Verdugo trade good comp for possible Kepler trade?

[Major League Ready]

38 minutes ago, specialiststeve said:

Funny how people forget how HORRIBLE he was the 1st half and "cost" us games with his terrible bat... 

I have always liked Max and he is a good defensive OF but his replacements have at least his ability and if we could get a couple of good prospects for him ... do it. Folks act like his is Juan Soto.. he is "just a guy"... and we have many of those waiting... 

He was a little below average for the first half with a wRC+ of 88.  In comparison, Correa was at 92 and Kyle Farmer who nobody is complaining about was 85.  I think it comes down to if they can get someone to believe he has found something sustainable.  If so, the return would be higher than Verdugo and perhaps something the Twins would accept.  My guess is that they would rather move Polanco and Vazquez, in that order.  

[mnfireman]

2 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

Fangraphs actually has him as slightly below average defensively which does not match what I thought I saw on the field.

My eye test told me he slipped a little last season. In the few games I was able to watch last season, Kepler misplayed several balls into basehits or extra bases, most of these were pre-All-Star game and several posters commented on here that he looked dis-interested and that his head/heart wasn't in the game.

 

[DocBauer]

I do like Verdugo's age better, and he's probably been more consistent. But Max is probably the better defender, and has a higher ceiling type bat. But yeah, they are probably pretty comparable as players.

I think Kepler is more valuable to the Twins in 2024 than a solid AA starter and a AAA reliever, unless both look like near locks to contribute, contribute soon, and project nicely. Just not sure that's gonna happen. 

Now, if Kepler brought back a young, controllable, Duran-ish pen arm from someone really needing RF/LH bat help for a 2024 playoff push, I'd think really hard on that and fill in the OF best I can. 

[MGX]

On 12/6/2023 at 9:42 AM, gunnarthor said:

It's not a horrible comp but I think Verdugo has more value. The age difference is big but Kepler has also been very streaky and more injury prone.

To each their own I guess - The offensive production for Verdugo has declined every year since his career year in 2020 & all of those seasons in a hitter's park. Meanwhile, Kepler has had some ups & downs while bouncing back to produce an excellent year in 2023. Defensively, Verdugo has typically been below average while Kepler has been solidly above average. 

 

The original comparison is of some value as they're similar players, but to me Kepler is currently more valuable.

[Major League Ready]

3 hours ago, mnfireman said:

My eye test told me he slipped a little last season. In the few games I was able to watch last season, Kepler misplayed several balls into basehits or extra bases, most of these were pre-All-Star game and several posters commented on here that he looked dis-interested and that his head/heart wasn't in the game.

 

Probably recency bias on my part.  I thought his D looked pretty good late in the season but now that you mention it, I do recall some poor play early in the season.

[harmony55]

Good work.

Another comp would be one year of outfielder Tyler O’Neill, whom the Cardinals traded to the Red Sox,