Austin Jackson

[jorgenswest]

Is Austin Jackson a better fit for the roster than Trevor Plouffe?

 

Plouffe has the better bat. Jackson hasn't been very good against right handed pitching the last two years. The defense of Jackson in the OF and Sano at 3B must be the better defensive combination.

 

Should the Twins trade Plouffe for the best prospects or team control relief pitching they can find and then turn around and spend the money on Jackson? The money would not be the same but it will be close. I think MLBTR had Jackson at 1/12. Might be less now.

 

Jackson could start in CF if Buxton is not ready. If Buxton is ready, he still fits the OF mix pretty well. Batting right handed allows him to platoon with Arcia or even Rosario against left handed pitching, He should start in the OF when the match up looks like there will be a lot of fly balls going to RF. The Twins won't have days with Arcia and Sano on the corners and Rosario or Santana in CF. They have done that before with Willingham in LF. It wasn't pretty.

 

It might be too late, but I would do it. I think for this one year he is the perfect bridge to Kepler and at the start of the season Buxton. He safe guards the chance that Rosario regresses, Buxton is not ready, Sano can't handle the OF or Arcia can't hit.

[Shaitan]

I wouldn't consider the Jackson of the past two years.

[dougkoebernick]

I would think that Jackson will want to go somewhere where he isn't looking over his shoulder at Buxton but that's just my thought. With that said, I definitely wouldn't mind him in a Twins' uniform as a form of protection. 

[Monkeypaws]

Not sure I'd assume Sano's defense will be better than Plouffe's at 3rd.

[beckmt]

Depends on price.  If you could get him at 1/$6 to 1/$8, it might be worth the flyer.  If he does well, you can flip him for something you need.  If he flops, cutting him on a 1 year will hurt, but not horribly.  Maybe trading Nolasco and picking up 1/2 the money could free the payroll.  Worst case he is a 4th outfielder, defensive replacement this year.

[Winston Smith]

They have plenty of money for moves like this if Terry would spend it, which he hasn't in the past. It would be the kind of move a team serious about competing at a higher level would make.

 

It may not work but going into the season with an outfield with so little ML exp doesn't make sense, imo.

[HitInAPinch]

Is Austin Jackson a better fit for the roster than Trevor Plouffe?

 

No.  Basically, you're plan is dumping a starting 3rd-baseman to make room for an outfielder who is still a free agent at age 29.  I don't see a big upside here.  We just don't know how well Sano will perform in the outfield.  With DSantana and Rosario around and the small herd of middling OF's they brought in earlier, I don't really see a need to bring in another OF at this point.   And TR has already said he won't trade Plouffe.

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

Maybe the debate should have been Jackson vs Park earlier in the offseason? Losing Plouffe now would leave us awfully thin at 3B (Sano weight pun not intended). And trading a guy like Plouffe for the best available offer right now sounds like a disaster waiting to happen, maybe JJ Hardy redux.

[nicksaviking]

I don't think trading Plouffe requires signing another OF.

[DocBauer]

It doesn't have to be Jackson, but the idea is sound and a move in would have already made a month ago. (And have been kind of shouting from the rooftops since the season ended)

 

No, the defense wouldn't be better at 3B with Sano, but the OF defense would be. You gain a couple solid prospects, or a quality reliever, or a combination. Sano plays his natural,position, and Arcia and said FA OF platoon in RF. (The FA is also your late inning defense guy) As I've stated before, I'm a Plouffe fan, but this is a more natural lineup.

[DaveW]

Maybe the debate should have been Jackson vs Park earlier in the offseason? Losing Plouffe now would leave us awfully thin at 3B (Sano weight pun not intended). And trading a guy like Plouffe for the best available offer right now sounds like a disaster waiting to happen, maybe JJ Hardy redux.

Sano should be plying every day at third, you trade Plouffe and Nunez becomes the backup at 3rd. You don't need any more than that......

[GACbaseball]

I think you hold onto Plouffe until two of Buxton, Kepler, Arcia, and Walker prove they are ready for an everyday MLB job. IMO, They could all use a little more seasoning, or in Arcia's case selective insertion into the lineup, so I wouldn't feel great about needing Sano to play 3B everyday

[Molitor4]

I would certainly consider this.  Jackson is an excellent defensive OF'er.  Always has been.  He's struggled against RH pitching lately, but that's why he's a great fit with Arcia's last hurrah and Kepler waiting in the wings.  I agree that Sano should be starting every day at 3B.  His offense will dwarf whatever Plouffe would produce.  If Plouffe can bring two decent prospects or a solid bullpen guy, the Twins should take a long look at this.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Sano should be plying every day at third, you trade Plouffe and Nunez becomes the backup at 3rd. You don't need any more than that......

Well, the risk is we don't know if Sano is MLB level competent at the position. Not that he is in the OF either, but that's an argument for not signing Park rather than dealing Plouffe, in my opinion.

[oregontwin]

Always seems as though people have forgotten all the concern about Sano being too big to be an effective MLB third baseman. Too many want to put him there for little more reason than that is where he played in the minor leagues. Third base may very well not be the best position for him, despite the past. I recall a guy by the name of Killibrew who came up as a third baseman. It worked out pretty well for the Twins to find a different position for him. Same might be true of Sano.

[Riverbrian]

One Year Deal

 

I'd do it

 

Two year deal

 

And I wouldn't

[Monkeypaws]

Amazed at how people have given up on Buxton - from #1 prospect in baseball to a weakling who can't hit. Look at his 2nd tour and be optimistic. Slow starter at every level who dominates once he figures it out.

 

No need for AJ.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[DaveW]

Austin Jackson makes sense if you have a team who wants to compete for a playoff spot and those 30-45 games

He starts are needed.

 

However by every other move this off season TR has shown that isn't a priority, so no need to bring him in. I'd rather Buxton take his lumps and continue to improve if the twins are set up for a 76-84 win season either way.

[DaveW]

Well, the risk is we don't know if Sano is MLB level competent at the position. Not that he is in the OF either, but that's an argument for not signing Park rather than dealing Plouffe, in my opinion.

He looked fine in 2015, looked fine in the minors as well. Also 3B isn't a premium position anyways, even if he is below average it's not a big deal.

 

Again, keeping league average all around guys like Plouffe and displacing an elite talent like Sano is beyond perplexing.

[David HK]

 

Not sure I'd assume Sano's defense will be better than Plouffe's at 3rd.

It doesn't have to be better than Plouffe's- which is no great shakes anyway.  It just doesn't have to completely suck.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Again, keeping league average all around guys like Plouffe and displacing an elite talent like Sano is beyond perplexing.

But Sano isn't an elite talent defensively.  I don't really think DH, part time 3B until Plouffe is traded or leaves as a free agent is really "displacing".  What's displacing him is signing another DH (Park) and pushing Sano to learn a brand new position in the outfield.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

It doesn't have to be better than Plouffe's- which is no great shakes anyway.  It just doesn't have to completely suck.

Well, if it's worse than Plouffe's, that subtracts potential wins.  Now, Sano's offense should more than offset the defensive difference at 3B, but that still doesn't mean Sano at 3B is necessarily optimal roster construction.