Could a Non-Roster Hitter Help the Twins Roster?

[Ted Schwerzler]

The Twins essentially have their lineup and bench spots filled out. Still, there is no doubt they are evaluating all of their talent through the duration of the spring schedule, and an opportunity is likely to present itself at some point during the season. Could one of the non-roster invitees squeak onto the active roster?

Image courtesy of © Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports

As things stand from the outset of spring training, it stands to reason that Kyle Farmer, Willi Castro, and Christian Vazquez have three of the four bench spots locked down for manager Rocco Baldelli. That would mean the Twins have one final opening, and before this week, Trevor Larnach may have been penciled into the role. Unfortunately for him, he doesn’t play centerfield or hit right-handed. Minnesota appeared to have a deficiency in both of those qualities. Then earlier this week came the acquisition of Manuel Margot, a right-handed hitting outfielder fully capable of playing center field. However, if an injury opened a door, there are many in camp ready to pounce. 

It was never likely that the front office would pursue Cody Bellinger, and that became a moot point when CEO Joe Pohlad suggested the franchise was all but done spending. Still, with the team remaining engaged on available players, there's a constant desire to make upgrades. Bringing in Margot after camp started reflects that, and now they'll need everyone healthy in order to go north with a projected roster. If not, is it possible that one of the non-roster guys could squeak in?

There are three names to watch that may fit the bill:

Niko Goodrum
The former Twins prospect has struggled mightily in limited big-league action over the past three years. After a successful two-year stint with the Detroit Tigers during the 2018 and 2019 seasons, he posted just a 68 OPS+ over the past three seasons. That includes just a total of 148 major-league games, but Goodrum’s offensive production tanked, and his utility wasn’t enough to keep running him out there.

Goodrum is much more infielder than an outfielder, and like Castro, he would be miscast in center. However, he’s a switch hitter and has a career .816 OPS against left-handed pitchers. If he can put together a nice spring and flash some of what worked initially when heading to Detroit, it may be a fun story to come full circle.

Michael Helman
A former 11th-round pick by Minnesota, Helman may already be on the 40-man roster had he not missed so much time due to injury last year. His .840 OPS at Double-A Wichita in 2022 earned him a promotion, and he smacked 14 homers in his Triple-A debut. Last year was just a 27-game sample, but Helman put up a .902 OPS and crushed six homers.

Second base has been Helman’s primary home in the minors, but he has played nearly 160 games in the outfield, with over half of them coming in center field. He wouldn’t be a defensive asset close to what Byron Buxton is, but he wouldn’t be far off from Castro either, and the bat may be better. Minnesota keeping Helman in the organization this offseason despite being Rule 5-eligible was nice to see, and he may make a debut at some point this season.

Anthony Prato
A year younger than Helman, Prato will play at 26 years old in 2024. Minnesota took him in the seventh round of the 2019 MLB Draft, and he spent 2023 split between Double and Triple-A. Prato posted a .822 OPS in 2022 at Double-A but started there last year. The Saints needed a healthy player, so after 43 games he was promoted despite a .533 OPS. He responded with a ridiculous .990 OPS in more than 70 games for the Saints to end last season.

Prato doesn’t have a ton of power, but he has hit double-digit home runs each of the past two seasons. He also draws a ton of walks, and his .390 career on-base percentage is reflective of that. Like Helman, Prato has played primarily at second base and at the hot corner on the dirt. He has played a lot in left field the last couple of seasons.

It remains unlikely that any of this trio will crack Minnesota’s opening-day roster. Still, it could be argued that their inclusion at some point would represent strong development from an internal perspective. Each would need an exceptional spring to separate themselves, but it isn’t impossible to believe that could occur either.

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[Doctor Gast]

No way

[Ted Schwerzler]

1 hour ago, Doctor Gast said:

No way

I don't think it's out of the question that Prato or Helman debut at some point this year.

[DocBauer]

I think Goodrum is a longshot. He's behind Lee at this point, and very possibly behind both of Helman and Prato. 

Prato can hit, get OB, run a little, has some pop, and can move around the field.

But Helman has played more OF than Prato, has more overall power I believe, and probably runs at.least as well, if not  better.  And agreed he probably makes his debut in 2023 if not for batting injuries on and off again. But his stat line at AAA was excellent.

So if it's between these 3, that's how I rank them in least to most likely.

[awmonahan]

Prato and Helman sound intriguing. I'm curious how Prato's selectivity would play in the majors. It either works or he doesn't do enough damage to threaten MLB pitchers from throwing in the zone. 

[chpettit19]

If Niko Goodrum spends any real time in Minneapolis this season things have likely gone very poorly for a number of players (either health or performance). Helman and Prato are really nice 3rd or 4th options to have stashed at AAA not on the 40-man at a number of positions. Chances are they aren't good enough to come up and play major innings without the team performance being effected, but they're really solid options to have around. Would be great to see them tear up St Paul and make teams regret not taking them in the Rule 5.

