Let's Talk About the Other Bat

[Bertz]

This is something I've been thinking about for a bit, and sort of came up today in the offseason thread.  

There's a pretty clear dividing line with position players available this winter. Ohtani, Soto, Alonso, Bellinger, and to a lesser extent Matt Chapman are the big boys. However I think everyone agrees that we need to add two bats this winter, so who do you like as the "other" bat? Here's a rundown of some options, guys who play 1B/3B/DH and don't seem primed to make more than ~$15M

Rhys Hoskins

Pros: He probably only wants a one year deal to re-establish value and get back on the market. Pre-injury Hoskins was a pretty consistently safe bet for a wRC+ in the 120-130 range

Cons: That's a pretty major injury he's coming off of, and the Phillies made no effort to resign him. That probably has more to do with their roster than Rhys, but it's still something to consider

Jorge Polanco (trade)

Pros: He plays 2B/3B, but hits like a low end 1B. He's a switch hitter, more athletic than anyone else on this list, and he's got a team option for '25

Cons: Lots of injuries. He's been solid at 3B in SSS, but he's had a fairly limited run there and obviously 2B is spoken for here. While he won't cost a ton, he will require some trade assets to acquire

Jeimer Candelario

Pros: Already successfully integrated with the team this summer. Can switch between 1B/3B seamlessly based on our needs

Cons: Feels like in a FA class this shallow he's going to get a 3 or 4 year deal, and while he fits the roster like a glove today his tweener status might be annoying a year from now

Jorge Soler

Pros: Some quality nostalgia from a quality lefty-mashing DH. His '23 was a step up from prior years but most of the stuff under the hood does look sustainable 

Cons: He was more or less replacement level in '21-'22. Given that he opted out He seems poised to get a multi-year deal

Brandon Belt

Pros: He's not the borderline star he was when he was younger, but on a pure offensive basis might still be the best option on this list

Cons: Contact and platoon issues grow as he gets older. Mostly DH'd last year, and I'm not sure if that was in deference to Vladito or because he can't play 1B well anymore 

Mitch Garver

Pros: Lefty masher, but still pretty good at hitting righties as well. Can nominally catch as well, so if you want to play late game matchups and get some offense behind the plate he opens some fun things tactically

Cons: His ability to catch might be a negative if he insists on doing a ton of it. He has not played much 1B despite it feeling like a natural way to get his bat in the lineup, so not sure if he has some issues there. His postseason heroics may have bought him a 3rd year on his contract. Durability issues, even in '23 where he wasn't catching as much

Justin Turner

Pros: TT threw the "professional hitter" label at him in another thread, and he's more or less a textbook example.  There's a lot of swing and miss on this list but not from Turner.  Probably only requires a one year deal. You wouldn't run him out there every day, though looks like he can still fake it at 3B (and 2B?)

Cons: While he gets to his offense in a very different way, as a RHH 1B/DH/emergency 3B with a bat 10-20% better than average, is he that different from Patrick Wisdom? He's also at an age where he could really fall off the cliff in a hurry

Any others we should look at?  I tend to want a compliment to the other bat.  So like Hoskins or Garver if we go Ohtani/Soto/Bellinger or Polanco if we end up with Pete Alonso.  Brandon Belt with Matt Chapman maybe? (Please don't sign Matt Chapman, Jed)

[Bertz]

Hoskins called out in the Athletic this AM

https://theathletic.com/5054493/2023/11/12/cubs-rhys-hoskins-christopher-morel-james-triantos

Quote

Cody Bellinger’s successful comeback player of the year campaign could be a template for the Chicago Cubs and another Scott Boras client. With an opening at first base and a need for a middle-of-the-order hitter, the Cubs view Rhys Hoskins as a good fit for their roster, league sources said, seeing it as another opportunity to add an impact player with postseason experience without having to go long on a contract.

 

[Jason Ross]

Yeah, Hoskins makes a lot of sense with the Cubs. Saw a projected 1/$16.5m deal for him, and that feels about right.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I think Hoskins is the clear leader of that tier.  I'm not cowed by the injury or the Phillies not pursuing him, a knee injury in spring training I don't see as being a lingering impact, and the Phillies decision is obvious unless they're trying to run a Mets payroll.  Being a 1 year deal at 1B fills a need without jeopardizing any moves higher on the food chain save for probably Alonso, and while Alonso is a little bit better I'm not sure he's 5+ million and trade pieces better.

Other names I'd potentially add to this list:

• JD Martinez: Another professional hitter that while I wouldn't expect his 135 wRC+ from 2023, I think he's probably a better bet than the non-Hoskins names above to be over 120. Would be a short term deal and only cost money, and his starting point is lower than Turner's(plus he's not going to hold the illusion he still provides defensive value)
• Anthony Santander: He's been nearly a Hoskins level bat from both sides of the plate for 2 years running and wouldn't have obscene trade cost due to being Arb 3.  Plus as a late bloomer his arb salary is in the Polanco range.  However, this made more sense when the Cubs had a decent fit for the Orioles on the pitching side(Stroman),maybe if Morel goes in a deal for a pitcher and the O's really like Brown or Assad?
• Brandon Drury: What are the Angels gonna try to be next year?  If they make him available he's probably cheaper, shorter term, and a bit more certain production than Candelario.  Right handed IF is the only real downside.
• Other Minnesota bats: Polanco seems most likely to get traded, but they still have a lot of hitters lying around they can't/won't give full time PA to.  Solano probably won't repeat his 2023 but is a decent professional hitter, Larnach is an inexpensive/upside play, I continue to pine after Kirilloff if they want to try to make a more substantial deal, and conversely if Kirilloff is hands-off then how attached could they really be to Wallner?

[Brock Beauchamp]

18 hours ago, Bertz said:

Jorge Polanco (trade)

Pros: He plays 2B/3B, but hits like a low end 1B. He's a switch hitter, more athletic than anyone else on this list, and he's got a team option for '25

Cons: Lots of injuries. He's been solid at 3B in SSS, but he's had a fairly limited run there and obviously 2B is spoken for here. While he won't cost a ton, he will require some trade assets to acquire

As a Twins fan, I can give some opinions about Polanco.

He's wildly underrated and a professional hitter. He's aging into some questionable defense at second but can still hold his own. He played some third this year and while it's not an ideal fit, he makes it work. He's absolutely the kind of guy you want hitting 1-2 or 5-6 in a lineup. He's gonna give you a stabilizing presence from both sides of the plate.

But the injuries are a real problem and it's hard to predict what you're going to get from him. His ankle is a recurring problem and has hindered several years of both hitting and defense.

Twins' ownership are being horsefeathers asshats and limiting payroll right in the middle of a run at contention. That means it's more likely Polanco could be traded and the price won't be astronomical.