Carlos Quentin Signs MiLB deal with Twins

[gmarais66]

Just another dumpster diving Terry Ryan signing...  Brings back memories of so many others that all turned to garbage... Who could forget Mike Lamb or Joe Crede? Livan Hernandez? And on and on and on... Hmmm... Garbage from dumpster diving, who would have imagined.

[clone52]

 

Uh, what? Aren't they a bit over staffed at MLB and AAA?

 

edit: see Dave's post above.....

 

Organizational Depth only.  Our projected backup outfielders are Danny Santana and Oswaldo Arcia.  Both could flop.  If they do flop, those spots probably get filled by Kepler and Mastroianni.  That leaves the AAA OF as ABW, Joe Benson and Ryan Sweeney with no backups.  Is Quentin a worse option in AAA than Joe Benson or Ryan Sweeney?  The Twins also don't have any high end prospects in AA.

 

Its a low risk signing.  Maybe he lights it up in spring training and someone wants to make a trade for him.  Who knows.

[clone52]

 

Just another dumpster diving Terry Ryan signing...  Brings back memories of so many others that all turned to garbage... Who could forget Mike Lamb or Joe Crede? Livan Hernandez? And on and on and on... Hmmm... Garbage from dumpster diving, who would have imagined.

 

Except this dumpster dive is for a AAA outfielder.  Not for anyone they'll actually plan to make the major league roster.

[ScrapTheNickname]

Just the facts:

 

Sprains left shoulder August 2011 ... finishes with OPS .838.

 

Traded in the off-season from White Sox to Padres.

 

Opens 2012 on the DL after having surgery on his right knee. He does well, gets an extension, but his knee fails in September and has surgery on it again after the season ... OPS .877

 

In July 2013 his right knee gives out AGAIN, and his season is over ... OPS .855

 

Prior to 2014 gets traded to Seattle who sends him to the minors after awful start. He retires.

 

2 years later he signs a MiLB deal with the Twins.

 

OPS has always been high. In his age 33 year. Perhaps his knee is all fixed up. I doubt it.

[Kwak]

A foolish waste of time.  This indicates a lack of focus on the future.  Use Spring training to prepare the regulars and evaluate the prospects--not waste time on yesteryear's rejects.

[gmarais66]

 

Except this dumpster dive is for a AAA outfielder.  Not for anyone they'll actually plan to make the major league roster.

Are you sure about that?

[bluechipper]

A foolish waste of time. This indicates a lack of focus on the future. Use Spring training to prepare the regulars and evaluate the prospects--not waste time on yesteryear's rejects.[/quote/]

I don't think this indicates much of anything. I doubt signing a former very good hitter who's been out of baseball for a year is going to somehow hurt any of the young guys, unless he actually makes the team of course. Then it's a problem.

[clone52]

 

A foolish waste of time.  This indicates a lack of focus on the future.  Use Spring training to prepare the regulars and evaluate the prospects--not waste time on yesteryear's rejects.

 

The only prospects you are evaulating are Kepler and ABW.  You have plenty of time to evaulate them.  Give them some ABs against good pitchers and give Quentin the garbage ABs.  The truth is, it makes more sense to let Kepler and ABW play daily in AAA than be bench guys who play twice a week in the majors.  If Kepler or ABW do move up the majors, you need someone to play OF in AAA.  Why not try Quentin.  

 

Also, for all we know they want 2 AA OFs and will choose 2 out of Quentin, Sweeney and Benson.  Competition for every roster spot in the organization is a good thing.

[alarp33]

 

Except this dumpster dive is for a AAA outfielder.  Not for anyone they'll actually plan to make the major league roster.

 

Guessing you also never planned on Jason Bartlett making the 2014 team as an outfielder?

[mazeville]

I don't mind taking fliers on guys. And whatever. It's not my money. But I'm not entirely sure why they'd do this. This team has so many corner outfielders/DH types it's not even funny. 

[Rosterman]

Only $750,000 payday if he makes the roster. Or maybe he injures himself in spring training before being designated for minor league camp (or released).

 

Of course, we could open the season with Sano, Rosario, Mauer and Park on the DL, and now we know we are protected.

 

I would assume Delmon Young is weighing other offers, which is why we grabbed Quentin.

 

Now, if only they did this last week, I would've gone to TwinsFest for sure and paid cash for my season ticket package!

[tobi0040]

 

Except this dumpster dive is for a AAA outfielder.  Not for anyone they'll actually plan to make the major league roster.

 

Like Kubel and Bartlett?

[tobi0040]

 

I don't mind taking fliers on guys. And whatever. It's not my money. But I'm not entirely sure why they'd do this. This team has so many corner outfielders/DH types it's not even funny. 

 

Yeah, but most are between 22-25 and either former top prospects, guys that we were high on not too long ago, recently signd to a four year deal (Park), or guys that produced just last year.  So I don't see why you mix in 34 year olds who haven't played in almost two years

 

 

 

 

[Vanimal46]

Like many have mentioned, I'm fine with taking flyers on people and seeing if they stick. But I think we've gone over our quota on corner OF/DH players. I don't know why they aren't looking at other positions like SS/3B/2B for organizational depth. That's where the team is severely lacking internal options if one of the MLB starters goes down with an injury.