[Doctor Gast]

1 hour ago, Ted Schwerzler said:

I don't think it's out of the question that Prato or Helman debut at some point this year.

I'm sorry Ted, I was pretty blunt. Like you said it's pretty full and Twins don't like to break camp with non-roster players, especially non-pitchers. Many times non-roster players tear it up & greatly outshine their roster counterpart only be sent down to AAA. I don't see these guys tearing it up down there.

I don't think the Twins really need these guys but I see the Twins call them up to give them a taste of MLB

[mikelink45]

Quote

Simple answer - No.  We are building for the post season and none of these players pushes us in that direction.

 

 

[Karbo]

I'm thinking, depending on how Julian and Lee do, a trade is the most likely thing to happen.

[LyleCole]

2 hours ago, awmonahan said:

Prato and Helman sound intriguing. I'm curious how Prato's selectivity would play in the majors. It either works or he doesn't do enough damage to threaten MLB pitchers from throwing in the zone. 

I think a small handful of players improve as the quality of pitching improves, at least in the OBP statistic.  

Prato's best season as a professional baseball player was last season in AAA.  His 990 OPS was 160 points higher than any season on his way up the minor league ladder.  He was a sub-.750 OPS guy in the lowest minor leagues.  Then jumped when he hit A+ through AAA, essentially improving every year.

But then his career shows other flukes too.  Like his .553 OPS to start the 2023 year in AA after his successful 87 game debut in AA in 2022 were he had a .822 OPS.   

It is pure speculation, but I think that small handful improves because as the pitching quality improves, a ball is a ball and a strike a strike (in most cases), while at the lower levels it there is more error to the calls.

[High heat]

None will make the opening day roster.  Injuries though out  the season occur and an injury to Lewis early (before Lee is ready) one would get the call.  If Castro turns into a pumpkin or gets injured Helman can step in and fill his role.  If Farmer goes down I think Helman would be the easy choice to fill his role. 

Does Goodrum have an opt out?  That could change if he is gone or the Twins feel the need to keep him.

 

[Fatbat]

4 hours ago, Karbo said:

I'm thinking, depending on how Julian and Lee do, a trade is the most likely thing to happen.

Why would we trade our best guys away?  We don’t need anything but a #1 pitcher and no one is selling until July and there will be plenty of rentals available…. That our FO sucks at evaluating. 

[Fatbat]

No. nope, NO.

[rwilfong86]

5 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

If Niko Goodrum spends any real time in Minneapolis this season things have likely gone very poorly for a number of players (either health or performance). Helman and Prato are really nice 3rd or 4th options to have stashed at AAA not on the 40-man at a number of positions. Chances are they aren't good enough to come up and play major innings without the team performance being effected, but they're really solid options to have around. Would be great to see them tear up St Paul and make teams regret not taking them in the Rule 5.

This is 100% correct. 

[Karbo]

1 hour ago, Fatbat said:

Why would we trade our best guys away?  We don’t need anything but a #1 pitcher and no one is selling until July and there will be plenty of rentals available…. That our FO sucks at evaluating. 

I am thinking trade after the season.

[JD-TWINS]

19 hours ago, DocBauer said:

I think Goodrum is a longshot. He's behind Lee at this point, and very possibly behind both of Helman and Prato. 

Prato can hit, get OB, run a little, has some pop, and can move around the field.

But Helman has played more OF than Prato, has more overall power I believe, and probably runs at.least as well, if not  better.  And agreed he probably makes his debut in 2023 if not for batting injuries on and off again. But his stat line at AAA was excellent.

So if it's between these 3, that's how I rank them in least to most likely.

Where’s Martin in the mix…….he was the 13th guy 2 weeks ago on many TD generated rosters?

[JD-TWINS]

15 hours ago, High heat said:

None will make the opening day roster.  Injuries though out  the season occur and an injury to Lewis early (before Lee is ready) one would get the call.  If Castro turns into a pumpkin or gets injured Helman can step in and fill his role.  If Farmer goes down I think Helman would be the easy choice to fill his role. 

Does Goodrum have an opt out?  That could change if he is gone or the Twins feel the need to keep him.

 

Did Martin get hurt? He’s been 12th - 13th roster spot or next man up from AAA for 4 months.

Nikko Goodrum is such a long shot that I cannot think of a scenario where he’s on the Team.

To me, Martin - Larnach & then this discussion of other depth starts. inclusive of Keirsey.

[John Belinski]

I think Lee is a better choice than either of these 3 players and will be called up sometimes during this season. Young players are the future for the Twins and it seems they have some young players that will help them win games for many years in the future.

[jmlease1]

I feel like it's going to take a significant injury to have a non-roster hitter make much of an impact, if any. Guys like Larnach, Martin, Camargo, and Severino are well-positioned to step in for the short-term dings players pick up during the season, and we having even mentioned Brooks Lee who will likely be pushing for a chance. Martin (and Lee) also has a lot of positional flexibility, which limits the opportunities that someone like Helman might normally get a shot at.

