At Least Three Teams Interested in Michael A. Taylor

[Cody Christie]

FanSided's Robert Murray is reporting that Michael A. Taylor is drawing interest from the Angels, Padres, and Pirates. Two other veteran center fielders have already signed (Kevin Kiermaier and Harrison Bader) so this leaves Taylor as one of the only legitimate centerfielders on the open market outside of Cody Bellinger. Kiermaier and Bader each signed one-year deals for $10.5 million. Murray also suggests that the Red Sox and Twins might be interested in Taylor.

Where do you think Taylor signs?

View full rumor

[Fatbat]

Not here. We can do better in house. 

[JD-TWINS]

Just don’t want to (see the need to) spend the $$ for a guy that would play much less (be NEEDED less) and strikes out at a high rate. I’d take my chances with Castro & Martin (if Buxton crumbles) and their ability to hit .240 and play a decent CF w/o striking out as much. Also, they both bring speed to the line-up. Both available v. LH pitching. Taylor can run as well & obviously is a RH bat but he was having leg & (I think) back issues after July 1 last season…….already have fragile Byron!

Bottom line is he signs somewhere else. I would think for his cost & the thump in his bat, his agent should call the CUBS.

[nicksaviking]

Glad the Twins aren't listed as one of the teams, as it should indicate one of two things.

They have more faith in Buxton's recovery than the fans do, or, they are serious about reducing strikeouts next year.

It would be great if it indicates both.

[Dave Borton]

15 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Glad the Twins aren't listed as one of the teams, as it should indicate one of two things...

...au contraire.

Quite a conclusion but I see no basis for drawing it.

 

[Rosterman]

The guy was probably more valuable to the Twins in 2023 than Buxton. The homers were a nice surprise. Plus he offered some baserunning speed. But still, the average was below average, and the strikeouts meant he bats low in the order.

Not sure if his 2023 gets him a big contract, or even multi-year.

 

[darin617]

On 1/5/2024 at 12:46 PM, Fatbat said:

Not here. We can do better in house. 

So who is better in house than MAT? Buxton for 6 games, Gordon lol, ERod maybe in 2-3 years, Jenkins yes in a couple of years, and maybe Castro now.

So that gives you really only 1 in house option that may be better.

[Fatbat]

18 hours ago, darin617 said:

So who is better in house than MAT? Buxton for 6 games, Gordon lol, ERod maybe in 2-3 years, Jenkins yes in a couple of years, and maybe Castro now.

So that gives you really only 1 in house option that may be better.

Some sort of combo of buxton, martin and castro. We will see who is healthy and productive.

Edit… I doubt this scenario will happen but Lewis could shift to CF and Lee could be our 3B out of spring training.  To be greedy, that would get the FO another comp pick in the ‘25 amateur draft. 

Edited January 7, 2024 by Fatbat
3rd cup of coffee

[nicksaviking]

13 hours ago, davidborton said:

...au contraire.

Quite a conclusion but I see no basis for drawing it.

 

Then there is no basis for any conclusions.

[nicksaviking]

10 hours ago, darin617 said:

So who is better in house than MAT?

Anyone who doesn't strikeout 33% of the time and has an base percentage greater than .278.

Which is pretty much every option.

[darin617]

22 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Anyone who doesn't strikeout 33% of the time and has an base percentage greater than .278.

Which is pretty much every option.

MAT may have been pushed into the launch angle nonsense last year. He did have 21 home runs and played excellent defense.

Castro may be better suited as a super utility and pinch runner with his speed. 

I can't wait to see people complain about getting nothing out of CF in 2024.

[nicksaviking]

31 minutes ago, darin617 said:

MAT may have been pushed into the launch angle nonsense last year. He did have 21 home runs and played excellent defense.

Castro may be better suited as a super utility and pinch runner with his speed. 

I can't wait to see people complain about getting nothing out of CF in 2024.

It was 21 hollow HR, he was an offensive liability last year. The thing he did well was redundant on this team and the things he did poorly compounded the team’s worst sins.

This team desperately needs to reduce strikeouts and get on base better, removing Taylor is an obvious solution to those problems.

[Doctor Wu]

8 hours ago, darin617 said:

MAT may have been pushed into the launch angle nonsense last year.

Yeah, that could be correct. The increase in homers was unexpected, as was his higher strike out rate. I like Taylor as a player, especially with his defense, but I don't see a fit with the Twins this year. We need to give Martin and chance and/or see if Gordon has what it takes. And then there is this guy named Buxton ... just saying. 

