James Outman Has Struggled Mightily. How Long Can He Hold Onto a Job?

[rstuedem945]

Image courtesy of © Peter Aiken-Imagn Images

The 2025 trade deadline was an eventful one for the Twins. By letting go of some key contributors (Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, and more), they received a mix of prospects and controllable big-leaguers. One of those players, Taj Bradley, has already been a positive contributor. However, another acquisition from the deadline made the Opening Day roster, and it hasn’t been as fruitful a start for James Outman.

Outman was acquired in a trade with the World Series champion Dodgers on July 31, in which the Twins sent Brock Stewart to Los Angeles. Stewart pitched in only four games for the Dodgers post-trade, allowing 2 earned runs in 3 2/3 innings. He’d then miss the rest of the season due to a right shoulder injury, which resulted in surgery. As for Outman, he wasn’t much better for the Twins at the back end of last year, hitting .147/.221/.337 in 104 plate appearances across 37 games. The former 7th-round pick struck out 45 times last season, while only walking 8 times. His overall advanced metrics from last year weren’t great, either. His bat speed was around league average at 72.6 MPH, but his expected slugging average, average exit velocity, Squared Up%, Whiff%, and Strikeout% were all scary.

His first full season with Minnesota has begun with worse results from Outman, as many Twins fans have noticed. He’s appeared in 11 games but has only amassed 15 plate appearances, hitting .000/.067/.000 with 8 strikeouts. It's been quite a fall from grace for Outman, who was third in NL Rookie of the Year Award voting back in 2023, finishing behind unanimous winner Corbin Carroll and starter Kodai Senga. Outman hit .248/.353/.437 with 23 home runs in 567 plate appearances that year, amassing 3.4 bWAR. The advanced metrics from that year look noticeably better, though Outman did overperform his batting average, slugging percentage, and wOBA by considerable amounts when compared to the expected values.

Outman is obviously nowhere near his offensive output from the 2023 season, but let's try to be positive for a moment. He's been bad, sure, but he isn’t playing every day. Byron Buxton locks down the center field spot, as does Matt Wallner in right, with Austin Martin and Trevor Larnach splitting time in left. Outman’s appearances are primarily limited to defensive and baserunning situations in the later innings, which should work to some extent. Outman has been a plus baserunner during his MLB career. He’s shown that this year, stealing two bases already, and has 21 career stolen bases. Defensively, his arm strength is his calling card, as he’s been in the 78th percentile or above in each of his MLB seasons. His other defensive metrics haven’t graded out well as of late, as his OAA has dropped each year since that impressive rookie campaign in 2023. However, Outman is almost certainly still a better defender than Larnach, while Martin is around the same defensively as the former Dodger. If he were out there more often, Outman might be showing more of what he can do. The fact that the Twins have faced a disproportionate number of lefties this spring has only made the job of all their lefty batters harder.

What does the path forward look like for the Twins outfield? As stated previously, Outman isn’t playing a whole lot, and that's unlikely to change. Meanwhile, beyond the active big-league roster, the team has fellow trade acquisition Alan Roden and top prospects Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez and Gabriel Gonzalez waiting for a chance at Triple-A St. Paul. 

How soon might it make sense to jettison Outman (he can't be optioned to the minors) and turn to one of those guys? In truth, letting Outman keep trying it for a bit makes more sense. The blockage I mentioned above will constrain any new player added to the mix. Roden, Jenkins, Rodriguez and Gonzalez all need playing time. Thus, they're better off in the minors, until something changes.

Should one of the big-league incumbents get hurt, the player called up to replace them on the roster is likely to leapfrog Outman into regular duty. Unless and until that happens, though, letting Outman keep sponging up the work of the last position player on the roster is the best move. As ugly as his performance has been, he's only meant to be lightly used, anyway. Still, eventually, he has to do something right, or else be shoved aside in the name of finding wins.

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[jorgenswest]

He has assets that help the bench. That catch yesterday prevented the Tigers from taking the lead in the 7th. It also allowed the Twins to continue with Acton who then also pitched the 9th inning. It could have been the difference in the game and also results in a more rested bullpen for today’s game.

Unless the Twins are going to employ a rotation where all 13 position players are getting regular starts I think he fits a defense or pinch runner late game sub.

[Mike Sixel]

Already too long

[DJL44]

They have a lot more need for a good first baseman on this roster.

Better than Keirsey is an incredibly low bar. Keirsey was one of the worst players the Twins have ever had.

[stringer bell]

With a position player roster as unsettled and unproven as the Twins, the 13th guy shouldn't just be a role player. In 2023, Willi Castro was the 13th guy when the season started, but because of his skill set, by the end of the season he was playing every day and helped the team win the division. The DaShawn Keirseys and James Outmans who only contribute on defense and the bases don't provide enough value. Outman does have legitimate power, but his strikeout rate would make Matt Wallner blush. 

