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Is Freddy Sanchez the answer for Twins?
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Pittsburgh Second Baseman Freddy Sanchez / AP Photo
It has been well-documented here and elsewhere that the Minnesota Twins have received little offensive production at the plate from the middle infield positions, especially second base.
Opening day starter Alexi Casilla was optioned to AAA on two different occasions this season, and hit just .180/.242/.225 in 121 plate appearances while with the team. Matt Tolbert was called up when Casilla was demoted and he has hit .183/.273/.230 in 149 plate appearances. After getting a majority of the at-bats at second base when Nick Punto was on the disabled list, Tolbert eventually played himself to the bench. Punto is currently holding down second base, and his plate line of .216/.328/.240 is rather putrid.
Recently, FOX Sports.com's MLB writer Jon )Paul Morosi reported that the Twins were beginning to sniff around a trio of players from the Pittsburgh Pirates: relievers Matt Capps and John Grabow and second baseman Freddy Sanchez. While Capps and Grabow would both drastically improve the back end of the Twins' bullpen, we'll focus on Sanchez.
Sanchez was a relative late-bloomer who came up with the Pirates for good in 2005, won a batting title by hitting .344/.378/.473 in 2006, and is a solid hitter. After a slump-filled 2008 campaign, he has battled injuries this season, but his .316/.355/.477 line in 329 plate appearances in 2009 is obviously much more than the Twins have received from the second base position. He does not provide much power (37 career homers in 2,786 plate appearances), but is a consistent run producer for the Pirates. Sanchez has hit second or third in the Pirates' order, but would almost certainly hit second with the Twins (which would put Mauer in the #3 spot permanently) and would set the table nicely for the big boys. In the field, Sanchez is solid, but not spectacular, at second base, with an Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR) of 3.2 this season.
The Pirates may be willing to listen to offers for their second baseman. Pittsburgh has already moved a bunch of players this season (Nyjer Morgan, Nate McLouth, Eric Hinske. etc.), and would seemingly move a 31-year-old veteran making $6M this year. He also has an $8M option for 2010 which vests at either 635 plate appearances of 600 plate appearances plus a 2009 All-Star berth (since achieved).
Because of this, the Twins may take a pass because of money. The team typically does not make a splash at the deadline (the 2003 acquisition of Shannon Stewart won the AL Central for them, but took place at the All-Star break), and would seemingly look elsewhere because of the $8M option for next year. The Twins already have four commitments for 2010 of over $8M for Justin Morneau ($15M), Joe Mauer ($11.25M), Joe Nathan ($12.5M), and Michael Cuddyer ($9.4M), and have over $59M in payroll already committed overall for next season. Adding an expensive player like Sanchez would put the team over its comfort zone.
Also, the Pirates are not going to give Sanchez away for free. The Twins don't have anyone who could replace Sanchez at 2B (it's unlikely the Pirates would take Casilla, nor is it likely the Twins would offer him in a deal), and Pittsburgh would probably ask for a MLB-ready starting pitcher. The Twins have shown an unwillingness to trade pitching prospects in the past. Would the Pirates take Delmon Young? Who knows?
Freddy Sanchez would solve the Twins' offensive problems at second base, but is likely too expensive at over $8M for next season. The Twins typically don't like one-year rentals, and the cost for a player like Sanchez is likely too much for the Twins to consider. Still, it would patch a huge hole in the Twins' lineup.
Perkins Ill: Glen Perkins missed his turn in the rotation on Wednesday and is unlikely to pitch on Thursday. Francisco Liriano will move up and face the Yankees on Thursday on his regular four days rest. Nick Blackburn is apparently ready to pitch on Friday in the White Sox series opener if Perkins is not ready to go. In this piece from LaVelle E. Neal III, Perkins will pitch as soon as he is feeling better.
Another One-Run Loss to the Yanks: After getting spanked by New York on Tuesday night, the Twins lost another one-run game to the Yankees on Wednesday night, 4-3. The loss drops the Twins to 0-6 against the Bronx Bombers this season, five of those losses by one run.
Joe Mauer hit his first homer (#15) since June 20 and was 3-5. Denard Span and Jason Kubel had two hits apiece. Anthony Swarzak was ok in his start on relative short-notice due to Perkins' illness, giving up 8 hits and 4 runs in 4.1 innings, but Ron Gardenhire praised his willingness to challenge New York hitters. Bobby Keppel's scoreless string now stands at 11.1 after 3.2 scoreless innings Wednesday night.
As Aaron Gleeman reports here, the Yankees continue to be Gardenhire's Achilles Heel. The Twins are 16-45 against the Bombers in the Gardy era which begain in 2002.
Francisco Liriano will take the hill Thursday afternoon for the Twins against New York's Alfredo Aceves, as the Twins look to avoid finishing the season 0-7 against the Yanks.
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