Kennys Vargas

[KirbyHawk75]

Where does he fit in next season?  Is he the team's DH?  Is he a big bat off the bench?  Is he platooning at 1B with Mauer?  Where do you see him next year?  

[Craig Arko]

Since they got another option year for him I'd expect to see him in Rochester, at least to start the season. They'll see what they really have in Park before making a decision.

[Linus]

Let him and Park battle it out for full time DH

Loser goes to AAA. Neither player is a good bench option. I hope Vargas sticks.

[Thrylos]

Three way 1B/DH platoon with Mauer and Park.   Against RHPs Mauer 1B, Vargas DH, against LHPs Vargas and Park 1B/DH.

 

Room for all 3 on the roster.

[kab21]

 

Three way 1B/DH platoon with Mauer and Park.   Against RHPs Mauer 1B, Vargas DH, against LHPs Vargas and Park 1B/DH.

 

Room for all 3 on the roster.

I would be very surprised if the Twins had a bench that consisted of a backup OF'er, utility IF'er, a backup catcher and a platoon DH/1B. I could see a possibility of a Palka type (instead of a 1B man) that can at least play the OF in this scenario but the team would have very little positional bench flexibility with your proposal.

I think Vargas will be the DH but he will have to at a minimum not lose the role to Park in spring training. Both players have options so I don't necessarily see Park being the favorite because they have to see what they have in him. This FO is under no pressure to validate that signing.

[Thrylos]

 

I would be very surprised if the Twins had a bench that consisted of a backup OF'er, utility IF'er, a backup catcher and a platoon DH/1B. I could see a possibility of a Palka type (instead of a 1B man) that can at least play the OF in this scenario but the team would have very little positional bench flexibility with your proposal.

 

See I see Palka as the starting Twins RF, with Rosario, Escobar, Murphy/Garver, Vargas/Park (whomever is not playing) on the bench.  The platoon DH/1B will be there as a PH...

[Riverbrian]

My sincere hope is: If Vargas out plays Mauer (and Plouffe) like he did in July. He won't be benched or sent down in favor of Plouffe and Mauer in August. 

 

No more playing who you think will do best. Instead I'd like to see them play the players who are ACTUALLY doing the best. 

 

Give Vargas a legit chance to earn a job.

 

I have no idea if Vargas will be a MLB talent but I'd like to find out. I won't be very happy if he isn't given a legit chance. 

 

 

 

 

 

[DocBauer]

There IS room for all of Mauer, Vargas and Park, though it leaves Grossman out. IMO, Grossman is the potential 5th OF/DH/PH. The Twins absolutely should be looking for a quality 4th OF type, my first choice is probably Austin Jackson if possible, which I mentioned in my offseason blueprint post.

 

Would love to see Palka as a 1B/OF/DH option eventually. But we have to be real here, he has less than half a season at AAA and will begin 2017 almost certainly at Rochester.

 

I'm not gung-ho on Grossman, but I think he's valuable in the role I mentioned. So it comes down to overall value on the team: Grossman vs keeping both Park and Vargas. However, but caveat, with Mauer's injury history, it could be a moot point at times with room for all of them and Mauer on the DL.

[kab21]

 

See I see Palka as the starting Twins RF, with Rosario, Escobar, Murphy/Garver, Vargas/Park (whomever is not playing) on the bench.  The platoon DH/1B will be there as a PH...

One nagging injury that requires a starter to sit out for a day or two and there is no backup available during a game. This is the reality of MLB baseball.

I can almost guarantee that the Twins will not use a 1B only player at DH and a 1B only backup on the bench. One of those guys needs to play somewhere else in the field even if it isn't well.

 

[kab21]

Danny Santana to everyone's dislike is actually the exact player that makes Vargas/Park DH/backup/platoon a possibility possible though. If only he wasn't so mediocre in day to day play at most everything.

[Platoon]

Danny Santana to everyone's dislike is actually the exact player that makes Vargas/Park DH/backup/platoon a possibility possible though. If only he wasn't so mediocre in day to day play at most everything.

Actually you have a valid point. Like so many players, once Santana's hitting fell off, his defense started getting picked apart. I realize he isn't anywhere near perfect, but for me his flexibility with short benches puts him up on Grossman. For all of DanSans faults, he doesn't approach RG's ineptitude with a glove, or arm. Keeping Grossman as a 4th OF is hopeless. He can't throw well enough for LF, let alone RF, and certainly can't run enough for CF. he did validate one of my long held beliefs about hitting though. If you stand there long enough, and the pitcher isn't paying attention to who he is throwing to, you can eek out a walk. If he does, you get called out o strikes!

[Woody Wants Wins]

Plus Twins sign Ben Paulsen to a minor league deal, with a promise to attend major league camp.  Another possible 1B/DH type

[DJSim22]

I like Grossman as a part time bench player.  Would love to have someone like him PH in late innings.  Vargas is either the DH or in AAA I think.  I suspect he'll be on the team at some point due to results or injuries. 

[Oldgoat_MN]

Kennys Vargas was second on the team in OPS (behind Dozier).

 

Looking again at his MiLB numbers show that he pretty much always has had a good to great OBP. He knows how to take a walk. The way he hits baseballs means that his OPS is going to look sweet, probably.

 

Part of me keeps thinking what we've seen is too good to be true, but I would sure as hell make sure we find out. 

 

If he can bring his MLB numbers pretty close to his MiLB numbers then it is no certainty that Sano is the big bopper on the team. Unlikely? Maybe. Let's find out.

 

Run the platoons like Thrylos was saying and if Vargas and Park are both raking we finally have a position where we have a wealth of talent.

 

(yes, a Twins fan just suggested we might have one position with a 'wealth of talent')

 

[Mr. Brooks]

One nagging injury that requires a starter to sit out for a day or two and there is no backup available during a game. This is the reality of MLB baseball.