If the Twins want a premium defense guy, they should call up Kreidler. He's probably a better outfielder than Outman and he's also the best defensive infielder the Twins have in the upper minors. He can't hit either, but at least he could help in more places. If they want somebody to platoon in left field, they should recall Roden. 

[NYCTK]

I'm fine with getting rid of him, but I don't want him replaced with a player that I actually want to get playing time.

Someone like Kreidler? Fine. Doesn't really matter much who the 13th man is. 

[nova_twins]

I'm not convinced it's better to have Roden in AAA vs playing part time in the Majors. Also Kriedler might be a better option at this point if Outman really is cooked at the plate.

I think the Twins will let it play out for now. If everyone is healthy at the end of April and Outman is still struggling, I could see a change. 

[mickster]

40 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

With a position player roster as unsettled and unproven as the Twins, the 13th guy shouldn't just be a role player. In 2023, Willi Castro was the 13th guy when the season started, but because of his skill set, by the end of the season he was playing every day and helped the team win the division. The DaShawn Keirseys and James Outmans who only contribute on defense and the bases don't provide enough value. Outman does have legitimate power, but his strikeout rate would make Matt Wallner blush. 

If the Twins want a premium defense guy, they should call up Kreidler. He's probably a better outfielder than Outman and he's also the best defensive infielder the Twins have in the upper minors. He can't hit either, but at least he could help in more places. If they want somebody to platoon in left field, they should recall Roden. 

right now Martin is the platoon.   Outman fits as he can PR or be a defensive replacement and play limited time.   I agree that Roden is the better player - but would need a larger role then Outman plays currently.  

[twinstalker]

We gave up an injured reliever (a perpetually injured reliever) for Outman.  He wouldn't have lasted the winter if I were named king.  I do sort of like that Roden's been allowed to play at AAA.  I think it possible he put a lot of pressure on himself both making Toronto out of ST last year and again with being traded to the Twins.  AAA for a few weeks was the perfect place for him to start and get in a groove.

[mickster]

12 minutes ago, nova_twins said:

I'm not convinced it's better to have Roden in AAA vs playing part time in the Majors. Also Kriedler might be a better option at this point if Outman really is cooked at the plate.

I think the Twins will let it play out for now. If everyone is healthy at the end of April and Outman is still struggling, I could see a change. 

with the 15 days now in the past, teams can start to shuffle.   We will start seeing the BP Shuffle Train from St. Paul to Target start moving if we burn through arms.    Others may happen as well.

[D.C Twins]

Negative 120 days... 

[HeresWaldo]

I'm generally opposed to letting players go this early because the samples are so small. If we always cut players who looked bad through this point in the season we would've cut Carlos Santana from the 2024 team, and it's always important to remember the value of patience. That said, I think Outman might be different. He didn't make sense as an acquisition in the first place, looked absolutely terrible in a meaningful role last year, and doesn't really fit the current roster. Austin Martin probably isn't a good center fielder but he's at least Willi Castro level out there, so he can be the occasional backup which is Outman's only real role. If Buxton got hurt you wouldn't want Martin out there every day, but they'd also be able to call up someone from the Saints and both Rodriguez and Jenkins can supposedly play center, so it still wouldn't be Outman's job. Outman doesn't hit, runs fine but not well enough to be a pure pinch runner, and can play center but not well enough to make up for the bat. He's probably not the worst outfielder in baseball and maybe someone would pick him up off waivers, but he just doesn't fit this roster and probably shouldn't have made the team on opening day. 

[mikelink45]

Let's combine this article with the previous one by Cody Christi.  We need a good right handed bat more than a pinch runner.  Bring up Gonzales.  Get rid of Outman.  

[jmlease1]

5 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

Let's combine this article with the previous one by Cody Christi.  We need a good right handed bat more than a pinch runner.  Bring up Gonzales.  Get rid of Outman.  

In principle I agree with you, but GG hasn't exactly forced the Twins hand so far this season (quite a few cold bats in AAA so far). 

But I was on the no to Outman train this season too. His defense has been fine, but not impressive. As a baserunner, he's fine, but won't get many opportunities. He's looked utterly lost at the plate in his fortunately few opportunities. His role has been limited a bit by circumstance and roster construction, but sadly that's been a good thing. We probably would have been better keeping Arcia around...

[bean5302]

Outman is DaShawn Keirsey 2.0 at this point, except not as fast and even more expensive and without options. I don't think the Twins would have a problem DFA'ing him and having him pass through waivers.

It's clear Outman is working on his approach at the plate trying to cut down the strikeouts, but he's going to need regular plate appearances to make progress. It's better for him to try to learn how to hit in MiLB rather than at the MLB level.

