Is this De Aza thing serious?

[kab21]

I'm assuming the Sox would be looking for a B or C prospect as part of save face salary dump. A little bit like the Twins did with Hardy. It's not really important who the prospect is but it seems that they have kind of decided that De Aza isn't going to be on the team next season.

[cmathewson]

I don't get this. How is he better than Presley or Mastroianni? The Twins have three center fielders for two spots on the roster. They have a top prospect who will be waiting for an opportunity within the next year. Why do they need another one?

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

I don't get this. How is he better than Presley or Mastroianni? The Twins have three center fielders for two spots on the roster. They have a top prospect who will be waiting for an opportunity within the next year. Why do they need another one?

 

Presley is a below replacement level centerfielder and Mastroianni has never had more than 200 PAs in a season. De Aza has had 2 good seasons out of 3 and has looked good this spring if that means anything. Alejandro is also able to OPS above .700. If we can get rid of one of the many excess pitchers currently in the logjam, it makes a lot of sense.

[Thrylos]

I don't think that De Aza (who has been in decline other than his power numbers) will be any improvement over Hicks at this point on both sides of the ball. Plus he hits left-handed and the Twins are full of LH hitters at this point.

 

Plus, for principle's sake, you do not trade with the enemy before the season starts. July and August might be a different story, if you are out of it...

[diehardtwinsfan]

Brian Duensing is the obvious guy to trade.

 

(I'm so going to miss Duensing when he leaves)

I thought Duensing was a requirement for any trade to bring in top level talent into this organization...

[Shane Wahl]

Forget the depth or lack there of. De Aza isn't very good.

[kab21]

Forget the depth or lack there of. De Aza isn't very good.

 

He's competing against Parmelee, Presley, Mastro, Ramirez, Kubel, etc... He looks pretty good compared to them and even if Hicks or Buxton are in CF this year it would be nice to have a rangy OF'er in LF that can hit some.

 

The key is not giving up any significant talent and taking him as a salary dump.

[DaveW]

Forget the depth or lack there of. De Aza isn't very good.

 

He's not going to be an all-star but he is a pretty solid major leaguer. I view him as basically a lesser Denard Span (more power, less average, less speed at the plate)

 

It should be noted, that even with his "down year" last season, De Aza would have had the third highest WAR on the WHOLE team last year.

 

In 2012 He would have had the 5th highest on the team, in 2011 he would have tied for 2nd.

 

Again, De Aza isn't some all-star player, but he certainly is a nice player (even if he eventually gets moved to LF) and for a team like the Twins they absolutely positively should be looking to bring in a cheap player like him, assuming you don't have to give up much to get him.

[DaveW]

I don't get this. How is he better than Presley or Mastroianni?

 

Because De Aza has proven to be a legit (if not great) starting CF in major league baseball?

[Marta Shearing]

I would love this:

DH Willingham

LF Arcia

CF De Aza

RF Hicks

[kab21]

I would love this:

DH Willingham

LF Arcia

CF De Aza

RF Hicks

 

DH - Willy

LF - Presley

CF - De Aza

RF - Arcia

 

I don't think Hicks is even being given the chance to win a position this spring. Maybe at midseason Hicks could play CF but he is a far better CF'er than De Aza even if it wastes his arm.

[cmathewson]

DH - Willy

LF - Presley

CF - De Aza

RF - Arcia

 

I don't think Hicks is even being given the chance to win a position this spring. Maybe at midseason Hicks could play CF but he is a far better CF'er than De Aza even if it wastes his arm.

 

Presley has no business as a corner outfielder in the big leagues. He barely can hold his own as a center fielder.

[Thrylos]

Presley has no business as a corner outfielder in the big leagues. He barely can hold his own as a center fielder.

 

+1.

 

Check out how he has been doing this Spring on both sides of the ball (and on the bases as well.) He has been pretty atrocious. At this point, I'd rather see Mastroianni as the back up

[Thrylos]

Because De Aza has proven to be a legit (if not great) starting CF in major league baseball?

 

Let me think: Kirby Puckett was great, Joe Di Maggio was great. Willie Mays was great. Torii Hunter was legit. Where does De Aza fit in that equation? He is Rich Beckeresque. And I'd love to hear how legit and great Rich Becker was...

[ScottyB]

Gee I miss Bobby Darwin, Danny Ford and dare I say - Willie Norwood. We could really use a guy like Cesar Tovar again.

[The Wise One]

Let me think: Kirby Puckett was great, Joe Di Maggio was great. Willie Mays was great. Torii Hunter was legit. Where does De Aza fit in that equation? He is Rich Beckeresque. And I'd love to hear how legit and great Rich Becker was...

 

I would tell you Rich Becker was great, but I would need a lot of drugs, possibly a hallucinogen or two

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Can we swing a deal for Delmon? We know he can hit.

