Correa, Durán and Topa all nearing activation. Who stays and who goes?

[stringer bell]

Reports have been made that Jhoan Durán and Carlos Correa are close to activation, probably while the Twins are in Chicago. The club is on a seven-game winning streak, but someone will have to go to make room for those two stars. Additionally, Justin Topa is pretty close to being activated, so another pitcher would have to be put on IL or sent down, Options figure in, as well. 

While it might not be fair, I expect Kody Funderburk to be optioned when Durán is activated. There are three left handers in the bullpen and Thielbar and Okert can't be optioned. The corresponding move for a Correa activation is a tough one. In terms of contribution, I think Margot should go, but he can't be optioned and the Twins wouldn't want to give up on him in April. In the end, I think Austin Martin draws the short straw. Willi Castro can play the positions that Martin plays and he will be freed from playing shortstop when Correa is activated. Jose Miranda had a nice series in Los Angeles and his hitting stats look pretty good right now. Finally, if Topa is activated within the week, I think the Twins will try to DFA Bowman. Bowman has looked pretty good so far, but did wobble in a high-leverage situation against the Angels on Friday. I think there is a chance that he gets through the DFA process and makes it back to St. Paul.

The other thing that can happen is an injury. Julien seemed to get nicked yesterday and I'm sure a bunch of players have nagging injuries that could be disabling when the Twins need the roster space. If anyone has an opposing opinion, please post and show your reason.

[Major League Ready]

I have been wondering the same thing.  All of these points seem likely.  I think the wildcard could be them sending down Sands to stretch him out.  On one hand, Sands finally looks like he can be a contributor.  On the other hand, we are very deep in RPs and it would be really valuable if Sands turns into a decent SP.  I am warming up to the idea of giving Sands a shot as a SP.

[Linus]

I think you nailed it. I’ve enjoyed watching Martin - he adds something to the lineup. 

[DJL44]

5 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

The other thing that can happen is an injury. Julien seemed to get nicked yesterday and I'm sure a bunch of players have nagging injuries that could be disabling when the Twins need the roster space. If anyone has an opposing opinion, please post and show your reason.

I am hoping Kyle Farmer has been playing through an injury which would partly explain his struggles to date.

I think the pitchers would be back already if they were desperate for relievers. They should wait it out with Topa to see if someone else gets hurt before they have to bring him back. Topa has an option if they need to use it. If not, it's probably Bowman.

[nicksaviking]

The Twins built up lots of relief pitching depth, with both guys who were and were not on the 40 man roster. What was the point of getting all of those non-40 man arms if they aren't willing to DFA some of the 40-man arms?

Sorry, Funderburk is the only good lefty in the pen now, make the 'tough' decision on somebody else. Both Okert and Jackson have seen velocity declines and Jackson in particular seems very flash-in-the-pan type. He's constantly putting guys on base, this isn't a high ceiling loss risk.

You can pick up a guy like Okert or Jackson via waiver or cash-consideration trade later if needed, just start ripping the band aids on these guys now instead of demoting the guys who are actually contributing.

[Dman]

I think that sounds about right.  I am not sure they give up on Bowman.  I know he is 32 and has been average at best in his career so far, but is off to a good start this year.  Zero runs allowed at AAA and solid numbers at the MLB level.  Yeah the 4 walks are concerning but he has only given up 2 hits in 7 innings work at the MLB level that I see,  With a .78 WHIP I don't see him making it through waivers. I have to believe they run with his arm until the numbers look worse.  On the other hand with so many arms to choose from maybe they don't care if they lose Bowman or not.  I just don't see him clearing waivers after the hot start.  Looking at the 40 man again they have no choice but to move Bowman

I am not a huge Martin fan and while his OPS is lower than I would like. He takes really good at bats. His K rate is only 20% and his numbers at the MLB level aren't all that different from AAA.  He just hasn't walked as much at the MLB level and hasn;t hit quite as well which is to be expected.  Still for getting your feet wet he doesn't look lost at this level.  I believe his OPS is higher than Nick Gorden's is as well so he has done fine as his replacement. I would hate to see him sent down, but can understand if the Twins would prefer the heavier bat Miranda brings.

[Mike Sixel]

Seriously, keep the best players in Minnesota. Funderbunk is one of the best, keep him here. This idea that's it's better to play worse players so you have depth is silly. Is the goal to win, or not?

I would rather have martin than Margot all day every day, but they won't do that. 

Twins will literally weaken the team to have depth. 

[JD-TWINS]

Thielbar needs to start locking situations down when he comes in or, at 37, may be odd man out sooner than later. His Twin’s connection/history will buy him more time than a guy may normally get. Not going anywhere until June at earliest.

