NEWS: Twins Agree to Sign Infielder Ty France

[saviking]

If you're hoping for the same kind of defense the Twins got from Santana, though, prepare for disappointment, France is a stocky converted second baseman without great mobility or especially soft hands. 

Man o Man. Now that's the answer to my dreams ... They add all of these average big leagues that will cost our young players a position or reps. We will have the best AAA team in history because if it plays out to my worst nightmare, the new guys will stay healthy all year .. 

[Schmoeman5]

49 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

Don't talk about zero understanding when you lack it. 

This front office has never released a player with significant money attached to it. 

My post was in response to the Rally Goat who has demonstrated time and time again on this website that he understands the Twins typical operating style and more.

He said

When was the last time this team benched or released a veteran?

we just watched Manny Margot play the most games he’s played in a season since 2019 to his worst hitting and fielding performance of his absolute disaster of a career. He hit a 79 wRC+ while sporting -5 OAA. 

He's not wrong. I responded that I felt that a low dollar amount attached to France may make it easier to release him if necessary. I then used Bader as an example of someone who would not be released no matter what.  

You can call it Margot scaring all you want but there are more beyond Margot.

You don't understand what is being said and you are willing to fight anyone to the death over Bader. 

I get it... You Like Bader.  

It's that NY connection thing. And yet both NY teams didn't have any use for a cheap bona fide ML player for more than 1 year. In a similar role.

[NYCTK]

7 minutes ago, Schmoeman5 said:

It's that NY connection thing. And yet both NY teams didn't have any use for a cheap bona fide ML player for more than 1 year. In a similar role.

Clever, if the Mets didn't replace him with a near identical archetype, as the starting CF no less. 

But not everyone can be as picky and choosey as those high and mighty Twins. 

[LewFordLives]

14 hours ago, Fatbat said:

Is Joey Gallo available yet? 🤣😂

Don't even joke about that. Last I checked he's still out there.

[twinstalker]

For the price it's probably well worth it.  DH and 1B.  Would have loved Turner, but maybe they're the same this year.

[twinstalker]

Don't have time to read all the comments, but dumping Headrick seems implausible, given some of the shaky 40 man components.  Keirsey would have seemed the guy.  That makes me think Headrick is unlikely to be recovered enough to compete.

[Schmoeman5]

29 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

Clever, if the Mets didn't replace him with a near identical archetype, as the starting CF no less. 

But not everyone can be as picky and choosey as those high and mighty Twins. 

And you've been selling us all how H Bader is right up there with Willie, Mickey and the Duke. And that he's a 4th outfielder and that Vasquez is the #2 catcher. And so on

[RpR]

29 minutes ago, LewFordLives said:

Don't even joke about that. Last I checked he's still out there.

He would be bettr than Julien.

[ashbury]

2 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

I agree with you. Those 1 year contracts hang around for the entire contract. They consistently keep them in the clubhouse until the end. 

However... I got to believe that a 1 million dollar deal can be shed. Like they shed Jay Jackson last year. 

Bader... It'll take dynamite to dislodge him from the roster. 

The contracts for more than say $2M, which is Bader, probably do remain for longer than I'd like.  But guys simply on 1-year contracts in the neighborhood of $1M are frequently let go with the Twins eating the remainder of the contract - you immediately mentioned Jay Jackson who pitched himself out of a job by mid-June, and two other pitchers with inexpensive commitments likewise were done away with, Okert (who pitched effectively until mid-June and they gave him 2 more months to get right and finally DFAed and nobody took him so he went to St Paul) and Staumont (who they kept as long as his ERA was literally zero based on a crazy .154 BABIP, then released after a 6-appearance stretch in July with a .454 BABIP, thereupon picked up by the Cubs).

I don't wanna branch out into a full examination of the Twins' attitudes about contracts, and for the most part they show patience rather than knee-jerk impatience with someone they thought well enough of to sign.  But since the topic here is Ty France and his contract (if exercised) will be only about $1M, I think this is enough evidence not to worry on that particular score.

 

[NYCTK]

14 minutes ago, Schmoeman5 said:

And you've been selling us all how H Bader is right up there with Willie, Mickey and the Duke. And that he's a 4th outfielder and that Vasquez is the #2 catcher. And so on

How dare I suggest the Twins #2 catcher is the Twins #2 catcher. I must be an idiot.

