tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post2437253939138522898..comments2023-12-19T20:25:36.069-06:00Comments on Nick's Twins Blog: Contemplating Cuddyer and KubelNick N.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00848574337121154690noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-18973084233869956812011-08-08T17:59:22.553-05:002011-08-08T17:59:22.553-05:00Lots of good points. Cuddyer's versatility ma...Lots of good points. Cuddyer's versatility makes him a keeper. 3 for 30 seems like a hefty tag, though. Kubel is in fact the DH of the future. So how do we budget re-signing the two and create a quality product for next year?<br /><br />Trade Lirano now for prospects. He still has star apeal despite his subpar stats. If we can replenish our prospects somewhat.<br /><br />Also, trade Delmon Young now. The real question is there actually any takers? If we could get one bullpen arm it would be a victory.<br /><br />I'd love to make believe the Twins are going to pull it off this year but unless Mauer magically starts hitting homeruns that isn't going to happen. We've had many obstacles this year, too much even for a great manager like Gardy.neglible_blisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11185041722519093965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-19252215992572602772011-08-08T17:30:09.704-05:002011-08-08T17:30:09.704-05:00My opinion resembles Drew Madison's. I don...My opinion resembles Drew Madison's. I don't want to see Cuddyer leave, but agree with your reasoning, Nick.<br /><br />It definitely won't feel good seeing him in another uniform.Ryan In San Josenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-86343989528915493962011-08-08T17:25:51.645-05:002011-08-08T17:25:51.645-05:00I would rather see the Twins spend 10 million in t...I would rather see the Twins spend 10 million in the bullpen on new arms than spend money on cuddyer. If they had done this<br />(bullpen help) last off season this season would be a lot different even despite the fact this team isn't very good. Bill Smith should be skating thin ice as his performance has been not been any better than his team.George Mcflynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-32383584492431169342011-08-08T15:57:59.192-05:002011-08-08T15:57:59.192-05:00To me Cuddyer at anything more than 2 year 16milio...To me Cuddyer at anything more than 2 year 16milion is too much. He reminds me of the Coom Dawg (Ron Coomer). A little power, nice guy, but not a guy you build your team around (sorry Cooms!).Gary_Wardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06280403193270755402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-66592478237201444922011-08-08T15:09:05.806-05:002011-08-08T15:09:05.806-05:00Cuddyer may have never put together consecutive go...Cuddyer may have never put together consecutive good seasons...but if you decline to give him the 3/30 he will likely want is there ANY chance you can use the same funds to find something on the open market to replace his spot in the everday lineup?<br /><br />I picture Kubel coming back to be the DH...but even if he does play in the OF I still don't see Revere/Span as an intimidating force. Would rather see Revere on the bench and have some power on in left.<br /><br />Span, Mauer, Morneau, Kubel should be considered keepers. Cuddy as well for the right deal (if you think you can get quality on the FA market for 3/30 then go that route instead of keeping him). But from there the MIF has to be reassessed and we may have to look at a new 3B at the same time. (I can live with either Nishi/Casilla in the #9 spot provided Plouffe is playing everyday at 2B and they bring in a stronger backup C than Butera)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-29957741350156253512011-08-08T13:56:47.494-05:002011-08-08T13:56:47.494-05:00Give Plouffe a chance to be the 2012 Cuddyer at le...Give Plouffe a chance to be the 2012 Cuddyer at less than 1/10th the cost. Keep Kubel as Thome and Delmon will be gone. Dimes to doughnuts that Plouffe's 2012 stats mirror Cuddyer's.