Okert seems to be a longer term view acquisition. Jackson could be a trade piece in July if he is just average the next 60 days.

Youth/options point to Funderburk being the choice to go down. Bowman will get DFA’d……maybe after his next outing sometime in Chicago this week.

13 position players:

Farmer - Correa - Julien - Santana - Kirilloff

Castro - Buxton - Kepler - Larnach - Margot

Jeffers - Vazquez

(Long-term, LEWIS) ………..now, Martin or Miranda……….Miranda as a choice at 3B & 1B & DH…..3 hits Sunday and has small sample BA up to around .300. Assuming, Martin goes down so he can play regularly as Castro will start splitting time in OF & 3B once Correa is back.

[Jocko87]

35 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

I have been wondering the same thing.  All of these points seem likely.  I think the wildcard could be them sending down Sands to stretch him out.  On one hand, Sands finally looks like he can be a contributor.  On the other hand, we are very deep in RPs and it would be really valuable if Sands turns into a decent SP.  I am warming up to the idea of giving Sands a shot as a SP.

I'm starting to think this is part of the reliever collection in the offseason.  Sands isn't the traditional failed starter model, he was just the sacrificial long guy who would have never cracked the rotation last year.  Falvey's comments come as close to confirming it as he will ever say.  I expect him to go as one of the three moves coming.

I think an injury is the next move.  I still think Farmer is dealing with something and there is no telling who has been less than 100% to get through the lean times. 

Miranda goes over Martin depending on who the injury might be.  Less flexibility, less future plans, less current performance.  I'd also keep Miranda at AAA as much as possible as the best way to push up his trade stock. 

[Road trip]

Difficult decisions, for certain.

I suspect it might be Miranda who goes down instead of Martin.  With Correa at SS that kind of creates an excess of infielders if they keep Miranda up.  We know Buxton is going to need regular days off and management seems to prefer Martin as the primary backup CF... because it appears Margot has lost something defensively.

[Jocko87]

6 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Twins will literally weaken the team to have depth. 

Umm, sir.  The depth just won seven in a row? 

[Riverbrian]

I'll bet that Martin stays up while Miranda goes down for Correa unless there is an issue with Julien. 

Castro slides to 3B... Farmer and Julien platoon 2B. 

Bullpen... No idea. 

[wabene]

Martin has been scuffling after a good start. He needs a reset and adjustment. He'll be back.

Sands looked amazing yesterday hitting 97!? What is going on? Baldelli said he is establishing himself as a major leaguer. Do they mess with that and stretch him out?

[nicksaviking]

21 minutes ago, Jocko87 said:

Umm, sir.  The depth just won seven in a row? 

I think the depth additions were responsible for the early season losses. The system players seem to be carrying the team at the moment.

[Mike Sixel]

24 minutes ago, Jocko87 said:

Umm, sir.  The depth just won seven in a row? 

 how much did Margot contribute to those vs Martin?

[nicksaviking]

2 minutes ago, wabene said:

Martin has been scuffling after a good start. He needs a reset and adjustment. He'll be back.

Sands looked amazing yesterday hitting 97!? What is going on? Baldelli said he is establishing himself as a major leaguer. Do they mess with that and stretch him out?

I would not. This looks pretty similar to Jax and Rogers and Duffey and May.

If anything, I think this just shows to keep doing this with the fringe, back-end starting pitchers in the system.

[Mike Sixel]

2 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

I think the depth additions were responsible for the early season losses. The system players seem to be carrying the team at the moment.

Correct. 

[Mike Sixel]

Just now, nicksaviking said:

I would not. This looks pretty similar to Jax and Rogers and Duffey and May.

If anything, I think this just shows to keep doing this with the fringe, back-end starting pitchers in the system.

Correct. This seems so obvious,I don't get why they don't do it faster. Back end starters are way more valuable as really good RPs. 

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

What I'd like to see..

1. Caleb Thielbar 

2. Jay Jackson

3. Manuel Margot

 

What will likely happen...

1. Kody Funderburk

2. Dan Bowman

3. Jose Miranda

[jorgenswest]

Is the intention of the post to guess what moves the Twins will make or state an opinion on what the moves they should make? I have no interest in guessing what they will do. I will find out soon enough but I do have thoughts on what I would do.

On the pitching side Bowman is DFA’d first. He hasn’t pitched well. Everything is an illusion thanks to a .056 BABIP. His ERA estimators are all in the 5s. I would give Topa the full rehab time and see how Woods Richardson is doing. They may want to get Sands stretched out as a starter if he isn’t doing well.

