Dozier, Plouffe and Suzuki hot. Good or bad for the Twins?

[DocBauer]

Dozier has been playing much, much better of late. He's really picked it up the past 30 games, especially the past 15 games. He's even been hitting the other way.

 

Suzuki has been reduced hot the last 30 games, especially for him, especially for the catcher position.

 

Plouffe appears healthy, isn't on fire exactly, but has looked better and is hitting just shy of .270 for the past week.

 

Is this good or bad for the Twins?

 

Playing better baseball and being in games, even winning some, is always good for your favorite team isn't it? A pessemist would tell you that a hot Suzuki, especially if he finishes the season relatively strong, would entice the Twins to extend him for next season. (Can't recall if he has a team option) A pessemist would tell you that instead of trading Dozier, gaining some talent, making room for Polanco and continuing a youth movement, the Twins would be inclined to keep him. (I think it's still debatable as to whether keeping Dozier is a good thing or bad thing). A pessemist would tell you that Plouffe heating up would allow the Twins FO to feel justified by keeping Plouffe around this year, possibly next, because he's a solid player who just had a poor first half.

 

An optomistic Twins fan, who sees Buxton and Kepler playing every day and no talk of sending them down...indeed, there's even been chatter about being sure to keep them doing so in order to maintain their development...and talk about Sano rehabbing at 3B and staying at 3B because that is his natural position and the position the Twins have always seen him ultimately playing, would tell you that these three getting hot is exactly what the Twins need.

 

A hot, and still not very old Dozier, with a contract not hard to handle, could potentially be a prime candidate to trade, possibly packaged, to bring back more help. Polanco, Escobar and even Beresford are all 2B candidates if a quality return could be had for Dozier.

 

To me, it seems almost every season some contending team needs a solid, veteran catcher to provide depth for a stretch run. Zuke is nothing special, but has a great reputation as a teamate, a true professional, and a quality catcher when it comes to working with his staff. I have maintained he would be worth SOMETHING to a team needing help behind the dish. Getting in an offensive groove should do nothing but enhance his trade value, limited though it may be.

 

Despite his rough first half thus far in 2016, Plouffe has been a solid defensive and offensive player the past few years. He can also play some 1B. There seem to be more than a few teams who could use a solid veteran player of his ability and experience to help them the rest of the way. Again, a bat that is heating up can only increase his value.

 

There is a great deal of disapointment, anger and angst in regard to the FO's construction of this team. And a belief that they will do little to nothing to make moves, and move on. "They have no plan!" But there is also some tangible evidence that...while no "plan" has been openly seen or announced...there is indeed a shift to promote and play and stick with younger players now, along with an announced shift of Sano back to 3B permanently, and an anticipated series of milb promotional moves that warm the frozen and disappointed hearts of Twins fans with future possibiities.

 

So pessemist or optomist? Heat brings keeping or moving? Heat means nothing or potentially better returns? What is your take here?

[Kwak]

All three of these guys are known to be streak hitters--especially in May/June. It lasts 4-5 weeks than back to normal. Since I expect Ryan to remain as GM (Boo!), I think he will grab this straw as evidence that these three are part of the turnaround. They will definitely be back next year. The 2016 season will be dismissed as "a perfect storm of bad luck" and sunshine will be pumped for 2017 season. Of course! This season will be sooo bad that improvement is but a very low bar.

 

Worse, if Plouffe, Dozier, and Suzuki were replaced, it puts the FO (Ryan!) in the crosshairs as the architect of disaster rather than as a victim of "bad luck". What kind of marketing campaign could there be for 2017 if these three were replaced? That would be an open admission of ​Rebuild. That is the "name that cannot be said" (Harry Potter films). Who would want to buy tickets to watch a team of scrubs and rookies at Target Field prices?     ​

[The Wise One]

Needs of other teams and how these players fit on their team will determine the market. For it to be a good deal it the other team should be a buyer looking rather than Ryan pimping. I am not sure why half of the teams would bother with these players, but strange things do happen at the trade deadline

[The Wise One]

Players playing well is always good for the team. Will it cause extensions to happen? Doubt it. If Suzuki the best option that is available, he will get a contract

[Rosterman]

The players are playing for their future, which may not be in Minnesota. If Minnesota can capitalize on their continued success, then do so.

