No Surprise: Twins Exercise Options for Kepler and Polanco

[Major League Ready]

57 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

You and I are in the same boat when it comes to return for anybody for that matter. No idea. 

We are back into the value discussion though.

I assume his injuries plus the 10.5 is going to lower his trade value to the point that we don't get a significant enough player back... even though as a player in 2024... i believe that Polanco could be a plus plus player.

Who knows. I certainly don't. But... if Polanco can return a plus plus OF or plus plus starter. I'll drive him to the airport myself. 😉

This whole discussion started with Farmer > Polanco. If choosing between the two... I'm taking the better player.   

   

 

Where we drifted was I don't see it as Farmer vs Polanco but the discussion followed that path.  I might move Farmer too.   One of them probably needs to go.  I see it as Polanco in a bench role reducing his overall value vs the players that take up that slack PLUS $10.5M.  If I get a decent (not plus/plus) return for Polanco.  I am moving him and spending the $10.5M elsewhere, probably on pitching.  However, I am under the impression that money will be an issue this year and that's an unknown.  I also think he brings a decent return but I am with you in that is very hard to predict given his injury history and lack of positional flexibility.

[Riverbrian]

3 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

Where we drifted was I don't see it as Farmer vs Polanco but the discussion followed that path.  I might move Farmer too.   One of them probably needs to go.  I see it as Polanco in a bench role reducing his overall value vs the players that take up that slack PLUS $10.5M.  If I get a decent (not plus/plus) return for Polanco.  I am moving him and spending the $10.5M elsewhere, probably on pitching.  However, I am under the impression that money will be an issue this year and that's an unknown.  I also think he brings a decent return but I am with you in that is very hard to predict given his injury history and lack of positional flexibility.

It'll be interesting to see what the front office does this off-season but I like the depth and once you have depth... I feel it's time to raise the bar on your acquisitions. 

I never look at anyone as a bench player and I will never look for a bench role.

The minute that you are shopping for a bench player... you are shopping for a lesser player. Searching for a lesser player is a waste of a 26 man spot. Injuries and poor play have taught all of us that there is no such thing as a bench player. Eventually you will be forced to ask that that lesser player to not be a lesser player. Look for players who can play up and down the roster.

I like the infield as is: Lewis, Correa, Polanco, Julien, Farmer, Kirilloff, Castro. 

When I look at the roster... I see two needs. A Big Bat and a Big Starter. 

Now if you are trading Polanco to clear 10.5 off the books. I can understand that. I don't think Polanco will get the player I want by himself but if his 10.5 could be put to use to land an even better hitter or a starter of Gray ability... ok... then I'm on board. 

However... to be clear... If we are moving Polanco because of a perceived bench role or needing roster space or because the infield is crowded... then I'm against it. Move Farmer instead. Polanco is the better player.  

[twinfan]

I can easily see Polanco being a key to the Twins team in 2024 while Kepler will most likely be a platoon piece, late inning replacement for defense and maybe a trade bait at the deadline to fill a need.

[dxpavelka]

Folks on this and other sites have been moving on from these two for years.  I guarantee that at least one of them, and likely both will be around for 2024.  It's great to have guys poised to replace other guys.  Even better when those guys don't perform like Larnach and Miranda.  The risk of moving both of them will not be something this FO will take.  And rightfully so.

[Major League Ready]

5 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

It'll be interesting to see what the front office does this off-season but I like the depth and once you have depth... I feel it's time to raise the bar on your acquisitions. 

I never look at anyone as a bench player and I will never look for a bench role.

The minute that you are shopping for a bench player... you are shopping for a lesser player. Searching for a lesser player is a waste of a 26 man spot. Injuries and poor play have taught all of us that there is no such thing as a bench player. Eventually you will be forced to ask that that lesser player to not be a lesser player. Look for players who can play up and down the roster.

I like the infield as is: Lewis, Correa, Polanco, Julien, Farmer, Kirilloff, Castro. 

When I look at the roster... I see two needs. A Big Bat and a Big Starter. 

Now if you are trading Polanco to clear 10.5 off the books. I can understand that. I don't think Polanco will get the player I want by himself but if his 10.5 could be put to use to land an even better hitter or a starter of Gray ability... ok... then I'm on board. 

However... to be clear... If we are moving Polanco because of a perceived bench role or needing roster space or because the infield is crowded... then I'm against it. Move Farmer instead. Polanco is the better player.  

Now we are exactly aligned.  I am one who has documented the failures of free agent pitchers but replacing Gray has to be job one and I would prefer to do that free agency.  I don't want to give up our premium prospects which is what it would take in trade.  Of course, there are only a handful of guys we want and lots of teams with more money wanting to sign them so there might not be a need to clear the salary but the hope they are able to fill these holes with guys that are good enough that money becomes an issue.

[Mike Sixel]

On 11/4/2023 at 6:56 AM, Riverbrian said:

With all due respect it's not fair to say. 

Polanco's career OPS vs RHP is .146 higher than Farmers. 70% of pitching is coming at ya from the right side. 

Last Year -- Farmer had 222 AB's vs Right Handed pitchers 

and Farmer had 114 AB's vs Lefties 

Polanco actually out performed Farmer vs. Lefties last year: 

BA:

Polanco .310

Farmer .289

HR

Polanco 4 Home Runs in 87 AB's.

Farmer 2 Home Runs in 114 AB's 

OPS

Polanco .824

Farmer .729

Over his career Farmer has 1294 PA's vs Right Handers and 551 PA's vs Left Handers.  

Farmer is going to face twice as many RHP than LHP.  

Financially... This isn't 10.5 Million Dollars vs. the minimum. It's 10.5 vs 6.5. If you are spending 6.5 million... don't spend it on a short side platoon specialist... Take the better player. If the reason to move Polanco is financial to free up money... OK... but Farmer should go to. Free up 17 million. 

Neither player has the trade value to acquire what we really need by themselves. 

Polanco is the better player and younger and comes with yet another club option. Whoever you choose for your roster... that chosen player is going to play... take the better player. 

Farmer can play defense..... Much, much, much better than Polanco. I hope they don't keep both, but expect they will. 

[Riverbrian]

2 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Farmer can play defense..... Much, much, much better than Polanco

I get easily confused with weights and measures. I was driving 90 in my Kia the other day up in Canada because the sign clearly said 90.

So just to make sure this isn't a kilometer conversation... I gotta ask: 

When comparing defensive measurement to all of the other baseball measurements... what is the value of three defensive much betters? 

How many offensive much betters are the equivalent of three defensive much betters? 

Can a team win 101 games with Polanco at SS? 

If I'm baking a cake and the recipe calls for a pinch of salt... and if I don't have any salt in the house... Do I have to run to the supermarket? 🤔