Sunday is decision day for Sano. What will the Twins do?

[Vanimal46]

Less than 1 week away from Sano’s rehab assignment ending. What will the Twins decide?

[Squirrel]

I can't imagine the Twins will just release Sano without giving him another chance. And they won't DFA Gordon or Garlick. (I thought Garlick had an option left?) For sure not Gordon. But they will need to remove someone from the 40-man when Sano's rehab assignment is over. There are choices there, but wonder who ... Cotton, Smith, Strotman, maybe Godoy? 

But who to send down ... I think that might depend Buxton and if they need to keep Celestino around. If they think they can get by with Gordon in CF, then Celestino goes down. But, Miranda would be the one who becomes the extra, just would hate to lose the bat, unless Sano really brings it.

Whatever the choice is, many won't like it.

[Vanimal46]

5 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

I can't imagine the Twins will just release him without giving him another chance. And they won't DFA Gordon or Garlick. (I thought Garlick had an option left?) For sure not Gordon. But they will need to remove someone from the 40-man before they do this. There are choices there, but wonder who ... Cotton, Smith, Strotman, maybe Godoy? 

But who to send down ... I think that might depend Buxton and if they need to keep Celestino around. If they think they can get by with Gordon in CF, then Celestino goes down. But, Miranda would be the one who becomes the extra, just would hate to lose the bat, unless Sano really brings it.

Whatever the choice is, many won't like it.

It’s a tricky situation for sure. Miranda has made the decision even more difficult since he’s red hot with his bat. 

If they don’t want to rock the boat too much before the trade deadline, I’m guessing Celestino is sent down to play every day. Then see if Sano is a salary dump trade candidate before August 2nd. 

[Vanimal46]

Also @Squirrelis correct. Garlick has 1 option remaining. My mistake! 

[nicksaviking]

I'd guess Garlick gets sent down, but they also have two off days next week. I could seem them shuttling Moran to St Paul and kicking the decision down the road for another week.

On a positive side, this could expediate the Twins desire to make a trade prior to the last minute of the deadline.

[stringer bell]

I am almost certain they'll give Sano some run at the major league level. If he is anything like the second half of '21 Sano, he would be a welcome addition. Who to send down? I guess I'd send Celestino. His defense has been good, but the unsustainable BABIP has regressed and he isn't much of an offensive player at all. For good reason, the Twins like Garlick in the lineup against LH pitching and Gordon, Miranda and Kirilloff have all hit well in the last month or so. 

[chpettit19]

What do I think the Twins will do? I'd guess either Garlick or Celestino is sent down. Probably Celestino. Celestino would be so that he could play everyday and continue to develop if they think there's more to unlock with him. Garlick would be because his best role is the short side of a DH platoon and the need for that is being squeezed out by the development of younger, better players. I'd guess Strotman is removed from the 40 man. Really no reason to keep him on it at this point. I think there's 0% chance they just straight up DFA Sano before he comes back for another chance.

What would I do? I'd send Garlick down and remove Strotman from the 40-man. Give Sano some early run and see what he's looking like and if he's either got a role here or I can talk someone into giving me a flier for him at the deadline. Definitely give him a shot to show he's going to be good Sano for a bit and see if I can't get a dozen HRs out of him in August.

[ICTwin25]

Package him with Brooks Lee, Austin Martin, Alex Kirilloff, and SWR for Juan Soto?  

[wsnydes]

I think Garlick or Celestino get sent down.  I can't see the team not giving him a chance to show something.  And frankly, a good Sano is something this offense could use.  It's just a matter of whether that's what they get.  

But I don't see a scenario where they DFA him.  He'll get a chance.  And I don't think they'll release anyone to get him up either.  The lone exception might be to DFA Smith, but I'm not sure that happens either.

[wsnydes]

1 hour ago, chpettit19 said:

What do I think the Twins will do? I'd guess either Garlick or Celestino is sent down. Probably Celestino. Celestino would be so that he could play everyday and continue to develop if they think there's more to unlock with him. Garlick would be because his best role is the short side of a DH platoon and the need for that is being squeezed out by the development of younger, better players. I'd guess Strotman is removed from the 40 man. Really no reason to keep him on it at this point. I think there's 0% chance they just straight up DFA Sano before he comes back for another chance.

