Front Page: Josh Donaldson Is a Rumored Twins Target, but Should Mike Moustakas Be Considered Instead?

[mikelink45]

 

Well, Castro is not on the roster for one thing..... And astudillo is not really a catcher

Jeffers is, Sano is still at 3B, and Astudillo can still be the third choice at both positions.  If we wanted Castro we could have made an effort to resign him ( I would have),  but these positions are not where I want the big signing.

[nicksaviking]

Jeffers is, Sano is still at 3B, and Astudillo can still be the third choice at both positions.  If we wanted Castro we could have made an effort to resign him ( I would have),  but these positions are not where I want the big signing.

Well there’s really only three maybe four pitchers that could be considered a big signing and there are 30 teams. I’m guessing just about everyone here would like the team to get one, but should they come up empty, isn’t it better to upgrade the offense than nothing at all?

 

And really, it’s not an either/or scenario. They can comfortably do both.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

I'm not convinced there's a big gap between them if the price is double. And yes, they have a budget. If they save $12 million on Moose vs. Donaldson, it's safe to assume at least some of that will be spent elsewhere.

To be fair, payroll for last year was not low. They spent cash and were smart about it. I would hope that this new FO is willing to make the investments given they won 101 games last year...

 

3B isn't my first choice, but if they take one of these and move Sano to first (cutting Cron), that isn't the worst choice, and it's not that much more... so if they still get that pitching they need, it's a win. 

[mikelink45]

 

Well there’s really only three maybe four pitchers that could be considered a big signing and there are 30 teams. I’m guessing just about everyone here would like the team to get one, but should they come up empty, isn’t it better to upgrade the offense than nothing at all?

And really, it’s not an either/or scenario. They can comfortably do both.

I suspect that there are many ways to add to the staff besides the big six FA

[mikelink45]

 

Getting better is ok and so is infield defense. Infield defense even helps the pitching.

If I am not mistaken, SS is where you improve the infield, not 3B.

[Mike Sixel]

I suspect that there are many ways to add to the staff besides the big six FA

Then they'd have plenty of money to sign a third baseman if they want..... Which was the point. Either they don't big on pitching, it they can spend elsewhere. And next year's free agent pitching class is meh.

[strumdatjaguar]

Home town fans have had a big problem with Moustakas wherever he goes. Even when he hits a homer, the home town fans always boo him. Don’t understand why Mike doesn’t get more love from his own fans. Maybe a red flag?

[jorgenswest]

I can't believe I'm typing this....

But if you sign moose and Cron.... Would you trade Sano for a stud pitcher, or two close pitchers? Or a good pitcher and a minor league player?

Sano might cost more than Moose in two years.....

I don’t need a qualifier to trade Sano for a stud pitcher or two close pitchers. Trade him and play Gonzalez or Adrianza there if you must. Get that pitching.

 

I don’t think Sano can bring that stud pitcher though. I like the research baseball trade values has done to calculate their value. In Sano’s case the Twin pitcher nearest and just above him is Tyler Duffey. Sano has much more adjusted field value but his projected salary and one less year of service time significantly reduces his trade value. Rosario is similar.

 

The Twins shouldn’t hesitate at good pitching for Sano. Someone would offer more than a Duffey but they really need a lot more or they are better keeping him for this two year window.

[Shaitan]

I'm fine with moving Sano to 1B if there's an elite replacement, but it has to be an ARod to 3B from SS situation, not a marginal upgrade.

 

He's young and still might improve to league average -- if he does, he's far more valuable at 3B. If he doesn't improve on defense, the issue forces itself in 2021-2022. Then Lewis and others are pushing at his spot in the lineup anyway.

[RedBull34]

 

Trades not free agent pitchers:

Polanco belongs at 2nd making Arraez the odd man out as trade bait. Package Arraez, (he's not Carew yet) Rooker, Duran, and Gordan for Trevor Story and Jon Gray. Trade Kepler to the Rays for Glasnow (ace in waiting) and the Rays top pitching prospect. The Rays need offense and Kepler is cheap for the low budget Rays. Move Rosario to right and sign Alex Gordan for left on a 1 year deal until Kirilloff or Larnach force him out of the starting lineup as a late inning defensive replacement. Sign Moustakis for third and move Sano to first. Now the Twins will have the cash to sign their core players including Story and Gray to long term deals that are a lot less expensive than paying 20-25 million per year for pitching.

1.Berrios

2.Glasnow

3.Gray

4.Odorizzi

5.Grateral

lf-Gordan

cf-Buxton

rf-Rosario

3b-Moustakis

ss-Story

2b-Polanco

1b-Sano

c-Garver

dh-Cruz

I don't understand why the Rox would trade Gray and Story for such a light return.  I'm not sure that trade gets Story by himself.

