Wasting Mauer and Morneau in their primes

[snepp]

BTW did you see what the Mariners gave up for Cliff Lee (who also was very affordable)?

Bill Smith is no Jack Z.

[fowlergac]

Johnny Bench caught 17 years.
Mike Piazza caught 16.
Pudge has caught 19 (and counting)
Yogi Berra caught 16+

I'm sorry but all this talk of having Mauer move positions right now or in the near future is really dumb.
In 7 or 8 years then you can talk about moving him to 1st base or DH to prolong his career, but he is in his prime and he isn't made of glass. (He was one of the top QB's in the country in H.S.)Oh yeah, he is also one of the top defensive catchers in the game as well!

If you want to DH him 30-40 games a year, I am fine with that. But a full position change now? or in the next few years? No thanks.

I would like to see Mauer take a similar career path as Vmart and catch fewer games a year. If Ramos turns out to be an above average catcher (and it sounds like that's the path he's on), would it be that terrible to extend Mauer's career by having him play every day and catch every other day? I'm not saying he should start doing that right now, but in 3 years, when Ramos is ready and Mauer is 30, I think it would be worth consideration (assuming we extend Mauer, of course). If we dump Ramos, we won't be able afford putting Morales back there to let guys run wild. If we go with Butera, we waste a spot in the order. I know he's not made of glass, but we can't spend $25M on a guy and stick him behind the plate every day during the second half of his career.

[lambo_asdf]

Martinez doesn't catch very much because he's not a good defensive catcher. The amount of catcher that he does play says a lot about the added offensive value that playing catcher brings.

[VodkaDave]

but in 3 years, when Ramos is ready and Mauer is 30, I think it would be worth consideration (assuming we extend Mauer, of course). If we dump Ramos, we won't be able afford putting Morales back there to let guys run wild. If we go with Butera, we waste a spot in the order. I know he's not made of glass, but we can't spend $25M on a guy and stick him behind the plate every day during the second half of his career.

Ramos will be ready for the majors in 1 year, not 3 years. mauer will also only be 29 in 3 years (still in his prime)

If in 7 or 8 years we need to start playing mauer somewhere else I am sure the Twins can find a better option to catch then Butera at that time.
Besides, at this point why should the Twins care how Mauer is going to preform when he is 36.37 or 38? When this contract will end when he is 33, or 34?

[twinscowboysbulls]

In 2 years if we still have Mauer, and Ramos has developed and we still have him. It wouldn't be a bad thing to Let them split time behind the plate while Mauer DH'ed regularly, since Kuddubel will likely not be a Twin in two years? If he has another good year I have a feeling we will have a hard time resigning him...
All this is based off of Ramos developing into a good hitter/catcher.

[DPJ]

In 2 years if we still have Mauer, and Ramos has developed and we still have him. It wouldn't be a bad thing to Let them split time behind the plate while Mauer DH'ed regularly, since Kuddubel will likely not be a Twin in two years? If he has another good year I have a feeling we will have a hard time resigning him...
All this is based off of Ramos developing into a good hitter/catcher.

First it serves Ramos no good for his progression to split time at the major league level. Either he's the Twins starting catcher or trade him elsewhere. Sitting on the bench is just a waste of a guy for a guy who profiles as an above average catcher. Second I don't see the market for Kuddubel being too strong. Look at Mastui, Damon, Thome, Vlad, Dye and other no glove all bat players. It's not like they're breaking the bank in this current market.

[Pseudofool]

In 2 years if we still have Mauer, and Ramos has developed and we still have him. It wouldn't be a bad thing to Let them split time behind the plate while Mauer DH'ed regularly, since Kuddubel will likely not be a Twin in two years? If he has another good year I have a feeling we will have a hard time resigning him...
All this is based off of Ramos developing into a good hitter/catcher.

First it serves Ramos no good for his progression to split time at the major league level. Either he's the Twins starting catcher or trade him elsewhere. Sitting on the bench is just a waste of a guy for a guy who profiles as an above average catcher. Second I don't see the market for Kuddubel being too strong. Look at Mastui, Damon, Thome, Vlad, Dye and other no glove all bat players. It's not like they're breaking the bank in this current market.

Those guys are like ten years older than Kuddubel, DPJ. Come on.

[DPJ]

First it serves Ramos no good for his progression to split time at the major league level. Either he's the Twins starting catcher or trade him elsewhere. Sitting on the bench is just a waste of a guy for a guy who profiles as an above average catcher. Second I don't see the market for Kuddubel being too strong. Look at Mastui, Damon, Thome, Vlad, Dye and other no glove all bat players. It's not like they're breaking the bank in this current market.

Those guys are like ten years older than Kuddubel, DPJ. Come on.

I know, but there's a premium getting put back into defense around the league. Guys who's value lies only in their bats just aren't getting paid huge money (Jason Bay excluded) Atleast not to the point where he'll price himself outta the Twins range.

[twinscowboysbulls]

First it serves Ramos no good for his progression to split time at the major league level. Either he's the Twins starting catcher or trade him elsewhere. Sitting on the bench is just a waste of a guy for a guy who profiles as an above average catcher. Second I don't see the market for Kuddubel being too strong. Look at Mastui, Damon, Thome, Vlad, Dye and other no glove all bat players. It's not like they're breaking the bank in this current market.

Those guys are like ten years older than Kuddubel, DPJ. Come on.

I know, but there's a premium getting put back into defense around the league. Guys who's value lies only in their bats just aren't getting paid huge money (Jason Bay excluded) Atleast not to the point where he'll price himself outta the Twins range.

You do realize at that point in time we might have Mauer/Morneau/Cuddyer/Nathan all under large contracts?

[kab21]

You do realize at that point in time we might have Mauer/Morneau/Cuddyer/Nathan all under large contracts?

Cuddyer's contract is finished at the same time as Kuddubel's. And Nathan has an option that year and is done the next. I think the Twins will try hard to keep one of Kuddubel or Cuddyer at DH but not both.

[notoriousgod71]

What a difference a couple weeks make! Now we have added Thome and Hudson so it at least shows we want to improve our team. I think this team is just an ace away from being a legitimate World Series contender.

I have to give kudos to Billy Smith for making some moves to bolster the roster. Good job!