Twins break off negotiations with Casey Blake
Was just informed of this by my buddy LaVelle Neal of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, who said the Twins have decided to move on to other 3B options. If that's true, and if it's also true that Blake's list had been narrowed to the Twins and Dodgers (and that's what is being widely reported out there), then that would seem to suggest the Dodgers now have a golden opportunity to re-sign this guy and move Blake DeWitt to 2B. The Twins reportedly offered Blake a two-year, $6 million deal with an option for 2011.
...and if Furcal has nixed the deal with Oakland and the market for him is as limited as it seems, it might be mutually beneficial for both sides to get together on a "make good"-style short-term deal.
Furcal=2 yrs/21 mil + incentives (600 ab/150 g)
Not being a huge Casey Blake fan, here's hoping that this doesn't push him to the Dodgers. If, like the Twins, the Dodgers refuse to guarantee a third year, I'm hoping he looks elsewhere, or perhaps goes back to the Twins.
If Furcal was willing to set his sights lower to a two year deal, then it's probably worth the gamble. Maybe he'd like a one year deal to re-establish his value and re-enter the market again next year.
If DeWitt is the 2B of the future then that is where he should play.
That means we need Blake around; he's productive enough to be a good stop-gap third basemen and seems like he's a good clubhouse guy/veteran presence...
I don't see DeWitt as being the long term solution at 2B. He can probably handle the position adequately, but I don't think he has the range to standout defensively. He does at 3B. I also think that DeWitt's power will continue to increase as he gains experience and matures physically. Ultimately, maybe even as early as this year, he will meet or exceed Blake's power numbers.
Blake is your basic .260-.270, 18-20 HR guy, and nothing special defensively. He can handle anything hit at or near him, but lacks defensive range. And despite his fast start with the Dodgers, he ended up hitting .251 with them during the regular season, .273 in the NLDS, and .263 in the NLCS. Also, Blake will turn 36 in August, and is not a player I would want to commit two years to, and definitely not three.
Hope you're right about DeWitt but I think he is going to end up having 2B-like power. Nothing wrong with that.
Hopefully the blue crew will find someone that can give them 25-30 HRs at third within the next couple of years. Blake will have to do until then and his 18-20 bombs will be needed in the post-Manny world...
If memory serves me correct, DeWitt hit 9 HRs in 368 ABs last year. That translates to about 15 HRs in 600 ABs. Throw in added experience and normal physical maturity, and it's reasonable to believe that his HR numbers will reach into the 20's.
600ABs is a ton, especially for a guy hitting 6h or 7th. Even if he does get that many I think its wishful thinking at best to project that many HRs from him next year...down the road sure...
Blake will get you 20 guaranteed and like I said...they are going to be needed.
Who is going to play 2nd if DeWitt is at 3rd? Abreu?
In the end it doesn't really matter; Dodgers are a couple of years away either way...