Nick Gordon's Potential Return Could Force Difficult Roster Choices

[Cody Schoenmann]

Utility player Nick Gordon has begun ramping up baseball activity, increasing his chances of returning from the 60-day IL before the end of the 2023 regular season. With the Twins' 28-man roster already crowded, is there room left for the potentially soon-to-return Gordon?

Image courtesy of Matt Blewett - USA TODAY Sports

In the 2023 season, expectations for utility player Nick Gordon were as high as they have been since the Twins selected him fifth overall in the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.

Following a strong 2022 season, where he hit .272/.316/.427 (.753) with an above-average wRC+ of 111 over 443 plate appearances, Gordon got the 2023 Opening Day start at second base in place of the then-injured Jorge Polanco.

Whether it be second base, left field, centerfield, designated hitter, or shortstop, the left-handed-hitting Gordon was bound to find himself in the lineup whenever the Twins faced a right-handed starting pitcher. 

Gordon was the Twins' top left-handed-hitting utility player. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to keep that spot for long. On May 17, Gordon fouled a ball off his right shin, forcing him to exit in the fifth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Gordon underwent testing, and was announced that he had sustained a fractured right shin. Gordon was immediately placed on the 10-day IL following his diagnosis.

On May 29, the Twins transferred Gordon to the 60-day IL, leaving many to wonder if his 2023 season had sadly come to an end. 

Tibia-fibula fractures typically take four to six months to fully recover from, so the only thing Gordon could do was gradually recover with the hope of being able to play in games by mid-to-late September.

Luckily, the best-case scenario has occurred, and Gordon is participating in baseball activities, and a rehab assignment looks to be in his near future. 

While Gordon's quick recovery is incredible news, one has to wonder if there is a spot for him on the Twins' now 28-man roster if he can return from his fractured shin injury before the end of the regular season. 

Since Gordon was placed on the 60-day IL in late May, young players like Edouard Julien, Royce Lewis, Alex Kirilloff, Willi Castro, and Matt Wallner have emerged as full-time contributors, leading to the competition over playing time and at-bats.

While Gordon had earned himself a vital role on the 2023 Twins before the regular season began, the situation the Twins and Gordon find themselves in has changed dramatically. 

With Gordon's return from the 60-day IL potentially happening in the next handful of weeks, the Twins may need to decide if they want to open up a spot for him on the 28-man roster, keep him on the 60-day IL, or designate him for assignment as he has run out of minor league options.

The Twins designating Gordon for assignment feels unlikely as the 27-year-old utility player is young and provides value due to his flexibility and usually steady bat.

The Twins could shut Gordon down for the rest of the season, but if he is confirmed to be healthy by the Twins' training staff and he expresses a desire to return, then shutting him down for the rest of the season could soon become a non-option. 

The Twins might need to make a tough decision soon, and the likely outcome is that the Twins will find Gordon and his versatility too valuable to cut bait.

So, what corresponding roster move should the Twins make? Here are three options.

The Likely Move: Designate Andrew Stevenson for Assignment
The first transaction the Twins could make to active Gordon from the 60-day IL is to designate fan favorite Andrew Stevenson for assignment. 

Stevenson was an incredible story for the Triple-A St. Paul Saints this season and will likely win the Saints Most Valuable Player award after this season. Unfortunately, Stevenson has not produced offensively since earning a call-up on September 1. 

Since getting promoted from Triple-A St. Paul, Stevenson is hitting .235/.278/.235 (.513) with four hits and a 44 wRC+ over 18 plate appearances. 

Stevenson has performed well defensively in centerfield and joined Castro as one of the few Twins players who attempts to steal bases, but his performance at the plate has largely been uninspiring.

Stevenson, who hits left-handed, primarily plays centerfield with the ability to play the corner outfield spots, so Gordon, who possesses a nearly identical player profile, could naturally slide into Stevenson's role. 

The Twins designating Stevenson for assignment in favor of Gordon is the most likely move to occur as things stand.

Once again, Stevenson is an incredible story and deserves to be rewarded for his services at Triple-A St. Paul, but Gordon is the better player. 

The Plausible Move: Demote Jordan Luplow to Triple-A or Designate Him for Assignment

The second transaction the Twins could make is optioning Luplow to Triple-A St. Paul or designating him for assignment.

