How should the Twins handle Eduardo Nunez

[Brandon Warne]

I've read a lot of very hot takes on Twitter and some more reasoned ones here at TD about how the Twins should handle Nunez.

 

Then I wrote about it.

 

http://www.todaysknuckleball.com/minnesota-twins/what-to-do-with-eduardo-nunez/

[USAFChief]

[Brandon Warne]

 

 

Tend to agree, honestly. But for me I wonder what his value looks like now, what it would/could look like in July, and the same question in the offseason, when needs and wants might be easier to attain. 

[DaveW]

Yeah, they nee to trade him ASAP while he has some value. I would be trading Plouffe ASAP as well. Santana can be the Util guy in meantime.

[old nurse]

Nunez would bring back a low level high upside prospect. Nothing to get excited about. That was the kind of trade Ryan excelled at. Plouffe would net the same kind of prospect.  Hopefully there will be a team contending with a need.

[Brandon Warne]

 

Nunez would bring back a low level high upside prospect. Nothing to get excited about. That was the kind of trade Ryan excelled at. Plouffe would net the same kind of prospect.  Hopefully there will be a team contending with a need.

 

I feel like Plouffe would bring back more, but maybe the money is the key difference. Thoughts?

[Badsmerf]

Plouffe better bring back more. He's proven a whole lot more than Nunez has. Teams know what they are getting with plouffe, not so much with Nunez. Id day plouffe brings back a top 100 prospect. MLB regulars don't grow on trees.

[Kwak]

Fantasy valuations--Nunez is a bench guy and Plouffe is  average starting 3B.  For all of the teeth gnashing about Sano to 3B, there are some problems (right now):  1) depth at 3B--nobody behind Sano;  2) Sano has displayed an annoying injury tendency--sort of like the young Mauer;  and 3)  right now there aren't 3 ML OFers--both Buxton and Kepler are expected to spend months in Rochester, and Rosario should be joining them.   Trade Plouffe  is fine--after an adequate ML-quality back-up is signed (and don't say Nunez--because you just traded him!).

[Rosterman]

Nunez, because of free agency, is a sellable commodity. But probably just a mid/low level prospect (or maybe two) if he keeps it up. Because he is a free agent, he isn't worth much more. Plouffe is worth more because of one more (expensive) year of arbitration. He also is playing for a free agency contract come winter. So he is playing his butt off at bat and on the field. Playing a variety of positions will make him more valuable and he may tender a multi-year modest deal. But not with the Twins.

[alarp33]

Plouffe better bring back more. He's proven a whole lot more than Nunez has. Teams know what they are getting with plouffe, not so much with Nunez. Id day plouffe brings back a top 100 prospect. MLB regulars don't grow on trees.

Noooo chance Plouffe brings back a top 100 prospect. 1.5 years of Trevor Plouffe for the rest of this years salary, and like $10 million next year gets you a low level shot in the dark type prospect, or maybe a low ceiling reliever, more ML ready

[alarp33]

Nunez, because of free agency, is a sellable commodity. But probably just a mid/low level prospect (or maybe two) if he keeps it up. Because he is a free agent, he isn't worth much more. Plouffe is worth more because of one more (expensive) year of arbitration. He also is playing for a free agency contract come winter. So he is playing his butt off at bat and on the field. Playing a variety of positions will make him more valuable and he may tender a multi-year modest deal. But not with the Twins.

Nunez isn't eligible for FA until 2018

[alarp33]

2) Sano has displayed an annoying injury tendency--sort of like the young Mauer

Sano has played in 117 of the Twins 121 games since he was called up

[DaveW]

Yeah I don't know where this Sano injury thing is coming from, he bounced back pretty quickly from TJS as well....

[Rigby]

Twins logic - 4 year extension!

[Vanimal46]

In the off-season I was against tendering Nunez, but so far this season he's proven doubters like me wrong. The trade return for Nunez would be nothing special, so is it better for him to remain on the team as a utility guy? Or trade him away? 

