Twins A Finalist for Utility-man Kiké Hernandez's Services

Im wondering if this is a AAA signing.  

This is an upgrade over Gordon?

I really don't see the need for Kike.  I think we have plenty of depth in the minors at this point for his utility value.  Looks like a waste of money to me.  No need to spend for the sake of spending.

If he's choosing from four teams he's not signing for the minimum, which would make sense for the Twins if they could move Farmer.  I just dont see the need given the current roster.

4 minutes ago, Heiny said:

I really don't see the need for Kike.  I think we have plenty of depth in the minors at this point for his utility value.  Looks like a waste of money to me.  No need to spend for spending  

 

Solano was a late sign , and he had a good year with the twins as it turned out ...

Lightning doesn't always strike twice in the same spot and I'm hoping fO isn't thinking that way  , unless it's DFA money  ...

Kiki  could be had for low cost prove it contract , the guy plays everywhere  and would be nice if signed and had a good season with us ...

I do prefer using our talent from our minors , got to let them play at this level sometime  ... 

We do have enough utility players ...

Signing decline phase veterans to one year lower dollar contracts is a recipe for mediocrity. In order to compete at this budget level they need to develop their own cost controlled talent. Instead they are filling the bench and back of bullpen with short term low upside veterans.

Don't see the point. We have inhouse replacements that need AB's to see if they have what it takes. Mostly Martin who is basically Kiki with more upside.. Just give him the gig and lets see what he has got. 

I think the role he should play is an Angel, Giant, or Padre.

202 career post season PA with a 893 OPS. Can still play SS and CF (and 2B). 801 career OPS agains lefties (but falling pretty fast).

Martin is the only in-house options that MIGHT check that many boxes by himself. And, in 2024, Hernandez would probably provide a much higher floor in that type of role than any of the rookies.

I ‘d love to have that security blanket in the post season, but not sure it raises any regular season bar enough to warrant taking opportunities from the new guys (with whom you can mix and match through the coarse of the season since they all have options…at least if you haven’t already packed the roster with too many mediocre veterans).

Maybe more of a guy you would try to get at the deadline if you have lost depth at SS, CF, or 2B, due to injury…and/or performance issues with the young depth.

12 minutes ago, Jocko87 said:

I don't know why he would pick Minnesota anyway, he'd almost certainly want something that had cleaner routes to playing time.

I don’t know. You COULD look at those 4 clubs and say the Twins have the clearest path to the playoffs. And the playoffs have always been his thing, his time to shine.

I’d much rather sign a power, righty OFer like Duvall or Pham than Kiké. Considering the positional versatility of Willi Castro, Kyle Farmer, Austin Martin, and, to some extent, Alex Kirilloff, that Kike can play numerous positions isn’t all that helpful. At this stage, Kike is really only useful against LHP and I’d rather have a player that’s better against LHP than Kike is at this stage of his career or a player that is passable against RHP. 

Why? We don't need him at all. 

12 hours ago, Oldgoat_MN said:

I always liked Kike, but this would be nothing more than blocking our own talent. 

He has had 1 year in the last half decade where his OPS+ was greater than 87.

Don't see a value here.

His OPS vs. lefties has often been above .800 (and I think I’m understating it). That’s the fit. He was injured last year.

4 minutes ago, CRF said:

Why? We don't need him at all. 

We don’t need a rh outfielder who has racked up .800 + OPS vs lefties often in his career. I’d argue we do need him and there will also be plenty of room for Martin.

How about NO. Lets see what we have in Martin. Lets see what we already have in the organization. Someone like Hernandez should not take PT away from other guys, including in ST. It's time to grow up as an organization.

15 hours ago, Reptevia said:

This is an upgrade over Gordon?

Right-handed and probably better defensively

14 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

Solano was a late sign , and he had a good year with the twins as it turned out ...

Lightning doesn't always strike twice in the same spot and I'm hoping fO isn't thinking that way  , unless it's DFA money  ...

Kiki  could be had for low cost prove it contract , the guy plays everywhere  and would be nice if signed and had a good season with us ...

I do prefer using our talent from our minors , got to let them play at this level sometime  ... 

We do have enough utility players ...

I remember when we signed Solano thinking "what the hell are they thinking?"  In fact I still thought that 6 weeks into the season when he had 5 RBI.  I was proven wrong.  And as for having enough utility players, You can never have enough GOOD players. 

2 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Bad defense in center and SS. Decent bat against LH pitching. Nah. 

My guess is with 2 LH regulars in the OF and the general weakness of the Twins vs lefties the last few years, they’re interested in his career .801 OPS vs L as a corner OF fill in and possibly 2B at times (see 2nd graphic). I like Martin a lot but maybe they can use both of them. Kinda like you can never have too much pitching.

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