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

[JD-TWINS]

16 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.

Agreed………..Nick Gordon’s career OPS+ is 92 just for a comparison. (a year at 35 & a year at 79 to get there)…….KiKe deserves to be unemployed IMO.

[DocBauer]

Is this just a situation where the guy who signs for the least amount wins? 

We don't need another 2B do we? And can Kiki even be an option in CF any longer? 

If it's about being a corner OF and a RH bat who beats up on LHP, then why not Tommy Pham? He's got more power than Hernandez and has a career .834 OPS against lefties. And his career .768 against RHP isn't exactly embarrassing, so he can play daily if needed.

Adam Duvall has almost completely neutral splits in his career, .760 and .770, and also has more power than Hernandez. And like Pham, you don't have to use him strictly as a platoon option. He can also play daily if needed. 

I just don't see the fit here unless he can be a legitimate option in CF. But even then, I'm more in favor of a power corner bat to compliment Wallner and Kepler.

[sweetmusicviola16]

Other than Jordan Montgomery, there isn't an FA that gives me the least it of interest at this point. Lets roll with who we have in the org. Enough of the FA conjecture. A trade between now and opening day is far more likely and useful maybe than what is left on the FA heap. 

[Parfigliano]

18 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.

No value here.  Zero.  None.

[Parfigliano]

14 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. 

So other then being a career nothing what's the holdup?

[Mike Sixel]

This would not be my favorite decision. 

[sftwinsfan]

I really hope this doesn't happen, had a .646 OPS last year and .629 the year prior. I would much rather them just play Farmer and Castro if someone needs a day off. If all else fails, give Martin a chance. I'm not real high on him (Martin) but he can probably manage those numbers and could be a great option off the bench to pinch run late in games and maybe steal a base. 

[RpR]

I cannot see why they are looking at him but then I do not have their information, still seems odd.

[Swimbo]

I have to agree with today's post. I'm assuming the naming of final candidates for him did come from his agent in an attempt to drive up price.

For all we know the Twins offer could be a minor league one, his agent is just stirring things up in hopes a team will up their offer. 

 

[Otaknam]

23 hours ago, Reptevia said:

This is an upgrade over Gordon?

 

6 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

Agreed………..Nick Gordon’s career OPS+ is 92 just for a comparison. (a year at 35 & a year at 79 to get there)…….KiKe deserves to be unemployed IMO.

[Otaknam]

I think the Twins will take a wait and see approach on the utility guy and don’t want to spend the money if a young guy can come through. Let’s see what Martin and Castro can do in spring training or maybe someone unexpected from the minors.

[rwilfong86]

23 hours 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 the sake of spending.

Agreed, they need a bat with some pop or elite defense. Not another utility player

[David HK]

Did we do something wrong?  Why would this be imposed on the Twins?  

It's like your dentist calling and telling you, "Congrats!  You're a finalist for a root canal!" 

[JD-TWINS]

5 hours ago, RpR said:

I cannot see why they are looking at him but then I do not have their information, still seems odd.

Love it!

[JD-TWINS]

On 2/24/2024 at 9:29 PM, jkcarew said:

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.

 

Castro checked all the boxes last year. Good defense at 4 positions & OPS+ of 106.

Hernandez is washed…..IMO. This has to be some article started to try and gain leverage in the market for the player.

’22 OPS+ of 75

’23 OPS+ of 74

[nicksaviking]

He has four suitors? This sounds suspiciously like something the agent leaked. Gio Urshela and Amed Rosario just signed for a measly 1.5M. Any of these four teams could have just offered either of those two 2M. This seems more like a last ditch effort to avoid having to take a MiLB deal.

Edit: And now Nick Ahmed signed a MiLB deal with the Giants. Now it really seems like this four team bidding war is most likely for similar MiLB deal. I mean it's not like either of these guys would be signed for any other reason than their gloves. And if it is for a MiLB deal, I doubt the Twins will come out on top. He'll want to go where he has the best chance to get called up, and with Lewis, Correa, Julien, Castro. Farmer and Lee ready to go, that can't be terribly attractive.

