Front Page: Twins ALDS Roster Announced

[Seth Stohs]

On Friday morning, the Minnesota Twins announced their ALDS roster. There were some surprises. Luis Arraez is in. Ehire Adrianza is in. Martin Perez and Willians Astudillo are out. See below for more.Here is the roster that the Twins will take in to the Bronx starting tonight.

 

12 Pitchers

 

Jose Berrios

Randy Dobnak

Tyler Duffey

Kyle Gibson

Brusdar Graterol

Zack Littell

Trevor May

Jake Odorizzi

Taylor Rogers

Sergio Romo

Devin Smeltzer

Cody Stashak

 

Some interesting choices. Devin Smeltzer over both Martin Perez and Lewis Thorpe. Just two lefties against a Yankees lineup that really has only Brett Gardner and Didi Gregorius from that side of the plate. The 21-year-old Brusdar Graterol makes it as well. No real surprises in this group. Could Gibson be the Game 4 starter, or will they use him out of the bullpen, in a long-relief role.

 

13 Hitters

 

Catchers

Jason Castro

Mitch Garver

 

No surprise with these two, though certainly Willians Astudillo had to be a consideration.

 

Infielders

Ehire Adrianza

Luis Arraez

CJ Cron

Marwin Gonzalez

Jorge Polanco

Miguel Sano

Jonathan Schoop

 

Luis Arraez is on the roster, something that would have shocked us about four or five days ago. Just as surprising is that Ehire Adrianza is on the roster. He provides the team with a strong backup plan at shortstop should something happen to Jorge Polanco.

 

Outfielders

Jake Cave

Max Kepler

Eddie Rosario

 

Max Kepler is officially on the roster, and hopefully he is nearly 100% Gonzalez is also likely to get some time in the Twins outfield throughout the series.

 

Designated Hitter

Nelson Cruz

 

No question markes with the Twins DH!

 

 

This is the Twins roster for the ALDS. If the Twins are fortunate enough to win the series, they will set a new roster for the ALCS, so just because a player isn't on this roster, he could be on the ALCS roster.

 

Also, a reminder that if a player is injured, he can be removed from this roster and replaced by another player. The injured player would be out for the rest of the ALDS and not eligible to play in the ALCS.

 

What do you think? How do you feel about this Twins roster?

 

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[blindeke]

Dance with the one that brung ya.

 

Well let's hope they're all healthy!

[wavedog]

Let's go win this!  Selections make sense  - my only slight surprises were Adrianza over Astudillo was Adrianza  going to be well enough to play and Smeltzer over Perez but no complaints there.

[Dave Overlund]

I understand bringing Gibson along from a loyalty standpoint, but I can't see the actual benefit he brings to the team on the field. He's a decent pitcher when right, but I think it's clear he is not healthy enough to count on. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I also assumed Adrianza would not be healthy. Congrats to them all!

[Han Joelo]

All good.  Ice cold.  Handedness aside, I'd take Gibson over Thorpe and Perez also.  I have a vague (and perhaps faulty) memory of Perez coming out of the pen back in April, and being awful.  At least Gibson has been preparing.

[Shaitan]

I'm a little surprised at Austudillo and choosing Graterol over Perez. But no complaints either. As that STrib article about the clubhouse said, Austudillo makes a difference...off the field.

 

Does he still get to hang around the clubhouse?

 

Once they reach the World Series I'm curious if Cruz might play OF.

 

One step at a time though.

[Zephrin]

Adrianza over Tortuga - assuming they saw what they needed health-wise - makes sense.  

 

Gibson might be more of a loyalty add than a real cog in the machine, but if you leave him off he is replaced by who?  Thorpe?  Not a huge upside there anyway, and if the Twins get blasted in a game they can trot Gibson out for 4-5 innings to preserve the rest of the 'pen.  I guess the other option for him is to trot out a Gibson/Smeltzer tandem for Game 4 if we are up 2-1 and prevent Berrios from going on short rest.  (And let Berrios/Odo get you 6-7 innings combined in Game 5.)

[jz7233]

I want Perez over Gibson. Perez can be lefty specialist only.

I want Wade over Schoop. Wade can provide speed and outfield depth on the bench.

[lukeduke1980]

I think several guys are still sort of question marks due to health.  Turtle is next man up.  Hopefully Gibby can be a serviceable long man and hopefully he is not needed.

[Tommygun921]

I'd have taken Tortuga over Castro as I believe Garver should/will start every game and he brings a better bat off the bench. Also surprised Thorpe didn't make it. I'd rather see another lefty and the question mark Gibson seems to be.

[Einheri]

 

I want Perez over Gibson. Perez can be lefty specialist only.

I want Wade over Schoop. Wade can provide speed and outfield depth on the bench.

They're betting on Arraez being healthy soon, but probably not for today's game.  We need Schoop at 2B.

[brvama]

Dance with the one that brung ya.

 

Well let's hope they're all healthy!

 

Ditto. Outside of Buxton these are the players that got us here. They have plenty of flexibility. Of the injured Adrianza has the most concern of being ready, but apparently they feel he is. The time off may have helped Gibson and I’m fine with him on the staff. Don’t need any more lefties and he could be a decent 1-2 inning RP against the right handed Yankees. And IIRC Gibby seems to do ok against the Yanks and his ground ball tendencies should play well.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I want Perez over Gibson. Perez can be lefty specialist only.

I want Wade over Schoop. Wade can provide speed and outfield depth on the bench.

If Wade is fast, I will take your word for it. I haven’t seen sprint speeds for these guys.

 

I would sure question using Adrianza as a pinch runner, and hoping that’s not why they activated him.

