There have been many names thrown around so far this winter on what the Twins should do with their middle infield. With first base locked up by Morneau and short stop all but being handed to J.J. Hardy on a silver platter, the Twins still find themselves with less than desirable options at second and third. Of the two, only one is expected to be filled this off-season if any deal is made with Nick Punto more than likely taking over the remaining spot.
The focus as of late has been on the hot corner with many names thrown around. I’ve selected five of the most likely candidates in my own opinion:
Adrian Beltre – Free Agent
Kevin Kouzmanoff – Trade Candidate
Mark DeRosa – Free Agent
Brendan Harris – Currently on Roster
Joe Crede – Free Agent
Now to break them down a bit:
Adrian Beltre – Had a career year in 2004 by hitting .334/.388/.629 with 48 HRs and 121 RBI in his final year for Los Angeles. The Mariners are probably wishing he would’ve duplicated some of that success over the last five years, but instead are probably feeling lucky to be rid of him after last years abysmal showing of .265/.304/.379 (that’s just a .683 OPS!) with 8 HRs and 44 RBIs, making a lot of pinch-hitting appearances. Perhaps the most disappointing part of his tenure with Seattle was the $60 million he made over the course of 5 years while not producing anywhere near his 2004 year.
I don’t believe Beltre will command close to the $13 million he made last year on the open market which could mean a bargain signing for a team. If he does take a one-year contract, it is possible that he could have motivation to produce in 2010 so as to hopefully look for a multi-year deal following the season. At 30 years old, Beltre will more than likely not produce anywhere near his 2004 year again, but he does provide some pop at 3rd base.
The Verdict – I don’t think Beltre is the right fit for Minnesota for the cost that it would probably take to sign him.
Kevin Kouzmanoff – He is coming off a solid year (his 3rd) with the Padres. One area that could be a concern is the decline in batting average and on-base percentage over his tenure with the Padres. Also the strikeout totals are a bit of a red flag, racking up 339 punch outs in his 3 years in San Diego. This can probably be overlooked though as he has averaged right around 20 HRs and 80 RBI per season over that span.
This is the only trade candidate (other than Beltre if he doesn’t get non-tendered) that I have on the list so obviously the Twins would have to give something up to get Kouzmanoff. He is a much more affordable player money-wise having made a measly $432,400 last year in salary.
The Verdict – I wouldn’t give up a lot to get him and him being so young (27) provides a bit of a road block for who the Twins believe is their future third basemen, Danny Valencia.
Mark DeRosa – While the Twins are in talks with DeRosa’s agent, according to insider sources, I really don’t think that this is where the Twins will look to spend their money. The upside to signing DeRosa to a multi-year deal is that he is versatile and therefore would be less of a road black for Valencia. DeRosa is the oldest of the five players I have listed at 34 years of age, but has shown some consistency since getting a chance to play full time in 2006. He would be another guy expecting to hit in the 20 HR and 80 RBI range, although he does bring a much better eye at the plate than Kouzmanoff (.343 OBP in his career).
As I mentioned, DeRosa is much more versatile having played 3B (105 games), LF (18 games), RF (10 games), and 1B (10 games) last year alone. He has also played 2B and SS in his career
The Verdict – I think this would be a great signing for the Twins and his versatility would be very welcome, but I just don’t see it happening. A larger market team will more than likely outbid the Twins for his services.
Joe Crede – The Twins got about what they expected from Crede last year although the batting average did take a little bit of a hit (.225 compared to his .254 career mark). He hit 15 HRs and had 48 RBIs in only 90 games before another back injury derailed his season. For that reason I think Crede could be had for another one-year incentive-laden deal that would benefit the Twins and at the same time, give Crede a chance to show that he is finally healthy. When healthy with Chicago, Crede was a 20 HR/70 RBI guy for four solid years, peaking in 2006 when he hit 30 HRs and drove in 94.
The Verdict – For the right price, Crede is a perfect fit and would provide the Twins with a one-year stop gap until Valencia is ready to make his debut.
Brendan Harris – As it stands, if no move is made, Harris will more than likely being the Twins starting third baseman when they open up the new season. Harris is obviously one of the easiest choices as he is already on the 25-man roster, but lacks pop in his bat. Over his career (442 games) Harris has only gone deep 28 times including only 6 times last year. Like DeRosa, Harris is versatile in that he can play pretty much anywhere in the infield. Harris’ career hitting stats: .267/.324/.396 and while I scoffed at Beltre’s OPS, Harris was actually a step down from him in 2009.
The Verdict - I view Harris as more of a utility player and I think he would make a great bench guy for this team if and when they make a move to sign/trade for a starting third baseman.
Final Thoughts
I believe that Twins do need to make a move. I just don’t see how Brendan Harris can be our everyday third baseman if we hope to compete. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think Nick Punto should be playing everyday either, but with what Gardenhire has said I don’t think that Punto not playing is an option. Any of the players mentioned above (other than Harris) would be a step in the right direction although some come with more risk (Crede, Beltre) than others (Kouzmanoff, DeRosa).
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