Should the Twins Pursue These Newly DFA'd Right-Handed Bats?

[wesnewy]

I'm also in the same boat as most of the other commenters on this thread. I would much rather see what we have internally before trying to roster other teams sloppy seconds

[howeda7]

No. Call up Culpper and Jenkins. Ditch Gray and Roden. 

[TopGunn#22]

I'd much rather get Jenkins and Culpepper up.  It's time to go with youth rather than look at one-dimensional DH types.  Garver was never a plus defender at Catcher.  Soler is well below average in RF.  Refsnyder is marginally better in the field than Soler. 

But there is a reason each of these guys have been DFA'd.  They are terrible this year.  Soler was pretty bad in 2025.  Garver hasn't been good since 2019.  They are not the future.  Jenkins and Culpepper are.  As howeda7 suggested, call them up and send Gray and Roden to St. Paul or DFA them if they are out of options.   

[DJL44]

8 hours ago, Greglw3 said:

Jenkins and Culpepper both had 3 hits tonight. Jenkins up to .285. Bring them both up tomorrow. And Gabby had 3 hits as well so since he’s killing lefties, there’s your answer!

Every prospect should be promoted when they get 3 hits and demoted when they go 0 for 4. We can bounce them up and down like a yo-yo.

[Greglw3]

22 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Every prospect should be promoted when they get 3 hits and demoted when they go 0 for 4. We can bounce them up and down like a yo-yo.

Walker Jenkins is not "every prospect" and he’s on an overall tear, not just last night. He’s way more talented than "every prospect". 

The same could be said for Kaelen Culpepper, but to a slightly lesser degree, perhaps. I think he’d be a big offensive upgrade over Kreidler with more power, more speed and ultimately, if not right away, a higher batting average too.

The infusion of speed and raw athleticism that Jenkins and Culpepper would bring would be huge for a team that has struggled offensively for an extended period.

[DJL44]

2 minutes ago, Greglw3 said:

Walker Jenkins is not "every prospect" and he’s on an overall tear, not just last night. He’s way more talented than "every prospect". 

The same could be said for Kaelen Culpepper, but to a slightly lesser degree, perhaps. I think he’d be a big offensive upgrade over Kreidler with more power, more speed and ultimately, if not right away, a higher batting average too.

The infusion of speed and raw athleticism that Jenkins and Culpepper would bring would be huge for a team that has struggled offensively for an extended period.

Before yesterday’s game, Culpepper was hitting .188 in AAA since returning from injury.

[Greglw3]

6 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Before yesterday’s game, Culpepper was hitting .188 in AAA since returning from injury.

That's a fair point.

I would counter it with, in the last 5 games, against 2 different teams, he’s hitting .350 with a .409 OBP, so maybe the rust is receding rapidly.

In Jenkins last 6 games, he’s hitting .417 with a .481 OBP. 

[TopGunn#22]

You make a good point DJL44, but I agree with Greglw3.  Jenkins is our top prospect, Culpepper either #2 or #3 depending on your opinion of Vahn Lackey.  Adding players who were DFA'd for a reason is not the future and it may not even be any kind of help for the present.

Now that we're into August, I don't think service time is much of an issue for either Jenkins or Culpepper.  Their athleticism and energy could provide a spark.  I don't see much a spark provided from Garver, Soler or Refsnyder.

Swapping out Jenkins and Culpepper for Roden and Gray seems to me to be quite an upgrade.  There will certainly be some "rough moments" with the young guys, but they could also have some positively impactful moments.  At this point in the season, I'm willing to role the dice on that (in a purely Strat-O-Matic Baseball sense).  :)     

[bean5302]

57 minutes ago, Greglw3 said:

Walker Jenkins is not "every prospect" and he’s on an overall tear, not just last night. He’s way more talented than "every prospect". 

The same could be said for Kaelen Culpepper, but to a slightly lesser degree, perhaps. I think he’d be a big offensive upgrade over Kreidler with more power, more speed and ultimately, if not right away, a higher batting average too.

The infusion of speed and raw athleticism that Jenkins and Culpepper would bring would be huge for a team that has struggled offensively for an extended period.

What are you talking about? Jenkins is not on a tear. Why are people just making this stuff up about Jenkins' performance. Just cool your jets and wait for him to actually be good relative to his peers.

