Brooks Lee Has a Chance to Play September Savior for the Twins

[chpettit19]

16 hours ago, USAFChief said:

If someone gets hurt, the 10 day minor league rule is waived, and they can recall whoever they optioned.

I don't even know if Lee will help, but seems like they have to try.

 

In any case, the obvious move isn't Julien. It's to finally look themselves in the eye and DFA Farmer. 

Knowing there's likely a 0% chance they DFA Farmer, who would you be looking for them to call up Sunday when rosters expand if Lee is here and Julien or Martin are in AAA for 10 days? Camargo and Severino are the guys currently on the 40-man in AAA. Do you think they'd add someone like Kiersey and risk losing someone like Severino to get him on the 40-man?

I couldn't agree more that dropping Farmer is the beyond obvious move, but does anyone actually think they'll do it? I sure don't. And, if you take that option off the table, not losing Martin or Julien for 10 days just to get 2 days of Lee makes some sense. Especially because it is far from a sure thing that Lee is going to help all that much.

[Karbo]

17 hours ago, thelanges5 said:

Get Lee up now send Julien down and then we can add Varland and Winder on Sunday. This makes us more versatile in the field and gives us a couple extra arms to rest, the bullpen a little more.  

With the new rules they can add only 1 pitcher when rosters expand. They will add a pitcher and a hitter.

[baul0010]

18 hours ago, CRF said:

If he's healthy, get him back up here...NOW!

Can he pitch?

[LambchoP]

I think they'll wait until roster expansion. Wish they'd just release Farmer, call up Lee and have him play instead of Julien. Then call up Winder and Varland for our exhausted pen. Wouldn't mind adding Keirsey and Eeles to the 40 man to cover for Buxton and Correa. I mean c'mon, does anybody believe they're even trying to play again this year? Buck was supposed to be out for the minimum, they even thought about just benching him a few days....now look. Our highest paid players are way to comfortable on the IL. This is why I always say these big contracts should be dependent on games played if not other incentives. Of course, it'll never happen. Guys want 20-30 million per year whether they play or not, because teams will keep signing these deals and hoping for the best...

[Rod Carews Birthday]

It would be great if Lee could come back up and be the savior of the season, but I'm not counting on that happening, at least not directly.  A really huge part of the benefit of Lee coming back is the fact that he can displace Castro at SS, freeing him up to actually be a utility guy, while likely improving the SS defense as well.  I'm not expecting him to hit .350 with power, but I think he will be at least OK, and the domino effect will help the team a great deal.  Now, let's hope he's actually healthy. 

[D.C Twins]

Can he pitch out of the bullpen?

[JD-TWINS]

2 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

Knowing there's likely a 0% chance they DFA Farmer, who would you be looking for them to call up Sunday when rosters expand if Lee is here and Julien or Martin are in AAA for 10 days? Camargo and Severino are the guys currently on the 40-man in AAA. Do you think they'd add someone like Kiersey and risk losing someone like Severino to get him on the 40-man?

I couldn't agree more that dropping Farmer is the beyond obvious move, but does anyone actually think they'll do it? I sure don't. And, if you take that option off the table, not losing Martin or Julien for 10 days just to get 2 days of Lee makes some sense. Especially because it is far from a sure thing that Lee is going to help all that much.

To me, the only logical thoughts on Farmer remaining on 26-man is due to, continuity - the 3rd string catcher option - (both, ridiculously weak reasons) - to protect against Lee coming back and hurting his shoulder in the 6th inning on Saturday and not having Farmer as an option going forward. They’ll risk the outcome of two more games w/o Lee to maintain the depth option. Lee up on Sunday.

[chpettit19]

25 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

To me, the only logical thoughts on Farmer remaining on 26-man is due to, continuity - the 3rd string catcher option - (both, ridiculously weak reasons) - to protect against Lee coming back and hurting his shoulder in the 6th inning on Saturday and not having Farmer as an option going forward. They’ll risk the outcome of two more games w/o Lee to maintain the depth option. Lee up on Sunday.

I agree that they're keeping him in the name of depth, even if I think it's ridiculous. He's simply not good enough this year. Maybe rostering Severino or Kiersey or whoever instead of him for a month costs the Twins a playoff birth, but I find that hard to imagine. He simply isn't good enough to be on a team that's fighting for their playoff lives. But we all know the Twins don't cut veterans if they can at all help it.

[Franz]

Here is a cynical take: perhaps they are keeping him in the minors longer to ensure he retains rookie status for next year, on the off chance he could win the 2025 ROY award and get them an extra draft pick. Thresholds are 45 days on the active roster (IL time and roster expansion time doesn't count) and 130 ABs (not PAs, from what I've read). Post-season ABs don't count against the threshold. To stay under the AB threshold (currently Lee is at 99) they would also need to limit his playing time during September, which would be "easier" if Buxton and Correa come back healthy.

Please correct me if I have anything wrong.

If that's what the FO actually has planned...I hate it.

[Franz]

2 minutes ago, Franz said:

Here is a cynical take: perhaps they are keeping him in the minors longer to ensure he retains rookie status for next year, on the off chance he could win the 2025 ROY award and get them an extra draft pick. Thresholds are 45 days on the active roster (IL time and roster expansion time doesn't count) and 130 ABs (not PAs, from what I've read). Post-season ABs don't count against the threshold. To stay under the AB threshold (currently Lee is at 99) they would also need to limit his playing time during September, which would be "easier" if Buxton and Correa come back healthy.

Please correct me if I have anything wrong.

If that's what the FO actually has planned...I hate it.

Correcting myself already...a 2023 change to the rules means September days on the active roster DO count against the 45-day threshold. 

[DocBauer]

Echoing previous comments, Lee doesn't have to be a savior, and I doubt he will be. What he does is give another good defender in the INF and allows Castro to go back to being the super utility player he is. HOPEFULLY, with his shoulder sound again, he can be solid offensively again. But he doesn't have to carry the offense, just add to it.

I agree that Farmer doesn't really belong any longer. But I can understand him still being on the roster for NOW when you reflect on the Twins being down both Lee AND Correa. It has nothing to do with $ at this point as he's been paid most of his contract already this year. It's just another solid glove and veteran bat who MIGHT give a hit here or there. He's a "for now" backup presence. But while I don't know that I see a DFA for him, I certain don't think he's on the post season roster with Lee and Correa both back.

[tony&rodney]

Friday was another tough night for Lee.

[stringer bell]

Apparently Brooks isn't ready to return to the Twins. Waiting for Buxton and Correa seems to be one of those things--they're coming the day after tomorrow (which never comes). 

The Twins may or may not limp into the playoffs, but as presently constructed they are really a threat.

[TopGunn#22]

What SHOULD happen is that as soon as Brooks Lee is brought back up Farmer should be DFA'd.  Farmer is not needed with Lee on the roster.  Lee is the future.  Farmer is not.