Marwin Gonzalez and Twins Discussing Contract

[nicksaviking]

 

If the price has dropped from the original ask. I have a hard time believing that the Twins are the only ones involved. 

 

The Twins (all teams) should try to sign players like this... And if they can't sign them... they should be trying to create their own. 

 

That's OK too, because now that this leaked, the team can't hide behind the idea that they don't have money to spend. If they don't get Gonzalez, get Kimbrel.

 

It's reasons like this that probably causes the Twins to have everything all buttoned up. This leak probably came from Gonzalez's side trying to drum up interest.

[Riverbrian]

That's OK too, because now that this leaked, the team can't hide behind the idea that they don't have money to spend. If they don't get Gonzalez, get Kimbrel.

 

It's reasons like this that probably causes the Twins to have everything all buttoned up. This leak probably came from Gonzalez's side trying to drum up interest.

Agreed.

 

I see no benefit for the Twins to leak the info.

[TheLeviathan]

Hell yeah.  Sign him and we have a guy that we can play in the OF against lefties, Sano/Schoop insurance, and maybe a reason to cut Cron.

 

Adding talented players with versatility is always a good idea.

[USAFChief]

Falvine: "Desparate yet?"

 

Gonzalez: "No."

 

MLBTradeRumors: "Gonzalez and Twins discuss contract."

[sweetmusicviola16]

 

That's OK too, because now that this leaked, the team can't hide behind the idea that they don't have money to spend. If they don't get Gonzalez, get Kimbrel.

 

It's reasons like this that probably causes the Twins to have everything all buttoned up. This leak probably came from Gonzalez's side trying to drum up interest.

I have wanted Kimbrel all winter. If we did pursue him I'd like it in the very few next days. It wasn't fun watching Lynn last season after he had missed a bunch of ST. And Holland was awful in St.Louis w/o ST. Games begin Saturday. tbh if we don't sign him by the end of the weekend I don't want him. ST is too important to miss substantial amount of it.

[markos]

This kind of move (adding an average starter on a multi-year deal to be an super-utility player with no clear path the regular playing time) makes it seem like the front office is doing everything they can to ensure that the team's win total is in the 80s - no more, no less, just somewhere in the 80s.

[Doomtints]

 

*Deleted the other thread, though Van you owe me a Coke now. I think that's how this works

 

Here's a link to Dan's article over at The Athletic (if you don't subscribe, you should think about it). I think Marwin would push Adrianza off the 25-man roster, yes, but I'd also take him over Jonathan Schoop as an everyday second baseman. Since Marwin is so flexible it wouldn't have to come down to that, but I have a hard time putting Schoop in the lineup and Marwin on the bench other than for rest.

 

Don't be so sure about it pushing out Adrianza, but it most certainly means we will never see The Turtle playing for the Twins after spring training.

[m12589]

Here is an excerpt from the live chat from mlbtraderumors today:

 

 

TwinsFan
3:50
How serious do you think the Twins are about Marwin? I sort of think pitching would be more important, or are they at a point of just letting the staff they have battle it out to help determine what kind of future those guys really have?

Jeffrey Todd
3:51
Pitching additions only make sense if they make a big improvement. They already signed Martin Perez, for whatever reason, and have enough passable arms.
I actually think Marwin is a great fit. Good complimentary piece at every infield position and offers protection if there's an injury or someone falls apart.
3:52
With a few guys slated for FA, Sano perhaps sliding to DH when Cruz leaves, uncertainty of timeline for top prospects ... he also makes sense for the next couple seasons.

 

I tend to agree with him.  Signing Marwin might have more impact the next few years than this year, but we clearly have the room this year for his salary.  With so many potential holes in the lineup starting next year, a little protection would be a good thing.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

Don't be so sure about it pushing out Adrianza, but it most certainly means we will never see The Turtle playing for the Twins after spring training.

Astudillo is a lock to make the team.

[TheLeviathan]

 

Astudillo is a lock to make the team.

 

He might take Jake Cave's spot.  Gonzalez can play the corners, both corner guys we have can play CF in a pinch, and that would allow us to keep Adrianza and Austidillo.

