What Does the Manuel Margot Trade Bring to the Minnesota Twins?

What about Matt Wallner????

Bring on the "he's blocking prospect <insert name here>" comments,,,

He is basically MAT with a lesser glove and a better plate approach (lower K totals).

12 minutes ago, olerud said:

What about Matt Wallner????

I would expect you're correct in what you're saying here - It will likely be Wallner instead of Larnach (as listed in the article) who start next to Buxton. 

I would expect this trade puts Larnach starting the year in AAA again.

I'm unenthusiastic about this move. As insurance against a significant Buxton injury I guess it adds to the depth, but I don't see Margot really being the kind of lefty-masher we'd like to see as an OF option. He's gone from a quality defender to a not-so quality defender over the last three seasons and while he does have splits in his career that favor hitting against LHP, it's not like he's been consistently great at it. I'll be concerned that he's going to be one of those veteran players than if he struggles out the gate will keep getting chance after chance or more playing time than he merits with a better option available in Martin (or even Larnach) staying buried in the minors. TB sure seemed to want to get out from under his contract, and LAD barely assigned him a uniform before moving him out. It's a little concerning.

I guess this also means the Twins are feeling certain that Miller won't hit? they might be right, but his glove seemed like it was worth keeping in the system.

It's hardly a disaster, but I'm not feeling very inspired by this move.

26 minutes ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

Bring on the "he's blocking prospect <insert name here>" comments,,,

He is basically MAT with a lesser glove and a better plate approach (lower K totals).

He’s not basically MAT.  He’s a much lesser defender.  MAT walked at a higher rate and the power production was much better.  Not sure how grounding out a few additional times makes the approach superior to MAT.  I’ll take the home runs and walks, myself.

It’s not the people unhappy with this trade that are the unreasonable ones here, IMO.  It’s the people trying to rationalize this as a positive move.  We gave up a potential future gold glove SS prospect for a replacement level backup OFer, just because he’s free with the cash that is coming along (this does not really “increase” the payroll as the article states - another team is effectively paying him).  It does not improve the team whatsoever over last year (it makes it worse).

42 minutes ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

Bring on the "he's blocking prospect <insert name here>" comments,,,

He is basically MAT with a lesser glove and a better plate approach (lower K totals).

He’s blocking us from resigning MAT! 

There was a hole to fill and Falvey has no money available so he swung another Billy Beane kind of deal. Viewed through that lens it’s a good pickup. MAT wasn’t coming here for peanuts. 

9 minutes ago, CCHOF5yearstoolate said:

I must have missed where Noah Miller and his .600 OPS in the lowest levels of professional baseball was making this team better.

You're doing an awful lot of rationalization to call him a future MLB-caliber shortstop who would play enough to be eligible for a gold glove, and conspicuously glossing over the prospect they got in return. 

the prospect they got in return seems fine, I was just a fan of Miller's glove at a position the Twins have had some trouble finding guys who could really be plus defenders at for some time. And let's be fair to Miller: career .644 OPS, which he basically was in high-A last season as well: not .600. Is that 44 pts of OPS enough to think he can hit his weight in MLB? Maybe not, but the glove is legit. he hasn't hit well at all in the minors, but he's also just turned 21.

I'm mostly just worried the Margot, who is clearly slowing down, won't be good enough in the field or at the plate to be worth the ABs he could get. I'm less worried that the Twins have missed out on spotting a sudden increase in Miller's hit tool, but I did like his glove. Maybe DeAndrade is a better fielder than I think.

2 hours ago, Beast said:

He’s not basically MAT.  He’s a much lesser defender.  MAT walked at a higher rate and the power production was much better.  Not sure how grounding out a few additional times makes the approach superior to MAT.  I’ll take the home runs and walks, myself.

It’s not the people unhappy with this trade that are the unreasonable ones here, IMO.  It’s the people trying to rationalize this as a positive move.  We gave up a potential future gold glove SS prospect for a replacement level backup OFer, just because he’s free with the cash that is coming along (this does not really “increase” the payroll as the article states - another team is effectively paying him).  It does not improve the team whatsoever over last year (it makes it worse).

It doesn't have to make it better than last year (even though it could) it just has to make it better than it currently is.   He is an option that has the ability to not only to hold up if called upon, but possibly excel.   I love Miller more than most think he was turning it around,  however we got a prospect that is currently at a similar level rank wise as Miller with a much higher offensive ceiling.  It a real question who is the better prospect.  This trade is going to be determined by luck and whether either one is able to get to the big leagues.  

I honestly don't see what the hub bub is all about... Both player best season using OPS+ is 104. Best OBP and SLUG are within 10 points. MAT would not take 4 Mil to play here this season and I can't blame him. As for the prospects neither may turn out or one/both could be the next Cory Seager and the other Fernado Tatis. I'll win money on the Vikings winning a super bowl before I'll plan on either turning out like that.

I should add if they are or were expected to be platoon players how much does their defense really matter?

The Dodgers had to take Margot if they wanted to gain Glasnow, which is simple enough to understand from both the Dodgers and Rays points of view. The Dodgers then had to find a team to take Margot. Falvey obliged and gained a player for outfield depth, which he wanted.

Margot is an experienced veteran player who will do his best to contribute wherever and whenever he can. The Twins wanted a veteran for the last roster spot. They got one.

Falvey has the team he wanted. The reduction in roster expenditures had little to do with the decisions. The Twins don't sign FA starting pitchers to large long term deals. What other free agents were available that Falvey wanted? The fans and many of us may have wanted any number of free agents, but that doesn't mean very much. It's Falvey's job to put together a team and here we are ... he has indicated the Twins are done.

