Max Kepler isn't good at anything anymore

[wabene]

31 minutes ago, Doctor Wu said:

As far as Polanco, he's been a very good player overall for the Twins ... when he is healthy. But that's another one of those big question marks. With so many exciting young prospects in the Twins system, plus Polanco's precarious injury history, I can't see the team making any sort of contract extension to Polanco. But Kepler? Hmm ... I was ready to say goodbye to him too, but his recent resurgence is making me reconsider. 

Polo has two club options remaining and Kepler one. These were considered very team friendly deals when signed especially Polo's. 

[chpettit19]

5 minutes ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

Would anyone be surprised if Julien and Larnach are packaged this winter for a right-handed outfielder? I don't see where Julien fits long-term - isn't Brooks going to settle at 2B? Correa at SS for next 5, potentially 9, years. Lewis at 3B. Kirilloff at 1B. I don't think Julien can play in the outfield, so where is his future?

I would be absolutely shocked if they traded Julien this winter. He's the best hitter on the team right now, and under control for 6 more years.

[Brock Beauchamp]

25 minutes ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

Would anyone be surprised if Julien and Larnach are packaged this winter for a right-handed outfielder? I don't see where Julien fits long-term - isn't Brooks going to settle at 2B? Correa at SS for next 5, potentially 9, years. Lewis at 3B. Kirilloff at 1B. I don't think Julien can play in the outfield, so where is his future?

Unless Julien improves dramatically at second base, he's not a second baseman long-term. I'm not the least bit concerned about Julien crowding the middle infield; if he manages to somehow do so, good on him. But it probably ain't happening.

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

30 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

I would be absolutely shocked if they traded Julien this winter. He's the best hitter on the team right now, and under control for 6 more years.

Put he's without a position, or at least I think he is. Doesn't mean he can't stick with the Twins, but it makes his situation a bit more complicated, IMHO.

[chpettit19]

Just now, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

Put he's without a position, or at least I think he is. Doesn't mean he can't stick with the Twins, but it makes his situation a bit more complicated, IMHO.

I agree it's a bit complicated, but you can't trade your best hitter. Buxton is the bigger complication. Julien is atrocious in the field, and I don't have any hope that he ever becomes serviceable as his hands and feet are just so far away from being major league quality. But I'd put Lewis in the OF. Kirilloff in the OF if they refuse to do it with Lewis. If Buxton can play the field some you have the DH spot to put Julien in more frequently while rotating some guys through the IF. Unless they're trading him for an equally good, young, controllable hitter I want nothing to do with trading my best hitter. You find a spot for your best hitter.

[Cory Engelhardt]

44 minutes ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

Would anyone be surprised if Julien and Larnach are packaged this winter for a right-handed outfielder? I don't see where Julien fits long-term - isn't Brooks going to settle at 2B? Correa at SS for next 5, potentially 9, years. Lewis at 3B. Kirilloff at 1B. I don't think Julien can play in the outfield, so where is his future?

What if, and hear me out, Royce Lewis is a right handed hitting outfielder next year? 

Also, to just add to the point of this thread; I am very happy Kepler is playing so well lately. It's fun to see.

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

7 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

What if, and hear me out, Royce Lewis is a right handed hitting outfielder next year? 

Also, to just add to the point of this thread; I am very happy Kepler is playing so well lately. It's fun to see.

I'd be fine with Lewis in the outfield. IIRC, didn't he say he wouldn't play in the outfield and the Twins were going to oblige? Don't get me wrong. I think it is a foolish idea for the Twins to let Lewis dictate where he plays. Perhaps they sing a different tune as next season gets closer. Lewis in the outfield clears up a bit of the clutter.

[Major League Ready]

15 hours ago, RpR said:

IF some one can do this, that or the other thing, i.e. crap-shoot wishful thinking.

IF they are still in AAA or AA or A, they have not shown they can do this, that or the other thing, and thinking they will be the next breat thing is  hope against hope, not reality.

Twins minor league gents have been more of a lot of disappointments, rather that the future sucesses.

A few other teams have had gents in their early twenties hit the bigs running at full speed; too many here say bring up the youngsters thinking one of the Twins gents will be just that, has not happened, though there were a few false starts..

Welcome to Major League baseball.  IF you develop players, you are successful.  That's the way it works.  The absolute necessity of developing players increases as revenue decreases in comparison to the top teams and history strongly suggests even the top revenue teams are dependent upon developing talent.   To sit here and argue against requires an absolute refusal to recognize what is actually going on with this team and around league.   

[jmlease1]

17 hours ago, RpR said:

All crap-shoot wishful thinking.

<snip>

Correa is not hitting better, for a HUGE salary,  than Simmons, and Simmons was actually a better fielder.

 

Lol, I get that Correa is having a poor season at the plate, but Andrelton Simmons had a .558 OPS for the Twins and an OPS+ of 57. His final season in the league he was so helpless at the plate he was unplayable. Even with a poor season (for him) at the plate, Correa is a significantly better hitter. Correa's worst season at the plate (this one) is close to Simmons' peak as a hitter.

back to Kepler:

It's going to be interesting to see where the Twins go with him for next season. Wallner is hitting very well right now, but who knows how he'll finish the year. If he finishes the season strong and with enough ABs to suggest it's not small sample size fluke, it's hard not to see him starting next season. I could see Kepler back for another year in a reduced role, never starting against lefties, with an OF of Buxton, Wallner, Royce Lewis, Austin Martin and occasionally Kirilloff. 

Right now, I would say it'll come down to a choice between keeping Larnach or Kepler for next season, presuming at least general health going into the season, and Wallner not falling off the cliff. That's not an easy call: Kepler is proven, Larnach isn't. Kepler only has one year left, Larnach has several more of team control. Kepler is much more expensive than Larnach. Kepler can hit MLB breaking balls...Larnach? Hasn't proven it.

