Edouard Julien v. Brooks Lee: Whom Should the Twins Trade?

[MinnInPa]

forget it ..neither ..front office already shipped out Steer and Encarnacion for nothing. Dont even consider it ...Polanco is the only choice here ..you dont trade promising stars like these two... unless it was for a proven All star caliber 1 or # 2 pitcher.. not some middle of the pack veteran that might slide in as # 4 # 5. KEEP EM ! trade the likes of K Kings ..Larnach... even Wallner . before these 2. time for this organization to get guys up here that can put the bat on the ball.. so sick and tired of watching the K train against top pitching teams

[Stew]

Niether, they are our future and our present. Stop talking about things that won't happen. The Twins don't trade players when they are at there best . Sano 2019, or Kepler or Polanko. And many others. They hang on till there pay is 10 plusi million dollars. Then struggle to trade them and release them. If we would have offered Sonny gray 3 million more for three years , would he be here. And we still could have traded him to the same team or someone like the Yankees who have a great prospect list to choose from. Every other year the twins are afraid to pull the trigger. This time they use the excuse that we don't have enough money. We currently could spend about 25 million. But we have almost 40 we could lose of payroll. People who have been talked about trading: Polanko, Kepler, Vasquez, farmer, and others 

[Cody Pirkl]

1 hour ago, specialiststeve said:

Easy answer is neither should be dealt unless an ace is involved. 

Polanco is the logical choice and has been identified by most baseball insiders as one of the best trade options out there. With 2 years of reasonable cost, he should be very valuable to teams looking to improve at 2B. 

The timetable on this has been interesting as the majority of MLB sits on their hands. 

Other part of this is there is a VERY good chance that they hold onto Polanco until the trade deadline where teams are always looking for bats. Dangerous part of this is Polanco's injury history... trading at the height of his value before he gets hurt would be the best choice. 

Julian and Lee... Should be staying home. 

Juliian is clearly a GREAT leadoff guy and improved a ton on defense over the year. 

Lee has possible all-star potential... 

For Lee or Julien it would absolutely have to be for a high end starter to part with them.

I think we need to be realistic on Jorge Polanco's trade value. Eugenio Suarez was traded earlier this offseason for a backup catcher and lottery ticket minor league reliever. Suarez has a similar contract to Polanco with team control for 2024 and a team option in 2025 for $3m more. He was basically exactly as valuable as Polanco on a per game basis, except he played all 162 games in 2024, whereas Polanco's injury concerns continue to pop up and he only played in 80.

I think Suarez is going to be the closest trade comp to Polanco we'll see this offseason in terms of an aging infielder with a 2025 team option, and the return he brought was miles away from anywhere close to a high end starting pitcher. It was basically a salary dump by Seattle, and they're likely a worse team for trading him.

[PDX Twin]

2 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

portable wenches

I can't remember ever seeing a wench who wasn't portable... 🙂

[Cody Pirkl]

2 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

Riverbrian should not juggle.

He tried twice and 3 oranges were bruised. 

 

He also has an OPS of around .700 vs LHP in the minors between 2022 and 2023. It's not a knock on him, there are very few LHHs who hit LHP consistently well in baseball history. It's a consideration with Brooks Lee being a switch hitter.

[August J Gloop]

Lee and Julien are both at the trade for all-star level. I don't see how keeping both is any sort of problem. 

The better comps are trade Julien OR Polanco. Trade Kepler OR Wallner.

It speaks to what you're trying to do with the trade. Trade talent and control or reasonable salary and track record. Both have value, but the return is varied. 

I'll bang the drum again. Polo to Seattle for Haniger and Bryan Woo. Net +8 MIL to Twins

Kepler, Gordon + Festa (Might Need 1 more decent prospect)  for J Luzardo and Max Meyer. Or If they don't like any of the prospects enough, then Meyer and Trevor Rodgers for Kepler and Gordon. (Miami needs offense, bad).   Net - 5 to Twins in the Luzardo track, -10 in the non Luzardo result.

