Twins A Finalist for Utility-man Kiké Hernandez's Services

[wiguy94]

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Twins are one of four teams that Kiké Hernandez will decide from for 2024 alongside the Angels, Padres, and Giants. Hernandez is 32 and coming off double-hernia surgery in October of 2023. He has played all 8 positions in the field in 2023, but struggled to -1.3 fWAR. 

Should the Twins try to acquire his services for 2024 and if they do what role should he play?

 

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[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

Im wondering if this is a AAA signing.  

[Reptevia]

This is an upgrade over Gordon?

[Heiny]

I really don't see the need for Kike.  I think we have plenty of depth in the minors at this point for his utility value.  Looks like a waste of money to me.  No need to spend for the sake of spending.

[HerbieFan]

If he's choosing from four teams he's not signing for the minimum, which would make sense for the Twins if they could move Farmer.  I just dont see the need given the current roster.

[Blyleven2011]

4 minutes ago, Heiny said:

I really don't see the need for Kike.  I think we have plenty of depth in the minors at this point for his utility value.  Looks like a waste of money to me.  No need to spend for spending  

 

Solano was a late sign , and he had a good year with the twins as it turned out ...

Lightning doesn't always strike twice in the same spot and I'm hoping fO isn't thinking that way  , unless it's DFA money  ...

Kiki  could be had for low cost prove it contract , the guy plays everywhere  and would be nice if signed and had a good season with us ...

I do prefer using our talent from our minors , got to let them play at this level sometime  ... 

We do have enough utility players ...

[jorgenswest]

Signing decline phase veterans to one year lower dollar contracts is a recipe for mediocrity. In order to compete at this budget level they need to develop their own cost controlled talent. Instead they are filling the bench and back of bullpen with short term low upside veterans.

[Oldgoat_MN]

I always liked Kike, but this would be nothing more than blocking our own talent. 

He has had 1 year in the last half decade where his OPS+ was greater than 87.

Don't see a value here.

[specialiststeve]

Don't see the point. We have inhouse replacements that need AB's to see if they have what it takes. Mostly Martin who is basically Kiki with more upside.. Just give him the gig and lets see what he has got. 

[big dog]

I think the role he should play is an Angel, Giant, or Padre.

[Jocko87]

1 hour ago, HerbieFan said:

If he's choosing from four teams he's not signing for the minimum, which would make sense for the Twins if they could move Farmer.  I just dont see the need given the current roster.

I'd prefer Farmer several different ways. If it's not a minimum or minor league deal the cost difference won't be significant.

I don't know why he would pick Minnesota anyway, he'd almost certainly want something that had cleaner routes to playing time.

[jkcarew]

202 career post season PA with a 893 OPS. Can still play SS and CF (and 2B). 801 career OPS agains lefties (but falling pretty fast).

Martin is the only in-house options that MIGHT check that many boxes by himself. And, in 2024, Hernandez would probably provide a much higher floor in that type of role than any of the rookies.

I ‘d love to have that security blanket in the post season, but not sure it raises any regular season bar enough to warrant taking opportunities from the new guys (with whom you can mix and match through the coarse of the season since they all have options…at least if you haven’t already packed the roster with too many mediocre veterans).

Maybe more of a guy you would try to get at the deadline if you have lost depth at SS, CF, or 2B, due to injury…and/or performance issues with the young depth.

 

[Danchat]

People were disappointed when Donovan Solano was signed last year and turned out a pretty good year, and Kike is a fun player to watch... but between him and Santana as the new RH hitters on town that would be underwhelming.

[jkcarew]

12 minutes ago, Jocko87 said:

I don't know why he would pick Minnesota anyway, he'd almost certainly want something that had cleaner routes to playing time.

I don’t know. You COULD look at those 4 clubs and say the Twins have the clearest path to the playoffs. And the playoffs have always been his thing, his time to shine.

[Jocko87]

2 minutes ago, jkcarew said:

I don’t know. You COULD look at those 4 clubs and say the Twins have the clearest path to the playoffs. And the playoffs have always been his thing, his time to shine.

That's true, no telling his motivations.

It's also odd how Rosenthal presents this, like it's the Kiki sweepstakes. Like the Twins are breathlessly awaiting his decision so they can proceed with the rest of their offseason.

Hope he goes back to Boston, MAT is a better fit. I'd be suspect of Kiki in center and we have enough infielders to cover everything else ahead of him.

[GKuehl]

I’d much rather sign a power, righty OFer like Duvall or Pham than Kiké. Considering the positional versatility of Willi Castro, Kyle Farmer, Austin Martin, and, to some extent, Alex Kirilloff, that Kike can play numerous positions isn’t all that helpful. At this stage, Kike is really only useful against LHP and I’d rather have a player that’s better against LHP than Kike is at this stage of his career or a player that is passable against RHP. 

[DocBauer]

This is a joke from his agent, right?

Rosenthal is being a mouthpiece right?

His entire career has been as a useful utility player who has no power, limited AVG and OB%, no real speed or SB ability, and poor quad slash results with a career .711 OPS. His entire "worth" is based on a few good games in the post season!

