Twins Spring Battle: Orlando Arcia vs. Ryan Kreidler

[karcherd]

If one of those players is the backup at SS that means Lee will be playing 140 games at SS unless Culpepper gets called up.  So why not let Lewis be the backup SS, I have to believe he could be competent for 20 or 25 games over there.  If Lee is injured, you would still have Kriedler in AAA or better yet could call up Culpepper.

This allows you to keep a better player that will hopefully produce on the 26 man.  I know a lot of people are down on Lewis but I think there is still something there and I think he could SS for a few games here and there.

But I don't understand why you want to punt on a roster spot, when you only have 4 bench players.

 

[Greglw3]

2 hours ago, USAFChief said:

If you're keeping Culpepper on the big league team, he should be the everyday SS. Let Lee handle backup duty.

I'm open to that.

[JD-TWINS]

8 hours ago, Drtwins said:

“As a non-roster invitee, Arcia would require the Twins to make a corresponding move to add him to the 40-man roster. In contrast, Kreidler already occupies a spot” 

I don’t see this as a reason to keep Kreidler over Arcia as there is the obvious solution of removing Kreidler from the 40-man and adding Arcia if Arcia wins the competition.

Agreed! The belaboring of this “ROSTER ISSUE” seems extremely overstated. It’s a simple paperwork task. One guy is DFA’d and the other added.

…… my preference, GRAY. Arcia has at least had success at one point, maybe he can find something from his past? ……. Kriedler’s results at MLB level over 4 seasons are really poor.

To me, Kriedler represents another version of Kiersey at the plate……. can’t imagine reliving that!

[Major League Ready]

I would have preferred they had just kept Fitzgerald.

[DocBauer]

This is one of my biggest BURNS about the offseason and how screwed up ownership has handled the entire situation. They handcuffed and confused the FO so much that NOBODY seemed to be in charge. But considering Falvey WAS in charge initially, I am forced to place some blame on him. They KNEW they NEEDED a viable backup SS/utility option. And the BEST they could do was a collection of waiver wire options to run through?

There was NOBODY smart enough to examine the other 29 teams, and their rosters, and their AAA rosters, and target SOMEONE who might be a teams #2 utility option? Maybe someone blocked and needing an opportunity? You're telling me the FO, even as frustrated and confused as they were, couldn't identify another Nick Punto that would cost them next to nothing to acquire, but had a good glove, versatility, maybe a little speed, or pop in their profile, that would cost a lower level prospect?

Nice to see the OP speak about Kreidler's MILB numbers that still aren't great. And he's only 3yrs younger than Arcia. Funny that Kreidler's ST numbers about mirror his SSS ML numbers. He just can't hit! 

If Aecia can be solid/competent at SS still, he has the ability to hit around .200. That's way more than Kreidler. For a guy that only plays 1-2 games a week, that's probably OK if the glove is just decent/solid. 

Funny how Gray wasn't even mentioned in the OP. He's not the glove of Kreidler, but he might hit better than both. Do we care he hits LH at this point? 

Truth is, HOPEFULLY, K-Pepper is ready in a couple months to be added. He might take over SS, or he might be used as a utility player initially.  But for the short term, if Arcia can still play a competent SS, I go with the veteran and what I HOPE is a "competent" bat vs a guy who can't hit his way out of a wet paper bag.

And frankly, IDK care if Kreidler can play a decent CF.  Roden and Martin can play CF here and there. And we already have a couple "built in" options for CF if Buck spends any time on the IL. There's NO WAY the Twins would let Kreidler play CF for 2 weeks.

Arcia gets the job unless they like Gray a little better. Kreidler is a DFA if they want to. This really isn't so hard.

[Met Stadium Usher]

Just looking outside the current roster: Dylan Moore is a classic and veteran utility guy. He won the Gold Glove for utility players in 2024. Not a great hitter, but with some power pop, he hits lefties okay, righties not as much. A good baserunner as well.  He plays anywhere in the infield and is actually a good outfielder.

