Minnesota Twins Acquire Outfielder Manuel Margot from Dodgers in 3-Player Trade

[mikelink45]

This is certainly not exciting. I understand that. Noah probably was not going to be on the twins in the next few years so he was expendable. But the player they got does not move the needle in a positive direction. I see the other comments and I agree Taylor was better. I'd rather see. Us use our current utility players like Castro and give room for a player like Austin to grow. So in summary, I think this stinks. 

[Doctor Gast]

2 hours ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

I really liked Miller. I don't care about any cash. Margot has not ever been that much of a hitter. So so. I hope the prospect is good. Sorry to see Miller gone.

We didn't need Margot!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Miller was our future SS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How stupid can this FO be!!!!!!!!!!

BTW the goal of the offseason is to go forward now & in the future not go backward. I had given this FO an F- so far we haven't fill any real needs, they just backfilled positions that were already filled in-house & gave away players who were real assets to the team. 

Miller was an elite SS, that had promise as a good hitter. But because he wasn't a slugger, he's nothing? I've had it with this FO, He'd be miles ahead if he had done nothing. It's like '21 but worse.

Dodger knows a lot about players. this FO knows nothing

[GV14218]

2 hours ago, Heistyman said:

and could replace Buck when needed. 

In other words, Margot should expect to play an awful lot of games. 

[JD-TWINS]

3 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

Reasonable point but Castro did have an 801 OPS against RHP last year.

Buxton will be the DH more often than not & Castro will be in CF v. RH pitching………Buxton does have good reverse splits though.

[nicksaviking]

27 minutes ago, PseudoSABR said:

This is absurd.  The saying 'don't count chickens before they are hatched' exists for a reason.  

Last year's rookie influx was a historic aberration for the Twins, and you're acting as if it's commonplace.

Yeah, completely different than the year before when Lewis, Miranda, Gordon and Ober made the vets look expendable.

At least in 2022 the Twins actually had plenty of guys to option. Now they don't.

[DocBauer]

From MLBTRADERUMORS, Winder has been placed on the 60 day as he's behind everyone with the shoulder/scapula fracture that slowed his offseason prep. Should be available late May if he's healthy and ramped up.

Margot has 13 defensive runs saved as recently as 2021. He's been bothered some by a knee issue in 2022 that may have affected him some in 2023 as well.

If the knee is good to go, I like this deal even better. Still not sure I wouldn't have just signed someone for 1yr and $5-8M instead, but a healthy Margot really does fill a lot of roles.

[PseudoSABR]

3 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

We didn't need Margot!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Miller was our future SS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How stupid can this FO be!!!!!!!!!!

BTW the goal of the offseason is to go forward now & in the future not go backward. I had given this FO an F- so far we haven't fill any real needs, they just backfilled positions that were already filled in-house & gave away players who were real assets to the team. 

Miller was an elite SS, that had promise as a good hitter. But because he wasn't a slugger, he's nothing? I've had it with this FO, He'd be miles ahead if he had done nothing. It's like '21 but worse.

This is sarcasm right?

[PseudoSABR]

2 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Yeah, completely different than the year before when Lewis, Miranda, Gordon and Ober made the vets look expendable.

At least the in 2022 the Twins actually had plenty of guys to option. Now they don't.

Whither Miranda and Gordon? The 2022 Twins I don't believe won a playoff game or finished .500, but I could be wrong. 

[nicksaviking]

2 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

From MLBTRADERUMORS, Winder has been placed on the 60 day as he's behind everyone with the shoulder/scapula fracture that slowed his offseason prep. Should be available late May if he's healthy and ramped up.

Margot has 13 defensive runs saved as recently as 2021. He's been bothered some by a knee issue in 2022 that may have affected him some in 2023 as well.

If the knee is good to go, I like this deal even better. Still not sure I wouldn't have just signed someone for 1yr and $5-8M instead, but a healthy Margot really does fill a lot of roles.

