Kyle Farmer’s Duties Are Dwindling, and the Clock is Ticking

[Greggory Masterson]

As Kyle Farmer’s struggles have dragged on, he’s being asked to do less and less. It doesn’t bode well for the veteran infielder, with younger and more promising infielders nearing a return to the roster.

Image courtesy of © Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle Farmer had the best year of his career in 2023. As the primary backup infielder, he was a league-average hitter who filled in at shortstop, second base, and third base for prolonged stretches. He was also the other half of rookie Edouard Julien, subbing for him against lefties and ending games as a defensive replacement—both facets of the game Julien struggled with.

Twins brass was hopeful that he’d fill a similar role in 2024, as they signed him to a contract with a mutual option for 2025 that guaranteed him $6.5 million this year. Unfortunately, no part of the run-it-back plan has worked out.

In 2023, Farmer had three distinct duties that made up his role:

1. Be the top reserve at second base, third base, and shortstop;
2. Platoon with Julien (or Nick Gordon) as a starter or pinch-hitter; and 
3. Be a late-inning defensive replacement at second.

Over the first third of this season, that role has slowly been reduced. The first indication came after Royce Lewis’s Opening Day injury. With third base open, the Twins turned to Willi Castro over Farmer. Farmer didn’t start a game at third base until the fifth game of the season and started only two games at third in the team's first 10 games.

Then, Carlos Correa was placed on the injured list in mid-April. Farmer—traded for to be the starting shortstop ahead of 2023—was forced into everyday action at... third base. The Twins slid Castro over to shortstop, a position at which many question Castro’s efficacy. During Correa’s 16-game absence, Farmer started 10 games—seven at third, two at second, and just one at shortstop.

Castro getting the nod over him at third made some sense—Castro has the better bat, and a team can reasonably opt for more offense, especially when trying to fill the hole left by Lewis. But when both third base and shortstop were vacant, and Farmer primarily slotted in at third, that seemed to speak to how the Twins view his glove. But surely they still trust him over notorious butcher Julien at second?

Not so fast, partner. Julien must have spent his winter working with Ozzie Smith, because he’s improved his defense by leaps and bounds. The former surefire candidate for a move to either first base or DH is grading out pretty well by the eye test and elite by the statistics (4 Outs Above Average, though with a weak arm).

So, the Twins have ceased using Farmer as a second-base defensive substitution. He has not come in as a straight defensive substitution a single time this season. He has pinch-hit and finished the game at second base 10 times—but that’s more related to platoon matchups than to his defensive prowess.

It should be noted that he has retained his role as the top reserve at second. The only other player to play second base this season (other than Julien) is Austin Martin, who was moved there mid-game once and is currently in the minor leagues. Farmer still appears to be the first alternate at the spot, which counts for something.

Farmer resumed his role as a defensive replacement, for a stretch, but at third base. The primary third baseman over the past month, José Miranda, is not lauded for his defense at the hot corner. Seven times this season, Farmer’s entered the game as a straight defensive substitution for Miranda in the late innings.

However, even that role also seems to be on its way out, as Manuel Margot has entered the game twice in the last week to bump Castro from the outfield to third base. It’s only happened a couple of times, but that pattern would seem to suggest a preference for Castro’s defense at third (to disastrous results, on Monday against Kansas City).

At this point, Farmer has been relegated to merely being Julien's top backup second baseman and platoon partner. He’s only started 24 of the team’s first 55 games—12 at second (all against lefties), 11 at third (filling in for Lewis and Correa), and one at short (filling in for Correa).

At this point, he’s effectively 2019 Jonathan Schoop—a right-handed reserve second baseman—without the luxury of Luis Arráez’s flexibility, as Julien is almost exclusively a second baseman. But Schoop also had an advantage over Farmer: he was hitting in 2019.

After 55 team games and 101 plate appearances, Farmer has a .514 OPS (50OPS+). His underlying metrics are in the cellar. And he isn’t doing the one thing he’s being counted on for—hitting lefties. He’s even worse against lefties than overall, with a .505 OPS in 46 plate appearances.

Admittedly, this is a small sample, but such is the nature of these discussions. Farmer has carved out a career for himself, but the ceiling was never high. Now, his role has been whittled away, and he hasn’t succeeded in the only real responsibility he has left.

