Mauer and Morrison clear waivers

[akmanak]

Mauer will never go anywhere else. He has stated this time and time again. He is entrenched when it comes to Minnesota. He will offer a hometown discount next year and will retire a Twin.

[USAFChief]

 

 

 

If I were a hitter, seeing a shift against me would tell me that I have become predictable. And I would find a way to make them pay for it by hitting to the open field instead of against 4 outfielders on the pull side. The last player that I remember to beat the shift consistently by being stubborn was Ted. And that was a loooooooong time ago.

Have you seen the shifts deployed against Mauer? They don't even play a right fielder.

[Kelly Vance]

 

Mauer will never go anywhere else. He has stated this time and time again. He is entrenched when it comes to Minnesota. He will offer a hometown discount next year and will retire a Twin.

Yes he will.

[curt1965]

I say why not try Austin at 1B?

Has any team in baseball had worse production from their first baseman? Between Mauer and Morrison (AB’s at DH included) their stats (through 8-8)

AB- 622

R- 78

H- 144

RBI- 73

HR- 18

AVE- .232

 

For 2 starters- these number are pretty pathetic for positions that are considered power sources!

[howeda7]

Cut Morrison already. He's back to looking pathetic after a brief stretch of competence. Something is up with Mauer's health with all the games at DH. I think it's better than 50/50 he retires at the end of the season. 

[glunn]

Maybe Mauer would be willing to waive the no trade clause in order to play for a contender, if there were assurances that the Twins will bid for him in free agency? Would such assurances violate some rule?

[AlwaysinModeration]

Morrison was just listed as the #18 most desirable August trade candidate in an MLB Trade Rumors post. It’s based on a)last year’s production, b)platoonability, and c) that he’s been a bit unlucky. Hopefully that helps facilitate a trade. (Fernando Rodney listed as #8, but suspected to be claimed.)

[ewen21]

 

Mauer will never go anywhere else. He has stated this time and time again. He is entrenched when it comes to Minnesota. He will offer a hometown discount next year and will retire a Twin.

That's awfully nice of him to "offer a hometown discount"

Come on.  With that sexy .711 OPS coming from first base.  LOL

What does that even mean for 36 year old guy well into his decline!?  One year 3 million??

 

What if the Twins decide it is better to move on from him?  Would that be so bad??

 

Quite frankly, that is what I would do.

I have no interest in seeing Joe Mauer gingerly play the game of baseball, making cameo appearances.

 

 

[ewen21]

 

Maybe Mauer would be willing to waive the no trade clause in order to play for a contender, if there were assurances that the Twins will bid for him in free agency? Would such assurances violate some rule?

Why all these stipulations for him?  He is a very replaceable part at this point

[yarnivek1972]

Morrison was just listed as the #18 most desirable August trade candidate in an MLB Trade Rumors post. It’s based on a)last year’s production, b)platoonability, and c) that he’s been a bit unlucky. Hopefully that helps facilitate a trade. (Fernando Rodney listed as #8, but suspected to be claimed.)

I doubt 18 MLB players get moved in August. That seems like a very high number.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I doubt 18 MLB players get moved in August. That seems like a very high number.

They just listed the top 20 candidates -- it wasn't a prediction that 20 guys would get dealt. Heck, they listed a top 75 before the July 31 trade deadline...

[AlwaysinModeration]

I doubt 18 MLB players get moved in August. That seems like a very high number.

I find it unlikely they find a taker too, I just note he was listed, which means at least some may think him worth a trade.

[glunn]

 

Why all these stipulations for him?  He is a very replaceable part at this point

My thinking is that such promise might induce him to waive his no trade clause. I see this as a potential win-win -- Mauer gets to play for a contender for the rest of the year and hopefully the Twins get a decent prospect for such "rental."

 

I am just floating this and suspect that it might never work.

[yarnivek1972]

My thinking is that such promise might induce him to waive his no trade clause. I see this as a potential win-win -- Mauer gets to play for a contender for the rest of the year and hopefully the Twins get a decent prospect for such "rental."

