Roster Crunch? Who stays, who goes?

[stringer bell]

53 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Unless hurt, Gordon’s not going anywhere. LIFO is what I see happening, for those business guys out there. Last in - first out to St. Paul. Guys with options first, so we don’t get to DFA decisions until necessary. (Julien - Castro - Garlick) ……Larnach has earned the longest look with his bat & OBP to date in April. Moving him down to hope Kiriloff does as well doesn’t make sense. Kiriloff needs to excel in St. Paul and force his way on to the 26 man roster!

Polanco needed back ASAP to stabilize the line-up.

Kepler may hit his way off the team by May 15 - (hard to imagine) not good to date!

The way the players are performing will probably have very much to do with the decisions made. Today, Julien  has had hits in one inning, but if he gets multiple hits a couple days in a row, it will be a lot harder to send him back to St. Paul. 
 

With a lot of guys not hitting much, Kirilloff probably has to just show he’s healthy enough to play every day. If Kepler, Gordon and Larnach are all raking, the bar for him gets a lot higher. 
 

I would think the Twins would be more prone to option either Castro or Julien than DFA Garlick when Gallo returns next week. 

[FlyingFinn]

7 hours ago, stringer bell said:

No pitching move yet today. Perhaps Varland will get another start?

I'm surprised. What do you do if Pablo Lopez gets knocked out in the first inning on Sunday like the Yankee starter did? No long relief and Alcala is now most likely unavailable. You end up burning the entire pen unless throw Pagan until his arm falls off. I guess if Maeda really isn't hurt, he could go long relief and Varland pitches in turn in the rotation.

[ZachB]

I was thinking about this the other day. 

Kepler for Wallner was obvious, and tot he dismay of twins fans, barring injury Kepler is gonna keep getting chances and wont be leaving before the all star break.

 

That leaves us with Gallo, Farmer, Polanco, Kirilloff and Royce Lewis all getting back some time in the next month and a half. The first three are certainties to be on the MLB roster if healthy and are also my guess to be the first three back ready to be activated. Castro and Garlick are certain to be off the 26 man at this point, and rn there's no reason why Julien would stay either (defensively limited, and realistically less impactful offensively than Polanco). 

Things get really interesting if we somehow keep our current lineup healthy, and get AK and Royce back. I'd be shocked if this situation comes to pass.

[Squirrel]

We may see a trade or two at the deadline, in order to make room, if a couple of players don’t step up (Kepler and Gordon). A lot depends on where the team stands and what their needs are and who will take these guys, if, as I said, they don’t get it going.

[DJL44]

Surprised nobody mentioned Jose Miranda as a possible demotion. He has not been playing well enough to keep his position when Farmer is healthy.

[stringer bell]

It might be months until Farmer returns. There isn’t another guy on the 40-man who could or should be considered a candidate for everyday reps at third until Farmer ( a key depth guy) is ready. Miranda hasn’t been that bad. 

[FlyingFinn]

2 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Surprised nobody mentioned Jose Miranda as a possible demotion.

So surprised when he is 5 for 12 with 3 rbi's on the road this weekend, at Yankee Stadium against pitchers who are cheating, and playing decent defense lately. We should put Willi Castro there, who most wanted to be with the Twins because ST #'s mean so much. Miranda is one of our better players and he isn't going anywhere.

[Mike Sixel]

47 minutes ago, FlyingFinn said:

So surprised when he is 5 for 12 with 3 rbi's on the road this weekend, at Yankee Stadium against pitchers who are cheating, and playing decent defense lately. We should put Willi Castro there, who most wanted to be with the Twins because ST #'s mean so much. Miranda is one of our better players and he isn't going anywhere.

I doubt most wanted Castro on the roster, let alone starting. 

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, stringer bell said:

Miranda hasn’t been that bad. 

2nd least WAR among position players. He hasn't been horrible but he's not helping them win. Miranda needs to produce or Royce Lewis will take that starting position at 3B.

Julien will go down first because he's not a good fielder and they don't need a DH right now.

[Squirrel]

This news is promising that decisions may come soon …

 

[RpR]

10 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

2nd least WAR among position players. He hasn't been horrible but he's not helping them win. Miranda needs to produce or Royce Lewis will take that starting position at 3B.