Basically they could add some quality young pitching from teams that are in desperate need of some offensive stability. they can do it without taking on too much salary, whuch we know is a priority. 

And they'd likely have enough to sign Hader.

7 minutes ago, Cody Pirkl said:

For Lee or Julien it would absolutely have to be for a high end starter to part with them.

I think we need to be realistic on Jorge Polanco's trade value. Eugenio Suarez was traded earlier this offseason for a backup catcher and lottery ticket minor league reliever. Suarez has a similar contract to Polanco with team control for 2024 and a team option in 2025 for $3m more. He was basically exactly as valuable as Polanco on a per game basis, except he played all 162 games in 2024, whereas Polanco's injury concerns continue to pop up and he only played in 80.

I think Suarez is going to be the closest trade comp to Polanco we'll see this offseason in terms of an aging infielder with a 2025 team option, and the return he brought was miles away from anywhere close to a high end starting pitcher. It was basically a salary dump by Seattle, and they're likely a worse team for trading him.

Suaraez was also a strikeout dump / philosophy change by Jerry DiPito who seems to justify his existence by making a bunch of trades every year. Polo fits their needs that they created. That's why I see an opportunity for the Twins to get in there. 

[EGFTShaw]

2 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

I often hear of these log jams. I have NEVER seen one. Every year... people talk of log jams... I have never seen one. It doesn't matter... there are multiple channels with shows about Bigfoot and they stay on the air due to audience support. 

If an actual log jam actually occurs... it would be a good thing. All teams should strive for log jams. I've never really seen one though. 

Polanco and Julien floating on the same river... what are we going to do? Quickly sound the alarm... everyone come a running... bring axes, chain saws and portable wenches.

Let's get all of those eggs into one basket as quickly as possible. 

 

Sarcasm with a dose of truth on a Friday.

Happy weekend everyone.

I don't see this as an issue that has to be fixed right away.  In fact I am 90% in the camp of keeping both.

EJ - improved a lot, (bar was low to start), in his defensive work at 2nd.

BL - unproven in the Bigs, but I want more the Brooks Lee type players, not fewer. (I'll deny this statement if he Sano-s 😁).

We aren't simply looking at 2024, but 2024, (to Infinity), and beyond.

If I was trading today, I would start with Farmer.  I feel Farmer and Polanco are duplicates at this point with Polanco providing a more dangerous bat and a switch hitter.  (NOTE: I said IF, also I like Farmer)

I would do this before EJ or BL.

[jmlease1]

57 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

I’ve been on the trade Julien’s blah defense, attitude, & strikeouts & keep Lee train…….thinking lately about the # of HR’s - high OBP - improving defense and think they probably need to keep Julien!

What "blah attitude"? He's been perfectly fine, seems like a good due, and dealt with Farmer ragging him all season without losing it and instead just improved in the field. This reminds me of the days when people thought Torii Hunter was better than Joe Mauer because Hunter was "fiery".

I say no to trading either of them; there's no roster issue that says we really need to move one of them right now. I think Polanco is going to get moved, which means there's even less of a roster issue. Julien destroys righties, gets on base a ton and this season I expect him to get unleashed more on the bases. (we'll see if he does better against lefties/gets more run against them) Lee is going to fight his way on to the team sooner rather than later, and that's also just fine. There's plenty of PT at 1B, 2B, 3B and DH for this team to fit Lewis, Julien, Lee, and Kirilloff in (along with maybe Miranda) for the next few seasons while they're all still pretty cheap. Make the decisions when their arbitration numbers start to jump and the team control is running lower.

Not to say they are untouchable; if you get a deal for starting pitching for multiple years it might be worth it. But don't dangle them for anything less than star returns and certainly not for any rentals.

[Riverbrian]

8 minutes ago, Cody Pirkl said:

He also has an OPS of around .700 vs LHP in the minors between 2022 and 2023. It's not a knock on him, there are very few LHHs who hit LHP consistently well in baseball history. It's a consideration with Brooks Lee being a switch hitter.

