Article: Twins To Sign DH Logan Morrison

[Seth Stohs]

According to Jon Morosi, the Twins have an agreement with DH/1B Logan Morrison. In 2017, he had a career year in which he hit 38 home runs.

 

Also per Morosi, the Twins will give him $6.5 million in 2018 that does come with escalators that could make it a two-year, $16.5 million deal.

 

Darren Wolfson has also tweeted that it is a done deal.

 

The Twins do have an open 40-man roster spot that he can take when the deal becomes official.Darren Wolfson hinted at strong interest from both sides on Saturday night, as well as last week on his Scoops podcast.

 

Morrison is a left-handed hitting first baseman and designated hitter. He played some outfield earlier in his career. He is a big man who was always touted for his power potential. As a 29-year-old, he broke out with easily the best year of his career. He hit .246/.353/.516 (.868) with 22 doubles, 38 homers and 85 RBI for the Tampa Bay Rays.

 

Morrison will likely get a lot of at bats as the Twins Designated Hitter, though he can also spell Joe Mauer from time to time at first base. His best defensive position is clearly DH, though.

 

The question for you all is this... was his 2017 power showing an anomaly, or was it a sign of things to come?

 

Tom wondered what if Morrison made sense for the Twins.

Cody wrote about Morrison's breakout season in 2017.

 

 

 

 

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[drock2190]

Great signing! For that money, he is worth the gamble that he can continue to build on last year's success. If not, no big deal.

[Old Twins Cap]

Like adding another experienced, high power, high OBP bat, but LH/1B/DH seems redundant.

 

Be interesting to see how he gets his ABs.  Rest Mauer more, Grossman and Vargas go away, ..... after that,  I can't figure it out.

[operation mindcrime]

I approve of this move! \m/

[Homer Hanky]

excellent! Skol Twins

[olivia11]

Love this signing!  First thoughts as to how this line-up could shape up.  (Not how I'd set the batting order, but how I think the Twins might).

 

Without Sano: 

1. Dozier 2B

2. Mauer 1B

3. Buxton CF

4. Morrison DH

5. Rosario LF

6. Kepler RF

7. Polanco SS

8. Escobar 3B

9. Castro C

 

Bench: Adrianza, Grossman, Garver, Aybar

 

With Sano: 

1. Dozier 2B

2. Mauer 1B

3. Sano 3B

4. Morrison DH

5. Buxton CF

6. Rosario LF

7. Kepler RF

8. Polanco SS

9. Castro C

 

Bench: Escobar, Adrianza, Grossman, Garver

[Foghorn Leghorn]

Our good lineup just got better. Great move. Get Lynn now

[Squirrel]

Hmm, who’s out ... Vargas? Guess they have time to make that decision since there’s an open roster spot.

[TheLeviathan]

Well, if the Odorizzi trade also results in Cobb and LoMo I'd say that move becomes even more amazing.  

 

I like that they are continuing to spend money they should be spending to improve the team.

[TFRazor]

Pretty sure this means it’s curtains for Vargas as a Twin

[Rosterman]

Though he is NOT the right-handed bat the Twins were seeking, he is an upgrade at DH and a capable backup at first, plus an option if the Twins don't resign Mauer.

 

Question is: Where does Kennys Vargas go?

 

And, do the Twins go with Granite or Grossman as the spare outfielder.

 

Of course, looks like the Twins will probably give away someone from their roster.

 

And does this mean that the front office has faith that PHIL HUGHES will break the rotation and there is no need for an additional starting pitcher acquisition?

 

Better signing than Napoli, fer sure, at least on paper.

 

I do hope the Twins bring the BEST players north. None of this out-of-options we must keep, Rule 5 pickup need to keep, aging veteran should stay in place of rookie kinda stuff.

 

On another note, Matt Belisle signed with Cleveland and Francisco Liriano with Detroit!

[hugelycat]

 

Our good lineup just got better. Great move. Get Lynn now

My thinking exactly. Love the Morrison signing, but our rotation still needs help.

[DaveW]

6.5 million for a guy who should hit 30-35 bombs?

 

Money well spent. And insurance for Mauer if he leaves after this year.

 

Plus by adding another bat it allows the Twins to potentially trade another bat later on.

[DaveW]

Though he is NOT the right-handed bat the Twins were seeking, he is an upgrade at DH and a capable backup at first, plus an option if the Twins don't resign Mauer.

 

Question is: Where does Kennys Vargas go?

 

And, do the Twins go with Granite or Grossman as the spare outfielder.

 

Of course, looks like the Twins will probably give away someone from their roster.