On the hitting side I would like to take away one of the short side platoon bats that tempt Rocco to make so many in game changes. Let Julien or Larnach play against left handed pitching and remove the temptation of Farmer or Margot. I also think they need to give Miranda more playing time at the major league level. He has a 135 wRC+ and is on the bench against right handed pitching with Farmer starting.

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

2 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

I would not. This looks pretty similar to Jax and Rogers and Duffey and May.

If anything, I think this just shows to keep doing this with the fringe, back-end starting pitchers in the system.

Yeah, I'm not sure why people want to stretch out Sands. His current role is the best spot for him and most helpful to the Twins.

[Jocko87]

2 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

 how much did Margot contribute to those vs Martin?

Depth doesn't have a name.

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

I think Thielbar is washed. I know its still early, but it just looks like his stuff isn't there at all anymore. This race is going to go into September, IYAM and if Thielbar's pitching now and costing the Twins' games, they'll loom just as large when the season's over. But, between his history with the organization and standing in the clubhouse, I'd be shocked if they let him go.

Never understood or liked the Jackson signing. Would have just preferred for them to give Alcala the opportunity and let him run with it. But the front office isn't likely to admit the mistake so early on in the season.

And that's the same with Margot. DFA him and keep Miranda and Martin up with the big club. But again, admitting mistakes in April / May - doesn't seem to the MO of this front office. In fairness, the Twins aren't alone in holding onto vets for too long.

[Mike Sixel]

5 minutes ago, Jocko87 said:

Depth doesn't have a name.

I literally mentioned them by name..... Isn't that the goal of this thread, to name who stays and goes?

[USAFChief]

I'd DFA Bowman as the move when Duran returns. Easily the worst current reliever. Figure out who goes for Topa when he's ready. Jackson probably. I think Topa has an option so there's no need to bring him up at all, other than perhaps face saving.

I think Miranda goes for Correa. Zero chance they cut bait on Farmer, and Martin seems to be the CFer of choice when Buxton sits. There's also zero chance they give up on Margot at this point. Again...save face.

[cheeseheadgophfan]

IMO Thielbar isn't going anywhere because he's a Rocco guy.....Funderburk may be better but he probably goes. 

Sending Miranda down makes no sense....he should be hitting here everyday, either at 3b, 1b, or DH'ing.  They're going to keep Margot too, probably because of the 4 million they're paying him.   I think they send Martin down to make sure he's playing everyday.  I like the AB's he takes and he love his speed in terms of base-stealing, but he probably goes in a numbers crunch. 

Alcala and Topa should be up.  Jackson and Bowman are dime a dozen arms.

 

[SD happy]

I think the two pitchers wil be Jackson and Funderburk. It just feels like Jackson is the last resort in the pen right now.  Miranda’s good series in CA may have saved him. I think it will be Martin going down.

[4twinsJA]

  I have no problem with Martin going down, was good first exposure to MLB. He needs everyday ABs and has a few things to work on. He will be back. 

Pitching, I agree with above posts on Theilbar, don't have a lot of confidence in him presently, but he is likely safe. Most likely Funderburk and Bowman. Funderburk will be back also.

[jorgenswest]

30 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

I'd DFA Bowman as the move when Duran returns. Easily the worst current reliever. Figure out who goes for Topa when he's ready. Jackson probably. I think Topa has an option so there's no need to bring him up at all, other than perhaps face saving.

I think Miranda goes for Correa. Zero chance they cut bait on Farmer, and Martin seems to be the CFer of choice when Buxton sits. There's also zero chance they give up on Margot at this point. Again...save face.

Is sending Miranda what you would do?

[Road trip]

11 minutes ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

And that's the same with Margot. DFA him and keep Miranda and Martin up with the big club. But again, admitting mistakes in April / May - doesn't seem to the MO of this front office. In fairness, the Twins aren't alone in holding onto vets for too long.

Increasingly, I don't understand a reason to keep Margot.  I was pretty skeptical when the Twins acquired him and he has shown nothing since getting here.

Margot had value when he could play CF and steal some bases.  Both of those skills seem to be gone... no surprise, he'll turn 30 later this year and is a pretty big guy (no way does he still weigh in at 180 lbs like he's listed).  It appears he's now a below average hitting corner outfielder.  Those are a dime a dozen, if you want to pay anything at all.  He was supposed to be a lefty masher, but he hasn't even done that effectively since 2022.

His tenure with the Twins is very short... he's going to get paid by the Dodgers regardless...  trade him, designate him, do whatever with him, because he doesn't appear to have a skill set we can use.  I'd rather keep Miranda and Martin.  Miranda will likely hit better, Martin has positional flexibility and speed.  Margot might even accept a minor league assignment as I don't know that there is a MLB team that would give him a roster spot.