BREAKING: Twins Agree to One-Year Deal With Outfielder Harrison Bader

[Riverbrian]

5 hours ago, amjgt said:

Those three had zero value at the trade deadline.

They moved Nelson Cruz at the deadline because he had value.

You have a point

But you might be missing the most important point. 

Having no value at the trade deadline is not justification for keeping the player.

It is the exact opposite.

Having no value at the trade deadline is justification for removing the player from the clubhouse. 

[mikelink45]

3 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Whose your DH? I'm guessing larnach....

I still see Larnach and Wallner in the OF.  I am not sure I know our DH - I would say Miranda, but at this point he is 1B.  

[Brock Beauchamp]

5 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

I still see Larnach and Wallner in the OF.  I am not sure I know our DH - I would say Miranda, but at this point he is 1B.  

There isn’t a DH and I doubt there will be. It will be a rotation of guys based on platoons and injury. 

[Blyleven2011]

2 hours ago, Danchat said:

Taylor has caught some strays in this thread, but Baseball Reference has him at 1.9 WAR for his 2023 season even despite his inability to get on base. Getting that out of Bader would be nice.

I do agree with those saying that this is a "floor" move. It's a move the front office needed to make because they can't develop their own CF backup from the minors... it's been years and we're still waiting.

That's because this FO drafts shortstops and then makes them something else , they definitely  haven't drafted many sure thing centerfielders , Jenkins and windomur kid could be centerfielders but I'm sure the jury is still out deliberating  . ..

[tony&rodney]

32 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

I don't think ERod is anywhere close to being an MLB starter.

Pardon the interruption but I have to ask you if you have seen at least a couple dozen to fifty of his plate appearances. I'm not interested in hearing about video highlights or statistics, but actual game PA. How many?

[Riverbrian]

4 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

We can have a difference of opinion, but you're just being stubborn if you refuse to recognize that half of us think that giving a guy who cannot hit 6M and a guaranteed roster spot, making it that much less flexible, is absolutely not improving the team. 

It's lost on me but I see it frequently on TD. People are so afraid that Helman or Martin or Keirsay will OPS .620 that they will pay 6 million for a player that they know will OPS .620. 

[USAFChief]

10 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Pardon the interruption but I have to ask you if you have seen at least a couple dozen to fifty of his plate appearances. I'm not interested in hearing about video highlights or statistics, but actual game PA. How many?

Less than 10.

Hes got less than 150 ABs above A ball. 

He's not ready for a MLB job.

[TheLeviathan]

I like that we can actually discuss something, even if it's Harrison Bader stoking the argument.

I imagine you'll see something like this most days:

SS Correa

3B Lewis

RF Wallner

CF Buxton

LF Larnach

1B Miranda

2B Lee

C Jeffers

DH - Some guy that Castro swaps in for

So I don't get the idea that Bader is a starter.  He's just raising the floor - especially defensively and somewhat against LHP - for the team.  I don't love the move and I've tried to be a believer in Martin, but his inability to play any positions makes that stance really difficult to hold.  So I find the move rational, but not inspiring.

[Vanimal46]

19 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Less than 10.

Hes got less than 150 ABs above A ball. 

He's not ready for a MLB job.

I’m in full agreement. Sorry, not going to read through 8 pages of comments. Is the other side of the argument that Rodriguez needs a clear 6 lane freeway to MLB playing time right away? Because that’s worked out so well over the years…and leaves us with Jordan Luplow type waiver wire pickups in the season when Rodriguez has an unplayable stretch of games. 

[Vanimal46]

Kiersey Jr and Hellman truthers are in shambles right now.

[tony&rodney]

20 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Less than 10.

Hes got less than 150 ABs above A ball. 

He's not ready for a MLB job.

Emmanuel has more at bats in AAA than both Chourio and Merrill from last year's rookie class. That argument doesn't carry with special players. Mauer never played AAA and had only 73 games at AA.

I think we all sample more than ten beers across a period of time before we settle on an opinion of our "go to" favorite beverage. People often sample many omelets before their opinion rests on one that works for them. 