 

Nor would the Rays trade Glasnow+ for Kepler...

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Home town fans have had a big problem with Moustakas wherever he goes. Even when he hits a homer, the home town fans always boo him. Don’t understand why Mike doesn’t get more love from his own fans. Maybe a red flag?

 

I think they're saying Moose... not booing... 

[Sam Morley]

Mike Moustakas is the purest Brewer since Jeremy Burnitz. I don't know how that fan base will cope if he doesn't resign in Wisconsin.

[mikelink45]

 

Home town fans have had a big problem with Moustakas wherever he goes. Even when he hits a homer, the home town fans always boo him. Don’t understand why Mike doesn’t get more love from his own fans. Maybe a red flag?

Moo - not Boo

 

[strumdatjaguar]

Moo - not Boo

Sorry for trolling. I couldn’t resist and knew I’d get a few bites. Ultimately, Sano will Work his way to 1B and then DH. So, picking up a better defensive 3B is a good idea. I’d prefer Donaldson.

[Five minute major]

Moose and pitching please.  

[IndianaTwin]

Considering all factors, to me the decision is easy. Moose. With all due respect to Donaldson, every projection has him at twice the $ as Moustakas. Living in Royals country here in Omaha, I'm pretty familiar with him and his career. While not elite defensively, he's turned himself in to a decent/quality 3B with a consistent stick. I have been honestly and shockingly surprised how he has bounced around considering how solid a player he is and his consistent production.

 

“...he’s turned himself in to a decent/quality 3B...”

 

So if the 30-year-old has improved himself to 0 DRS, why would we assume the 26-year-old at -5 can’t get there?

 

[cardsfan]

Josh Donaldson 1 year is ok. Moose is like hit Homeruns with low OBP. Donaldson's calves will always be a problem for a team

[Monkeypaws]

Frankly I'd just roll with Cron and Sano: younger, cheaper, and they both performed well when healthy last season.

 

Put the money into pitching.

 

If they don't think Cron's thumb will be the same, then I'd pursue Kendrick.

[darin617]

Donaldson will be at least getting a 3 year deal minimum.  Get Moose.

[DocBauer]

“...he’s turned himself in to a decent/quality 3B...”So if the 30-year-old has improved himself to 0 DRS, why would we assume the 26-year-old at -5 can’t get there?

And I keep preaching the same thing. Absolutely no reason to move Sano off of 3B at this time.

[IndianaTwin]

Moustakas to the Reds. 

[Mike Sixel]

 

Moustakas to the Reds. 

 

I am going to assume that means the Reds aren't selling......so cross off some possible trade targets....

[nicksaviking]

 

I am going to assume that means the Reds aren't selling......so cross off some possible trade targets....

 

Well depending on whether they play Moose at 2B or 3B, Joe Morgan or Tony Perez may be available.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Well depending on whether they play Moose at 2B or 3B, Joe Morgan or Tony Perez may be available.

 

I hear Morgan isn't open to the new stathead thing, so maybe not him.....

[sweetmusicviola16]

4/64 I'm glad its not the Twins. Moose is a nice player but he's not a game changer.  I'd like someone extraordinary, lets sign Gerrit Cole.

[Vanimal46]

Out of all the contracts signed so far, which admittedly is not a huge sample, people have said “Glad the Twins didn’t make that offer!”

 

People realize cheap contracts can also be bad contracts, right?

[nicksaviking]

So far most of the players seem to be getting "overpaid". I'm very surprised by all of this, I wonder if there's some behind the scenes stuff going on with ownership in an effort to put up a good front for the upcoming CBA. After watching the past two years, most of these signings are very uncharacteristic.

 

Also, I wonder if Odorizzi is having second thoughts about taking that QO right about now.

[sweetmusicviola16]

 

So far most of the players seem to be getting "overpaid". I'm very surprised by all of this, I wonder if there's some behind the scenes stuff going on with ownership in an effort to put up a good front for the upcoming CBA. After watching the past two years, most of these signings are very uncharacteristic.

 

Also, I wonder if Odorizzi is having second thoughts about taking that QO right about now.

Seems like Jake should have been able to do 4/64, or more.

 

I'm hoping that these signings work to the Twins advantage. We still have our budget and some have used up a good chunk of theirs and the difference makers are still on the board.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Out of all the contracts signed so far, which admittedly is not a huge sample, people have said “Glad the Twins didn’t make that offer!”

People realize cheap contracts can also be bad contracts, right?

 

Nothing worse than signing bad players, and then playing them at least half a year......

[Vanimal46]

Nothing worse than signing bad players, and then playing them at least half a year......

Agreed. That’s even more crippling to a lower revenue team than paying someone like Moose $2-3 million more AAV than his perceived value.