That's it then... the die has been cast at age 24. 

If that's the case... trade him now. His value will never be higher. 

 

 

[HrbieFan]

I'm going with option 3, don't trade either. Polanco will most likely be better at DH than 2B or 3B going forward, he would be the one I would move as part of a deal for a proven arm. 

[Cody Pirkl]

3 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

That's it then... the die has been cast at age 24. 

If that's the case... trade him now. His value will never be higher. 

 

 

I'm not saying he's doomed to be platooned forever, but his platoon split history is absolutely a consideration the front office will have and is a strike against him when comparing him to a switch hitter. FWIW I'd continue to play him against LHP whenever possible in 2025 and I believe he's still a game changer even if he has to occasionally take a day off with a lefty on the mound.

[joefish]

There is a difference between a log jam and a sweeper. 

[Rod Carews Birthday]

I’m going to dream out loud a little here.  

Keep Julien.  Keep Lee.  Hope that Kiriloff recovers and starts to mash — and trade Kiriloff.  Then you move Julien to first, Lee at second, Correa and Lewis to round out the infield.  

Make an in-season trade of Kiriloff and Polanco/Farmer for pitching.  Certainly will need to liberally add prospects.  . . . . OK.  Back to reality!

I agree with other posters in that I don’t want to trade either Lee or Julien, but am willing to trade either for the right pitcher.  

If forced to decide between the two, I keep Julien.  He has a partial year of MLB experience and has proven himself in it.  I also think that his ceiling is a little bit higher.  Lee is likely to do fine at the MLB level also, but that is less of a sure thing.  I also am of the camp that says Lee will be very solid with the upside of an all-star year or two.  My comp here would be Gary Gaetti - different player but similar career.  I think Julien has that plus the possibility that he could become a more perennial all-star, MVP vote kind of player.  My comp here is a poor man’s Tony Olivia.  He won’t be as good, but that’s his path.  .  . . at least in my dreams!

[Major League Ready]

47 minutes ago, Cody Pirkl said:

He also has an OPS of around .700 vs LHP in the minors between 2022 and 2023. It's not a knock on him, there are very few LHHs who hit LHP consistently well in baseball history. It's a consideration with Brooks Lee being a switch hitter.

Lee had an OPS of .603 against LHP last year.  Julien's was .649 in AAA.

[specialiststeve]

48 minutes ago, Cody Pirkl said:

For Lee or Julien it would absolutely have to be for a high end starter to part with them.

I think we need to be realistic on Jorge Polanco's trade value. Eugenio Suarez was traded earlier this offseason for a backup catcher and lottery ticket minor league reliever. Suarez has a similar contract to Polanco with team control for 2024 and a team option in 2025 for $3m more. He was basically exactly as valuable as Polanco on a per game basis, except he played all 162 games in 2024, whereas Polanco's injury concerns continue to pop up and he only played in 80.

I think Suarez is going to be the closest trade comp to Polanco we'll see this offseason in terms of an aging infielder with a 2025 team option, and the return he brought was miles away from anywhere close to a high end starting pitcher. It was basically a salary dump by Seattle, and they're likely a worse team for trading him.

Suarez? He was terrible the past few years... See Sano. 

Not a good comp. Sorry. 

[Minny505]

Quote

"Julien may not be the butcher in the field many consider him to be."

-Cody Pirkl

Early impressions are hard to buck.

Many baseball fans still think the Rockies stadium inflates HRs beyond belief. (That crown goes to the Reds stadium)

Many fans still believe UCL surgery for pitchers is a coin-flip to return to form. (It's around 85%, IIRC)

Many fans think Jorge Soler is a massively better hitter than Gary Sanchez. (Since the start of 2021, Sanchez trails Soler by only 6 points in OPS+...while playing above-average defense at catcher)

Julien may be a below-average defender at second, just like Polanco, but he is no longer a butcher. After another season, he may even be perfectly average.