[ashbury]

I was counting on none of Gibson, Adrianza, and Kepler, due to health. Gibson bounces Perez, Adrianza in for Astudillo, and Kepler replaces Wade, going by the handicapping I had done a couple of weeks ago.

 

Perhaps Perez expressed less willingness to pitch from the bullpen than Gibson did. These are things we can't know, that go into the final roster spot decisions.

[justinone]

Pitchers are as I expected--but I could see some changes if we advance.

 

I am a little apprehensive about Adrianza's spot. I like him but the guy hasn't hit in a while and even when he was didn't have as much upside as Wade. I hope we don't have to use him. I would like to have Astudillo, but if Garver/Castro are healthy it probably doesn't matter. 

 

With the lefty starting tonight it probably gives Arraez an extra day to rest his ankle.

 

My lineup for tonight:

 

SS-Jorge Polanco

C-Mitch Garver

DH-Nelson Cruz

LF-Eddie Rosario

3B-Miguel Sano

RF-Marwin Gonzalez

1B-CJ Cron

CF-Max Kepler

2B-Jonathan Schoop

 

I can roll with this. Bring on the Yankees!

[SpicyGarvSauce]

 

Pitchers are as I expected--but I could see some changes if we advance.

 

I am a little apprehensive about Adrianza's spot. I like him but the guy hasn't hit in a while and even when he was didn't have as much upside as Wade. I hope we don't have to use him. I would like to have Astudillo, but if Garver/Castro are healthy it probably doesn't matter. 

 

With the lefty starting tonight it probably gives Arraez an extra day to rest his ankle.

 

My lineup for tonight:

 

SS-Jorge Polanco

C-Mitch Garver

DH-Nelson Cruz

LF-Eddie Rosario

3B-Miguel Sano

RF-Marwin Gonzalez

1B-CJ Cron

CF-Max Kepler

2B-Jonathan Schoop

 

I can roll with this. Bring on the Yankees!

 

The personnel is spot on, I think...but I think Garver leads off.

[justinone]

 

The personnel is spot on, I think...but I think Garver leads off.

 

Probably--but I would love for someone to be on base when Garver jacks one in the first...

[strumdatjaguar]

With only three outfielders, Adrianza makes more sense than Tortuga,    Ehire along with Gonzalez and Arraez add versatility to tht roster more than the third catcher.   Yankees hit lefties well, so Perez could be on roster in later rounds of playoffs (he3re's hoping), against teams which struggle against lefties.    

[nicksaviking]

 

I want Perez over Gibson. Perez can be lefty specialist only.

I want Wade over Schoop. Wade can provide speed and outfield depth on the bench.

 

They can switch out Perez for Gibson against the Astros. I wouldn't bring along a LOOGY simply for one single batter though.

[dex8425]

Smeltzer was the only effective pitcher in an entire game against the Yankees not that long ago. Perez and Thorpe have both been awful. I like the pitching selections a lot.

 

My only slight surprise is that Arraez and Ehire are healthy enough to go in this series, which effectively bumps Astudillo off the roster. You probably need a backup shortstop for Polanco and Rocco hasn't been comfortable putting Marwin there, so that was probably a factor. 

[bird]

I'm happy with the exclusion of Perez. I've been picturing Gardner and Gregorius getting to 3 and 1 and teeing off on him in a key situation.

[Mike Sixel]

That's the best at this point. I agree with every decision. If they get past the Yankees, I expect more lefty pitchers.....

[Puckett34]

As others have said, little surprised with Adrianza's inclusion. But he provides a little more than the Turtle.
 

As with Gibby over Perez, meh, seems like it has as much to do with the Yankees only having 2 lefty bats as it does with Gibby's ability to pitch. Wouldn't expect much out of either, hopefully Gibby proves me wrong.

[Battle ur tail off]

I'm glad that Adrianza is on the roster. He must be healthy, otherwise I doubt he would be with. I would use him late in the game as a defensive replacement. With Schoop, Aarez, Adriaza, Polanco, you have some nice options there depending upon who starts and who sits. 

 

As for the pitching, I don't see a ton of value in having Gibson on there unless you are planning on using him only in mopup situations to keep the rest of your guys fresh. That said, he has done it before and it's the playoffs, anything can happen maybe he gives us some good innings. 

[rdehring]

Not going to get into any of the decisions as I am just 1000% happy that the Twins will be playing baseball tonight.

 

What I do find interesting, however, is Perez being left off the roster.  Is that a sign that his option will not be picked up this winter?

[insagt1]

I'm glad they have 13 position players. Disappointed that Turtle wasn't one of them because he has been playing and Adrianza hasn't in a few weeks. but Twins know their personnel and whether they can go or not, so I trust them.

 

 But I wouldn't have included Graterol at all. He's way too inexperienced and very hittable. but if it was between him and Perez its a roll of the dice.

 

OK--lets go win game one.

[operation mindcrime]

I'm really shocked that Kohl Stewart didn't make it! Maybe we're saving him for game 7 of the World Series where he'll pitch a 10 inning shutout!

[Brock Beauchamp]

I can't help but wonder if the Twins are considering using an opener in front of Gibson for game four and then trying to squeak three innings out of Kyle, hoping that over a week of rest will give him enough oomph to get through a lineup once.

[jkcarew]

If Adrianza is healthy, that's a nice development. And Arraez too, of course.

 

I'm assuming Arraez gets another day to rest the ankle today.

Rust is a factor for everyone given the way the post-season schedule plays out...but especially for Kepler, Adrianza...and even Gonzalez and Cron.