Twins Missed a Golden Opportunity with Byron Buxton Roster Move

[HarmonK03]

30 minutes ago, LA Vikes Fan said:

I think you're going to make a call on a Catcher this week. There's a very interesting article on this site by Greg Masterson about group interview he was involved in with Derek Falvey talking about how the trade deadline works. It helps me understand why most of the deals don't go down until Sunday even though I think or thought that it made more sense to do things sooner.

I think they'll make a move Sunday regarding the catching but I less and less think it will involve trading Ryan Jeffers. I think they may keep him and either trade Caratini or try to slip Alex Jackson through waivers. I think they are considering just keeping all three by putting Jeffers behind the plate 60% of the time and at DH 20% of the time to get his bat in the lineup, playing Caratini at C 30% of the time and first base 30% of the time, with Alex Jackson paying maybe twice a week, once behind the plate and once at 1B. I think they're finding that arrangement just doesn't work when you have a full-time DH like Josh Bell but he's hard to trade because he doesn't have much value and because what you trade him, you just lost one of your middle of the order bats and you don't have a replacement. Lisa and I try to think it through, all the roads pint to either trading Caratini or trying to sneak Jackson to AAA somehow.

They can't carry three catchers after the weekend if they don't make a trade.  Why are you forcing Caratini's bat into the lineup.  We have a first baseman, let him play there and see if you have solved the position for a few years.

We have to stop trying to fit in below average players into the lineup and get a regular lineup and play them.  Having guys like Clemens or Kreidler moving around should be it, but we are putting sub optimal lineups because we are trying to force players into the lineup.

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, HarmonK03 said:

I keep asking this question, but if OPS is the criteria what does the number have to be.  Just for reference, Max Clark's OPS is .802 in the same league.

Max Clark has to be better than Outman to deserve starts in the Detroit outfield. Minnesota has better options than that already on the 26-man roster.

[HarmonK03]

1 minute ago, DJL44 said:

Max Clark has to be better than Outman to deserve starts in the Detroit outfield. Minnesota has better options than that already on the 26-man roster.

Roden is not a better option, but even if you don't agree with that, we need a center fielder.

[DJL44]

1 minute ago, HarmonK03 said:

Roden is not a better option, but even if you don't agree with that, we need a center fielder.

Keaschall is playing CF.

[soyouresayingtheresachance]

Not only should Gray not have been called up, I would've preferred he be released. Guy was bad at AAA too. We have most of the team in St Paul with over .800 OPS just waiting and this dude gets another chance? 

Actively trying to sabotage the team with this move. 

[HarmonK03]

1 minute ago, DJL44 said:

Keaschall is playing CF.

It would be nice to have someone with a little more experience playing center field, the play he missed last night was due to lack of reps out there.  And Keaschall would make a better back up than Kreidler or Clemens.

[Riverbrian]

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

Don't we want the Twins to be in that boat? I don't think they've done pre-arb extensions with ANYONE since Kepler and Polanco, let alone 1st year contract extensions.

If they believe in Jenkins and Culpepper. I'd love for them to sign a Pratt type deal. 

You'll find me much less concerned about all the stuff I'm currently concerned about in this regard. 

The Brewers have done it with Chourio, Pratt and Lara. 

Yeah... I'd like to get in that boat. 

[David HK]

I saw someone else with this idea, but, you want a LH stick? Why not Wallner? You might get lucky and get a bomb or two, plus you can showcase him as tradebait if he hits at all. 

Tristan Gray again?  Yipe.

[tony&rodney]

17 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Keaschall is playing CF.

With all due respect, Luke is not and never will be an average centerfielder. 

 

[laloesch]

3 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

Why skip Houston over Culpepper?

I suspect that Houston will quickly force the issue once he gets the call to St. Paul.      

[TheLeviathan]

I'd like to know their reasons but I can't fault the Twins for being patient.  His numbers are pretty good in AAA but they don't scream "what is this guy still doing there?"

I see that much more with Culpepper.  (I know his OPS trails Jenkins, but what he's doing as a SS, his age, etc makes him the more obvious call-up)

[chpettit19]

15 minutes ago, laloesch said:

I suspect that Houston will quickly force the issue once he gets the call to St. Paul.      

Entirely possible. But isn't it a little weird to jump your top SS prospect at AA over your top SS prospect at AAA?

I'd be much more surprised to see Houston in MLB in 2027 than Culpepper. Although, I'd have no problem seeing both of them end this season in a Twins jersey.

[Linus]

I want Jenkins up but only when his development in AAA is complete. I don’t know when that is but the Twins should. If they have determined it is best for Jenkins to play longer in AAA then I’m ok with it. 

[Mike Sixel]

2 minutes ago, Linus said:

I want Jenkins up but only when his development in AAA is complete. I don’t know when that is but the Twins should. If they have determined it is best for Jenkins to play longer in AAA then I’m ok with it. 

Almost no players are fully deveolped in teh minors. They are keeping him down for the year of control. Maybe to keep him off the 40 in case next year is lost. 

[nicksaviking]

4 minutes ago, Linus said:

I want Jenkins up but only when his development in AAA is complete. I don’t know when that is but the Twins should. If they have determined it is best for Jenkins to play longer in AAA then I’m ok with it. 

Have they decided it's best for Jenkins? Or best to keep his future earnings low?

Because I can tell what's not incomplete, his low strikeout and high walk rates, which are almost always the things that holds a AAA player back.

[TheLeviathan]

5 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Almost no players are fully deveolped in teh minors. They are keeping him down for the year of control. Maybe to keep him off the 40 in case next year is lost. 

I could be wrong, but aren't we past the point where there is a distinction between now and, say, April of next year?

[Mike Sixel]

2 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

I could be wrong, but aren't we past the point where there is a distinction between now and, say, April of next year?

Mid-August is the date they get another year of control.....give or take.