[nicksaviking]

If he makes the team, I can't help but think this means either Arcia or Vargas will be DFA'd which would make this a terrible move. However if the team is able to somehow keep both and Quentin, great.

 

His best attribute is his ability to get on base. If he has any juice left, that is something the Twins desperately need. He probably doesn't and I'll bet we'll have our answer very quickly.

[DrNeau]

 

If he makes the team, I can't help but think this means either Arcia or Vargas will be DFA'd which would make this a terrible move. However if the team is able to somehow keep both and Quentin, great.

 

His best attribute is his ability to get on base. If he has any juice left, that is something the Twins desperately need. He probably doesn't and I'll bet we'll have our answer very quickly.

 

Would like to see Vargas traded, either way. Unsure how much Molitor likes Arcia due to lackadaisical plays in OF early last year, forgetting # of outs, and not running out hits. Still, he has a great deal of talent. Quentin certainly did have a good ability to get on; will be an interesting spring. 

[tobi0040]

 

If he makes the team, I can't help but think this means either Arcia or Vargas will be DFA'd which would make this a terrible move. However if the team is able to somehow keep both and Quentin, great.

 

His best attribute is his ability to get on base. If he has any juice left, that is something the Twins desperately need. He probably doesn't and I'll bet we'll have our answer very quickly.

 

Yeah, I think someone is getting DFA'd and/or Plouffe is traded.   You have to think if Sano is really going to the OF, your corners are locked at Sano and Rosario.   And you have Park, Arcia, and Vargas battling for the DH spot.  All are young, Arcia is out of optons, and Park just got a four year deal.

 

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

I'd guess Rosario is a lock to start opening day, but I wouldn't call him a lock much beyond that.  A promising rookie campaign, but still plenty of room for regression or stagnation.

 

He could also start in CF on opening day, if Buxton goes to AAA, no?

[h2oface]

 

You are right. I was mixing up him and Buxton.  Buxton was a few PA away from not qualified

 

Exactly 1, 129 /130. But it reads ABs, not PAs.

 

A player shall be considered a rookie unless, during a previous season or seasons, he has (a) exceeded 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched in the Major Leagues; or (  accumulated more than 45 days on the active roster of a Major League club or clubs during the period of 25-player limit (excluding time in the military service and time on the disabled list).

 

This guys thinks Buxton is inelegible, though, because of the 45 days......

http://inningseaters.sportsblog.com/posts/8036920/byron-buxton-no-longer-rookie-of-the-year-eligible-for-2016.html

[Vanimal46]

 

I'd guess Rosario is a lock to start opening day, but I wouldn't call him a lock much beyond that.  A promising rookie campaign, but still plenty of room for regression or stagnation.

 

He could also start in CF on opening day, if Buxton goes to AAA, no?

Yeah he could take the reigns in CF on opening day if they decide Buxton needs more seasoning in the minors. That's going to make for a horrendous OF defense right away if the projected lineup is Sano-Rosario-Arcia or Sano-Rosario-Santana. 

[Platoon]

 

What, exactly, is their plan?

. Plan?

[h2oface]

I just don't see what they are even interested in by having Quentin around. 

[scottz]

 

I just don't see what they are even interested in by having Quentin around. 

To steal signs from the 2011 White Sox. Duh. Use your head.

[notoriousgod71]

 

Another RH bat! 

 

March 2016 - Quentin makes team, Arcia released

Mid April 2016 - Quentin goes on DL, retires

September 2016 - Arcia hits 25th HR for someone

 

This seems accurate.

[Pitz]

Somewhat indifferent about this signing - certainly not thrilled but I'll try to look for a positive side. Something in me thinks that Molitor didn't want the young guys coming into/going through spring training just assuming they have the job. It's not the worst thing to have a guy who was a successful professional big league hitter in camp pushing and potentially teaching the young hitters a few things. Benson and Mastro aren't doing that.

Hope he doesn't make the big league roster though.

[Teflon]

Or was the Quentin signing really a clever ploy to dissuade the St. Louis Cardinals from bothering to hack the Twins scouting data?

 

 

[Monkeypaws]

 

A foolish waste of time. This indicates a lack of focus on the future. Use Spring training to prepare the regulars and evaluate the prospects--not waste time on yesteryear's rejects.[/quote/]
I don't think this indicates much of anything. I doubt signing a former very good hitter who's been out of baseball for a year is going to somehow hurt any of the young guys, unless he actually makes the team of course. Then it's a problem.

 

Unless he hits like the Carlos Quentin of old - that wouldn't be a bad problem to have.

 

Unlikely as it is.

[HitInAPinch]

Obviously an evil plot by Terry Ryan to get Twins Daily folks all riled up.  My god, he's an evil genius...

 

 

[Hrbowski]

Boy, you guys take MILB signings a little too seriously...

[jorgenswest]

Twins pinch hitting was beyond awful last year. A bench of Nunez, Santana and back up catcher isn't going to change that much. It might make sense to seek a bat on the bench instead of two utility players.

 

I am not sure that Quentin is the solution. He certainly is going to need more reps than spring training to demonstrate his readiness. Send him to AAA. If his skill set returns, DFA one of the utility guys and add a bat to the bench. If not, release Quentin and seek another bat.