Cron vs. Austin

[mudcat14]

Don't see any way the Twins break camp with both of these guys on the roster.  Will it be a true competition in Ft. Meyers between these two for the 1B gig, or does Cron's salary commitment give him the spot?  At almost two years younger and with considerably less ML experience, I prefer Austin's upside.  I see nothing wrong with pitting these two against each other in Spring Training and seeing who emerges. 

[Mr. Brooks]

I'm not a fan of deciding roster spots based on practice games, against a mix of actual mlb/milb players, when guys are often working on specific things.

That's not to say nothing can be gleaned from ST, but I hope they have more analysis going into the roster decision than that.

[Twodogs]

I'm not a fan of deciding roster spots based on practice games, against a mix of actual mlb/milb players, when guys are often working on specific things.

That's not to say nothing can be gleaned from ST, but I hope they have more analysis going into the roster decision than that.

I agree, how many times have we seen a dude just completely light spring training on fire and then flatline during the season. About the only real thing you can guage is possibly work ethic, some guys may slack it a little in ST and some might work really hard. In that case you might be able to make some decisions. But not from performance in pretend games.

[RatherBeGolfing]

Cron is probably the "safer" pick between the two while Austin is the "upside" one. I put those in quotes because Cron really isn't thatttttt safe of a bet and Austin isn't really thatttttt high of an upside guy but that seems to be how they are being pitted against each other.

 

I think they pick Cron (I'd rather they go with Austin, personally) but you are right though in that it is really hard to see them be able to fit both onto the roster with our roster construction. 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

My guess is they’ll sneak (or try) Austin through waivers. Cron was a bargain, Cruz was a bargain. Austin can be replaced relatively cheaply

[rdehring]

Is there some way both make the opening day roster?

 

Two catchers and four outfielders would leave seven spots for infielders if they can go north with a 12 man pitching staff.  Cruz, Schoop, Polanco, Sano and Adrianza leaves two spots.  Not ideal to have 3 guys that pretty much play 1B or DH.  But could they do it for a few weeks or month until they can move either Cron or Austin for something of value?  Unfortunately, the other problem would be getting both of them at bats.

 

On the other hand, no need to make this decision until the last week of spring training.  Lots of times these type of problems sort themselves out.

[nicksaviking]

I think Austin's strikeout issues are going to be too much to overcome; I think the fans would grow frustrated in very short order. His 2016 MiLB numbers show that he could draw a lot of walks and get on base, but he hasn't been able to replicate that at any level since. Even more so than the power, I think that would be the only avenue for him to compensate for the strikeouts. Well aside from actually cutting down on the strikeouts.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Is there some way both make the opening day roster?

 

Two catchers and four outfielders would leave seven spots for infielders if they can go north with a 12 man pitching staff. Cruz, Schoop, Polanco, Sano and Adrianza leaves two spots. Not ideal to have 3 guys that pretty much play 1B or DH. But could they do it for a few weeks or month until they can move either Cron or Austin for something of value? Unfortunately, the other problem would be getting both of them at bats.

 

On the other hand, no need to make this decision until the last week of spring training. Lots of times these type of problems sort themselves out.

Sano is perfectly capable of DH 1b duties too. They won’t carry 3 primary DH/1B players. More likely if 12 pitchers break camp Big Toe is the extra infielder. He has options and can play SS.

 

More likely for Austin to break camp is if he can show ability to play outfield. He has history there. I believe Cave has an option, so CF depth can be with the team next day, and Kepler is a capable CF.

[mudcat14]

 

I'm not a fan of deciding roster spots based on practice games, against a mix of actual mlb/milb players, when guys are often working on specific things.
That's not to say nothing can be gleaned from ST, but I hope they have more analysis going into the roster decision than that.

 

I agree that in-game spring training results aren't true indicators of future performance.  I am more so interested in each guy's overall showing in Florida.  With zero specific information on either player's make-up or desire, I am assuming that Cron's 1,900 AB career is pretty indicative of what he can produce.  Hopefully Austin, at less than 400 AB's will show the willingness and ability to adjust his approach to correct his displayed weaknesses in pitch selection and plate coverage. 

 

As I mentioned previously, I prefer Austin's upside.  But I hope whoever claims the spot is not satisfied with what they've accomplished thus far, and aspires towards more.   

[Squirrel]

I think the decision has been made already between Cron and Austin. I think the decision now is between 12 or 13 pitchers and Austin or someone else.

[Mike Sixel]

I think the decision has been made already between Cron and Austin. I think the decision now is between 12 or 13 pitchers and Austin or someone else.

This

[sweetmusicviola16]

 

I think the decision has been made already between Cron and Austin. I think the decision now is between 12 or 13 pitchers and Austin or someone else.

If its 12 pitchers then there is one spot still open. That could be between Austin and Ronald Torreyes. Austin does have some COF in his back ground, so if he can build on that that does allow him to offer some versatility. A wild card is still Astudillo, but with his remaining option he is at a disadvantage. 

 

I hope they go with 12 pitchers myself.

 

Edit: I think Cron is already in too. He along with Cruz and Schoop represents too much of the FO's off season imo for them to cut him loose.

[ahart10]

I’ll take Moustakas over both please.

[Linus]

They definitely need to give Austin substantial time in the OF this spring. If he is competent out there it changes the parameters of this decision substantially

[jorgenswest]

They should battle it out in spring training.

 

However it would be very foolish to use stats from spring training to assess which player wins the battle. We rely on the skilled eyes of the staff to make that determination.

[Riverbrian]

Austin has to be able to play OF at a capable level. It's his only chance. 

 

And then Austin will need enough at-bats and defensive innings to decide his own fate through his own performance. It's his only chance. 

