Marwin Gonzalez and Twins Discussing Contract

[jorgenswest]

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.

After they sign Gonzalez they still need a SS on the bench. Shouldn’t the Twins be comparing his bat to the bats of Cave and Astudillo?

[wabene]

Adrianza is out of options. And the Twins already guaranteed him $1.3 mil. That’s not a big amount, but that expense isn’t going away.

This whole offseason continues to show a lack of a plan that the FO is willing to stick to. A handful of stopgap veteran bats. Where’s the upgrade to the pitching staff, especially the bullpen?

If you plan to contend, you needed to do more. If not, why Gonzalez?

If Gonzalez is signed, Adrianza would be DFA and likely traded. Unless, this could signal that the Twins are more concerned about Sano than they are letting on.

Sometimes plans don't work out especially when your missing the all important dance partner.

[wabene]

I don't get this. As I've written before, we had a cheaper, better version of this guy for the last several years in Eduardo Escobar. Why pay way more than he signed for to replace him? Don't know what kind of clubhouse influence Marwin is, but I KNOW that EE was beloved.

Well we flipped Eddie possibly hoping to sign him back. Didn't work now we have the booty from that deal and the bankers could be out more cash for Gonzales

[KirbyDome89]

 

Yes they made an offer.  And it looks like they are about ready to take it off the table.

Is it your feeling or is there something concrete to suggest that's the case?

[adorduan]

 

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.

Because steamer is always right......

[AlwaysinModeration]

Reading the article, I agree with Thrylos that the story here isn’t that they might sign him, but rather that they had made an offer some time in the undefined past (and based on their bad experience with Lynn and Logan as late signees) and won’t wait much longer.

 

Therefore, the real question, in my mind, is whether there are unreported offers on the table for Keuchel and/or Kimbrel, as well?

[Vanimal46]

After they sign Gonzalez they still need a SS on the bench. Shouldn’t the Twins be comparing his bat to the bats of Cave and Astudillo?

Compared to Cave I will bet on Gonzalez over him in 2019... Regression to the mean is a B!

[TheLeviathan]

 

After they sign Gonzalez they still need a SS on the bench. Shouldn’t the Twins be comparing his bat to the bats of Cave and Astudillo?

 

Exactly right.  Gonzalez also has steady splits from both the left and right side, which makes him valuable to this team in platoon possibilities.  I'm not sure what people think Cave brings to the table.  You can only platoon him with Buxton (which, if we're doing that, it's bad news), he has limited versatility, and the underlying numbers behind his production are not something I'd bank on.

 

Gonzalez is a pretty steady 700-750 OPS guy who switch hits and can play 4-5 spots.  Sounds like a valuable player to any roster.  Cave?  Sounds like good AAA insurance.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Because steamer is always right......

we all agree that it’s just a projection, but what are the odds of any player striking out 28% of the time, walking 6% and slugging .350 but OPS .800? Danny Santana?

[Otwins]

The twins signed Torreyes also when they signed Schoop. He is an excellent defensive shorstop. He is not much different from Adrianza and will only be a phone call away if you need a shorstop.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

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.

with Big Toe in AAA, all the utility guy needs to do is give Polanco a day off occasionally.

[bighat]

 

My thought on a Marwin sign is they must have a lot of doubt and uncertainty about Sano.

 

Yeah but they'll have to cut Adrianza to bring in Marwin - and if nothing happens to Sano, you've got a real expensive utility guy. That said, maybe that's just what the Twins need.

 

Don't forget Marwin can play outfield too. Maybe he's insurance against Sano/Buxton not working out....then again, if Sano/Buxton don't work out, the season would be in the crapper anyways...hmmmm.

 

Not sure about this deal. Not really gung ho, but not against it either.

[bighat]

For what it's worth, Marwin put up similar numbers to those that Niko Goodrum posted last season:

 

Goodrum: 131 games, 16 HR, 53 RBI, .245

Gonzalez: 145 games, 16 HR, 68 RBI, .247

 

Goodrum's younger by 3+ years. Looks like another oopsie by the Twins in regards to talent evaluation yet again. Disappointing to see a guy we could have kept on the cheap get away, and a year later the Twins are fighting to pay a clone 10x as much money for the same job.

[Doomtints]

Gonzales is like Schoop: was pretty darn good two years ago but is probably middle of the road now.

 

Anyway, it looks like every team in the AL Central is pursuing him. If I were him I would probably lean toward Cleveland (potential to win) or Chicago (one of the few cities in the US that isn't just chain restaurants and shopping centers).

[Vanimal46]

Wow this is really starting to gain traction... Look at what's outside Hammond Field waiting for Marwin!

[amjgt]

You'll never hear me complain about the Twins spending money, but this strikes me as a strange use of resources. 

 

I wouldn't be surprised if this ends the CJ Cron era before it ever really started. We can cut him a check for right around $1M (saving $3M) and send him on his way. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

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.

Agreed.

 

Signing Gonzalez will improve our chances of hitting our 82 win projection. But it will do relatively little to improve our chances of hitting 90 wins.

 

Gonzalez looks like a ~2 WAR player. And on this club, it seems like he'd mostly either fill in for, or take time away from, other ~2 WAR players. (Edit to add: that can be useful and have value -- but it's not something I'm really excited about investing in longer term.)

[dougd]

Career numbers at SS from Total Zone Fielding Runs Above Average per 1200 innings (Baseball Ref):

Adrianza  -9

Polanco   -12

Gonzalez  -1

[PseudoSABR]

[RaymondLuxuryYacht]

Heyman says done deal

[SF Twins Fan]

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

Passan says 2 year, $21 mil on Twitter.

 

[SF Twins Fan]

 

[Vanimal46]

Awesome! Welcome aboard.

[USAFChief]

Shoring up the bottom of the roster again, vs the top.

 

Odd way of doing business.

[GP830]

I'm jacked about this. I wonder if he'll replace Adrianza, or he'll push Sano to 1st, and take over 3rd. 

 

[SF Twins Fan]

 

I'm jacked about this. I wonder if he'll replace Adrianza, or he'll push Sano to 1st, and take over 3rd. 

 

Also could make Cave expendable since he could easily play both corner spots and Rosario and Kepler can both play center.

[raindog]

Kind of like the idea of pushing Sano to first and using Marwin at 3rd.

 

Wasn't enthused about him yesterday, but I'm very ok with a 2 year deal. 

[twinsfanstreif]

My first thought with this signing is they really don't believe in Nick Gordon

[dbminn]

This definitely makes the roster decisions more interesting.