For a Rocco Baldelli team, that might be a problem. The skipper loves having flexibility and distinct roles for everyone on the team, making use of their abilities, but Farmer isn’t showing those traits this year.

Furthermore, Royce Lewis is bound to return any day, and global top-100 prospect Brooks Lee is also nearing major-league readiness. The infield is getting crowded, and Farmer’s utility has diminished considerably. There have been many questions about what the move to accommodate the reinstatement of Lewis will be, but maybe the Twins have been telegraphing it to us the whole time.

Without Farmer, they would need to figure out who Julien’s backup is (Castro, Lee, Martin, etc.), but many other options have more utility now. Farmer is well-respected in the clubhouse, but it really seems like he’s being squeezed out of a role right now.

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[mikelink45]

Bench players are a lot like bullpen. Hot and cold year to year. It is a difficult thing to be ready at a moment's notice. But, at the price we are paying for him we can't afford to have non-productive

[CRF]

I think he's soon to be a goner. 

[stringer bell]

There are 6 million reasons to keep Farmer, as is often noted, the Twins are very reluctant to cut bait on a player when he's a veteran and the Twins owe him money. 

That said, I was perplexed when they didn't non-tender Farmer in the offseason. It was pretty apparent that his days as a regular were over Father Time often wins the battles with 34-year-olds. He's not as bad a hitter as he has shown this year, but he's below average and possibly a lot below average. Versatility only goes so far. 

[jorgenswest]

30 minutes ago, Greggory Masterson said:

Kyle Farmer had the best year of his career in 2023. As the primary backup infielder, he was a league-average hitter who filled in at shortstop, second base, and third base for prolonged stretches

I would argue that his best years were the two in Cincinnati where he was their starting shortstop. The “league average” hitter was the illusion of his use. Scale the left/right mix to the ratio of a regular or his previous two years and he would have had about the same OPS+ as his years with the Reds.

The money is spent and the Twins won’t find another team to take the contract. He will hit better and maybe close to the level he hit last year the rest of the way. He still has some value to bring to the team in his limited role.

[HrbieFan]

If you play golf and get into a bad rut, and only get to play a round once a week, that is similar to being the backup IF. You can practice as much as you want, but nothing is like live rounds 

[Whitey333]

Yes another in a long line of Twins off season moves and non moves.  I just really question the FO moves and the direction the Team is headed.  What is the plan?  I understand that ownership cut payroll.  I think they plan on cutting it again next year or keeping it flat.  Does that mean we go through a few more seasons of middle of the road performances.  With 4 or 5 players making upwards of 70% of payroll something has to give.  Perhaps we will see more young, unproven and cheap prospects finally get their chance.  At least then we may have some indication of the teams direction.  Farmer is a decent player.  He deserves better.  But if they aren't going to use him then move him so he can play on some other team.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

I hate to say this, but I think this article is correct.

[Jeff K]

I don't think Farmer is going anywhere until Lee is ready.  His hitting in May has been better (still  not great) than April.  Hopefully, Farmer can bring his average up more and make him interesting to another team that has infield depth problems.  But I think he is a Twin at least through June.  And of course, I could be 100% wrong!

[Doctor Gast]

1 hour ago, jorgenswest said:

I would argue that his best years were the two in Cincinnati where he was their starting shortstop. The “league average” hitter was the illusion of his use. Scale the left/right mix to the ratio of a regular or his previous two years and he would have had about the same OPS+ as his years with the Reds.

The money is spent and the Twins won’t find another team to take the contract. He will hit better and maybe close to the level he hit last year the rest of the way. He still has some value to bring to the team in his limited role.

I would argue the semantics also but the truth is Farmer's hitting has been terrible. For a steady Farmer's hitting to change so much there has to be a deep mechanical flaw that he picked up, emotional tragedy or injury. Whatever it is the appreciative Farmer isn't talking but you know he's working on it.  Unfortunately, we've had to use Farmer much more & in less than effective situations than we'd like. Yet we were fortunate to even have him to fill in in such a difficult situation of injuries.