 

Otherwise... it's a case of sneaking him into AAA like Vargas last year. But once he's off the 40 man... getting back on the 40 man will be problematic for him. 

 

Keeping both Austin and Cron as 1B only players who would absolutely goofy roster management. 

 

I like Austin... He impressed me. Of course after watching Morrison all season... anybody else would have impressed me following that act. 

 

If I were to guess and I will... Austin will join the list of players who fade off into the baseball sunset, never getting a door opened for him.  

 

 

[Rosterman]

You keep both as long as you can and make the Austin cut on the final day of spring training and hope you can keep him for depth. Does he stay on the 40-man if he has to clear waivers. Of course, anytime he returns he has to be added, and if cut still again needs to go thru waivers.

 

Do you see either of them here in 2020...or better yet 2021?

[Richie the Rally Goat]

You keep both as long as you can and make the Austin cut on the final day of spring training and hope you can keep him for depth. Does he stay on the 40-man if he has to clear waivers. Of course, anytime he returns he has to be added, and if cut still again needs to go thru waivers.

 

Do you see either of them here in 2020...or better yet 2021?

Cron has one more Arbitration year, Austin hasn’t been through arb yet. So yeah, I do

[ashbury]

You keep both as long as you can and make the Austin cut on the final day of spring training and hope you can keep him for depth. Does he stay on the 40-man if he has to clear waivers. Of course, anytime he returns he has to be added, and if cut still again needs to go thru waivers.

Once waivers are obtained, aren't they good for the entire season?

[Jim Hahn]

We have had this debate before, but Austin has no real chance to make the roster unless there is an injury. Right now, Cron is better. Even as the 13th man, Austin makes little sense. Either Austudillo or Torreyes makes more sense. The lineup is already overloaded with low average, low ob, high strike out, right hand sluggers.

 

Austin makes sense as AAA insurance, so they will likely try to sneak him through waivers. I don't think either Cron or Austin are very likely long term answers, neither is very likely to provide the production you want at 1b. Rooker, Weil and possibly others look like they could provide similar, maybe better production fairly soon. They will be cheaper which seems to matter to this FO.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Once waivers are obtained, aren't they good for the entire season?

Yes (for the waiver period, rather than the season) -- but it resets once you actually outright them (remove them from the roster). If you add them back again and later want to remove them again, they have to go through waivers again too, even if you are still in the same waiver period.

 

I think waiver periods are about timing waiver requests for guys you anticipate outrighting in the future -- not a free pass to add and remove a guy from the roster a bunch of times.

[ChrisKnutson]

If Austin proves himself worthy, I wouldn’t be completely against moving Cron for an established bullpen arm.

[Mr. Brooks]

If Austin proves himself worthy, I wouldn’t be completely against moving Cron for an established bullpen arm.

Nobody was willing to trade anything for Cron 6 weeks ago when Tampa waived him for nothing.

[ChrisKnutson]

Nobody was willing to trade anything for Cron 6 weeks ago when Tampa waived him for nothing.

You’re probably right, but you never know. Plans change when someone gets hurt.

 

Besides, the only way I could see the FO even considering shopping Cron is if both Austin and Rooker really impress during camp.

[Riverbrian]

 

You’re probably right, but you never know. Plans change when someone gets hurt.

Besides, the only way I could see the FO even considering shopping Cron is if both Austin and Rooker really impress during camp.

 

The value of 30 home run plus 1B's decreases with every 20 home run plus 2B in the league. 

 

 

[rv78]

Does it really matter? The Yankees didn't want Austin and the Rays didn't want Cron. Looks to me like both of these guys are expendable and very likely easy to replace. The FO wanted Cron or they wouldn't have went after him when they already had Austin. That alone should tell you Austin is odd man out unless the plan is to use either one of them as a trade chip down the road. Of course there is always that thing called insurance too, in case someone gets hurt. I can envision Austin playing the outfield with the same capability of Sano or Robbie Grossman. Doubt that will happen with Cave, Granite and Wade as first choice backups. 

[Mike Sixel]

Does it really matter? The Yankees didn't want Austin and the Rays didn't want Cron. Looks to me like both of these guys are expendable and very likely easy to replace. The FO wanted Cron or they wouldn't have went after him when they already had Austin. That alone should tell you Austin is odd man out unless the plan is to use either one of them as a trade chip down the road. Of course there is always that thing called insurance too, in case someone gets hurt. I can envision Austin playing the outfield with the same capability of Sano or Robbie Grossman. Doubt that will happen with Cave, Granite and Wade as first choice backups.

The Yankees are loaded. They have a strategy of having stars in the majors, and young guys with high variance in the minors, that don't need to be on the forty man. Austin no longer fit their context. The twins have a different context. I don't get how people think so teams have the same depth and context.

[Doomtints]

I'll be the one to say that casting off Austin will prove to be the worse of the two options.

[rv78]

 

The Yankees are loaded. They have a strategy of having stars in the majors, and young guys with high variance in the minors, that don't need to be on the forty man. Austin no longer fit their context. The twins have a different context. I don't get how people think so teams have the same depth and context.

So, with that being said about the Yankees and their depth then finding a replacement for Austin if the Twins lose him shouldn't be that difficult. They can just pluck another guy from the Yankees if the need arises. Doesn't change anything.

[Mike Sixel]

So, with that being said about the Yankees and their depth then finding a replacement for Austin if the Twins lose him shouldn't be that difficult. They can just pluck another guy from the Yankees if the need arises. Doesn't change anything.

I have no idea how you get that from my post. They did not have space for this particular player, at that particular time. The Twins did. Nothing more or less.