Twins Interested in Carlos Santana Reunion For 2025

[RpR]

36 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Remember that Carlos Santana was moved from catcher to third base because he was a very poor catcher and subsequently moved to first base because he could not manage to play even a slightly below average third base. When he moved to first base he had all sorts of problems there but he kept on hitting and working hard to learn the position, thus eventually becoming a good first baseman. 

As much as I am hoping for improvement in the defense in 2025 at several positions, realistically not every player will be above average on defense for the Twins next year. Players can improve their footwork quite a bit and through repetitions and gaining comfort become better at a position. Don't give up on a guy. Teams did not give up on Carlos Santana.

Any consideration of Walker can only result from a trade of a larger contract. I do not believe that will occur.

Santan'a only bad year was 2015, a long time ago, and outside of catcher , and the short time he was at Third Base, he was never nearly as bad as Julien, Miranda in general, and with the exception of one Bad year,  was good to very good at First Base from the get-go.t

The Twins have had too many mediocre to just plain bad fielders; they cannot afford to continually try to be a Little League training school.

[stringer bell]

38 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Remember that Carlos Santana was moved from catcher to third base because he was a very poor catcher and subsequently moved to first base because he could not manage to play even a slightly below average third base. When he moved to first base he had all sorts of problems there but he kept on hitting and working hard to learn the position, thus eventually becoming a good first baseman. 

As much as I am hoping for improvement in the defense in 2025 at several positions, realistically not every player will be above average on defense for the Twins next year. Players can improve their footwork quite a bit and through repetitions and gaining comfort become better at a position. Don't give up on a guy. Teams did not give up on Carlos Santana.

Any consideration of Walker can only result from a trade of a larger contract. I do not believe that will occur.

It is rare that a truly gifted defender starts as a first baseman. Guys with less gifts in the area of range, soft hands and footwork usually are assigned there. The demands of the position can be achieved by hard work as far as being a satisfactory defender IMHO. 

Miranda is not blessed with good foot speed or range and I would state that his hands are below average, but with work he's become borderline acceptable at third base and I would expect at least the same at first base with more reps and experience. He wouldn't be as good a defender as Santana has become, but he would certainly be good enough if he could hit like has for prolonged stretches, better than what can be expected for Santana. 

That said, Santana has demonstrated durability far beyond normal in his entire career and it seems his superpower is to get PAs even when he isn't productive (sorry, a little tongue in cheek there). The Twins shouldn't be the team to give him 600 PAs when he only gets 1 WAR. 

It's prudent that the Twins have a Plan B behind Miranda, but Santana has never been a part-time option and the platoon-loving Rocco isn't very likely to do that with a Gold Glove switch hitter,

[dxpavelka]

On 12/14/2024 at 8:42 PM, DocBauer said:

Ioved Santana's defense and it sounds like he was beloved in the clubhouse. But can we really expect a season similar to 2024 from him? 

I'd love to trade prospects to Tampa for Yandy Diaz. He's $10M next season with a club option in 2026 for $12M i believe. But that only happens if they clear enough $ to afford him. That probably means Vazquez is gone. But then who is the 2nd catcher? 

I know some people won't like it, but I'm kinda looking at George Bell as a younger and possibly better switch hitting bat who can DH and help at 1B with Miranda. Not much defense from him, but he's got experience at least, and doesn't have to be the full time 1B. I like his bat in the 6 or 7 hole instead of hoping Santana can defying Father Time for one more year.

George Bell is 65 years old.  Santana seems far more likely to defy Father Time.  Although Bell might fit the budget better.

[nicksaviking]

18 hours ago, dxpavelka said:

George Bell is 65 years old.  Santana seems far more likely to defy Father Time.  Although Bell might fit the budget better.

Hard pass. He hasn't been the same player since he changed his name from Jorge Bell.

[DocBauer]

3 hours ago, dxpavelka said:

George Bell is 65 years old.  Santana seems far more likely to defy Father Time.  Although Bell might fit the budget better.

Sorry. Thanks for catching that. I meant Josh Bell of course. Thanks!

[T.O.]

On 12/15/2024 at 7:22 AM, Doctor Gast said:

1B is not a defensive priority but it is to the Twins....

Santana, no matter what social media & the Twins say, was a mistake for many reasons.

It was fun watching Santana playing great defense at first. It brightened many a game where otherwise the Twins stunk. His offense stats may not have been great but he got his share of clutch hits. Not sure I would downplay defense at first so much.
He probably wouldn't have a year like last year but I will still miss him.

I REALLY want to see Miranda play somewhere. Full time and healthy.

[dxpavelka]

7 hours ago, DocBauer said:

Sorry. Thanks for catching that. I meant Josh Bell of course. Thanks!

I'm still intrigued by a 65 year old George Bell's fit within the budget...

[dxpavelka]

4 hours ago, mrzippy said:

It was fun watching Santana playing great defense at first. It brightened many a game where otherwise the Twins stunk. His offense stats may not have been great but he got his share of clutch hits. Not sure I would downplay defense at first so much.
He probably wouldn't have a year like last year but I will still miss him.

I REALLY want to see Miranda play somewhere. Full time and healthy.

I'd like to see Miranda play somewhere as well.  Just not sure that somewhere is here or with a  fielder's glove.

[DocBauer]

9 hours ago, dxpavelka said:

I'm still intrigued by a 65 year old George Bell's fit within the budget...

He'd have to pay to play, so that helps lower payroll a bit. And every bit helps. :)

[stringer bell]

On 12/19/2024 at 8:22 PM, mrzippy said:

It was fun watching Santana playing great defense at first. It brightened many a game where otherwise the Twins stunk. His offense stats may not have been great but he got his share of clutch hits. Not sure I would downplay defense at first so much.
He probably wouldn't have a year like last year but I will still miss him.

I REALLY want to see Miranda play somewhere. Full time and healthy.

Smooth is off the board.  Going back to Cleveland. This time he’s a Guardian. 

[Vanimal46]

$12 million for Santana. Good for him. That’s over our budget by about $22 million. 

[ashbury]

2 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

$12 million for Santana. Good for him. That’s over our budget by about $22 million. 

I wonder if those here who advocated for him, on general principles, would have outbid Cleveland to win the actual bidding.  That's a pretty rich contract.