Minnesota Twins Offseason: Part 2 of 4 (2B/SS/3B)

By Matt Tschida

Part 1: C/1B

SECOND BASE

Current

Starter: Alexi Casilla

Backup: Tsuyoshi Nishioka, Luke Hughes, Matt Tolbert, Brian Dinkelman, Trevor Plouffe

2012

Starter: Alexi Casilla

Backup: Tsuyoshi Nishioka, Luke Hughes, Brian Dinkelman, Trevor Plouffe

I don’t really see much change here, as the Twins have several options and will just need to go with whoever is playing the best (and smartest) baseball. They'll have some interesting decisions to make regarding the backups. Brian Dinkelman had a decent September, and will start next season at AAA, but the Twins should feel comfortable with him as a call-up utility IF/OF if someone gets hurt. Matt Tolbert will probably end up somewhere else with Nishioka, Hughes and Plouffe all likely ahead of him on the depth chart. The Twins really need Casilla to make it through a full season without injuries or mental lapses. If he can do that, he will hold down the 2B position and possibly the No. 2 spot in the lineup. If he can’t stay healthy and/or play smart, Nishioka and Hughes will cut into his playing time. Trevor Plouffe will probably head into 2012 in a super-utility role unless there’s a major injury or he's able to secure a full-time outfield spot (if the Twins are unable to re-sign Cuddyer or Kubel).

SHORTSTOP

Current

Starter: Tsuyoshi Nishioka / Trevor Plouffe

Backup: Matt Tolbert

2012

Starter: Free Agent/Trade

Backup: Tsuyoshi Nishioka, Trevor Plouffe, Brian Dozier

This is obviously the infield position that needs the most work. Bill Smith semi-acknowledged that he made a mistake in trading J.J. Hardy, but it was obviously a colossal mistake. Hardy is (as long as he’s healthy) a top-five defensive SS who hit over 30 HRs in Baltimore, and the fact that the Twins only received a mop-up reliever in return is criminal. Looking forward, the Twins need to refocus on getting a stable (at least defensively) shortstop. Smith told fans on a conference call last week that shortstop was one of their many priorities, so at least he recognizes that. Nishioka and Plouffe will start the season as the primary backups, with Brian Dozier possibly getting his chance sometime next year if someone gets hurt or underproduces. I think the Twins will find a veteran to fill the void for next season, while Dozier gets some seasoning at AAA. Here are some free agent and trade possibilities:

Jed Lowrie (Boston): Lowrie is a trade candidate and would be my first choice. He is just average defensively, but I credit that to injuries and inconsistent playing time at SS. Lowrie acts as a super-utility player for the Red Sox, as they have Kevin Youkilis at 3B, Marco Scutaro at SS and Dustin Pedroia at 2B. He can play all three positions and that’s one reason he's high on my list. The Twins could let him settle in at SS for a full season, and if Dozier is ready to go in 2013, then Lowrie could move to 2B or 3B depending on the development of Valencia and Casilla. I’m not sure what the Red Sox would want in return, but Lowrie will be 28 next season, so he isn’t considered a prospect any more.

Maicer Izturis (LA/Anaheim): Izturis is another trade candidate, and like Lowrie, has also been in more of a utility role the past couple seasons. Izturis has been solid for the most part all around the infield, and could help solidify the defense. He’s a solid hitter as well, with a .275/.339/.389 career stat line. As a one-year fix, Izturis would would probably come relatively cheap in a trade.

Brendan Ryan (Seattle): Ryan (another trade option) brings less offensively than either Lowrie or Izturis, but has played every day at SS and brings a lot more to the table defensively. Considering the collective defensive atrociousness of Twins SS's last season, they should at least consider giving up some offense for markedly better defensive play.

Clint Barmes (Houston): Barmes is probably the best defensive SS the Twins could realistically sign. He’s a touch below average at the plate, but he does provide some power as he hit 12 HRs in 123 games last season. He would be a good addition to this team as a defensive leader and a source of stability. The main problem I see, however, is that if the Astros weren’t planning on trying hard to re-sign him this offseason, they probably would have traded him for some prospects this past summer.

Alex Gonzalez (Atlanta): Gonzalez would be another good possibility to sign if the Braves decide to go young and let prospect Tyler Pastornicky take over at SS in 2012. If that’s the case, the Twins would be in competition with the Giants, Cardinals, Brewers and possibly a few other teams depending on where the top tier of free agent SS’s sign. The Twins would likely only give him a one-year deal, given he’ll be 35 years old next season.

Others SS who could be considered: Willie Bloomquist, Ramon Santiago, Jack Wilson, Cesar Izturis, Ronny Cedeno, Orlando Cabrera, Nick Punto, John McDonald.

