Jackie Bradley Jr.

[stringer bell]

The Red Sox DFAed Jackie Bradley Jr. today. With the Twins run of injuries, would the Twins consider bringing him in as a stopgap? He remains an outstanding defensive player and has pennant race and postseason experience. 

[CRF]

If the price was right, I'd take him over Celestino any day of the week. 

[stringer bell]

1 minute ago, CRF said:

If the price was right, I'd take him over Celestino any day of the week. 

The price would be prorated MLB minimum.

[Mike Sixel]

Kepler will be back, right? Then Larnach? I'd take either of those over him....

[BeantownTwinsFan]

Seems like a low downside move for the short term, legit defense at least?

[stringer bell]

1 minute ago, Mike Sixel said:

Kepler will be back, right? Then Larnach? I'd take either of those over him....

Right now it is Contreras and Cave, with Gordon or Celestino in center field. I would like Bradley over those guys. If/when Kepler and Larnach return on time, he could be a bench player or released with minimal cost. 

[PseudoSABR]

I don't know this Mark Contreras is starting to grow on me.

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, stringer bell said:

Right now it is Contreras and Cave, with Gordon or Celestino in center field. I would like Bradley over those guys. If/when Kepler and Larnach return on time, he could be a bench player or released with minimal cost. 

I'd take Gordon 100x over JBJ. And Cave over him also. The other two? Probably not......so, sure, if he gets to them I'd pick him up, but he's not long for the team.

[CRF]

7 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

The price would be prorated MLB minimum.

Wasn't sure about that, but if that's the case...you bet, bring him in here.

[USAFChief]

I had the same thought, stringer.

And FTR, JBJ Jr was released today, not DFA,d, so he's immediately available for the MLB minimum. 

[USAFChief]

6 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I'd take Gordon 100x over JBJ. And Cave over him also. The other two? Probably not......so, sure, if he gets to them I'd pick him up, but he's not long for the team.

Given the current Twins options, I'd take JBJ over Gordon against LHP every time. 

I'd anticipate Kepler back this weekend, but I doubt we see Larnach this season. 

Especially with Garlick on the DL, a a very good defensive OFer who hits RH'd might be a nice 2 week boost, even with Celestino back.

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, USAFChief said:

Given the current Twins options, I'd take JBJ over Gordon against LHP every time. 

I'd anticipate Kepler back this weekend, but I doubt we see Larnach this season. 

Especially with Garlick on the DL, a a very good defensive OFer who hits RH'd might be a nice 2 week boost, even with Celestino back.

I do agree I'd bring him on....and if we don't see Larnach, I'd bet he sticks. 

[stringer bell]

3 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Given the current Twins options, I'd take JBJ over Gordon against LHP every time. 

I'd anticipate Kepler back this weekend, but I doubt we see Larnach this season. 

Especially with Garlick on the DL, a a very good defensive OFer who hits RH'd might be a nice 2 week boost, even with Celestino back.

Bradley does hit left handed. 

[USAFChief]

1 minute ago, stringer bell said:

Bradley does hit left handed. 

Oh.

 

...

 

 

Well then

 

[Mike Sixel]

2 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Bradley does hit left handed. 

I thought so....definitely try Gordon over him most days....but ya, he's likely better than Celestino or Contreras....

[baul0010]

2 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Kepler will be back, right? Then Larnach? I'd take either of those over him....

It would probably be only until those two are back. 

[bean5302]

Also, Gordon is holding his own against lefties with a wRC+ of 93 right now. Not awesome, but for speedy, left handed hitting utility center fielder? That's not too shabby.

[Danchat]

Bradley Jr has been horrific at the plate his past 700 PAs... I'll pass. It sounds like Kepler will be back very soon and Contreras/Cave are fine as placeholders.

[stringer bell]

8 hours ago, Danchat said:

Bradley Jr has been horrific at the plate his past 700 PAs... I'll pass. It sounds like Kepler will be back very soon and Contreras/Cave are fine as placeholders.

When Larnach and Sano were the only position players on the IL, I felt like the Twins had 13 major league ballplayers manning their 13 position player spots. Now, they have Contreras, Beckham and Cave on the roster and starting Contreras and Cave against lefties as recently as Wednesday. IMHO, JBJ is superior to at least two of those three and maybe a last chance to salvage a big league contract next year might help him actually hit acceptably. A similar player who hits right would be even more helpful.

