No Polanco? Now What?

[Twins GFP]

All of the comments here about Polanco's health is 100% conjecture.  All we know about Polanco's injury is that it is his knee.  That's it.  Most players sign off on letting the public know what is going on, but HIPPA is still a real thing.

How quickly the tides turn.  Here is one of the most important Twins players of the last 5-7 years, everybody sees an injury and is ready to drop him without any knowledge of what is going on.  Why am I not surprised...

[LA Vikes Fan]

So true. Polanco has been our 2nd or 3rd best position player the last 3-4 years. Losing him for an extended period is a big loss. 

[JD-TWINS]

22 hours ago, PatPfund said:

Umm. This just in. Solano looks terrible. He's 35 and no longer has the range of somebody you'd want out there half/most days. He's had precisely two (out of 9 pro seasons) really good batting years by OPS+ standards; 2019 at 116, and the short year of 2020 at 127 (in neither did he appear in more than 81 games). His OPS+ last year was 97, and he is currently hitting .040 (1 for 25) in ST.

Farmer's OPS+ last year was 90, but at least he can play defense to make up for it.

I'd start Gordon agains all lefties, Farmer against RHs, and give Solano a chance to get into the mix (but if he isn't hitting by the end of March, you start the countdown clock for Julien and the cutdown clock for Solano).

Willie Castro would be a good add until Polanco is ready (and if his knee is bad enough after 8-9 months that he's still limping, I doubt we are talking a few weeks). And Larnach for Kirilloff. (Gallo can play 1B, Larnach can DH/OF, and Castro can fill the Gordon UT role since he'll mostly be at 2B.)

If it were me, I'd release Solano out of ST, sign him to a minor league deal when he clears waivers, or wave goodbye if he walks. Castro is 10 years younger, is likely to hit the same, hits from both sides, and plays more positions than Solano including OF.

You got it flipped ……Gordon v. RH pitching & Farmer v. LH pitching. The Castro ability to play 2B & OF may have some traction but he needs to hit as well! Solano’s last 4 years v. LH pitching is awfully solid…….I think they give him an opportunity to play some 2B or 1B v. LH pitching in the Show.

[stringer bell]

If AK starts on the IL and Miranda still is having throwing issues, Miranda might be the starting first baseman or DH with Farmer or Castro at third. 

[Joey Self]

Wonder if they can get Arraez back?

Wonder why they traded him to start with? 

JcS (Yes, I am still miffed about that, why do you ask?)

[Danchat]

1 hour ago, stringer bell said:

If AK starts on the IL and Miranda still is having throwing issues, Miranda might be the starting first baseman or DH with Farmer or Castro at third. 

Rocco just said that Buxton is going to start the year as the DH... yikes, the injuries really are mounting. 

[stringer bell]

25 minutes ago, Danchat said:

Rocco just said that Buxton is going to start the year as the DH... yikes, the injuries really are mounting. 

Sigh. ☹️😞

[Riverbrian]

Polanco to the DL

Kirilloff hasn't played a single spring training game. 

Miranda hasn't played in the field because of his shoulder

Buxton will be opening the season as a DH and Kepler has an issue now. 

All that careful planning of platoon management in the off-season already meaningless.

All that hand wringing about Solano knocking Larnach to the minors pre-mature.  

Check your brackets. Once again they are busted. There is a line through Kansas and Purdue. 

 

 

[tony&rodney]

On 3/21/2023 at 9:15 AM, Major League Ready said:

You think the combination of Gordon/Solano/Farmer and eventually Lewis is up to 7 less wins? 

Agree, that may be high even as worst case scenario. Jorge has been the only sure thing for the Twins though. I am hopeful for all of the players you mentioned and for a return by Polanco. Polanco at his best and the reserves tanking can be a large chasm. This will be an important year to see how well some of the younger or inexperienced players perform.

[Battle ur tail off]

Not good to have Polanco out. He is as was mentioned one of our best 3 hitters consistently. 

That said, at least we have some depth options. My only worry is that this is more than is being lead on. If I had to guess, I think we hear in the next month or so is that he will have surgery. This is how the Twins roll with injury stuff. 8 months of rest and it's still not better? Something is wrong for certain.

For now: Gordon, Farmer, Julien(maybe). Defensively, I don't think you'd lose a ton with any of those options. On offense though, you will take a hit.

Long term outlook: Lewis. He is the savior. Lee, he is as well. Can either be ready to make an impact this year? Next year I would like to see those 2 manning 2B/3B with Miranda as the full time first baseman.