[Dave The Dastardly]

On 2/25/2024 at 9:17 AM, terrydactyls said:

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

Or "what arrives on my "smart" phone unsolicited and of questionable veracity"

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Some of the posts read like the Twins are the Oakland A's or Chicago White Sox. Despite the lack of spending this off season, IF (and yes, its a big IF) the Twins are healthy in October, they have a legitimate chance. When you have a legitimate chance at post-season success, you want someone like Hernandez on your roster. When the Twins signed Solano and Gallo last year, at face value, those moves could've been perceived as blocking the paths of Julien and Wallner. It's a marathon, not a sprint. Having veterans with a proven post-season track record - it's a good thing - and doesn't necessarily preclude prospects like Martin from having an impact.

[Danchat]

3 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

He has four suitors? This sounds suspiciously like something the agent leaked. Gio Urshela and Amed Rosario just signed for a measly 1.5M. Any of these four teams could have just offered either of those two 2M. This seems more like a last ditch effort to avoid having to take MiLB deal.

Edit: And now Nick Ahmed signed a MiLB deal with the Giants. Now it really seems like this four team bidding war is most likely for similar MiLB deal. I mean it's not like either of these guys would be signed for any other reason than their gloves. And if it is for a MiLB deal, I doubt the Twins will come out on top. He'll want to go where he has the best chance to get called up, and with Lewis, Correa, Julien, Castro. Farmer and Lee ready to go, that can't be terribly attractive.

It does make a lot more sense if these four teams are trying to sign him to minor deals, while he's waiting to see if he can land a major league deal.

[baul0010]

On 2/24/2024 at 7:04 PM, 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.

Even if Farmer was gone, I'd rather not sign him.

[tony&rodney]

Kike really only wanted to play for the Dodgers. The Dodgers have two young outfielders and a young shortstop and were looking to add Hernandez back on to the team for defense, speed, and post season hits.

Margot was the required extra if the Dodgers wanted Glasnow and it took all offseason for the Dodgers to find a team willing to take Margot. Seems pretty simple from the LA side. I must admit that I have zero idea what Falvey thinks. 

Margot? I'm sure he is a professional ballplayer and will work hard to contribute wherever he can with the Twins. He has experience as an MLB guy and apparently that was the only requirement for the 26th roster spot.

So it's done. The offseason is finally completed for the front office. All articles and posts can now focus on the players and games. I'm thinking the Twins win 84 games and the AL Central crown. The playoffs are a fire drill and anything can and does happen. Witness the 2023 AZ, 2006 STL, and 1987 MN teams.

[nicksaviking]

Man, the Dodgers just can't quit Kike. And they're paying him 4M while Gio Urshela and Amed Rosario got 1.5M, Nick Ahmed took a MiLB deal and the Dodgers had to eat money to get rid of the arguably better bench player in Margot.

[tony&rodney]

2 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Man, the Dodgers just can't quit Kike. And they're paying him 4M while Gio Urshela and Amed Rosario got 1.5M, Nick Ahmed took a MiLB deal and the Dodgers had to eat money to get rid of the arguably better bench player in Margot.

It almost seems like the Dodgers have different ideas about how to win than the Twins.

[nicksaviking]

12 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

It almost seems like the Dodgers have different ideas about how to win than the Twins.

If it involves Enrique Hernandez, you can count me out.

He does appear to play better for them than other teams though.

[tony&rodney]

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

If it involves Enrique Hernandez, you can count me out.

He does appear to play better for them than other teams though.

Personally I had zero interest in Hernandez. Just wonder how the Dodgers work.

[nicksaviking]

37 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Personally I had zero interest in Hernandez. Just wonder how the Dodgers work.

Like this I think:

[tony&rodney]

Funny money.

Do the Dodgers spend 50% of their revenue on player salaries? Hmmm?

I care about that about the same as I care about the Twins spending habits.

I would like to see some good baseball this year.

[Rosterman]

This is one the Twins could afford to let get away!