To preface, Luplow plays a distinct role for the Twins as a right-handed hitting corner outfielder who hits left-handed pitching well. 

This skill set is important, and most Major League Baseball teams have a player like this on their active roster, but as the season begins to dwindle with the Twins essentially locked into winning the AL Central, one has to wonder if keeping such a niche player like Luplow is still necessary. 

The most crucial factor to consider down the stretch when deciding if Luplow deserves a 28-man and eventually playoff roster spot is the front end of the rotations of the teams the Twins could face in the postseason. 

Right now, the Twins will face either the Texas Rangers or Toronto Blue Jays in the three-game Wild Card round at Target Field starting October 3.

Here are the current starting rotations of both teams:

• Rangers - RHP Nathan Eovaldi, RHP Max Scherzer, LHP Jordan Montgomery, RHP Jon Gray, LHP Andrew Heaney
• Blue Jays - RHP Kevin Gausman, RHP José Berríos, RHP Chris Bassitt, LHP Hyun Jin Ryu, LHP Yusei Kikuchi 

Sixty percent of the pitchers listed above are right-handed, and most of them, besides Gray of the Rangers, are listed as front-of-the-rotation pitchers. 

If the Twins were to face the Rangers, they would likely face Eovaldi and Scherzer in Game 1 and Game 2, with the potential of facing the left-handed pitching Montgomery in Game 3.

If the Twins were to face the Blue Jays, it is a near guarantee that they would face Gausman and Berríos in Game 1 and Game 2, with the potential of facing Bassitt in Game 3. 

So, out of the six above hypothetical games, the Twins would potentially face a left-handed starting pitcher in just one.

Now, the Rangers and Blue Jays could use their left-handed starting pitchers as relief pitchers in playoffs. 

The Blue Jays currently have two left-handed relief pitchers, and the Rangers have five, so while it might not make sense for the Rangers to add Montgomery or Heaney to their presently left-handed dominant bullpen in the playoffs, the Blue Jays would be incentivized to add Ryu and Kikuchi to theirs. 

Both the Rangers and Blue Jays are bound to use left-handed pitchers at some point in the playoffs, so keeping Luplow on the 28-man roster down the stretch and eventually adding him to the playoff roster makes sense for the Twins.

It is doubtful that Gordon will make the Twins' playoff roster if he can return from the 60-day IL. Plus, Gordon hits left-handed, so swapping Luplow out for Gordon makes little sense for the Twins. 

The Surprising Yet Unlikely Move: Demote Matt Wallner to Triple-A
The final and least likely transaction the Twins could make to activate Gordon from the 60-day IL is to demote Wallner back down to Triple-A. 

Wallner, who has had an awe-inspiring second season with the Twins, has struggled as of late.

Here are Wallner's hitting numbers since August 1:

• Wallner - .206/.336/.454 (.790), 116 PA, 20 hits, four doubles, six home runs, 10.3% BB%, 33.6% K%, .247 ISO, .344 wOBA, 120 wRC+

Admittedly, Wallner's numbers are impressive and do not indicate any signs of struggling. Yet, his performance has steadily regressed since the beginning of August, as evidenced by his OPS dropping from .915 on August 1 to .837 on September 9. 

This move feels highly unlikely, and there is plenty of reason to believe that Wallner can make the necessary adjustments to get out of his mini-slump before the beginning of the playoffs. Yet, the Twins demoting Wallner in favor of fellow left-handed hitting outfielder Gordon cannot be ruled out entirely.

With Gordon appearing set to return from the 60-day IL, the Twins will likely be forced to make a complicated 28-man roster decision.

Do you think the Twins should prioritize activating Gordon off the 60-day IL? If so, which Twins player should Gordon replace on the 28-man roster? Comment below. 

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[umterp23]

Gordon coming off this type of injury is not needed this year, no reason to put him on active roster at all.  

[IndianaTwin]

He hasn’t actually started a rehab assignment, right? They can make a rehab assignment go 20 days, so unless it starts today or tomorrow, they don’t have to make a decision on him before season’s end. 

Additionally, St. Paul only has two weeks left unless they make the playoffs. 

