The Other Outfielder

[Run Prevention]

Assuming Buxton and Kepler continue to get better who is the other outfielder?

 

I would love to see Palka get a chance with Rosario the 4th outfielder and if that doesn't workout keep Rosario and Grossman

 

What would your outfield look like?

[Cory Engelhardt]

My outfield would also have Rosario be the 4th outfielder (mostly) and either sign a free agent like Rajai Davis to face lefties, or include an outfielder in a trade from the Dodgers and Dozier (something like De Leon with Puig or Toles or Trayce Thompson along with another prospect like Gavin Lux etc.) and have, say, Puig in the OF along with Kepler and Buxton.

[Doomtints]

Palka moved up fast last year.  The idea of him being ready for 2017 seemed impossible until very recently, but now it seems like he has a chance.

 

I would wager the Twins would want him to work on his K totals in the minors a bit, however. 

[Vanimal46]

Ideally, Rosario fits best as a 4th OF, but I won't mind if he starts out the season as the starting LF. Palka is on the radar for a potential call-up in 2017. I'd love to find a way to get Grossman off the roster and find a good defensive backup OF. 

Enge proposed Rajai Davis to face lefties. He sounds good to me. 

 

Angel Pagan is a switch hitter who's pretty balanced against RH and LH pitching. 

This guy hits LH but offers some positional flexibility -- Chris Coghlan 

[goulik]

Let's face it, Grossman and Rosario until Palka and Granite.

[nicksaviking]

 

My outfield would also have Rosario be the 4th outfielder (mostly) and either sign a free agent like Rajai Davis to face lefties, or include an outfielder in a trade from the Dodgers and Dozier (something like De Leon with Puig or Toles or Trayce Thompson along with another prospect like Gavin Lux etc.) and have, say, Puig in the OF along with Kepler and Buxton.

 

I like the Davis choice, Ryan Raburn was my righty platoon choice last year and I still like him. A .835 OPS against lefties last year and that's in line with the rest of his career.

[Mr. Brooks]

Let's face it, Grossman and Rosario until Palka and Granite.

The odds aren't good that Palka or Granite will ever be starting caliber corner outfielders.

[goulik]

 

The odds aren't good that Palka or Granite will ever be starting caliber corner outfielders.

Sometimes the sarcasm is missed... Guess I should have used this:

[HitInAPinch]

 

Sometimes the sarcasm is missed... Guess I should have used this:

http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/AttaBoy.jpg

[Riverbrian]

Joe Mauer occasionally

[DJSim22]

Grossman's defense is really poor, but I like him as a 4th outfielder, occasional DH, bench bat.  I think he has a spot.  I agree in an ideal world, you would have Rosario as a 4th outfielder, but I don't see it.  I'm also skeptical that Granite will be able to hit or Palko won't become Arcia.  If thats the case, I roll with Grossman for 20 games in left this year. 

 

I like most would prefer a defensive 4th outfielder, but at the same time I want a guy like Grossman hitting on big spots over Rosario and other bench players.  We have to have one bench guy who can hit in the clutch or at least take a good AB. 

[ScooterDance]

After he gets non-tendered by the Orioles, picked up by the Diamondbacks, released and picked up by the Mariners, and then traded to the Twins for Palka and PTBNL, I'm going to go with ABW.

[ScrapTheNickname]

 

Let's face it, Grossman and Rosario until Palka and Granite.

I will not face that proposition. I will turn away from it and face whatever other possibilities there are. Please, please.

[ScrapTheNickname]

 

 

After he gets non-tendered by the Orioles, picked up by the Diamondbacks, released and picked up by the Mariners, and then traded to the Twins for Palka and PTBNL, I'm going to go with ABW.

Start a thread. See if it will climb to 1000. Or ... maybe not.

[Thrylos]

Kepler's .235/.309/.424 is not that much better than Rosario's .269/.295/.421 and Buxton's .225/284/.430 is worse, so I'd wait a bit before I hand anyone a starting job...

 

Let them all earn it this Spring.

[mudcat14]

After looking over his numbers, I kind of like Calhoun from the Dodgers as a potential part of the trade.  He'll never stick at 2B, but has more than enough bat tom play LF.  The guy hardly ever whiffs?  What a nice change of pace that would be in Minnesota.

[Riverbrian]

The Twins had 3 players in 2016 who hit well enough to play everyday. 

 

Dozier (Obviously)

Vargas (Who Was Benched by Molitor)

Grossman (Who everybody writes off)

 

Everybody else performed like "Other Outfielders" 

 

[Thrylos]

 

The Twins had 3 players in 2015 who hit well enough to play everyday. 

 

Dozier (Obviously)

Vargas (Who Was Benched by Molitor)

Grossman (Who everybody writes off)

 

Everybody else performed like "Other Outfielders" 

 

Sano had an OPS+ of 110, Mauer 106 and Polanco 105.

