Article: Twins Claim 1B CJ Cron

[RatherBeGolfing]

Nothing like adding another non-versatile, remotely average offensively right-handed 1B/DH type to the roster

[Mike Sixel]

seems unlikely they are aggressive with Rooker now.........so maybe he's not the best pick ever....

[IndianaTwin]

 

I'm glad people are not liking this move. Experience tells me this means he will be great and the same people will be his biggest fans come 12 months from now. 

 

</snark>

 

In that case, I think this was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad* signing.

 

*Hold on while I look for my thesaurus. 

Edited November 26, 2018 by IndianaTwin

[operation mindcrime]

I will refer to him as Crom! In honor of Conan the barbarian!

[RedBull34]

Hmmm,

 

With Cron on the roster and Robbie Grossman sure to be gone.  The Twins really could use some LH or Switch Hitter Depth @ Corner Outfield and 1B.  Probably C too since we all know that Castro is injury Prone.  

 

Guys...I've got a brilliant idea!

[darin617]

 

Let's hope this works out better than the last Tampa 1B coming off a career year.

Why would we compare the 2 of them? Just because they both played last in Tampa?  Morrison basically had no Spring Training and may have been hiding an injury all season until they shut him down.

 

 

[Brandon]

I think Cron was DFA'd because his career going into last season was 106+ adjusted OPS and last season was 123 adjusted OPS.  The Rays think he will regress back closer to 106 instead of remaining at 123.  Plus Cron is not that good at getting on base which hurts his value and he is a neutral fielder.  

 

I don't think getting Cron will prevent us from getting a DH necessarily.  We could go after Cruz.  I think Cron provides competition for Austin as neither cost much and if one gets released at the end of spring training the cost will be around 1 million. 1/6th the season wage termination pay.  

 

I really hope we go after someone like Cruz cause power is cheap and we could have a powerful lineup next season at a reasonable cost.

 

a low cost lineup with lots of power example: 

CF Buxton

SS Polanco

3B Sano

DH Cruz

1B Austin / Cron

LF Rosario

RF Kepler / Cave

2B Dozier / Kinsler/ Cabrera / or someone else who can hit 10+ HRs

C   Garver / Castro

 

 

 

 

[Vanimal46]

Why would we compare the 2 of them? Just because they both played last in Tampa? Morrison basically had no Spring Training and may have been hiding an injury all season until they shut him down.

Same reason why we fear Scott Boras clients... Irrational feelings. I'm not going to trust people from Tampa coming off career seasons. There's probably a valid reason why they're letting him go for nothing... And why this is his 3rd team in 3 seasons.

[nytwinsfan]

 

I'm underwhelmed to an extreme level.

 

Underwhelmed by obtaining a 2 WAR/30HR player at a position of need for . . . nothing? I mean, if he's the only good bat they get this offseason, then sure, but its November 26th.

[mlhouse]

Based on what I assume the Twins will do, I don't think that this is that bad of a decision because it is low risk, relatively low cost, and has some upside in the end game.  

 

I get that it might be preferable to find a left handed hitter to work in the mix, but not all opportunities fall from the trees.  I think there is enough ABs to work Austin, Sano, and Cron in the lineup.

 

It is obviously low cost and low risk, and if Cron hits you could potentially move him around the trade deadline for prospects.   

 

At the same time, and continuing my series, why not just start the season with Brent Rooker instead?   Rooker and Cron are very similar players.  Both right handed power hitters that were first round draft picks out of college (witht he exception being Rooker was a 4th year college player).   

 

Both players pounded Rookie level ball in their initial professional debut.  And while Cron spent the next year in A+ ball, the Twins (uncharacteristically) advanced Rooker to A+ ball that same season.    

 

Cron had a slightly higher A+ batting average but Rooker had higher OBP and Slg, with a A+ OPS of .917 vs. Cron's .843.  It is also important to note that because Rooker was a 4th year college player, they both played A+ ball as 22 year olds.

 

AS 23 year olds both Cron and Rooker played a full season of AA.   Cron, in 2013 hit .274 with a OBP of .319 and SLG of .428 (OPS .746) with 14 home runs in 519 at bats. Rooker hit .254 with a OBP of .333 and SLG of .465 (OPS .798) with 22 home runs in 503 at bats.   

