7 Triple-A Players Who Can Still Help the 2023 Twins

[ashbury]

"on the 40-man roster, giving him a chance to be a call-up" does not equate to "Players Who Can Still Help the 2023 Twins".  It only means "can help the major league team not forfeit games due to not enough rostered players."

7 Major League Players Who Can Still Help the 2023 Twins

Correa, Buxton, Vazquez, Polanco, Farmer, Winder, Floro.  Come on, guys.

[Jocko87]

I'm putting Varland in the bullpen in about 2 weeks. The starter depth will be less important the later we get and I'm very interested in him cutting it loose in a short stint.  It's his only good route to the post season roster and he can start again next year.

[WLFINN]

Funderburk similar to Anthony Slama in regards to how management projects ML production?

[KnoblauchWasFramed]

6 hours ago, Peter said:

Why not bring up lee and our first round pick this year? They both would give twins the power needed along with Royce coming back? 

C'mon bro..... stop funning with us!! 

The Twins don't even have to add him to the 40 man roster for at least one more full year as he is not Rule 5 Draft eligible.  So there's no way the FO wants to have to pay someone the league minimum if they are not legally required to.

[specialiststeve]

End the Gallo experiment which has clearly failed and promote one of the guys .... Prato would be my pick with him being a right handed bat and ability to play multi-positions... would seem to make too much sense. 

[KnoblauchWasFramed]

And JFC already... Just let the Gallo experiment end.  "OMFG he hit a home run this week!!!  HE'S BACK!!!" 

There is literally zero chance that Larnach could be worse than Gallo is.  Absolute Zero.  Gallo's last homerun was back on July 17th.  In between that HR and the most recent HR here are his stats:

G: 18  / AB: 41 / R: 4 / H: 5 / 2B:1 / 3B:0 / HR:2 / RBI: 6 / BB:6 / SO:25 

AVG: .122 / OBP: .234 / SLG: .293 / OPS: .527

He struck out in 61% of his ABs.  61%!!!  That's incredible.  If Larnach came up and put up numbers anywhere near that trash I will Venmo the MOD $1,000.00.  

[DJL44]

11 minutes ago, KnoblauchWasFramed said:

And JFC already... Just let the Gallo experiment end.  "OMFG he hit a home run this week!!!  HE'S BACK!!!" 

There is literally zero chance that Larnach could be worse than Gallo is.  Absolute Zero.  Gallo's last homerun was back on July 17th.  In between that HR and the most recent HR here are his stats:

G: 18  / AB: 41 / R: 4 / H: 5 / 2B:1 / 3B:0 / HR:2 / RBI: 6 / BB:6 / SO:25 

AVG: .122 / OBP: .234 / SLG: .293 / OPS: .527

He struck out in 61% of his ABs.  61%!!!  That's incredible.  If Larnach came up and put up numbers anywhere near that trash I will Venmo the MOD $1,000.00.  

I get that they're all about the platoon advantage but using Gallo as your platoon guy is like when Mr. Burns pinch hit Homer Simpson for Darryl Strawberry.

[JD-TWINS]

5 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Prato, Larnach, and  Funderburk would be my choices.  The starting pitchers promoted to the BP have not done well, a RP is someone I would expect more from.

Larnach for Gallo (I am a broken record).  Prato because he has earned it.  Celestino is not showing enough to be back up.  Same with Henriquez and Varland.

Lee is still a year away.  Let's see production in AAA over the next few weeks before pushing for a call up.

Martin was mentioned in another comment, but he has been too inconsistent at all levels since we got him. 

I am curious about Stevenson, but really want to see Carmargo get a call up.  The league loves catchers and he or Vasquez could be trade bait.  

The bigger question for me is who is cut for Kiriloff and Lewis?

Seems Prato - Stevenson - Martin are all taking a backseat to MLB experience acquired with Luplow.

Funderburk seems like a logical risk/reward step!

Not worried about trading catchers in middle of August, too many other things to sort out. If we don’t include some serious prospect OR pay 60% of his contract, nobody’s taking Vazquez in a trade for another 2.3 years…….he’ll be a FA after ‘25.

Sunk money, w/o great performance. He’s a reasonable MLB back-up but he’s not worth more than $4-$5M per year………that’s generous with his stats this year. As you are aware, we’re paying $10M per season.

[Dman]

I really like Prato's line and as others have said his K rate of 20% has remained steady throughout the minors.  He has never had a 20% walk rate before but his walk rates have always been good just not this good.  His OBP month to month has been in the .400 to nearly .500 range in every month except April so his control of the zone does looks elite.  That is a skill that would give him a leg up at the MLB level.