[Cody Pirkl]

3 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

Lee had an OPS of .603 against LHP last year. 

Yup, and that's certainly a consideration as well, but the way they're already platooning Julien tells me they don't expect him to overcome that issue. It's also just a better bet to expect the guy capable of hitting right-handed to be able to develop vs LHP than the left-handed hitter.

I'm just playing devil's advocate here and trying to consider how the FO might weigh things. I'll be forthcoming and say I would strongly prefer to keep Julien over Lee if one had to be traded. The success he's shown in the MLB is hard to beat.

[Cody Pirkl]

4 minutes ago, Minny505 said:

Early impressions are hard to buck.

Many baseball fans still think the Rockies stadium inflates HRs beyond belief. (That crown goes to the Reds stadium)

Many fans still believe UCL surgery for pitchers is a coin-flip to return to form. (It's around 85%, IIRC)

Many fans think Jorge Soler is a massively better hitter than Gary Sanchez. (Since the start of 2021, Sanchez trails Soler by only 6 points in OPS+...while playing above-average defense at catcher)

Julien may be a below-average defender at second, just like Polanco, but he is no longer a butcher. After another season, he may even be perfectly average.

Strongly agree. He made a few horrible plays that really stick in our minds. He also made some incredible plays down the stretch at the end of the season, and became more reliable overall. The fact that the Twins have insisted on keeping him there should be enough for fans to trust that he's capable of playing an acceptable 2B.

[Otaknam]

2 hours ago, Karbo said:

IMO everyone pretty much should be available if the price is right. With that being said, I don't see either one of these getting traded this off season. If I was the GM I would look at a package of someone like Martin and AK for a top of the rotation starter. Both can be replaced, and could offer a team some young controllable talent. 

No team will trade a proven top of the rotation starter for Kiriloff and the unproven Martin. If the Twins could do that they should! But it would take a lot more top talent to make that trade. Kiriloff AND Lee or Kiriloff AND Julien might get it done, with maybe a top 20 minor leaguer thrown in. 

[Mike h]

Todays prospects are tomorrows starters.  (sometimes)  Obviously the elite prospects have the best chance, almost guaranteed I'd say.  Those starters-in-waiting are so much more valuable than their fellow minor leaguers.  I would put them on an equal status to players already on the 26 man roster. So when considering a trade proposal, would you give up someone on the 26 man roster, even a starter, if necessary,  instead?  If not, then I wouldn't trade the elite prospect either. So no, I would not trade Julien or Lee. 

Maybe I overvalue the minor leaguers, but I can't help thinking how horrible it would have been if the Twins had traded some of the players who came up in their system and were undoubtedly coveted by other teams. It could have happened, after all they were all unproven at the time, and all still had work to do before they were ML ready, Thank goodness they kept Joe Mayer, Kent Hrbek, Hunter, Puckett, and, well, I could go on.  They may have gotten back a pitcher for one or two years; I don't care who that would been, it wouldn't have been worth it.  So that's how I feel about our top prospects today. 

 

 

[Major League Ready]

7 minutes ago, specialiststeve said:

Suarez? He was terrible the past few years... See Sano. 

Not a good comp. Sorry. 

Suarez produced 7.3 fWAR over the past two years.  Polanco produced 3.3.  Granted, Suarez played 312 games but availability does provide value.  Suarez has also produced 3.9 fWAR or more in 4 seasons.  Polanco has one such season.  I think it's a reasonable comp.  

[Riverbrian]

4 minutes ago, Cody Pirkl said:

I'm not saying he's doomed to be platooned forever, but his platoon split history is absolutely a consideration the front office will have and is a strike against him when comparing him to a switch hitter. FWIW I'd continue to play him against LHP whenever possible in 2025 and I believe he's still a game changer even if he has to occasionally take a day off with a lefty on the mound.

Understood... However... I am saying that HE WILL be doomed to be platooned forever if they continue to platoon him as violently as they did last year. 

