Jonathan Schoop or Ian Kinsler?

[darin617]

Did the Twins make a mistake jumping the gun on the Schoop signing?

 

Ian Kinsler just signed with San Diego for 2 years $8M total. I don't expect either guy to get close to match their career best seasons in 2019.

 

Sure hope the Twins know what they are doing going forward.

 

What really scares me is that we will not be able to lure any good FA here. As well as the fact the Twins have zero financial commitments past next season. How do you talk a player into joining your team when you have nobody under contract in 2020?

[KirbyDome89]

 

Did the Twins make a mistake jumping the gun on the Schoop signing?

 

Ian Kinsler just signed with San Diego for 2 years $8M total. I don't expect either guy to get close to match their career best seasons in 2019.

 

Sure hope the Twins know what they are doing going forward.

 

What really scares me is that we will not be able to lure any good FA here. As well as the fact the Twins have zero financial commitments past next season. How do you talk a player into joining your team when you have nobody under contract in 2020?

Valid question. You'd have to think the Twins either really liked Schoop relative to what was out there, or they're more confident in Nick Gordon than some of us. It might be some combination of the two. I'm not sure I agree with either answer, but if it's neither of the two then yeah, it's a head scratcher, i.e. misreading the market a bit. 

 

As for luring FAs, it's simple; pay them. That's kind of tongue in cheek because we know the Twins don't spend $$ but I'm confident the whole "FA don't want to be in MN," narrative would disappear pretty quickly if the pocketbook actually opened up. 

[wsnydes]

At least Schoop has some long-term upside potential.  If he has a nice season, there is a possibility of an extension.  Kinsler's age works against him there.  I think Schoop has better odds at matching his career year based on age alone.

 

I think the Twins made the right choice.

[KGB]

With all the options, did they make the right choice will be an interesting question all year. They got the first choice of middle infielders,the result this year will be fun to watch.

[DrNeau]

Schoop. 

[darin617]

To be honest the best option would have been to sign a shortstop and slide Polanco over to 2b.

[jokin]

 

To be honest the best option would have been to sign a shortstop and slide Polanco over to 2b.

 

Yep. Jose Iglesias. (On 2 year or less deal).

 

I'm not sure what the Twins FO is thinking. I thought for sure it was obvious to everyone who watched the Twins in 2018, that they can't compete with Polanco at SS, (he's strictly a decent 2B with his + bat in the calculation) ... and that an upgrade @ SS should/would be an offseason priority.

[rv78]

If Schoop has a good season going he'll be worth more in trade value by the July deadline than Kinsler. If Schoop doesn't return to All-Star form he's only signed for 1 year and they let him walk. He's a stop gap signing until Lewis arrives either way. Then Polonco will slide over to 2B. It's not rocket science.

[Major League Ready]

 

Yep. Jose Iglesias. (On 2 year or less deal).

 

I'm not sure what the Twins FO is thinking. I thought for sure it was obvious to everyone who watched the Twins in 2018, that they can't compete with Polanco at SS, (he's strictly a decent 2B with his + bat in the calculation) ... and that an upgrade @ SS should/would be an offseason priority.

 

I was listening to the MLB network on satellite radio yesterday and they said Iglesias has the highest fielding percentage in the history of the game. I did not know that fun fact but like you I thought that was the best route.

 

Schoop does offer a really high ceiling. This has a bunch of high potential guys with high uncertainty so why not another one.  If he does bounce back, we have a slightly better shot at signing him next year, especially if he is good enough to extend a qualifying offer.

[old nurse]

Ian Kinsler has a past. The future is less than that, hence the contract. Stellar defense, declining bat. The proper question is does Schoop have a future? Is that future better than Polanco's?

 

Igleseas is a Borass client.  Igleseas will be over valued by his representation. A deal similar to Kinslers should have been done by now.  I would think it is more likely that Boras want a raise for his client and a 3-5 year deal,

[jorgenswest]

Schoop has 4 WAR upside with a replacement level floor. Kinsler and Iglesias are projected by steamer at 1.7 WAR. They are probably within .7 of that number. I would bet on the upside.

[Shaitan]

I wouldn't think of giving Kinsler a multi-year deal at this point in his career.

[Don Walcott]

I like the Schoop move. He has the potential to have a big bounce back year. And I don’t see this as betting on Gordon in 2020. I see it as betting on Royce Lewis.

[DrNeau]

 

To be honest the best option would have been to sign a shortstop and slide Polanco over to 2b.

 

Machado and Polanco up the middle? 

[darin617]

 

If Schoop has a good season going he'll be worth more in trade value by the July deadline than Kinsler. If Schoop doesn't return to All-Star form he's only signed for 1 year and they let him walk. He's a stop gap signing until Lewis arrives either way. Then Polonco will slide over to 2B. It's not rocket science.

 

You are banking on a high return from a trade? Gonna need to find a desperate team looking for help at 2B at the trade deadline.

 

They should have signed to shortstop.

[jorgenswest]

You are banking on a high return from a trade? Gonna need to find a desperate team looking for help at 2B at the trade deadline.

 

They should have signed to shortstop.

The Tigers had a shortstop they wanted to trade at the deadline and couldn’t find a deal worth taking.

[howieramone2]

 

To be honest the best option would have been to sign a shortstop and slide Polanco over to 2b.

Yes, why not block your best prospect for a couple of years. Look, when Lewis comes in 2020, Polanco will move to 2B or if push comes to shove 3B.