[darin617]

20 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

It was 21 hollow HR, he was an offensive liability last year. The thing he did well was redundant on this team and the things he did poorly compounded the team’s worst sins.

This team desperately needs to reduce strikeouts and get on base better, removing Taylor is an obvious solution to those problems.

Sure, because Buxton is ready to play 8 games at least...

[darin617]

13 hours ago, Doctor Wu said:

Yeah, that could be correct. The increase in homers was unexpected, as was his higher strike out rate. I like Taylor as a player, especially with his defense, but I don't see a fit with the Twins this year. We need to give Martin and chance and/or see if Gordon has what it takes. And then there is this guy named Buxton ... just saying. 

I see this being one of those years when there are like 6 players trying to fill the position. 

[nicksaviking]

55 minutes ago, darin617 said:

Sure, because Buxton is ready to play 8 games at least...

What does Buxton have to do with Taylor not being an offensive fit with the Twins? Taylor is the only guy besides Buxton who can play CF? Other guys are available both internally and externally.

[RpR]

3 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

What does Buxton have to do with Taylor not being an offensive fit with the Twins? Taylor is the only guy besides Buxton who can play CF? Other guys are available both internally and externally.

None of them can field at the very high level Taylor can, but hey, so other teams score a few more run with lessor Center Fielders.

[Doctor Wu]

9 hours ago, darin617 said:

I see this being one of those years when there are like 6 players trying to fill the position. 

Yeah, those "good old days" or revolving outfielders. Sigh. I sure hope there is some stability at that position this year. 

[miracleb]

On 1/8/2024 at 7:05 PM, darin617 said:

I see this being one of those years when there are like 6 players trying to fill the position. 

Which is why we fill the position internally!  Good point!  There are many internal options that are A LOT cheaper that Taylor will be!

[darin617]

13 hours ago, miracleb said:

Which is why we fill the position internally!  Good point!  There are many internal options that are A LOT cheaper that Taylor will be!

Cheaper isn't better. You need a guy that you can count on to play 5-6 games a week and play good defense and give some offense as well.

Castro is better suited for super utility role.

[jorgenswest]

I really think Gordon is overlooked. He had a 0 RAA in CF in 2022. It was -3 in 2021 but he had never played there until reaching the majors. For projecting I prefer the statcast expected stats that are based on contact. His xSLG in 2022 was .464. Even in his dismal BABIP driven 2023 his xSLG of .428 was better than Farmer(.399) or Castro(.365). He also has a career RAA of 0 at both 2B and SS.

The Twins may let go of Gordon but he could easily have a better career going forward than Castro and very likely Farmer. There is a reason ZIPS projects Gordon to have a better bat than Castro and Farmer next year. We have images of his poor play in CF when thrown out there in 2021. We saw the dismal numbers to start last year that were driven by an unsustainable .179 BABiP. It is hard to recall the 125 OPS+ against right handed pitching in 2022. That works in LF and certainly in CF.

[stringer bell]

1 hour ago, jorgenswest said:

I really think Gordon is overlooked. He had a 0 RAA in CF in 2022. It was -3 in 2021 but he had never played there until reaching the majors. For projecting I prefer the statcast expected stats that are based on contact. His xSLG in 2022 was .464. Even in his dismal BABIP driven 2023 his xSLG of .428 was better than Farmer(.399) or Castro(.365). He also has a career RAA of 0 at both 2B and SS.

The Twins may let go of Gordon but he could easily have a better career going forward than Castro and very likely Farmer. There is a reason ZIPS projects Gordon to have a better bat than Castro and Farmer next year. We have images of his poor play in CF when thrown out there in 2021. We saw the dismal numbers to start last year that were driven by an unsustainable .179 BABiP. It is hard to recall the 125 OPS+ against right handed pitching in 2022. That works in LF and certainly in CF.

I suppose if you find the right prism to look through, Gordon might be an equal option as a hitter or defender. I see other numbers that don't agree. What shouldn't be disputed is that Gordon struggles mightily against left handed pitching and he is nowhere near the threat on the bases that Willi Castro is. Gordon needs to be clearly superior as a hitter/defender and I don't believe he is. 

Willi Castro improved dramatically as a base runner and defender last year. If that is not a mirage, I have a hard time seeing Gordon performing well enough to supplant him.