Farmer is a great guy to have around & IMO Farmer will work it out. But the handwriting is on the wall even when he works it out. With the flexibility of Castro & Martin & the addition of Lee, Farmer will become redundant. But with the hestitancy of FO to DFA veterans & the possibility of Julien being optioned to AAA to reset at least for the time being IMO Farmer is safe. Maybe when he finds himself a trade could open up. As I hope for Margot & Santana.

[Patzky]

10 minutes ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

I hate to say this, but I think this article is correct.

We all hate to say it. We all pulled for Kyle when he got drilled in the jaw and came back to be a key member of a division winning team.

 

Farmer, Margot, and Julien.. probably one of them will be given the short straw when Lewis (and certainly Lee) returns. Twins past behavior indicates Julien will be sent back down, thusly kicking the decision can down the season for now.

 

It's almost like they're hoping for an injury to make the call for them.

[4twinsJA]

I agree with stringerbell, Twins don't have a track record of eating contracts, don't like paying players to not play. Gallo latest example last year. Also agree with other posters, FO errored in bringing Farmer back for another year. Although, I have to admit I was not opposed to it at the time.

The other issue is if you let Farmer go and call up a young developing player, will there be enough playing time to continue their development. Farmer seems to be a good player to have around and has accepted his diminished role. Twins are overpaying for that role, but will be paying if he is on team or not.

[TopGunn#22]

Much of this was already touched on in the Margot article and it certainly calls into question the off season plan and vision.  On the one hand, we needed to fill 2 rotation spots and opted to fill them from within, that prior to SWR's success had not exactly had a great track record.

We wisely moved on from guys like Michael Taylor and Donovan Solano who had a year not likely to be repeated in 2024.  However, there were a LOT of us on TD who questioned the need to bring Farmer back at $6+ million per year when we were being told that every penny counted in the doom and gloom revenue projection of 2024.  Especially with Castro emerging and Brooks Lee on the not too distant horizon.  Even with the end of ST injury to Lee it's easy to see that bringing Farmer back was a mistake.

The Twins are paying Correa (worth it) a LOT.  They are paying Buxton (questionable) a lot (at least by Twins standards).  They are paying Pablo (worth it, despite the early season struggles) and Vasquez (NOT worth it).  Look at this roster and see how many guys are making the minimum or close to it.  It's easy to second guess the FO on many of these decisions but it's also "gut punch obvious" that the FO DESERVES the criticism. 

It is VERY MUCH like the Twins to clutch with a death-grip intensity, players they have OVER-invested in, much like Joey Gallo last year, to somehow get their money's worth from those dollars while to the fans the carcass of a Gallo, or in this case Farmer and Margot, gets smellier and smellier as the weather gets warmer.     

[Mike Sixel]

50 minutes ago, 4twinsJA said:

I agree with stringerbell, Twins don't have a track record of eating contracts, don't like paying players to not play. Gallo latest example last year. Also agree with other posters, FO errored in bringing Farmer back for another year. Although, I have to admit I was not opposed to it at the time.

The other issue is if you let Farmer go and call up a young developing player, will there be enough playing time to continue their development. Farmer seems to be a good player to have around and has accepted his diminished role. Twins are overpaying for that role, but will be paying if he is on team or not.

Martin is old enough that it's ok if he's on the bench, imo. I dont see it hurting his development. And he's better on offense and baserinning. 

[DJL44]

45 minutes ago, Patzky said:

It's almost like they're hoping for an injury to make the call for them.

They are definitely waiting until the last minute in case an injury makes the decision for them.

I do not see Brooks Lee taking the role they have for Kyle Farmer. They aren't going to make Lee a RH platoon 2B when he's actually a switch-hitting SS and 3B who hits better LH and has played one game at 2B professionally. Lee will develop in AAA until he's needed due to injuries to other players.

[DJL44]

8 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Martin is old enough that it's ok if he's on the bench, imo. I didn't see it hitting his development. And he's better on offense and baserunning. 

I agree that Martin is the player most likely to take Farmer's utility role.

[Mike Sixel]

Just now, DJL44 said:

They are definitely waiting until the last minute in case an injury makes the decision for them.

I do not see Brooks Lee taking the role they have for Kyle Farmer. They aren't going to make Lee a RH platoon 2B when he's actually a switch-hitting SS and 3B who hits better LH and has played one game at 2B professionally. Lee will develop in AAA until he's needed due to injuries to other players.