First clarification: I love Julien... I'm a huge fan and please understand that I don't mind platooning starts based on the lefty/righty matchup but when he is yanked in the third inning because Joey Wentz enters the game or god forbid yanked before he even gets an AB because the Giants threw a RH opener for the first inning... you are just making the prophecy self fulfilling.

The reason you platoon is for an advantage... you don't platoon because the Right Handed hitter is guaranteed to get a hit while Julien is guaranteed to make an out. Yes the platoon advantage is real but we are talking about an advantage that ranges from slight to large based upon the participants. This guy hits .230 vs. a lefty and this guy hits .200 vs a lefty. Playing that advantage card in the third inning is a violent platoon and it will cap his development at Joc Pederson at best. If we are talking about the end result being Joc Pederson... trade him now to maximize the value you get in return and for the sake of his career. As I say that... I don't want Julien to go anywhere... I think he is a fantastic young hitter. Let him hit.   

Now... if the game is tied in the ninth and Josh Hader is on the mound and you want to bring in Solano for him... that makes sense. Go ahead. Very few would argue. Yanking him with a 5 to 1 lead in the third inning is just sealing his fate and handicapping his career.    

You say 2025... Well what is preparing him for the eventual taking the chains off in 2025? Or worse yet? What is preparing him for the very real possibility that there isn't a right handed compliment for him due to injury in 2024 come playoff time.  What if your right handed complement suffers bi-lateral leg weakness the last week of the season and all of sudden you need Julien to face that big bad lefty in the PLAYOFFS!!! Or Kirilloff or Wallner.

We were really close to needing a regular season starved left handed hitter to face left handers in the playoffs last year with both Correa and Lewis injured at the end of the season. If Correa or Lewis were not able to go in the playoffs you are down two right handed hitters. Now what? Julien, Kirilloff and Wallner were all starved during the regular season. 

I'm not anti-platoon... I am anti absolute strict adherence to the platoon as we demonstrated last year. Development is critical... sitting someone against a perceived weak point is not development. 

48 Plate Appearances is not "for good reason". 

[Greglw3]

Under no circumstances would I trade Eddy Julien. He’s one of the best Twins prospects I’ve ever seen come through the system and I’ve followed since 1964. My comp is Lyman Bostock.

Likewise Wallner is untouchable for me.

And I don’t like trading Brooks Lee either. He may not steal a lot of bases but physique-wise he reminds me of George Brett. 

I’d trade Larnach (who I still think has a chance to be good and I think other teams know it), Kepler, Polanco, maybe Raya or Festa or SWR, even Balazovic. I’d like to sign Rhys Hoskins or even possibly Joey Votto.

I’m bullish on a healthy bounce back for Votto. I’ve always thought the the great ones often play into their 40s and effectively for 2-3 years - Molitor, Winfield, Lebron (soon!), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Pete Rose, Michael Jordan, Nelson Cruz. Kirilloff is a ?.

While watching virtually every inning of Julien’s play, I will agree he was shaky at 2nd base initially but he achieved one of the best in-season improvements in defense I’ve seen in a long time due to (as well documented, his very high work ethic on def. improvement). I think he will be a very solid def. 2nd baseman. All-Star games can be in his future.

[sweetmusicviola16]

Log jams? Lets review our infield just a bit: Lewis, recent and career history of injuries. Correa, recent and career history of injuries. Polanco, recent and career history of injuries. Miranda, recent and career history of injuries. Kiriloff, recent and career history of injuries. Gordon, recent and career history of injuries. That leaves Julien, Farmer and Castro who have more of a history of being healthy. Should we be trading anybody? Absolutely, if it makes us a better team moving forward. Not however to breakup imaginary logjams. 

[Chris Spencer]

Lee and Julian don't play on the same side of the infield, that they are log jammed makes no sense. I would hate to see either of them go. Trade guys that don't have a lots of years of control like Polanco or Farmer if you are worried about numbers. Let the young pitchers develop instead of continuing to trade our young position players away to rent pitchers. 