THIRD BASE

Current

Starter: Danny Valencia

Backup: Luke Hughes, Trevor Plouffe

2012

Starter: Danny Valencia

Backup: Luke Hughes, Trevor Plouffe

I don’t really see a lot of change here. Valencia’s name has been floating around in trade rumors—possibly to the Marlins as part of a package for Ricky Nolasco—but I don’t know who the Twins would get to replace him at 3B. If they didn’t already need a starting SS, then it would be more likely. I do think if given 500 at bats that Hughes could put up similar numbers to Valencia’s 2011 season, but Hughes seemed a bit shaky defensively the few times he filled in for Valencia. Not to say that Valencia didn’t look shaky all season, but it doesn’t make sense to replace one below average defender with another. If Hughes or Plouffe can improve their defense at 3B, then I think either could end up challenging Valencia for the starting spot. The Twins have been pretty up front in saying that Valencia's starter status will still need to be earned. Come spring training, we’ll have to see who has worked the hardest and made the biggest strides.

3 Up, 3 Down: 6/15/10

TRENDING UP
I feel compelled to kick off my 3 Up, 3 Down series with a player who I’ve ripped more than anyone over the last two seasons. Delmon Young came to the Twins in November of 2007 with a ton of hype. He also brought with him a poor work ethic, a reputation for being uncoachable, the stigma of an epic bat toss, and a lot of baby fat. Watching Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett excel for the Rays over the last two seasons, while the key cog in our side of the deal inexplicably struggled, was beyond frustrating for Twins fans. Despite a surprisingly strong finish to 2009 and worlds of untapped potential, many fans were ready to cut their losses and move on without Young, like we did Carlos Gomez. Our power-swinging prospect had morphed into, at best, an undisciplined seeing-eye singles hitter. And, what was worse, he didn’t seem to care.

But something clicked last offseason. Young showed up for Spring Training 30 pounds lighter. He started showing dedication to improvement. He hustled. He listened. He cared. Yes, Delmon Young suddenly appeared to have become a professional. Building upon his late ’09 upswing and a newfound commitment, Young has emerged as the Twins’ most dangerous right handed bat throughout the first half of 2010. Batting .295 and slugging .500, he tops fellow right-handed masher Michael Cuddyer in both categories. In 45 less at bats, he also bests Cuddyer in Home Runs (8), Doubles (15), and RBI (41). It's worth noting that he trails only Justin Morneau in the RBI department (43). It doesn't end there. He's drastically cut down his strikeouts. He's having good at bats; he's already taken more walks than all of last year. He's hitting in the clutch. And while his fielding is still suspect, he's covering more ground this year since unhooking the plow. This is the player we thought we were getting in 2007, and as of right now, he's entrenched in a battle with Francisco Liriano and John Rauch for the best surprise of 2010.

After a shaky May, Liriano is dialed back in. In his two June starts, he's struck out 21 in 15 innings, with a 1.20 ERA. His 87 strikeouts currently rank 5th in the Majors, and he leads the four pitchers in front of him in K/9 and ERA.

John Rauch doesn't have Joe Nathan's stuff. Not even close. But he's done everything the Twins have asked of him. What he lacks in a dominant strikeout pitch, he more than makes up for with a perfect closer's mentality. He has poise, he's fearless, and he has a short memory. This is something for which I've been openly critical of Nathan, especially with last season's stretch-run tailspin that snowballed into the playoffs. So while murmurs of an "upgrade" via trade continue to swirl through Twins Territory, Rauch's 16 saves are tied for the league lead, and his 2.52 ERA remains stellar. He's getting the most out of limited talent, and for that I applaud him.

TRENDING DOWN
After a 5-0 May, Nick Blackburn has gone the other way. His three June starts have been 13.1 innings of batting practice (an 8.10 ERA). Gross, but not all that surprising. Blackburn is an average pitcher, and a pitch-to-contact type who can't strike anyone out, so there was bound to be a correction. It's just never pretty when it happens.

I know, it's too soon to be hard on Trevor Plouffe. But after two hits in his debut, he's gone 1 for 21, and has looked a bit lost at Shorstop filling in for the injured J.J. Hardy. A former first round draft pick, I guess my criticism is more a cumulation of failed expectations and disappoinments. Selected 20th overall in 2004, Plouffe has hovered around mediocrity every step of the way. I have an easier time picturing him as the classic Twins' fringe AAA/MLB middle infielder than I do as an everyday Shortstop. He certainly doesn't have the limitless upside of Miguel Angel Sano, who's replaced Plouffe as the organization's new "Shortstop of the Future."

I feel a little guilty mentioning Denard Span here. He's so solid and fundamentally sound in every facet of the game, which makes me think that this funk will be over soon. Good mechanics usually prevent long slumps, and his .204 June BA is surely a mirage. In fact, I'd have let it slide, if not for his more troubling .235 June OBP. With just 2 walks in 51 June plate appearances, the Twins simply need better from their table setter. I'm not worried.

You may have noticed that I omitted Jesse Crain from this list. It's just too easy. He's out of options, and I'm out of bourbon, so we're calling it a night. Check back in the coming weeks for more 3 Up, 3 Down Twins analysis.