[Riverbrian]

2 hours ago, NYCTK said:

Like I said, you're already wanting to cut Bader. 

To whom it may concern,

Harrison Bader has been signed... He is a Minnesota Twin now. He plays for my team. Let me be very clear... I hope he is a superstar. It's in my best interest that he plays well because I am a Twins fan. I will not be rooting for his failure. 

Sincerely, 

Riverbrian

If you are capable of understanding what I just typed. Maybe... just maybe... you can get yourself closer to the point where you actually understand what is being discussed and stop insultingly saying things that are not being said. 

 

 

 

[Schmoeman5]

37 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

How dare I suggest the Twins #2 catcher is the Twins #2 catcher. I must be an idiot.

Because he's not the #2 catcher. When a team has only 2 catchers, and they're as close to 50-50 as you can get. And I concur with your last sentence.  Spared me having to type that.

[Riverbrian]

53 minutes ago, Schmoeman5 said:

And you've been selling us all how H Bader is right up there with Willie, Mickey and the Duke. And that he's a 4th outfielder and that Vasquez is the #2 catcher. And so on

Good Luck with that specific poster. 

Sincerely, 

Riverbrian

[KirbyDome89]

45 minutes ago, ashbury said:

The contracts for more than say $2M, which is Bader, probably do remain for longer than I'd like.  But guys simply on 1-year contracts in the neighborhood of $1M are frequently let go with the Twins eating the remainder of the contract - you immediately mentioned Jay Jackson who pitched himself out of a job by mid-June, and two other pitchers with inexpensive commitments likewise were done away with, Okert (who pitched effectively until mid-June and they gave him 2 more months to get right and finally DFAed and nobody took him so he went to St Paul) and Staumont (who they kept as long as his ERA was literally zero based on a crazy .154 BABIP, then released after a 6-appearance stretch in July with a .454 BABIP, thereupon picked up by the Cubs).

I don't wanna branch out into a full examination of the Twins' attitudes about contracts, and for the most part they show patience rather than knee-jerk impatience with someone they thought well enough of to sign.  But since the topic here is Ty France and his contract (if exercised) will be only about $1M, I think this is enough evidence not to worry on that particular score.

 

The greater concern is the opportunity cost. The Twins may part ways with France, but how long is the leash?

[Riverbrian]

4 minutes ago, KirbyDome89 said:

The greater concern is the opportunity cost. The Twins may part ways with France, but how long is the leash?

 

[ashbury]

7 minutes ago, KirbyDome89 said:

The greater concern is the opportunity cost. The Twins may part ways with France, but how long is the leash?

For sure.  They do have the choice, close to Opening Day, to cut ties then and there.  The nightmare scenario is that he rakes in Ft Myers and then immediately goes cold in April.  Everyone has hot streaks and cold streaks, so how much patience is right?  And how much patience will the FO actually give him, if the team is muddling along at say 10-13 and he's not contributing?

[NYCTK]

12 minutes ago, Schmoeman5 said:

Because he's not the #2 catcher. When a team has only 2 catchers, and they're as close to 50-50 as you can get. And I concur with your last sentence.  Spared me having to type that.

Absolutely ridiculous for anyone to say the second catcher on the depth chart is the #2 catcher. Anyone that thinks that is stupid. 

[NYCTK]

16 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

To whom it may concern,

Harrison Bader has been signed... He is a Minnesota Twin now. He plays for my team. Let me be very clear... I hope he is a superstar. It's in my best interest that he plays well because I am a Twins fan. I will not be rooting for his failure. 

Sincerely, 

Riverbrian

If you are capable of understanding what I just typed. Maybe... just maybe... you can get yourself closer to the point where you actually understand what is being discussed and stop insultingly saying things that are not being said. 

 

 

 

'..that being said I just know in my heart that the Twins will never cut him when he inevitably sucks' 

Subtext is all there. Based on Manuel Margot, you're assuming that there is no lengths that the Twins won't go to in order to keep a player you believe will suck (without good reason). You've all apparently convinced yourself that Rodriguez is blocked all season due to the presence of a 4th OF that makes more than the league minimum. 

