Twins Interested in Jose Bautista?

[nicksaviking]

So I want to say the lede was buried on the MLBTR write up for the Twins, (I'm not even linking it, don't pretend you didn't go there first!) but I guess Brian Dozier still gets top billing around here and he probably should.

 

However the Twins have talked to Bautista's reps? Probably just doing due diligence or perhaps is some negotiating ploy. Either way, seems a bit out of left-field (probably right-field actually or DH) to say the least.

 

http://m.twins.mlb.com/news/article/213152402/twins-could-keep-brian-dozier-seek-free-agent/

 

So in the unlikely situation where Dozier is retained and Bautista is signed, what's the lineup? The three biggest power threats are Dozier, Bautista and Sano, all righties. Does Dozier find himself back at the top of the lineup again? Does Mauer somehow find himself remaining in the heart of the lineup due to a lack of left-handedness? Neither of those options tend to sit will with folks around here.

[Doomtints]

Bautista is the best possible mentor for Sano on the market. He also upgrades the bench and adds depth at DH, 3B and OF. The Twins should consider this regardless of what happens to Dozier.

 

One problem -- Bautista is also talking to several other teams, some of which are serious contenders. I would not spend too much time thinking about Bautista becoming a Twin unless you think the Twins will outbid everybody else, probably by a significant margin.

[nicksaviking]

Personally I'm not sure that I'm interested at all. I'm not so opposed to giving up a draft pick, but I don't like the idea of losing the money that goes with it. I am really looking forward to seeing if our new crew is able to manipulate the draft as they have more money than any other team.

 

It would be fun to watch vintage Bautista crushing balls out of TF though. Not that I think it would make a huge difference on the W/L, assuming there isn't major upgrades to the rotation and pen also.

[beehles]

Kind of fun to think about. I'd go:

 

4-DOZIER

3-MAUER

5-SANO

9-BAUTISTA

7-KEPLER

DH-PARK/VARGAS

2-CASTRO

6-POLANCO

8-BUXTON

 

Kind of bummed the Dozier trade seems to be dead...at least for now. On the off chance we sign a guy like Bautista we'd definitely have some exciting baseball to watch though!

[Doomtints]

 

Kind of fun to think about. I'd go:

 

4-DOZIER

3-MAUER

5-SANO

9-BAUTISTA

7-KEPLER

DH-PARK/VARGAS

2-CASTRO

6-POLANCO

8-BUXTON

 

Kind of bummed the Dozier trade seems to be dead...at least for now. On the off chance we sign a guy like Bautista we'd definitely have some exciting baseball to watch though!

 

 Definitely some power there. 

[Mike Sixel]

Not a fan of giving up draft picks on a 59 win team.....

[Taildragger8791]

 

Not a fan of giving up draft picks on a 59 win team.....

 

Have to agree with this. Bautista doesn't do anything for us unless he comes in with the understanding that we trade him at the deadline if he's mashing. At least that assures he might end up with a contender in the second half and we possibly get better value than a 2nd round pick would provide. Otherwise, I'm not interested.

[Whammy]

I'm all for it, just for the "Team Joey" shirts that I'll license to Parker (for free)

[USAFChief]

Do it.

[Han Joelo]

Screw it. I say go for it. We're currently a 0 win, 0 loss team. Roll the bones.

 

Keep in mind on my way to my brothers funeral.

[Poli_Crandall]

I, for one, am content (if not a bit excited) with this if it happens.  I know the practical side of me says that we should/need to rebuild and sell off Dozier/Santana et al but I am still a fan that watches games and this would get me excited about 2017.  That excitement might not last very long but at least it'll be there.  As for my lineup i'd go:

 

3-MAUER

4-DOZIER
7-KEPLER
5-SANO
9-BAUTISTA
DH-PARK/VARGAS/GROSSMAN
2-CASTRO
6-POLANCO
8-BUXTON

[HitInAPinch]

Maybe, just may, would the new FO be looking at a better hitter to protect Dozier in the lineup?

Potential 2 big trades at the same time??

 

Something to think about...

[Danchat]

 

Not a fan of giving up draft picks on a 59 win team.....

It'd be a second round pick, right? That'd be the only thing keeping me from signing Bautista. I'd love to have his bat in the lineup and be able to flip him at the deadline.

