At Least Three Teams Interested in Michael A. Taylor

Not here. We can do better in house. 

The guy was probably more valuable to the Twins in 2023 than Buxton. The homers were a nice surprise. Plus he offered some baserunning speed. But still, the average was below average, and the strikeouts meant he bats low in the order.

Not sure if his 2023 gets him a big contract, or even multi-year.

On 1/5/2024 at 12:46 PM, Fatbat said:

Not here. We can do better in house. 

So who is better in house than MAT? Buxton for 6 games, Gordon lol, ERod maybe in 2-3 years, Jenkins yes in a couple of years, and maybe Castro now.

So that gives you really only 1 in house option that may be better.

18 hours ago, darin617 said:

So who is better in house than MAT? Buxton for 6 games, Gordon lol, ERod maybe in 2-3 years, Jenkins yes in a couple of years, and maybe Castro now.

So that gives you really only 1 in house option that may be better.

Some sort of combo of buxton, martin and castro. We will see who is healthy and productive.

Edit… I doubt this scenario will happen but Lewis could shift to CF and Lee could be our 3B out of spring training.  To be greedy, that would get the FO another comp pick in the ‘25 amateur draft. 

22 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Anyone who doesn't strikeout 33% of the time and has an base percentage greater than .278.

Which is pretty much every option.

MAT may have been pushed into the launch angle nonsense last year. He did have 21 home runs and played excellent defense.

Castro may be better suited as a super utility and pinch runner with his speed. 

I can't wait to see people complain about getting nothing out of CF in 2024.

8 hours ago, darin617 said:

MAT may have been pushed into the launch angle nonsense last year.

Yeah, that could be correct. The increase in homers was unexpected, as was his higher strike out rate. I like Taylor as a player, especially with his defense, but I don't see a fit with the Twins this year. We need to give Martin and chance and/or see if Gordon has what it takes. And then there is this guy named Buxton ... just saying. 

20 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

It was 21 hollow HR, he was an offensive liability last year. The thing he did well was redundant on this team and the things he did poorly compounded the team’s worst sins.

This team desperately needs to reduce strikeouts and get on base better, removing Taylor is an obvious solution to those problems.

Sure, because Buxton is ready to play 8 games at least...

13 hours ago, Doctor Wu said:

Yeah, that could be correct. The increase in homers was unexpected, as was his higher strike out rate. I like Taylor as a player, especially with his defense, but I don't see a fit with the Twins this year. We need to give Martin and chance and/or see if Gordon has what it takes. And then there is this guy named Buxton ... just saying. 

I see this being one of those years when there are like 6 players trying to fill the position. 

3 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

What does Buxton have to do with Taylor not being an offensive fit with the Twins? Taylor is the only guy besides Buxton who can play CF? Other guys are available both internally and externally.

None of them can field at the very high level Taylor can, but hey, so other teams score a few more run with lessor Center Fielders.

9 hours ago, darin617 said:

I see this being one of those years when there are like 6 players trying to fill the position. 

Yeah, those "good old days" or revolving outfielders. Sigh. I sure hope there is some stability at that position this year. 

On 1/8/2024 at 7:05 PM, darin617 said:

I see this being one of those years when there are like 6 players trying to fill the position. 

Which is why we fill the position internally!  Good point!  There are many internal options that are A LOT cheaper that Taylor will be!

13 hours ago, miracleb said:

Which is why we fill the position internally!  Good point!  There are many internal options that are A LOT cheaper that Taylor will be!

Cheaper isn't better. You need a guy that you can count on to play 5-6 games a week and play good defense and give some offense as well.

Castro is better suited for super utility role.

I really think Gordon is overlooked. He had a 0 RAA in CF in 2022. It was -3 in 2021 but he had never played there until reaching the majors. For projecting I prefer the statcast expected stats that are based on contact. His xSLG in 2022 was .464. Even in his dismal BABIP driven 2023 his xSLG of .428 was better than Farmer(.399) or Castro(.365). He also has a career RAA of 0 at both 2B and SS.

The Twins may let go of Gordon but he could easily have a better career going forward than Castro and very likely Farmer. There is a reason ZIPS projects Gordon to have a better bat than Castro and Farmer next year. We have images of his poor play in CF when thrown out there in 2021. We saw the dismal numbers to start last year that were driven by an unsustainable .179 BABiP. It is hard to recall the 125 OPS+ against right handed pitching in 2022. That works in LF and certainly in CF.