3B next year - crazy idea thread

[gunnarthor]

So this is really more of a fantasy thread since I'm pretty sure the Twins plan for next year is to have Sano start at third and if/when he can't handle the position, move him to DH and give the UI (probably Escobar) the majority of starts at third. And that makes sense and I'm not really against it. BUT, what would other options be?

 

The defensive metrics didn't love Escobar or Sano but both sorta played third base to a draw. They weren't horrible but they probably aren't getting better and might get substantially worse.  

 

Crazy idea 1 - So what about Mike's idea of moving Dozier to third? That frees up an infield spot for Nick Gordon. Dozier's bat would play at third. I'm not sure if his arm would. Sano to DH full time.

 

Crazy idea 2 - move Rosario to third. I know, crazy, right. But he's certainly athletic enough and played 2b a bit in the minors. His arm is strong enough and if Pete Rose could make the move, then maybe he could? I don't think, after some reps, his defense would be a disaster although it might not be good. As rangy as he's been in LF, the metrics don't like him (I have my own theory on why) so we wouldn't necessarily be hurting our OF defense, esp if we replaced him with someone who might have good on-base skills eventually (Granite? Wade? FA slugger? probably not Grossman). Sano DH's full time.

 

Crazy idea 3 - Polanco slides over to third, Gordon is called up. At the beginning of the year I thought this was probably going to happen but Polanco is better than I thought so maybe they don't want to move him out of the MI.  (And this and CI#1 suppose that Gordon is ML ready which he might not yet be). Sano DH full time.

 

Crazy idea 4 - just give it to Escobar. Let him have a full season to become a ML starter and see what he can do with it. He has some pop. He'll be 29 next year, does he have any improvement left? If he struggles after a few months, you see where Gordon is and what options he could add.

[Oldgoat_MN]

I like crazy ideas. Probably realistic to say, though, that there is no way in which a guy who posted pretty mediocre stats at the plate in AA this season is going to start on a MLB roster next spring. Which is fine. Gordon is only 21 years old. Give him all or at least most of 2018 and maybe he'll be ready. 

 

I enjoy the idea of Rosario to 3B as a crazy idea, if only for the novelty. Granite might be an On Base Machine, but he has yet to show that. We don't have anyone else ready yet. Wade had a good year in AA, but I would want to see him do some real damage to AAA pitching before bringing him up.

 

Fun stuff!

[mazeville]

Crazy idea: Get Sano's weight down this offseason and keep him at third where his value is far higher than it is at DH.

 

He has considerable potential at third. Everybody should hope that he stays there.

[HrbekRules]

I like the out of the box thinking.  Moving Rosario to 3rd is interesting, but very unlikely.  Option 4 to me seems not only plausible, but a good idea.  If you look at Escobar's career, he has posted an OPS+ of at least 100 several times, has shown some pop in his bat, he just hasn't received consistent at bats, some of which are his own fault.  I think his defense would improve if he was able to focus on one position instead of multiple positions.  He could just be a late bloomer similar to Dozier, but not to his level.

[SwainZag]

Fun thinking...but how plausible?  I say either A) Start Sano the majority of the time and retain Esco for when he DH's.  Sign Moustakas if he hits FA and move Sano to DH full time.

[spinowner]

 

Crazy idea: Get Sano's weight down this offseason and keep him at third where his value is far higher than it is at DH.

 

He has considerable potential at third. Everybody should hope that he stays there.

Yes.

Playing him at third base makes the best use of his talents. He's got the arm to play third. (Keep in mind he was a shortstop as a young teenager, probably because of that.) His glove work improved this year over last year. His range will be acceptable if he keeps his weight down. And the glove and range should improve with coaching, experience, and hard work.

[ashbury]

Crazy idea number N+1: Move Mauer to third, like we've always said he could do. He won't have huge range but he's nimble for everything he can reach.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Crazy idea number N+1: Move Mauer to third, like we've always said he could do. He won't have huge range but he's nimble for everything he can reach.

 

He has the arm too.  I don't know why 3B was never tried when he moved off of C.

[GP830]

 

He has the arm too.  I don't know why 3B was never tried when he moved off of C.

Agreed-- this should have been step 1-- his arm plays there, and we would've retained some of his athleticism at a defensively premium position.

[ahart10]

Crazy idea 5- Todd Frazier? RH power bat needed for the lineup. Could maybe be had on 1 yr deal.

[ashbury]

He has the arm too.  I don't know why 3B was never tried when he moved off of C.

Crazy Idea #negative-one: Move Ryan Pressly to third. He's got the arm for it, and his fastball comes in nice and straight.

[Blackjack]

I don't like the idea of Rosario at third, he just had a very good year with the bat, lets not mess with that by moving him to a new defensive position. 

 

Mauer at third this late in his career is not going to happen, especially as good as he was at first this year.

 

 

 

 

[USAFChief]

He has the arm too. I don't know why 3B was never tried when he moved off of C.

I was posting "move Mauer to third" on BYTO way before he got hurt. He probably should have moved there in the minors.

 

Now it's probably too late.

 

As for the rest of the OP, why are we moving Sano off third again?

 

And if they do, Dozier doesn't have the arm, Rosario is an outfielder, and Escobar doesn't improve the position.  

 

 

[ashbury]

I was posting "move Mauer to third" on BYTO way before his great-grandpappy was born.