 

A Gonzalez-Austidillo-Adrianza-Garver bench is about as versatile as any team in baseball.  You have multiple players deep at SS, C, 1B, 2B, 3B, LF, and RF.  

[Doomtints]

 

Astudillo is a lock to make the team.

 

This is an interesting take since every signing the Twins have made this offseason has taken a chunk out of where he can play.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

This is an interesting take since every signing the Twins have made this offseason has taken a chunk out of where he can play.

Astudillo holds the stronger hand because he can catch, and very well.

[Otto von Ballpark]

This is an interesting take since every signing the Twins have made this offseason has taken a chunk out of where he can play.

Including the Blake Parker signing!

[darin617]

If this happens it make the Schoop signing look really bad. A waste of what $7M for him and also hoping he rebounds.

[howieramone2]

 

If this happens it make the Schoop signing look really bad. A waste of what $7M for him and also hoping he rebounds.

There is more than enough room for both. His rebounding is practically a sure thing. 

[rv78]

The Twins have looked into signing a lot of players. Doesn't mean it will happen. Machado and Harper aren't here either.

[TheLeviathan]

Can't see it. Cave was our second best OF last season, really the best when Rosario went into his slump. I know he strikes out a lot but a guy with a .797 OPS, 113 OPS+ is going to make the team if he doesn't fall flat on his face. He'll get chance to improve his walks and cut down on his SOs because he's an .800 plus OPS guy if he can do those things. He may regress but he'll get a chance to show if last year was a fluke - and he should get that chance. He earned it on the field.

 

If we get Gonzalez (I hope we do), he replaces Adrianza.  Astudillo or Austin make the team when we carry 12 pitchers at the start and go down to AAA if/when we go to 13. Chances are there will be an injury in there that will help make the decision.

 

Jake Cave isn't a good fit for this team already IMO. You might be right, but I like my bench better.

[h2oface]

Good teams sign players to improve the team and then deal with what is not as good and move the player. Who cares how? Not me. Mediocre teams say.... we already have so-and-so, so why get someone else to fill the same roll. 

 

I really hope this goes through, but the cynic in me thinks that Gonzalez is waiting for the best deal and at the last minute is going to ask the Astros (or they have already told him to just tell them) and he will be back with a team that loved him and can win the World Series again.

[Riverbrian]

This kind of move (adding an average starter on a multi-year deal to be an super-utility player with no clear path the regular playing time) makes it seem like the front office is doing everything they can to ensure that the team's win total is in the 80s - no more, no less, just somewhere in the 80s.

If any player doesn’t have a clear path to a starting job. That would a fundamental organizational flaw.

 

If he can’t win a job because the players in front of him are better. Good for us.

[jorgenswest]

I would be concerned about year 3 with a bat that declines to below league average, a glove that fits best on a corner and a salary too high to let go.

 

The Twins need to find or develop the next Escobar or Gonzalez. The current Gonzalez is a risky three year commitment. I am all for risks for players that enter their 30s well above league average. They have space to decline.

[Vanimal46]

I would be concerned about year 3 with a bat that declines to below league average, a glove that fits best on a corner and a salary too high to let go.

 

The Twins need to find or develop the next Escobar or Gonzalez. The current Gonzalez is a risky three year commitment. I am all for risks for players that enter their 30s well above league average. They have space to decline.

If there's one thing this regime knows well, it's dumping players on expiring contracts...

 

This signing won't hinder the Twins' ultimate plans of developing their own Gonzalez. For the time being it takes pressure off of throwing someone in that spot and can't contribute right away.

[Danchat]

 

If this happens it make the Schoop signing look really bad. A waste of what $7M for him and also hoping he rebounds.

First off, the Twins have plenty of money to spend, so dropping $7M on Schoop even if Gonzalez takes his job isn't so bad, now you have a pretty good bench bat. Second off, all indications are that Schoop is going to be the starting 2B, but it's only a one year deal, so Gonzalez would provide depth in the 2020-2021 seasons. They won't be losing a lot pushing Adrianza off the roster.

[sweetmusicviola16]

 

Astudillo is a lock to make the team.