 

Plouffe will be an expensive arbitration piece next season. Any team getting him will have him for one more season. But he plays consistently, and other teams know what to expect from him. Sadly, they also know we have a third baseman in tow and thus...unless a team is really hurting for a third baseman and can;t trade reasonably for, say, Danny Valencia...they might go after Plouffe. At best, send Park down for a couple of weeks, bat Mauer at DH, and let Plouffe play some first to make him more valuable.

 

Dozier is still under control. He is reasonable. Most teams by now know what to expect. The Twins just need to make a decision - Dozier or Polanco. They really don't need to make that move until next season, but Polanco would be on the roster in 2017 no matter what. Other teams know that. Would it be wise to dangle Polanco? A team would have to want Dozier to be their second baseman for a few years. Is that plausible?

 

Suzuki is playing for a contract, any contract, in 2017. If he plays well, he might be able to get a multi-year, or at least an option year. Of, just a job, period. Again, someone would have to lose their catcher for the remainder of the season and see worth in a rental. Doubt if that will happen and don't see the Twins performing a giveaway as nothing they have is better than what they are currently putting behind-the-plate, sadly.

 

Every player SHOULD be performing as if they need a job next season. But EVERY TEAM knows that many of these guys won't be Twins next season if push comes to shove, and they just have to wait and see. Which is the problem, especially with most of the pitching, that a team doesn't care to have other teams think.

 

The Twins only get something of worth for most anyone if a team is looking for a spare part because of injury during their own pennant run. But pretty much everything the Twins have is a duplicate of something else available for a song from another team.

 

 

[Ncgo4]

I have no idea what our management might do. My evil side assumes (unfairly) that whatever it is it will be the wrong thing. My optimistic self wants to believe we could get hot and still win the pennant. The real truth is that this is truly a critical period for the Twins long term success and I really hope the decisions are good ones. The one thing I do believe is that Sano must go to 3rd base and that to facilitate this Plouffe needs to be traded.

[Platoon]

I have posted this before. If they get hot, they are too valuable to trade, and if they stay cold, they have no trade value. That's the company line. Ryan is already waffling on the no RF remarks. I am sure before he trades Precious Plouffe, he might send Park down for awhile. It's gonna kill Ryan to trade Plouffe. There is no history of him trading FO favorites. I am afraid his hair will fall out! Edit: I might add that this is a FO and manager that is sending its stud on rehab today, and either they don't know what to do with him, won't say because it's super secret, or never thought about it until asked by one of the intrepid beat reporters. Sheesh

[Blackjack]

 

. The one thing I do believe is that Sano must go to 3rd base and that to facilitate this Plouffe needs to be traded.

 

This. I would say its 50/50 that he gets traded before the deadline. Ryan is loyal to a fault but even he sees that the future of this team Sano, and not in the outfield.  Trading away your 'excess' for other parts you need is how you get better. Third base has an excess. Same with second. Yes Dozier is young enough to be part of a future winning Twins team, so then trade Polanco, before he stagnates on the bench next year and his value goes down.

 

Back to Doc's original question, yes its a good thing that these players get hot, it increases their trade value. Plouffe or Dozier could help a contending team that needs help in the infield. What we need is for two teams to think that and hope they'll get in a bidding contest. Supply and demand.

[FunnyPenguin]

I kind of like Dozier now, if he can actually hit the opposite way he might prove useful, I doubt we'll ever again see the 27 homers, but 12-14 is probably pretty realistic, along with good few doubles and RBI's, him i would hang on to, not so for the other two

[alarp33]

Good and Bad.  Value might be increasing slightly, but I think TR would now be more likely to hang onto Dozier (ignoring his July through May #'s, and focusing on the last 3 weeks seems.. not smart).  Hopefully a prolonged stretch of better by at bats by Plouffe proves to other teams he's healthy and has at least a little trade value.  

 

I think it's becoming more likely Suzuki will be back next year, so chalk that up in the Bad column

[Brock Beauchamp]

This team is struggling to maintain a .333 winning percentage, which means they can't win more than one game out of three.