[Cody Pirkl]

8 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

Understood... However... I am saying that HE WILL be doomed to be platooned forever if they continue to platoon him as violently as they did last year. 

First clarification: I love Julien... I'm a huge fan and please understand that I don't mind platooning starts based on the lefty/righty matchup but when he is yanked in the third inning because Joey Wentz enters the game or god forbid yanked before he even gets an AB because the Giants threw a RH opener for the first inning... you are just making the prophecy self fulfilling.

The reason you platoon is for an advantage... you don't platoon because the Right Handed hitter is guaranteed to get a hit while Julien is guaranteed to make an out. Yes the platoon advantage is real but we are talking about an advantage that ranges from slight to large based upon the participants. This guy hits .230 vs. a lefty and this guy hits .200 vs a lefty. Playing that advantage card in the third inning is a violent platoon and it will cap his development at Joc Pederson at best. If we are talking about the end result being Joc Pederson... trade him now to maximize the value you get in return and for the sake of his career. As I say that... I don't want Julien to go anywhere... I think he is a fantastic young hitter. Let him hit.   

Now... if the game is tied in the ninth and Josh Hader is on the mound and you want to bring in Solano for him... that makes sense. Go ahead. Very few would argue. Yanking him with a 5 to 1 lead in the third inning is just sealing his fate and handicapping his career.    

You say 2025... Well what is preparing him for the eventual taking the chains off in 2025? Or worse yet? What is preparing him for the very real possibility that there isn't a right handed compliment for him due to injury in 2024 come playoff time.  What if your right handed complement suffers bi-lateral leg weakness the last week of the season and all of sudden you need Julien to face that big bad lefty in the PLAYOFFS!!! Or Kirilloff or Wallner.

We were really close to needing a regular season starved left handed hitter to face left handers in the playoffs last year with both Correa and Lewis injured at the end of the season. If Correa or Lewis were not able to go in the playoffs you are down two right handed hitters. Now what? Julien, Kirilloff and Wallner were all starved during the regular season. 

I'm not anti-platoon... I am anti absolute strict adherence to the platoon as we demonstrated last year. Development is critical... sitting someone against a perceived weak point is not development. 

48 Plate Appearances is not "for good reason". 

And I didn't agree with Julien's platooning at all times last season either. The day he started at 2B against an opener and was pulled before he got an AB was downright ridiculous. I will say part of the reason they platooned him as aggressively as they did was because they had a bench with players like Solano and Farmer who gave them a significant upgrade in those matchups. Would it be better to let him take most of those at bats for his development's sake? Probably, but those bench players were on the team for those specific spots.

The 48 PAs he had vs LHP may not be a strong enough sample size to say he needs to be platooned for the rest of his career, but he did struggle exceptionally in those spots, and it is a mark against him especially because that's typically the way those lefty on lefty matchups play out. 

I'm not saying ship him out because he may not hit lefties, but if they view Julien and Lee in a similar light, the switch hitter may have the tie breaker.

[Cris E]

1 hour ago, August J Gloop said:

Kepler, Gordon + Festa (Might Need 1 more decent prospect)  for J Luzardo and Max Meyer. Or If they don't like any of the prospects enough, then Meyer and Trevor Rodgers for Kepler and Gordon. (Miami needs offense, bad).   Net - 5 to Twins in the Luzardo track, -10 in the non Luzardo result.

Har.  Kepler had a hot 12 weeks in the past three years, Gordon's "hot" season was barely league average and he's not an infielder anymore, nor is he young, and Festa has three games above AA ball and is only a 45 grade prospect.  As a 50 grade prospect with a much better track record in the minors Meyer alone is almost worth those three, and Luzardo is miles ahead of him. This is a laughably bad trade even if Kepler was under team control for three more years at a decent cost.   