The likelihood of him improving the team after this much time off is pretty slim. If they deem him ready, I’m guessing they send him to St. Paul for however long they play, then send him to the complex to get additional at bats, but the only way he gets added to the Twins roster is because of multiple injuries. 

[stringer bell]

7 minutes ago, IndianaTwin said:

He hasn’t actually started a rehab assignment, right? They can make a rehab assignment go 20 days, so unless it starts today or tomorrow, they don’t have to make a decision on him before season’s end. 

Additionally, St. Paul only has two weeks left unless they make the playoffs. 

The likelihood of him improving the team after this much time off is pretty slim. If they deem him ready, I’m guessing they send him to St. Paul for however long they play, then send him to the complex to get additional at bats, but the only way he gets added to the Twins roster is because of multiple injuries. 

I think that if they can push a Nick Gordon decision to the off-season they will. If he is on rehab on the 12th, the 20 days wouldn't expire until the regular season is over. At that point, I presume he could be on the major league roster, but not on the active post-season roster. The same goes for Chris Paddack and perhaps Brock Stewart although I think Stewart is on the active roster if he's healthy and has shaken off the rust.

[old nurse]

Gordon hasn’t even been sent on a rehab assignment so at this point it is much ado about nothing. True there still is enough time to get in a rehab assignment. There is not enough time to get him a rehab assignment and enough time to get him adjusted to mlb. He is not that good of a player. Not a bad player, either. A rehab assignment is inn order as a disaster plan. Depending on what you think you might need. One more CF going down is about the only scenario. Larnach can cover the other OF positions. 

[Jocko87]

Don't forget he was terrible before he got hurt too.  I said at the time his injury was a blessing in disguise as they would have had to make a really uncomfortable move if not. Also, not mentioned in the article is a move with Gallo, who would be ahead of Gordon on my personal rankings of returning injured players.  That should tell you everything you need to know about bringing him back. 

[terrydactyls]

DFA Gallo.

[Greglw3]

I’d keep Gordon and grab Grichuk off waivers from the Angels and option or DFA Luplow and DFA Gallo

[stringer bell]

Gordon DFA is more likely than Wallner being demoted. Castro has supplanted Gordon and he’s a much better fit as a utility player. 

[D.C Twins]

1 hour ago, terrydactyls said:

DFA Gallo.

This needs to be the disclaimer best answer for any roster post followed by a more nuanced discussion because the FO clearly will not to that this season :)

[Cody Schoenmann]

1 hour ago, terrydactyls said:

DFA Gallo.

I think Gallo will spend the rest of the regular season on the IL. 

Edited September 9, 2023 by Cody Schoenmann

[Cody Schoenmann]

1 hour ago, Jocko87 said:

Don't forget he was terrible before he got hurt too.  I said at the time his injury was a blessing in disguise as they would have had to make a really uncomfortable move if not. Also, not mentioned in the article is a move with Gallo, who would be ahead of Gordon on my personal rankings of returning injured players.  That should tell you everything you need to know about bringing him back. 

He was struggling, but I think Gordon is much closer to the player we saw in 2022 rather than the player he was to begin the 2023 season. 

[jorgenswest]

His statcast numbers were OK to start the season. The slash stats in that sample don’t tell the story of how well he was hitting the ball. His xBA and xSLG this year are both better than Julien’s. They are both better than Castro’s. Gordon’s BABIP this year was .179. It was .340 last year and above .300 in every professional season. It would be really foolish to make any projections for the future based on the slash stats of less than 100 plate appearances this year.

That doesn’t mean he can get himself ready to help in the playoffs. He has been out a long time. It is good news that he might be able to help and offer some security against other injuries.

[Blyleven2011]

2 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

DFA Gallo.

Please  ...

[Jocko87]

59 minutes ago, Cody Schoenmann said:

He was struggling, but I think Gordon is much closer to the player we saw in 2022 rather than the player he was to begin the 2023 season. 

Which still wasn't all that great if that was the upside.  Not really playing infield anymore hurts his value immensely as does not being right handed.  I struggle to see a spot for him on this or next years roster if he's not playing at least as many positions as Castro.

I was really looking forward to seeing what he could do finally being healthy and up to fighting weight, literally above 165lbs, but it doesn't look like it comes together in Minnesota.