 

[KirbyDome89]

21 minutes ago, ashbury said:

For sure.  They do have the choice, close to Opening Day, to cut ties then and there.  The nightmare scenario is that he rakes in Ft Myers and then immediately goes cold in April.  Everyone has hot streaks and cold streaks, so how much patience is right?  And how much patience will the FO actually give him, if the team is muddling along at say 10-13 and he's not contributing?

Or there's a minor injury, or Miranda has a slow ST, ect. 

My guess is we'll be beaten over the head with Santana comps if France makes the team and starts slow. The leash will be longer than it should be. This team hates giving up "depth," early in the season. 

[Riverbrian]

19 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

'..that being said I just know in my heart that the Twins will never cut him when he inevitably sucks' 

Subtext is all there. Based on Manuel Margot, you're assuming that there is no lengths that the Twins won't go to in order to keep a player you believe will suck (without good reason). You've all apparently convinced yourself that Rodriguez is blocked all season due to the presence of a 4th OF that makes more than the league minimum. 

 

Nope

You are basically Brick in Anchorman right now. 

 

[ashbury]

15 minutes ago, KirbyDome89 said:

Or there's a minor injury, or Miranda has a slow ST, ect.

Yep.  They are thin, thin, thin.  They're already at a point they probably have to keep one of Lee, Julien, or Martin despite no evidence they have bats that contribute at the moment.  I don't like to trust Spring Training numbers but this year it looks like they will have to.

One bit of evidence that they know they are thin: the 40-man currently carries 19 position players and 21 pitchers, when normally they prefer 18/22 and sometimes go with 17/23.  They are just hoping a larger number of players will mean that someone comes through.

[NYCTK]

Just now, Riverbrian said:

Nope

You are basically Brick in Anchorman right now. 

 

Yeah. Totally. We all love to get mad that the GM won't cut a player before they've played a single inning.

 

[Riverbrian]

Just now, NYCTK said:

Yeah. Totally. We all love to get mad that the GM won't cut a player before they've played a single inning.

 

[RpR]

54 minutes ago, KirbyDome89 said:

The greater concern is the opportunity cost. The Twins may part ways with France, but how long is the leash?

Does not matter.

[Schmoeman5]

45 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

Absolutely ridiculous for anyone to say the second catcher on the depth chart is the #2 catcher. Anyone that thinks that is stupid. 

Show me the Depth chart the Twins use that has Vasquez at #2. Hey if they go in alphabetical order Vasquez might be #4  on that chart. 

[RpR]

Fascinating discussion going on here.🥸

[NYCTK]

4 minutes ago, Schmoeman5 said:

Show me the Depth chart the Twins use that has Vasquez at #2. Hey if they go in alphabetical order Vasquez might be #4  on that chart. 

Oh, idk, maybe the 2024 opening day lineup? Or how about the 2023 playoff lineups? Do those count? 

[stringer bell]

1 hour ago, KirbyDome89 said:

The greater concern is the opportunity cost. The Twins may part ways with France, but how long is the leash?

I don't see many scenarios where France stands in the way of a prospect or even Miranda for that matter. I do see Bader taking up playing time that might have gone to Martin or Keirsey Jr., but I don't know if either of those guys is considered even a prospect. Later on this year, it is possible that having Bader keeps Rodriguez in St. Paul rather than playing outfield regularly with the Twins.

[Schmoeman5]

1 minute ago, NYCTK said:

Oh, idk, maybe the 2024 opening day lineup? Or how about the 2023 playoff lineups? Do those count? 

The 2023 playoffs I'll give you. In 2023 and 2024 the two are separated by less than 50 innings. Over 2 full seasons. Youre just arguing without showing any facts to back-up your statements. Game 1 start to Jeffers.  Game 2 start to Vasquez. for 162 games. Yeah. I'm sorry to question your overwhelming knowledge of the game.

[KirbyDome89]

21 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

'..that being said I just know in my heart that the Twins will never cut him when he inevitably sucks' 

Subtext is all there. Based on Manuel Margot, you're assuming that there is no lengths that the Twins won't go to in order to keep a player you believe will suck (without good reason). You've all apparently convinced yourself that Rodriguez is blocked all season due to the presence of a 4th OF that makes more than the league minimum. 

 

Joey Gallo?

Emilio Pagan?

Andrelton Simmons?

This team has clung to at least one severely underperforming vet each of the last 4 years. Rodriguez is a strawman.