 

And does this mean that the front office has faith that PHIL HUGHES will break the rotation and there is no need for an additional starting pitcher acquisition?

 

Better signing than Napoli, fer sure, at least on paper.

 

I do hope the Twins bring the BEST players north. None of this out-of-options we must keep, Rule 5 pickup need to keep, aging veteran should stay in place of rookie kinda stuff.

 

On another note, Matt Belisle signed with Cleveland and Francisco Liriano with Detroit!

Granite is the clear choice for 4th Of since he can play good D.

 

Grossman probably doesn’t have a spot on this roster anymore with the Morrison signing.

[Shane Wahl]

This is a great signing. I do wonder if the Twins are interested in a trade for a starting pitcher now, since Vargas is a Major League bat to sweeten any deal involving prospects. Not sure.

[Taildragger8791]

Love the signing at that price. Hopefully this means a little less Grossman in the full-time DH slot. I assume this will bump Vargas from the 25-man, and I assume this means Sano will be forced to 3B even if he's a dumpster fire over there all season. Hopefully he gets his legs back in a hurry.

[gunnarthor]

Wow, pretty nice. Huge bat, he hit lefties ok but crushed righties. Hard to argue with this signing. And I think this pushes the Twins payroll to nearly 120m which is a lot more than I'd have guessed the FO could spend so good for them.

[DaveW]

This is a great signing. I do wonder if the Twins are interested in a trade for a starting pitcher now, since Vargas is a Major League bat to sweeten any deal involving prospects. Not sure.

Doubt Vargas would get us much of anything in a trade.

[DaveW]

Morrison also can play LF/RF If Rosario or Kepler get Hurt.

 

Wouldn’t be ideal as it would be a downgrade defensively, but he actually isn’t that bad.

 

Plus the other two can hide any decencies.

 

Also this allows you to potentially trade Kepler for pitching etc

 

Anyways it’s a brilliant move.

[Nick Nelson]

Kennys Vargas, we hardly knew ye.

 

For anyone interested, here are all of Morrison's 38 home runs in 2017. You can see him launch a pair of majestic bombs at Target Field (both off lefty Hector Santiago) a bit after the 3-minute mark:

 

https://youtu.be/XzETJ1cFmiQ

[Brock Beauchamp]

Huh, didn't see this coming but it's a good deal, for sure. I don't know that I would have targeted a LHB DH type but at that price, it's hard to say anything negative.

[tbhysgb]

Bye Vargas

[twinsfanstreif]

Man, we really like the 2017 Ray's who went 80-82.....

[ScooterDance]

Man, we really like the 2017 Ray's who went 80-82.....

 

The 2017 Rays would’ve done better with Rosario Kepler and Buxton manning their outfield!

[beckmt]

Find this to be a great signing.  My guess in that Vargas is gone, and probably Grossman also.  This covers a wide range of options at a  great price.

It could possibly mean the end of Mauer here after this year, but I expected that to happen anyway.

Great signing.

[twinsfanstreif]

The 2017 Rays would’ve done better with Rosario Kepler and Buxton manning their outfield!

 

It was more of a tongue in cheek comment. I actually like the move (and the previous move for Odorizzi). I think I would have preferred a 3rd baseman like Frazier or Moustakas and moved Sano to DH, I just don't trust his leg or body to hold up at 3rd but obviously the Twins do. This signing is a steal in my eyes for that kind of money

[twinsfanstreif]

Kennys Vargas, we hardly knew ye.

 

For anyone interested, here are all of Morrison's 38 home runs in 2017. You can see him launch a pair of majestic bombs at Target Field (both off lefty Hector Santiago) a bit after the 3-minute mark:

 

 

My take aways from this is there were quite a few of those that were no doubters and he like to hit dead center a lot. Not sure what to make of that but it looks like his numbers were not a result of a few lucky balls sneaking over the fence

[Nick Nelson]

 

My take aways from this is there were quite a few of those that were no doubters and he like to hit dead center a lot. Not sure what to make of that but it looks like his numbers were not a result of a few lucky balls sneaking over the fence

Yep, MLB's StatCast guy Daren Willman posted Morrison's HR spray chart overlaid at Target Field. Almost all of them would've been well beyond the fence. 

 

 

[Mike Sixel]

6.5 million for a guy who should hit 30-35 bombs?

 

Money well spent. And insurance for Mauer if he leaves after this year.

 

Plus by adding another bat it allows the Twins to potentially trade another bat later on.

Should? I'll take the under. Not a bad signing, but expecting 30 plus bombs?

[jimmer]

Great signing