The Twins will be fine. The team has enough talent, depth, and minor league help to compete in the AL Central. Falvey got the guys he wanted or those new guys wouldn't be in Ft. Myers right now. 

That's not even Margot in the article about him. You can see the first letters on his back are AR.

I think people view MAT as the healthy everyday CF we saw in ‘23.  That was a career year!!! He isn’t getting any better at 33 and lots of players can’t put up # without consistent ABs.  
 

Margot has been a platoon and part time player he has a skill let that fits assuming Buxton is able to play CF regularly or semi regularly.

He’s a relatively expensive blocker of prospects.   I feel about this like I would have felt about Kikè.  Meh. 

11 minutes ago, Reptevia said:

He’s a relatively expensive blocker of prospects.   I feel about this like I would have felt about Kikè.  Meh. 

He keeps rookies who belong in AAA in AAA; A very smart move.

Tomatoe-tomatto. 

5 minutes ago, Reptevia said:

Tomatoe-tomatto. 

Double error.

3 hours ago, tony&amp;rodney said:

The Dodgers had to take Margot if they wanted to gain Glasnow, which is simple enough to understand from both the Dodgers and Rays points of view. The Dodgers then had to find a team to take Margot. Falvey obliged and gained a player for outfield depth, which he wanted.

Margot is an experienced veteran player who will do his best to contribute wherever and whenever he can. The Twins wanted a veteran for the last roster spot. They got one.

Falvey has the team he wanted. The reduction in roster expenditures had little to do with the decisions. The Twins don't sign FA starting pitchers to large long term deals. What other free agents were available that Falvey wanted? The fans and many of us may have wanted any number of free agents, but that doesn't mean very much. It's Falvey's job to put together a team and here we are ... he has indicated the Twins are done.

The Twins will be fine. The team has enough talent, depth, and minor league help to compete in the AL Central. Falvey got the guys he wanted or those new guys wouldn't be in Ft. Myers right now. 

The Diamond backs fans say what? Also, the Padres and Mets fans say what? You can have. Fernado Tatis, Mookie Betts, Aroon Judge, Juilo Rodriguez (your welcome to add to this list) BUT if the pieces don't fit together or one piece is missing can you complete the puzzle? 

The accumulation of a team's part and pieces with a championship. Not signing or trading for a single player in February.

I like this team. Let's roll with it and tackle the issues around August 1st. 

3 hours ago, weitz41 said:

The Diamond backs fans say what? Also, the Padres and Mets fans say what? You can have. Fernado Tatis, Mookie Betts, Aroon Judge, Juilo Rodriguez (your welcome to add to this list) BUT if the pieces don't fit together or one piece is missing can you complete the puzzle? 

The accumulation of a team's part and pieces with a championship. Not signing or trading for a single player in February.

I like this team. Let's roll with it and tackle the issues around August 1st. 

Try to read before you hit the quote button and then make whatever comment it is that you are making. I have no problem with whatever it is you might want to say, but the use of the quote feature probably requires some distant connection to what is in the gray. Let it roll is an idea I can see.

6 hours ago, August J Gloop said:

That's not even Margot in the article about him. You can see the first letters on his back are AR.

I saw that and chuckled  a little. Arozarena and Margot don't have too many facial similarities, but when a guy is putting an article together and hurrying to add a photo it is easy enough to make a simple mistake, which we can certainly understand and give a pass. I appreciate that the writers take the time to put out their stuff. No big deal really, which I'm sure you agree with. 

18 hours ago, jmlease1 said:

I'm unenthusiastic about this move. As insurance against a significant Buxton injury I guess it adds to the depth, but I don't see Margot really being the kind of lefty-masher we'd like to see as an OF option. He's gone from a quality defender to a not-so quality defender over the last three seasons and while he does have splits in his career that favor hitting against LHP, it's not like he's been consistently great at it. I'll be concerned that he's going to be one of those veteran players than if he struggles out the gate will keep getting chance after chance or more playing time than he merits with a better option available in Martin (or even Larnach) staying buried in the minors. TB sure seemed to want to get out from under his contract, and LAD barely assigned him a uniform before moving him out. It's a little concerning.

I guess this also means the Twins are feeling certain that Miller won't hit? they might be right, but his glove seemed like it was worth keeping in the system.

It's hardly a disaster, but I'm not feeling very inspired by this move.

The Twins were certain that Miller wouldn't be the type of hitter that they desired (a hitter that hits HRs when not needed, strikes out a ton when we need hits). Miller isn't as confident hitter like Lewis or Martin where he could decide to go against the grain & find his own way. But when coached right, Miller will find his way to be an excellent hitter. But Miller's calling card is his elite golden glove at a premium position, Miller is super undervalued and the Twins should have made him untouchable from any sharp eye team to snatch up. But they did not.

LAD wanted to flip Margot so they could pick Kiki. So they looked for takers. Not finding any takers, they called up their good buddy Falvey. I advocated for Margot when we really needed a CF sub & when Margot was better, But I doubt right now if Margot is that much better than Castro defensively & certainly not against RHPs where we are of greater need for a sub. As a RH option Martin would be a much better option,

I was in favor of trading for Maeda but I wasn't in favor of trading away our top MLB-ready pitching prospect Graterol(I advocated a different trade that included Balazovic), When LAD was very motivated to move Maeda. Here LAD was motivated to move Margot & if the Twins were bound & determined they absolutely needed Margot, fine. But not for our top SS prospect who should have been our future GG SS. That shows very poor evaluation of talent & judgment.