Who does Kiriloff replace?

[JHelley4]

Larnach has not been lookign great recently and Kepler has been solid lately, but still not the best seasons so far for either. Will we see a trade or a roster move involving one of them shortly? Especially with Kiriloff ready to go.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I don't think the team is in a hurry to do anything with Kirilloff. Larnach is treading water while Kirilloff hasn't played three consecutive games in St Paul yet. I think the front office is going to let this play out for awhile and see if a clear answer emerges.

[stringer bell]

27 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

I don't think the team is in a hurry to do anything with Kirilloff. Larnach is treading water while Kirilloff hasn't played three consecutive games in St Paul yet. I think the front office is going to let this play out for awhile and see if a clear answer emerges.

Even if they wanted to recall AK today, they’d have to wait a week unless there is an injured player. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

16 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Even if they wanted to recall AK today, they’d have to wait a week unless there is an injured player. 

Oh yeah, he was technically demoted.

[ashbury]

Larnach can be sent to the minors while Kepler can not, and since Kirilloff already has a spot on the 40-man it's not necessary to trade Kepler abruptly.  Larnach has had his moments at bat, like a couple of key sac flies that don't show up in OPS, and his stats with men on base are way better than when the bases are empty, but his leading the team in RBI seems more an outcome of opportunity, and others with similar opportunity have been putrid. His defense has been better than I expected.  All in all, though, I'd option Larnach if Kirilloff is raking at AAA a week from now - I want better than a .705 OPS from my corner outfielder (not that Max's .741 is markedly better).  Basically, it's the move that can be revisited later, versus an irrevocable one.

[Jocko87]

Rocco, from what I’ve read in other threads. 

[Shaitan]

Radio said that AK needs 20 days in AAA to use an option, or something like that.

So I suspect we'll see a move around then.

This will work itself out. I have little worry that they "need" to make a trade, unless Kepler is a clubhouse nightmare (and we've never heard anything suggesting that).

The best move, if health allows, is Buxton at CF, Taylor to the bench. Then AK and Gallo split 1B/DH. But that decision is outside of my pay grade. Castro to AAA.

I also wouldn't be shocked to see Larnach sent to AAA. Larnach and AK have basically been in a 3-way rotation between AAA/MLB/IL for the past 3 years, with whoever is hot and healthy getting the MLB at bats.

[chpettit19]

2 hours ago, Jocko87 said:

Rocco, from what I’ve read in other threads. 

Rocco as a player would actually have been a great fit on this squad! Well most every squad cuz he was really good.

[srjr19]

Larnach needs to go down so he can feel what it's like to make contact with a baseball again.

[stringer bell]

Absent an injury, Trevor has about a week to win back a spot on the team, I think. Larnach has had basically regular duty for five weeks. That is a pretty good audition. 

[LA Vikes Fan]

How about Kirilloff for Solano? I know that leaves us a little short of RH hitters. To me though, Solano really has a limited role as a RH DH/occasional 1B. He really is pretty awful in the field so he offers little or no defensive value, is just a singles hitter with no power, and is 35 years old so he isn't part of the future. Solano is really the most limited player we have. That leaves us with 6 guys for 1B, LF, CF, RF, and DH and that's not counting Gordon so it isn't ideal. It would basically mean that Gordon becomes a true utility player who spends at least some time in the infield at 2B. It does give us our best bats at the major-league level unless you think that Solano is better than Larnach.  

I can see the argument that Larnach should go back to AAA and try to re-find his stroke. Still, I would rather have him at the MLB level even if he's only playing 3 days a week. Bring up Kirilloff before the 20 days run so you preserve his option, DFA Solano who will probably pass through waivers given his limitations and age, and then replace Castro with Farmer when he is ready to come back. I suspect that the end of Kirilloff's 20 day free period and Farmer's return will be pretty close together so I say have those 2 replace Solano and Castro and go from there. Of course, injuries will probably rear their ugly head before then and solve the problem for us. 

[stringer bell]

It's nearly certain that Farmer will be back before Kirilloff is recalled. A case could be made for DFAing Solano then. Farmer is more versatile and is also a right handed hitter. If it is Kirilloff time, he could replace Castro or maybe Larnach.

