Mike Berardino: Twins Hoping to Re-sign Shane Robinson

[East Coast Twin]

Berardino states that a person "with direct knowledge" says the Twins are interested in re-signing Shane Robinson. 

 

http://blogs.twincities.com/twins/2015/11/04/twinsights-twins-hoping-to-re-sign-outfielder-shane-robinson/

 

[jsteve96]

  watch this, its my reaction to reading the title of this thread...

[Thrylos]

Shoot.Me.Now

 

Especially if it costs them someone at the Rule 5 draft.  At this point Danny Ortiz has a similar skillset in case of an emergency, and there are 5 (plus Walker likely) OFs on the 40-man roster already.

[stringer bell]

They signed Sugar Shane to a minor league contract, why not again? I don't hate this, but he shouldn't have a wink-wink guarantee of making the club.

[Boom Boom]

So... if it wasn't less than five days since the World Series ended, the Twins would have signed Robinson already.

 

I can't imagine a bidding war for him. If the Twins want him back, it'll happen.

[brvama]

I see no problem with this minor league signing. They know what they have and he filled his spot LY well it's just adds depth and its familiar depth. Nothing wrong with that.

[nicksaviking]

They signed Sugar Shane to a minor league contract, why not again? I don't hate this, but he shouldn't have a wink-wink guarantee of making the club.

I agree if it's a legit minor league deal. I can't imagine any player would settle for that this early though.

 

The team should be looking at Ryan Raburn who's option wasn't picked up. The guy hits lefties well and would be a great bench/platoon option considering the possible left handed heavy starting OF Arcia/Rosario/Hicks.

[notoriousgod71]

Familiarity definitely breeds contempt (from me).

[Rosterman]

Well, I guess if Wilkin Ramirez isn't coming abck. He would provide decent depth. But doubt that he is worth a million-dollar paycheck at this point, sadly.

 

[DaveW]

I don't see why people are against this move, Robinson is a perfectly capable 4th OF.

[Otwins]

Walker, Kepler and Buxton will start next year in the minors. Arcia may be traded. The Robinson contract would not be anything you could not write off as soon as one of the young guys are ready.  I think this makes sense.

[Kwak]

Twins are assuming Robinson has no other options.  I think he signs elsewhere.

[jsteve96]

 

I don't see why people are against this move, Robinson is a perfectly capable 4th OF.

you want to let Oswaldo Arcia walk to another team at age 24 because you wanted to keep a "perfectly capable 4th outfielder" on the team thats 30+ years old?

[USAFChief]

I don't see why people are against this move, Robinson is a perfectly capable 4th OF.

If by perfectly capable you mean "career .615 OPS" then yeah, perfectly capable.

[Poli_Crandall]

 

you want to let Oswaldo Arcia walk to another team at age 24 because you wanted to keep a "perfectly capable 4th outfielder" on the team thats 30+ years old?

 

Robinson is a 4th outfielder through and through. He can do well to spell regulars on days games and come in late as a pinch runner or defensive replacement.  Arcia does not fit the profile of a 4th outfielder.  He either needs to play everyday to see what he has or be traded.  Simple as that.  

[KGB]

How soon we forget the centerfield situation of 2013-2014.  He is the type of non roster player you should want to sign.  You might need a bridge to Buxton and you need to keep your trade options open Hicks and Rosario.  So why not bring him back.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Like the others, for the right terms, I'm fine with that. 

[Platoon]

Robinson is the perfect 4th OF. Capable of playing in limited stretches, happy to be here, can run, and is versatile. I agree with the previous poster, Kepler, Buxton, and Walker will be in the minors. Robinson will not block any of them. Arcia? Another blogger I read called for Arcia to be released now, as he has no value. Just plain stupid. You can do that if he doesn't come around in April or May. Otherwise guys with power like that, and a precious history of being a decent hitter don't grow on trees.

[HitInAPinch]

Harbinger that the Twins organization thinks the next group of outfielders is at least a year away?

[tobi0040]

 

I don't see why people are against this move, Robinson is a perfectly capable 4th OF.

 

The issue is we already have Hicks, Rosario, and Buxton.  And in the last two years Escobar and Santana have seen time at CF.  We don't need an emergency backup CF that can't hit.  We are covered at CF defensively and for that matter, on the bases.

 

The way in which this roster is constructed, we have zero need for a guy like this.  The bench spot could be better served with a guy that can hit late in innings, or even a guy that can platoon a bit in the corner or DH.

 

The fact that on November 5th our GM is already focusing on this is really sad.

 

If he was a guy in the minors that comes up if a guy is hurt and it was truly a minor league deal that would be fine.  But have we not learned anything the last three years?

[Pardon My Dinger]

Why is Buxton going to start in the minors? He'll be there for two weeks, dominate defensively, hit a million triples, and get called right back up. What's the point of that?