For Goodrum, Prato, or Helman to even have a chance to make a significant contribution will likely require not just one substantial injury but a second one at a similar position. The 40-man has tightened up with the season approaching, so without players moving on to the 60-day IL there's just not a lot of room and it seems like a lot of room at the back will be grabbed by pitchers.

Pleased to have this kind of depth in AAA...but honestly I'm hoping not to see these guys at Target Field.

[High heat]

56 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Did Martin get hurt? He’s been 12th - 13th roster spot or next man up from AAA for 4 months.

Nikko Goodrum is such a long shot that I cannot think of a scenario where he’s on the Team.

To me, Martin - Larnach & then this discussion of other depth starts. inclusive of Keirsey.

I don’t think Martin is an option at SS and 3B. When Lee and Martin get called up I think they want them playing everyday.

 

If you need someone to play the same role as Castro or even Margot that’s where they would fit in on a less then everyday playing time piece.

[saviking]

Not likely. 

[stringer bell]

Since Margot was acquired, Austin Martin has played second base in two games, none in the OF IIRC. Martin's path to the majors has changed with one acquisition. If someone gets injured, it might change again.

[dxpavelka]

A year ago I viewed Castro as another Kyle Garlick / Robbie Grossman type.  A guy that you look at after the season and realize that if you go into the following season counting on him you're probably in for another disappointment.  He proved me wrong.  Maybe Goodrum will do the same.

 

[bean5302]

4 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

Where’s Martin in the mix…….he was the 13th guy 2 weeks ago on many TD generated rosters?

Martin is on the 40 man roster. Same spot as Miranda so neither of those guys would be non-roster guys sneaking onto the 26 man.

[Oldgoat_MN]

If these guys can tear up AAA they could become very valuable trade chips at the deadline. 

Unlikely roster additions here, given our depth of IFs.

[bean5302]

I think Prato has the best shot of sneaking onto the roster, but that chance is like 0.5%. There's so much depth right now as Falvey has built up another giant logjam blocking prospects with cheap high floor guys.

This front office feels like it's quick to write a player off, and once done, the chances of that player getting a fresh look and a shot are astronomical. For that reason, Helman (near a28) and Goodrum seem like no chance type of guys. Though both of those players would likely come with low ceilings so they'd be easy to DFA once added to the roster. 

Prato's got a good bat, certainly better than what some people give him credit for, and he's got good speed, though the Twins never looked at him in CF and had him as a 3B/2B player almost exclusively. While his start in AA last year was awful, it came with an impossibly poor .217 BABIP. Prato has been a wRC+ 125ish guy through his last few stops and years, and if he manages to recognize MLB pitches, he'll likely carry a very high OBP thanks to plate discipline and being a line drive type of guy who uses the whole field. That said, looking at his batted ball data does show one obvious Perkins restaurant sized giant red flag, and that's his pop-up rate. Batted ball data in the minors is tough to rely upon, though. It's worth noting the Twins left him off the 40 man and exposed him to the rule 5 draft despite that .990 OPS and solid defense in St. Paul last year. 

Injuries are the only way these guys would get consideration for a spot on the roster, and even if they did make the roster, I suspect Baldelli would deploy them on an emergency use basis only.

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, dxpavelka said:

A year ago I viewed Castro as another Kyle Garlick / Robbie Grossman type.  A guy that you look at after the season and realize that if you go into the following season counting on him you're probably in for another disappointment.  He proved me wrong.  Maybe Goodrum will do the same.

Castro has the defensive chops that Goodrum totally lacks.  Niko would have to suddenly start hitting like a first baseman to have any value at all, and he's got enough of a track record at the plate by now to make that a massive longshot.  I don't see a role for him on a contending team.

[JD-TWINS]

4 hours ago, High heat said:

I don’t think Martin is an option at SS and 3B. When Lee and Martin get called up I think they want them playing everyday.

 

If you need someone to play the same role as Castro or even Margot that’s where they would fit in on a less then everyday playing time piece.

My assumption is they’ll bring up the next best player in any injury scenario that can, obviously, fill out the defensive need. Martin was a first round draft pick at SS so I think he’s ahead of Hellman in the pecking order, even if he plays all OF & Castro moves into an infield centered role. If Castro goes down, Martin is essentially his defensive clone.

[Rosterman]

The Twins have decent minor league depth at all positions. And the goodness is that they are pretty much just prospects developed by the Twins. They have signed just north of a dozen minor league free agents, a very small number, this season!

Of course, you still need a 40-man roster spot, and even though I can see 12-14 names THAT MIGHT NOT be on the 40-man come next November, there is only one, at best two, that could be jettisoned, if no one moves to the 60-day.

[dxpavelka]

4 hours ago, ashbury said:

Castro has the defensive chops that Goodrum totally lacks.  Niko would have to suddenly start hitting like a first baseman to have any value at all, and he's got enough of a track record at the plate by now to make that a massive longshot.  I don't see a role for him on a contending team.

Garlick / Grossman