Julien will go down first because he's not a good fielder and they don't need a DH right now.

Farmer will take over third when/if Miranda goes down for more practice with the Saints.

[Squirrel]

6 minutes ago, RpR said:

Farmer will take over third when/if Miranda goes down for more practice with the Saints.

And when will Farmer be returning? 

[dxpavelka]

The only "roster crunch" likely to befall this squad is finding 26 healthy guys to dress each day.

[DJL44]

46 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

And when will Farmer be returning? 

I will guess in May.

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

I will guess in May.

May 45th, perhaps.

[stringer bell]

3 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

I doubt most wanted Castro on the roster, let alone starting. 

Castro has what 17-18 at-bats? About one per game. Even with all the injuries he’s only started 2-3 games. He and his position (13th position player) have very little to do (+ or -) with how the season has gone. 

[Mike Sixel]

6 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Castro has what 17-18 at-bats? About one per game. Even with all the injuries he’s only started 2-3 games. He and his position (13th position player) have very little to do (+ or -) with how the season has gone. 

I was replying to a post that said everyone wanted him on the team.... Not sure your point at all.

[Riverbrian]

15 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Castro has what 17-18 at-bats? About one per game. Even with all the injuries he’s only started 2-3 games. He and his position (13th position player) have very little to do (+ or -) with how the season has gone. 

Indirectly his position does have something to do with how the season has gone. 

Apparently he can't be trusted to help right the ship. We need someone to hit the ball. 

Rocco and the front office apparently can't turn to Castro when the offense is under performing and over injured. 

No matter what... they are not going with Castro when they need players to rise up. This indirectly has something to do with how the season has gone because players not getting the job done have to stay in the lineup and not get the job done. 

Polanco, Kirilloff, Kepler, Gallo and Farmer all on the disabled list and the remaining starters struggling pretty hard and Castro can't be turned to for help.

This loudly says that Rocco and the front office don't believe in him. They would rather stick with 2 for 22 or 4 for 40 instead. If he doesn't play with this much injury and offensive under performance... he will never play when things are better and therefore a waste of a roster spot. 

He should be sent down when Gallo returns. I don't care if he is exposed to other teams when removing him from the 40 man.  

 

 

 

[stringer bell]

30 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

Indirectly his position does have something to do with how the season has gone. 

Apparently he can't be trusted to help right the ship. We need someone to hit the ball. 

Rocco and the front office apparently can't turn to Castro when the offense is under performing and over injured. 

No matter what... they are not going with Castro when they need players to rise up. This indirectly has something to do with how the season has gone because players not getting the job done have to stay in the lineup and not get the job done. 

Polanco, Kirilloff, Kepler, Gallo and Farmer all on the disabled list and the remaining starters struggling pretty hard and Castro can't be turned to for help.

This loudly says that Rocco and the front office don't believe in him. They would rather stick with 2 for 22 or 4 for 40 instead. If he doesn't play with this much injury and offensive under performance... he will never play when things are better and therefore a waste of a roster spot. 

He should be sent down when Gallo returns. I don't care if he is exposed to other teams when removing him from the 40 man.  

 

 

 

Castro has an option year remaining, as does Garlick. They both could be sent to St. Paul without being exposed. 

[Squirrel]

5 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Castro has an option year remaining, as does Garlick. They both could be sent to St. Paul without being exposed. 

I didn’t know Garlick did, too, 

[Riverbrian]

35 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Castro has an option year remaining, as does Garlick. They both could be sent to St. Paul without being exposed. 

Yep and I have no use for either right now. 

Earlier I chose Garlick to be sent down for Gallo but he will at least play against lefties.

So Castro moves to the top of my list. 

At some point we will need the 40 man spot. Castro can be removed without much thinking about it when that time comes. 

 

 

[stringer bell]

29 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

I didn’t know Garlick did, too, 

I didn't even bother to check until noted scholar Ashbury made a comment that Garlick had an option remaining. It is true, the 31 year Kyle Garlick can be optioned. The 27-year-old Nick Gordon can not.

[Squirrel]

5 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

I didn't even bother to check until noted scholar Ashbury made a comment that Garlick had an option remaining. It is true, the 31 year Kyle Garlick can be optioned. The 27-year-old Nick Gordon can not.

