Reinforcements Are Coming, Who Loses Out?

[Mike Sixel]

9 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

The good news is that only in a relatively best case scenario will these decisions be difficult, and we cut ties with some good players.  Most likely case scenario it sorts itself out.  Would love to see Larnach / Lewis / Julien and maybe even Martin force Gallo / Solano / Taylor and even Farmer out.  That's a problem I would love to have.

dreamer.....

[ashbury]

21 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

dreamer.....

You may say that.

But he's not the only one.

[jmlease1]

2 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

IMO Lewis, Polanco or Kiriloff shouldn't be rushed up until they are tearing up AAA. Plus any injury would delay these decisions.

Rehab assignments have a pretty short timeline (20 days, I think?). After that, you have to put that player back on the 26-man roster or exercise an option to send them back down to the minors. Pretty sure that's impossible with Polanco. Kirilloff has one left I think, but I'm not sure sending him back down to AAA longer really changes anything for him. Lewis is very likely to have the option exercised to give him playing time since he's coming off a serious injury and didn't play at all in spring training.

But once Polanco's rehab assignment is up, he's back on the MLB roster absent a relapse that puts him on the IL again.

[DocBauer]

Posting late answers the question of who goes down first and that is Garlick, and what I expected. And it makes the most sense.

When Polanco comes up...next homestand?...it's either Julien or Castro. (FWIW, I'm embarrassed that I've either mistyped or had my auto correct refer to him as Cruz once or twice). Julien is SUPER talented and might be ML ready despite not debuting RED HOT. But you also want him playing daily. And with Buxton still at DH, that could be really tough. Meanwhile, with Farmer out, if Castro goes down...and he has an option...that leaves Gordon as the primary backup to Correa at SS. Are we/the Twins OK with that for another couple of weeks, at least? And while Polanco can be a third SS option, you sure don't want to do that right now do you? So I would say Julien goes down to get daily playing time until his next opportunity and Castro sticks. With no options, Gordon still gets time to figure it out and get right.

The debate on Kirilloff is interesting, and really, everyone is "mostly" right. If we just rewind a bit and take away the debatable "most of the year at AAA" and just say he MIGHT be optioned for some ADDITIONAL time at St Paul, I think the debate ceases or takes a different turn at least. AK has been a TOP PROSPECT who has RAKED at every level, and flashed at the ML level when his wrist was OK. He has nothing left to prove. But with time missed, I believe he will get every day of rehab time to just get confident and get his stroke back. I have no problem with that. Honestly, I'd probably bring him up at that point. But I COULD understand using his option for a little more time to get in a groove. But I'd still bring him up knowing he could be sent down later if needed.

I DO BELIEVE there is merit to patience and belief in his talent and future. He's just NOT old by any means. And the long play for him, and Lewis, both apply. But again, remove the MOST OF THE YEAR from the discussion and I think we're all pretty much on the same page.

A BIG PROBLEM in the roster construction is Kepler. And for the Xth time, I've always been a fan. And he did have a good ST that didn't carry over to the start of the season. And yes, he's got a couple hits since his IL return. But the numbers since 2019 are not only poor, they are also below his pre-2019 season. 

There has been post after post how Kepler does certain things to indicate there is still something left not tapped in to yet. One of those is BABIP. But after so many years of the same, when do we just accept that, unfortunately, there's just ISN'T some. But do you give up on a previously proven ML player in April?? So I can understand giving Kepler time to show he's adapted, learned, and has life left at 29yo.

But despite options remaining, you send Larnach down at some point? He's not only very talented, and part of your future, he got off to a fast start after a very strong ST. Then he slumped for a few games. Then he knocks in a run tonight against Boston, and then a 3 run HR as I'm typing this and we want to debate sending him down?

Gallo is doubtful to return for 2024 for various reasons. Though it's POSSIBLE in various scenarios.  Age, contract, and potential, you ABSOLUTELY don't give up on AK at this point, even IF the Twins decide to keep him a little longer than his rehab time. (Doubt it). 

Sorry, unless he turns it around, and I don't mean a few games, does Kepler fit long term? I'm not sure i see it.

For 2023 at least, Salono is a keeper for his role. So is Farmer, when healthy. And until we see Lewis and Lee IMMEDIATELY ready for 2024, Farmer has a role in 2024 and is under control. 

 Salono and Farmer aren't going anywhere for this year. No way Larnach should be sent out for any reason unless injury or massive slump. He's part of today, and tomorrow. Julien will go probably go down at some point just due to roster crunches and be back up when needed. But at some point, maybe soon, immediacy and the future, Kepler is probably someone who needs to be moved...unfortunately. 

[TwinsDr2021]

10 hours ago, DocBauer said:

But despite options remaining, you send Larnach down at some point? He's not only very talented, and part of your future, he got off to a fast start after a very strong ST. Then he slumped for a few games. Then he knocks in a run tonight against Boston, and then a 3 run HR as I'm typing this and we want to debate sending him down?

I don't think Larnach should be send down, but I am a realist. Before hitting a 3 run homer last night, he was 5 for his last 41 with 1 XBH. This was after starting 7 for 16 with 2 XBH. While that is better than Gordon it is terrible. Hopefully hitting a ground ball to first with guys on 2nd and 3rd and his homer off a 35 year old basically career minor league pitcher jumps starts his season again.  This stretch isn't much different than the stretch last year where he hit .127 with 3 XBH that got him sent down. I want him to succeed but if there was a decent younger prospect I would be calling for him, Can Lee play LF?

[Fatbat]

On 4/19/2023 at 8:22 AM, LewFordLives said:

Agreed on Kirilloff. I would add that he really hasn't done anything in his short career thus far to justify an automatic spot on the MLB roster. Make him force the issue. (Although with this lineup that shouldn't be difficult.)

AK is going to get playing time when he is healthy because he has a way higher ceiling than Solano and Gordon…