twins/mlb

OMG. Tell me this was the reason that Bill Smith was fired. He turns 38 in February. Rumors are we're throwing a $7M/ 2yr deal at an aging utility infielder? It wasn't funny in 2010 and it isn't now. What, did Julio Franco not return your calls, Terry Ryan? Hey let's grab free agents Omar Vizquel and Pudge Rodriguez while we're at it. Don't forget to trade Pavano to the Rockies for Jason Giambi. Quick, what's Jamie Moyer's phone number?! Don't forget to overpay, we only have $100M!!

Nooooo! Just as well save that money and sign someone else at a different positon if that's the best your going to get for a Shortstop. A 37 year old who's just average.

Another guy nearing the end of his career? Come on Twins, get out there and make a significant signing for a change, not this bottom of the barrel crap.

Wow. Punto contract revisited. This guy is not MLB everyday SS-caliber, yet the Twins will gladly pay him over $3mil/yr early in the free agent process. Glad to see we're shooting for the stars. I'd rather just watch Plouffe make 60 errors next year and hit a ball to the outfield once in a while.

Have any of you looked at his numbers? Carroll is a significant upgrade over what we had at SS last year. His OBP has never been lower than .355 over the last four years and his defense is even average. The options for shortstop are not much better.

What also irks me about this 2 year deal is it blocks Brian Dozier, a true Shortstop. Yes, Dozier probably needs another season in AA-AAA, but he should be invited to the 2012 Spring Training camp to compete with Nishioka and Casilla for Shortstop. In 78 games at AA New Britain, he had an .885 OPS. And, according to Seth Stohs, Dozier's currently on fire in the Arizona Fall League. He "started at 2B in last Saturday’s Rising Stars game. He homered in his first at bat of that game. On Thursday, he went 3-4 with a walk, a double and a game-winning home run. He is now hitting .319/.368/.489 with seven doubles and three home runs." But, signing Carroll as the starting SS is like telling Dozier, don't bother, we aren't interested until 2014.

At least they were smart enough not to give that contract to LNP.

"I'd rather just watch Plouffe make 60 errors next year and hit a ball to the outfield once in a while." You will still get that chance when he does his best Delmon Young impression in right field.

I like Carrol, but it just seems like an odd signing for a team that should be starting a rebuilding process. I would hope that Dozier gets a shot at whichever mif position Carrol is not playing. Still not an everyday Casilla fan, and the other young guys either can't hit (Tolbert) or don't play defense well enough (Hughes and Plouffe) to be everyday players.

Why not sign a veteran infielder who upgrades your up the middle defense, gets on base, and makes contact? If anything else you need these guys around to teach young players what coaches can not.