What would I do? I'd send Garlick down and remove Strotman from the 40-man. Give Sano some early run and see what he's looking like and if he's either got a role here or I can talk someone into giving me a flier for him at the deadline. Definitely give him a shot to show he's going to be good Sano for a bit and see if I can't get a dozen HRs out of him in August.

I think I'd rather they release Smith than take Strotman off the 40 man.  That's no endorsement of Strotman, but it does free up a 40-man and active roster spot all at once.

[chpettit19]

3 minutes ago, wsnydes said:

I think I'd rather they release Smith than take Strotman off the 40 man.  That's no endorsement of Strotman, but it does free up a 40-man and active roster spot all at once.

I wouldn't be broken up over that. But it most likely just pushes the active roster discussion down the road a bit as they'll bring back a 13th pitcher sooner than later so they'd still have to send a hitter down at some point. Hamilton seems to have jumped Godoy so I wouldn't mind removing Godoy either. There's a lot of guys on the 40 man they could move on from without blinking an eye. And they're going to have to as guys get healthy so I'd guess both Smith and Strotman are not long for their 40-man spots. The real decision, to me, is Celestino vs Garlick. The rest is kind of 6 of 1, half dozen of the other to me.

[wsnydes]

25 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

I wouldn't be broken up over that. But it most likely just pushes the active roster discussion down the road a bit as they'll bring back a 13th pitcher sooner than later so they'd still have to send a hitter down at some point. Hamilton seems to have jumped Godoy so I wouldn't mind removing Godoy either. There's a lot of guys on the 40 man they could move on from without blinking an eye. And they're going to have to as guys get healthy so I'd guess both Smith and Strotman are not long for their 40-man spots. The real decision, to me, is Celestino vs Garlick. The rest is kind of 6 of 1, half dozen of the other to me.

Agreed.  I'm just ready to start working other pitchers through.  I hate to just throw stuff at the wall to see what sticks, but something else needs to be done in the pen.  Jettisoning ineffective veterans like Smith is a good place to start.

[CRF]

As much as I'd hate to see it...he'll be back. I can't see them releasing him and eating the money, and I doubt they trade him. He'll get some playing time the rest of the season, and we'll get to see more of the same Sano that we've always seen. 

[stringer bell]

Regarding 40-man decisions, Having Godoy available on the 40-man is desireable so that if he were to be called up for a day or two (if Sanchez or Hamilton were nicked up). Dropping either Hamilton or Godoy when Jeffers returns makes perfect sense. The closer we come to Larnach being activated, the less the club needs Contreras. I agree that a DFA of a pitcher could and should happen, maybe in conjunction with the acquisition of a pitcher or two, or adding back pitchers currently on the IL.

[IndianaTwin]

Looks like Danny Coulombe went on the 15-day IL on May 28. Moving him to the 60-day resolves the 40-man roster question, right? 

Also, Ober's 15-day IL was retroactive to June 2, so he can likely be switched as well to buy a little time and get things past the trade deadline. 

[LA Vikes Fan]

I think Sano is definitely coming back unless they include him a package trade before Sunday. Seems unlikely. The big question is can Gordon play CF well enough to send down Celestino? If not, Garlick goes down. Sending out a pitcher isn't going to happen because we need 13 pitchers with this starting staff and bullpen. Sano is not replacing a pitcher. 

Personally, I think sending down Garlick is the right move. He looks like he "mashes lefties" when you look at his overall stats, but he hasn't hit much lately and we just aren't seeing a lot of LH starters. He can't right RH pitching at all. Add in the fact that he isn't much of a defensive OF and  his value is really limited. Celestino isn't a great hitter either but he does add value on defense and provides the coverage we need when Buxton has to sit. 

Watch, an injury or trade will all of this speculation irrelevant.   

 

[ashbury]

1) Free up a 40-man spot. If no one is a candidate for the 60-day IL, look into trading Henriquez and Strotman for bullepen help, or trade one of them for a prospect not yet needing 40-man protection - and if no takers then just DFA one.  Or else DFA Godoy on the assumption that he'll pass through waivers easily - or someone just like him could be found if an emergency arises (Banuelos would suffice for a very short stint).

2) Demote Garlick, since his role as the occasional righty pinch-hitter will be usurped by whomever among Sano and Miranda and the others is not starting that day.

