Nick Franklin/Brad Miller?

[stringer bell]

Mlbtraderumors.com says that Seattle might move one of their young middle infielders before Opening Day. They listed and compared Franklin and Miller. This is the kind of player I think the Twins should be looking for. Thoughts?

[twinsfanstl]

I agree completely. It saddens me that they didn't like the $$ for Arruebarruena, won't like the $$ for Diaz- I know I do not know the scouts evaluations of either, but SS is such a long term need. I know with the draft pick loss Drew ain't happening. I would rather have a power arm taken in the upcoming draft than a hope that Trae Turner falls to 5 AND works out. This means they need to trade for one at some point. I'd argue time is nonw.

[twinsfanstl]

dang- sent early. They question I have is what would the Mariners want in return? The boards indicate OF is a need. Unfortunately Hicks 2013 negates much trade value. What about pitching plouffe (corner OF) with a B prospect pitcher?

[beckmt]

Seattle will want way more than the Twins are willing to pay for either, and I do not consider either to be a huge upgrade. I am talking probably one or more of the Twins 3 to 10 prospects.

[Jim Labruno]

Mets fan here, A lot of talk around town the Mets are interested in Franklin if the price is not to high. Personally we need a SS bad and do not want to pay for Drew so I would like to see them go after Franklin as he is young and still has a lot of good upside.

[whosafraidofluigirussolo]

The report I saw said that although both came through the minors as SS, the Mariners doubt whether Franklin stays there. A quick look at the stats seems to indicate that Miller was below average defensively at SS in his first season, but not really woeful, so maybe that can develop over time. Franklin played very little SS with Miller on the roster, which may or may not be telling.

 

If Miller is that much better a bet to stay at SS, he's the only one I'd want the Twins to target. I'm fine rolling with the 2B depth they have.

[Mike Sixel]

Franklin is a SS like Dozier was a gold glove SS......

[Steve Lein]

I've liked Brad Miller for a while. Would love to see the Twins swing something for him. He's not a Florimon-type defender, but he's not Plouffe-like at SS either. Think of him like Bartlett was in his prior Twins days. But I do think he can hit, much better than Florimon would anyway.

[Mike Sixel]

I would be happy if they dealt for Miller, meant to type that above....

[TwinsThompson]

I think Miller would be great. Why would the Mariners trade him if they don't see Franklin as a viable SS option? My guess is they wouldn't, and I have little interest in Franklin as a SS project at this point.

[PseudoSABR]

Neither player would give us a large enough upgrade to be worth what the Ms are asking. If they trade Miller, I doubt they go with Franklin at SS, more likely they think they can get Drew.

[Mike Sixel]

How do you know what they are asking? Fangraphs has Miller around 3 WAR for the next few years....why would you not trade a legit other player for that? Where are you going to find a top half of the league SS?

[nicksaviking]

How do you know what they are asking? Fangraphs has Miller around 3 WAR for the next few years....why would you not trade a legit other player for that? Where are you going to find a top half of the league SS?

 

The question is who would you trade though. The Twins don't have much for veterans even if the M's wanted them. The M's need some power but I doubt they'd be interested in Willingham and Plouffe has no value. So you have to go the youngster/prospect route. Hicks stock is down so they'll likely want more than that. Would you give up Arcia? I wouldn't. The M's have catchers and DH's, they wouldn't care for Pinto.

 

The M's just loaded up in free agency so I doubt they want guys who are too far away. That doesn't leave much in the Twins system. I wouldn't give up Meyer, in fact I'd be upset if Ryan didn't hang up the phone upon that request. Would the M's take Hicks and May? Maybe, who knows. I'm not sure I like either middle infielder even that much though.

[PseudoSABR]

How do you know what they are asking? Fangraphs has Miller around 3 WAR for the next few years....why would you not trade a legit other player for that? Where are you going to find a top half of the league SS?

Over at baseball reference, Florimon actually had the higher WAR. Go figure.

 

I just don't see either as a significant upgrade. We'd have to give up someone like Hicks (if his value didn't suck now). Who would you be willing to give up?

[S.]

Franklin is not a serviceable SS and I don't see any reason why they would trade Miller just to sign Drew or another SS. If we were to trade for Franklin, he would have to play second base, which means either Dozier moves positions or is traded and means that we have given up on Rosario at 2nd.

[PseudoSABR]

More, I don't think the Twins should settle for anything less than a first-class defender at SS.

[stringer bell]

More, I don't think the Twins should settle for anything less than a first-class defender at SS.

How about Didi Gregorius or Chris Owings from the D-Backs. Apparently both are pretty well thought of and only one guy at a time can play SS. Again, rather than signing a 30+ Free Agent, I think the Twins need to go this route to get more talent at SS.

[PseudoSABR]

How about Didi Gregorius or Chris Owings from the D-Backs. Apparently both are pretty well thought of and only one guy at a time can play SS. Again, rather than signing a 30+ Free Agent, I think the Twins need to go this route to get more talent at SS.

I think those are great targets. Let's hope Willingham explodes this year, and the Dbacks are hungry for some RHed pop at the deadline.

[Mike Sixel]

Over at baseball reference, Florimon actually had the higher WAR. Go figure.

 

I just don't see either as a significant upgrade. We'd have to give up someone like Hicks (if his value didn't suck now). Who would you be willing to give up?

 

Higher WAR in the future....not the past.

[PseudoSABR]

Higher WAR in the future....not the past.

Maybe, maybe not. Miller doesn't have much of track record yet. And if his defense isn't elite, I don't understand why we'd bother.

[Mike Sixel]

Maybe not, true. I was clarifying my post about fangraphs projections. Nothing more or less. I'm not trying to persuade you, you've made up your mind.

[TheLeviathan]

I've been eyeing Chris Owings for awhile. I hope Didi has a great year and he becomes an offseason target. (Maybe deadline too)