It Sounds Like the Twins Have Big Plans for Ty France

[nicksaviking]

2 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

The owners aren't supposed to be the ones with the rudder. Falvey was given more power than he's ever had, and he's steering the ship.

Do not like what Falvey is doing, but the owners are the ones with the money to spend, and they're the ones keeping Falvey and Baldelli. They're still steering the ship. Or would be, if they cared any longer.

[USAFChief]

19 hours ago, ashbury said:

I'd be curious to know more of the context of those comments. Maybe Rocco was referring to the coming weeks before Opening Day?

 

I didn't read Baldelli's comments as referring to spring training. 

I read them as "this is our every day first baseman."

I'd wager a tidy sum France starts the season as such.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

1 hour ago, RpR said:

France had a fractured heel that he stated screwed up his batting.

He had and 826 OPS in May.   

I am not expecting a renaissance to his 2021-2022 stats.  I do think he could be a 1 to 2 WAR player if he is healthy.  Maybe an outside chance the power pops,  but that is far from baseline scenario.  this is definitely a wait and see situation and I am very surprised that they are basically slotting him into the starting 1st base role (minimal platoon).  

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

17 hours ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

Manuel Margot and Joey Gallo say hi

Santana, Solano, and Cruz say hi.   

[Danchat]

21 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

I didn't read Baldelli's comments as referring to spring training. 

I read them as "this is our every day first baseman."

I'd wager a tidy sum France starts the season as such.

We went through the same thing last year with Santana where some where claiming that he'd have to compete with Kirilloff to be the starting 1B... it's France's job to lose.

[jorgenswest]

24 minutes ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

I am not expecting a renaissance to his 2021-2022 stats.  I do think he could be a 1 to 2 WAR player if he is healthy.

That won’t be good enough. Even though the value of 1 to 2 WAR exceeds his contract it will not help this team win games especially if it comes with a full season of health. Lots of playing time and 1-2 WAR from your first baseman will be a result of a batting line that isn’t close to good enough. He needs to approach Santana’s worth to help this team contend. Fangraphs had Santans’s worth at almost 25 million. France’s 21-22 numbers approach that level. Anything short of that and they need to move on. Quickly.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

28 minutes ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

Santana, Solano, and Cruz say hi.   

Santana fielded well, and was the 13th best 1B in MLB last year. He was fine, didn’t deserve getting DFA’d. We’ll see if he can repeat, but he had down seasons leading up.

Donnie barrels was a fine bat first utility guy. He didn’t deserve DFA.

Nelson Cruz had a last gasp, he didn’t deserve getting DFA’d, the Twins got lucky

sticking with good players is a good thing. The problem is sticking with bad players. Bad players make your team worse. Not only did the two players I mentioned make the team worse, they did so while getting starters innings.
 

No risk, no reward, but you have to cut bait if you make a mistake. I don’t have a problem with the mistake, it’s failure to course correct.

[TheLeviathan]

Woof, I understand wanting to be positive and boost your players up....it's another thing to basically give him the 1B job.

I hate everything about this.

[nicksaviking]

3 hours ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

Santana, Solano, and Cruz say hi.   

All three were still decent hitters prior to coming to the Twins, us skeptics just didn't expect all of them to continue to hit decently.

France hasn't hit well in three seasons.

[ashbury]

5 hours ago, USAFChief said:

I didn't read Baldelli's comments as referring to spring training. 

I read them as "this is our every day first baseman."

I'd wager a tidy sum France starts the season as such.

I won't take the bet but will pray you're wrong.

[Mike Sixel]

Weird. I was called names for suggesting this.... But that user also called me too emotional once, and I was right then too. Maybe they should find another way to disagree....

[JD-TWINS]

On 2/15/2025 at 3:47 PM, dberthia said:

And I have "big plans" to win the lottery. France is going to be this year's Kyle Farmer. Good clubhouse guy who's replacement level at best on the field. We seemingly bring in a couple of these guys every year and say a prayer that they can regain their lost form. I usually say "hope" is not a strategy, but here we are again.

It’s a weak signing but even the Twins will DFA him to make room for a young guy that’s performing, as his salary is projected at $1M. To me, he’s insurance. Miranda gets hurt (40/60 chance) or Keaschall is “behind” or whatever……at least they have a guy out of the gate that has some experience and some upside. 

Gallo - Margot - Farmer were all making $5M - $11M ……..a little tougher for FO to give up on v. $1M!