[stringer bell]

3 hours ago, Cody Schoenmann said:

He was struggling, but I think Gordon is much closer to the player we saw in 2022 rather than the player he was to begin the 2023 season. 

Uh-huh, but Nick Gordon's way to make the Twins next year will be to be a significantly better hitter than Willi Castro. Castro is younger, faster, more versatile and switch hits. He is hands down the better fit for an occasional starter and fill in around the field. Gordon would have to win a hitting battle with many to get time as a platoon outfielder. There are several second basemen on the roster, so his ability to man that position is of pretty low value. 

Unless the Twins strip away their current outfield depth, Nick has to get past Kepler, Wallner, Larnach, and perhaps Austin Martin. I think Gordon is a major league player and I think he can help a lot of teams. Despite his value not being what it was at the end of '22, I think it is best for him and his current team to part ways after this season. 

[mnfireman]

I think Gordon will replace Stevenson, unless Stevenson ends the season on a hot streak. Both play all 3 OF positions, but Gordon can (not saying should) play in the IF as well.

My only concern would be Rocco wanting to play him every day causing Wallner to Castro to get buried on the bench.

[mikelink45]

I like Gordon and I think he poses no threat to the current roster now that Gallo was found to have a convenient injury.  No move this year.  Let spring training and the off season determine what happens. 

[Cody Schoenmann]

23 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Uh-huh, but Nick Gordon's way to make the Twins next year will be to be a significantly better hitter than Willi Castro. Castro is younger, faster, more versatile and switch hits. He is hands down the better fit for an occasional starter and fill in around the field. Gordon would have to win a hitting battle with many to get time as a platoon outfielder. There are several second basemen on the roster, so his ability to man that position is of pretty low value. 

Unless the Twins strip away their current outfield depth, Nick has to get past Kepler, Wallner, Larnach, and perhaps Austin Martin. I think Gordon is a major league player and I think he can help a lot of teams. Despite his value not being what it was at the end of '22, I think it is best for him and his current team to part ways after this season. 

I think Castro has already cemented himself as a key member of the 2024 Twins. If Gordon is able to fully heal from his fractured shin, he will probably end up competing with Austin Martin, DaShawn Keirsey Jr., Trevor Larnach, Yunior Severino, or an upcoming off-season free agent signing for the 26th spot on the Twins roster to begin next season. I don't think the Twins should go out of their way to make sure Gordon is on the roster, but, like you said, I think he is an MLB-caliber player who deserves an opportunity. It's possible the Twins and Gordon do part ways, and that may be what ends up being in the best interest of both parties, but until then I don't think it's fair to count him out. 

Edited September 9, 2023 by Cody Schoenmann

[Cody Schoenmann]

14 minutes ago, mnfireman said:

I think Gordon will replace Stevenson, unless Stevenson ends the season on a hot streak. Both play all 3 OF positions, but Gordon can (not saying should) play in the IF as well.

My only concern would be Rocco wanting to play him every day causing Wallner to Castro to get buried on the bench.

I think Gordon for Stevenson is perfect one-for-one swap, but I don't know if he will be able to heal and get enough rehab at-bats to join the team before the end of September. 

[Nine of twelve]

As others have said, Castro has supplanted Gordon and it’s on merit, not by default. Given the current oversupply of left-handed bats in the organization Gordon doesn’t really have a place here any more. When the off-season rolls around there are other players who will be higher priorities for those valuable spots on the 40-man. My hope is to find a trading partner for him but that’s unlikely because everyone knows he’s probably destined to be DFA’d. I think he has a reasonable chance to become an important player somewhere else in 2024. Losing him with nothing in return would be unfortunate but that’s the business of baseball. We have to do what’s best for the organization.

[Cody Schoenmann]

4 minutes ago, Nine of twelve said:

As others have said, Castro has supplanted Gordon and it’s on merit, not by default. Given the current oversupply of left-handed bats in the organization Gordon doesn’t really have a place here any more. When the off-season rolls around there are other players who will be higher priorities for those valuable spots on the 40-man. My hope is to find a trading partner for him but that’s unlikely because everyone knows he’s probably destined to be DFA’d. I think he has a reasonable chance to become an important player somewhere else in 2024. Losing him with nothing in return would be unfortunate but that’s the business of baseball. We have to do what’s best for the organization.