[Whammy]

Bautista is only 6 behind Mauer for career Target Field HR

 

[Gheggs08]

 

Have to agree with this. Bautista doesn't do anything for us unless he comes in with the understanding that we trade him at the deadline if he's mashing. At least that assures he might end up with a contender in the second half and we possibly get better value than a 2nd round pick would provide. Otherwise, I'm not interested.

Not a fan either but Bautista sure has something to prove if he wants to get paid big before he retires. He would only make the lineup better, more protection for Sano, allows Dozier to stay at lead off if we keep him. IMO he would net us better than a second round pick at the deadline. Hell I'd probably sign him AND trade Dozier

[Whammy]

My super-unscientific look at past 2nd rounds yielded 2-4 players annually, that I had heard of.

 

10% hit rate.

[Mike Sixel]

 

My super-unscientific look at past 2nd rounds yielded 2-4 players annually, that I had heard of.

 

10% hit rate.

 

What's the likelihood he helps the Twins make the playoffs this year?

 

or that they trade him for a prospect better than they could draft?

[bluechipper]

The Rays signed Colby Rasmus today, and they were a team that had been connected to Bautista, so that takes them out of the running.

 

I'd be all for the signing.

[Poli_Crandall]

 

Not a fan either but Bautista sure has something to prove if he wants to get paid big before he retires. He would only make the lineup better, more protection for Sano, allows Dozier to stay at lead off if we keep him. IMO he would net us better than a second round pick at the deadline. Hell I'd probably sign him AND trade Dozier

I dont understand why you would want to keep Dozier at leadoff.  Why not put Mauer, who still gets on base at a very good rate and sees a lot of pitches, ahead of him?  Mauer had a .363 obp which ranked the 2nd highest on the team and averaged over 4 pitches per plate appearance.

[bluechipper]

I'd hit Dozier and Bautista 1 and 2 in the lineup, or possibly bump them down a spot if Buxton plays like he has the potential to.

 

That would be a top 5 offense in all of baseball.

[d-mac]

 

I dont understand why you would want to keep Dozier at leadoff.  Why not put Mauer, who still gets on base at a very good rate and sees a lot of pitches, ahead of him?  Mauer had a .363 obp which ranked the 2nd highest on the team and averaged over 4 pitches per plate appearance.

 

Because people are all like "But muh stolen bases!"

[cmoss84]

Buxton           CF (If he can have a reasonable OBP and stay healthy, will score 110 runs)

Mauer           1B 

Dozier           2B

Sano             3B (needs protection from Bautista)

Bautista        RF/DH

Kepler          OF/1B

Vargas/Park DH/1B

Castro           C

Polanco        SS

 

[Doomtints]

 

I dont understand why you would want to keep Dozier at leadoff.  Why not put Mauer, who still gets on base at a very good rate and sees a lot of pitches, ahead of him?  Mauer had a .363 obp which ranked the 2nd highest on the team and averaged over 4 pitches per plate appearance.

 

Mauer did not do well when batting leadoff for whatever reason.

 

In the perfect world, you would put Buxton at leadoff but he needs to learn how to hit in the majors first.

 

Right now I think the best bet is to try Polanco at leadoff. Kepler does not have the OBP to be so high on these lists.

[diehardtwinsfan]

This is going to be the top pick in the 2nd round, so if they sign him, I've got to hope that they are very confident he can put in a trade worthy deal and yield more in prospects than the pick would cost.  It's a gamble, but not an unreasonable one... 

[gunnarthor]

 

Screw it. I say go for it. We're currently a 0 win, 0 loss team. Roll the bones.

Keep in mind on my way to my brothers funeral.

Sorry for your loss.

[gunnarthor]

It is exciting to think about, esp if Buxton can develop as we hope and bat leadoff and Mauer can have a .365 OBP.  I wouldn't blame the FO if they did it but I don't think it gets done.

[Vanimal46]

I WANT BAT FLIPS. 

http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/bat_flip.gif

[TheLeviathan]

No.

[gunnarthor]

 

I WANT BAT FLIPS. 

http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/bat_flip.gif

If he's in LF and Park is DHing ....

 

(gunnarthor then learns that he can't post a Park bang)

[USAFChief]

 

I WANT BAT FLIPS. 

http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/bat_flip.gif

I will P&M about every one of them.

 

Then I'll think to myself..."but the 3 runs are nice."