Perhaps the Twins don't believe in him and think he is not ready. If that is the case, trade him. The value will never be higher. Kansas City will gladly stick Emmanuel in the lineup. We can then enjoy his at bats from a close experience.

This feels like Johan. Free Emmanuel.

[thelanges5]

51 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

There isn’t a DH and I doubt there will be. It will be a rotation of guys based on platoons and injury. 

Love to see 2023 Julien back in the DH role!

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, USAFChief said:

I don't think either ERod or Jenkins are Bader's competition for a roster spot.

Neither of those 2 will be 4th outfielders for the Twins in 2025. Maybe for.the last month of the season. Prior to that. If they're in Minneapolis, they're playing every day.

Bader isn't a full time player, unless/until Buxton is on the IL.

ERod/Jenkins are competing with Wallner and Larnach for spots.

Who's your DH? Because if it's larnach, bader is a starter. 

[Mike Sixel]

40 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Less than 10.

Hes got less than 150 ABs above A ball. 

He's not ready for a MLB job.

Has there ever been a rookie you thought was? Not that I can think of. 

[Vanimal46]

 

1 minute ago, Mike Sixel said:

Who's your DH? Because if it's larnach, bader is a starter. 

Has that answer changed because of this signing compared to before?

[DocBauer]

3 hours ago, Danchat said:

I was expecting a veteran addition to the outfield, but this is a bit more than I thought they'd spend. Clearly there was an emphasis to make a defensive upgrade to Margot and find somebody who can fill CF while Buxton is out, and they were not going to go with Martin and Kiersey as their top OF backups. Heck, I wouldn't be shocked if Kiersey if DFA'd to make room.

But it's hard to be excited given how consistently poor Bader has been as a hitter, the last three years come out to about .240/.280 with some power. .280 OBP is gonna be rough.

Hey, at least the lineup has some base-stealing potential with Bader. Speed is something this lineup lacked.

Bader, it seems to me, is the 2025 version of what Taylor was supposed to be a couple years ago; Buxton insurance (high quality defense) with some speed and pop and POTENTIALLY a solid hitter against LHP. And again, I'm not saying I hate the signing, or that he doesn't have a good season.

But the Twins #2 prospect is a CF. Keirsey is reportedly a solid/good CF backup option. Castro can be OK there. Helman has played a fair amount of CF. And like Bader, Rodriguez, Keirsey and Helman have power/pop and speed to run the bases.

I think Grichuk would have been MY move to shore up the offense. The real bite is, they SHOULD have been able to sign BOTH.

[mnfireman]

12 minutes ago, thelanges5 said:

Love to see 2023 Julien back in the DH role!

Unfortunately that player doesn't exist....

[chpettit19]

6 hours ago, NYCTK said:

Well, Pete Alonso isn't walking into the Twin's Clubhouse so this is about as effectively as the Twins can spend their money on February 5th. You'll worried about the past instead of celebrating the team improving today. It's sad to see to be quite honest. 

I think it's a failure of an offseason too. As was last years. I think Falvey, quite honestly, is no good at his job. But that doesn't change the fact that this is a good move. You don't get mad at a player hitting a homerun just because they've been in a slump. 

2 years/54 mil with an opt out for Alonso. Give me him, Diaz, and young guys over Vazquez, Paddack, Castro and Bader for the same money 10/10 times. So, no, I don't think this was as effectively as they could've spent that 30+ million in money on February 5th.

[DJL44]

22 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Perhaps the Twins don't believe in him and think he is not ready. If that is the case, trade him. The value will never be higher. Kansas City will gladly stick Emmanuel in the lineup. We can then enjoy his at bats from a close experience.

This feels like Johan. Free Emmanuel.

Another "the roof is leaking so we should burn down the house argument". 

It is prudent to see if the Rodriguez can handle AAA before you give him a starting position in the majors. His batting profile is quite weird, extremely patient to the point where it may all turn south as soon as he reaches a level where pitchers can hit their spots.

Should the Twins trade Jenkins if they think he's not ready this spring? How about Marco Raya? They should probably trade everyone they drafted in 2024 and 2023 and all the 16 year olds they signed out of Latin America in January. After all, if the Twins think they're not ready, the only logical thing to do is trade all of them.