I don't think Gordon is competing with Castro for a roster spot either. I think Castro has already earned the opportunity to be the Twins primary utility player in 2024. That being said, the Twins highly value versatility and that is Gordon's greatest skillset. I think he will be competing for the 26th spot on the Twins' Opening Day roster next season. If Gordon doesn't perform well enough to make it, I could see him getting traded or designated for assignment

Edited September 9, 2023 by Cody Schoenmann

[Nine of twelve]

11 minutes ago, Cody Schoenmann said:

I think Gordon for Stevenson is perfect one-for-one swap, but I don't know if he will be able to heal and get enough rehab at-bats to join the team before the end of September. 

Whether it’s Stevenson or Gordon, when MAT comes back that player will be taken off the active roster. That will probably happen before Gordon is ready anyway. 

[Brandon]

4 hours ago, Cody Schoenmann said:

I think Gallo will spend the rest of the regular season on the IL. 

I bet he comes back for a few games after the Twins clinch as a send off getting a few starts to see if he can hit a potentially career ending homerun to close out the season and likely his MLB career.  

[Brandon]

The answer is clearly to replace Stevenson.  But that won't happen for a week or two, so he does have time to make the decision more interesting.  I don't know if Gordon has enough time to show he is good enough for the post season.  Although he and Castro make good pinch runners in a playoff game if the pitchers are reduced to 11 or 12 for the series but so is Stevenson.  

Luplow is expendable and Gallo should be DFA'd.  I guess this is for the appearance that may appeal to other free agents who may want to sign here which could be why he hasn't been DFA'd or that he can be used defensively in the OF and 1B or as a favor to Boras who we seem to be together at the hip all of a sudden.  (We do lots of favors for Boras.  Keuchel and Gallo.....)

[stringer bell]

If Taylor is healthy, Stevenson has no place on a postseason roster. Adding Gordon this late in the season really makes no sense. 
 

As a last guy on the bench I’d rather add Stevenson anyway. He is faster and better defensively. 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

1 hour ago, Brandon said:

I bet he comes back for a few games after the Twins clinch as a send off getting a few starts to see if he can hit a potentially career ending homerun to close out the season and likely his MLB career.  

If the Twins DFA him, I believe he would get an MLB 1 year minimum make-good deal by Oakland, KC or CWS. His ‘22 was good enough for one of the cellar dwellers to take a flier on him.

[stringer bell]

6 hours ago, Cody Schoenmann said:

I think Gallo will spend the rest of the regular season on the IL. 

 

2 hours ago, Brandon said:

I bet he comes back for a few games after the Twins clinch as a send off getting a few starts to see if he can hit a potentially career ending homerun to close out the season and likely his MLB career.  

 

15 minutes ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

If the Twins DFA him, I believe he would get an MLB 1 year minimum make-good deal by Oakland, KC or CWS. His ‘22 was good enough for one of the cellar dwellers to take a flier on him.

The top two posts were referring to Gallo. Richie was referring to Gordon. I do agree that Nick would get a major league contract if the team did DFA him. Gallo, not so much.

[High heat]

Like many have said he has a 20 day rehab assignment, I also don’t see a fit on this team in 2024 being he will be arbitration eligible, and a worse defender then Castro and hits lefthanded like every other OF option in the organization.  Twins will likely look to trade him this off-season for a bucket of ball or cut him.  
 

Too bad he was another guy who likely was seen as having some good value on the trade market a year ago likely will get very little to nothing for him in the off-season coming off poor performance and a major injury for a fringe defensive  SS 2B CF before. 

[stringer bell]

3 minutes ago, High heat said:

 

Too bad he was another guy who likely was seen as having some good value on the trade market a year ago likely will get very little to nothing for him in the off-season coming off poor performance and a major injury for a fringe defensive  SS 2B CF before. 

I would submit that a problem with Gordon as a utility player is that he's not a shortstop and stretched as a center fielder. His best defensive position is left field and his next best is second base (maybe center field). He hit very well for half a season and if can replicate that he could help the Twins (or another team) in 2024.