Had no idea Winder was a 60-day candidate. Kind of a bummer, I was hopeful this would be the year his velocity would start translating to strikeouts. Not that there was much room for him at the MLB level this year.

[baul0010]

2 hours ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

Solid move. Can folks lay off the front office at least until tomorrow morning?

I can do that.... But, all bets are off as of tomorrow afternoon!

[singlesoverwalks]

Folks; if Austin Martin is worth having on the major league roster, then he'll mash at AAA (something he has not yet come close to doing), and the team wil make room for him. The presence of Manuel Margot will definitely not block Austin Martin.

[Major League Ready]

7 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Buxton will be the DH more often than not & Castro will be in CF v. RH pitching………Buxton does have good reverse splits though.

Also a good point.  You guys are on a roll.  My guess is we see a lot of guys in that role over the course of the season.  I hope Buxton is so healthy we don't see him in that role as much as we expect.

[DocBauer]

Just now, nicksaviking said:

Had no idea Winder was a 60-day candidate. Kind of a bummer, I was hopeful this would be the year his velocity would start translating to strikeouts. Not that there was much room for him at the MLB level this year.

From what I've read and heard, I don't believe he's hurt any longer. I think it's more about being behind everyone else do they went this route to do so, while working on his new fastball. I'm guessing they did this instead of removing someone else from the 40 man?

[GV14218]

1 hour ago, UK Twin said:

Margot hasn't been acquired for that reason. 

Actually, given Buxton’s track record of games played, he actually has been acquired for that reason. 

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

This trade bites us if Miller becomes a competent bat.  I personally think he does.  However if you were going to trade him, this is the year after the fall he had.  It appears you picked up a similar prospect so effectively Margot as a throw in for a year.  

So it comes down to who is the better prospect - Miller or Doncon.  Doncon is younger, but likely a better bat, but Miller can be your no bat defensive utility player now.  He has the chance of developing to be slightly below average bat with elite defense.  

From what it appears Dodgers were instigating this trade to open a spot for Kike.  So ultimately I think the Twins got the better end of this trade.  Will have to wait and see.  

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

6 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Had no idea Winder was a 60-day candidate. Kind of a bummer, I was hopeful this would be the year his velocity would start translating to strikeouts. Not that there was much room for him at the MLB level this year.

NM

[PseudoSABR]

 

[nicksaviking]

5 minutes ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

This trade bites us if Miller becomes a competent bat.  I personally think he does.  However if you were going to trade him, this is the year after the fall he had.  It appears you picked up a similar prospect so effectively Margot as a throw in for a year.  

So it comes down to who is the better prospect - Miller or Doncon.  Doncon is younger, but likely a better bat, but Miller can be your no bat defensive utility player now.  He has the chance of developing to be slightly below average bat with elite defense.  

From what it appears Dodgers were instigating this trade to open a spot for Kike.  So ultimately I think the Twins got the better end of this trade.  Will have to wait and see.  

But if you happened to need one of these, and I certainly hope the Twins don't any time in the foreseeable future, you can pick one up for peanuts. Neither of these prospects likely amounts to much, but offense costs money, defense doesn't, so take the guy who's ceiling would be more expense to replace externally.

[nova_twins]

Miller is very good at SS but the twins have extremely detailed knowledge of him and clearly don't believe he'll ever hit. ZiPS projects his 2026 OPS to be .609. 

Keep in mind they didn't even have to include miller, the incoming prospect is more highly-rated if anything, and the twins/dodgers could have just changed the salary offset. 

[FlyingFinn]

Twins put Josh Winder on the 60 day IL to make room for Margot. Winder's career is hanging be a thread at this point.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

2 minutes ago, nova_twins said:

Miller is very good at SS but the twins have extremely detailed knowledge of him and clearly don't believe he'll ever hit. ZiPS projects his 2026 OPS to be .609. 

Keep in mind they didn't even have to include miller, the incoming prospect is more highly-rated if anything, and the twins/dodgers could have just changed the salary offset. 

