Escobar starts and the Twins don't do soemthing foolish like go to arbitration with Nunez.

 

So, when you get right down to it, the Twins basically need another catcher, be it a vet like A.J. or some journeyman better than Fryer or Herrmann (both of home should be gone from the 40-man). If options permit, keep Pinto at Rochester to see if he can contribute in the future.

 

So it boils down to Hunter or that extra arm in the bullpen. Hunter instead of Boyer?

 

I would assume that they would elt him play the marketplace to see how close he can come to his current salary somewhere else, althugh I truly do wonder who would be fighting their way thru the crowd to do so.

 

I could see the Twins signing him later in the free agency process and worrying about a roster spot breaking camp...do they disable someone (or Hunter) to start the sesaon. I just can't stomach keeping Hunter and, say, losing Arcia...unless we get something valuable back in a trade for Arcia, and -- really -- besides a catcher, where would the Twins put someone from a trade. Bullpen perhaps? A rotation overstuffed with inflated salaries?

[Vanimal46]

Don't you dare, TR. It's painfully over right now. Can't imagine what his at bats would look like one year from now.

[USAFChief]

For the record

 

Hunter: .712 OPS

 

Mauer: .709 OPS

 

I don't want Hunter back, but lets not pretend he has been a huge problem for the 2015 team.

[Dantes929]

 

NOT going to panic or look for a bridge when it's just a rumor in September before the season is even over and nothing officially released to the press from the Twins.

 

However....I would be surprised and rather disappointed. If anything, we need a LH veteran type to come off the bench as a role player. PH type.

 

For a lower salary, and no promises or expectations, I won't freak. But then again, he's still not LH.

See, I used to be naive like this.   In theory there was no reason in the world to not give Kubel or Bartlett a chance.   If they do well in ST and then are successful in the minors and earn their way to the Twins this is a no lose situation.   No promises and no expectations.  Instead though these two did little in ST and were automatically given playing time with the Twins and this wasn't the first time it has happened but the last time I am fooled by it.   Again, in theory, no promises and no expectations is very reasonable.   The reality is quite different. 

[Dantes929]

 

For the record

Hunter: .712 OPS

Mauer: .709 OPS

I don't want Hunter back, but lets not pretend he has been a huge problem for the 2015 team.

I considered both of those facts to be problems but not huge problems for the 2015 team.   In fact, while he was hitting well Hunter was a great asset.   Funny how his leadership was considered so valuable when he was hitting well and not so much the rest of the time.   I was ok with the signing last year because I thought he would still be an upgrade over what Willingham gave us in 2014 but I wasn't thrilled with it.   I would be less ok and less thrilled with it now that we have some confidence in Rosario and Hicks so that Hunter truly would be blocking the likes of Buxton or Kepler.

[Thegrin]

Now I have a tough decision.  If this happens.

Which bridge am I going to jump off of...  

[jimmer]

Hunter's WAR in 2014: 0.0

Hunter's WAR in 2015: 0.6.

 

He's improved!  Let's give him TWO years! :-)

 

P.S.  Wouldn't it be nice if we could keep this conversation about Hunter instead of derailing it by talking about other Twins players?

[TheLeviathan]

Let me be clear, Hunter has been a fine signing for the team this year.  However, we go into next year with Rosario, Hicks, Buxton, Arcia, and Kepler as possible outfield options.  It's time to say "thanks" and throw him a nice retirement party. 

 

NOT give him another contract.

[DocBauer]

 

Let me be clear, Hunter has been a fine signing for the team this year.  However, we go into next year with Rosario, Hicks, Buxton, Arcia, and Kepler as possible outfield options.  It's time to say "thanks" and throw him a nice retirement party. 

 

NOT give him another contract.

I agree with this 100%.

 

At least in theory.

 

Let me "'splain" myself though.

 

As stated, his signing was not a bad move. Despite some inconsistency, 20 HR and 70-80 RBI is nothing to sneeze at. I don't want him back. I don't think he should be brought back. As I previously stated, I believe a smart move would be a veteran LH bench bat; PH, DH, occasional day in the field, etc. And I don't think that is Hunter.

 

BUT...if you make no promises and don't pay through the nose...could Hunter be a RH bench bat/DH option? Especially if the Twins are thinking Kepler might begin the year in AAA, we are still uncertain about Arcia, we could trade Plouffe while acquiring a catcher, etc. So while I continue to say NO...I could see where the move actually could make a little bit of sense.

 

 

[GCTF]

http://media.tumblr.com/ad215ad03c549522e95f14ccbe9fe8fa/tumblr_inline_mj42wnNZXF1qbn92t.jpg

[nicksaviking]

Let's not jump to any conclusions. The report didn't say which team's official believes the Twins want him back. Maybe it was like a Mets official. Then I wouldn't put much weight on it.

[sane]

NOT going to panic or look for a bridge when it's just a rumor in September before the season is even over and nothing officially released"

That decision has to be made when the numbers game is being played. Right now, it is easy to sign and promote everyone. When roster limits become an issue, keeping him may not look like such a good idea.

[notoriousgod71]

 

So much for thinking about Max Kepler in 2016 with this move. Not gonna have him up as a 5th outfielder.

 

 

Kepler? We're not ever going to see Arcia again until he hits 30 home runs for the Tigers after we trade him for Randy Wolf.

[notoriousgod71]

 

That decision has to be made when the numbers game is being played. Right now, it is easy to sign and promote everyone. When roster limits become an issue, keeping him may not look like such a good idea.

 

What about now when it looks like a bad move even before roster limits become an issue?

[ashbury]

I can't even.

“Teenage girls saying “I can't even” is basically the same as old ladies saying “Well I never”.

 

For my part, I am hoping this rumor amounts to the Twins leading off with a kind compliment to Hunter, to which he responds the day after the season is over, "thanks, but my body is telling me in, every way possible, it's time to retire and move on to the next phase of my life: Full Time Mentorin'."

[ashbury]

BUT...if you make no promises and don't pay through the nose...could Hunter be a RH bench bat/DH option?

It doesn't matter if he signs for major league minimum and then kicks back the entire paltry sum to Terry Ryan's personal IRA plan (or mine!).

 

The finite resource that a 25-man roster limit represents, makes Hunter under contract a liability to a team trying to contend with younger talent.

 

I'd rather see Danny Ortiz finally get his shot in the majors (if indeed he'll give us the time of day anymore), with Kepler in the wings if that doesn't pan out, than sign Hunter to play RF and take up space at DH. We'll get approximately the same offensive output, and better defense.

[markos]

This report really worries me. My biggest fear about this coming offseason is that the success will allow them to decide that the best course of action is to try to bring everyone back. So a lot of positions that should be upgraded (either internally or from outside the organization) will instead by given to the incumbent. Hunter, Nunez, Robinson, Fien, Duensing, Boyer and Herrmann all fall in this category. 

[bird]

 

Now I have a tough decision.  If this happens.

Which bridge am I going to jump off of...  

 

 

Be sure to study the success rates of your various options.