Notebook: Kirby Yates Signs With Toronto, Twins Among Finalists

[Cooper Carlson]

The Twins continue to stay quiet, but some big names were signed today. Also, an ex Twin was rumored to potentially return ...Blue Jays are making big moves

 

Toronto looks to be ready to compete again. After bringing in Hyun-Jin Ryu last offseason, they have now brought in Kirby Yates and are closing in on George Springer. Both are great gets for the team, but Springer was one of the best free agents in the entire class.

 

Update:

 

The Twins were a team that could have ended up with Yates, but instead they stay silent. Yates only pitched four innings in 2020, but was perhaps the best reliever in baseball in 2019 with a 1.19 ERA and K/9 just under 15.

 

 

Marwin Gonzalez could return to the Twins

 

In a bit of a shocking development, the Twins seem to still have interesting in bringing Marwin Gonzalez back. To be quite blunt, Marwin has been awful over the last couple years and this news left Twins fans scratching their heads. Let's see what our Twins Daily writers had to say!

 

 

 

 

Oh, not great. Marwin had just a .606 OPS in the short 2020 season and there isn't much reason to bring him back. Just because there's interest reported doesn't mean it's going to happen, but weird they would be considering it.

 

Maybe tomorrow will be the day the Twins finally stop "laying in the weeds" and go make that big move. We're close to MLB baseball being played again and the offseason is starting to heat up. Basically the stove went from zero degrees to about 10.

 

If Marwin doesn't spark excitement, how about Julio Teheran!?

 

 

Nope? Alright, moving on then ...

 

Twins finalize minor league coaching staff

 

Today the Twins announced their finalized coaching staffs for all of their minor league affiliates. The staff for the St. Paul Saints included Toby Gardenhire as manager, the son of Ron Gardenhire.

 

 

SEE ALSO

The Free Agent Starter Who Could Be Another Kenta Maeda

St. Paul Saints Throw Gardy Party in 2021

Free Agent Faceoff: Jake Odorizzi vs. James Paxton

Where Can the Twins Add the Most Value?

Why Didi Gregorius is the Best Shortstop Fit for the Twins

 

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[Danchat]

I'd only bring Marwin back on a minor league deal. His bat is subpar and his skills in the outfield regressed, leaving his only real skill as a strong fielder at 1B/2B/3B. No thanks!

 

I'm glad to see the Blue Jays land some deals, I'd like to see them be more competitive in 2021. Perhaps they can hang with the Yanks and Rays.

[DocBauer]

I wasn't bummed out about Hendricks. I am bummed about Yates. He may never come back to what he was. But at $5M, I thought be was a PERFECT addition to the Twins.

 

I have a lot of trust in our team to build a bullpen. And to be fair, there still remains a few arms who could be great values amongst what they have. But losing Yates kinda ticks me off! It was a PERFECT situation.

 

Patient, patient, patient, trusting, trusting, trusting...know the method of madness that is the off-season of MLB and how well this FO has done...but patience and trust are being challenged right now.

[NatteringNabob]

Can’t the Orioles or the Pirates or someone do us a solid and sign Marwin to remove the temptation for the front office?

[twins_89]

I find it extremely hard to believe that the Twins can't find an upgrade to Marwin. My guess is there are at least half a dozen players who could fill the same role with significantly better production while not costing all that much.

[Doctor Gast]

I don't like bashing of players. Gonzalez  is a good player but we don't need him. The non critical positions that he plays can be more economically substituted internally. It scares me that he's even on their radar. & not focused on critical needs on critical positions! We are starved for news but not this news

[terrydactyls]

Does anyone else have the feeling that the front office is just going to sign some low-cost relief help and put their faith in the "prospects" they've been protecting for the past several years?  I could live with that but I just wish they would announce it and quit getting our hopes up.

[yeahyabetcha]

I don't like bashing of players. Gonzalez  is a good player but we don't need him. The non critical positions that he plays can be more economically substituted internally. It scares me that he's even on their radar. & not focused on critical needs on critical positions! We are starved for news but not this news

 

Who exactly are the cheaper internal candidates that can field average or better at 1b, 3b, 2b and corner outfield?

[Doctor Gast]

It's interesting that the FO was interested in Yates. They signed also Springer. Because of his connection with Brantley. They could also get him

[mikelink45]

Horse shoes!  Close again, another point.  So let's go after someone no one wants - and I am talking about us fans.  Not Marwin - move on, get better.  

[DasBat]

I have no interest in Gonzalez or Teheran. Either would be a huge disappointment

[Danchat]

 

Who exactly are the cheaper internal candidates that can field average or better at 1b, 3b, 2b and corner outfield?