Personally I hope the Twins aim higher and find out what they could get for Dozier. If Dozier is traded, Nunez could serve as a good stop-gap before Polanco establishes himself as the starting 2B. 

[Riverbrian]

Don't trade Nunez or anyone for that matter... for a "prospect". We can't handle all the prospects we have right now. 

 

If you trade Nunez... get an immediate MLB ready talent back... or don't do it.

 

 

Right now... I ask this question. Who is better... Nunez or Dozier? 

 

I know the obvious answer would have to be Dozier... but is it? 

 

If I'm making out a lineup card right now and I had to choose between the two... I'm taking Nunez without question and I won't second guess myself at all. 

 

If I had to place a bet right now on who I'd choose between the two in August... I'm not sure but I'm starting to lean toward Nunez because Dozier isn't snapping out of it.

 

 

 

 

[Mike Sixel]

You can only have so many utility players.......If Nunez could play CF, I know what I'd do. 

 

I think they need to rotate Nunez, Polanco, Escobar, Dozier and Plouffe (or move Plouffe to RF....), and see what they can all do in part time roles. Not sure how you really make that work, frankly.

 

I guess send Polanco back down, and rotate the others........that's what I would do.

[gunnarthor]

Moving Nunez makes sense.  He has a skill set that a lot of teams - esp NL teams - would want.  His return won't be high but it'll be higher than Sulibran.  I don't think his trade would be sexy - I suspect Ryan would prefer to go nab a low A player with potential upside that is years away than a AAA relief pitcher.  

[ThejacKmp]

 

; 2) Sano has displayed an annoying injury tendency--sort of like the young Mauer; 

 

Mauer's injury tendency? You're cracked.

 

Young Mauer tore his meniscus his first year. Starting with his real first year in 2005, he averaged 133 games per year the next six years. During that time he hit the DL list exactly twice. That's very good for a catcher. Saying that young Mauer had an injury tendency is craziness. Sheer craziness.

[DaveW]

 

Don't trade Nunez or anyone for that matter... for a "prospect". We can't handle all the prospects we have right now. 

 

If you trade Nunez... get an immediate MLB ready talent back... or don't do it.

 

 

Right now... I ask this question. Who is better... Nunez or Dozier? 

 

I know the obvious answer would have to be Dozier... but is it? 

 

If I'm making out a lineup card right now and I had to choose between the two... I'm taking Nunez without question and I won't second guess myself at all. 

 

If I had to place a bet right now on who I'd choose between the two in August... I'm not sure but I'm starting to lean toward Nunez because Dozier isn't snapping out of it.

Nunez is terrible defensively. He isn't a bad bench guy to have, but he really doesn't have any business starting MLB games for a contender.

 

I'd much rather get a prospect in return rather than "Mlb now talent" Unless that MLB talent is somehow a catcher or a RP with upside, but I doubt it.

[Brandon Warne]

Can I just say you guys have been great in your responses here. Thanks for keeping me sane. 

[Dman]

 

Don't trade Nunez or anyone for that matter... for a "prospect". We can't handle all the prospects we have right now. 

 

If you trade Nunez... get an immediate MLB ready talent back... or don't do it.

 

 

Right now... I ask this question. Who is better... Nunez or Dozier? 

 

I know the obvious answer would have to be Dozier... but is it? 

 

If I'm making out a lineup card right now and I had to choose between the two... I'm taking Nunez without question and I won't second guess myself at all. 

 

If I had to place a bet right now on who I'd choose between the two in August... I'm not sure but I'm starting to lean toward Nunez because Dozier isn't snapping out of it.

 

I am with you on this one.  If we get a prospect back they would need to be better than a lot of the prospects we already have otherwise you got nothing.  We are gonna have to make tough decisions on prospects this year already.  Maybe if you can pry some low A guy just recently drafted with potential that might work but any prospect with only a year or two left before needing to be added is a tough sell for me as it seems like you would be trading Nunez for nothing.