Who do the Twins Keep Through Arbitration?

[Patzky]

Truly a way must be found to keep a couple glue guys like Farmer. 

[Major League Ready]

Add Castro to the highly likely.  He is a pretty ideal bench player.  Farmer is also likely.  I see the Twins keeping Farmer over Polanco because he fits this roster better than Polanco.  Neither Polanco or Farmer are going to be primary starters.  Farmer has more versatility and he hits LHP better than Polanco.  Plus, Polanco has trade value.  I see them spending the Polanco money on pitching or possibly a RH hitting Ofer.

I would also take an even money bet that Alcala is back.  Gordon would not be overly surprising but my guess is they use him in a trade this winter.  
 

[Mike Sixel]

My thoughts on Gordon are that he has no options, isn't young, and I don't want two backups that are the same guy, neither of which can play SS. You can only have so many players..... You need a guy like Taylor or Martin, you need a guy like Castro or Gordon, you need a power hitting OF, you need a backup SS.... Who would Gordon replace on this years roster? Thinking about position and lack of options...... If he could play SS, yes over Farmer....

[jorgenswest]

56 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

My thoughts on Gordon are that he has no options, isn't young, and I don't want two backups that are the same guy, neither of which can play SS. You can only have so many players..... You need a guy like Taylor or Martin, you need a guy like Castro or Gordon, you need a power hitting OF, you need a backup SS.... Who would Gordon replace on this years roster? Thinking about position and lack of options...... If he could play SS, yes over Farmer....

Gordon’s RAA at SS is 0 and it is 0 at 2B as well as LF. He is only below 0 is center field. Castro has a lot of innings at SS and while below average not dismal. Lewis has a lot of minor league innings at SS. Lee is close to ready. Is that enough to risk letting Farmer and his arb3 go at age 33 where decline at both the bat and glove should be expected?

[RpR]

The only two gents in the Twins Org. who most likely will be playing some where else are Gordon and Miranda.

Not bad  players but not good enough.

[Jim wyllie]

I would definitely agree with everything in the article but would keep Gordon for roster flexibility and possible trade bait if he has a good first half and we need a piece elsewhere at the mid-season trade deadline.  Acala should be considered for retention only if the coaching staff can turn him around 

[Aerodeliria]

On 10/16/2023 at 6:40 AM, Major League Ready said:

Add Castro to the highly likely.  He is a pretty ideal bench player.  Farmer is also likely.  I see the Twins keeping Farmer over Polanco because he fits this roster better than Polanco.  Neither Polanco or Farmer are going to be primary starters.  Farmer has more versatility and he hits LHP better than Polanco.  Plus, Polanco has trade value.  I see them spending the Polanco money on pitching or possibly a RH hitting Ofer.

I would also take an even money bet that Alcala is back.  Gordon would not be overly surprising but my guess is they use him in a trade this winter.  
 

I also think the Twins will shop Polanco. He has a lot of value, but it is getting a bit clogged up on the infield with more infielders on the horizon

[Trov]

I agree with the top 4 getting offers.  I agree with the bottom 3 not getting an offer, save for maybe Gordon because they do like athletic guys that can play all over.  Farmer is the biggest question.  His number is a bit high for someone that will not start and will play mainly against lefties and late inning defense guy for Julien. 

[DJL44]

The money isn't an issue with any of them, they're all underpaid compared to market value. The issue is whether they're worth a roster spot. De Leon is old and injured, so no he isn't worth a roster spot. Luplow is someone who they should upgrade by signing a free agent. Nick Gordon is gone if they pick up Polanco's option. Otherwise they're all going to be offered arbitration and only replaced if they can find someone better.

[2wins87]

14 hours ago, RpR said:

The only two gents in the Twins Org. who most likely will be playing some where else are Gordon and Miranda.

Not bad  players but not good enough.

Miranda has an option year remaining.  No reason not to hold on to him for depth and hope for a rebound in AAA.

[mickster]

On 10/15/2023 at 8:03 AM, tony&rodney said:

The decisions on Farmer (especially) and Gordon are somewhat dependent on if the Twins plan to be aggressive in the trade market. Of course, there would need to be some conversations with teams in the next few weeks. The Twins have until November 17. Perhaps there are a few moves before that deadline. 

If they bring back Castro, which I think is a must, then I would like them to bring back Farmer and let Gordon walk

[Fatbat]

With Castro going into his age 27 season. Would it make sense to sign him to a 3 yr contract With a 4th and 5th yr option to pay him more upfront but be a foreseeable 5 yr bargain? Everyone knows Kep, Polo, Gordon and TL will be dangled as trade chips. Might be several trades between Jan and the deadline late summer.  When you evaluate the farm, there is at least 1 replacement for every position in the next two seasons so it may be best to stock up on the one thing there is never enough of. Pitching. 
 

[Mike Sixel]

19 minutes ago, Fatbat said:

With Castro going into his age 27 season. Would it make sense to sign him to a 3 yr contract With a 4th and 5th yr option to pay him more upfront but be a foreseeable 5 yr bargain? Everyone knows Kep, Polo, Gordon and TL will be dangled as trade chips. Might be several trades between Jan and the deadline late summer.  When you evaluate the farm, there is at least 1 replacement for every position in the next two seasons so it may be best to stock up on the one thing there is never enough of. Pitching. 
 

I don't think "everyone knows" that Kepler is on the trade block. He wasn't last year, and he was better this year. I have no idea about the others, but I'm betting they keep Polanco also. 

[Cap'n Piranha]

On 10/15/2023 at 12:37 PM, stringer bell said:

Yeah and there is a huge gulf between Texas and Baltimore, Philly and Atlanta and Arizona and the Dodgers. The other series show what a crapshoot postseason is. I do think some factors stand out—starting pitchers and power—but really having a healthy roster might be the biggest factor after making the postseason. The Twins need to address their flaws (lack of contact, not enough reliable hitters), but they are fairly well-positioned to compete in October next year and beyond. 

The postseason is a crapshoot, to be sure.  At no point was I arguing that the Twins could never have made the postseason, or had success in it.  My simple argument is that 7 years into the Falvine era, coming off of 2 losing seasons, this season ended up being a good one, not a superlative one as the author described it in the intro to the article.  I was speaking simply in hindsight to what actually happened, not in foresight of what could have happened.

 

I am also fairly bullish on the Twins going forward, but things are going to need to continue progressing; if Falvine thinks they can simply roll the same roster back next year and achieve better results, I think they will be proven wrong.  Just to start, we need more consistent hitters that are not reliant on well-timed homers to score 4 or more runs, more depth in the starting rotation (Festa and SWR as the 6 and 7 makes me nervous), and some additional firepower in the bullpen.  I believe all of that is obtainable, if management is willing to spend money and future assets to do so.

[Fatbat]

17 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

I don't think "everyone knows" that Kepler is on the trade block. He wasn't last year, and he was better this year. I have no idea about the others, but I'm betting they keep Polanco also. 

At some point we have to either extend their contracts or trade them. I would bet that both are on the team in April but not necessarily in September.