I can't see Falvey having ANY interest in him at all! Taylor, Duvall, Pham, would be so much better. You'd be better off trusting in Martin, or making room on the 40 man for Helman or Prato instead of adding him. 

Actually, I'd be reluctant to add him as a milb option considering what we already have. This has to be an agent joke reporting. 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

8 hours ago, DocBauer said:

This is a joke from his agent, right?

Rosenthal is being a mouthpiece right?

His entire career has been as a useful utility player who has no power, limited AVG and OB%, no real speed or SB ability, and poor quad slash results with a career .711 OPS. His entire "worth" is based on a few good games in the post season!

I can't see Falvey having ANY interest in him at all! Taylor, Duvall, Pham, would be so much better. You'd be better off trusting in Martin, or making room on the 40 man for Helman or Prato instead of adding him. 

Actually, I'd be reluctant to add him as a milb option considering what we already have. This has to be an agent joke reporting. 

As Will Rogers said: "All I know is what I read in the newspapers." In my opinion,  the Twins FO is not going to sign Hernandez. This is an example of possibly the Twins called the agent involved in October to inquire, but nothing was done, an the agent is using this as leverage to  motivate some other team's FO to sign Kiki. I think this sort of thing goes on a lot more than we realize.

[CRF]

Why? We don't need him at all. 

[Greglw3]

12 hours ago, Oldgoat_MN said:

I always liked Kike, but this would be nothing more than blocking our own talent. 

He has had 1 year in the last half decade where his OPS+ was greater than 87.

Don't see a value here.

His OPS vs. lefties has often been above .800 (and I think I’m understating it). That’s the fit. He was injured last year.

[Greglw3]

4 minutes ago, CRF said:

Why? We don't need him at all. 

We don’t need a rh outfielder who has racked up .800 + OPS vs lefties often in his career. I’d argue we do need him and there will also be plenty of room for Martin.

[stringer bell]

Bad defense in center and SS. Decent bat against LH pitching. Nah. 

[terrydactyls]

1 hour ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

As Will Rogers said: "All I know is what I read in the newspapers." In my opinion,  the Twins FO is not going to sign Hernandez. This is an example of possibly the Twins called the agent involved in October to inquire, but nothing was done, an the agent is using this as leverage to  motivate some other team's FO to sign Kiki. I think this sort of thing goes on a lot more than we realize.

What are these "newspapers" that Rogers refers to?  It should be updated to "All I know is what I read online."

[sweetmusicviola16]

How about NO. Lets see what we have in Martin. Lets see what we already have in the organization. Someone like Hernandez should not take PT away from other guys, including in ST. It's time to grow up as an organization.

[Andy_Twins]

15 hours ago, Reptevia said:

This is an upgrade over Gordon?

Right-handed and probably better defensively

[Squirrel]

15 hours ago, Reptevia said:

This is an upgrade over Gordon?

Then let the Marlins sign him since that’s where Gordon is now.

I don’t think he’s needed, is he? I mean we have Castro, Farmer, Martin, Lee … do we need him?

[dxpavelka]

14 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

Solano was a late sign , and he had a good year with the twins as it turned out ...

Lightning doesn't always strike twice in the same spot and I'm hoping fO isn't thinking that way  , unless it's DFA money  ...

Kiki  could be had for low cost prove it contract , the guy plays everywhere  and would be nice if signed and had a good season with us ...

I do prefer using our talent from our minors , got to let them play at this level sometime  ... 

We do have enough utility players ...

I remember when we signed Solano thinking "what the hell are they thinking?"  In fact I still thought that 6 weeks into the season when he had 5 RBI.  I was proven wrong.  And as for having enough utility players, You can never have enough GOOD players. 

[Greglw3]

2 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Bad defense in center and SS. Decent bat against LH pitching. Nah. 

My guess is with 2 LH regulars in the OF and the general weakness of the Twins vs lefties the last few years, they’re interested in his career .801 OPS vs L as a corner OF fill in and possibly 2B at times (see 2nd graphic). I like Martin a lot but maybe they can use both of them. Kinda like you can never have too much pitching.

Baseball Reference

[JD-TWINS]

Kiké in ‘23:

465 AB’s & a  -.1 WAR ….. .237 BA ……. 74 OPS+
 

Farmer in ‘23:

336 AB’s & a 1.7 WAR ….. .256 BA ……. 98 OPS+
 

Both hit 11 HR in ‘23…..Hernández had 38% more AB’s.

Farmer is solid at all 3 positions he plays on the dirt. His offensive career stats are better than Kike’s.

Farmer was Twins LEADER in wins - losses when in the line-up…….. 70-50!!

Why in HEdouble hockey sticks would they move Farmer to sign Hernandez?????

[JD-TWINS]

3 hours ago, Greglw3 said:

His OPS vs. lefties has often been above .800 (and I think I’m understating it). That’s the fit. He was injured last year.

his career stats are mediocre or less…….his career OPS v. LH is .801. not exactly a guy that’s moving the needle nor worth tying up a roster spot.

If he had reasonable ability he’d be in a roster IMO.