[Riverbrian]

Schoop without need for a second thought, 

[howieramone2]

 

Yep. Jose Iglesias. (On 2 year or less deal).

 

I'm not sure what the Twins FO is thinking. I thought for sure it was obvious to everyone who watched the Twins in 2018, that they can't compete with Polanco at SS, (he's strictly a decent 2B with his + bat in the calculation) ... and that an upgrade @ SS should/would be an offseason priority.

I watched the Twins all year and it wasn't obvious to me. Iglesias is solid, but not a difference maker and will sign for 2-3 years. They are not going to block Lewis.

[dbminn]

I'm not a big fan of high-K/low-OBP ballplayers. That said, Schoop's upside is really high. The only way the Twins are competitive this year is if most of their young players hit the "upside jackpot". Schoop adds one more number to the lotto ticket. I'm okay with it.

[Doomtints]

I was always more bullish on Kinsler than many other people are. Signed at the right time, Kinsler could have had as big of an impact on this team as Ervin Santana did.

 

However, that ship has sailed. Grab the younger/better guy.

[sweetmusicviola16]

It speaks volumes of where our team is when we are left to debate Schoop vs Kinsler. I for one want neither. We have Schoop now and good luck to him. But I'm not impressed. Take out his career 2017 season and you are left with a mediocre player who can hit a few HR's.

 

One call to Jerry Dipota early on in the off season would have solved a number of our holes. For not much we could have gotten Segura, Santana and Colome. We had the money but we are left with the normal low risk moves by Falvine

[Brandon]

Last seasons decline for Schoop was attributed to an oblique strain which can be painful.  He should have sent time on the DL.  For once we get to benefit because a team/ player was too stubborn to go on the DL. 

 

We are going to sign Cruz and have super powers....I mean a super powerful lineup for a change.

 

1B Cron  25-30 HR

2B Schoop 25-30 HR

SS Polanco 10-15 HR

3B Sano 35 HR

C Garver 10-15 HR /  Castro 10 HR

DH Cruz 35 HR or Austin 25-30 HR 

LF Rosario 25 HR

CF Buxton 15 HR

RF Kepler 20-25 HR or Cave 20-25 HR 

 

The Lineup should be close to 200 or more HRs in 2019 almost all solo shots but that's a lot of HRs for this team.  

[darin617]

 

Yes, why not block your best prospect for a couple of years. Look, when Lewis comes in 2020, Polanco will move to 2B or if push comes to shove 3B.

 

Are you really expecting Nick Gordon to pan out? Polanco or Iglesias could take over 2b IF Royce Lewis is ready in 2020.

 

Not to jinx him but what happened with our last "can't miss prospect" who was #1 prospect in all of baseball for 2 years?

[Pardon My Dinger]

Schoop is for sure a better signing than Kinsler.

 

Age alone would be one reason. Another entirely is that if you’re trying to cultivate young talent, Kinsler really doesn’t seem like a guy you want around. Remember his whole ‘playing the right way’ bit from the WBC a year or so ago? Fun does not seem like a priority for him.

 

Discounting that as a hot take, though, he will be 37 at some point next season. Call this an unfair generalization if you must, but old people are no good at everything.

[Doomtints]

Schoop is like Morrison in that he is being signed based on one good year.

 

It's doubtul Schoop is as bad as Morrison was. I'm OK with the signing and I think it will probably work out as well as signing a non-elite bat can.

[DocBauer]

Not hating on Kinsler, and would have been hopeful for a couple good years still left in the tank. But 10 years difference and Schoop being in consideration for a big bounce back year for trade or possible re-sign, Schoop all day long.

 

He had a poor 2018 due to an oblique injury suffered early in the season, but he is not a 1 year wonder. While the contact/OB is nothing to get excited about, check out his quad slash for 2015-2017:

 

.279 BA/ .314 OB/ .479 SLG/ .793 OPS

 

Sure, you can isolate his big breakout season of 2017, but you can do that with almost any player's best season. At least a young player. Remove 2017 and look at his quad slash from only 2015-2016:

 

.273 AVG/ .302 OB/ .468 SLG/ .770 OPS

 

Absolutely not a "1 year/career year" 2B. He doesn't block anyone. He could be traded mid season 2019 or even re-signed, allowing for other various moves.

[gunnarthor]

I don't really like either but I'd probably bet on Schoop for next year. That said, i wouldn't be too surprised if Kinsler has a bounce back season.

[twinsfansd]

 

It speaks volumes of where our team is when we are left to debate Schoop vs Kinsler. I for one want neither. We have Schoop now and good luck to him. But I'm not impressed. Take out his career 2017 season and you are left with a mediocre player who can hit a few HR's.

 

One call to Jerry Dipota early on in the off season would have solved a number of our holes. For not much we could have gotten Segura, Santana and Colome. We had the money but we are left with the normal low risk moves by Falvine

Not sure how they were getting both Segura and Santana since one was traded for the other. And Colome came at the expense of a top young catcher, hardly "not much".

[twinsfansd]

Iglesias is not going to go down in history as one of the top fielding shortstops ever. And his range started to slip last year already. And with the lack of much of any kind of offensive profile there is not much to gain from the defense. Detroit could not find a taker when they tried to trade him at last year's trade deadline.

To me it seems like the offensive combination of Polanco and Schoop is worth more even if they do let a few more runners on base. And the upside of Schoop makes it all the more enticing.