2021 Twins Opening Day Roster

[Danchat]

It's not a true offseason without projecting the opening day roster - here's what I've got so far:

 

C Garver
1B Sano
2B Polanco
SS Simmons
3B Donaldson
DH Cruz
LF Kiriloff
CF Buxton
RF Kepler

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UTL Arraez
OF Cave
C Jeffers
UTL Blankenhorn

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SP Berrios
SP Maeda
SP Pineda
SP Happ
SP Dobnak

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CL Colome
LHP Rogers
RHP Duffey
RHP Robles
LHP Thielbar
RHP Alcala
RHP Stashak
RHP Smeltzer

 

I'd like to see what you've got, too. What changes would you make?

[GNess]

Your list looks sound, but I would be a little surprised to see Blankenhorn as UTL #2 as that would be 3 LH bats and 1 RH bat on the bench.

[ToddlerHarmon]

A fair guess.

 

I doubt it's Blankenhorn for 2nd Util. I'm thinking Tortuga or Gordon. Would love to see Wade make the roster, and he might beat out Cave. Rooker is an MLB bat, but probably not versatile enough for the bench.

 

I'm not so sure about Smeltzer, either. More likely Waddell?

 

[twins_89]

I'd prefer to see Dobnak and Smeltzer replaced by free agent signings. One of Odorizzi, Paxton, or Walker would be a great addition to the starting rotation and it would be good to re-sign Clippard.

[Scott51104]

RHP Smeltzer

 

I'd like to see what you've got, too. What changes would you make?

 

LHP Smeltzer

[ashbury]

Finally, I'd rather have Gordon over Blankenhorn so we have another guy who can play SS.

You might not enjoy watching Gordon attempting anything beyond a routine play at SS, lacking either really stellar range or arm. Or maybe he got better at it since 2019.

 

[Danchat]

 

Your list looks sound, but I would be a little surprised to see Blankenhorn as UTL #2 as that would be 3 LH bats and 1 RH bat on the bench.

Good point, I think Rooker would make more sense as a bench bat. I still like Blankenhorn as a backup 2B/3B, which is basically what Marwin did last year.

 

RHP Smeltzer

 

I'd like to see what you've got, too. What changes would you make?

 

LHP Smeltzer

Whoops, you got me there. Maybe they wouldn't go with 3 lefties, then.

[ashbury]

Ok, I didn't know of his limitations. I guess I'm looking for a 2nd UTL that can play a little SS. Arraez may be enough for that role since it really is the 3rd SS role. 

Well, he's surely more of a SS than Blankenhorn. I admit to being somewhat of a contrarian voice on Gordon's defense. The times I've seen him, he just hasn't capitalized on opportunities to impress. But I'm Joe Nobody operating on small sample size.

 

[Cornholio]

Good list. I would assume Kirilloff starts in the minors until the super two cutoff. One of Blankenhorn, Gordon or Lin will probably be the second utility. I’m expecting Arraez in LF with Rooker sharing it until AK comes up. Thorpe is out of options, so he might stick. Probably between him and Thielbar for the 2nd lefty role. After the super two cutoff, I would expect both Lewis and Kirilloff up, with Cave/ Rooker and the second utility spots vulnerable.

[twinsfansd]

Rooker is the only RH bat they have. He almost haas to make the team. Or Austidillo. But he is so out of shape. I saw him hit in dominican series. He fell down swinging. Or maybe he just rolled over. He looks like a bowling ball.

[AceWrigley]

 

He looks like a bowling ball.

It worked for Kirby Puckett.

[twinsguy03]

I would say LaTortuga over Blankenhorn, because of his ability to backup Donaldson, Sano and allow Garver or Jeffers to play elsewhere to get their bats in the lineup.

[4twinsJA]

I think Blankenhorn has played corner OF, 2B, and 3B, I am sure he could handle 1B. Wade played some there last year. Rooker or Kirilloff could play 1B also. Not a catcher, but has some versatility. See Garver and Jeffers splitting time behind plate,  not playing much elsewhere.

[whosafraidofluigirussolo]

I believe Thorpe is out of options, so that might give him some advantage for the last spot on the pitching staff over a couple of the others mentioned here.

[nicksaviking]

If you're going off of opening day roster, I'd think you'd maybe bump Dobnak to the bullpen and lose one of the bullpen arms for a bench bat, only because they typically roll with only four starters until the the lack of off days catch up to the need for the fifth rotation spot.