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-70969094871707503502011-08-08T12:35:24.068-05:002011-08-08T12:35:24.068-05:00Oh and I like Kubel much more than Cuddyer.Oh and I like Kubel much more than Cuddyer.Dieselnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-52714392282198005382011-08-08T12:32:04.196-05:002011-08-08T12:32:04.196-05:00Sad thing is Nick, Bill Smith WILL probably resign...Sad thing is Nick, Bill Smith WILL probably resign Cuddyer and allow Kubel to leave. Honestly, I would have been unhappy with the 2 year 16 million extension had he signed. We don't have the kind of money to keep Cuddyer around. A big reason I advocated for trading him before the deadline (along with his PEAKING value). I'd much rather have some "proven" prospects rather than draft choices at the expense of an outfielder. Since we are now 10GB there is almost no chance at the postseason. It would have been a great idea to sell at the deadline. <br /><br />The Twins definitely could use some righties as Sonil says, but the majority of pitchers are right handers anyway. The offseason could also provide some decent bats.Dieselnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-82781299809256059432011-08-08T11:57:36.678-05:002011-08-08T11:57:36.678-05:00http://www.onionsportsnetwork.com/articles/twins-s...http://www.onionsportsnetwork.com/articles/twins-shocked-to-learn-you-can-score-2-runs-in-sam,20989/<br /><br />This is what Twins baseball has turned into.. WITH CuddyerMattnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-18103652006597988352011-08-08T11:50:23.868-05:002011-08-08T11:50:23.868-05:00Good post. Also, Cuddyer walking forces the issue...Good post. Also, Cuddyer walking forces the issue of 1B and the infield in general. GM will have to address the gaping holes found there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-14742176001549477532011-08-08T11:31:29.621-05:002011-08-08T11:31:29.621-05:00Cuddy is not going anywhere. He is a Twin for lif...Cuddy is not going anywhere. He is a Twin for life. Gardy loves him and he is a company guy who sacrifices for the team. He will stay. Period. Kubes is well liked too. He stays too.<br /><br />Twins will need to change their pitching staff. Perkins could be a starter again. Duenslinger and Baker stay. Liriano may get traded. Pavano has no trade value so he stays. That leaves Blackburn, Slowey and BP guys as trade bait.Kellynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-66970572028060390252011-08-08T11:12:40.624-05:002011-08-08T11:12:40.624-05:00It's hard to evaluate the talent on this year&...It's hard to evaluate the talent on this year's team with so many injuries but one thing that has to change is how many at-bats Tolbert, Butera, L. Hughes, and Nishioka get. So far this combination has 700+ at bats with a completely dreadful OPS. With Mauer & Morneau both being big question marks, this team can't carry 4 guys like this for next year. I think fixing SS and C have to be top priorities. Signing Cuddyer to a big $ long-term contract is rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-74929780788451355262011-08-08T11:04:51.404-05:002011-08-08T11:04:51.404-05:00This is going to be a key offseason for the Twins....This is going to be a key offseason for the Twins. If for nothing else, a bad 2012 Twins team is going to cause a fall in TF revenues as its novelty drops. They need to go gangbusters for the playoffs next year, and I can't see how cutting their payroll is going to do that. Smarter payroll, yes, but not smaller.<br /><br />To be contenders, I think the Twins need to re-sign both Kubel and Cuddyer. Plan on Cuddy in RF and Kubel in the DH spot. With the versatility of both of them, their positions can be moved around a bit. Plus, Sonil has a good point about the LH/RH bats. With these two, plus the M&M boys, Span, Perk and Nathan, they have a pretty solid team. Bring in a big name SP as well and fill in the spaces with whatever.alxchrstnsnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-35451479237671308252011-08-08T10:48:01.341-05:002011-08-08T10:48:01.341-05:00Nick,
I am shocked that we actually agree on s...Nick,<br /><br /> I am shocked that we actually agree on something!! I have been saying this all year. Sign Kubel to a three or four year contract. He is 27 and entering the prime of his career. Cuddyer is not worth half of the 10-11 million a year he will get as a free agent. Cuddyer will be 33 and has had three good seasons with the Twins. Joe Benson is almost ready and projects to put up the same type of numbers as Cuddyer. Spend the money elsewhere. Please tell me why we did not trade Cuddyer at the trade deadline?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-25461910739774851652011-08-08T10:35:53.041-05:002011-08-08T10:35:53.041-05:00The very fact that the Twins have no one in their ...<i>The very fact that the Twins have no one in their farm system capable of hitting 15 home runs... is thoroughly unacceptable. </i><br /><br />I didn't say no one was capable. I just wouldn't feel comfortable projecting anyone to hit for that kind of power in the majors at this point. Miguel Sano could get there, but he's 18 and in rookie ball. Joe Benson hit 27 bombs last year, but has hit only 10 this year.Nick N.