Well, that changes things ... I had thought he might stay on the 26-man because having no options remaining. Glad to know they now have the flexibility to send him down when the returnees arrive. That said ... Gordon needs to find a way to figure it out, and soon.

[stringer bell]

The speculation was that the team might wait to activate Gallo until Wednesday with the Red Sox starting lefty Sale on Tuesday. That might make sense, but the Twins will have to start a left hander or two against Sale and Gallo has less pronounced platoon splits than Kepler or Gordon, neither of whom are hitting their weight. 

There can be a case made to send down any of three players IMHO: Julien--just two hits and five strike outs so far, he needs to play regularly and with Polanco on the horizon, his chances will be limited. Castro, as Brian noted, hasn't been trusted to start despite the injuries that have occurred. However, with Farmer on IL, he is the nominal backup at both shortstop and third. Garlick is not going to get anything resembling regular at-bats, but he has a history of hitting left handers well and with power. 

[Squirrel]

5 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

he is the nominal backup at both shortstop and third

Gordon wouldn't be backups there, too? Or Solano? I mean ... when Gallo is back up, Solano isn't playing first, so ... Castro is expendable. imho.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

48 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

I didn't even bother to check until noted scholar Ashbury made a comment that Garlick had an option remaining. It is true, the 31 year Kyle Garlick can be optioned. The 27-year-old Nick Gordon can not.

Does Garlick have enough service time to reject optional assignment? Would he?

[stringer bell]

25 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

Gordon wouldn't be backups there, too? Or Solano? I mean ... when Gallo is back up, Solano isn't playing first, so ... Castro is expendable. imho.

When Farmer got hurt (Correa also out), Baldelli moved Castro, not Gordon, to shortstop. Castro has started a game at third and played there when Miranda moved to first in another game. Gordon hasn't played there this year and only a few innings in his career. Castro would be the preferred backup at either of those positions, Does that mean that Gordon (or Solano at third base) couldn't step in? I suppose not. 

[stringer bell]

1 minute ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

Does Garlick have enough service time to reject optional assignment? Would he?

Garlick is under three years of service. He can't reject an optional assignment.

[stringer bell]

31 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

Gordon wouldn't be backups there, too? Or Solano? I mean ... when Gallo is back up, Solano isn't playing first, so ... Castro is expendable. imho.

I don't want to make this sound like a rant against Nick Gordon. However, I've seen it written "Gordon can play anywhere, he's extremely versatile" or things like that. The fact is that he is a second baseman/left fielder who can function in center. His manager hesitates to play him at shortstop, he's played only a couple innings in right field and third base. On top of that he is a left handed hitter with pretty extreme platoon splits. While Gordon runs well, the other utility option (Willi Castro) is faster. As a "do everything utility player", Nick Gordon leaves a lot to be desired. Nick seemed to unlock the hit tool in the second half of 2022 when he got regular playing time. I don't think 40 plate appearances is enough to label last year as a fluke, but if he isn't an above average hitter, he really isn't an asset.

[nicksaviking]

5 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

I don't want to make this sound like a rant against Nick Gordon. However, I've seen it written "Gordon can play anywhere, he's extremely versatile" or things like that. The fact is that he is a second baseman/left fielder who can function in center. His manager hesitates to play him at shortstop, he's played only a couple innings in right field and third base. On top of that he is a left handed hitter with pretty extreme platoon splits. While Gordon runs well, the other utility option (Willi Castro) is faster. As a "do everything utility player", Nick Gordon leaves a lot to be desired. Nick seemed to unlock the hit tool in the second half of 2022 when he got regular playing time. I don't think 40 plate appearances is enough to label last year as a fluke, but if he isn't an above average hitter, he really isn't an asset.

I don't want to label Gordon a fluke either, but that very poor BB% was not a good omen. Gordon does have the same thing Miranda has going for him in that neither are striking out much this year, the balls just aren't falling in. Still, I'd not be inclined to give Gordon the full year to recover as he doesn't have a terribly high ceiling. 

I hope the team doesn't shy away from tough decisions like losing a Gordon or Kepler just because they want to stockpile assets. Now is clearly not the time to have to worry about those tough decisions, but it's likely coming in the months ahead.