Here's How to Make Room for Alex Kirilloff

[Major League Ready]

6 hours ago, Althebum82 said:

So far the Yankees have sure looked like a team in desperate need of an outfielder, although more so in LF than RF.  But, for now, they are pinning their hopes on a rookie to be ready to make his mark.  If that doesn't pan out by this time at the end of the month of May, I think they would welcome Kepler in exchange for a not-yet-MLB-ready starting pitching prospect (If they have one) in advance of the deadline.

Kepler is not going to bring a top prospect but the Yankees have 8 pitching prospects in their top 7-16.  That will certainly help if the two teams discuss a trade for Kepler.  I suspect he will have to play pretty well for them to be willing to part with a decent pitching prospect.  The option on Kepler for next year would probably help a bit too.

[HrbieFan]

10 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Kirilloff will play in St. Paul for a couple of weeks for two good reasons: 1) the Twins want to see AK play at an elevated level to show where he is at as a baseball player, and 2) the Twins do not want to interrupt the current flow for a player who still needs to prove himself.

When we hit mid May, Buxton should be able to play centerfield 3-4 days per week. Kirilloff should be on the plane to LA on May 14 if he continues to show what he has shown thus far. AK is that player who can hit for average and power.

 

They can option him and recall him within 3 weeks and the option doesn't count.  I'm sure someone, aka Bux, Larnach, Kepler or Gallo, will go on the IL by then 

[chpettit19]

2 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Watching Gallo leg out a triple earlier in this homestand, perhaps his sprint speed might be underrated. I won’t dispute the numbers and Gallo might not be a viable choice in center field. We shall see. I think the die is cast that Alex Kirilloff will be optioned unless a position player injury occurs. 

I mean that triple wasn't exactly him hitting one to the gap and using his top end speed to beat it out. It bounced 100 feet away from the right fielder after hitting the limestone. I agree that Kirilloff will be optioned and is waiting for an injury, or Buxton to start getting time in CF. They built this team on pitching and defense, and I don't see them sacrificing all that defense in CF to get him in the lineup. Doesn't seem to be their style.

Edit to add: Looks like Kirilloff was officially activated, and optioned, yesterday. So it's not a guess anymore, AK is in AAA for a bit at least still.

[umterp23]

One of the assumptions is Kirilloff is a given at 1B.  I don't hold that assumption.  Gallo has played well at 1st and not see eager to move him to OF.  Yes, he has OF chops, but Kirilloff is a decent OF as well and that was his 1st position.  Nice to have a good roster jam vs just next man up and hope it fits

[dxpavelka]

We're making a lot of assumptions about a guy we've never seen play CF as compared to a guy that we HAVE seeb play CF who has played three times as many games in CF as the guy we've never seen AND has played it reasonably well.  Not to mention a strong arm in right tends to be a strong arm in center as well.

 

[JD-TWINS]

On 4/30/2023 at 10:06 AM, TopGunn#22 said:

I agree, the real solution is Buxton in CF but Hans is right.  Gallo in CF until Buxton starts playing there consistently is the best solution to getting Kirilloff INTO the lineup at 1B and keeping Larnach in the lineup in LF. 

Buxton is 7-23 over last handful of games with 4 HR & 10 RBI. He’s started 25 of 29 games and PH in a 26th. Playing 90% of the time in ‘23.

Has played 46% of the time in 7 of 8 seasons up until ‘23. Seems we should have tried something different?

We have a Gold Glove CF 80% of the time with Taylor. Nick Gordon or Joey Gallo (former G Glove OF) the balance of time in CF.

Byron is on pace to hit 39 HR if he keeps playing at this pace…….he’ll be in 145 games at this pace.

Buxton will get 30 starts throughout the summer in CF……..it’s May 1, we’re on pace to win 95 games and everything seems to be going fine!

 

[saviking]

Farmer for Castillo

Krilloff for ? 

That's the only question I have. The coaches will figure out the rest ..

[SwainZag]

All I have to say is having too much depth is a good problem to have.   There are a lot of ways the FO might go with this, it will be interesting too see what happens.  

[stringer bell]

7 hours ago, HrbieFan said:

They can option him and recall him within 3 weeks and the option doesn't count.  I'm sure someone, aka Bux, Larnach, Kepler or Gallo, will go on the IL by then 

One thing to remember is that Kirilloff can't be recalled unless someone goes on the IL for the next 10 days. It is probably fair to say that he might need to sustain good performance. Let's hope he can continue to produce and force his way onto the Twins roster.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Can Solano be optioned to AAA?

[Major League Ready]

1 hour ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

Can Solano be optioned to AAA?

No.  Milb options are listed at the top of the player's page on Fangraphs.  

[DocBauer]

So I'm late to the thread. But here goes:

1] Kirilloff is a great talent who might FINALLY be healthy enough to tap in to that talent! And I can't wait! But after he's been through, having a few more weeks to play more consecutive games is not going to hurt him, or his future.  This is the same fortunate/unfoetunate conundrum Ober had to face to start the season. Most of these things work themselves out.

2] Farmer replaces Castro when ready to go in a few weeks. Stinks for Castro, who's done a decent job, still has some utility promise, and has an option to keep around.

3] Brining up AK means someone has to be hurt, or someone not necessarily worthy of being moved has to happen. See point #1 again. 

4] Gallo or Kepler in CF, to make room for AK in the lineup, is not a horrible idea. Between Taylor...who's doing great...sitting a day or two against a RHP, Buxton ramping up slowly with a game or two in CF, and Kepler or Gallo for a day or so, makes some sense. But barring some IL for someone, who gets cut at this point to make room on the roster?

5] Not the first time this is a good/bad problem to have. Ober began at AAA. Varland is too good, as the Twins 2 time milb pitcher of the year, to be in AAA as well. Again, as we're seeing now, these things tend to work themselves out. Wallner, raking at AAA, and the reigning milb hitter of the year, is stuck behind AK! And what happens June/July when Lewis ready? So this is not the last "roster crunch" facing the Twins by any means.

[Minny505]

On 4/30/2023 at 11:24 AM, Hans Birkeland said:

I'm sure all sorts of variables are at play, mental and physical, but if Gallo is neutral in both positions and Kepler is great in right and neutral in center you maximize the defense with Gallo in center. Or maybe they could do some sort of rotation,

I think the rotation is the answer. Rotate Kepler, Larnach, Taylor, Gallo, Kirilloff, and to a lesser extent, Buxton. 

This gives Kirilloff a couple days off a week and everyone else one day off a week, with maybe Taylor sucking up two days on the pine a week. Kepler sits against all the LHP. 

Without an injury to one of those guys, that rotation seems like the best way forward.

[Hans Birkeland]

The question of who goes down is real tricky. Because yes you want Farmer and Solano over Gordon but what about next year? DFA'ing a guy with upside and five years of control is real dumb. I think if you can't rotate phantom (or real) injuries you cut Solano and eat his 2M. Or MAYBE we run out a 12 man pitching staff for a while.