Twins Sign Tony Kemp to Minor-League Deal

[Theodore Tollefson]

The Minnesota Twins made a move to bolster their upper-level organizational infield depth Tuesday, signing veteran infielder Tony Kemp to a minor-league deal.

Image courtesy of © Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The Twins added depth to their Triple-A roster by signing infielder Tony Kemp to a minor-league deal Tuesday morning. Jon Heyman of the New York Post first reported on Twitter that the nine-year veteran would be joining the team. In a bit of semi-serendipity, Kemp was available because he'd been cut to make room for Orioles wünderkind Jackson Holliday, and the Twins scooped him up while in Baltimore to face Holliday and company.

Kemp, 32, is joining his third organization for the 2024 season, as he signed with the Cincinnati Reds on February 24 and was released by them later in Spring Training, on March 19. A week later, he caught on with the Baltimore Orioles, made their Opening Day roster, and played in five games with the A.L. East favorites, going 0-for-9 at the plate.

Kemp, a lefty batter, spent the previous four seasons with the Oakland Athletics, becoming one of the better-known names in a dismal franchise where ownership is leaving everyone behind. His best season came in 2021, when he had a carer-best triple slash of .279/.382/.418.

While it has yet to be confirmed, Kemp is most likely to join the St. Paul Saints on their six-game road trip to Indianapolis this week. The Saints are depleted in the outfield, having only two outfielders on their active roster. Kemp has played left field and second base for the majority of his career, appearing in left 65 times last season with the A’s and 57 times at second base. 

His offensive numbers saw a decline in 2023, but Kemp’s strike-zone judgment remains on par with some of the league’s best hitters. Per Baseball Savant, his 13.6% whiff rate and 10% strikeout rate were among the lowest in baseball, as he punched out only 40 times in 419 plate appearances, which would have been the lowest (by 11%) on the 2023 Twins for players with at least that much playing time.

Max Kepler had the lowest strikeout rate on the Twins with a minimum of 400 plate appearances in 2023, at 21.6%.

Major-league clubs still see talent in Kemp, although he's nearing the end of his run in MLB. If all goes in his favor, he could still be a part of the team and serve a strong role like Tim Beckham in 2022 or Jordan Luplow last season. For now, he will start his Twins tenure in Triple-A and serve as another mentor for the younger players itching to get their first crack in the majors. Kemp is one of the most beloved clubhouse guys in baseball, checking another important box for this character-conscious front office.

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[weneedneshek]

Nothing wrong with some minor league depth, just sucks we've reached this point with injuries 2.5 weeks into the season

[Jocko87]

Isn't he just a better, more experienced version of Nick Gordon? Except that he can actually play 2B. 

Full circle.

[D.C Twins]

Yaaaaaaaawwwwwwnnnnnnn....

[Dave Overlund]

Rochester Honkers legend Tony Kemp

[Hubie29]

Now we go!

[nicksaviking]

55 minutes ago, weneedneshek said:

Nothing wrong with some minor league depth, just sucks we've reached this point with injuries 2.5 weeks into the season

Nothing wrong, but who's getting the boot in St. Paul? Not sure that I see a hitter there that I'd want to replace with Kemp. Tanner Morris I suppose?

It's not a big deal, but this signing should be pointless. If the team gets to the point where they actually need someone like Kemp, there's zero reason why you wouldn't just call up Prato/Williams/Helman or any of the other similar players instead.

 

[weneedneshek]

7 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Nothing wrong, but who's getting the boot in St. Paul? Not sure that I see a hitter there that I'd want to replace with Kemp. Tanner Morris I suppose?

It's not a big deal, but this signing should be pointless. If the team gets to the point where they actually need someone like Kemp, there's zero reason why you wouldn't just call up Prato/Williams/Helman or any of the other similar players instead.

 

Agreed, I'm actually very unfamiliar with how rosters work in the minors. Is whoever gets booted just sent to AA? Hopefully we don't have to release any sort of prospect with even minimal value

[Mike Sixel]

9 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Nothing wrong, but who's getting the boot in St. Paul? Not sure that I see a hitter there that I'd want to replace with Kemp. Tanner Morris I suppose?

It's not a big deal, but this signing should be pointless. If the team gets to the point where they actually need someone like Kemp, there's zero reason why you wouldn't just call up Prato/Williams/Helman or any of the other similar players instead.

 

Maybe they will call up one of those guys and need Kemp to replace them? Not that this veteran loving FO would do that...

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Would anyone be shocked if Martin hits the wall or starts to struggle that the Twins bring up Kemp...

[Mike Sixel]

3 minutes ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

Would anyone be shocked if Martin hits the wall or starts to struggle that the Twins bring up Kemp...

No. Alas. Except Martin is playing OF, so yes?

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

4 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

No. Alas. Except Martin is playing OF, so yes?

Nothing would surprised me with this team.

[Blyleven2011]

They reduced the major league payroll so they would have enough money for the minor league contracts ,,  hahaha ....