The question is do we want Rodon or Emma or Gonzalez up here sitting on the bench and playing defensive replacement while the Twins have other players as the primary left fielder? If a player is going to be sacrificed to the defensive replacement role, I'd rather it not be a higher ceiling guy.

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, NYCTK said:

I'm fine with getting rid of him, but I don't want him replaced with a player that I actually want to get playing time.

Someone like Kreidler? Fine. Doesn't really matter much who the 13th man is. 

I would love it if they found a first baseman and made Kody Clemens the 13th guy on the roster.

[KirbyDome89]

2 hours ago, stringer bell said:

With a position player roster as unsettled and unproven as the Twins, the 13th guy shouldn't just be a role player.

This. Late inning defensive replacement/PR is such a massive waste of a roster spot for a team where the other 12 guys are collectively middling at best. Hell, I think it's a wasted roster spot for any team. 

[JBK]

16 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

I would love it if they found a first baseman and made Kody Clemens the 13th guy on the roster.

I agree

[ziggy]

who else do they have that has a chance to break the 0-for the season pinch hitting record?

I'm not going to bash him, I'm sure he knows how often he is striking out.

I do wish he turns it around, for everyones sake.

[Major League Ready]

He is OK in this role until one of Roden / Jenkins / Rodriguez or Gonzalez force their way on to the team.  None of them are making a case right now.  Roden started out great but has cooled off.  One of those guys need to play well for a 4-6 week stretch.    

[Trov]

He will last as long as the FO decides they want to keep him on the roster.  He is the 5th OF as pointed out, and really just to fill in for day off for Buck or defense late in game in left.  If there is an injury to any of the other 4, it is likely he will still fill that roll. 

Until the FO feels they could make better use of that roster spot he will be here. 

[soyouresayingtheresachance]

Havent been impressed with Outmans play at all. Its unfortunate, because he seems like a really good locker room guy. But if they do decide to replace him, a guy like Kreidler is really the only option at AAA. Anyone else is either not as good defensively or would need to play everyday. 

[Bodie]

How long was Joey Greaseball rostered?

[KirbyDome89]

3 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

He is OK in this role until one of Roden / Jenkins / Rodriguez or Gonzalez force their way on to the team.  None of them are making a case right now.  Roden started out great but has cooled off.  One of those guys need to play well for a 4-6 week stretch.    

Roden is 26 and he posted a nearly 900 OPS in AAA last year. I don't really  care what 2 weeks in AAA looks like when Outman is literally forcing his way off the Major League roster.  

[Nshore]

Outman has some speed and it always surprises me that a guy like that doesn't learn how to bunt better to give himself a better chance.  He's pretty much helpless against ML off speed stuff.  He needs to try something - anything.  Because I think he's going to be around for awhile.  I remember Carew could lay down a bunt for a hit pretty much at will, even when the other team was ready for it.  But bunting is considered archaic now.

[Doctor Gast]

Outman has had many opportunities & he has shown that he couldn't readjust. He has some value in defense & baserunning, but he should be kept out of the line-up because he's a lost cause, IMO, he has had too many lost ABs with the Twins. If we DFA him he'll go through but do we have anyone who can get by sitting on the bench so much & playing so little only to pinch-run & late defense at AAA?

[bean5302]

5 hours ago, Nshore said:

Outman has some speed and it always surprises me that a guy like that doesn't learn how to bunt better to give himself a better chance.  He's pretty much helpless against ML off speed stuff.  He needs to try something - anything.  Because I think he's going to be around for awhile.  I remember Carew could lay down a bunt for a hit pretty much at will, even when the other team was ready for it.  But bunting is considered archaic now.

Average OPS on bunts in MLB is about .580. Obviously, that's going to be with 0-1 strikes as bunts can't seriously be attempted with 2 strikes.

.290/.290/.290 OPS .580 wRC+ 60ish.

Even a very good bunter isn't going to be very successful when it comes to dragging a bunt for a hit. Bunting is really a situational thing. Outman has the advantage of being a left handed hitter so he could potentially benefit from a strong infield shift, but you're only really going to see that when there aren't any RISP. With RISP, his chance at getting on base with a bunt aren't going to be very good and his chance for extra bases is really nil. Might be able to sac bunt a run in with guys at the corners so the 1B can't play in.

 

[nclahammer]

Eventually he will live up to his name...and be out...man?

[stringer bell]

16 hours ago, KirbyDome89 said:

Roden is 26 and he posted a nearly 900 OPS in AAA last year. I don't really  care what 2 weeks in AAA looks like when Outman is literally forcing his way off the Major League roster.  

Outman was good in AAA last year as well,

[KirbyDome89]

4 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Outman was good in AAA last year as well,

He also hasn't been good at the MLB level in years and he has no options. The Twins need to find out whether Roden is a AAAA guy or someone worth rostering. That question has been answered with Outman.