Willians has  got my vote for the team!

[70charger]

 

I would be concerned about year 3 with a bat that declines to below league average, a glove that fits best on a corner and a salary too high to let go.

The Twins need to find or develop the next Escobar or Gonzalez. The current Gonzalez is a risky three year commitment. I am all for risks for players that enter their 30s well above league average. They have space to decline.

 

I wanted Escobar on a 3 year extension. I think Gonzalez, assuming it's around 3/30, which is what I assumed Escobar would be, will be a more than adequate replacement. I don't know how I could consistently argue against this.

 

I would also throw in that he's not just a 2B/3B kind of a guy. You probably don't want him at SS much, just like Escobar, but you can easily throw him there and also the outfield. He's a little bit younger, he plays more positions, he has a higher career OPS. 

 

I don't know what's not to like here if you wanted an Escobar extension. Except maybe if you hung out at Fogo.

[Linus]

What a bizarre way to construct a team. Wait around and see what bargains fall in your lap regardless of need. Spend the money on a reliever!

[jorgenswest]

If there's one thing this regime knows well, it's dumping players on expiring contracts...

 

This signing won't hinder the Twins' ultimate plans of developing their own Gonzalez. For the time being it takes pressure off of throwing someone in that spot and can't contribute right away.

Is Gonzalez still close to a passable SS? I am not so sure.

 

If not he isn’t taking Adrianza’s spot. He is competing for time with Cave and Astudullo as well as Austin if he can play RF. I am not confident he is a clear upgrade this year in that bench role. His 2017 was awesome but out of line with the rest of his career.

 

One year. I am in.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Can't see it. Cave was our second best OF last season, really the best when Rosario went into his slump. I know he strikes out a lot but a guy with a .797 OPS, 113 OPS+ is going to make the team if he doesn't fall flat on his face. He'll get chance to improve his walks and cut down on his SOs because he's an .800 plus OPS guy if he can do those things. He may regress but he'll get a chance to show if last year was a fluke - and he should get that chance. He earned it on the field.

 

If we get Gonzalez (I hope we do), he replaces Adrianza. Astudillo or Austin make the team when we carry 12 pitchers at the start and go down to AAA if/when we go to 13. Chances are there will be an injury in there that will help make the decision.

Cave made Rosario look as patient as Mauer . He struck out 33% of the time. He could cut his strikeouts down 30% and still be a concern for me. He doesn’t slug or walk near enough to manage a 25% k rate, let alone 33%.

 

Steamer projects both his Ks and his BBs to improve and still OPS .700... and he’s a lefty... nah.

 

He was lightning in a bottle last year, nothing wrong with that.

[Vanimal46]

Is Gonzalez still close to a passable SS? I am not so sure.

 

If not he isn’t taking Adrianza’s spot. He is competing for time with Cave and Astudullo as well as Austin if he can play RF. I am not confident he is a clear upgrade this year in that bench role. His 2017 was awesome but out of line with the rest of his career.

 

One year. I am in.

Probably not passable for a SS unless it's a game or two. He's passable at the corner spots IF/OF and 2B. Polanco was just signed long term... Gordon/Lewis in the wings yadda yadda. The need at SS is not why you sign Gonzalez.

 

You sign Marwin Gonzalez for flexibility at the positions mentioned above, and a 5 year track record of a league average bat. I know Adrianza is not a league average bat, and not particularly close to becoming one.

[yarnivek1972]

Biggest risk with Gonzalez signing and letting Adrianza go would be a Polanco injury. Sano and Gonzalez on the left side harken back to the days of Batista and Castro.

[darin617]

 

First off, the Twins have plenty of money to spend, so dropping $7M on Schoop even if Gonzalez takes his job isn't so bad, now you have a pretty good bench bat. Second off, all indications are that Schoop is going to be the starting 2B, but it's only a one year deal, so Gonzalez would provide depth in the 2020-2021 seasons. They won't be losing a lot pushing Adrianza off the roster.

I know money should not even be an issue with the low payroll they have. They have what $12M between Schoop & Martin Perez. They have better pitchers than Perez already and could have easily got Gonzalez for that $12M earlier this winter.