Berardino: Napoli was almost tempted to join Twins

[Seth Stohs]

http://www.twincities.com/2017/02/28/minnesota-twins-connections-proved-tempting-for-veteran-slugger-mike-napoli/

 

Berardino wrote that the Twins were very serious about their wish to add DH/1B Mike Napoli to their roster this offseason, falling short of the Texas Rangers' offer. 

 

Chris Gimenez said he did some recruiting to try to bring Napoli to Minnesota.

 

 

“He’s the best teammate I’ve ever had,” Gimenez said. “I love the guy to death. I would love to have had him here. I think he would have been really good in this clubhouse.”

 

Craig Breslow didn't recruit - he didn't sign until late - but he said that it makes a lot more sense than we might have thought.

 

 

“I didn’t talk to him about it, but in the conversations I had with Derek about what they’re trying to do here, it was apparent why he would be a great fit,” Breslow said. “Sometimes moves that seem a little peculiar at first glance, when you kind of peel back a little bit you realize what the underlying logic is, and it makes a lot of sense. It’s not surprising why he would be a target for a team that’s looking to take the next step forward with a young core.”

 

[Dantes929]

Sometimes the best moves are the ones not made.   Napoli will decline and Park will hit 40 homers. 

[USAFChief]

"Almost tempted" = "not tempted."

[ashbury]

"Almost tempted" = "not tempted."

Almost an incorrect interpretation.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

"Almost tempted" = "not tempted."

i thought the same thing. I could get paid to play for a team with no shot at sniffing the wild card, or I could get paid similar money to play for a division winning contender. I'll take the latter

[DaveW]

"We almost had him"

 

The story of the Minnesota Twins in free agency.

[PseudoSABR]

 

"Almost tempted" = "not tempted."

Right. Berardino is a thorough journalist.  He probably had this story on standby, given the reported connection to Napoli this offseason.  Feel-goodish 'story' after a 19-0 drumming. 

[Dantes929]

 

Right. Berardino is a thorough journalist.  He probably had this story on standby, given the reported connection to Napoli this offseason.  Feel-goodish 'story' after a 19-0 drumming. 

19-0 was the final?   I heard it wasn't that close.

[spinowner]

I didn't say this at the time Napoli signed, but I thought it was a win-win. He gets to play for a probable contender and the Twins don't spend money on a player that does nothing toward building a probable contender.

[Boom Boom]

I'm almost tempted to photoshop an image of Levine handing a Twins jersey to a gleeful Napoli.

 

Almost.

[spinowner]

[DaveW]

 

I didn't say this at the time Napoli signed, but I thought it was a win-win. He gets to play for a probable contender and the Twins don't spend money on a player that does nothing toward building a probable contender.

The Pohlads are the real winner here.
 

[Doomtints]

I'm wondering why Gimenez would be trying to recruit anybody in any serious way. He's probably #4 on the depth chart and probably won't be with the team.  

[Doomtints]

 

I didn't say this at the time Napoli signed, but I thought it was a win-win. He gets to play for a probable contender and the Twins don't spend money on a player that does nothing toward building a probable contender.

 

I'm not sure $ is an issue, but yeah this signing would make about as much sense as signing Park did. Mauer is stuck at first and the Twins have DH candidates.  

Signing him would have been a mistake. Any move the Twins make that isn't about pitching and defense is a waste of time.

[zenser]

In related news, I almost hooked up with my hot neighbor last night.  Almost....  Well, we said "Hi" to each other.

[Vanimal46]

 

In related news, I almost hooked up with my hot neighbor last night.  Almost....  Well, we said "Hi" to each other.

Nice! I almost want to congratulate you! 

[Otto von Ballpark]

I'm wondering why Gimenez would be trying to recruit anybody in any serious way. He's probably #4 on the depth chart and probably won't be with the team.

Gimenez might be 4th on the depth chart for starting catcher, but signs suggest he is 1st on the depth chart for backup catcher.

[Otto von Ballpark]

In related news, I almost hooked up with my hot neighbor last night. Almost.... Well, we said "Hi" to each other.

Hopefully money was not the hold-up in your situation.

[Doomtints]

 

Gimenez might be 4th on the depth chart for starting catcher, but signs suggest he is 1st on the depth chart for backup catcher.

 

True, as crazy as that seems. Not sure that would last all year, though.

