Article: Offseason Primer: Corner Infield Free Agents

[Nick Nelson]

Joe Mauer's big send-off yesterday, combined with the ominous uncertainty surrounding Miguel Sano, leaves the corner infield spots as a major source of mystery as the Minnesota Twins embark on their offseason.

 

Let's take an early look at a few players who will be available in free agency.Note: This is an excerpt from the free agency section of the upcoming 2019 Offseason Handbook, which you can officially preorder as of today. You'll find these profiles, plus dozens more, within. Claim your copy today to get it before its official release.

 

To say the Twins lack clarity at the infield corners would be an understatement. Incumbent first baseman Joe Mauer is a free agent, for the first time ever. Incumbent third baseman Miguel Sano is coming off a brutal season bisected by a demotion to Single-A. The latter will be back (barring a trade) but in what capacity? Keep him at third, or move him to first (or even DH)? Up to you. And that decision will dictate planning here.

 

Joe Mauer, 1B

Age: 35

Previous Team: Twins

2018 Stats: .282/.351/.379, 6 HR, 48 RBI

 

Mauer is coming off an underwhelming season that saw him turn in some of the worst numbers of his career. But he remains an excellent defensive first baseman and strong situational hitter with above-average OBP skills. If he returns, it'll be as a part-timer and frequent DH. But with righty-swinging Tyler Austin on hand, that might fit. Mauer is contemplating retirement.

 

Estimated Contract: 1 year, $7 million

 

Eduardo Escobar, 3B

Age: 30

Previous Team: Diamondbacks

2018 Stats: .272/.334/.489, 23 HR, 84 RBI

 

Cherished clubhouse character and late-blooming versatile slugger. Signing Escobar would restore a recognizable veteran presence to the locker room while allowing Sano to move across the diamond for a potential offensive upgrade at both corners. Esco's ability to fill in at short or second, if needed, helps with flexibility.

 

Estimated Contract: 3 years, $45 million

 

Matt Adams, 1B

Age: 30

Previous Team: Cardinals

2018 Stats: .239/.309/.477, 21 HR, 57 RBI

 

Looking for an apt platoon mate to complement lefty-masher Austin, Adams might be your man. He's got an .815 OPS with 41 homers over the past two seasons, and is a career .279/.330/.495 hitter against righties. Can play outfield corners in a pinch.

 

Estimated Contract: 2 years, $15 million

 

Hungry for more? Preorder the Offseason Handbook, which will include profiles on tons of other free agent options, at the corner infield and other areas of need.

 

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[Vanimal46]

I'm curious what Josh Donaldson's contract projection is. If he figured out the whole dead arm situation that could be a high risk, high reward option.

[y2jjj54]

I am not advocating for it, but is their any chance the Twin bring back LoMo?

[Rosterman]

The Twins could easily bring back Logan Morrison. They already have to pay him a buyout.

 

Looking at Matt Adams, you MIGHT have more certainty of him because of two seasons of play, but his numbers would correspond with Tyler Austin. They both play the same position. The rub here is how many 1B/DH do you need (let's throw Sano in that mix) and you also have Willians Alstudillo in competition.

 

If you could possibly go with a 7-man bullpen, Joe Mauer would be a nice addition to stay with the team in a Jim Thome role, someone who could come off the becnh and also play in the field (an advantage over Thome, you don't need to pinch rn for him).

 

I'm thinking Sano is the elephant in the room for 2019 right now, like Mauer was for 2018. If you have to play him, where do you play him and how does that affect adding others and the bench. If Sano is not a third baseman, than Escobar is a candidate.

 

But, truly...will Escobar get a $45 million contract offer? I see $25-30 million if teams want to go three years. He may get a larger one-year contract, but how do other teams view him compared to corresponding third base opportunities (or other infielders).

 

 

[caninatl04]

I understand lumping together 1B and 3B for discussion purposes, but I think the 2019 Twins are "set" at 1B for not only next year, but for the foreseeable future with combinations of Garver, Kepler, Austin and / or Sano for 2019 / 20 and a handful of current minor-leaguers (Larnach?) beyond.

[Winston Smith]

I'd look in to Moustakas to play 3B for a couple years. Sano/Kepler/Austin/Garver can take turns at 1B/DH. Sano can play 3B when they face LH pitcher that Mous has trouble with.

[SF Twins Fan]

After last offseason I don't see Escobar getting to $45M but I could see $35M over 3 years. If I was the Twins FO, my first calls would be to Donaldson to see if he would want a 1 year prove he's healthy deal and to Jose Iglesias to see if he'd be willing to take a 2 to 3 year deal. Donaldson could play 3rd, 1st and DH and Iglesias could play all three infield positions if needed.