FTFY

[yarnivek1972]

 

I like the out of the box thinking.  Moving Rosario to 3rd is interesting, but very unlikely.  Option 4 to me seems not only plausible, but a good idea.  If you look at Escobar's career, he has posted an OPS+ of at least 100 several times, has shown some pop in his bat, he just hasn't received consistent at bats, some of which are his own fault.  I think his defense would improve if he was able to focus on one position instead of multiple positions.  He could just be a late bloomer similar to Dozier, but not to his level.

Having Rosario try to play third probably makes more sense than having Sano try to play RF.

 

You would have to be doing that NOW though.  I'm also not sure Rosario has the footwork or hands to play third.

[caninatl04]

Crazy idea: Get Sano's weight down this offseason and keep him at third where his value is far higher than it is at DH.

 

He has considerable potential at third. Everybody should hope that he stays there.

I have no idea what kind of clauses one can add to the kind of contract a player in Sano's position ("team control"?).

 

Can they add weight clauses? If so, how about $1,000 for each game where he weighs under 260 (or $5,000 per week). $160,000 is a nice bump for someone making, what, $585,000 a year?

[yarnivek1972]

I have no idea what kind of clauses one can add to the kind of contract a player in Sano's position ("team control"?).

 

Can they add weight clauses? If so, how about $1,000 for each game where he weighs under 260 (or $5,000 per week). $160,000 is a nice bump for someone making, what, $585,000 a year?

Probably not. However, plate appearances is a totally acceptable incentive for a contract. That involves doing what is needed to stay in the lineup.

[Doomtints]

The most likely thing to happen, which you did not list as an option, is that the Twins keep doing what they are doing: Sano stays at third and another unusual injury happens.

[yarnivek1972]

The most likely thing to happen, which you did not list as an option, is that the Twins keep doing what they are doing: Sano stays at third and another unusual injury happens.

 

Quoting the original: I'm pretty sure the Twins plan for next year is to have Sano start at third and if/when he can't

[Old Twins Cap]

Long term, Twins need a RH power bat and a great fielding 3B.  That's what championship teams do.

 

Never hurts to sign a 3B of some quality, early in the off-season so Sano-man has a chance to gear up for some competition, lose some weight, be the stud everyone is hoping for.

 

That would be the best $10M the Twins ever spent if it got Sano-man motivated.

 

Twins were lucky with position players and injuries this year.  I would imagine next year will be way different.

[spinowner]

 

He has the arm too.  I don't know why 3B was never tried when he moved off of C.

Because we needed a first baseman more than we needed a third baseman at the time that he quit catching.

[Ncgo4]

I've got an idea. Send Sano home with Berrios. Let him follow Jose's off season nutrition and training regimen for 3 or 4 months and then turn him loose on the rest of baseball.

[gman]

I like crazy ideas too. Maybe we get Sano a shin guard? Seems like he hurt his leg while batting.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Crazy idea number N+1: Move Mauer to third, like we've always said he could do. He won't have huge range but he's nimble for everything he can reach.

Crazy idea number N+1: Move Mauer to third, like we've always said he could do. He won't have huge range but he's nimble for everything he can reach.

I contend Mauer is more valuable to the team as a 1B than as a 3B. He saved numerous errant throws from the other infielders. He would have fewer chances at 3B to allow his superior fielding skills shine. On the other hand Sano is better suited at 3B than 1B due to his rocket arm, which is perfect for 3B and is just wasted at DH or 1B.

[Loosey]

OR have Sano and Escobar platoon at 3rd.  Give Sano 1B and DH reps when he isn't at third.  I think the Twins have 4 guys they can rotate through the DH role in Grossman, Mauer, Sano and Escobar.  So when the 2019 season rolls around and Mauer might not be on the roster anymore Sano can slide in and play 1st base.

 

I know that idea isn't crazy, but I think it's logical.  (Most logical is Sano realizes he needs to be in better overall condition to last a full season and takes it upon himself to work his butt off and be that guy and plays 130 games at 3rd next year)

 

For a crazy idea, and probably one in the thread already, how about Rosario back to 2B Dozier to 3rd, Sano and Mauer split reps between 1st and DH.

 

Or try Sano in RF.......... J/K

[diehardtwinsfan]

I still think Sano should be the primary 3B. I do think though that having Mauer play some 3rd and RF, it gives some flexibility to occasionally DH Sano and that type of thing. I don't see this team doing the full time DH think, so having an .800 OPS guy that can move around a bit certainly helps keep other guys fresh.

[ashbury]

On the other hand Sano is better suited at 3B than 1B due to his rocket arm, which is perfect for 3B and is just wasted at DH or 1B.

I don't disagree. But the context of this thread was set as "if/when [sano] can't handle the position".

 

Not sure how to weigh the value of scoops at first base versus snagging balls hit to the hot corner. The conventional wisdom is that third base is a more demanding position than first. Anyway, I was just throwing Mauer's name into the conversation as an option if Sano's for any reason not one.

[mickeymental]

why not just rotate all nine players around the diamond every game? campaneris/tovar x 9.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Having Rosario try to play third probably makes more sense than having Sano try to play RF.

Low bar, huh?

[spinowner]

 

I contend Mauer is more valuable to the team as a 1B than as a 3B. He saved numerous errant throws from the other infielders. He would have fewer chances at 3B to allow his superior fielding skills shine. On the other hand Sano is better suited at 3B than 1B due to his rocket arm, which is perfect for 3B and is just wasted at DH or 1B.

Mauer has nearly as much arm as Sano, and more than most 3B's. It's one of the things that made him one of the best catchers in baseball.