 

I am just floating this and suspect that it might never work.

Even if Mauer waived his no trade, what team is going to give up anything to pay $6 mil or so for maybe .1 or .2 bWAR?

[glunn]

 

Even if Mauer waived his no trade, what team is going to give up anything to pay $6 mil or so for maybe .1 or .2 bWAR?

Maybe the Twins could pick up some salary to get a good prospect?  Maybe the trade could be at the end of August so that there is only one month of salary left?

 

I would love to see:

 

1.  Mauer in the World Series.

 

2.  Mauer come back next year on a one year deal at a very reasonable salary.

 

3.  The Twins get another decent prospect.

 

Again, I think that this is a VERY long shot.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I don't agree Mauer is necessarily in decline. I would doubt anyone who says with certainty that he is. Lots of guys can get this far and keep hitting. Mauer's OPS last season was .801, which would check in second on the team this season after Rosario (and Esco).

[yarnivek1972]

I don't agree Mauer is necessarily in decline. I would doubt anyone who says with certainty that he is. Lots of guys can get this far and keep hitting. Mauer's OPS last season was .801, which would check in second on the team this season after Rosario (and Esco).

And his OPS this year is .711. Other than 2017, it hasn’t been above .752 since 2013.

 

I don’t know how anyone could objectively look at his performance over the last ten years and come to the conclusion that he isn’t in decline.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

And his OPS this year is .711. Other than 2017, it hasn’t been above .752 since 2013.

I don’t know how anyone could objectively look at his performance over the last ten years and come to the conclusion that he isn’t in decline.

And his OPS since the start of 2016 is .761. Other than 2014 and 2015 when he was coming off a lot of lost time to concussion, and learning a new position, he has been good.

 

I get the power argument, Joe doesn't hit for power, but would you take a . 761 OPS from Mauer in 2019 with gold glove caliber defense?

[Mike Sixel]

 

And his OPS since the start of 2016 is .761. Other than 2014 and 2015 when he was coming off a lot of lost time to concussion, and learning a new position, he has been good.

I get the power argument, Joe doesn't hit for power, but would you take a . 761 OPS from Mauer in 2019 with gold glove caliber defense?

 

No.  Still puts him below median at 1B.......but he's not hitting close to that this year, so I'm not sure why we'd expect that.  He also didn't hit that high in 2016. 2017 appears to be the outlier.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

No.  Still puts him below median at 1B.......but he's not hitting close to that this year, so I'm not sure why we'd expect that.  He also didn't hit that high in 2016. 2017 appears to be the outlier.

Obviously you are interpreting it differently. Fine, whatever.

 

There are a lot of great MLB players right now; including first baseman, and as hitting goes, Mauer is a below average first baseman. I don't know what the realistic alternative is the next year or two. A wish for Austin or Rooker to excel or platoon with each other seems like a stretch. Moving Kepler to 1B seems like robbing Peter to pay Paul.

[Mike Sixel]

Obviously you are interpreting it differently. Fine, whatever.

 

There are a lot of great MLB players right now; including first baseman, and as hitting goes, Mauer is a below average first baseman. I don't know what the realistic alternative is the next year or two. A wish for Austin or Rooker to excel or platoon with each other seems like a stretch. Moving Kepler to 1B seems like robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Sano, Kepler, Austin, Garver, that's pretty easy, and gives you position flexibility. Maybe Rooker is ready at some point. It's very unlikely that group produces less than Mauer.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Sano, Kepler, Austin, Garver, that's pretty easy, and gives you position flexibility. Maybe Rooker is ready at some point. It's very unlikely that group produces less than Mauer.

That's quite a plan.

[yarnivek1972]

Obviously you are interpreting it differently. Fine, whatever.

 

There are a lot of great MLB players right now; including first baseman, and as hitting goes, Mauer is a below average first baseman. I don't know what the realistic alternative is the next year or two. A wish for Austin or Rooker to excel or platoon with each other seems like a stretch. Moving Kepler to 1B seems like robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Not if Buxton produces as is hoped and Cave does basically as well as this year.

