Kurt Suzuki

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

The Twins and free agent catcher Kurt Suzuki are in agreement on a one-year deal.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that Suzuki will have a $2.75MM base salary.

Solid move, we all knew they'd sign a backup this off-season. I think most of us believed John Buck would be the guy, but I'm more than okay with Kurt. Good defensively, okay at the dish and should help the pitching staff out a bunch. Platoon guy with Pinto.

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

I always thought of the term "platoon" as being applied to a righty/lefty combo, ala Mike Pagliarulo and Scott Leius. Since Suzuki and Pinto are both RHB, is using the term here correct?

Either way, I like the signing, but I want to see Pinto, if healthy, as the one who plays more. They still aren't contenders, and pushing Pinto-as-primary to 2015 is counter-intuative based on the relative lack of success with rookie catchers. Did the Twins make the playoffs when Mauer was a rookie? If not, that means the last team to do it was the '87 Tigers (Matt Nokes).

[Jester1534]

Mauer broke his leg his rookie season I believe

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

Mauer broke his leg his rookie season I believe

When I say rookie season, I mean first full season. I researched it, and you are right, he broke it spring 2004, which was supposed to be his rookie year. In 2005, what turned out to be his rookie year, they were 83-79 and finished behind the World Champion White Sox. And if you told me in 1977 that I would someday type that, I would have ran away from you and told my parents that a crazy person was stalking me.

[Monster]

The Twins have had alot of problems the past 3 years but starting pitching has been the biggest problem by far. They are building a rotation of starters and doing that with a legit vet defensive catcher with experience seems like a significantly better idea than handing it off to basically of inexperienced players particularly Pinto who isn't known for his defensive abilities to begin with. I like Suzuki better than Buck because I think the gap as catchers is worth noting and the difference with the bat is not as big as people think. I like having a guy in Suzuki that doesn't strike out a ton because the Twins have a bunch of those guys already and Buck would have added to that problem. For the price and 1 year deal I think Suzuki is a very solid addition. I think the fact that they paid what they did showed how much they valued him.

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

I didn't know you were a Twins fan too.

I would have been fine with Buck or Suzuki. I think Buck knew he wasn't long-term for the Twins, and had a decent year last year, so he's holding out for multi-year deal.

[Jester1534]

As brick would say in anchorman your not Jason cam or long lol

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

1st All-Star game for ole Kurt. Good for him. Well-deserved.

Perkins will also represent the Twins during the All-Star game. Dozier was a huge snub, in my opinion. 3rd in WAR for all MLB second basemen.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

1st All-Star game for ole Kurt. Good for him. Well-deserved.

Perkins will also represent the Twins during the All-Star game. Dozier was a huge snub, in my opinion. 3rd in WAR for all MLB second basemen.

I'm with you on both zuke and dozier, cam. I have always been a Suzuki fan...really like the professional approach he brings to each at bat. But I was not in favor of the signing because I thought he was finished offensively based on his past two seasons, and I thought Pinto was ready to play every day. Man, was I wrong on both accounts! Zuke has been a great signing. Not as good defensively as I would have thought, but a disciplined and effective hitter, and tough as nails...plays every day. I'm really happy he's an All Star.

Interesting that Perk is our other all star, because he and Zuke go way back...faced each other a couple times in the College World Series. I like Perk, but his numbers don't justify a selection. I guess he gets the home town nod that Mauer might have gotten if he were healthy, and frankly Mauer's stats were even less deserving.

Dozier not making it is a travesty. Too much emphasis on batting average in my opinion, because Dozier is stellar in almost every other offensive category. And I think he may be the best defensive second baseman in all of baseball. Definitely my favorite Twin, and should have been an All Star.