WHile statistically Rooker is slightly better than Cron, he has had a much higher strike out percentage than Cron, with Rooker's minor league strike out percentage being almost double Cron.  But then also, Rooker started slowly in AA last season, had incredibly hot June and July months with OPS over 1.000 before having a terrible end of the season in August and September.   

 

I will also add that the Angels never really seemed to commit to Cron while he was with them.  They brought him up as a 24 year old and he hit reasonably well with a OPS of .739 and 11 home runs in 253 ABs.   But he started in AAA the following 2015 season, then was called up and hit 16 home runswith a .739 OPS and then started the 2017 season in AAA again before being brought up and having an almost duplicate season.  Cron's 2018 Rays season was his first complete major league season and then they designated him for assignment after a pretty solid season.

 

From the evidence, Rooker has a lot more power potential and despite more Ks and lower average and significantly higher strikout percentage, a much higher on base average than Cron.  I can perhaps see having Rooker spend some time in AAA to see if he can work on cutting back on his strike outs and that will be a concern for him going to the major league level.  

 

So, I would personally just start out with Rooker.  But, what I hope is that Rooker plays well in AAA, Cron hits well in Minnesota, and then at the trade deadline we can move Cron for prospects.

[RedBull34]

 

Same reason why we fear Scott Boras clients... Irrational feelings. I'm not going to trust people from Tampa coming off career seasons. There's probably a valid reason why they're letting him go for nothing... And why this is his 3rd team in 3 seasons.

IDK, Corey Dickerson had a fine year and they did this with him last year.

[gunnarthor]

I think this was a fine move. He can play 1b or DH, two holes we currently have. He's a big RH power bat and RH power plays up at TF. He's cheap. I don't think he's blocking anyone, yet. Rooker isn't ML ready and Larnich is even farther away. 

 

He's not going to move the needle enough by himself but you can certainly see the power potential he gives the line-up.

[Blake]

Sort of looks like a cost controlled Dozier type.

 

Hits for power, streaky and is an adequate defender.

 

Need to replace Dozier's bat somehow and this might be the way to go.

[scottz]

This is a perfectly fine get for nothing. He just had a nice season, he's 28, and it's late November. He hits lefties and righties pretty equally. His arbitration number won't be huge. Our new manager just spent a season in close proximity and maybe likes what he does. Maybe they see him as Tyler Austin with less strikeouts.

 

If they do nothing else, we should yell and scream and gnash our teeth and rend our garments.

 

If they made a bet on an incremental improvement over Tyler Austin and make other incremental improvements and/or a big improvement no such yelling, screaming, gnashing, and rending is necessary.

[caninatl04]

As a power guy, does he also strike out a lot?

Last year he struck out at a 29% clip. Over his career, 24.6%.

[nicksaviking]

I have little interest in Cron, heck little interest in filling 1B.

 

But I don’t understand all the animosity. This is simply a waiver claim, the Twins make a dozen of these a year, Cron is just a bigger name than your typical waiver claim.

[caninatl04]

So, which two minor leaguers will the Twins get for him in August?

[Riverbrian]

The Angels traded Cron when they signed Ohtani. Ohtani needed to DH and this forced Pujols to 1B and Cron can’t play anywhere else.

 

The Angels were only able to trade him for a PTBNL because there are a lot of these guys who can’t play anywhere in the field so nobody is willing to give up anything for them. The Angels were overloaded with them and Cron was forced out the door. Then the Rays find Choi and out the door goes Cron because the Rays can’t get anything of value for him in trade and neither Choi or Cron can play anywhere else.

 

Welcome to Minnesota where Tyler Austin is waiting for you.

 

I go back to asking the question. Why couldn’t Austin play some OF in September while Rosario was hurt? It would have taken just a hair of foresight to see the need before us today. I saw it... I mentioned it here when I saw it.

 

Cron is bouncing from team to team for pennies not because he can’t hit. It’s because he plays at the Pizza joint of positions. There is pizza everywhere from the store bought frozen stuff to the fancy stuff. Nobody finishes the whole box so getting a free slice is easy and it’s hard to survive in the Pizza business because there is pizza everywhere.

 

We’ve gone from 23M pizza to 5M pizza. What we need is Pizza and Wings to survive. Give Austin an OF glove please.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

 

In that case, I think this was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad* signing.

