Comments on: Offseason outlook: Jamey Carroll

By: ML

ML — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:41:27 +0000

Actually, JS, the “PE”D reference was yours alone.

By: JS

JS — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 19:12:12 +0000

Pretty sure he’s saying that it doesn’t look like Carroll is showing signs of breaking down yet. The “PE”D reference was yours alone.

By: ML

ML — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 05:11:36 +0000

Bill N, do you have a HOF vote by chance? What are you saying?

By: Bill N

Bill N — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:36:23 +0000

I think it bears repeating but in the same sentence, he was 38 and his hitting actually improved greatly over the season. Wouldn’t you expect the opposite if he were close to wearing down.

By: Jeff H

Jeff H — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 17:45:26 +0000

I was somewhere between lukewarm to a little annoyed when they gave a journeyman infielder in his late 30′s a 2-year deal last year, but after the way last year went, I agree that he’s probably a nice option to have on a club like this. Aaron has really soured on Florimon (and even Florimon’s defense), but I think we can all agree that he’s not a long-term option at SS. So if it isn’t him, and it isn’t Dozier, then you might as well Carroll there, who will at least be a stabilizing influence in an otherwise volatile infield (Plouffe and Dozier? Yikes).

I still think that Carroll’s lack of range hides some of his defensive weaknesses, but there’s something to be said for the psychological benefits of a guy who makes the routine plays versus a guy with more range, but also a higher likelihood of errors.

By: Josh

Josh — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 15:13:34 +0000

Players like Carroll won’t get anyone excited in the offseason, but having guys like him in the right roles to fill out your roster is really important for a team, I think. He’s going to take good ABs. He’s going to get on base. He’s going to play solid defense and not make mistakes.

But at the end of the day, Jamey Carroll had a b-ref WAR of 3.2! I expect regression due to age and the vagaries of dWAR, but Carroll can still be a very solid player again for the Twins to fill in whichever middle infield spot they need him at. His best role is as a utility infielder, but he’s not going to make you cry if you have to give him a bunch of starts in a row.

The trick on guys like Carroll is a) don’t pay them too much (Nick Punto was a fine player at $2M, overpaid & overused at $4.5M) and b) don’t count on them to do thinks beyond their skills. Carroll is a guy that’s here to stabilize the middle infield and transition the team to its young talent that’s coming up through the system. That’s a great fit for him.

I liked the signing a year ago, and I think he’s going to fit nicely this season as well. If he has another solid season I’m not going to be upset if his option for 2014 vests at $2M to come back and be the utility guy for a final season.