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00848574337121154690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-2325553948633420252011-08-08T10:28:42.358-05:002011-08-08T10:28:42.358-05:00They're going to end up overpaying for Cuddyer...They're going to end up overpaying for Cuddyer at the expense of another, more valuable asset. I hate to be pessimistic but it just seems like they've done that lately to great peril.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10984504525577892812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-76023563662971476132011-08-08T10:26:08.953-05:002011-08-08T10:26:08.953-05:00The very fact that the Twins have no one in their ...The very fact that the Twins have no one in their farm system capable of hitting 15 home runs... is thoroughly unacceptable. It seems they don't even look for power hitters, they look for players who can play "small ball." They tried to change David Ortiz' swing!! Has the "Twins Way" put them at a grave disadvantage for years to come?bearsketballnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-77809717885318079702011-08-08T09:30:31.996-05:002011-08-08T09:30:31.996-05:00given out slide after the break and trade deadline...given out slide after the break and trade deadline, not taking advantage of Cuddy's trade value looks like a mistake in hindsight. we probably could have gotten a MLB-ready prospect for him to fill one of our many holes as we look at next year's team (SS, outfield, catcher, bullpen) and given ourselves some financial flexibility to make other moves this winter. Ultimately, a winning team will overcome any awkward feelings with our players in another uniform. We got over Torii and Johan, and we can overcome Cuddy, as long as we start winning more games.Jamesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-172029334399600602011-08-08T09:25:48.836-05:002011-08-08T09:25:48.836-05:00I like Cuddyer at $16M for 2 years - but I underst...I like Cuddyer at $16M for 2 years - but I understand why he would turn that down. It's natural for fans to like him, but the reality is he's not worth more than that. His slugging pctg. is still below .500 and he doesn't cover that much ground in RF any more. I agree that we keep Kubel who will basically replace Thome at DH and then you can platoon him with Valencia or Plouffe who both have decent power projections. Hopefully Mauer will show the ability and initiative to play 3B which means we only have to find a starting SS, C, SP or 2, and 1-2 quality RP's. That's all ...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-40403361667697839372011-08-08T08:28:27.606-05:002011-08-08T08:28:27.606-05:00Agree with Nick, I think Kubel is a more vaulable ...Agree with Nick, I think Kubel is a more vaulable asset than Cuddyer. Although I also agree with Drew, it will be tough to see him in another uniform. I felt and still feel the same way about Torii Hunter, but I think it is smarter to let Cuddyer go in the long run. M&M can't be on the DL forever, and I can see Valencia or Plouffe eventually having equal pop Cuddy has.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-87205077764226512762011-08-08T02:11:01.810-05:002011-08-08T02:11:01.810-05:00I don't really want to see Michael Cuddyer lea...I don't really want to see Michael Cuddyer leave. He is a good player who must be a manager's dream being as versatile as he is. He's also a PR man's dream as he does more interviews and public appearances than any other Twins player. In other words, he's the anti-Kevin Slowey. He's the team's MVP this year. Plus, he's been with the organization since 1997. He's valuable to have around. There's many reasons why he should stay.<br /><br />But I agree with your reasoning Nick. I heard on the radio that the Twins aren't happy with the current payroll, and want to reduce it. Of course, the Cuddyer/Kubel dilemma is just one of many facing the Twins this offseason. Once again, difficult decisions must be made. <br /><br />On both the baseball and personal levels for the organization, the Cuddyer decision must be the most difficult one to make. If the choice comes to Kubel or Cuddyer, Kubel is probably more signable for the reasons Nick stated. But I have to say Nick, it won't feel good seeing Cuddyer in another uniform.Drew Madisonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-22954822523845279672011-08-08T01:00:55.958-05:002011-08-08T01:00:55.958-05:00If we keep Kubel but not Cuddyer, then our four be...If we keep Kubel but not Cuddyer, then our four best hitters (Mauer, Morneau, Kubel, Span) will all be lefties. Does the need for balance make Cuddyer more valuable than Kubel for the Twins?Sonilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04697943365692348827noreply@blogger.com