He is in the opt-out waiting period with the Phillies right now. If they let him go, maybe he is the type of guy we should pick up, and move along from both our other choices.  Whaddaya think?

[Jeff K]

21 hours ago, twinsfansd said:

One guy can't hit but plays very good defense (however his OF defense leaves a lot to be desired). He also doesn't seem to be overly fast.

The other guy can't hit or play shortstop, maybe not even second base. His actions are slow, his running speed is a gallup at best. And for a guy fighting to continue his career, he doesn't seem very motivated. 

I would watch the waver wire closely, or work out a minor trade.

 

 

 

I attended a couple of spring training games and Arcia did not seem to take maximum effort.  I don't think either should be on the team, but I'd take a guy who is hungry enough to give maximum effort (Kreidler).  That is almost definitively a low bar!

[Parfigliano]

20 hours ago, AceWrigley said:

I thought Ryan Fitzgerald did a decent job last year when called up, held is own with both the glove and bat and could run pretty good. Not sure why we cast him off. Heck he even pitched in 2 games without allowing a run.

A regular Minny Ohtani.

[David Maro]

No matter who they keep this is a last place team in the central. The SP rotation is not good and the BP is even worse. Looking at Ryan who already had a issue in the ST and Ober's velocity way down will put pressure on a questionable BP. And looking at SWR,Abel and Bradley who haven't shown they will be able to go more than 4 to 5 innings again will put pressure on the BP. So that being said keeping one or the other who can't hit will be of no help.

[NYCTK]

It is pretty funny to read comments on the same website about how terrible Kreidler is (true!) after months or years of some other fans insisting the likes of Noah Miller (and now Houston) should be promoted regardless of how well they would hit. 

Not to say it's the same people with these countering ideas. Just funny to see the spectrum of opinions. 

[saviking]

17 hours ago, karcherd said:

If one of those players is the backup at SS that means Lee will be playing 140 games at SS unless Culpepper gets called up.  So why not let Lewis be the backup SS, I have to believe he could be competent for 20 or 25 games over there.  If Lee is injured, you would still have Kriedler in AAA or better yet could call up Culpepper.

This allows you to keep a better player that will hopefully produce on the 26 man.  I know a lot of people are down on Lewis but I think there is still something there and I think he could SS for a few games here and there.

But I don't understand why you want to punt on a roster spot, when you only have 4 bench players.

 

Exactly! I was thinking the same thing .. 

[stringer bell]

13 minutes ago, saviking said:

Exactly! I was thinking the same thing .. 

Who is the guy that plays third when Lewis moves to short? The only guy they have with any experience at third (besides Lee) is Eric Wagaman. Is it worth disrupting Lewis and having less middle infield flexibility to add him? I honestly don't think so. The idea is to move the utility guys around, not the regulars unless your name is Willi Castro. 

[Parfigliano]

24 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Who is the guy that plays third when Lewis moves to short? The only guy they have with any experience at third (besides Lee) is Eric Wagaman. Is it worth disrupting Lewis and having less middle infield flexibility to add him? I honestly don't think so. The idea is to move the utility guys around, not the regulars unless your name is Willi Castro. 

Does the TC FO have an idea?  Any idea what they are doing?

[karcherd]

40 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Who is the guy that plays third when Lewis moves to short? The only guy they have with any experience at third (besides Lee) is Eric Wagaman. Is it worth disrupting Lewis and having less middle infield flexibility to add him? I honestly don't think so. The idea is to move the utility guys around, not the regulars unless your name is Willi Castro. 

I would put Clemens over there and make him your utility guy, you have enough options for 1B.  Martin also played there two years ago.  Why carry a guy that you don't want to use more than once a week with the limited options on the bench.

[MesaTwinsFan]

As I'm sure Derek will follow the ways of Rocco and put him (Kreidler) inat short once or twice a week can he make it on a day when we have a pitcher who can hit and DĤ fir him. As we all know 99% of all pitchers were the best player on their high school or Ĺegion team who played a position action and more than likely were their teams best hitter. Been there seen that.

[thelanges5]

Tristan Gray wins the battle between Arcia and Kreidler.