Comments on: Twins sign catcher/outfielder Ryan Doumit to one-year, $3 million deal

By: D-Luxxx

D-Luxxx — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:09:32 +0000

Jeff,

I’ve noticed the same thing. I blame the paywall at the Strib for the increase in inane and uninformed comments.

By: TMW

TMW — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 06:09:06 +0000

Terrific signing. Low risk, low commitment, very big potential rewards. Aaron said the rest, but this is quite obviously a solid move. Let’s just hope the outcome follows the sound thought process.

By: AaronK

AaronK — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 21:59:55 +0000

Aaron,
Very nice writeup and I agree this is a very good signing by Ryan. He is almost the perfect signing based on the injury questions we have at first and catcher. Like it a lot.

Wyatt,
Thx for the WAR analysis, nice work.

By: AaronK

AaronK — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 21:58:51 +0000

I have one more reason for Andrew. The DH spot in the AL increases his value because he doesn’t always have to play a defensive position to start.

By: thegeneral13

thegeneral13 — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 19:37:14 +0000

Here you go, Andrew:

1) Because his performance in 2012 likely won’t warrant a $7.25 mm salary.
2) Because the quality of a player is unrelated to the quality of his team.
3) Yes.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 19:35:48 +0000

@Andrew and jfs: I am not enough of a baseball nerd to follow more than one team but different teams have different needs and it’s clearly illogical to imply that any player whose option was declined has no value to any other team. As far as comparisons to Cuddyer, it appears he hits almost as well and plays the same positions but also catcher. So yes, having a catcher who can hit makes the team better. And having Cuddyer-like performance for less than half the price, making money available for other improvements, also makes the team better.

Seriously, this is not that complicated. Is it just me, or is it getting dumber around here?

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 19:19:10 +0000

Will someone please answer my questions: Why did the Pirates not pick up Doumit’s option for 2012? Why should the Twins go after players that a loser team does not want? If Doumit is a poor-man’s Cuddyer, that’s how he’ll perform, like a poor-ass version of Cuddyer. That makes the team better?

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 16:56:43 +0000

Wyatt – good point. It looks like shopping for baseball players is like shopping for anything else – the best values are not at the high end of the price range, and you’re better to spend on a few decent players than one star, which is what Ryan is dong.

By: toby

toby — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 12:49:01 +0000

Having watched several hundred Pirates games over the past few seasons: harbor no illusions about his suitability as a fill-in at 1st base or right field. He’s a terrible defensive catcher who showed glimmers of improvement (not sure it could’ve gotten worse) last season, but his stint at first was one of the unfunniest jokes I’ve ever had the misfortune of witnessing.

But he does use Danzig as his walk-up music, so that’s something.

By: Wyatt

Wyatt — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 04:30:47 +0000

One more thing, to serve as a comparison to the Doumit & Carroll roster moves: a hypothetical comparative 5.3 WAR upgrade for the Twins would be to replace Valencia at 3B with Evan Longoria.

If you could tell the twins they could have Evan Longoria for $6.5 million (the combined salary of Carroll and Doumit) next year, they would think they were committing robbery.

So, although Carroll & Doumit are not big names, when you consider their ability and who they are replacing, they make a massive roster improvement that is completely affordable, and for that i applaud TR.