 

Machado is a pipe dream but it would be awesome to put him at 3rd and sign Iglesias for SS. Move Sano over to 1st and DH.

[USAFChief]

Josh Donaldson.

 

joshdonaldsonjoshdonaldsonjoshdonaldsonjoshdonaldsonjoshdonaldsonjoshdonaldsonjoshdonaldson

 

Josh.

 

Donaldson.

[yarnivek1972]

After last offseason I don't see Escobar getting to $45M but I could see $35M over 3 years. If I was the Twins FO, my first calls would be to Donaldson to see if he would want a 1 year prove he's healthy deal and to Jose Iglesias to see if he'd be willing to take a 2 to 3 year deal. Donaldson could play 3rd, 1st and DH and Iglesias could play all three infield positions if needed.

 

Machado is a pipe dream but it would be awesome to put him at 3rd and sign Iglesias for SS. Move Sano over to 1st and DH.

Someone will give Donaldson at least 2-3 years. He proved in September that he was healthy. And if he has a good postseason...

[yarnivek1972]

After last offseason I don't see Escobar getting to $45M but I could see $35M over 3 years. If I was the Twins FO, my first calls would be to Donaldson to see if he would want a 1 year prove he's healthy deal and to Jose Iglesias to see if he'd be willing to take a 2 to 3 year deal. Donaldson could play 3rd, 1st and DH and Iglesias could play all three infield positions if needed.

 

Machado is a pipe dream but it would be awesome to put him at 3rd and sign Iglesias for SS. Move Sano over to 1st and DH.

Someone will give Donaldson at least 2-3 years. He proved in September that he was healthy. And if he has a good postseason...

[SF Twins Fan]

 

Someone will give Donaldson at least 2-3 years. He proved in September that he was healthy. And if he has a good postseason...

 

16 games is a pretty small sample size. He's also going to be 33 this December, so I'd be shocked if he got 3 years.

 

Edit: Also, who's to say he's going to want to sign a 3 year deal when he could sign a 1 year deal, crush, and then sign a 3 year deal for more money a year later.

Edited October 1, 2018 by SF Twins Fan

[rdehring]

I also think your estimate for Mighty Mouse is a tad high, but who knows.  In any case, he would be my first call.

 

Like 2018, the Twins are a little hog tied in that they have to plan on Sano filling a full time role...probably at third.  If he fails to produce like this year, getting someone like Escobar to shift to 3B with Adrianza stepping in at second/short is about the best they can hope for.

 

Lets not be to surprised if they bring LoMo back.  None of us know the extent of the injuries he played thru this year.  Do they pay the $1mm and release him, hoping to sign him for less than $7mm?  But if they believe: 1) the injuries this past year were serious; 2) he is now healthy; and 3) he was a good fit in the clubhouse, I can see them exercising their option...iff they are certain Mauer is retiring.  And isn't that the problem, they probably won't know about Mauer before they have to cut bait on LoMo.

[bobs]

  I usually think with my head.  But my heart says a mixture of Mauer, Austin, Sano, Escobar would work for 3B/1B/DH.

[TheLeviathan]

This is a really, really weak group.  I think signing Escobar is the best thing we can do here and move on to other positions.

 

I don't mind a flyer on Donaldson, but it doesn't thrill me.

[HrbekRules]

If healthy, and for a good contract, Josh Donaldson makes the most sense.  As was stated earlier, he can play 3rd, 1st and DH.  He fits in with Sano and Austin for those 3 positions, doesn't matter who really plays which one to me, excluding Austin at 3rd.  

[Mike Sixel]

Last off season the Brewers went and got good / very good MLB players......

 

I'd rather the Twins follow that model, than sign a bunch of mediocre, just above replacement level, players.

 

Either that or just go young and move on. Mauer does nothing for me. Adams is just a dh/1b.....they don't need more of those, not with Austin and Rooker and maybe Sano.......

[MABB1959]

Announcers just said the Brewers manager played all his cards and it made me think we had a season without a single face card and a couple of jokers. 

[Winston Smith]

 

Last off season the Brewers went and got good / very good MLB players......

 

I'd rather the Twins follow that model, than sign a bunch of mediocre, just above replacement level, players.

 

Either that or just go young and move on. Mauer does nothing for me. Adams is just a dh/1b.....they don't need more of those, not with Austin and Rooker and maybe Sano.......

Seems like most people just want to keep the band together and hope for the best.

[drivlikejehu]

 

This is a really, really weak group.  I think signing Escobar is the best thing we can do here and move on to other positions.