 

If Ryan is thinking of *anything* other than seeing what he can get for Plouffe, Abad, Dozier, Nunez, Suzuki, Nolasco, etc., he should he fired on the spot.

 

I can see a reason to keep Dozier. Maybe Nunez if the team thinks they have lightning in a bottle but can't get a return for it. Everyone else over 25-26 years old needs to go.

 

If fewer than four players are gone at the deadline, it's a huge fail.

[Bill Brown69]

During the rain delay yesterday Kris was talking to one of the front office guys(know his voice but can't come up with his name)

 

The subject of falling behind and the trade deadline came up and he said that the front office has not received a call yet about any player. I am pretty close on the quote "it comes down to performance and our guys haven't performed well enough for other teams to be interested"

 

The reality is that it takes 2 to tango but at the same time it is early, 6 weeks or so until the deadline.

 

I love both Plouffe and Mauer but the reality is one of them has to go. Park going to AAA would solve that but jacking around with him after the Nishi disaster would probably put a permanent stain on the Twins for future international signings. Maybe that would not be a bad thing but,,,,,,,

 

It is easy to sit here and say what we would do or Terry should do but the job of a big league GM isn't as easy as most of us think. Most of us would last about as long at it as we would in Vegas at the final table in the World Series of poker.

[Mike Sixel]

Uh, it's always good when your players play well. I don't understand the question.

 

I have no idea what this FO will do, either way.

[gunnarthor]

Dozier will stay put but I think the FO will try and move Plouffe and Suzuki.  And it's a good thing when your players play well.  

[TheLeviathan]

You know, I always hear this team talking about others calling them or not calling them.  Do they realize that they can call other teams?  That phones work in both directions?

 

It'd explain a lot over the years.  I grant, it's probably not a good theory.  I imagine we knew this function of phones when we called Hughes' agent and offered an extension that probably made them start doing this on the floor:

 

http://i.giftrunk.com/pyx244.gif

 

But I'm not ready to rule it out yet.  I'll revisit it on August 1st....that may help determine the veracity of my theory.

[jokin]

 

This team is struggling to maintain a .333 winning percentage, which means they can't win more than one game out of three.

If Ryan is thinking of *anything* other than seeing what he can get for Plouffe, Abad, Dozier, Nunez, Suzuki, Nolasco, etc., he should he fired on the spot.

I can see a reason to keep Dozier. Maybe Nunez if the team thinks they have lightning in a bottle but can't get a return for it. Everyone else over 25-26 years old needs to go.

If fewer than four players are gone at the deadline, it's a huge fail.

 

This. I think some of us are still numb to the complete cluster-disaster that this season is. Ryan cleared out the easy pickings in May, it started getting tougher with the ouster of Arcia. It indeed will be a "huge fail" if he is satisfied with the "tweaking" thus far and fails to complete the housecleaning by August 1. (And I'm not hopeful that he can do it satisfactorily).

[REPETE]

 

I love both Plouffe and Mauer but the reality is one of them has to go. Park going to AAA would solve that but jacking around with him after the Nishi disaster would probably put a permanent stain on the Twins for future international signings. Maybe that would not be a bad thing but,,,,,,,

 

 

 

 

Mauer isn't going anywhere.  Plouffe is the one who needs to be traded, even if it's for a used ball bag at this point.  He's not terrible, and him getting hot will hopefully fill a need for some contender.  

As to Nishi, or sending Park to AAA?  That shouldn't have an effect on anything.  Nishi clearly should've never been in an MLB uniform, and Park's 200 BA with like a million K's is most deserved of some time in AAA.  As I recall, there was a lot of speculation Park may need time in AAA at the beginning of the year, so this should not come as a huge surprise. 

 

[Halsey Hall]

It's about time these guys started doing something.  They should of started the season near this level and we wouldn't be in quite a dark basement. 

 

It's almost like, "we really suck, and I don't want to be here next year, better get it going". 

[alarp33]

 

Uh, it's always good when your players play well. I don't understand the question.

 

I have no idea what this FO will do, either way.

 

Was it good when Kurt Suzuki played well in the 1st half in 2014? 

 

Was it good when Phil Hughes had a career year in 2014?

 

Obviously I get what you're saying, but consider who the General Manager is, it's not that ridiculous of question.  