 

I can almost guarantee that the Twins will not use a 1B only player at DH and a 1B only backup on the bench. One of those guys needs to play somewhere else in the field even if it isn't well.

 

 

Escobar can play all 3 OF positions in an emergency, and Polanco can play the corners in an emergency.

[Vanimal46]

I see Vargas as AAA depth. There's a chance he could beat out Park in spring training, and if so, he'll be a platoon bench bat. Either way I don't think he's a player that you plan on giving 400+ at-bats to. 

[NIATwinsFan]

Plus Twins sign Ben Paulsen to a minor league deal, with a promise to attend major league camp. Another possible 1B/DH type

Paulsen also plays OF.

 

I agree that versatility will be a important factor in determining who comes North after Spring Training.

[mazeville]

Vargas had a 1.200 OPS v. lefties. That guy should be platooned, probably with Mauer.

[HitInAPinch]

 

I see Vargas as AAA depth. There's a chance he could beat out Park in spring training, and if so, he'll be a platoon bench bat. Either way I don't think he's a player that you plan on giving 400+ at-bats to. 

 

A decision is needed.  Whatever they do with Vargas, he needs consistent  AB's.  I just don't see any value in having him as a bench bat.

[theBOMisthebomb]

If this was preseason 2016 then they would have no plan and they'd be making decisions minute by minute all the way into spring training. Hoping Falvey-Levine don't allow things such as Sano in RF to happen.

[Mr. Brooks]

I see Vargas as AAA depth. There's a chance he could beat out Park in spring training, and if so, he'll be a platoon bench bat. Either way I don't think he's a player that you plan on giving 400+ at-bats to.

I sure hope the new regime is not letting jobs be won or lost in Spring Training. That was one of my biggest issues with the previous regime.

Spring Training is for getting ready for the season, not statistical analysis.

There doesn't appear to be any correlation between ST results and regular season results.

[Dantes929]

 

Vargas had a 1.200 OPS v. lefties. That guy should be platooned, probably with Mauer.

And Mauer had much better stats against righties while Vargas struggled with them.     Certainly with an unlimited bench this would be a no brainer.    Since that isn't the case it might not work out so great.    It could work with Park also but he needs to show something in the minors first, imo.    Last year was too muddied with Sano, Plouffe and Arcia in the discussion as well.     I say this every year but it really bears repeating.    ST should not be used to determine rosters in almost all cases.     Vargas has earned a shot.  Park has not.   

[Rosterman]

It is totally up to Park and Vargas to beat each otehr out. If Vargas has a hot spring and Park doesn't, Park goes to Rochester for seasoning.

 

Vargas should have his agent exploring any international deals possible to escape being designated for assignment, perhaps, or playing abdly in the majors and not finding a future home here. Although not a great season in 2016, it should've drawn some interest from the foreign leagues. Now he competes with Chris Carter, though.

 

The Twins do not need to cary three guys or can play first. They also have Palka in the wings as a backup. And waaaay back I thought Kepler might've been groomed as a first baseman of the future. The Twins do have choices for when Mauer leaves, including a move of Sano at some point, if he doesn't become the lifetime DH.

 

2017 will be an exciting season.

[terencemann]

 

I sure hope the new regime is not letting jobs be won or lost in Spring Training. That was one of my biggest issues with the previous regime.
Spring Training is for getting ready for the season, not statistical analysis.
There doesn't appear to be any correlation between ST results and regular season results.

Yes. Please, for the love of God, no more Aaron Hickses skipping AAA based on a month of scrimmages.

[Doomtints]

 

I sure hope the new regime is not letting jobs be won or lost in Spring Training. That was one of my biggest issues with the previous regime.
 

 

I don't think this practice in and of itself is flawed or unusual.  All teams do this.  The Twins have had success in this area (see Joe Nathan).  It's customary for the 5th and sometimes 4th starters to be determined in spring training in addition to 1 or 2 relievers and 1 or 2 positional players, not to mention the bench players.  This is for all teams, not just the Twins.

 

BUT I think recently the decisions that the Twins have made after spring training have been wrong decisions.  It seems to me they were looking more at personalities first, age/cost second.  Note that ability and potential aren't even listed there.  They were using business criteria and not baseball criteria to determine who made the team out of spring training and then trying to stash veterans and those with more potential in the minors.  Ryan lost his mind.

[Shaitan]

Of course they shouldn't make decisions based on stats from ST, but I'm pretty sure the front office knows that. They made it based on practice and coaching sessions and the many one-on-ones that happen during ST, not in-game performance.

 

[Mr. Brooks]

Of course they shouldn't make decisions based on stats from ST, but I'm pretty sure the front office knows that. They made it based on practice and coaching sessions and the many one-on-ones that happen during ST, not in-game performance.

 

No, the Twins previous regime did explicitly decide roster spots based on ST performance, often.

[Linus]

No, the Twins previous regime did explicitly decide roster spots based on ST performance, often.

Um we don't know that.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Three way 1B/DH platoon with Mauer and Park. Against RHPs Mauer 1B, Vargas DH, against LHPs Vargas and Park 1B/DH.

 

Room for all 3 on the roster.

indeed, good hitting bench, but man that's a tough on positional flexibility

[Richie the Rally Goat]

See I see Palka as the starting Twins RF, with Rosario, Escobar, Murphy/Garver, Vargas/Park (whomever is not playing) on the bench. The platoon DH/1B will be there as a PH...

i can see Palka winning starting RF w/ Rosario as 4th OF. Struggle with Park, Vargas, and Mauer on the 25 man roster at the same time. With the question of Sano sticking at third, and assuming Dozier gets traded at some point, Vielma seems more likely your second bench infielder.