[kab21]

Presley has no business as a corner outfielder in the big leagues. He barely can hold his own as a center fielder.

 

That kind of explains why the Twins should be looking at De Aza. Their other options suck. They could (and probably would) throw Willy out there and Kubel at DH. Or Parmelee. Or Mastro. I can understand not wanting De Aza if you think those guys are good options but let's not be concerned about blocking prospects that might not even arrive this year when there are multiple positions that have fringe MLB'ers starting on opening day.

[JB_Iowa]

There doesn't appear to have been anything more on this front since the rumors were first posted -- all seemingly based on a Cardafo post in the Boston Globe rather than on something coming out of the Twins camp or the White Sox camp a little more directly.

 

But I was struck by Phil Miller's column today in the Strib about none of the leading CF candidates separating himself yet: http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/249677321.html

 

Jermaine Mitchell has separated himself (and has been fun to see on the few occasions I've caught a glimpse on TV) but seems pretty unlikely.

 

And it is confusing why Aaron Hicks isn't in the line-up today since he says his elbow feels good and there was a general expectation that he'd play today (and maybe he will play later in the game).

 

So maybe there is still something going on behind the scenes with the Twins/De Aza. Or maybe we're down to Mastro and Presley.

 

There's still a ways to go in ST but I'm getting more depressed about the offense on a daily basis.

[DaveW]

Let me think: Kirby Puckett was great, Joe Di Maggio was great. Willie Mays was great. Torii Hunter was legit. Where does De Aza fit in that equation? He is Rich Beckeresque. And I'd love to hear how legit and great Rich Becker was...

I phrased that wrong, I meant (even though he is not great) he is a legit CF. I think that was pretty obvious that no one would claim De Aza was "great"

 

Torii Hunter was a damn good CF and a damn good player, you don't get to 15+ seasons in the big leagues and over 42 WAR he will probably retire with 350+ HR and 2500 hits. Hall of famer no, but much better than what you are claiming he is.

 

De Aza is a guy who will give you 2.5-3.0 WAR a year, that at the very least is a "legit" and capable starting CF

[beckmt]

Depends on what the Sox want, but cannot see them doing it for one of the out of options pitchers(not Deduno) the Twins could give up, now you could add one of the soft throwing lefties and maybe they would bite. Do not give anything good, but De Aza could be a decent piece for a year or two, or just give the options for more moves.

[cmathewson]

De Aza is a guy who will give you 2.5-3.0 WAR a year, that at the very least is a "legit" and capable starting CF

 

I'd project him at a 2 at best at this point. His career year was 2.7, at age 28. At age 30, most projections have him as below 2 player this year. Zips has him at a 1.8, e.g. That seems about right to me. Given our lack of major league depth, he could be a decent get for a reasonable price. But let's not exaggerate his value.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Let me think: Kirby Puckett was great, Joe Di Maggio was great. Willie Mays was great. Torii Hunter was legit. Where does De Aza fit in that equation? He is Rich Beckeresque. And I'd love to hear how legit and great Rich Becker was...

 

Actually, Rich Becker was probably underrated. I seem to recall some alleged adventures in the OF, but he graded out just fine defensively. Great OBP, little bit of pop, was a ~100 OPS+, ~3 WAR player making minimum salary for a couple years there. I believe an injury after he left the Twins really hurt his career...

[cmathewson]

Actually, Rich Becker was probably underrated. I seem to recall some alleged adventures in the OF, but he graded out just fine defensively. Great OBP, little bit of pop, was a ~100 OPS+, ~3 WAR player making minimum salary for a couple years there. I believe an injury after he left the Twins really hurt his career...

 

Some on the coaching staff hated him because he took walks and wasn't aggressive with the bat. And he was only average in the outfield. But he would have lasted longer if he hadn't hurt his legs.

[Mike Sixel]

Dave, does that say more about de Aza, or the Twins? BTW, it isn't De Aza in a vaccuum, as Spirit points out.....it is de Aza vs their current choices......sure would have been nice to acquire the OF the Sox acquired. All Eaton does is get on base. And field.

[DaveW]

Dave, does that say more about de Aza, or the Twins? BTW, it isn't De Aza in a vaccuum, as Spirit points out.....it is de Aza vs their current choices......sure would have been nice to acquire the OF the Sox acquired. All Eaton does is get on base. And field.

 

I'm not touting De Aza as some great player, just that he is better than what the Twins likely have ready at this point. He is significantly better than Pressly/Mastro, and Hicks may need some time at this point.

[Mike Sixel]

If the argument is they shouldn't add a player unless he is at least as good as Hunter, I'm not sure you'll ever be happy.

[Mike Sixel]

I'm not touting De Aza as some great player, just that he is better than what the Twins likely have ready at this point. He is significantly better than Pressly/Mastro, and Hicks may need some time at this point.

 

After the first sentence, I was agreeing with you. Should have put a space in there.....