Former Rangers and Indians are a funny thing ... until they're not (Mike Olt)

[jud6312]

Myself and several other like to joke about Falvey and Levine having stronger interest in FAs that have at some point had Cleveland and Arlington mailing addresses, but (if true) this takes the cake as the most ridiculous.

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/01/twins-sign-mike-olt.html

 

Mike Olt, of the Had a .758 OPS in AAA Last Year Olts, has apparently signed a minor league contract with the team.

 

I understand minor league depth signings, but the guy hasn't sniffed the bigs since '15, and his 3 MiLB seasons since then haven't been remotely good. 

 

There has to be better depth out there, isn't there?

 

The boys know there's, like, a bunch of other teams, right?

 

On the bright side, the same Baseball Prospectus 2012 Top 101 Prospects for 2012 that ranked Robert Grossman at #76, had Olt at #45.

[nicksaviking]

I don't think the Twins have much for 1B/3B depth in the upper minors. Vargas was finally set free and Austin is out of options. Tyler Motter, Brock Stassi, Gregorio Petit , Jordan Pacheco, Jermaine Curtis and Chris Carter were let go last year. Those spots are pretty bleak in Rochester currently.

 

If I thought this would in any way lead to a shot at making the 25-man or block Brent Rooker, I'd be fairly upset, but I don't think it will, they just need some bodies for the corner bases.

 

 

[Thrylos]

Jermaine Curtis and Taylor Featherstone replacement

Not.A.Big.Deal...

[jud6312]

I'm not worried he's going to block anyone, but there has to be a better body out there than a 30-year-old that hasn't really hit since 2012.

 

Somehow, they managed to find a guy worse than any of those listed above.

 

 

[Splash45]

I'm not worried he's going to block anyone, but there has to be a better body out there than a 30-year-old that hasn't really hit since 2012.

 

Somehow, they managed to find a guy worse than any of those listed above.

The dude has had a OPS above .750 for the past 3 years in the minors so it’s not like he’s useless with the bat. For someone who’s only gonna play if we have like 5 infielders get injured he’s perfectly fine.

[Twodogs]

Yeah I see what you're talking about, I mean if you are just getting some fodder to fill spots couldn't they find a dude that's crappy and only 24?? I mean at least then there might be some sort of hope?

[Jacks02]

Perhaps Olt is a really good teammate and thought of as a good mentor for younger players?

[ahart10]

Organizational filler

[notoriousgod71]

I haven't been this pumped since the Twins signed Sean Burroughs.

[Old Twins Cap]

I don't know, guys like Olt turn things around once every 100 attempts?

 

We got lottery tickets this year, lots of them.

 

And Rochester needs a decent 3b.

 

Why even worry?

[PseudoSABR]

Minor league deal; wrong forum!

[ashbury]

wrong forum!

Fixed.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I think he has a career year and we trade him at the deadline for prospects.

[TFRazor]

 

Myself and several other like to joke about Falvey and Levine having stronger interest in FAs that have at some point had Cleveland and Arlington mailing addresses, but (if true) this takes the cake as the most ridiculous.

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/01/twins-sign-mike-olt.html

 

Mike Olt, of the Had a .758 OPS in AAA Last Year Olts, has apparently signed a minor league contract with the team.

 

I understand minor league depth signings, but the guy hasn't sniffed the bigs since '15, and his 3 MiLB seasons since then haven't been remotely good. 

 

There has to be better depth out there, isn't there?

 

The boys know there's, like, a bunch of other teams, right?

 

On the bright side, the same Baseball Prospectus 2012 Top 101 Prospects for 2012 that ranked Robert Grossman at #76, had Olt at #45.

Grossman was exactly this kind of signing and while he wasn't a game changer while he was here, I do believe he was serviceable and provided at least decent value for the cost. Olt didn't even receive an invite to ST I believe. Every team makes multiple moves like this every offseason.

[jud6312]

 

Grossman was exactly this kind of signing and while he wasn't a game changer while he was here, I do believe he was serviceable and provided at least decent value for the cost. Olt didn't even receive an invite to ST I believe. Every team makes multiple moves like this every offseason.

 

I'm not saying they don't. The point is it's yet another former Ranger that they're claiming off the bottom of the scrap heap. There have to be younger, better options out there, they just aren't known commodities by the front office.

[Thrylos]

 

 

There have to be younger, better options out there, they just aren't known commodities by the front office.

 

Please name one  

[ashbury]

There have to be younger, better options out there

There aren't. If there were, their teams wouldn't have let them go. Young talent is the coin of the realm.

[TFRazor]

 

I'm not saying they don't. The point is it's yet another former Ranger that they're claiming off the bottom of the scrap heap. There have to be younger, better options out there, they just aren't known commodities by the front office.