17 hours ago, bean5302 said:

...In the past 30 days, Walker Jenkins rank according to International League hitters who qualify with at least 57 plate appearances.
wRC+ = 69th of 136 = 49th percentile
OPS = 70th of 136 = 48th percentile
wOBA = 64th of 136 = 52nd percentile
BB Rate = 63rd of 136 = 54th percentile
K Rate = 39th of 136 = 71st percentile
BABIP = 51st of 136 = 62nd percentile (it's not luck he's pedestrian)
ISO = 90th of 136 = 33rd percentile
Spd = 59th of 136 = 56th percentile
wSB = 70th of 136 = 48th percentile
LD% = 67th of 136 = 50th percentile
GB% = 96th of 136 = 29th percentile
FB% = 92nd of 136 = 32nd percentile
Popup% = 90th of 136 = 33rd percentile
HR:FB% = 112th of 136 = 17th percentile

The only stat where he's meaningfully better than dead average is strikeout rate. 

from this thread

 

[Andy MacPhail]

Margot is probably available, maybe we should pick him up.

[DJL44]

As an aside, this shows how high the floor is for MLB talent is right now. Jorge Soler still hammers the ball when he makes contact and he’s freely available for nothing.

The worst teams win 40% of their games and the best win 60%. Imagine if all the NFL teams had records between 7-10 and 10-7 or all NBA teams were grouped between 33-49 and 49-33.

MLB is long overdue for expansion. 

[TJSweens]

My response to each of those three

NO!

NO!

NO!

Bring up Culpepper. That RH option is a lot more exciting than any of Soler, Garver and Refsnyder. Not to mention,  there is a place to plug him right into the lineup.

[miller761]

If Soler is healthy and passes through waivers he is worth a look, 

[mikelink45]

Was this column intended to tweak the readers and get responses like this?  No - if I remember right we have a highly rated minor league - let's use it. 

[killercarewoliva]

15 hours ago, HarmonK03 said:

The obsession with a RH bat continues.  Let's get quality players on the roster, not more dumpster diving if we are truly trying to win.

let's take a look at this. if either one of those three people get claimed, that means they don't have confidence in the AAA people at all. there are a good number of qualified candidates, not just Jenkins. also, I think if either one of those three were claimed those guys I'm speaking of would just be demoralized personally. this team's offense is not playoff caliber even though they have been scoring a lot of runs throughout the season, it just is not ready. we can't outpitch Kansas City with Dobnak or what's his name Comstock with that high earned run average? Mendez in right field and Jenkins in Center field.

[Twins GFP]

Solar is the only one worthy of discussion, but with the way the roster is constructed, he isn't a good fit.

Pass on all three

[tarheeltwinsfan]

12 hours ago, Greglw3 said:

My sentiments exactly! Great minds think alike! I’m sure they would improve the Twins offense.

At  the very least they would provide a spark and energy and hope and get the yips out of the way for 2027

[twinfan]

Let's see who else lands on the DFA list. While I agree to bring up a minor leaguer, I would NOT get rid of Bell who has been one of our better hitters so far. Of the 3, I'd take Soler but he has to be healthy. Then who does he replace? As for the other 2, Seattle is a graveyard for RH but both are way down in the pecking order. I can see the Yanks taking a flyer on Garver.

[howeda7]

6 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Every prospect should be promoted when they get 3 hits and demoted when they go 0 for 4. We can bounce them up and down like a yo-yo.

No. Get them up here and let play every day for 3 weeks at a minimum. The offense is dead right now. It can't really hurt. They have try something.

[purplesoldier4u]

Give Sabato a shot!

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, purplesoldier4u said:

Give Sabato a shot!

[Greglw3]

10 hours ago, bean5302 said:

What are you talking about? Jenkins is not on a tear. Why are people just making this stuff up about Jenkins' performance. Just cool your jets and wait for him to actually be good relative to his peers.

from this thread

 

bean5302, here’s what I’m talking about.

The mean batting in the IL in 2026 is .254 and Jenkins is hitting .285.

Good relative to his peers?

Wait?

It’s here, brother. I can tell you that there is a major statistical significance between a .285 avg and a .254 avg.

He’s very good relative to his peers, kinda like Trevor Larnach to his peers.