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« Frank Thomas Released | Main | Odds and Ends: Hatteberg, Colon, Longoria »
Kubel Wants Long Term Deal
In the wake of many other young talents having their arbitration years bought out, Jason Kubel is hoping for a long-term deal of his own. Phil Miller of the Pioneer Press notes that Twins Assistant GM Rob Antony is open to it but not about to make any concessions. Antony points out,
"It's tough to do a multiyear for guys who haven't, for whatever reason, established a level of production. How do you go to ownership saying only, 'Our scouting reports say this?' Now you're paying for future years based on projections, and that gets a little dangerous."
Kubel was a top hitting prospect with the Twins and had a terrific second half last year; however, his knees have been a cause for concern and limited his playing time and breakout potential. Evan Longoria got a deal after 6 games, so with the recent rash of young talent signings, Kubel has every right to ask for this; however, it seems the Twins will wisely take a conservative approach to Kubel this year.
By Nat Boyle
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Longoria is not a comparable for Kubel. Longoria is arguably one of the safest top prospects in years. Kubel has already failed as a top prospect. Let him earn his money and play through this year first.
Posted by: scribbletone | April 20, 2008 at 11:29 AM
Is Kubel smoking crack? He's barely been healthy, and doesn't he realize he plays for the Twins?
Posted by: maximumpotential | April 20, 2008 at 11:53 AM
Longoria has nothing to do with it. He is ust the most recent guy to have signed. I dont think Kubel was sitting there saying "hey... Longoria got an extension so I have to have one now."
They really arent comparables, this is true. But Kubel can mash, and the Twins can use his injuries to their benefit and lock him up cheaper. He gets his security, everybody is happy. This guy could be a legit 30-35 HR guy. You obviously dont want to pay him too much, but it would be nice to lock him up so when he breaks out big time you dont have to pay him big dollars in arbitration.
I am not sure that the team he plays for has anything to do with him being locked up through his controlled years. They are going to be paying him one way or another, whether it is through arbitration, or whether they sign him now.
Posted by: nrmax88 | April 20, 2008 at 01:12 PM
i think its not worth it lol
Posted by: angelsfan | April 20, 2008 at 11:13 PM
He is worth signing if he can prove this year that he can stay healthy. He could easily be a .300 hitter with 25-30 homeruns a year if he stays healthy. The Twins do need to lock him up if he can prove to the team that he can stay healthy.
Posted by: bgigs52 | April 21, 2008 at 09:29 AM
What are you talking about. Angelsfan thinks its not worth it lol. How can you even argue with that logic?
Posted by: nrmax88 | April 21, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Kubel shouldn't earn his extension untill at least the end of the year. He is a great hitter, and he hasn't failed as a prospect (scribbletone). In fact he's probably the only Twin other than Morneau that can hit an upper decker. The Twins don't know about what they'll get on a consistent basis, maybe after the season ends.
Posted by: twinsfan | April 21, 2008 at 07:03 PM
I'm just saying that Kubel failed in his first go around in the majors. At this point he needs to start producing very soon or he'll be considered a bust.
I completely agree that he has the ability to be a brilliant hitter, something along the lines of previously stated numbers like .300, 30, 100, but he still has to do it first.
Signing Kubel has its positives and its negatives. On my first go around thinking about this post I probably didn't consider everything, because there are positives to signing him now. If they sign him soon then they can probably get him cheaper because he hasn't established himself yet. But there is also the risk that he never will establish himself. So if he establishes himself then you get the more expensive, less risky option.
And by the way, the Twins are gathering up quite a lineup of young hitters. Mauer, Morneau, Young, Cuddyer, Kubel, and Gomez is quite the core for a team. If Gomez can get his OBP up to even .320 then he's going to be one of the most exciting players in baseball, because he's a stud in center and probably the fastest guy in the sport.
Posted by: scribbletone | April 21, 2008 at 07:22 PM
Yes he is (Gomez). I told my buddy who loves the Twins that he would step right in and after a month or so you would never know Torii wasnt playing center field. I havent seen enough Twins games this season, but I am sure he has been incredible. You are right though, he has to be more patient. Thing about him is, he is still big and young enough to develop plus power, especially with his bat speed. And about him being the fastest guy in the sport... he is certainly the fastest I have seen. Jose Reyes I think has lost a half step since 2006 or so, but Gomez is much faster thenn Reyes, and I personally dont really think its close (relatively speaking, obviously it would be a close race), and if Gomez isnt the fastest runner, then I havent seen who is faster yet. He also has a cannon.
But back to Kubel. If they can lock him up (I am not sure when he is arb eligble), but if they can lock him up now to a 5/20 sort of deal, it may save them big bucks over waiting till the end of the year, when he can possibly have established himself as a 30 home run guy. Then again, he might get hurt again and then your money is somewhat wasted. I have always liked Kubel a lot, and I foresee the former scenario coming to fruition, if not in 2008, then definitely in 2009.
Posted by: nrmax88 | April 22, 2008 at 09:40 AM