It's sounding more and more like GM Bill Smith is prepared to part ways with Torii Hunter, though I'll still leave about a 10% chance of him returning.
Smith's thinking might be that there are so many CF options available this year that the team would be better served by signing a modestly priced replacement and using the leftover money that would've gone to signing Hunter for trying to find a 3B/DH/OF.
The Strib reported this week that the Twins have contacted the Red Sox about Coco Crisp, who the Sox are prepared to part with to make room for Jacoby Ellsbury.
I'd be OK with the Twins acquiring Crisp for a second-tier prospect (perhaps a Jay Rainville or Anthony Swarzak).
You could argue that Crisp, who will be 28 on opening day, is better defensively than Hunter right now, and he could be the Twins best option for the leadoff spot (assum
ing they never give Joe Mauer a shot there).There's a problem, though.
After two great years in Cleveland (.297/.344/.446 and .300/.345/.465), Crisp had two sub-par years (at the plate) in Boston as Johnny Damon's replacement (.264/.317/.385, and .268/.330/.382). He did steal 50 bases in 60 attempts over those two years while playing Gold Glove-caliber defense.
At 27, it's reasonable to think he can still get back on track. Some have suggested the glare of the Boston media was a factor in his struggles. That stuff always seems like BS to me, but who knows.
The Twins could do a lot worse than Coco Crisp - like Darin Erstad, Jacque Jones, Jason Tyner, Denard Span, etc.
*The Twins maintain that they remain interested in re-signing Carlos Silva, but I think that's just to give their veterans the appearance that they tried. Silva is, at the moment, the top free-agent starter on the market. He could be this year's Gil Meche - a slightly-above average veteran who someone will overpay for. Meche, you may remember, got $55 million over 5 years from KC. Silva could get a similar offer. Seriously.
In a related note, the fact that Silva and Kyle Lohse are probably the top two free-agent starters available is causi
ng teams around the league to turn up the heat on making offers to the Twins for Johan Santana.Now. The Twins are in no hurry to trade baseball's best starter. But believe me, they will listen to offers, and they should. Santana's value is higher now than it will ever be. That's when you trade a superstar.
But I don't know if anyone out there is willing to give the Twins the two or perhaps even three major league-ready position players they would probably seek in a deal. A three-team deal might be the only way it happens.
OF Geoff Jenkins, OF/DH Jose Guillen and OF Cliff Floyd all had their team options declined. They are available. They can hit and should be cheap. Guillen's name has popped up in steroid rumors, however.
8 comments:
Why not see if Adrian Peterson can play left field? I'd think he could put a good swing on the ball, and since I've played Rondell White out there the last 2 years, I think Adrian Peteson could play for Rondell on his off days.
Not a big Coco Crisp fan. Last 2 years his OPS+ = 77 and 83. Last 2 years for Tyner = 84 and 85.
I still think there is a chance Tori comes back. He said he'll give the Twins a chance to match his best offer.
I knew someone would throw the OPS+ thing back at me, but there are a few differences.
Crisp is 27, Tyner is 30.
Crisp is an elite basestealer, Tyner is not.
Crisp is a Gold Glove caliber CF, Tyner is not.
Crisp has 49 career HRs, Tyner has 1.
Crisp OPS+'d 117 and 110 in his last two years in Cleveland, so the hope is that he can get back to that level.
He's certainly not perfect, and I'm also still holding out hope that Hunter comes back, but if he doesn't, Crisp is probably as good as it's gonna get.
One major difference: Tyner has the heart of a lion. Yeah, a lion. And not one of those SD mountain lions either. We're talking those big bastards from Africa.
I hope the reason you don't like Tyner isn't because of his African heart. You're treading awfully close to racism here.
You forgot one other important stat...
Crisp has 1 World Series ring (well, in the spring he will. Jason Tyner has 0.
This has no bearing on much, just thought I'd remind everyone.
I just re-read my comment. I need to stop drinking at work.
Coco Crisp is almost a bigger shithead than Red Sox fans. Almost.
Who am I kidding. No one can be a bigger shithead than a Red Sox fan. It's not even close.
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