Blankenhorn should be able to handle 2B & 3B. But we definitely need at least one veteran who can play SS/3B and can back up Donaldson and Polanco. Gordon is still on the 40 man, but it's hard to trust him to back up SS.

[Doctor Gast]

Who exactly are the cheaper internal candidates that can field average or better at 1b, 3b, 2b and corner outfield?

Yeahyabetcha are you making a bid for Gonzalez? The point that I was making was that our focus has to be on critical positions,C,SS and CF. C is covered,SS we need an upgrade(suggestion:Baez with Adrianza subbing) CF we need a better back up(suggestion:Pillar and can start at LF). Once we cover our critical positions we can get by with inferior subs at less critical positions.

Corner OF options

Kiriloff

Cave

Wade

Larnach

Rooker

Astudillo

Arraez

 

3B options

Adrianza

Astudillo

Arraez

 

2B

Arraez

Adrianza

Astudillo

 

1B

Kiriloff

Rooker

Larnach

Astudillo

Arraez- if he has no experience he can learn

 

We have a lot of options. We can get by without Gonzalez's slightly superior glove at those positions

My focus is fielding a World Series caliber team

[MNT1996]

Ah the good ol' Twins I know and love. Never trying to make a big deal and always playing it safe and cheap. I can't wait until the Twins sign Marwin Gonzalez to a multi-year deal and then sign a couple more minor league players to round out the AAA team! Let's keep that playoff streak going!

[yeahyabetcha]

Some interesting suggestions but most are either unproven, not Twins property (Baez) or horrible in the field (Austudillo and Rooker), probably not what they should be looking for in super utility spot

[ashbury]

Nice to know they were finalists. Guess they're the Miss Congeniality of this off-season.

[Linus]

Nice to know they were finalists. Guess they're the Miss Congeniality of this off-season.

This. I never need to read this again.

[Dodecahedron]

When I saw the headline on this piece, I figured it was Gonzalez.

 

Didn't we read over the past two off-seasons some very strong opinions that Gonzalez's "Super Utility" ability was going to be the key to championships? Didn't we read that it didn't matter that he was "only-OK" at many things and the master of nothing?

I guess his incredible failures down the stretch last year silenced even the loudest of his cheerleaders.

 

But enough of that. To put a positive spin on things, assuming there's a good chance he will be back:

 

1. It is unlikely his bat will be as bad as it was in 2020.

2. Let's face it, his defense was never elite, it was versatile. He still has that.

3. Last year was a small sample size and should be ignored. Not just for Gonzalez.
4. His G.I. Joe beard is very impressive. It's basically the opposite of Keanu Reeves's beard, which is more like "Upper G.I." Joe, if you catch my meaning.

[whosafraidofluigirussolo]

 

Nice to know they were finalists. Guess they're the Miss Congeniality of this off-season.

 

I think the response of "Why didn't the Twins get this guy? They don't really want to win!" can be a bit much and kind of knee-jerk at times, but I'm getting to the point of thinking, just sign somebody good!... Especially with Yates and the report of the Twins being a "finalist" for a guy who got a pretty reasonable contract. It would be nice to see them target a premium player at a position of need and just do what was needed to get that player.
 

[T_J]

Uff da, is there a Padres daily or something? If they bring back Margo and do nothing else, imma go support a team willing to make moves while the window is open. The Twins have dropped and not improved while many other teams have gotten better. The White Sox are probably a better team in the central now. Maybe the manager will screw it up but who knows. Tampa, NY, Toronto are all better now in the AL as well. Some tweaks in Anaheim and they may pass the Twins too. Houston is about as good right now too as it stands. Cleveland can still pitch so they're a threat.

[TopGunn#22]

I agree Tom F I REALLY thought Yates was a sneaky "value" signing. 

Especially at $5-5.5 million.

Now I think they MUST go get Rosenthal to have that flame-thrower at the back end.

 

And if the F.O. is seriously thinking about bringing Marwan back---I just don't know.

 

What the HECK is their plan ???

[JesusisLord7]

Marwin was terrible. Even with the glove. Mis-handled two plays at 3rd in the playoffs verse the Astros. He was still benefitting the Astros after all these years. We need to move on. Twins need better Defense. I'm thinking Marcus Siemen and moving Polanco into that utility role.

[JesusisLord7]

I agree with you guys. Yates at 5 million plus was well worth the risk. Not sure what we're doing on our bids?

 

[mikelink45]

I am available for utility - I cannot hit the ball, I am worse than mediocre at every position, and I am old.  What more could they ask for?