 

Cave has the same fWAR as Mauer in less than half the at bats. And a considerably higher OPS.

 

It gets a productive bat (Cave) into the lineup more often than his role as 4th OFer would typically allow without taking the productive OFers out of the lineup. It’s called win-win.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Not if Buxton produces as is hoped and Cave does basically as well as this year.

Cave has the same fWAR as Mauer in less than half the at bats. And a considerably higher OPS.

It gets a productive bat (Cave) into the lineup more often than his role as 4th OFer would typically allow without taking the productive OFers out of the lineup. It’s called win-win.

I much prefer Mauer at first and Kepler in RF on opening day, than Kepler at first and Cave in right. We can agree to disagree.

 

I think Mauer is more likely to OPS at .750 than Cave at .775 in 2019, though I hope they both hit those marks. Not to mention the unpredictability of having two guys at new positions versus two guys at positions where they are already comfortable.

[USAFChief]

I much prefer Mauer at first and Kepler in RF on opening day, than Kepler at first and Cave in right. We can agree to disagree.

I think Mauer is more likely to OPS at .750 than Cave at .775 in 2019, though I hope they both hit those marks. Not to mention the unpredictability of having two guys at new positions versus two guys at positions where they are already comfortable.

That’s the problem with Mauer...you’re hoping he puts up a .750 OPS. As if that’s somehow a good thing. How does that help put the Twins in the postseason?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

That’s the problem with Mauer...you’re hoping he puts up a .750 OPS. As if that’s somehow a good thing. How does that help put the Twins in the postseason?

I'm not head over heels for Mauer forever, I just don't see how it's a bad option for 2019. We can be fairly sure what we're getting. Solid defense and some on base. He showed cracks in both, but IMO he's just as likely to "rebound" towards 2017 levels than continue a second year of decline.

 

Remove Mauer right now, and it's one more position to fill with question marks and worry about.

[FormerMinnasotan]

That's awfully nice of him to "offer a hometown discount"

Come on. With that sexy .711 OPS coming from first base. LOL

What does that even mean for 36 year old guy well into his decline!? One year 3 million??

 

What if the Twins decide it is better to move on from him? Would that be so bad??

 

Quite frankly, that is what I would do.

I have no interest in seeing Joe Mauer gingerly play the game of baseball, making cameo appearances.

I agree with you on Mauer. His best days are behind and he is 1 concussion away from needing to retire. I mean what would Joe bring to the table next year for the Twins? Other than being a decent fielder and having a good on base percentage he brings nothing. Joe isn’t a draw as much for fans anymore. To be honest anything above a 1 yr $3 million contract would be overpaying a greatly declining ball player. I say we start 2019 without Mauer, his skills are diminishing and has proven recently that he can’t carry the team, he’s actually a better contributor when others play well (see last year, and 2015).

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Even if Mauer waived his no trade, what team is going to give up anything to pay $6 mil or so for maybe .1 or .2 bWAR?

Mauer won't bring much in return but he's exactly the kind of bat teams want on a postseason roster. A righty comes into the game and you trot out Mauer, one of the most professional hitters in the game, a guy who will make the pitcher work to get him out and also a guy who will eagerly work a walk in a late-inning situation.

 

And given how the AL (and some of the NL) is shaking out, teams aren't looking to make the postseason, they're looking to solidify a postseason roster. Mauer doesn't have much value taking up a regular season 25-man roster spot but on a postseason roster with more space for bench players, I could easily see a team taking him on in a bench role.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Mauer won't bring much in return but he's exactly the kind of bat teams want on a postseason roster.

 

Mauer is still due a lot of money for that small role, though. A few teams may not even be able to add it due to luxury tax concerns. And I wouldn't expect the Twins to eat it.

[ashbury]

And I wouldn't expect the Twins to eat it.

Why not? They budgeted for it. The remainder of the contract is down to, what, $8M and counting? By August 31, just $4M? If that was the difference in prying a better set of prospects in return, I'd do it. (Conversely, the other team would also likely view $4M as small change, unless as you say they are bumping up right at the tax threshold or something like that.)