Jorge Polanco: First Baseman?

[PDX Twin]

3 hours ago, saviking said:

Lewis, if Correa just needs a breather with Castillo moving to third. Castillo is a far better defensive third baseman than Polanco and has flexibility in the outfield. 

Umm. Castro? Or are we trading for a Castillo?

[stringer bell]

21 minutes ago, PDX Twin said:

Umm. Castro? Or are we trading for a Castillo?

Farmer, Lewis and Castro are all capable of playing average major league shortstop. It will be interesting to see who relieves Correa when he has a day off. It will be interesting to see who covers for short-term absences. I think they will keep Lewis at third base and won't move him to short for the short term.

[Blyleven2011]

This has been an interesting discussion  and does have some logic ...

I'd like to keep Polanco at second base if he stays with the Twins  , spring training should work everything out  ...

Hit and defense  ...

[PatPfund]

Love the idea! Especially if it means we never have to see the gutsy, but defensively challenged (at least in this position) Polanco at 3B.

[JD-TWINS]

12 hours ago, DJL44 said:

It's not a terrible idea. The Twins could use Polanco until Kirilloff is healthy or Brooks Lee is ready in the minors. Polanco's trade value will be nearly the same at the deadline next year as it is this offseason (assuming he's healthy at the trade deadline).

More importantly moving either Julien or Polanco to 1B gets a bat into the lineup that is better than Kirilloff. Still, it probably makes more sense to trade Polanco for a 1B than it does to move him there while he can still play 2B.

Kirilloff hit .270, with 11 HR & had an OPS of .793 in 88 games………..Polanco hit .255, 14 HR & had an OPS of .789 in 80 games…….Kirilloff is 4 years younger & making $9M plus less than Polanco……both struggle with health……Polanco played 104 games in ‘22 & hit .235.

By the end of July either Lee or Lewis will be playing 2B.

If Julien can handle 1B occasionally & he DH’s some, that’s great.

Polanco’s salary needs to be moved……either for prospects or with 2-3 guys for a pitcher, before he gets hurt, not at the deadline.

[arby58]

5 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Farmer, Lewis and Castro are all capable of playing average major league shortstop. It will be interesting to see who relieves Correa when he has a day off. It will be interesting to see who covers for short-term absences. I think they will keep Lewis at third base and won't move him to short for the short term.

If they keep Farmer, it will be Farmer.

[Aerodeliria]

He's the most moveable piece. I think he's one of the better hitters on the Twins, so that's a plus, but he is also the candidate with an upside who can be traded to make way for the younger generation, so I want to move him not to first base but in a trade. (Defensively, he is a liablity wherever he is put, but 2nd is tolerable and 1st base would probable be tolerable as well. With that said, I think Julien will become a much better 2nd baseman in the field and will learn to hit lefthanders better as time progresses. (I mean Julien only has had a couple of months hitting against elite lefthanders. Arraez had the same troubles when he came up, but this year he raked. I would like to see Baldelli let Julien struggle against lefties for awhile just so he gets used to hitting against them, The Marlins basically said to Arraez, you will be in the game no matter who is pitching, and he begin hitting lefties just fine. Maybe this is a mental thing as well...I'll stop rambling.)

[arby58]

19 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

By the end of July either Lee or Lewis will be playing 2B.

If Julien can handle 1B occasionally & he DH’s some, that’s great.

In 2021, at A and A+, Julien played 181 innings at 1B, 341 at 2B, 189 at 3B, and 120 in LF. In 2022, at AA, he played all 813 innings at 2B. In 2023, between AAA and MLB, he played 819 innings at 2B and 17 at 1B. 

It's pretty clear from this that the Twins do not view Julien as a viable everyday option at 1B. Any other reading is trying to shove a square peg into an analytical round hole. 

[JD-TWINS]

10 hours ago, stringer bell said:

I do think Polanco has aged beyond his 30 years. He isn’t as quick or fast as he was five years ago and it’s noticeable. He’s adjusted and moved down the spectrum of defensive positions and first base would be the next step.

I’ve said before that he is an “old 30” (IMHO) and that along with the injuries is why I would think a trade is acceptable 

104 games in ‘22 & hit .235 - 80 games in ‘23 & hit .255…………career .270 hitter. Declining health & offense.

[JD-TWINS]

14 minutes ago, arby58 said:

In 2021, at A and A+, Julien played 181 innings at 1B, 341 at 2B, 189 at 3B, and 120 in LF. In 2022, at AA, he played all 813 innings at 2B. In 2023, between AAA and MLB, he played 819 innings at 2B and 17 at 1B. 