Still looking at August and the SSS there his batting average is only .250 although he still has a .462 OBP so the average is fine as he is getting on base a ton.  However, his slugging is dropping and has been for a while now.  In August it is at .393 his lowest since the month of April.  There is a lot of time left in the month but the super hot streak may be starting to cool off. Will have to wait and see but he still has a nice plate approach that looks MLB worthy but without the slugging to go with it he would be a utility bat at best.

[Minny505]

+

2 hours ago, KnoblauchWasFramed said:

And JFC already... Just let the Gallo experiment end.  "OMFG he hit a home run this week!!!  HE'S BACK!!!" 

There is literally zero chance that Larnach could be worse than Gallo is.  Absolute Zero.  Gallo's last homerun was back on July 17th.  In between that HR and the most recent HR here are his stats:

G: 18  / AB: 41 / R: 4 / H: 5 / 2B:1 / 3B:0 / HR:2 / RBI: 6 / BB:6 / SO:25 

AVG: .122 / OBP: .234 / SLG: .293 / OPS: .527

He struck out in 61% of his ABs.  61%!!!  That's incredible.  If Larnach came up and put up numbers anywhere near that trash I will Venmo the MOD $1,000.00.  

Agreed. I'd DFA Gallo, call up Larnach, hand him a 1B mitt and tell him "This is yours until Kirilloff returns. Go get after it kid!"

Does anyone know if Larnach has been taking 1B reps in St Paul?

[Rosterman]

Celestino is still young and maybe needs that full season in the AAA minors. No need to give up on him...yet.

Stevenson, looks interesting. Aging minor league guy. Could he spark the Twins? But at the expense of whom. Gallo maybe, except we need Gallo at first now, it seems.

Chris Williams could be groomed to replace Solano next season. Camargo will be added as a third catcher on the 40-man in the opff-season (he could've walked this apst season and didn't).

Woods Richardson is still a prospect. So is Canterino, when he comes back. I don't think the Twins will give up on Enlow again.

The Return of Dobnak!

[mikelink45]

After suffering through tonights game I would just swap the Saints for the Twins.

[DocBauer]

Can help? Or could be expected to help? Because there's a huge difference not only in readiness, but opportunity as well as 40 man issues. 

NO:

Celestino and Martin have lost over half their seasons due to injury. Celestino has 132AB and Martin 114. I haven't given up on either, though I like Martin better. Celestino actually has talent and has been used poorly 1st with a desperate promotion, and then sticking with him too long when he needed AAA time, and didn't exactly have a ton of AA time. Lack of options hurts any Twins potential. 

Lee just got promoted to AAA last week and just had his 1yr pro anniversary. I like Prato a lot, but still him as another Castro super utility type, with a slighty different skill set. And that's not an insult or saying he can't be better. He started to come in to his own in 2022 and I thought he had a real shot to begin this year at AAA. Which made his poor start this season at Wichita so surprising. He's not on the 40 man, though room could be found. But if Lewis comes back OK, and Solano is OK, I just don't know I see room this year, unless it's LF and maybe 1B. I think they are tied more to the veteran Luplow for now, for better or worse. Check back next year.

And I say no to Henriquez. Very young, some great stuff, and I like his future. But he hasn't had a good season, partially due to some injury, and is behind Winder, Sands, Balazovic, and Ortega. Again, check back next year.

YES:

Funderburk has made the transition to the pen and has performed at the highest milb level. I can see him getting a shot and helping. 

I object to the statement in the OP that Varland pitched poorly. I don't have his game by game info in front of me, but he was pretty solid when he came up, had perhaps his best couple of turns as a ML before the wheels seemed to come off. He didn't look so good when sent down, but he's been better of late and the potential is still there.

A mediocre Larnach is already better than Gallo. But he doesn’t play 1B, and that's a huge miss by the FO. They are playing Garlick at 1B but not even trying Larnach there? Huge missed opportunity there to see. But yes, good chance we see him again. 

MAYBE:

I appreciate the fact that Gallo plays a good 1B. But he's also amongst the very worst hitters in all of MLB for months now. Williams as a RH batter would almost have to try to be worse. He should be up yesterday to play 1B and get an audition. He might even help with some of the LHP ineptitude this team faces. 1 for 1 40 man swap right there.

Like others, I've been so impressed with what Stevenson has done at St Paul this year. And at 29yo, I have no illusions he's some older, breakout player. (Though he hasn't been totally inept in his brief ML career). It's just hard not to wonder what he might do as a running mate with Taylor in CF. How much of his offense could he bring from St Paul to the Twins? He might actually surprise a little and help spark some. But besides the 40 man issue, who does he replace on the 13 man roster? He doesn't play 1B..which might be the biggest issue right now...so does he replace Polanco, who's looked nothing like his previous self at all? But if Lewis comes back soon, that creates a whole different issue. Just not sure I see a place for Stevenson at this time, which sees a shame to a small degree.