Above league average.

[Riverbrian]

 

Sano had an OPS+ of 110, Mauer 106 and Polanco 105.

Above league average.

 

I'll add Sano to the list but I'll draw the line at Mauer.

 

In my opinion... Performing league average or a little bit above isn't justification for playing every day. 

 

Mauer and Polanco doing alright doesn't change our OF situation though... where nobody... other than Grossman.... performed above league average offensively. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mikelink45]

No to any OF trade.  Put the young players on the field.  Let them fight it out and see who emerges.  Palka, Granite, Kepler, Rosario, Buxton.  It does not matter who, but why get someone else?  We do not need fillers, we need to develop talent and get it on the field.

[spinowner]

 

The Twins had 3 players in 2015 who hit well enough to play everyday. 

 

Dozier (Obviously)

Vargas (Who Was Benched by Molitor)

Grossman (Who everybody writes off)

 

Everybody else performed like "Other Outfielders" 

I think you mean 2016?

[kellyvance]

I don't mind Rosario starting in left, besides it is fun to watch him throw out the occasional base runner. 

We went offense over defense a lot in recent years, Hammer, Arcia, Young, and before that Cuddy and Kubel.... we even tried Sano.  So I don't mind league average and good D. Whatever wins you games. Stat's don't. Making plays, does. And timely hitting. 

 

[Bark's Lounge]

Eddie Rosario turned 25 in the last few months. Sure his OBP is awful and he K's a lot, but he is dynamic in all other phases. My feeling is that he becomes one of our better players in the future and makes some All-Star teams. The guy has a lot of talent and I certainly will give him 2 more seasons to prove himself.

[Riverbrian]

 

I think you mean 2016?

 

Thanks...

 

I'll edit it to remove all evidence

[olivia11]

While the Twins should always be trying to improve every position, I think it's WAY too early to write off Rosario.  And I don't think we should sign a FA outfielder to anything more than a minor league contract. There are 5 young guys on the 40-man that are all pretty much MLB ready - let them fight it out and prove themselves.  That being said, I like the idea of acquiring someone like Andrew Toles in the Dodgers trade to offer a little more flexibility.   It makes sense to have Grossman on the roster as a platoon outfielder and bench bat... but wow is it hard to watch him play left field. 

[DaveW]

I think Rosario is one of the guys they should be looking to trade TBH

I just don't see the progression there with his inability to learn how to take a walk. IMO the Twins should demand more out of their players who play positions where they absolutely need to hit.

[Oldgoat_MN]

 

While the Twins should always be trying to improve every position, I think it's WAY too early to write off Rosario.  And I don't think we should sign a FA outfielder to anything more than a minor league contract. There are 5 young guys on the 40-man that are all pretty much MLB ready - let them fight it out and prove themselves.  That being said, I like the idea of acquiring someone like Andrew Toles in the Dodgers trade to offer a little more flexibility.   It makes sense to have Grossman on the roster as a platoon outfielder and bench bat... but wow is it hard to watch him play left field. 

 

Not sure I agree with the part above in bold. FanGraphs has Danny Santana rated 306 of 323 players who batted 230 or more times.

I also agree with Thrylos above when he points out that Buxton, Kepler and Rosario have not exactly cemented their spot in the order.

IMHO Palka and Granite are not MLB ready.

 

I agree that we have weaknesses. If an OF was received for Dozier or E. Santana that might be a good thing.

[kab21]

 

I think Rosario is one of the guys they should be looking to trade TBH

I just don't see the progression there with his inability to learn how to take a walk. IMO the Twins should demand more out of their players who play positions where they absolutely need to hit.

Somehow I think other GM's are aware of this.

Hopefully the Twins someday have 3 other great OF'ers and Rosario can be a great 4th OF'er but right now they don't. Right now Rosario is going to have to play himself out of a job.  Palka with 30 HR potential is certainly an intriguing possibility though.

[olivia11]

 

Not sure I agree with the part above in bold. FanGraphs has Danny Santana rated 306 of 323 players who batted 230 or more times.

I also agree with Thrylos above when he points out that Buxton, Kepler and Rosario have not exactly cemented their spot in the order.

IMHO Palka and Granite are not MLB ready.

 

I agree that we have weaknesses. If an OF was received for Dozier or E. Santana that might be a good thing.

 

I was not considering Danny Santana in that group.  Totally agree that Santana shouldn't be on the Twins' 25 man roster.  The 5 MLB-ready guys I was referring to are Buxton, Kepler, Rosario, Palka and Granite.   Palka and Granite are totally not MLB-ready yet - I agree - but they will (hopefully) be by mid-season so I'd rather not have the Twins spend, say $8M on Rajai Davis, for example.

[USAFChief]

Sign Joey Bats and let Rosario and Kepler fight it out for the other spot, with the loser the fourth OFer. I'm tired of "seeing what we have."