He should be playing some second, he's a lot more likely to play there soon than SS. 

[LambchoP]

I think Farmers the kind of guy that needs steady playing time in order to hit well. I couldn't understand why the twins gave him that much money, in a payroll crunch, to be a backup IF when we had younger cheaper guys that could do the same thing. I just keep thinking of what we might have been able to get if we didn't pay Farmer, Santana and Margot. Probably could've used that 15 million plus in the rotation or a power bat at first base or left field...

[Parfigliano]

2 hours ago, CRF said:

I think he's soon to be a goner. 

I wish this was true but with TC's track record it almost certainly isnt.  He fits right in their sweet spot being an over paid far below average veteran.  Combined with Margot substantial payroll wasted on a team that slashed payroll.

[Patzky]

20 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

I wish this was true but with TC's track record it almost certainly isnt.  He fits right in their sweet spot being an over paid far below average veteran.  Combined with Margot substantial payroll wasted on a team that slashed payroll.

Instead of arguing either/or we will wind up with both at least though trade deadline. 

[Riverbrian]

Kyle Farmer career splits:

OPS VS RH - .654

OPS VS LH - .799

If he doesn't hit left handed pitching... Oops. 

 

 

[bean5302]

I honestly have as much or more faith in Farmer than I do Margot or Santana or especially Vazquez if Farmer were to get more consistent at bats. Even though Farmer's bat has been ice cold this year, the components of production are there. Max EV, batted ball type/data, BBs, Ks, it's all solid enough. His HR/FB rate is really what's killing him, but certainly having a BABIP of .221 instead of his career average of .293 doesn't help, either. Keep in mind, Farmer's only had 100 plate appearances. That's the equivalent of less than a single month of playing time, and it's been sporadic. Change just 2 fly outs to home runs and his OPS jumps from .515 to .628. His max EV and batted ball data suggests a couple HR are due.

Wonder how Farmer would look behind the plate instead of Vazquez? It's been a few years, but the Dodgers did commit to making Farmer a catcher during his development. It might be a way to keep Vazquez out of the batters box if Farmer can handle an occasion day catching.

I don't think Farmer is going anywhere, though perhaps the team should be willing to talk to him about accepting an assignment to get some playing time or working behind the dish.

[jmlease1]

19 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

Kyle Farmer career splits:

OPS VS RH - .654

OPS VS LH - .799

f he doesn't hit left handed pitching... Oops. 

 

 

and this is a big part of why they brought him back this season: to hit LHP and provide quality defense at a number of positions. It was nice when you could bring in Castro or Farmer and not have to juggle your defensive alignment a bunch in order to pinch-hit or pinch-run for someone, and Farmer was adding value there.

If they've lost confidence in his ability to play SS and he can't hit LHP any longer, then sadly his days are numbered. Good guy, and I value players who can provide positional flexibility and utility around a platoon bat. But boy he's struggled this year. While there have been a few instances of bad luck for him where he's hammered the ball hard and it's gone right at someone or something...there simply haven't been enough instances of him barreling up on the ball. all of those secondary indicators are showing a guy getting overwhelmed at the plate with poor bat speed unable to square up on pitches with any consistency.

Miranda actually can play 2B, as well (it was his preferred position in the minors before they moved him over to 3B, since there looked to be little opportunity for him at 2B).

The clock is ticking. I don't expect teams to jettison a veteran in May. I do expect them to be thinking hard about it come June.

[DJL44]

If you look at the reverse order of the salaries of the various underperforming veteran players as a guide.

Jackson $1.3M (DFA, now in St. Paul)

Margot $4M

Santana $5.25M

Farmer $6.25M

Vazquez $10M (plus another $10M owed next year)

They owe Margot the least amount going forward. He's already been paid $1.3M by the Twins and would probably earn $500,000 as the prorated league minimum on some other team's MLB roster if they DFA him. They would only have to eat about $2M to release him.

 

[Riverbrian]

39 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

and this is a big part of why they brought him back this season: to hit LHP and provide quality defense at a number of positions. It was nice when you could bring in Castro or Farmer and not have to juggle your defensive alignment a bunch in order to pinch-hit or pinch-run for someone, and Farmer was adding value there.