Don't laugh, but look out for Dobnak. Personally, I've had little faith in Keuchel. I appreciate his effort. I appreciate the Twins taking a look at him as a late season rotation filler who might offer up a few good IP to help rest the rotation some. And even after 1 solid turn, and a horrible one against the Phillies tonight, I could see him getting another shot. Hopefully, Ryan is back soon. And Varland is the talented youngster waiting for his next shot. But if anyone else goes down, or there is any need for a fill in type, the Dobber is next. It's been a long road back for him, but he has experience, and has looked at least decent his past few turns. He's probably up next after Varland. 

 

[JD-TWINS]

11 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

FYI, they can only carry 14 pitchers even with expanded rosters.

Stick with 13 arms in September, use options on guys up & down to keep pen fresh & go to 12 guys in playoffs (4 starters needed).

Will need the extra bat options in September.

[chpettit19]

1 hour ago, JD-TWINS said:

Stick with 13 arms in September, use options on guys up & down to keep pen fresh & go to 12 guys in playoffs (4 starters needed).

Will need the extra bat options in September.

Disagree. They need extra arms right now. The pen is being overworked, and Ober is already at his career high in innings pitched. When is Ryan going to be back? If Keuchel is in this rotation for much longer the pen is going to be shot. If you option someone down they're back in AAA for basically half the month automatically so you're only able to do it with a couple guys. And they don't really have that many guys to cycle in the first place. And they already platoon, pinch hit, and mix up the lineup enough. They don't need 15 bats. You don't have to platoon 7 lineup spots. Arms are far more important right now.

[dxpavelka]

Larnach is the obvious choice -- as soon as MLB bans pitches that aren't straight.

[MinnInPa]

On 8/11/2023 at 11:46 AM, John Mickelson said:

Stevenson has earned it. Gallo at $11mil over Larnach is a joke Mr Falvey! Celestino has not earned promotion. 

 

Yes..finally someone else mentioning Stevensen. why is he never talked about????  the kid can hit ....doesnt K like the others K Kings (Garlick, Larnach, Gallo, etc etc etc) this kid should have been called up months ago to replace Gallo

[FlyingFinn]

On 8/11/2023 at 10:07 PM, DocBauer said:

I like Prato a lot

Hey Doc, I know you are a big proponent of Helman as well. What are your thoughts of Prato vs Helman next year making it to the Twins, assuming both are healthy? Martin is probably in this super utility mix as well with Castro already on the Twins. Gordon will probably be gone next spring IMO.

[DocBauer]

1 hour ago, FlyingFinn said:

Hey Doc, I know you are a big proponent of Helman as well. What are your thoughts of Prato vs Helman next year making it to the Twins, assuming both are healthy? Martin is probably in this super utility mix as well with Castro already on the Twins. Gordon will probably be gone next spring IMO.

I hadn't really thought to pit Helman against Prato directly, but you're right they are very similar players by skill set and position ability. I like that Prato is younger, but as of now, I think Helman has more power and can actually be used as a legitimate CF, and Prato appears stretched there as he has less than a dozen games played there, IIRC. 

Unfortunately for Helman, he had a hamstring issue in ST, then a concussion, and then a shoulder issue and has lost almost the entire season while Prato is on the upswing.  Next year is a whole new season for both of them. I like Helman's ability to cover CF, but it's no deal breaker or maker.

May the best man win.

When I look at Martin, I'm not 100% convinced yet what he might become. His college career and draft pedigree had some calling for him to be playing with the Twins in 2022, straight from AA in 2021, which was straight from college and no pro ball after being drafted due to covid. I just never understood the eagerness for someone clearly not ready. And now, we have a strong finish to last year, a strong AFL, and approximately half a season this year to declare him...once again...the next big thing. 

I'm very encouraged, but a couple months at AAA, even good ones, doesn't convince me he's going to be a star. 

He could be a fine utility player, and there's value in that, and possibly better than either Helman or Prato. He could also be a super utility player simply because he can be used at 3-4 spots and play 5 days a week at the tip of the order. An excellent everyday player, just not a fixed spot. He could even be a full time, starting CF/LF.

I'm just not sure what to make him of him at the moment.

[RpR]

3 hours ago, MinnInPa said:

Yes..finally someone else mentioning Stevensen. why is he never talked about????  the kid can hit ....doesnt K like the others K Kings (Garlick, Larnach, Gallo, etc etc etc) this kid should have been called up months ago to replace Gallo

He is a Center Fielder, unless Taylor goes down, his chance of coming up is near zero.

If the Twins crater this year, like they did last, maybe then all the rookies some are infatuated with be looked at.