I don't agree with that take.  He had .823 OPS in August of last year and effectively helped lead the team to the championship last year.  The question is can he continue to improve is plate discipline as he did last year.   An .800 OPS player with his defense is a very valuable piece.  

[MMMordabito]

5 minutes ago, PseudoSABR said:

 

Well, if anyone was ever motivated to have a career year, it would be Margot.  The Twins valued him at less than $4 million, since they appear from un-biased angles to have gotten the better prospect.  Even with a career year, that option is probably cost-prohibitive to the Twins, but a team with deeper pockets ......??

[jorgenswest]

33 minutes ago, singlesoverwalks said:

There's not space to maybe squeeze in one.more bat on the roster? Maybe Larnach gets one more chance?

They may not be done yet. They may try to find someone to take Farmer but his contract may be prohibitive.

[singlesoverwalks]

1 minute ago, jorgenswest said:

They may not be done yet. They may try to find someone to take Farmer but his contract may be prohibitive.

I think they like Farmer. He fits with their approach - they really like platooning and positional flexibility, and he has big platoon splits and positional flexibility. And we have a lot of players who can't hit left-handed pitching.

[PseudoSABR]

4 minutes ago, jorgenswest said:

They may not be done yet. They may try to find someone to take Farmer but his contract may be prohibitive.

I think they are done for now, but that could change by the end of Spring or as the deadline nears.

 

[KirbyDome89]

33 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

I don't like Margot, but he not only strikes out less, his OBP is also significantly better than Taylor and Duvall. I don't want any of them on the roster, but at least Margot will give the team far fewer empty plate appearances, and with the current construct of the roster, I think that's more important from the last guy on the bench than anything else.

Yeah I'm not excited by anybody in in trio, but I'd say Duvall at least can compensate for his shortcomings in an area that's most impactful for this club. Idk what qualifies as an empty PA, but Margot's own on base skills are far from impressive and there's no power there. Maybe he slaps his way to another mid .200s average.

[Jocko87]

1 hour ago, PseudoSABR said:

To those decrying about Martin, Lanarch, and the loss of flexibility on the opening day 26 man: did the Twins suddenly invent some salve to stave off injuries for the entire year? We will see a lot of Martin this year, maybe a significant amount given our team's injury history.  Depth matters, as last year showed.   

This is basically where I'm at.  I would have preferred the last spot have options but these things tend to work themselves out.  Just like last year, the rookies will have to break down the door and I'm fine with that.  It's quite a lot to expect Martin to do what Margot will be able to do his first taste of the bigs.  This is supposed to be a championship roster, not a rookie training ground.

To that end, while I agree all the guys with options are guy we would not want to see optioned this is a year where if Kirriloff struggles he goes down.  Wallner or Julien might see some slump time, who knows.  Depth is good and if everyone is beating down the door both Margot and Santana are easy flips at the deadline.

As for Miller, if he can't hit a lick at A ball the glove doesn't matter.  He's behind-well, a whole lot of guys.  I was going to list them but I'm lazy and that's a lot of work.  Please don't be sad for his departure.

This is part of the plan. Draft tons of middle infielders and don't worry about a future fit, they are trade candidates.  Hell, we might be in a spot where the infield is set for 5 years. Whatever will we do to find a spot for Ben Ross?

[notoriousgod71]

Rather have Taylor.

[by jiminy]

2 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

My guess is he is insistent upon 2 years and the Twins don't want to roster him for two years.  I doubt it has anything to do with the AAV he is asking.  They might also be serious about cutting down the Ks.

Oh, clearly -- there is no way this decision could possibly have anything to do with the salary demands of the other options.

[jorgenswest]

As long as they are willing to let go of DeSclafani, Santana, Margot, Farmer and the new reliever additions I am OK with adding this decline phase set. If they hit on a few it can be a productive winner unless they negate those wins by retaining those performing below league average.

How patient will they be with poor performance? They released Blake Parker on July 29 after 105 games. Have they released any similar veteran addition earlier? A previous administration cut loose Jason Maquis after 41 games. I hope the line this year is closer to 41 than 105.