 

Do you know how many players at Rochester had a .750 or higher OPS? 10. Four of those (Polanco, Kerrigan, Sano, Grossman) played 4 games or fewer. Six of the ten (Polanco, Sano, Grossman, Austin, Astudillo, Cave) finished the year on the big club. Buxton was another of the ten and he should've been up. Only player left is catcher Wynston Sawyer. Kerrigan and Sawyer are the only two still officially in Triple A which means Olt slides right in as the 3rd best hitter on the team. This signing improves the gameday roster, doesn't block anyone lower in the system(Rooker possibly?) and doesn't take up a 40 spot. If you want to be upset at a roster move that's fine, just maybe find one that will have more of an impact than this one.

 

*EDIT* Jimmy Kerrigan is actually on the Wahoos now so that makes Olt the 2nd best hitter on the team as it is currently constructed.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

heck, Plouffe would be a better option.

[TFRazor]

 

heck, Plouffe would be a better option.

please tell me this is sarcasm

[ashbury]

heck, Plouffe would be a better option.

Doesn't tick the "younger" checkbox, though.

[TFRazor]

 

Doesn't tick the "younger" checkbox, though.

Or better

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

*EDIT* Jimmy Kerrigan is actually on the Wahoos now so that makes Olt the 2nd best hitter on the team as it is currently constructed.

And people complain the Twins don't have a deep farm system!

 

*just trying to have fun with this

[TFRazor]

 

And people complain the Twins don't have a deep farm system!

*just trying to have fun with this

I have to be honest, when I looked up the Triple A stats for last year and I saw "Jimmy Kerrigan: 1.062 OPS" my initial reaction was 'Who?'. Reading up, he actually had a pretty impressive year.

[jud6312]

 

Please name one

 

Derrik Gibson. although he split time between 3B and 2B last year.

 

Until somewhat recently Seth Mejias-Brean was out there, as was Jefry Marte, and Cody Asche.

[PseudoSABR]

 

That's your concern here? OK then.

Sarcasm.

[jud6312]

 

Or better

Actually, if you check the numbers from last year, Plouffe played better than Olt - slightly higher OPS, OBP, BA, more HRs, RBI, walks, fewer Ks. And they played almost the same amount.

 

He is, however, 2 years older than Olt.

 

At this point, Olt is probably a slightly younger Plouffe, without any sort of MLB track record.

 

 

[bird]

Looking forward to a three page Olt versus Plouffe debate.

[TFRazor]

 

Derrik Gibson. although he split time between 3B and 2B last year.

 

Until somewhat recently Seth Mejias-Brean was out there, as was Jefry Marte, and Cody Asche.

 

Olt, Age 29 season: 787 OPS in 71 games, Eastern League

 

Derrik Gibson, Age 29 season: 867 OPS in 34 games, PCL (hitter friendly, sss)

 

Mejias-Brean, Age 27 season: 736 OPS in 96 games, PCL (hitter friendly, sss)

 

Marte, Age 27 season: 644 OPS in 90 games, MLB

 

Asche, Age 28 season: 750 OPS in 89 games, PCL (hitter friendly, sss: career 668 OPS in MLB, 5 seasons)

 

None of who you suggested is really that much younger, or better for that matter. 

 

Actually, if you check the numbers from last year, Plouffe played better than Olt - slightly higher OPS, OBP, BA, more HRs, RBI, walks, fewer Ks. And they played almost the same amount.

 

He is, however, 2 years older than Olt.

 

At this point, Olt is probably a slightly younger Plouffe, without any sort of MLB track record.

 

So then Falvine actually did what you wanted. Instead of signing plouffe to a minors deal they signed the "younger" player. I will also point out that Olt hasn't been a part of the Rangers org since 2013. Not like they're signing him straight off the field from Round Rock... which coincidentally is where Plouffe finished out his season.

 

Again, this is a completely organizational filler signing of a guy who just so happened to play for Texas at one point in his career. There's not a massive Indians-Rangers roster move conspiracy here.

[jud6312]

 

Olt, Age 29 season: 787 OPS in 71 games, Eastern League

 

Derrik Gibson, Age 29 season: 867 OPS in 34 games, PCL (hitter friendly, sss)

 

Mejias-Brean, Age 27 season: 736 OPS in 96 games, PCL (hitter friendly, sss)

 

Marte, Age 27 season: 644 OPS in 90 games, MLB

 

Asche, Age 28 season: 750 OPS in 89 games, PCL (hitter friendly, sss: career 668 OPS in MLB, 5 seasons)

 

None of who you suggested is really that much younger, or better for that matter. 

 

 

So then Falvine actually did what you wanted. Instead of signing plouffe to a minors deal they signed the "younger" player. I will also point out that Olt hasn't been a part of the Rangers org since 2013. Not like they're signing him straight off the field from Round Rock... which coincidentally is where Plouffe finished out his season.

 

Again, this is a completely organizational filler signing of a guy who just so happened to play for Texas at one point in his career. There's not a massive Indians-Rangers roster move conspiracy here.

 

I wasn't the one that suggested they sign Plouffe - I simply compared the two players. 

 

Conspiracy also twists what I said a bit ... I was just pointing out the fact that this front office tends to bring in a lot of guys, or show interest in a lot of guys, that were part of their old organizations. 

 

Nothing more, nothing less.