Mark Trumbo

[ppearson50]

So if we are keeping Dozier, why don't we give him a homerun hitter behind him in the lineup? MLBtraderumors listed a report today that Trumbo's asking price might be coming down to as low as 3 years and 40 million. The new guys running the team this year have said they have the green light to spend some money on free agents if they so desire. I would be thrilled with Dozier, Trumbo, and Sano as the Twins 3,4,5 hitters. It sounds like Trumbo can play first base, DH and outfield in a pinch. 

If we can't pitch very good, let's just outscore the other teams. 

[old nurse]

Adding players that could hit and catch a ball would be a better idea

[Thrylos]

Mark Trumbo is a 2.2 fWAR player.  His defense at OF is worse than Sano's, which makes him a DH.  Vargas was a 0.6 WAR player in 47 games, which is pretty much exactly Trumbo's value over a full season and he has not entered his prime yet.

 

[ppearson50]

Maybe I overstated his ability to play the outfield. But the guy did hit 47 bombs last year. 

 

[drivlikejehu]

Lots of guys hit home runs when their home park is a little league stadium, but Trumbo really is not particularly good and moreover is a horrible fit for the Twins.

[jimmer]

'There’s certainly some sort of market for Trumbo and the 47 homers he hit in 2016. As a player, though, he only does one thing really well, and it’s tough for him to compensate for his deficiencies with that one strength. It’s not just that Trumbo is a poor defender and baserunner, it’s that he isn’t even that good on offense. Last season, Trumbo’s on-base percentage was .316, below the league-average mark of .323 for non-pitchers. Sure, his .533 slugging percentage was very good, but it wasn’t among the top 10% of baseball, and when combined with his lackluster OBP, his 123 wRC+ ranked a respectable 40th out of 176 qualified players last season. While respectable, getting such little mileage out of 47 homers is a little disconcerting.

 

Trumbo didn’t produce the worst offensive season ever for a player with at least 40 homers, but he wasn’t that far off. There are 295 qualified players who’ve recorded 40-homer seasons. They’ve averaged 155 wRC+, collectively. Trumbo, meanwhile, finds himself in the bottom 10%; just 16 players have recorded a lower wRC+ and only Ryan Howard in 2008 hit more home runs (48) with a lower wRC+ (120). The reason for Trumbo’s low wRC+ totals relative to his homers is a combination of walks, strikeouts, and a low batting average on balls in play.'

 

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/mark-trumbo-is-still-a-free-agent-for-obvious-reasons/

 

P.S.  He's only been at a wRC+ of 110 or higher twice.  Last year wasn't some kind of norm for him.

 

[KirbyDome89]

So the Twins would have Mauer, Vargas, Park, potentially Sano, Bautista (?), and now Trumbo...

 

Isn't Morneau still available too? Somebody get his agent on the phone...

[theBOMisthebomb]

My feeling is that one more big bat and a few lucky breaks and the Twins could at least potentially be in the wild card race into September. It's not a lot - at least it's something better as a launching point than the 2015 mirage.

[darin617]

If the Twins actually signed Trumbo to a 3 year deal I would guarantee his contract would have an opt out after 1 season and that would hurt his trade value when they try to flip him for prospects.

[Monkeypaws]

Some got OPB guys would help this team a lot, especially if the K isn't a major part of their resume.

 

Base hits are good.

[mikelink45]

I think we should just bench all the players who know what a glove is and just put Park and Trumbo at SS and 1B and Vargas at DH and sign Bautista for RF.  A record ERA, but lots of bombs. 

[TheLeviathan]

No.

[gil4]

 

I think we should just bench all the players who know what a glove is and just put Park and Trumbo at SS and 1B and Vargas at DH and sign Bautista for RF.  A record ERA, but lots of bombs. 

Maybe the Twins could convince the league to adopt slow-pitch softball pitching rules.