SSS, but I don't think the gaudy stats of Beckham or the good numbers that Contreras put up make them legitimate big league players right now and neither is a prospect. If it's going to be a dogfight to win the Central and JBJ can help win one more game than either Contreras or Beckham, it is worth it. 

I'll agree that Jake Cave is doing what he can to get himself either more money in arb or a big league contract in his short time with the Twins. If the choice is purely between Cave and Bradley, I wouldn't rock the boat to add JBJ.

[RpR]

Hmm, Jr's batting numbers look a lot like Simmons from last year, good grief.

[dxpavelka]

12 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Kepler will be back, right? Then Larnach? I'd take either of those over him....

You banking on those two coming back and NO more injury issues for the next three months?  I'm not saying Bradley's the guy but I'm also not saying we won't see Sano reappear come playoff time. 

[Mike Sixel]

I think it is more than a week, still, before he's truly a free agent? I expect Kepler back before that. But I'd roll the dice with Bradley over Contreras or Celestino right now. 

[nicksaviking]

I think I'd pass. Even with the injuries, the OF defense isn't an issue. Or at least it doesn't have to be an issue. What ever combo of Buxton, Celestino, Gordon and Cave they run out there is a solid unit with the glove. Kepler should be back soon, then hopefully Larnach.

As for the bat, woof. Boston's outfield bats aside of Bradley are abysmal. If Boston is cutting loose a long time Red Sox in a year they already basically waived the white flag, I think that says all we need to know about his offensive skills. If the Twins absolutely NEEDED another outfielder, I'd rather see what Michael Helman can do. It couldn't possibly be less than Bradley.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I would rather see Jake Cave on the roster.

That's how much I do not want JBJ on this team.

[nicksaviking]

2 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

I would rather see Jake Cave on the roster.

That's how much I do not want JBJ on this team.

Yeah. Jake Cave's awful season last year looked All Star worthy compared to Bradley's.

Also, this year's.

[Mike Sixel]

7 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

I would rather see Jake Cave on the roster.

That's how much I do not want JBJ on this team.

And Contreras? And Celestino? Both?

[Brock Beauchamp]

Just now, Mike Sixel said:

And Contreras? And Celestino? Both?

If anyone can find a difference between Contreras and JBJ, let me know.

And I'd MUCH rather have Celestino on the roster.

[LA Vikes Fan]

C'mon guys, Contreras isn't the issue. He's in AAA as soon as Kepler comes back. Let's not create a strawman here. 

The real questions is do you want Bradley instead of Cave or Celestino? I never thought I'd say this, but Cave has actually looked pretty good in the 3 games he's been back. I think he's going to be ahead of Celestino in the pecking order soon if he isn't already. Celestino or Bradley? Hmmmm, tough one. Bradley hasn't hit in 2 years but Celestino hasn't hit in 2 months. Maybe it would be good for Celestino to go back to AAA and work on the bat? I guess if the Twins think there is something they can do to get Bradley hitting again, its worth a shot particularly if he'll go to AAA for a week or two to show what he's got. Hard for me to buy that though so I say keep Celestino and pass on Bradley. That's unless he'll go to AAA without a promise of moving up unless he shows dominance down there. IF he will, why not see what he's got. 

[nicksaviking]

58 minutes ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

C'mon guys, Contreras isn't the issue. He's in AAA as soon as Kepler comes back. Let's not create a strawman here. 

The real questions is do you want Bradley instead of Cave or Celestino? I never thought I'd say this, but Cave has actually looked pretty good in the 3 games he's been back. I think he's going to be ahead of Celestino in the pecking order soon if he isn't already. Celestino or Bradley? Hmmmm, tough one. Bradley hasn't hit in 2 years but Celestino hasn't hit in 2 months. Maybe it would be good for Celestino to go back to AAA and work on the bat? I guess if the Twins think there is something they can do to get Bradley hitting again, its worth a shot particularly if he'll go to AAA for a week or two to show what he's got. Hard for me to buy that though so I say keep Celestino and pass on Bradley. That's unless he'll go to AAA without a promise of moving up unless he shows dominance down there. IF he will, why not see what he's got. 

I tend to think the odds that a 32-year-old ballplayer will improve are much, much less than the odds that a 23-year-old ball player will improve.

[LA Vikes Fan]

9 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

I tend to think the odds that a 32-year-old ballplayer will improve are much, much less than the odds that a 23-year-old ball player will improve.

I think you're right. Long term, Celestino over Bradley every day. For the next 2 months? Closer call.