Article: How Aggressive Should The Twins Be About Trading Eduardo Nunez

[spinowner]

 

The main factor in Nunez' trade value will be the need of the other party, assuming the buyer can get some comfort that his performance will remain decent enough to contribute to a playoff push.

This. Do trade him but don't trade him just for the sake of trading him. Maximize his trade value by trading him to the team that needs him the most.

[jorgenswest]

He inability to field will make it so difficult to sell him. Two double play ball throws to Dozier today. One was bad but Dozier did a great job of staying in the bag and getting the ball. The other cost 2 runs. Even on the early fielding play to his right, his feet work put him in a poor position to throw and Mauer received the ball in foul territory. I have been thinking his only position is 3B. After today, I can't imagine any winning team would see him as a starting solution anywhere in the field.

 

Utility fielders won't get much return.

[spinowner]

 

He inability to field will make it so difficult to sell him. Two double play ball throws to Dozier today. One was bad but Dozier did a great job of staying in the bag and getting the ball. The other cost 2 runs. Even on the early fielding play to his right, his feet work put him in a poor position to throw and Mauer received the ball in foul territory. I have been thinking his only position is 3B. After today, I can't imagine any winning team would see him as a starting solution anywhere in the field.

Utility fielders won't get much return.

Everyone knows his fielding is below average. But I would think he could generate interest from an NL team for use as a pinch hitter who could enter the game afterward.

[ashbury]

Everyone knows his fielding is below average.

Knowledge of his flaws will make the flaws go away for trading purposes?

 

Or, will familiarity breed contempt, among other GMs?

[jorgenswest]

He has two position for which he has played 900 innings in his career. The other positions have samples not near enough to look at UZR.

 

Of all third baseman his career USR/150 is only better than Ryan Braun. Braun played 3B in 2007 and the Brewers found him a new position.

 

Of all shortstops, his UZR/150 is only better than Dee Gordon and Jonathan Villar. Gordon hasn't played SS since 2013. Villar persists until Arcia arrives.

 

Poor defense leads to extended innings, shortened starts and stressed bullpens. Hallmarks of a losing team.

[dxpavelka]

 

How does this sound. The FO finally trades Dozier, puts EE at SS, and Nunez at second? .

It sounds like you've created a huge defensive black hole at 2B.

[wsnydes]

 

It sounds like you've created a huge defensive black hole at 2B.

That's why the correct answer to that scenario wouldn't involve Nunez at all.  Polanco plays 2B.

[Shane Wahl]

Any argument for not trading Eduardo Nunez will fail. I would trade him for a top 250 prospect in a heartbeat.

[wsnydes]

 

Any argument for not trading Eduardo Nunez will fail. I would trade him for a top 250 prospect in a heartbeat.

If I could get that for Dozier, I'd do that in a heartbeat too.  That's not really a knock on him as much as I think assets that could be used to acquire other assets and allow a guy like Polanco to move up is the direction that this team needs to head in.

[jorgenswest]

Any argument for not trading Eduardo Nunez will fail. I would trade him for a top 250 prospect in a heartbeat.

I think anyone would. If that doesn't happen, we can knock TR for not selling high as if players ride this month to month roller coaster of radically changing value. Value is created over years and not partial seasons. Nunez has increased his value from the level of DFA in 2014. It is a long way from DFA to top 250 prospect. It only takes one desperate team though. We can hope.

[dxpavelka]

 

That's why the correct answer to that scenario wouldn't involve Nunez at all.  Polanco plays 2B.

Could not agree more.

[jorgenswest]

Is there any position where Nunez can help a winning team? I can't imagine how teams watching his most recent game at 3B or last night's game at SS could possibly want him in their infield. It isn't just error in the fourth. The ground ball from Pujols should have been an out at first in the fifth.

 

Should the Twins see if he can play RF while Sano is out?

[Otto von Ballpark]

Tangential question about Nunez: what happens if his helmet comes off and interferes with a fielder or a ball in play?  I noticed this possibility on a couple plays recently, one where his helmet bounced in front of the first baseman fielding a throw while Nunez was trying to beat out a grounder, and again last night where it bounced in front of the second baseman while Nunez was running to second on a Mauer groundout to second.

 

This link suggests it would remain a live ball unless the umpires rule there was intent to interfere:

https://m.reddit.com/r/baseball/comments/2sdded/becoming_an_umpire_need_help_with_a_question/

 

But it happens so consistently with Nunez, even on routine plays, that losing his helmet seems to be an intentional act, and I think an umpire or the league would be warranted in warning the player and team that any interference from his helmet would be ruled intentional.

 

I hope the issue comes up during a pennant race this year.

[Loosey]

I have stated on here multiple times I am in the minority and against trading Nunez. 

 

Yes I am aware of his Defensive flaws. I also know the Twins haven't had an above average Shortstop since Christian Guzman. 

 

Right now I personally believe his value to as a players on the Twins exceeds the value he would retrieve in a trade.  Polanco is not the future Shortstop, he is a 2nd baseman.  The SS of the Future is in A ball today.

 

If Nunez comes back next year and continues play at a level similar to this year, what is wrong with that?  It only increases his value as a trade chip in future years.  I would be willing to bet he can be a consistent .290/.330/.430 hitter.  I'll take that as my shortstop, especially knowing a younger higher ceiling player is waiting the minors a few years out.

 

When there is a viable replacement, then trade him.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I have stated on here multiple times I am in the minority and against trading Nunez. 

 

Yes I am aware of his Defensive flaws. I also know the Twins haven't had an above average Shortstop since Christian Guzman. 

 

Right now I personally believe his value to as a players on the Twins exceeds the value he would retrieve in a trade.  Polanco is not the future Shortstop, he is a 2nd baseman.  The SS of the Future is in A ball today.

 

If Nunez comes back next year and continues play at a level similar to this year, what is wrong with that?  It only increases his value as a trade chip in future years.  I would be willing to bet he can be a consistent .290/.330/.430 hitter.  I'll take that as my shortstop, especially knowing a younger higher ceiling player is waiting the minors a few years out.

 

When there is a viable replacement, then trade him.

 

What if he comes back and is bad again, like he has been in the past?

 

Of course if he comes back and is good, that's good......but is that likely? Really likely?

[Loosey]

 

What if he comes back and is bad again, like he has been in the past?

 

Of course if he comes back and is good, that's good......but is that likely? Really likely?

If he comes back and is bad then we have a back-up.  He has always been at least back up level.  I don't think he brings back a difference making player in return.  So might as well hold onto him since there is no one banging down the door to play SS.

 

If there is a trade that nets a player at a position of need that is an incrementally better player than we have anywhere in our system that is close to MLB, then go ahead and trade him. 

 

Basically, he intrigues me and I think he can be slightly better than average even when he isn't playing at his best.