If they've lost confidence in his ability to play SS and he can't hit LHP any longer, then sadly his days are numbered. Good guy, and I value players who can provide positional flexibility and utility around a platoon bat. But boy he's struggled this year. While there have been a few instances of bad luck for him where he's hammered the ball hard and it's gone right at someone or something...there simply haven't been enough instances of him barreling up on the ball. all of those secondary indicators are showing a guy getting overwhelmed at the plate with poor bat speed unable to square up on pitches with any consistency.

Miranda actually can play 2B, as well (it was his preferred position in the minors before they moved him over to 3B, since there looked to be little opportunity for him at 2B).

The clock is ticking. I don't expect teams to jettison a veteran in May. I do expect them to be thinking hard about it come June.

I don't want react harshly to his current numbers. There is a lot of season left. I'm willing to see what happens to Cedric Mullins and Paul Goldschmidt over the course of the season. I'm willing to see what happens to Jorge Polanco and I'm willing to see what happens to Carlos Santana and Kyle Farmer. 

There are a lot of players around the league that are under performing... players that can pull it together and be a plus player by years end. Some won't of course but there is a lot more to go. 

I liked Farmer last year and I really didn't have a problem with him coming back but my problem is the same problem I had in the off-season and that is the overall roster commitment to the short side. 

The commitment of millions of dollars that we didn't have to Farmer, Margot and Santana just to keep Julien, Kirilloff and Wallner away from the left hander was only going to put you into this situation when things don't go as planned. 

Farmer has never been strong against right handed pitching, Margot has never been strong against right handed pitching, Santana hasn't been strong against right handed pitching lately. 

If they are not hitting left handed pitching... Oops... Because it's a long shot that his work against right handers is going to make it (pardon the pun) right. 

I don't have a problem with Farmer directly but I have a problem with his group of players that we overstaffed the roster with and this is the price you pay for it.   

[RpR]

2 hours ago, DJL44 said:

I agree that Martin is the player most likely to take Farmer's utility role.

Martin is not any better a fielder than Julien and Julien's iron glove is why Farmer is still here.

[MGM4706]

What games are you watching? Julien has not improved that much at 2nd and certainly NOT by leaps & bounds. He drops more throws from the catcher that any 2nd baseman in history! And maybe his range has went from 2' left and right to 3' left & right. But with all his strikeouts he definitely does not look like a long term solution for the Twins. Get Lee up here ASAP and work him in at 2nd!!

[Brandon]

Farmer started the season in a horrible slump.  He went on a 11 for 36 run.  I don’t know if he has more AB since I last checked.  He also hit 5 or 6 doubles in those 36 AB.  He is picking up his numbers and it’s going to take time.  Farmer is having a Tale of Two Seasons kind of year.  I doubt the Twins drop him at this point.  If he goes back into another slump maybe.  We will see 

[jmlease1]

28 minutes ago, MGM4706 said:

What games are you watching? Julien has not improved that much at 2nd and certainly NOT by leaps & bounds. He drops more throws from the catcher that any 2nd baseman in history! And maybe his range has went from 2' left and right to 3' left & right. But with all his strikeouts he definitely does not look like a long term solution for the Twins. Get Lee up here ASAP and work him in at 2nd!!

what games are you watching? because both the metrics and the eye test say the Julien has improved his defense. I mean, maybe not leaps and bounds over where he was at the end of last season, but that's because he was significantly better by the end of the season than from the start.

Sure sounds like you're madder about him striking out too often and have presumed it's dragged his defense down.

[LA Vikes Fan]

If Julien goes down it will be because he isn't hitting, not because of his defense. Julien is a +3 OOA according to Baseball Savant and that matches the eye test - he's a little above average.  Julien's problem is his sudden inability to hit and the fact he OBP has dropped all the way to .309 with a 34% SO rate. Still, Rocco was quoted a saying he thinks guys like Julien should try to work out their hitting problems at the MLB level so he might be staying.  If Julien stays and no one gets hurt, they either got to drop Margot, Kirilloff, Larnach, or Miranda. Margot is hitting better so maybe he's tradable? If not, still an easy call for me - Margot goes.