I hope Kepler keeps hitting. I hope the Twins don't play him much against lefties.

[Major League Ready]

4 hours ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

Would anyone be surprised if Julien and Larnach are packaged this winter for a right-handed outfielder? I don't see where Julien fits long-term - isn't Brooks going to settle at 2B? Correa at SS for next 5, potentially 9, years. Lewis at 3B. Kirilloff at 1B. I don't think Julien can play in the outfield, so where is his future?

Lewis to the OF would significantly change the roster.  Lee goes to 3B, Julien to 2B.  That could be the future.  Larnach is either a bench player or could be traded alone or with another prospect for a RH OFer.  I doubt Julien is going anywhere.  He makes a great 2B/DH if others like Prato/Severino/ Martin force their way onto the ML roster.  They also have $50M in expiring contracts (assuming Kepler's option is picked-up) so the money is there for a free agent.   

[Obsvr]

If Kepler finishes the year on a strong note, its an easy choice to pick up that contract and then try and trade him in the offseason again.  He'll have more value than he did and you can pair him with one of the youngsters for an upgrade somewhere else on the diamond.  

[Cory Engelhardt]

4 hours ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

I'd be fine with Lewis in the outfield. IIRC, didn't he say he wouldn't play in the outfield and the Twins were going to oblige? Don't get me wrong. I think it is a foolish idea for the Twins to let Lewis dictate where he plays. Perhaps they sing a different tune as next season gets closer. Lewis in the outfield clears up a bit of the clutter.

I never heard him saying that at all.

[Twins33]

On 8/8/2023 at 2:13 PM, Cory Engelhardt said:

I never heard him saying that at all.

He’s only said that he prefers the dirt, not that he won’t play OF. 
https://www.mlb.com/news/carlos-correa-eyes-future-with-royce-lewis-brooks-lee
 

Quote

Lewis doesn’t have any guesses as to where he’ll make his eventual return, though he does prefer the infield, as he thinks of it as “safer” -- and it’s hard to blame him, given his current injury situation.

Hayes also tweeted this in May

 

[Brock Beauchamp]

On 8/8/2023 at 2:13 PM, Cory Engelhardt said:

I never heard him saying that at all.

His agent, Boras, has mentioned that he prefers to see Lewis in the infield. I'm sure that is coming from Royce himself, Boras isn't going to walk out on a limb like that for no reason.

"For team reasons they asked him to play a position he hadn’t played since high school. What happens? He’s out there for 10 minutes and he gets hurt,” Boras said. “He didn’t get hurt on the dirt. The idea of staying within that framework is to me important for particularly a player of his dynamic. Royce Lewis is a great defender. He’s a five-tool player.”

https://www.twincities.com/2023/05/15/royce-lewis-takes-next-step-forward-in-rehab-assignment/

[Twodogs]

On 8/12/2023 at 7:52 PM, Brock Beauchamp said:

His agent, Boras, has mentioned that he prefers to see Lewis in the infield. I'm sure that is coming from Royce himself, Boras isn't going to walk out on a limb like that for no reason.

"For team reasons they asked him to play a position he hadn’t played since high school. What happens? He’s out there for 10 minutes and he gets hurt,” Boras said. “He didn’t get hurt on the dirt. The idea of staying within that framework is to me important for particularly a player of his dynamic. Royce Lewis is a great defender. He’s a five-tool player.”

https://www.twincities.com/2023/05/15/royce-lewis-takes-next-step-forward-in-rehab-assignment/

I know he is labeled as a 5 tool player, which includes great defense.  But so far at least he seems to be kind of average on the dirt.  Not bad, but I've seen some questionable plays this season.  

[Twodogs]

On 8/8/2023 at 11:05 AM, Obsvr said:

If Kepler finishes the year on a strong note, its an easy choice to pick up that contract and then try and trade him in the offseason again.  He'll have more value than he did and you can pair him with one of the youngsters for an upgrade somewhere else on the diamond.  

Kepler has gone .305  .357  .590  so that would be an .895 OPS over the last 30 games or 105 at bats.  So he has rebounded nicely from his early season struggles.  But if I am Max Kepler, personally, I'd want out of Minnesota and try to prove myself somewhere else.  I am a supporter of Kepler, especially in the pre-season when everyone said to dump him.  But now that many of these guys have had chances to play I think it would be in the Twins best interest to let these other guys like Wallner and such to play.  I was not on board with that back in February.  I will even take it one step further in the fact that I think it might be questionable weather or not the Twins would be in 1st place without his contributions over the last month or so.  But I think now is the time to move on for Kepler, to further his career and for the Twins also.  After this season, not now, but after the season obviously.  Hopefully he hits another 5 - 6 bombs and can finish north of .245 for the season.  

[FlyingFinn]

On 8/8/2023 at 8:53 AM, Brock Beauchamp said:

Unless Julien improves dramatically at second base, he's not a second baseman long-term.

 

On 8/8/2023 at 9:07 AM, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

Put he's without a position, or at least I think he is. Doesn't mean he can't stick with the Twins, but it makes his situation a bit more complicated, IMHO.

I do think Julien has improved dramatically on defense this month, going from terrible to below average. As some have said, Buxton is the key to everything. If he's in CF, DH is wide open. If Buxton is at DH permanently, you have to move Lewis to CF to have a Lee, Correa, Julien, Kirilloff infield IMO.

[USAFChief]

1 hour ago, Twodogs said:

Kepler has gone .305  .357  .590  so that would be an .895 OPS over the last 30 games or 105 at bats.  

?

The math doesn't work.

[Twodogs]

18 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

?

The math doesn't work.

Oh yeah, I did Batting average and slugging instead of On Base %.  So its even higher then.  .947