It's pretty clear from this that the Twins do not view Julien as a viable everyday option at 1B. Any other reading is trying to shove a square peg into an analytical round hole. 

He did play a few innings at 1B in the Show in ‘23.

I agree that’s how he was groomed (2B) - personally, I think he’s suspect with a glove on, no matter where he’s playing - not an intuitive  defensive bone in his body. My comment was IF HE CAN HANDLE 1B - I make no assumptions. Frankly, with Buxton & his deal through ‘27 or ‘28, I see Julien’s potential to DH as seriously limited!

Once Lee is hitting at an acceptable level things are clogged at 2B. I’m already assuming they trade Polanco this winter.

I did see an interesting thought above that was new……..Lewis to 1B & have Lee play 3B & let Julien stick at 2B. Again, not a natural move for an athlete like Lewis but maybe the best utilization of everyone’s D skills & highest octane offense……..could lead to moving Kepler at deadline if attractive. Kirilloff into LF & Wallner in right with Gordon (Larnach comes up mid-season) & Larnach as OF depth & Castro starting in CF most of the time.

[JD-TWINS]

8 hours ago, gman said:

I can see the decision of Polanco's future pushed off until Lee is ready. I don't think anyone expects Lee to make the roster out of spring training. Having Polanco on the roster to start next year is protection in case Kirilloff is not ready to start, or in case Buxton is not ready to start. Since there is no hurry to move Polanco, keep him unless someone blows our socks off with an offer and I don't expect that to happen but wouldn't say no either.

I don’t understand how Polanco is linked to either Kirilloff’s or Buxton’s health?

Lewis - CC - Julien - Kirilloff is our infield prior to whenever Lee may be ready. Depth is Farmer at $7M max………this was last year’s infield when Polanco was on IL.

We need to move Polanco while he’s still upright. Need to clear his $10.5M salary to be able to move on some pitching options. 104 games in ‘22 & 80 games in ‘23…….career .270 hitter that’s hit .235 & .255 the last two years.

[DJL44]

10 hours ago, arby58 said:

In 2021, at A and A+, Julien played 181 innings at 1B, 341 at 2B, 189 at 3B, and 120 in LF. In 2022, at AA, he played all 813 innings at 2B. In 2023, between AAA and MLB, he played 819 innings at 2B and 17 at 1B. 

It's pretty clear from this that the Twins do not view Julien as a viable everyday option at 1B. Any other reading is trying to shove a square peg into an analytical round hole. 

To me that looks like it is clear they were trying to get him as many reps at 2B in the minor leagues as possible so he could develop there as a fielder. I have been critical of the Twins for pushing players past their ideal position on the defensive spectrum and sticking with it way too long (Austin Martin is not a SS). In this instance they were able to get an adequate 2B by playing Julien there rather than moving him to 1B exclusively.

Now the question of how to resolve the conflict of having two starting 2B comes into focus. In order to put both Polanco and Julien in the lineup every day one of them has to move to a different position or to a different team.

[TNtwins85]

No….No….and Nooo. Polanco is a 2B and a 2B only at this point. He’s above avg at the position. Carries $10M. And there’s plenty of position depth in MN and coming up. He’s either your starting 2B or your trade bait. I’m all for positional flexibility but 2B is where you flex that ability. Not at 1B with a guy who’s never played there and doesn’t seem to fit there. 

[saviking]

18 hours ago, PDX Twin said:

Umm. Castro? Or are we trading for a Castillo?

Opsie!! lol

[arby58]

2 hours ago, DJL44 said:

To me that looks like it is clear they were trying to get him as many reps at 2B in the minor leagues as possible so he could develop there as a fielder. I have been critical of the Twins for pushing players past their ideal position on the defensive spectrum and sticking with it way too long (Austin Martin is not a SS). In this instance they were able to get an adequate 2B by playing Julien there rather than moving him to 1B exclusively.

Now the question of how to resolve the conflict of having two starting 2B comes into focus. In order to put both Polanco and Julien in the lineup every day one of them has to move to a different position or to a different team.

That was my point as well. It may work itself out, as Polanco has only had one full season in his last four and may be better suited to occasional play in the field and DH. In that case, the lynchpins are Buxton playing the outfield and IF Lee is ready to play in the major leagues. If Buxton can play some in the field, they have more flexibility. If Lee is ready, you probably move Polanco and expect Lee to play some at all three infield spots.