 

I don't mind a flyer on Donaldson, but it doesn't thrill me.

 

Well, it's a really weak free agent group in general, beyond Machado, Harper, and a couple good starting pitchers. 

 

Getting Donaldson or Escobar would be pretty high on my priority list, second only to a starting pitcher. 

[Vanimal46]

Seems like most people just want to keep the band together and hope for the best.

Which is strange IMO... The best they've done is win 85 games. Be bold, do something different.

[ChrisKnutson]

Any of Machado/Donaldson/Escobar would be great and all, but maybe the Twins should take a more realistic approach and make a deal for a 3rd/SS (Maikel Franco, Starlin Castro, Aledmys Diaz, J.P. Crawford, Ketel Marte, etc).

[DrNeau]

Josh Donaldson would be amazing!

[cy1time]

104, 115, 99

103, 98, 108

 

OPS+ of Joe Mauer & Tyler Austin the last three years. I don’t get all the love for Austin. If he’s the primary first baseman, he’s going to fan 200 times. This board will be sick of him by June 1.

[DocBauer]

I am a huge fan and believer in Escobar and I just dont see $45M for 3 years. IMO, that would be a total turn around from the depressed market we saw last season.

 

But to me, he makes the most sense. He is an super utility guy to play daily and yet can also thrive very well starting at a single position.

 

Healthy, playing any where close to his previous self, Sano is the primary 3B. Especially if he continues on his current diet and exercise program. He can also fill in at 1B and DH.

 

I am leaning toward a 2nd 1B/DH type, with Mauer retired, who can bring a decent LH bat. But then I look at Astudillo and others and start to talk myself out of it.

[cy1time]

I could clarify which are Mauer’s and which are Austin’s, would that matter?

 

[Mike Sixel]

 

104, 115, 99
103, 98, 108

OPS+ of Joe Mauer & Tyler Austin the last three years. I don’t get all the love for Austin. If he’s the primary first baseman, he’s going to fan 200 times. This board will be sick of him by June 1.

 

Austin is 25, Mauer is 35. One can play 140 games a year, one has not played over 100 at 1B hardly at all......

 

And yes, we may be sick of Austin by then, but he also makes the league minimum, and there is no emotional attachment by the team/fans, so he can be cut or traded or whatever......

 

They literally could not be less alike in terms of their future and their cost (both money and opportunity).

[Vanimal46]

I am a huge fan and believer in Escobar and I just dont see $45M for 3 years. IMO, that would be a total turn around from the depressed market we saw last season.

 

But to me, he makes the most sense. He is an super utility guy to play daily and yet can also thrive very well starting at a single position.

 

Healthy, playing any where close to his previous self, Sano is the primary 3B. Especially if he continues on his current diet and exercise program. He can also fill in at 1B and DH.

 

I am leaning toward a 2nd 1B/DH type, with Mauer retired, who can bring a decent LH bat. But then I look at Astudillo and others and start to talk myself out of it.

Not to pick on you Doc, but I keep reading super utility tied to Escobar all over TD, and I'm curious why he would agree to that? He's been an every day player this year, starting nearly every game at 3B.

 

Don't you think he wants an every day role after years of having to prove himself and fight his way into the lineup?

 

He's started a grand total of 29 games at SS, and 6 at 2B the last 2 seasons. Compared to 201 starts at 3B.

 

I'm confused where this narrative of him being a super utility guy is coming from. He appears locked in as an every day 3B from the stats and eye test. Remember in 2016 when he started a bunch of games at SS? He doesn't have the arm to survive unless in emergency situations.

[TheLeviathan]

Well, it's a really weak free agent group in general, beyond Machado, Harper, and a couple good starting pitchers. 

 

Getting Donaldson or Escobar would be pretty high on my priority list, second only to a starting pitcher.

 

I think SS is pretty solid and so is OF, particularly since I think Machado signs as a SS only.

 

I would love Manny, but barring that dream I prioritize Inglesias and trades. My point was 1B/DH/Donaldson are nowhere near the top.

[USAFChief]

I like Escobar, but he’s gotten quite a bit overrated here. He’s a nice complementary player, he’s not a difference maker. I’d like him as the second or better yet, third add. If he’s the primary pickup this winter, I’ll be disappointed.

[drivlikejehu]

 

I like Escobar, but he’s gotten quite a bit overrated here. He’s a nice complementary player, he’s not a difference maker. I’d like him as the second or better yet, third add. If he’s the primary pickup this winter, I’ll be disappointed.

 

Who are two players better than Escobar that would realistically sign with the Twins?