Seriously  Kemp was a pesky player for some years and I liked what I saw , however the past few years I haven't followed him as close so not sure what we are getting  , I'm sure he signed a time line to be called up or he becomes a free agent once again  ...

[DocBauer]

They need ballplayers to have a full roster in St Paul. Helman is out. Camargo and Martin were both brought up. The injuries aren't just at the ML level. But when they are, it affects the lower level(s) as well. They need healthy bodies right now.

[chpettit19]

46 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

No. Alas. Except Martin is playing OF, so yes?

Kemp can play LF. If they're comfortable with Margot in CF (which they better be since they traded for him for that exact reason) a Martin for Kemp swap wouldn't really be surprising at all.

[nicksaviking]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

Maybe they will call up one of those guys and need Kemp to replace them? Not that this veteran loving FO would do that...

Right, see Andrew Stevenson who gat 40 PA last year when Martin or Keirsey couldn't have possibly been any worse.

[RpR]

27 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Kemp can play LF. If they're comfortable with Margot in CF (which they better be since they traded for him for that exact reason) a Martin for Kemp swap wouldn't really be surprising at all.

Looking at his numbers, they did not sign him for his fielding skills.

[RpR]

5 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Right, see Andrew Stevenson who gat 40 PA last year when Martin or Keirsey couldn't have possibly been any worse.

Speed Stevenson was quite fleet footed, plus he was doing Very well in AAA, at the time.

[mikelink45]

I am not moved by this move.  It is a so what signing and I am fine with it.  Since he first signed with Cincinnati I thought I would share this report on Cincinnati from the Athletic team ratings:

The Reds are flush with young, exciting talent, but no one is standing out as much as Spencer Steer. Before games on Monday, the left-fielder led the Reds in hits (18) and RBIs (18) and nearly three weeks into the season, he still has an OPS that is four digits long.

Steer’s bat has come up big numerous times for the Reds already this season, but his glove is getting it done, too, including on a sliding catch against the White Sox over the weekend. And, as our C. Trent Rosecrans pointed out, Steer and his fellow Reds outfielders have been the best defensive outfield in the majors to start the season, according to Sports Info Solutions. — McGrath

[Mike Sixel]

49 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

I am not moved by this move.  It is a so what signing and I am fine with it.  Since he first signed with Cincinnati I thought I would share this report on Cincinnati from the Athletic team ratings:

The Reds are flush with young, exciting talent, but no one is standing out as much as Spencer Steer. Before games on Monday, the left-fielder led the Reds in hits (18) and RBIs (18) and nearly three weeks into the season, he still has an OPS that is four digits long.

Steer’s bat has come up big numerous times for the Reds already this season, but his glove is getting it done, too, including on a sliding catch against the White Sox over the weekend. And, as our C. Trent Rosecrans pointed out, Steer and his fellow Reds outfielders have been the best defensive outfield in the majors to start the season, according to Sports Info Solutions. — McGrath

We just going to litigate this in every thread now?

[Patzky]

28 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

We just going to litigate this in every thread now?

Tell me the tale of David Ortiz..

[Danchat]

Ah, Tim Beckham... that time when he hit .400 at AAA so they called him up... and then hit .080 and is out of baseball. 

3 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Right, see Andrew Stevenson who gat 40 PA last year when Martin or Keirsey couldn't have possibly been any worse.

I'm with you on Martin, though with Keirsey they probably like him enough to not want to risk DFA'ing him after the season.

[jkcarew]

With Brooks Lee due back in a couple of weeks? Supposedly. Interesting.

[Parfigliano]

5 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Nothing wrong, but who's getting the boot in St. Paul? Not sure that I see a hitter there that I'd want to replace with Kemp. Tanner Morris I suppose?

It's not a big deal, but this signing should be pointless. If the team gets to the point where they actually need someone like Kemp, there's zero reason why you wouldn't just call up Prato/Williams/Helman or any of the other similar players instead.

 

But Kemp has seasoned vet mojo

[Parfigliano]

2 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

I am not moved by this move.  It is a so what signing and I am fine with it.  Since he first signed with Cincinnati I thought I would share this report on Cincinnati from the Athletic team ratings:

The Reds are flush with young, exciting talent, but no one is standing out as much as Spencer Steer. Before games on Monday, the left-fielder led the Reds in hits (18) and RBIs (18) and nearly three weeks into the season, he still has an OPS that is four digits long.

Steer’s bat has come up big numerous times for the Reds already this season, but his glove is getting it done, too, including on a sliding catch against the White Sox over the weekend. And, as our C. Trent Rosecrans pointed out, Steer and his fellow Reds outfielders have been the best defensive outfield in the majors to start the season, according to Sports Info Solutions. — McGrath

Good for Steer

[nicksaviking]

2 hours ago, Parfigliano said:

But Kemp has seasoned vet mojo

Yeah, that's winning the team so many ballgames in recent years. 

It's frustrating. This 'vet leadership' should be able to filled by coaches and advisors, who the team can pay exponentially less. Yes, even less than league minimum vets get paid.

[mikelink45]

5 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

We just going to litigate this in every thread now?

yes