Player Profile: Michael Cuddyer

     Newly signed Michael Cuddyer has always been a professional hitter since coming up with the Minnesota Twins. I feel like Twins players around the time Cuddyer was brought up, the scouting and minor league system was great. I always remembered the Twins coaches would hammer home the fundamentals and let everything else fall into place. The Twins had a few very good players around the time that Cuddyer came up in Torii Hunter, Justin Morneau, and Joe Mauer. Those four guys combined with Johan Santana, made up the core of the Twins. It was unfortunate they where playing in Minnesota as it was too small of a market to hold all those players. They all became some of the players.

     Michael Cuddyer a very well polished hitter. He makes solid contact and has the ability to drive the ball to all fields. Although his numbers might be slightly inflated with him spending the last three seasons in Colorado, they were still good in Minnesota. His problem over the years has been staying on the field. The contract he signed (two years/$21 million) is a very fair contract even if he does have an injury with the upside that he might be able to provide. I would like to see him get at least 450 at bats for the season. That would mean he plays about 125 games in 2015.

     With Cuddy staying on the field for at least 125 games (hopefully more), I think he finishes the season with a .280/.340/.440 slash line, about 15 dingers and about 75 ribeye (tofu) steaks for the year. Cuddyer just seems like a place holder for one of the minor leaguers that are waiting in the wings. Nimmo will probably get first shot if he's showing he's capable.

     I have always been a fan of Michael Cuddyer at the plate because of his approach and never seeming fazed at the plate. He seems like he takes a very good approach to the plate, a professional hitter, not a great hitter but a no slouch. He is a very nice piece to the puzzle, but not the answer, if there was a big power bat in this lineup he could be a very nice compliment to this team but unfortunately there wasn't so there's going to be even more pressure on Cuddy to show he can provide protection in a lineup with very little protection. Cuddy is a very likeable guy, and if he hits, it will be very hard to dislike Cuddyer.

     Let's Go Mets!!!