Who should the Twins get to play DH next season?

Question

The Twins badly need a DH with some pop. Who should they go after this off-season because platooning Jason Kubel and Craig Monroe is not going to be ideal by any stretch of the imagination!

Answer 1

(Note: Frank Thomas is NOT available, dude.)

The Twins haven’t had a really reliable designated hitter in…um…you know, a really long time. Sure they had David Ortiz, but they were nice enough to let him mosey on over to Boston and become a folk hero. Granted in doing so they gave up one of the most prolific power and clutch hitters of the 21st century, but that’s neither here nor there. What is here AND there is the glaring hole the Twins have had at DH in recent years and the obvious necessity to find a reliable bat.

[Realistic] Free Agent Options: Mike Piazza, Sean Casey, Cliff Floyd, Sammy Sosa, Mike Sweeney, Barry Bonds, Luis Gonzalez, Jose Guillen, Reggie Sanders and Rafael Palmeiro.

[Realistic] Trade Options: Adam Dunn…yeah, I said it.

BEST BET(S)

Via Free Agency: This one is tough, because of all the names on this list, I feel like I am repeating a bunch of them from last year…which clearly goes to show how right I was last year?! I usually snag one comeback player dead-on. In 2006 it was Frank Thomas. Last year it was Sammy Sosa (sorta) and Dimitri Young. As far as 2008 goes, it could really be anyone on this list.

Piazza may still command too much money, but a rather dismal debut in his first stint as a full-time DH in Oakland might have driven his value down just enough for him to fall into a one-year deal with incentives. If he’s got some pop left in the bat and is willing to grow the ‘70s porno ‘stache back, the Twins would love to add the 20+ homers he could provide.

Bonds is intriguing, because there is no doubt that he would absolutely mash in the MetroDome and serving as a full-time DH would keep him healthy and in the lineup everyday. However, there is that whole "going to jail" thing currently standing in the way. If he snags a get out of jail free card and is willing to take a one-year discounted deal to prove he's worth the baggage he could be right up the Twins' alley.

Floyd has proven that when he’s healthy he can be a great offensive contributor. I think if he can be healthy for a full-season and avoid injury by DHing, he has a shot to be a solid 30 HR, 85 RBI producer in the middle of a solid lineup.

Jose Guillen is an intriguing, and oft-injured, option as well. Getting him out of the field most days would be good for keeping him off the DL and for putting runs on the board. His attitude has come into question many a time, but I think Ron Gardenhire might be the right type of manager to help squelch that problem before it starts. Guillen has, however, been linked to Senator Mitchell’s steroid probe and could face a suspension to start the 2008 season.

Easily the most intriguing name on this list is the last one, the long since forgotten about Rafael Palmeiro. He has been in exile for two seasons now. Whether or not he’s in shape or even thinking about making a comeback is entirely up for debate, but if he is and he can still put up numbers even remotely close to his career averages the Twins would be fools not to take a one-year incentive-laden chance on the would-be Hall of Famer. Palmeiro is probably chomping at the bit for a chance to comeback and not only clear his name, but to prove he can still perform and has had two years robbed from him. If he can in fact do so, I’d be more than willing for him to take that gamble in a Twins uniform.

Via Trade: Let’s be honest folks. Not a lot of teams are willing to give up big boppers, especially if they aren’t going to see much on the return. The Reds, however, are in an interesting position. They have a team overloaded with outfielders and prospects who are currently handcuffed to AAA as a result. Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr. are probably the two biggest stars on the team and as such, are also two of the most expensive. The Reds probably foresee Dunn walking away via free agency next year to take over left field for the Yankees or Angels and would be willing to move him this off-season, potentially even eating some of his salary, if they received worthwhile compensation in the form of young pitching and a position player. The Twins could make a move and then try to sign Dunn for the same offer they currently have on the table for Torii Hunter. After all, a dude who can mash 40 home runs in his sleep is hard to come by.

Answer 2

Seriously, Barry Bonds. The Homerdome is a great park for him to hit. I don't care if Morneau is a lefty and so is Bonds and in an ideal world you'd get a lefty righty power combination. Bonds hits everyone.

Bonds would instantly make ticket sales go up, bring in more money, which would make one of the richest owners in the MLB happy (who can afford any player he wants, even ARod before he signed but he's too cheap. Pollahd is keeping the Twins small market, not the fanbase. Wake up Twins fans) and then maybe he'll spend some coin and resign Santana.

Answer 3

That should really be left up to the genral manger, and the manger of the Minnesota Twins, and maybe the GM of the Twins can find a very good deal for a DH but I don't know who has the pop for the postion.

Answer 4

Currently, Frank Thomas is available. And so is Sammy Sosa. If the Twins can afford them, they could get them and have a right handed hittier to bat in the middle of the order with Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau.

Answer 5

they should have kept ortiz

Answer 6

Take Adam Dunn Please!