Three Strikes: Why Eddie Rosario Should Leave

[nicksaviking]

 

Perhaps, but they also have a lower floor.  More importantly, they are much less likely to provide a middle of the order offensive presence in 2021, and they also entail substantially more risk. I would be much more in favor of moving out Rosario to make room for Kirilloff or Larnach if I didn't feel like we were so close to seriously contending. This is the kind of move that a middle of the pack or lower team takes because they're looking to the long-term future. I think the Twins have a strong short-term future, so I'd like to see more focus on 2021/2022. That's why I think it's important to me that the team redeploy the money to bolster a weak spot, like starting pitching or middle infield defense, for the next year or two.

 

By the way, I would not be in favor of moving out Rosario to make a place for Rooker. He looked like he could hit in his brief tryout last year but is outfield defense was pretty atrocious. He actually might be a downgrade from Rosario, hard as that is to say. I think Rooker is better as a bench bat,or a replacement for Sano/DH. I would limit his exposure in the outfield. 

 

The last two years there are 47 qualified OF, Rosario is 33rd in OPS and 37th in WAR. 

 

I'd like to have Rosario around, but mostly for clubhouse or sentimental reasons. He's still a starting level corner outfielder, but he's really an average at best overall player. And based on last year's results against left handed pitching, he's probably getting close to being a platoon player.

 

If Rosario, Kirilloff, Larnach and Rooker were the four options for the third OF spot, I think it's unlikely that Rosario would actually end up being the best of that group next year. Odds are that one if not more of the rookies would be able to match Rosario's output, if not surpass it completely.