One Week's Worth of Evidence That Carlos Correa Needs to Move to Third Base - Caretaker Exclusive

[Rod Carews Birthday]

54 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

At least two years? If Culpepper isn't here next year it's likely much more than 2 years unless they get their next SS in the first round this year. Winokur can defend at SS, but can't hit yet and he's too big of a question mark with the bat to put any timeline on. But Culpepper was a first round pick and is succeeding in AA already. He should be in the bigs next year at the absolute latest. He should probably get a cup of coffee in September this year if he keeps playing like he is right now. 

I'm not suggesting moving Correa to 3B Tuesday in preparation for Culpepper, but a move to 3B for Correa over the winter could make some sense. At least start putting in some work there and be ready to make the move next season. If Culpepper is going to be the future at SS that future should start showing itself next year. And if Correa can't move well enough for SS anymore and Culpepper is the better defensive option there, Correa should be the one moving to get the best defensive alignment on the field. Correa should start seeing time at 3B by very early next season at the latest or things have gone terribly, terribly wrong with Culpepper.

I applaud and support your optimism.  I just don't think next year is probably that likely.  I think he will be in AAA next season and get a call up or two (like Keaschall this year), but I think Culpepper taking over SS is probably a 2027 proposition.   It would be fantastic if you are correct though, because it would mean he's really tearing it up in the minors.  

I do stay with my statement about Correa's bat at 3B though.  He's got to get that figured back out somehow.

 

[chpettit19]

1 hour ago, Rod Carews Birthday said:

I applaud and support your optimism.  I just don't think next year is probably that likely.  I think he will be in AAA next season and get a call up or two (like Keaschall this year), but I think Culpepper taking over SS is probably a 2027 proposition.   It would be fantastic if you are correct though, because it would mean he's really tearing it up in the minors.  

I do stay with my statement about Correa's bat at 3B though.  He's got to get that figured back out somehow.

 

I'm not saying they'll clear a spot for him. Or even that they should. But they should have Correa start getting a feel for 3B during the offseason. Because if Culpepper is the future SS of the Twins you don't let an aging Correa who can't field well enough anymore stand in the way, and Culpepper will be ready by next year. That doesn't mean handing him an opening day job blindly. I'm not saying that. It's very hard right now to predict what the Twins will or should look like opening day 2026. My point is simply that if Culpepper is going to be the future SS we hope he is he will earn a cup of coffee by the end of this year and deserve playing time early next year. And Correa should be preparing to play 3B if Culpepper is the superior defender at SS at that point.

Correa's bat needs to be figured out no matter where he plays. He's expected to be a top 4 or 5 in the order bat no matter what position he plays defensively. Agree he needs to figure that out.

[Schmoeman5]

3 hours ago, RpR said:

Culpepper is probably the latest TD player to not meet all the hype give him by TD, or worse, the curse TD hype is.

I noticed you had no comment on a post this weekend vs the Tigers. Prior to last years success,  the previous 3 or 4 years they have run out young unproven players to take their lumps and learn. They even extended a player before he reached the majors. So your premise is false.  Just because it hasn't worked for the Twins, it has worked for other teams like the Tigers and Astros and Orioles. Paul Skenes was unproven.  So was Aaron Judge at one point. Did you see that routine fly ball he missed in the WS? He sucks. The curse part. Well, there might be something to that. Probably more like not great evaluating players on the Twins part. Another thing if I remember correctly, Tony Oliva was not considered a good outfielder when he came up. Yet he turned into one. And when was Harmon EVER considered a good defensive player? Or were you advocating for him to be benched or traded too when you were 8? He was way overhyped.  (Sarcasm) Since that is sacrilegious. But that is your take on every single player coming up.

[tony&rodney]

2 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Is he going to grow out of the position as he bulks up?

Winokur is really strong, built and still loose. I actually doubt he puts on much weight at all. He is a wee bit like Max Kepler in being blessed with a classic natural frame that he could hold a similar weight for the next 50 years. He might gain 5-10 pounds but I really totally doubt he becomes the muscled up guy. One thing worth noting is that Winokur can hit a baseball out of any park in any direction right now with an easy swing. There is zero reason for him to add muscle. He already has it. It will be all about his bat to ball improvement.

The only real barrier for Winokur is a very large hurdle and that is his bat playing on a consistent basis. He will need a minimum of a year at AA and another year at AAA after next year.

Culpepper is moving fast. He had quite a positive experience in college and seems to have his head together with the everyday challenges already. Often college players struggle for a while after moving to full time baseball. I agree with chpettit19 that Culpepper will be up next year. Kaelen is 22 now and pretty mature. I'm pleased with how aggressively he has taken to the shortstop position and to his plate appearances. The Twins have to be pretty happy with their 2024 pick at this time.

A side note is that Winokur is 2 years younger than Kaelen Culpepper but also faces longer odds due to his bat to ball skills. If there is a better athlete than Winokur anywhere in the Twins organization, I haven't seen him. Pause here to exclude Byron Buxton.

Sorry for the run-ons.

[tony&rodney]

2 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Moving a guy who can't hit well enough at SS to 3B seems like a bad idea.....not that I have a GOOD answer at this point....

Think Cal Ripken. ARod too. There are different circumstances in every case but SS to 3B has been a thing. I don't see Correa moving off of shortstop until sometime in 2027. He still is easily the best guy available. Lee is not an option at this time.

As far as the bat goes. Correa is as good as what the Twins have used at third base unless someone is missing Bride already. Lewis? TBD. In any event moving Correa off shortstop is a valid thought, but the time is in the distance. The same can be said for moving Buxton to a corner outfield position or is that article out next week.