[Brock Beauchamp]

Trying to get Robinson back on a MiLB deal is the prudent and smart decision. He's a good backup measure on a team full of young outfielders. You don't want him starting every day for a prolonged stretch but if you need a fourth OF in a pinch, he's just fine in that role.

[tobi0040]

 

Trying to get Robinson back on a MiLB deal is the prudent and smart decision. He's a good backup measure on a team full of young outfielders. You don't want him starting every day for a prolonged stretch but if you need a fourth OF in a pinch, he's just fine in that role.

 

Agreed.  You stash him in AAA in case someone gets hurt.  That is prudent.

 

The reality is he will make the team out of spring training. Sit on the 40 man.  And we have this philosophy that he will get rusty so we will give him 6-8 AB's a week and he will likely sit on the MLB roster way too long. 

 

The broader issue is roster construction.  We will dumster dive for a bullpen and maybe take another rule 5 flier like last year.  So we carry an extra pitcher.  We have a backup catcher.  A utility INF.  And Robinson.  That is your bench.  Not a single pinch hittter and Robinson can only run for your catcher who we won't ever pull.  Your DH.  And Mauer.

 

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Agreed.  You stash him in AAA in case someone gets hurt.  That is prudent.

 

The reality is he will make the team out of spring training. Sit on the 40 man.  And we have this philosophy that he will get rusty so we will give him 6-8 AB's a week and he will likely sit on the MLB roster way too long. 

Eh, I don't know about the second part. This team is probably going to enter ST with Buxton, Hicks, Rosario, and Arcia fighting for space... And that's if they don't pick up a stopgap FA.

 

I think the likelihood of Robinson starting the season on the 25 man is low unless something bad happens.

[ashbury]

  watch this, its my reaction to reading the title of this thread...

And here is mine:

 

Trying to get Robinson back on a MiLB deal is the prudent and smart decision.

http://media.cmgdigital.com/shared/lt/lt_cache/thumbnail/187/img/photos/2015/02/11/c5/b0/emily_litella.JPG

Oh. Never mind.

 

As long as he doesn't cost us a player, it makes sense. As the article put it, though, I suspect he'll accept an equivalent offer from St Looie.

 

He's replaceable, in my book. As would be any defense-first outfielder whose defense never struck me as being overly reliable in CF, and is run of the mill in a corner.

[tobi0040]

 

Eh, I don't know about the second part. This team is probably going to enter ST with Buxton, Hicks, Rosario, and Arcia fighting for space... And that's if they don't pick up a stopgap FA.

 

I think the likelihood of Robinson starting the season on the 25 man is low unless something bad happens.

 

Well they have already said Buxton starts in AAA.  So you have three guys.  It is entirely possible that by the time Buxton comes up, they are fed up with Arcia's defense and want to send him another message.

 

After seeing the minor league handshake deals with Bartlett, Kubel, as well as our GM irrationally obsess about who our 3rd catcher or 5th backup CF is, you and I disagree about the likelihood of Shane on April 1.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

After seeing the minor league handshake deals with Bartlett, Kubel, as well as our GM irrationally obsess about who our 3rd catcher or 5th backup CF is, you and I disagree about the likelihood of Shane on April 1.

I'm not sure that obsession came from Ryan. There's a very good chance - maybe even likely - that obsession came from Gardenhire.

 

Last year, we didn't see a Kubel or Bartlett on the roster. The closest thing we saw was Santana, who Molitor wanted to give as many chances as possible to succeed because he's a promising young player.

[Thegrin]

I'd sign Robinson to a minor league contract in January and not before.  I'd also give him an opt out clause, if he is not brought up to the Twins by a certain date. 

[tobi0040]

 

I'm not sure that obsession came from Ryan. There's a very good chance - maybe even likely - that obsession came from Gardenhire.

 

Last year, we didn't see a Kubel or Bartlett on the roster. The closest thing we saw was Santana, who Molitor wanted to give as many chances as possible to succeed because he's a promising young player.

 

We can speculate all we want.  But the GM is the guy that signs these deals and sends 25 guys north.  And it is also his job to pull guys off the 25 man that are not performing.

 

I will just say that Gardenhire was not here last year and we had similar roster issues last year.  Our bench was terrible and we saw a premium placed on defensive flexibility.   It was my hope that the emergence of Hicks and Rosario, likely Buxton and maybe even Kepler....that the need for a defensive specialist would be an afterthought and we would shift to a bench bat/plattoon model.  At least for one roster spot.

 

This does not lock in what will happen and which way we will go.  But it seems like an indication.

 

 

 

[nicksaviking]

 

Trying to get Robinson back on a MiLB deal is the prudent and smart decision. He's a good backup measure on a team full of young outfielders. You don't want him starting every day for a prolonged stretch but if you need a fourth OF in a pinch, he's just fine in that role.

 

I agree, but I just don't think minor league deals get struck this early in the offseason.  Robinson would be foolish not to at least look for a MLB contract.

 

I guess it's possible Berardino meant to imply: Twins Hoping to Re-sign Outfielder Shane Robinson in February