Trade Plouffe, Sign Davis

[snarkerbarnyard]

This is my dream. For some reason I think that this is THE move, along with prospect development and trading Ricky Nolasco for a bag if baseballs, that catapults the Twins into legitimate postseason contention.

 

Plouffe is a valuable player. He doesn't walk much, but he has some pop at a sought after position, along with above average defense. He has value, and trading him for less than he's worth could prove to be a catastrophic mistake. That's not what I'm advocating for. This could only work if another team was willing to spend for Plouffe. Preferably a good/really good bullpen guy, a catcher, or some prospects with upside.

 

Now that Plouffe is out of the picture, our shining beacon of hope Miguel Sano can move to third and develop there before he gets too immobile to play there in maybe 3 or 4 years. And that leaves a big spot for Chris Davis to fill at DH.

 

I'm not certain but I think Davis is also comparable to Mauer at 1B, so they could share time. Thats not the issue, the issue is outbidding the Red Sox/Dodgers/etc. for him. He's estimated to get around 5/$105 I think, or at least thats what I've seen thrown around on here. He could definitely get more than that, but I think that if the Twins stay at 5 years, don't go overboard on the AAV, and can dump Nolasco's salary, it shouldn't prove to be too big of a burden in years 4-5. Davis can get on base, and he can sock dingers, and in my opinion thats something every lineup in the league could use some more of.

 

So, what do you think? Am I nuts? If so, is it because it's a bad idea, or because the notion of the Twins signing Chris Davis is that ridiculous? I know I neglected Davis's down year and strikeouts but I think that's just because I like him so much.

[Keepplouffe24]

I say we trade Sano for a pitcher. We get a young stud and we win a WS in 3 years with plouffe hitting 5.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

I say we trade Sano for a pitcher. We get a young stud and we win a WS in 3 years with plouffe hitting 5.

 

I'm on board. No less than a #3 though. 

 

[DaveW]

Chris Davis would be a perfect addition to this lineup and instantly make it one of the best in baseball, especially with him protecting Sano.

Won't happen though unfortunately, Terry Ryan has shown that he would rather overpay 3-4 years for proven mediocrity then go out and give 5 years on a risk to a high potential free agent.

[gunnarthor]

Davis would be a nice fit and the plan makes sense although I don't know what that would do to the overall payroll.  I think they'd have to drop another salary or two to make it work.  I do think other teams would pay more for him but here's hoping.  The big concern is how well the Twins think Sano can play third.  Since they have him playing it in winterball, I suspect that they are thinking about moving Plouffe.  

 

(Frankly, it would also make sense to get Davis, keep Plouffe and move Mauer to the bench).  

[DaveW]

 

I say we trade Sano for a pitcher. We get a young stud and we win a WS in 3 years with plouffe hitting 5.

Welcome to TD Trevor!

[Mike Sixel]

I think Davis is over rated on these boards......but I know I'm in the minority on that.

[ashbury]

Won't happen though unfortunately, Terry Ryan has shown that he would rather overpay 3-4 years for proven mediocrity then go out and give 5 years on a risk to a high potential free agent.

If you're attempting to mind-read the man, that's not a good idea. If you're claiming any GM aims for mediocrity, that's not a good idea either. [Consider this part to be a moderator mini-note.]

 

If you're going by his own words, he has stated that five+ year contracts to pitchers are a problem. One can infer that he means this in contrast to batters.

 

If you're going by past history, we're only a few years into the Target Field revenue era and Ryan's portion of it, and the team is only now becoming competitive again.

[DaveW]

 

If you're attempting to mind-read the man, that's not a good idea. If you're claiming any GM aims for mediocrity, that's not a good idea either. [Consider this part to be a moderator mini-note.]

 

If you're going by his own words, he has stated that five+ year contracts to pitchers are a problem. One can infer that he means this in contrast to batters.

 

If you're going by past history, we're only a few years into the Target Field revenue era and Ryan's portion of it, and the team is only now becoming competitive again.

I am going by Ryan's 17 years at the helm, he has never gone after a "prized type" free agent. Instead we settle for the mid rotation guys like Santana, Hughes etc and good but not great position players like Hunter, Willingham etc

At no point has he shown any willingness to change this approach, so the "target field era" doesn't hold any weight IMO. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me 17 times? Meh.

[nytwinsfan]

 

I say we trade Sano for a pitcher. We get a young stud and we win a WS in 3 years with plouffe hitting 5.

Please say this is a joke.

 

Welcome to TD Trevor!

Definitely LOL'd.

[ashbury]

I am going by Ryan's 17 years at the helm, he has never gone after a "prized type" free agent. Instead we settle for the mid rotation guys like Santana, Hughes etc and good but not great position players like Hunter, Willingham etc

At no point has he shown any willingness to change this approach, so the "target field era" doesn't hold any weight IMO. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me 17 times? Meh.

My bad. I took the bait.

 

Please keep this about the topic

[TheLeviathan]

Yup, it's the plan I've been setting out there.  Bonus if you can somehow move Plouffe for prospects to land Lucroy.

 

This team has plenty of money to spend - go get Davis and make the middle of the lineup truly ferocious.

[Cap'n Piranha]

I think I'd rather have Wieters than Davis, if we're restricting our potential FA signings to ex-Orioles.  I think the delta between Wieters and Suzuki is bigger than between Davis and Plouffe.

[TheLeviathan]

 

I think I'd rather have Wieters than Davis, if we're restricting our potential FA signings to ex-Orioles.  I think the delta between Wieters and Suzuki is bigger than between Davis and Plouffe.