[Mike Sixel]

22 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

 

Has that answer changed because of this signing compared to before?

People are claiming he's not a starter.... I'm asking who the dh is if not larnach or Wallner.... Because either of those makes bader a starter. 

[DJL44]

1 minute ago, Mike Sixel said:

People are claiming he's not a starter.... I'm asking who the dh is if not larnach or Wallner.... Because either of those makes bader a starter. 

Julien might be the best pick for DH, or he might be a terrible hitter again this season. Who knows. They will rotate Julien, Larnach, Lewis, Miranda, Buxton, Wallner and Jeffers through the DH spot.

[Cory Engelhardt]

3 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

People are claiming he's not a starter.... I'm asking who the dh is if not larnach or Wallner.... Because either of those makes bader a starter. 

I do not believe their 1b is in the organization today. 

[thelanges5]

Pete just resigned with the Metropolitans. 

[NYCTK]

15 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

2 years/54 mil with an opt out for Alonso. Give me him, Diaz, and young guys over Vazquez, Paddack, Castro and Bader for the same money 10/10 times. So, no, I don't think this was as effectively as they could've spent that 30+ million in money on February 5th.

I don't know about your math there. If I'm not mistaken Alonso alone is getting paid as much as all four of those players combined. 

And I didn't realize getting rid of those salaries was as easy as just wishing it. Falvey should have wished harder I guess. 

[Vanimal46]

10 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Julien might be the best pick for DH, or he might be a terrible hitter again this season. Who knows. They will rotate Julien, Larnach, Lewis, Miranda, Buxton, Wallner and Jeffers through the DH spot.

So pretty much the same answer as before this signing. As expected 

[Vanimal46]

14 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

People are claiming he's not a starter.... I'm asking who the dh is if not larnach or Wallner.... Because either of those makes bader a starter. 

Who was the DH before the signing?

[NYCTK]

3 hours ago, David HK said:

Looks like we got the right guy.  For more $ than the other two. 

You guys keep focusing on offense only, and it's making you look ridiculous. How is Grichuk or Laureano in CF? 

[chpettit19]

Just now, NYCTK said:

I don't know about your math there. If I'm not mistaken Alonso alone is getting paid as much as all four of those players combined. 

And I didn't realize getting rid of those salaries was as easy as just wishing it. Falvey should have wished harder I guess. 

Those guys combined is $30.25 million. Alonso is 27 AAV, but sounds like it may be 30 this year and 24 next. So I guess they have to drop Tonkin and Topa types as well to scratch together the extra couple mil for Diaz. I'm sure you'd be heartbroken over that.

They could drop those salaries if they wanted to. It wouldn't be that hard at all. Castro's salary literally was as easy as wishing it away since they could've just non-tendered him. But they could get a prospect back for him and eat nothing on his deal easy. They could get a nothing prospect back for Paddack just to dump his deal. And they could attach a mid-level prospect to Vazquez to clear him.

And your first argument was that we're "acting like 6.25 million will send the Pohlads to the poor house." So, obviously you believe they could've just spent the extra 3.5 for Diaz on top of Alonso. 

But the point remains that collecting multiple of these kinds of vets that don't move the needle can instead be turned into a star.

[NYCTK]

2 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

He'd be on my opening day roster because I think it's so easy to find him a spot. I don't think the Twins will do that, though. And if they do trade Larnach (or Wallner) then adding Emma just puts them right back where they are. Short a bat. 

Wonderful. Your opening day roster is probably a much worse team than the actual Twins. 

Starting a 22 year old with a 30% strikeout rate in the minors and no backup plan. Can't imagine why the Twins didn't go that route instead. 

[NYCTK]

2 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

You have a point

But you might be missing the most important point. 

Having no value at the trade deadline is not justification for keeping the player.

It is the exact opposite.

Having no value at the trade deadline is justification for removing the player from the clubhouse. 

This is what the Tigers did. Some vets were bad so they just played the kids. 

Anyone acting like the Twins are handcuffed to Bader are just admitting Rocco should be fired immediately.