[HitInAPinch]

 

Needs of other teams and how these players fit on their team will determine the market. For it to be a good deal it the other team should be a buyer looking rather than Ryan pimping. I am not sure why half of the teams would bother with these players, but strange things do happen at the trade deadline

Injury usually tips the scales.  Especially if the other team is in a pennant race.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Was it good when Kurt Suzuki played well in the 1st half in 2014? 

 

Was it good when Phil Hughes had a career year in 2014?

 

Obviously I get what you're saying, but consider who the General Manager is, it's not that ridiculous of question.  

 

yes, it was good. Just because the FO followed that up with mistakes does not make the actions of the players bad.

 

I get what people are saying....and I get the mistrust of this FO (I never wanted TR back), but it is always good when your players play well.

[jokin]

 

Was it good when Kurt Suzuki played well in the 1st half in 2014? 

 

Was it good when Phil Hughes had a career year in 2014?

 

Obviously I get what you're saying, but consider who the General Manager is, it's not that ridiculous of question.  

 

Let's just say it didn't end well in either instance- (don't forget Doumit). And that's why I think Ryan already has contract extension meetings set up with the agents of Nunez, Abad, and Zuke.

[twinsnorth49]

Trading Zuke and Plouffe are no brainers and if we can cash in on Dozier at this stage it probably is as well. Not sure how these guys playing well is a bad thing, other than this is the Twins we're taking about here.

[jimmer]

 

Was it good when Kurt Suzuki played well in the 1st half in 2014? 

 

Was it good when Phil Hughes had a career year in 2014?

 

Obviously I get what you're saying, but consider who the General Manager is, it's not that ridiculous of question.  

Suzuki has raised his OPS 135 points in 9 games.

[alarp33]

 

yes, it was good. Just because the FO followed that up with mistakes does not make the actions of the players bad.

 

I get what people are saying....and I get the mistrust of this FO (I never wanted TR back), but it is always good when your players play well.

 

It's the same FO in place. No one is saying the actions of Plouffe, Dozier or Suzuki is bad, it's great they are all coming around.  But is it bad for the long term future of the Twins? 

[alarp33]

 

Suzuki has raised his OPS 135 points in 9 games.

 

That is quite the jump... do you think that makes him attractive to another team? I don't.  Do you think it makes him attractive to TR for a contract extension... Hmmmm

[HitInAPinch]

 

 

You know, I always hear this team talking about others calling them or not calling them.  Do they realize that they can call other teams?  That phones work in both directions?

 

It'd explain a lot over the years.  I grant, it's probably not a good theory.  I imagine we knew this function of phones when we called Hughes' agent and offered an extension that probably made them start doing this on the floor:

 

http://i.giftrunk.com/pyx244.gif

 

But I'm not ready to rule it out yet.  I'll revisit it on August 1st....that may help determine the veracity of my theory.

The question I've always have had is:  Is anyone really calling the Twins?  Example:

 

2 days ago, MLBTR posted an article that included:  "Third base remains arguably the biggest area of concern for New York".  Do we know if Alderson contacted Ryan?  It would seem to me that Alderson would have at least tried kicking the tires....

[beckmt]

I agree with the fact that either Dozier or Polanco needs to be moved.  Nunez also needs to be moved if a decent return can be found.  Depends on what you can get.   Maybe you could package 2 - 3 players to the Mets for one of their young pitchers, do not think the Mets will do this, but if they cannot get Valencia, then anthing is possible. 

Agree with Brock and I posted the same thing in another thread, 4 is the magic number, anything less is a fail.

[Vanimal46]

I'm in agreement with many on this thread, and will continue to pound the drum of trading each player mentioned on here.

 

I'm skeptical whether or not they actually go through with a house cleaning.

[beckmt]

 

The question I've always have had is:  Is anyone really calling the Twins?  Example:

 

2 days ago, MLBTR posted an article that included:  "Third base remains arguably the biggest area of concern for New York".  Do we know if Alderson contacted Ryan?  It would seem to me that Alderson would have at least tried kicking the tires....

 

Believe the Mets are looking Valencia,  Plouffe is probably plan B or C, unless you can add a player or two to help convince them the Twins deal is better.