[Oldgoat_MN]

No amount of perking up the offense is going to help if we don't do something about the starting rotation. If we made headway there we could talk about increasing runs.

 

Trying to win by scoring 7 runs per game doesn't work. The Yankees tried it for years,

[shs_59]

no thnx

[shs_59]

only way i c it is 1 yr deal....   w/ incentives and or an option

[HitInAPinch]

 

No.

Succinct.

[HitInAPinch]

 

 

No amount of perking up the offense is going to help if we don't do something about the starting rotation. If we made headway there we could talk about increasing runs.

 

Trying to win by scoring 7 runs per game doesn't work. The Yankees tried it for years,

Les Straker, Mike Smithson and Joe Niekro of the 1987 Twins would beg to differ  

[Otto von Ballpark]

Maybe the Twins could convince the league to adopt slow-pitch softball pitching rules.

"Okay, let's go over the ground rules. You can't leave first until you chug a beer. Any man scoring has to chug a beer. You have to chug a beer at the top of all odd-numbered innings. Oh, and the fourth inning is the beer inning."

[drjim]

Want to see me hit some dingers?

[TheLeviathan]

 

"Okay, let's go over the ground rules. You can't leave first until you chug a beer. Any man scoring has to chug a beer. You have to chug a beer at the top of all odd-numbered innings. Oh, and the fourth inning is the beer inning."

 

Hey!  We all know how to play softball alright?

[Platoon]

No.

Succinct.

UGH! Yet more succintion!

[spinowner]

 

No amount of perking up the offense is going to help if we don't do something about the starting rotation. If we made headway there we could talk about increasing runs.

 

Trying to win by scoring 7 runs per game doesn't work. The Yankees tried it for years,

 

 

Les Straker, Mike Smithson and Joe Niekro of the 1987 Twins would beg to differ  

We had two very solid starters at the top of the rotation. Plus we lucked into being in a soft division; we had the fifth best record in the AL. Plus we only had to win 8 postseason games to become WS winners. That team was one of the flukiest World Champions in history. 

[Oldgoat_MN]

 

We had two very solid starters at the top of the rotation. Plus we lucked into being in a soft division; we had the fifth best record in the AL. Plus we only had to win 8 postseason games to become WS winners. That team was one of the flukiest World Champions in history. 

And we picked up Joe Niekro in '87. And Les Straker had never pitched an MLB inning, but made 31 starts in 1987. Berenguer and Reardon each had 8 wins out of the bullpen, Atherton picking up another 7.

 

I'm up for all that happening, but I don't think it's a very precise formula.

[jokin]

 

Succinct.

Suspect.

[Physics Guy]

I don't want Trumbo any more than I want Bautista.  Too many DH/IB players on this roster already.  Give the job to Vargas/Park and improve areas that need it more like SP and RP.  This lineup works fine for me if they keep Dozier:

 

Dozier - 2B

Mauer - 1B

Sano - 3B

Vargas/Park - DH

Kepler - RF

Polanco - SS

Rosario - LF

Castro - C

Buxton - CF

 

If Polanco or Buxton can handle leadoff, put Dozier in the #3 spot and slide everyone down. 

 

[kellyvance]

Bux is our fastest guy. Give him the shot at leadoff. Mauer should hit second. High bat contact hitter. Give Doze his #3 spot that he has earned and follow with Sano, Keps, Vargas, Polanco and then on to Rosie etc. Castro hits last.

 

Adjust this to go with the hot hand if, for example Polanco is hot, lead him off.... 

 

Need people on base for Dozier and Sano.

[jimmer]

Our best OBP guy should be leadoff.  Speed doesn't do much if you can't get on base.

[gil4]

 

Want to see me hit some dingers?

Well, we sure as heck don't want to see you bunt

[mikelink45]

 

Maybe the Twins could convince the league to adopt slow-pitch softball pitching rules.

I believe you have found the answer.  If I am not mistaken the pitchers are already throw slow pitches.