The 40-man and 26-man decisions are sufficiently decoupled that you have to consider both independently.  There is no position player on the 26-man that should be DFAed, thus killing both birds with one stone.   I believe the team won't run with fewer than 13 pitchers so a move among those is not going to be considered as a way to make space for Sano, at least for more than 2 games which means just kicking the can down the road.

[baul0010]

2 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Also @Squirrelis correct. Garlick has 1 option remaining. My mistake! 

I'd send Garlick down.   I think having Celestino up makes to much sense with Buxton needing rest and off days.  

[KirbyDome89]

I think Sano's problems offensively are exactly what have plagued the Twins so far this season; a lack of situational hitting and streakiness. I just don't think the gamble that he'll come back up and start mashing is worth the roster crunch, and even if he does turn things around, we know there's likely another long stretch of subpar ABs on the way. In short, I'm over Sano.

If I'm making the call I'm on the phone with any and every team that might need a DH or mediocre 1B hoping they're willing to send me a flier. 

[Irishman]

8 hours ago, ICTwin25 said:

Package him with Brooks Lee, Austin Martin, Alex Kirilloff, and SWR for Juan Soto?  

Unless I am mistaken, we cannot trade Brooks Lee now,   He cannot be traded until next year.   Does anyone else know this rule? I could ne wrong.

[Squirrel]

20 minutes ago, Irishman said:

Unless I am mistaken, we cannot trade Brooks Lee now,   He cannot be traded until next year.   Does anyone else know this rule? I could ne wrong.

I thought it was he couldn't be traded until the season is over ... so this off-season. But certainly not before then. @Otto von Ballpark is my 'go to' rules guy.

[Otto von Ballpark]

1 hour ago, Irishman said:

Unless I am mistaken, we cannot trade Brooks Lee now,   He cannot be traded until next year.   Does anyone else know this rule? I could ne wrong.

 

1 hour ago, Squirrel said:

I thought it was he couldn't be traded until the season is over ... so this off-season. But certainly not before then. @Otto von Ballpark is my 'go to' rules guy.

New draftees can't be traded until after the World Series now (or for 90 days after signing, if they sign after the World Series, for JUCO draft-and-follow picks?).

The rule used to be 1 year after signing -- Trea Turner being the famous case.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

10 hours ago, ICTwin25 said:

Package him with Brooks Lee, Austin Martin, Alex Kirilloff, and SWR for Juan Soto?  

Funny

[LVTwinsfan]

What to do about Sano? 
Is this a “hold my beer” moment, because I feel like something stupid is about to happen.

[Dman]

I am not sure what the deal is with Strotman but the Twins must think he has some trade value or they would have removed him already.  Since June 22nd he has been a different pitcher.  Only three games and three innings in July but has a 0.00 ERA 1.07 WHIP and an OK K\9.  Maybe if he turns things around he can be part of a package for a reliever?  Maybe not but why else would they keep him on there so long when they jettisoned Vallimont so much sooner?

[Linus]

1 hour ago, Otto von Ballpark said:

 

New draftees can't be traded until after the World Series now (or for 90 days after signing, if they sign after the World Series, for JUCO draft-and-follow picks?).

The rule used to be 1 year after signing -- Trea Turner being the famous case.

I believe the original post was satire. 

[RpR]

The Twins will do what the owner and front office thinks fits best, not worth all the blather worrying.

[ashbury]

31 minutes ago, Linus said:

I believe the original post was satire. 

What's the nature of the satire?  The Nationals are actively shopping Soto.  The package that lands him is going to be breathtaking.

[Craig Arko]

Garlick or Celestino goes to Saint Paul and Larnach to 60-day IL. Then Sano gets 2 weeks to show if he can help.

[Number3]

20 hours ago, CRF said:

As much as I'd hate to see it...he'll be back. I can't see them releasing him and eating the money, and I doubt they trade him. He'll get some playing time the rest of the season, and we'll get to see more of the same Sano that we've always seen. 

Same Sano is the key to this. I do think that the way they finished up pre All Star break, what would they have to lose except more games which they are doing anyway. Stick him in at first base and keep him in the lineup in an inconspicuous spot in the batting order. Don't have him in and out of the lineup. 10 straight games at least and fish or cut bait. The result is very predictable but its up to him.