Is Elvis Andrus Really a Shortstop Candidate for the Twins?

[Ted Schwerzler]

Going into the 2023 Major League Baseball season the Minnesota Twins need to find an answer at shortstop. With a departing superstar and a questionable prospect, plenty of options will be at their disposal. How likely are they to rely on a former Rangers, A's and White Sox slugger?

 

Image courtesy of Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

There were rumors and reports prior to the 2022 MLB season that Derek Falvey and Thad Levine may entertain Billy Beane’s Oakland Athletics in hopes of dealing for Frankie Montas. The popular “Where’s Frankie” monkey reared its head all over Twitter. One avenue toward making that happen seemed to be acquiring Elvis Andrus’s $14.25 million deal. As you all know, it never happened.

Eventually, the Athletics released Andrus after the 33-year-old posted a .673 OPS across 106 games. That equated to just a 96 OPS+ in a year in which Major League Baseball saw offense down as a whole, but the terrible Athletics had no use for an aging veteran posting numbers below the league average.

When Tim Anderson was injured, the Chicago White Sox signed Andrus and made him their starting shortstop. In 43 games, Andrus posted a .271/.309/.464 slash line with 17 extra-base hits including nine home runs. He’s a free agent coming off an eight-year, $120 million deal signed by the Texas Rangers, and now there’s the question as to whether he can (or should) be a stopgap option with any remaining upside for a team like the Twins.

Although the Twins' best bet for production is a new contract with Carlos Correa, they’ll likely explore all options. Andrus could be an answer until Royce Lewis returns midseason, and he won’t block the likes of Austin Martin or Brooks Lee. 

In his time with the White Sox, Andrus was largely the same player. His 30/9 K/BB was still far too out of whack when it comes to getting on base, and the .464 slugging was hardly an overwhelming tradeoff. Despite being a 14-year veteran, Andrus has never hit more than 20 homers in a season, and his 17 this year seems relatively uncharacteristic. After launching just eight homers in more than 100 games with the Athletics, Andrus somehow blasted another nine dingers with Chicago in just 43 contests.

To categorize Andrus’ season as positive offensively, you have to look at his numbers with the White Sox in a vacuum. They aren’t in line with his career norms from a power perspective, and you’d be kidding yourself to suggest a 34-year-old is now entering his prime having reinvented himself.

The last time Andrus posted a positive Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) was 2018, but his Outs Above Average (OAA) do equate to him being above average. Realistically, the offensive production shouldn’t be expected to continue, and while he can be average or slightly above defensively, that’s where the payday needs to derive from.

When it comes to aging veteran stopgap options for the Twins, Andrus will be among them. They simply can’t get drawn into what he should ask for from his time with the White Sox, and must instead pay for what remains likely based on the workload as a whole.

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[Cris E]

I think he's just another poor option on the long list of names that indicate how important it is to sign Correa. In 13 years in the bigs he's never played anywhere other than SS, so I guess I'd need to know what you plan on doing with him if Lewis takes the job in July (or if he's suddenly fat and slow.) There are already other meh secondary options around the infield, so how valuable is he once Royce returns? 

[jmlease1]

As a bridge option if they fail to re-sign Correa (or one of the other quality FA SS that are out there), he's one of the better options. But still not a great one. I'm more enthusiastic about him than Jose Iglesias, I guess? I think there's a chance he could be a 2 bWAR player next season, but I wouldn't expect the ceiling to be any higher. This feels a little like the "break glass in case of emergencies" option? He should not be a first, second, or third choice really.

[DocBauer]

I would go with Iglesias. I've checked the career numbers of both and they are nearly identical across their quad slash lines, but Iglesias has a slightly higher career OPS and OPS+. He's also a bit younger, has a better career career percentage, and is coming off a $5M payday so probably isn't looking for the $ that Andrus might be expecting after how much his last deal was worth.

 

[stringer bell]

I certainly think that signing Andrus should be explored if the Twins fail to retain Correa. BBRef listed Andrus with Iglesias in the tier below the "Big Four" among free agent shortstops. It is true that this year was the first in some time where Andrus has posted positive hitting statistics. If I were to project, I would expect league average offense and league average shortstop defense. 

In looking at 2023 blueprints for Twins Daily, there seems to be quite a difference of opinion on what salary Andrus might command. Since his offense has been substandard for several years with the exception of last year, I would think his salary would not be close to what he received on his now-completed contract. I would think all that he could get would be $5-8M, but that isn't based on any real figures. If someone has a more exact projection of his salary I'd like to hear it. 

[MABB1959]

WHY do we always get these types of choices.   They all had great careers but way to far away from their prime.    I suspect these types of last hope players are the only ones that would even consider signing with this team.   How pathetic is this entire situation!!!!

[Rosterman]

Only if he is rally cheap. And no incentives, as chances are you will cut bait with him during the season.

Does he help with the defense? Is he a team leader, or a dugout pain, that is my Big question.

 

[Whitey333]

Adding an aging player to play shortstop for the Twins?  Interesting concept. This FO has been doing it for years with the pitching staff, so why stop there?

[Karbo]

Pony up the money for Correa!

[chpettit19]

I have literally no interest in Elvis Andrus. The absolute best case scenario is that he has another "good year" for him which equals a league average hitter. When average is the absolute best case scenario for a player I don't want them. If I'm running the team I don't even have him on my list of options and if his agents calls me I tell him "thanks, but no thanks." 

The Twins have to be trying to win in 2023. A team trying to win doesn't bring in Andrus to be their SS for any amount of time. It's that simple to me. I'd rather jump Lee straight to the majors than sign Andrus. A team banking on Andrus for 2 months and then Lewis taking his job as soon as he's healthy isn't trying to win. I'm all for Lewis getting a shot as soon as he's healthy, and I think he'll still be a stud, but I'm not keeping SS open for him in a year I'm trying to compete. He can take over 3B, or LF, or CF, or wherever they need him when he's healthy. Get a real short stop and quit f'in around with these way, way, way over the hill vets and hoping for healthy seasons with huge production from rookies. You have the money. Sign a star.

[tony&rodney]

No.

[Minny505]

I'd be far more excited about a trade for IKF, Jorge Mateo, or some other inexpensive option that can be relied on as a solid contributor if & when Lewis or another prospect steps up. As much as we want that to be 2023, it may not realistically happen and we need someone more reliable in case that is how it goes down.

[rwilfong86]

No thanks. 

[Squirrel]

With the defensive shift going away next year, we are going to need a real SS, not a stop gap, and not a prospect who might be great

[BD57]

we've signed too many guys "hoping for better"

Starting pitchers we "hope will improve on the past couple of years" . . . or even "hope won't spend half the year on the DL."

Relievers we "hope will return to the form they had x seasons ago."

Position players we "hope will return to the form ... and/or avoid the DL."

Look at all the guys we had on the DL last year, how many of them are "hoped for better" guys:

• Hope Buxton stays off the DL for most of the year / plays 130 games
• Hope Larnach / Kirilloff become healthy / productive
• Hope Sano becomes even marginally consistent in a helpful way
• Hope Maeda / Mahle / Paddack / Ober contribute
• Hope Jeffers gets healthy & improves at the plate
• Hope Lewis recovers & is as dynamic as he was during his cup of coffee

We have very few guys who we can count on, guys who were dependable & effective in 2022.

Now, maybe the lack of a proper spring training in 2022 had something to do with that (sure hope so) . . . but, IMO, we need guys who (a) show up for work every day and (b) are definitely "better than average."