 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

The main reason I am very excited about the Twins signing Cron is because Twins new manager had to be comfortable with this, since Cron and Baldelli were together on the Rays all of last year.  Therefore I say Cron's signing has potential to be a real benefit for the Twins. More so, I submit, than Nelson Cruz (who does not play in the field and whose power stats have been sinking lower the last 4 years, as he aged from 34 to 38 years old...and whose WAR was only .9 above Cron's). Cron is at worst, an average fielding 1B (same fielding percentage as the Twins 2018 1B Gold Glove candidate, Joe Mauer .- .996). If Cron were a problem in the clubhouse, don't you think Baldelli would have known it and would have told Falvine? The Rays did the same thing with LoMo last year...they want to rebuild and have potentially better, younger, cheaper candidates at 1B. It really is as simple as that. I like this move.

[Lonestar]

He's a slightly above average defensive 1B. Austin and Cruz are not.

 

Why are some of us giving Austin a scholarship?

 

On the other hand, his OBP without his (unsustainable) 17 HBP's last year was about .304. Hard pass.

[Mike Sixel]

 

He's a slightly above average defensive 1B. Austin and Cruz are not.

 

Why are some of us giving Austin a scholarship?

 

On the other hand, his OBP without his (unsustainable) 17 HBP's last year was about .304. Hard pass.

 

Austin gets a "pass" because he's on the roster, and you can only add so many players. Preferably some that move the needle quite a bit......

[yarnivek1972]

The Angels traded Cron when they signed Ohtani. Ohtani needed to DH and this forced Pujols to 1B and Cron can’t play anywhere else.

 

The Angels were only able to trade him for a PTBNL because there are a lot of these guys who can’t play anywhere in the field so nobody is willing to give up anything for them. The Angels were overloaded with them and Cron was forced out the door. Then the Rays find Choi and out the door goes Cron because the Rays can’t get anything of value for him in trade and neither Choi or Cron can play anywhere else.

 

Welcome to Minnesota where Tyler Austin is waiting for you.

 

I go back to asking the question. Why couldn’t Austin play some OF in September while Rosario was hurt? It would have taken just a hair of foresight to see the need before us today. I saw it... I mentioned it here when I saw it.

 

Cron is bouncing from team to team for pennies not because he can’t hit. It’s because he plays at the Pizza joint of positions. There is pizza everywhere from the store bought frozen stuff to the fancy stuff. Nobody finishes the whole box so getting a free slice is easy and it’s hard to survive in the Pizza business because there is pizza everywhere.

 

We’ve gone from 23M pizza to 5M pizza. What we need is Pizza and Wings to survive. Give Austin an OF glove please.

 

I’m hungry.

[IndianaTwin]

 

 

I was hoping someone else has kids. Or is married to an elementary school teacher. 

 

[Winston Smith]

Mauer had an OPS+ of 99 while Cron had 123. He'll make less than 25% of the money, so what's the problem? If he doesn't work out it's only a very small amout of money invested.

[DocBauer]

Is this a big, sexy move? Nope. But I really like it.

 

1] The cost is cheap with no longer term commitment and no prospects involved.

 

2] The move does little to nothing to constrict payroll for any other additions.

 

3] Baldelli is familiar with him.

 

4] Only 28 and coming off his best season. Coincidentally, his first season with more than 409AB.

 

5] We have just, cheaply, added depth and competition to the 1B/DH situation.

 

Smart move.

 

[And I agree at working Austin in the OF come ST]

[Rigby]

 

 

 

 and rend our garments.

 

 

God, let's hope that's not necessary...........

[Vanimal46]

Mauer had an OPS+ of 99 while Cron had 123. He'll make less than 25% of the money, so what's the problem? If he doesn't work out it's only a very small amout of money invested.

Every dollar counts with this small market team! Just ask Jim Pohlad, who doesn't FEEL like it's necessary to spend $23 million just because Mauer's contract is off the books.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

seems unlikely they are aggressive with Rooker now.........so maybe he's not the best pick ever....

Yes that's another thing I don't understand about this pick-up. Although Rooker does have a tiny bit more flexibility to play the outfield* 

 

*not sure how good he actually is at either position

[gunnarthor]

 

Yes that's another thing I don't understand about this pick-up. Although Rooker does have a tiny bit more flexibility to play the outfield* 

 

*not sure how good he actually is at either position

If Rooker pushes the team to promote him (like Morneau did when we had Dougie Baseball), the Twins can trade Cron. Or they can put him at first and move Austin. But right now, the Twins don't have a first baseman or a DH. Austin will probably get one of those opportunities but Cron can handle the other.