[Rod Carews Birthday]

4 hours ago, stringer bell said:

It's nearly certain that Farmer will be back before Kirilloff is recalled. A case could be made for DFAing Solano then. Farmer is more versatile and is also a right handed hitter. If it is Kirilloff time, he could replace Castro or maybe Larnach.

Donnie Barrels has seemingly come back down to Earth hitting-wise, and he is no great shakes in the field.  I could see them DFAing him and optioning Castro.  I'd be surprised if Solano would pass through waivers, but that's OK.  Good luck to him.  A week ago I would have said it was time to cut bait on Gordon, but he seems to have some life lately.  Maybe he's just a (REALLY) slow starter.   He could do a lot to help the offense if started getting on base.   So, it looks like we add Farmer and Kirilloff and subtract Solano and Castro over the next couple of weeks.  I'm just not sure that Larnach is all that well served by time in AAA any more than Kiriloff. 

Not ever having been hit in the face with a baseball at anywhere near that speed, I wonder if Farmer will be having the yips a bit when he hits.  An experience like that has got to be really hard to overcome. 

[dxpavelka]

21 hours ago, JHelley4 said:

Larnach has not been lookign great recently and Kepler has been solid lately, but still not the best seasons so far for either. Will we see a trade or a roster move involving one of them shortly? Especially with Kiriloff ready to go.

I don't know why but other teams don't seem to be rushing to say "that guy sucks, let's trade for him."

 

[Craig Arko]

I think the move, when it comes, will be for someone with an option. I also happen to think that is the correct move, at least prior to trade season.

[Gatormandd]

Yup, I think things are fine right now; lets see Kirilloff prove he can be healthy and productive, and by that time I think someone will be clearly ready to be replaced (Larnach, Gordon, Castro) due to injury or slump.  I think Farmer replaces Solano when Farmer is ready to go, so I left Solano out as the guy to move when AK is ready.  I'd almost go all in vs RH, with Larnach/Taylor in left, Buck in CF, Kepler in RF; Gallo at 1B, AK at DH, and then move folks around to give rest.  Farmer does UT vs LH, and I'd still love to move Gordon for his RH doppelganger; but I think we'll be good to go down the road this season if the injury bug does not bite too hard.

 

[tony&rodney]

I have been guessing this for a while .... AK is on the team and in the lineup in Los Angeles with Solano being DFA.

[Trov]

Replace on the roster or replace in the lineup?  If we are just talking about roster there are a few options.  First, assuming Farmer takes Castro place, then we have really a few options for AK.  The 2 easiest will be Larnach or Miranda as both could be optioned down without passing waivers or anything.  If you are worried about losing others.  Larnach would be the most logical as they play similar positions, AK can play OF or 1B, but Gallo could do OF if AK is at 1B.  

Miranda's spot can be taken by Farmer, but then in the lineup we juggle Larnach, Gallo, Kepler, and AK, with 1 always on the bench.  This assumes Buck stays as DH.  For those thinking DFA Salano, similar situation as Miranda, we still need to find spot in line up.  

In my opinion, if they plan to bench Larnach, if AK is on roster, you should just option him to AAA and let him play there. We will have other roster moves when Lewis comes of IL to worry about as well. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

Donovan Solano has a 90 OPS+ and bats right-handed. I don't see him going anywhere for awhile and IMO, that's the right call. Revisit this a month from now and see what the numbers look like.

[Brock Beauchamp]

After the past couple of games, the clock is now ticking for Trevor Larnach. For the first time, Kirilloff played three consecutive games in St Paul. Over the past week, Larnach has a .471 OPS with 11 strikeouts in 23 plate appearances. If Kirilloff keeps playing regularly and Larnach keeps striking out, I think a move might be made in the coming week.

[GKuehl]

Larnach getting optioned for Kirilloff makes more logistical sense. I just don't really understand what Solano provides to the team.

Solano is atrocious defensively (even at 1B), he has been worth -0.3 WAR, and his OPS against LHP (the only reason he's on the team) is .571, .140 points lower than his OPS against RHP. Even if he starts hitting against lefties, he doesn't provide any power to make them pay -- he might just get a bloop single. 

