Twins Add Infield Depth, Sign Veteran Donovan Solano

[Brandon]

6 hours ago, CRF said:

We're becoming the Minnesota Reds. 

It’s going to get weird when we acquire Chase Petty for our rotation in a few years.

[weitz41]

Confusing addition..Like adding Gallo..Maybe a trade or injury update coming in the next few days? 😕

[Nashvilletwin]

Another no more than one year rental player I have absolutely no interest in watching.  If he takes one inning away from a “ready” Julien or Lee, or a healthy Lewis or Kiriloff, over the course of this season, it will be one inning too many.

Yeah, it’s unclear who’s roster spot he takes out of the gate. Choices include: an injured Polanco, an injured Kiriloff, a traded Kepler, or a needing more innings and ABs so sent to AAA Larnach.

Trading Gordon while keeping Gallo, Kepler, Taylor, Solano, or even Farmer would be insane - I don’t see it unless someone really, really covets Gordon by going Don Corleone on us (i.e. makes us an offer we can’t refuse). 

[MGX]

He fits as an insurance policy for Polanco, as Seth mentioned they plan to bring Polanco back slowly. Also, he's a good platoon option for Polanco & Kiriloff. Against LHP both Solano & Farmer may get a lot of work.

This likely means Larnach is playing in St. Paul until we need him due to injury/underperformance/trade. Can't imagine they'll go with more than 13 position players.

Infield - Jeffers, Vazquez, Kiriloff, Polanco, Miranda, Correa, Farmer & Solano

Outfield - Buxton, Taylor, Kepler, Gallo & Gordon

[miracleb]

I didn't see it listed anywhere....what is his "primary" position?  (just "infield?")  Not thrilled with this addition.....but if he starts because Polanco is not ready yet.....he will be our lead-off hitter!  Who else can be lead-off?

[umterp23]

This is a solid move for multiple reasons:

Austin, Lee, Julien and Lewis won't be on opening day roster for various reasons: still coming back from injury, haven't played above AA, everyday at bats at AAA are needed vs once a week at bats in bigs.  Solano isn't blocking the youth as some seem to speculate.  

Larnach and Kiriloff most likely will be at AAA to start the season, as I don't believe Kiriloff will be able to ramp up without a setback (hate to think it but not sold on his wrist, especially if he has stated he is still working on getting comfortable).  Celestino isn't in the mix for 4th or even 5th OF.  If Kiriloff isn't ready, Miranda will be back at 1st and Farmer/Solano will rotate at 3b.  

Paddack to 60 day IL shortly as he may not be back till late summer at best.  

[tony&rodney]

Season opens with 14 position players and 12 arms is always an option. Platoon baseball was a regular practice to use the strong side skills for players who had skewed splits in the recent past. 

[jmlease1]

It's the sort of move a team makes when they have a guy coming back from injury that isn't going to be ready for Opening Day with the potential for it to linger longer, IMHO. Which makes me nervous.

I was expecting the Twins to sign someone to a minor-league deal who was trying to hang on for another year or work their way back to MLB, not add someone on a MLB contract. I'd hope the value of the deal wouldn't guarantee them a roster spot all season? He's not a bad player or anything, but the ceiling is limited.

[lukeduke1980]

Similar profile to Arraez.  Good to have someone else who can handle the bat.  Close and late with a runner on 2nd he can PH for Gallo 

[DJL44]

9 hours ago, GNess said:

Solano can hit. He is a viable back up at 3 or 4 infield positions. Gordon looks more like an extra OF. It appears from this signing the infield is set: Kirilloff, Polanco, Correa, Miranda, Farmer, Solano. Catcher is set; The surplus is in the outfield where there are 6-7 real options for 5 spots; Buxton, Gallo, Kepler, Taylor, Gordon, Larnach, Celestino (?). Looks like only 1 of the last three make the opening day roster. 

I see the battle for the last roster spot between Larnach and Kirilloff. Celestino is already penciled in at AAA.

Solano is an adequate backup but I don't know how he fits into the lineup. He doesn't do anything better than someone else already on the roster.

[Trov]

This is clearly a depth for infield that can hit lefties move.  He will likely play mostly just against lefties, depending on injuries.  Depending on injuries and how season plays out, he could be a DFA after Lewis comes back.  It surprised me when I saw it, but more I think about it there is some sense in it.  

[Azviking101]

I hope this doesn’t mean a trade for a relief pitcher. They spent 13 million abouts on Bundy, Archer, Smith (after incentives and buyouts). Would have been so much easier to just give Chafin 6 or Moore 7.5

 

But we all know Falvey hates quality free agent pitching 

[bloomwcjkl]

Another "head scratcher" for me. A 35 year old utility infielder is a lock to make the roster? Hmmmm.

[JD-TWINS]

10 hours ago, GNess said:

Solano can hit. He is a viable back up at 3 or 4 infield positions. Gordon looks more like an extra OF. It appears from this signing the infield is set: Kirilloff, Polanco, Correa, Miranda, Farmer, Solano. Catcher is set; The surplus is in the outfield where there are 6-7 real options for 5 spots; Buxton, Gallo, Kepler, Taylor, Gordon, Larnach, Celestino (?). Looks like only 1 of the last three make the opening day roster. 

Gordon v Larnach v Celestino battling it out. 

 

Celestino isn’t a MLB outfielder on a winning club, at this point.

Larnach has options left. If Kirilof & Polanco are healthy, I like Larnach better than Solano on the 26 man.

Gordon started 65 games in LF & 33 games in CF last year. 28 doubles in 405 AB’s. .272 BA. 2023 has him at 80 games in LF & 50 games in CF.

Taylor can’t hit RH pitching. We face that 75-80% of the time. He starts against LH pitching & is a true back-up from there.

Buxton can only be expected to start 80 games in CF. 50 starts at DH.

Keppler in RF 115 games.

Gallo in LF 40 games in RF 45 games at 1B 20 games at DH 20 games.

[Ricky Vaughn]

Just throwing this out there. I have no special insight. Is Farmer unhappy with a utility role, and has quietly requested a trade?

[TCSquad]

Baldelli is obviously missing Kyle Garlick already, so they needed to sign another right-handed batter who handles lefties very well; and with a glut of outfielders, signing an infielder was the only way to go.

[Teflon]

This feels more like it adds infield width than depth.

[Dave The Dastardly]

Baffling. I guess we'll have to wait for the Pipeline Guru to descend from the mount and share his wisdom.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

14 hours ago, High heat said:

This tells me Kirilloff is hurt and not ready for the season or that Nick Gordon is either being traded or not seen as a viable infield option at any spot in the infield.

Or Polanco is hurt and not ready for action.

[Shaitan]

No such thing as too many good players. Y'all worry too much.