[Fatbat]

1 hour ago, Cody Pirkl said:

Right now they have Julien and Polanco locked and loaded at 2B to begin 2024. Brooks Lee is in Triple-A, and I'd bet he's putting up numbers that warrant a promotion pretty early into the season. Austin Martin already put up such numbers in St. Paul last season (though he can play the OF). That's four legitimate options for second base, plus Kyle Farmer who can mix in, all either at the MLB level or knocking on the door. If you're looking to trade anyone, that group is the most obvious. 

It also costs something to get something. They're not getting an ace for a package of low level guys. If a team is trading a high end starter, it's to get something of significance in return. A trade calculator and say Brent Headrick, Yasser Mercedes, Jose Miranda, and Connor Prielipp gets you close in value to trading one top prospect, but why would a team have any interest in that return for what is probably one of their best starting pitchers?

I agree with your 4 not getting it done. I don’t think anything will be done before 4/1. I have an idea that Lee is on the MLB roster early enough that the twins get a comp pick for his fast track to MLB. That pick is tradable and it can/will be included in a trade before the allstar break.  An established vet will also be part if the trade along with a Headrick/SWR type pitcher or two.  The timeframe also corresponds to more clarity of the  media deal/revenue issue. 

[Cory Engelhardt]

3 hours ago, BigHurt35 said:

Keep both, they still have upside and are cheap.  Backend SP's are going to cost 15+ Million per year.  Keep the cheap hitters around to spend on pitching.  Hope Correa gets out of his contract to free up some money.  As of now Twins looking like they will be fighting to be in the top 4 of the division as Det and KC will be top dogs this season and Cleveland is still solid.  Twins have taken a big step back not filling any holes and have only made one signing a RP who could miss the season or career is done.  

Imagine thinking that losing Eduardo Rodriguez and bringing in Jack Flaherty and Kenta Maeda jumps your team up and above to the top of a division. And KC, seriously?

[Riverbrian]

24 minutes ago, Cody Pirkl said:

And I didn't agree with Julien's platooning at all times last season either. The day he started at 2B against an opener and was pulled before he got an AB was downright ridiculous. I will say part of the reason they platooned him as aggressively as they did was because they had a bench with players like Solano and Farmer who gave them a significant upgrade in those matchups. Would it be better to let him take most of those at bats for his development's sake? Probably, but those bench players were on the team for those specific spots.

The 48 PAs he had vs LHP may not be a strong enough sample size to say he needs to be platooned for the rest of his career, but he did struggle exceptionally in those spots, and it is a mark against him especially because that's typically the way those lefty on lefty matchups play out. 

I'm not saying ship him out because he may not hit lefties, but if they view Julien and Lee in a similar light, the switch hitter may have the tie breaker.

That you didn't agree... On that we agree. 

I do appreciate your attempt to think like the front office thinks... I try to do that as well. 

The Twins clearly set up the roster for platoon utilization. This was their plan and they are not alone... The Giants and Dodgers are a couple of other teams that platoon at the extreme level of the Twins.

However... in the end. The careful off-season planning of a lefty handcuffed to a righty didn't last long. The opening day roster plans were blown a part before April was done. Solano the off-season planned short side platoon guy ended up with the third most AB's on the team. Castro the 26th guy on the opening day roster was 4th in AB's. Castro got 114 AB's against lefties despite a .636 OPS against those left handers but at least he could swing from the right handed batters box when producing that.

All of these best laid off season plans to have a lefty here and a righty here are blown apart quickly as soon the injury train leaves the station. 

Yet through it all... no matter if takes adding Jordan Luplow to the roster... it was the young left handed hitters with entire futures in front of them who remained punished by strict platooning consistently like the world falls apart if they are allowed to face Sean Manaea.  

Bottom Line: If Julien can hit... he will hit both arms. If he has to protected against lefties. He isn't ready to replace Polanco. If he isn't allowed to face lefties... he will never be an adequate replacement for Polanco.

He will just be some guy who hits better than other role player options.