Solano's contract is small enough, $2.5 million, that the front office could easily cut their losses. I would much rather see Castro remain on the team as someone capable of filling in at every non-catcher position and pinch-running in close games than a no-defense singles hitter who doesn't even hit that many singles. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

36 minutes ago, GKuehl said:

Solano is atrocious defensively (even at 1B), he has been worth -0.3 WAR, and his OPS against RHP (the only reason he's on the team) is .571, .140 points lower than his OPS against RHP. Even if he starts hitting against RHP, he doesn't provide any power to make RHPs pay -- he might just get a bloop single. 

I know it's just a couple of typos but this paragraph is both hilarious and confusing af.

(though I understand what you're trying to say here)

[GKuehl]

11 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

I know it's just a couple of typos but this paragraph is both hilarious and confusing af.

(though I understand what you're trying to say here)

Sorry, I meant to say LHP and fixed it in my own post! What else was confusing?

[Brock Beauchamp]

43 minutes ago, GKuehl said:

Sorry, I meant to say LHP and fixed it in my own post! What else was confusing?

Oh, just the LHP thing. If someone didn't know your intent, the reading of that paragraph is pretty funny.

[CoasterProductions]

Here is my proposal

Buxton in center, Taylor to the bench

Gallo moves to left

Kepler stays in right

Kirilloff to first

Larnach rotates between left, dh, and bench

[ashbury]

3 hours ago, GKuehl said:

Sorry, I meant to say LHP and fixed it in my own post! What else was confusing?

Well, he's a right handed batter and (like most) he hits worse against righties, though this year in small sample he's showing a reverse split that I don't expect to last.  So I didn't really understand where you were going with saying he's on the team to hit against RHP.  IMO he was brought in as protection against LHP, since so many of our hitters bat left.

[chpettit19]

1 hour ago, CoasterProductions said:

Here is my proposal

Buxton in center, Taylor to the bench

Gallo moves to left

Kepler stays in right

Kirilloff to first

Larnach rotates between left, dh, and bench

There was an article about Buxton on The Athletic today. It sure feels like they don't have any immediate plans to put him in CF. The latest talk had been mid-May they'd look at it, but they seem very happy with him at DH, and he doesn't seem to mind spending the vast majority of the season there to keep his bat in the lineup. I think we all need to accept that Buxton to CF isn't a real option for any large chunk of the season.

I don't think Buxton to CF is part of any immediate plans to get Kirilloff on the field for the Twins. Larnach's seat would appear to be the most likely to be warming at this point. But it was Gordon last week so things can change quick. I just hope Kirilloff is up soon. Like May 10th (I think that's his first day being eligible to be recalled) soon.

[GKuehl]

25 minutes ago, ashbury said:

Well, he's a right handed batter and (like most) he hits worse against righties, though this year in small sample he's showing a reverse split that I don't expect to last.  So I didn't really understand where you were going with saying he's on the team to hit against RHP.  IMO he was brought in as protection against LHP, since so many of our hitters bat left.

Fixed my post, I was confusing my left and right -- a bit directionally challenged here obviously. We're in agreement -- Solano was brought in to be a platoon bat who mashes lefties (aka infield Kyle Garlick), but he simply hasn't mashed lefties and provides next to nothing else. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

5 minutes ago, GKuehl said:

Fixed my post, I was confusing my left and right -- a bit directionally challenged here obviously. We're in agreement -- Solano was brought in to be a platoon bat who mashes lefties (aka infield Kyle Garlick), but he simply hasn't mashed lefties and provides next to nothing else. 

He also has 21 PAs against LHP. It's way too early to drop a platoon guy who performed acceptably well against LHP as recently as last year.

Maybe he's cooked. That's a real possibility but not something I'm going to declare after the equivalent of six games of hitting.

[ashbury]

8 minutes ago, GKuehl said:

Fixed my post, I was confusing my left and right -- a bit directionally challenged here obviously. We're in agreement -- Solano was brought in to be a platoon bat who mashes lefties (aka infield Kyle Garlick), but he simply hasn't mashed lefties and provides next to nothing else. 

He's cooled off at bat since a good start - .457 OPS beginning April 15.  And he's no great shakes anywhere on defense.  Still, he fills a role, and was brought in after Farmer was already on board.  So I don't see Farmer's return as a reason he'd be DFAed, while Kirilloff plays too different a role for me to expect him to be a roster casualty. 

I see it as Castro for Farmer, and Larnach for Kirilloff (unless Trevor has a couple of monster games toot-sweet).

Donovans's not looking like much of a candidate for a contract renewal next off-season, to say the least.