Over the Vikings' loss yet? No? Yeah, that's shitty. But at least Twins season is...well, not right around the corner, but getting closer.
The Twins made another upgrade today, signing DH Jim Thome to a $1.5 million deal. Thome can make up to another $700,000 in incentives.
It's a bit of weird signing for the Twins. Thome, a left-handed hitter, is strictly a DH at this point in his career. He hasn't played more than three games in the field since 2005 (including 0 in 2008 and 2009), and when the White Sox dealt him to the Dodgers last summer, he told the Dodgers he'd only play in the field in extreme emergencies. So, basically, the Twins just added a left-handed, power hitting DH. Which they already have in Jason Kubel.
If the Twins want to get Thome in the lineup, they have to either sit down Kubel or play Kubel in the field. Both of which are bad options, considering Kubel's awesome bat and awful fielding. Thome can also serve as a pinch hitter, but in the AL pinch hitters aren't used nearly as much as in the NL. Thome's not going to see a ton of at bats from pinch hitting. At least not $1.5 million worth.
But, at the same time, Thome can still rake, especially against right-handed pitching. If Gardy wants to construct an ideal lineup, he'll play Thome at DH and Kubel in left versus right-handed pitching. Kubel isn't much worse defensively than Delmon, if he's even worse at all. A lineup with Thome hitting behind Mauer, Cuddy, Morneau, and Kubel is pretty potent.
I'd rather have seen the Twins spend this $1.5 million on an infielder to compete for the 2B or 3B job, or even a reliever. That would have been a more efficient use of their payroll. Still, signing Thome at this price is an excellent idea. He makes the Twins a better team than they were yesterday.
After the Thome signing and the signing of arbitration-eligible players, the Twins' payroll is projected to be about $90 million. If anyone ever calls the Twins cheap again, feel free to punch them in the dick.
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5 comments:
"So, basically, the Twins just added a left-handed, power hitting DH. Which they already have in Jason Kubel."
And this makes sense how?
Over/Under on when Thome is released/traded?
Thome's signing protects them against Kubel not producing in 2010. Kubel's 2009 season was by far his career best, and there are some indications he won't be able to repeat it (his HR/FB and BABIP in 2009 were kind of out of whack, and that stuff doesn't usually carry over from year to year - it's much more likely his peripherals will "normalize" and result in a drop in his OPS). If Kubes struggles, or isn't as good as last year, then Thome can just step in for Kubel.
Thome also protects the Twins against Delmon sucking, because they could always use Kubel in LF instead of Delmon and just DH Thome. Although Kubel can't hit LHP well at all - it's to the point where it's probably better just to sit him down at all times versus LH starting pitchers.
Addressing other areas probably would have made more sense, but for the price this is a decent signing. Plus, Thome brings NAME VALUE, WHORES.
I love the move at that price. Maybe this is the year that Gardy finally figures out that Delmon is brutal (naturally right after we give up Go Go) and he sees that there is very little drop off defensively with Kubes cause they both suck. Hopefully against righties we see alot of Kubes in left and Thome at DH cause that lineup will crush.
Even if he primarily plays off the bench I'm pretty happy about spending a petty 1.5M. I'll have a lot more confidence with Thome up to bat down one in the ninth than I would with some scrub like Jason Pridie coming off the bench.
Also, if they are looking to add an infielder I don't see how spending pennies on Thome changes that.
Also, if they are looking to add an infielder I don't see how spending pennies on Thome changes that.
My concern is that if the Twins had $1.5-$2 million left in the budget, they would have been better off spending that money on a reliever or an infielder.
If the budget's unlimited, or still has a ton of room, then good for them for signing Thome.
Yeah it's kind of hard to imagine they are going to spend much more than the 91.5M or whatever they are at right now but it seems like it is a bit more flexible than in the past.
My point is that if they actually are pursuing guys like Hudson or Lopez, who would be considerably more than 1.5M, then spending an extra 1.5M on Thome probably won't play a factor in whether or not they pony up for those guys.
I definitely agree I would rather have seen them pick up an infielder but I don't think it was really a choice between one or the other.
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