Article about Joe Mauer's future

[Riverbrian]

 

There is only one 3rd baseman out there in FA that is worth signing. While it’s my dream to sign him the Twins won’t.

 

Yeah and he may want to play SS which is ok with me as well. 

 

I'd love to sign Machado but he will probably be grabbed by one of the big market folks. 

 

However... that's just FA... We could always trade for someone. Or Bring Back Escobar. 

[Riverbrian]

 

Not to hijack this thread, but this is one prime reason why I disagree with the "wait until you're one player away before you sign a big time free agent" theory of management.

 

There is a large chance that guy won't be available to you then.

 

Go get the players you need when you can.

 

Same is true for trades, by the way. 

 

Gather your assets when you may. 

[Squirrel]

 

Yeah and he may want to play SS which is ok with me as well. 

 

I'd love to sign Machado but he will probably be grabbed by one of the big market folks. 

 

However... that's just FA... We could always trade for someone. Or Bring Back Escobar. 

I love Esco and would love to see him back ... but he's far from signing someone of Machado's impact. If you sign Machado and he wants to play SS, you move Polanco to 2nd, and you leave Sano at 3rd. If you sign Machado and he's good with moving to 3rd, you have Polanco at SS and move Sano to 1st. There is a place for him either way if they'd sign him. But he won't. There isn't anyone else in FA that has that kind of impact. But, seeing as this is a thread about Mauer ... I think all this goes to show that I'm not sure what role Mauer still has on this team.

[twins_89]

My guess is Mauer is back with the Twins on a 1 year $8M deal (I just don't see anything more than a 1 year deal making sense). Having Mauer back would give Sano another year to prove he can stick at 3B and let Rooker start in the minors to show he can dominate AAA.

[Mike Sixel]

 

My guess is Mauer is back with the Twins on a 1 year $8M deal (I just don't see anything more than a 1 year deal making sense). Having Mauer back would give Sano another year to prove he can stick at 3B and let Rooker start in the minors to show he can dominate AAA.

 

I agree this is the most likely outcome, except I have no idea the price.

[Riverbrian]

 

I love Esco and would love to see him back ... but he's far from signing someone of Machado's impact. If you sign Machado and he wants to play SS, you move Polanco to 2nd, and you leave Sano at 3rd. If you sign Machado and he's good with moving to 3rd, you have Polanco at SS and move Sano to 1st. There is a place for him either way if they'd sign him. But he won't. There isn't anyone else in FA that has that kind of impact. But, seeing as this is a thread about Mauer ... I think all this goes to show that I'm not sure what role Mauer still has on this team.

 

Mauer has a role on my team. If he comes back at a fair price, I'm all for it. 

 

1B: Mauer/Sano

3B: Machado Escobar or Nunez/Sano

DH: Any of them

 

If Mauer retires or goes elsewhere. I'd be fine scratching Mauer off this list and replacing him with Matt Adams. 

 

 

[howieramone2]

 

This has Morneau/Mientkiewicz written all over it:

 

In 2002 Morneau hit .298/.356/.474, 16 HRs in AA.  He was ready to be the full time Twins' first baseman in 2003, but TR & Co went with Mientkiewicz for 1.5 seasons more, while Morneau had nothing to prove in AAA

 

This season Brent Rooker is hitting .277/.343/.522 with 20 HRs in AA.  And that includes a .250/.275/.364, 1 HR, April.  His OPS in July is 1.014 and in June was 1.038.

 

My hope is that this Front Office does not make the same mistake.  Rooker should be in the Twin Cities at least by September playing 1B every day to show what he has, and if it works, pencil him in as that starter for 2019.  If it does not, assess your options from Mauer to other free agents.

But Rooker needs a chance.  This season.

Never happen. Mauer will be back for 2 more years at a price we can live with.