[Doomtints]

 

In related news, I almost hooked up with my hot neighbor last night.  Almost....  Well, we said "Hi" to each other.

 

Been there, done that. Your other neighbor is better.

[laloesch]

Why was there such a hard push to try and sign this guy?  The Twins have 4 or 5 legit DH types and 3 guys besides Mauer that can legitimately play 1st.  I don't get it.

[nicksaviking]

In all seriousness, I would like to hear Falvey, Lavine and/or Molitor give a detailed explanation as to what specifically they like in the leadership skills of Napoli, Stubbs, Gimenez and Belisle that is missing from the other veterans on the team.

 

Is there something specific they have identified? Or is it something vague like "intangibles" or "toughness". I'd feel a lot better about this off season's pursuit of all these non-descript vets if they would give details.

[Taildragger8791]

 

Why was there such a hard push to try and sign this guy?  The Twins have 4 or 5 legit DH types and 3 guys besides Mauer that can legitimately play 1st.  I don't get it.

 

The Twins having 5 legit DHs would be very surprising and welcome news to the Twins management and fans.

[Mike Sixel]

almost tempted.....what does that even mean?

[Walter's Whites]

Perhaps he was "almost tempted" because we "almost" won 60 games last year.

 

I would have been happy to sign Napoli, but there is really no debate about which team has the better short term window to win a title. I don't blame Napoli one bit for signing with the Rangers, but I also don't blame the Twins one bit for going after him. I like that the new front office is trying to bring in guys who maybe have lowered their asking price due to them being available in February and would be an upgrade over in house options.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I like that the new front office is trying to bring in guys who maybe have lowered their asking price due to them being available in February and would be an upgrade over in house options.

I think the old front office did this too, they bid on Garza and Ervin Santana (the first time), they landed Kendrys Morales late, etc.

 

They still have to be good moves, and in this case, signing Napoli would not have been a good move.

[Walter's Whites]

 

I think the old front office did this too, they bid on Garza and Ervin Santana (the first time), they landed Kendrys Morales late, etc.

 

They still have to be good moves, and in this case, signing Napoli would not have been a good move.

I agree that the old front office probably did it, but I don't think anyone can say with 100% confidence that it wouldn't be a good move. Could it backfire? Sure. But any signing could backfire. I think if you have a chance to get a legitimate power hitter (and a decent hitter also) at a good price any front office should at least consider it. I just don't think that Park and Vargas have enough upside to warrant not trying to improve the position if it's possible. I'm not terribly upset that we didn't get him, but for a front office to not even consider it would be a mistake in my opinion.

[TheGiantTeapot]

 

In all seriousness, I would like to hear Falvey, Lavine and/or Molitor give a detailed explanation as to what specifically they like in the leadership skills of Napoli, Stubbs, Gimenez and Belisle that is missing from the other veterans on the team.

 

Is there something specific they have identified? Or is it something vague like "intangibles" or "toughness". I'd feel a lot better about this off season's pursuit of all these non-descript vets if they would give details.

Agreed. But that means they would publicly have to call out the guys who aren't "leaders." It's become abundantly clear over the years that Mauer simply does not have the type of personality needed to be a leader. Torii Hunter, Michael Cuddyer, and LaTroy Hawkins do, which is why they were brought in as special assistants this year. It sounds like Dozier hasn't embraced the leadership role as much as the team would like. Who else on the team has the experience and credibility and personality to lead and motivate his teammates?

 

To me, the obvious answer should be the manager. I like Molitor, but I think this experiment with him at the helm will be over after this season. Pohlad's word was kept, the contract was honored, and Falvine will bring in their own people.

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I agree that the old front office probably did it, but I don't think anyone can say with 100% confidence that it wouldn't be a good move. Could it backfire? Sure. But any signing could backfire. I think if you have a chance to get a legitimate power hitter (and a decent hitter also) at a good price any front office should at least consider it. I just don't think that Park and Vargas have enough upside to warrant not trying to improve the position if it's possible. I'm not terribly upset that we didn't get him, but for a front office to not even consider it would be a mistake in my opinion.

Don't let the 34 HR fool you, though -- Napoli has looked pretty toasty the last 2 years.  Overall, he's not appreciably different than Mauer or Grossman, before even considering Park and Vargas.

[DaveW]

Yeah Napoli hasn't been good for two years now, he's basically a replacement level DH and we have those by the boat load.