Hayes: "The [Minnesota] Twins Have Expressed Interest In adding A Veteran Shortstop"

[Riverbrian]

3 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

I remember when Garlic was the big thing. His big RH bat to use against LHPs. I thought what a waste of a roster spot, an all-rounded OFer would have been better. But year after year, the Twins way start to seep into our psyche & we start to accept totally the idea of platooning over developing a more complete hitter. I have yielded to the platooning idea. We need people like you to keep the rest us in line. I agree with you, especially in theory but it might take some time for me to totally agree with you but keep up the good work. You might not get this text if I'm one of those you blocked.

During the time of Garlick... Kyle was the only short sider on the roster. Kyle Garlick didn't cost 6 million. He cost the minimum.

The Twins have taken it up a notch since then... actually all of the notches... utilizing 6 roster spots the past few years.  

We have transformed from one guy at the minimum to over 10 million spent annually for the full allotment. 

The article guy that the Twins sign will most likely be able to play SS but... take it to the bank... article guy will be right handed and he will pair with Julien at 2B. 

 

[Major League Ready]

1 hour ago, Riverbrian said:

During the time of Garlick... Kyle was the only short sider on the roster. Kyle Garlick didn't cost 6 million. He cost the minimum.

The Twins have taken it up a notch since then... actually all of the notches... utilizing 6 roster spots the past few years.  

We have transformed from one guy at the minimum to over 10 million spent annually for the full allotment. 

The article guy that the Twins sign will most likely be able to play SS but... take it to the bank... article guy will be right handed and he will pair with Julien at 2B. 

 

Which of the six spots were not good back-ups?  Margot was bad.  Santana, Salano, and Taylor were quite good.  Farmer was good in 2023, bad in 2024.  Gallo was adequate given we ended up needing the coverage at 1B.  Does Sanchez count among these additions?  Which players are you thinking of other than Margot that had a substantial number of PAs and failed? 

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, Major League Ready said:

Which of the six spots were not good back-ups?  Margot was bad.  Santana, Salano, and Taylor were quite good.  Farmer was good in 2023, bad in 2024.  Gallo was adequate given we ended up needing the coverage at 1B.  Does Sanchez count among these additions?  Which players are you thinking of other than Margot that had a substantial number of PAs and failed? 

Gallo was terrible. If we can't agree on that, I'm confused

[Major League Ready]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

Gallo was terrible. If we can't agree on that, I'm confused

Granted, he was a great example of a 3 outcome hitter but his OPS and wRC+ were slightly above average.  Without looking up his defensive stats, he looked perfectly adequate on defense, and his ability as an above average 1B turned out to be needed.   So no, I would not agree he was terrible.  He is also one of several discussed here, let's not ignore the originally stated position that all of these players have been a waste of a roster spot.  Santana, Solano, and Taylor were all quite good.  Sanchez and Farmer were decent too.  The only player of this ilk that got a significant number of PAa was Margot.  Can we agree that while some of these players have been a bust, there have also been inexpensive veterans that have provided value.   

[ashbury]

4 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

Granted, he was a great example of a 3 outcome hitter but his OPS and wRC+ were slightly above average. 

Normally aggregate numbers tell the story.  I'm not a big believer in separating out "clutch" from "non-clutch" performers.  However, anecdotal evidence while watching games led me to question Gallo's seeming "ability" to crank out homers only when the game was NOT on the line, and b-r.com's splits confirmed to my satisfaction (bases occupied situations, and Win Probability added) that not only was this a problem in his time with the Twins but for a time before that.  One of the few players I have pigeonholed as less-than-the-sum-of-the-parts on offense.

[Mike Sixel]

Also, after April, how was Gallo?

[Major League Ready]

2 minutes ago, ashbury said:

Normally aggregate numbers tell the story.  I'm not a big believer in separating out "clutch" from "non-clutch" performers.  However, anecdotal evidence while watching games led me to question Gallo's seeming "ability" to crank out homers only when the game was NOT on the line, and b-r.com's splits confirmed to my satisfaction (bases occupied situations, and Win Probability added) that not only was this a problem in his time with the Twins but for a time before that.  One of the few players I have pigeonholed as less-than-the-sum-of-the-parts on offense.

It may have been you that mentioned this last year and I completely agree.  He was able to hit when it did not matter.  However, his mediocrity does not support the contention that moderate priced free agent veterans are a waste of a roster spot and this is from a pretty darn pro prospect fan.

[ashbury]

53 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

It may have been you that mentioned this last year and I completely agree.  He was able to hit when it did not matter.  However, his mediocrity does not support the contention that moderate priced free agent veterans are a waste of a roster spot and this is from a pretty darn pro prospect fan.

I wasn't addressing your larger point, merely your assertion that Gallo wasn't terrible.  In my book, Gallo was Margot-level terrible - he harms his team's chances to win, season after season.  I'm glad he was not here more than one season, but I'm not glad he was here in the first place.

[Riverbrian]

9 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

Which of the six spots were not good back-ups?  Margot was bad.  Santana, Salano, and Taylor were quite good.  Farmer was good in 2023, bad in 2024.  Gallo was adequate given we ended up needing the coverage at 1B.  Does Sanchez count among these additions?  Which players are you thinking of other than Margot that had a substantial number of PAs and failed? 

First off all... I don't use the word back-up. With the amount of injuries that the Twins suffer year after year... use of the word backup is problematic. Regardless, I don't believe Gallo, Taylor and Santana belong in any backup conversation no matter how the word backup is intended. 

I think Taylor was brought on board to play CF full time because Buxton didn't play a single inning in the field that year. Buxton was going to be the DH exclusively that season and that is exactly what he did. 

Gallo... I believe was brought on board to play LF primarily full time and occasional 1B if needed. 

I believe Santana was signed to play 1B full time. 

Solano might have been brought on board for platoon work... not totally sure. Although, his splits are almost neutral and I gotta question any decision by any front office to bring in SOLANO to platoon at 1B. That would make no sense... Regardless... I have no complaint with Donnie Barrels... Yeah... he did nothing for a future but I do not question that he did something for our present at the very least.  

The platooning to the degree that we platoon...  as we know it... or at least I know it. Seemed to begin when Wallner and Julien arrived. Gordon/Farmer seemed like the only platoon set up coming out of spring training. The club maxed out later in 2023 when the young developing left handed hitters arrived.