[RpR]

1 hour ago, Schmoeman5 said:

I noticed you had no comment on a post this weekend vs the Tigers. Prior to last years success,  the previous 3 or 4 years they have run out young unproven players to take their lumps and learn. They even extended a player before he reached the majors. So your premise is false.  Just because it hasn't worked for the Twins, it has worked for other teams like the Tigers and Astros and Orioles. Paul Skenes was unproven.  So was Aaron Judge at one point. Did you see that routine fly ball he missed in the WS? He sucks. The curse part. Well, there might be something to that. Probably more like not great evaluating players on the Twins part. Another thing if I remember correctly, Tony Oliva was not considered a good outfielder when he came up. Yet he turned into one. And when was Harmon EVER considered a good defensive player? Or were you advocating for him to be benched or traded too when you were 8? He was way overhyped.  (Sarcasm) Since that is sacrilegious. But that is your take on every single player coming up.

When he gets up to the Bigs, fans can praise or diss him. Before that all the BS about how such and such will save the team or be the next Ted Williams is Pie-in the-Sky silliness.

I do not believe in Jinx or Curses, but for a player to be hyped as the next saviour by TD , but the chosen, so chosen , do not have a good record, at this time .

Here are his defense numbers, so far looks like a glove with a hole in it, and this is only lower Minor league games.

 

Not good, at best; while I believe, the Short Stop position should not be bat first .

Put him at First Base  😁 where so many TD posters would put players with a not good glove.

[DocBauer]

11 hours ago, RpR said:

Culpepper is probably the latest TD player to not meet all the hype give him by TD, or worse, the curse TD hype is.

Thank you for always being right, and the voice of reason, and never be condescending. 

🥸

[Doctor Gast]

Correa has lost some range, but he has great feel for the position & baseball smarts to spearhead great plays. I think the biggest problem here isn't Correa, IMO, it's the Twins' shortsightedness & lack of importance they put on defense. Lee is a good temporary fix at SS but not permanent & Correa is still our best option but how about tomorrow? One day Correa will be more of a liability than an asset if it's literally tomorrow who will be our top tier SS? I want my CF, SS & C to hit but my priority is for them to be top tier with the glove. HOU let Correa go, because they figured they had someone to substituted him. They were able to do that because they had vision & a plan for the future. Twins' priority isn't defense, it's bats. If their bat plays a position to heck with their glove even if it's a liability. Twins have to start developing & drafting players more defensively minded especially at C, SS, CF & 2B.

[TwinsDr2021]

35 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

Correa has lost some range, but he has great feel for the position & baseball smarts to spearhead great plays. I think the biggest problem here isn't Correa, IMO, it's the Twins' shortsightedness & lack of importance they put on defense. Lee is a good temporary fix at SS but not permanent & Correa is still our best option but how about tomorrow? One day Correa will be more of a liability than an asset if it's literally tomorrow who will be our top tier SS? I want my CF, SS & C to hit but my priority is for them to be top tier with the glove. HOU let Correa go, because they figured they had someone to substituted him. They were able to do that because they had vision & a plan for the future. Twins' priority isn't defense, it's bats. If their bat plays a position to heck with their glove even if it's a liability. Twins have to start developing & drafting players more defensively minded especially at C, SS, CF & 2B.

I would agree with this, they had Jeremy Pena ready to go and gave him the job full time without every playing a game at AA. He was drafted (2018)sent to A and A+ in 2019, Only played in the fall league in 2020, Triple AAA in 21 (plus fall league), Give the starting short stop by in 22. He hit well in the minors but until this year most if not all of his value has been on the defensive side of the ball. 

Which is why if Culpepper is the solution for the Twins he needs to be up this year for taste and/or just given the job next year. Players we hope are future full time players shouldn't needs so much time in the minors. IMO guys that need that time may flash and have short term success but generally it doesn't last. 

[DJL44]

The biggest problem with moving Correa to 3B is the Twins don't need a third baseman. Brooks Lee is perfectly fine at 3B and Royce Lewis can handle the position as well. Moving Correa to 3B probably means trading Correa or trading someone else.

If the Yankees call about Correa at this deadline, and Correa is interested, I'd trade him and not expect much in return. He's a great ballplayer but not a good fit for the future.

[saviking]

So why did you put him in a list of 5 players worthy off making the all star game then? 

[David Maro]

They keep drafting SS every year and then move them to other positions. Part of that is because they thought C4 had that spot covered. He came in with the ankle problem,but now has the feet issue. And now even if he said he would go for a trade what team would. 

They also have the same thing going on with Lewis because he can't stay healthy.

The only positive is they finally have the Buxton that everyone wanted to see.

 

[MNBearCat]

Thoughtful article that makes the point that Correa is slipping at defense and we probably should stop referring to it in vaunted terms. However, I agree with the consensus that the next best alternative is Brooks Lee and Correa's defense is still better. He'll move to 3B eventually and be better for it, but we need a better alternative first.

[h2oface]

On 6/30/2025 at 12:09 PM, Matthew Trueblood said:

.You're not a Caretaker, so you haven't read like 65% of this article.

And whose fault is the elitist access to what folks would read? It’s all opinion anyway, no matter how many stats one brings up. Correa has never given a whole season of contract value for the Twins. I don’t see that ever happening. Just opinion, though - soon to be played out to great disappointment. 

[h2oface]

On 6/30/2025 at 10:45 PM, DocBauer said:

Thank you for always being right, and the voice of reason, and never be condescending. 

🥸

Only one sentence? Are you OK?