 

Sure, but Plouffe's time here is fading.  If you can sign Davis and use Plouffe to augment your team in another area, that's worth way more.  

[nicksaviking]

Does Davis' 2014 season not scare anyone?  We're talking about 20-25 million for 5 or more years for a DH.

 

I'm not saying I'm totally against it, I'd much rather have a 30-year-old batter than another 30-year-old pitcher, but I'm not completely convinced on him at this point and adding him will probably guarantee the 2016 Twins set a new MLB mark for strikeouts in a season.

[tobi0040]

 

Sure, but Plouffe's time here is fading.  If you can sign Davis and use Plouffe to augment your team in another area, that's worth way more.  

 

Davis is really, really appealing.  But he is a 4-80 or 5-100 signing that I don't think we even call Boras about.  I am with Dave on this one.

[Willihammer]

Its a moot point, the Twins are not signing Davis for the 100m+ he is going to command.

 

Byung-ho Park on the other hand...

[tobi0040]

 

Does Davis' 2014 season not scare anyone?  We're talking about 20-25 million for 5 or more years for a DH.

 

I'm not saying I'm totally against it, I'd much rather have a 30-year-old batter than another 30-year-old pitcher, but I'm not completely convinced on him at this point and adding him will probably guarantee the 2016 Twins set a new MLB mark for strikeouts in a season.

 

Well, his .704 OPS that year is probably about where our DH production was last year or not far from it.  But the 100 HR he hit on 2013 and 2015, with a 1.004 and .923 OPS is appealing enough

[Willihammer]

 

 

Davis is really, really appealing.  But he is a 4-80 or 5-100 signing that I don't think we even call Boras about.  I am with Dave on this one.

6/144 is what Tim Dierkes (MLBTR) predicts.

[sane]

 

 if the Twins... can dump Nolasco's salary,

GAME OVER!! ....The Twins can either:

1) pay Nolasco's salary or 

2) they can ignore it and have the Repo man take possession of Target Field.

3) BUT....There is no way to dump his salary unless Nolasco's mother agrees to buy him back!

[Vanimal46]

 

6/144 is what Tim Dierkes (MLBTR) predicts.

 

Holy cow. I'll pass on that contract. Welcome to the Seattle Mariners Chris Davis!

[Eris]

There is a limited budget, and if the Twins sign Davis, does that me we don't sign a good starting pitcher?  I would rather have a great pitcher.  The Twins were not horrible in runs scored.  The Blue Jays led the league with 891 runs scored.  The Yankees has 764.  Royals 724, Twin 696, Cubs 689, Mets 683.  Runs scored was not the Twins problem.  We have several players who don't really have a good position and should be at DH.  These include Mauer, Vargas, Arcia and Walker.  Obviously, none of these players would be as productive a Davis, but does that mean we are giving up on them?  For some, that answer might be yes.  How about keep Plouffe, play Sano at first, Mauer at DH.  Acquiring an above average catcher is also a greater need.

[tobi0040]

 

6/144 is what Tim Dierkes (MLBTR) predicts.

 

Nelson Cruz signed 4/57.  Granted he was 32/33.  But that seems high

 

 

 

[Vanimal46]

 

Nelson Cruz signed 4/57.  Granted he was 32/33.  But that seems high

 

Cruz isn't a client of Scott Boras. Chris Davis is. Last year, good but not great players Ellsbury and Choo (both Boras clients) got 7 year deals. I would not be surprised to see a contract figure that Willihammer first posted. 

[brvama]

Two thoughts. #1: the Orioles are very likely to give Davis a QA. That means our #1 draft pick. And 2: Wouldn't the 20mil per yr be better on a #1 pitcher? I agree with Eris in that scoring runs is not the main problem.

 

Now if we do sign, say a stud pitcher or catcher with aQA, then trading Plouffe for a fairly high prospect plus would work for me. But not a DH.

[kab21]

I am not sure if people realize it but you can nitpick every FA.  Most of them are nearing 30 and there is a limited supply of them so almost all of them are overpaid for too many years.  If you go this route then you are basically relegating yourself to signing mediocre cheap players in FA.

 

I would be insanely pumped if this team signed Chris Davis, traded Plouffe for a pair of good prospects and then traded several prospects for Lucroy (or even Norris). 

 

I don't really have a problem with signing an ace either but it might take 7 years and 25M/yr to sign a pitcher until he is almost 40.  I might take the hitter for fewer years in that case. 

[Shaitan]

Davis feels like Adam Dunn to me. 

[USAFChief]

Davis will only be 30 next year. He's an insanely great fit to hit behind Sano. Or in front of Sano. Were it to happen, who gives a poop if Vargas, Arcia et al are "blocked?" The point is to win, not to give opportunities.

 

But the cynic in me says it's wishful thinking. No chance. The Twins do not think big.

[Cap'n Piranha]

 

Sure, but Plouffe's time here is fading.  If you can sign Davis and use Plouffe to augment your team in another area, that's worth way more.  

 

Oh, I'm definitely in favor of moving on from Plouffe as well.  I just think if your choice is sign Davis and be forced to trade Plouffe for 50 cents on the dollar, or sign Wieters and keep Plouffe if you don't get a good offer, the second option is better.  It's why I would attempt to trade Plouffe as quickly as possible--knowing if you can will provide a lot of clarity to what the priorities should be in the offseason.

[tobi0040]

 

Davis feels like Adam Dunn to me. 

 

Adam Dunn maybe one of the most under-rated players of all time.  The guy was 35th all time in HR's.  41st all time in BB's.  And his OPS was 149th all time.  That is not a tally stat.