Out of Patience: Emmanuel Rodriguez's Lack of Remaining Options Is a Problem

[DJL44]

40 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

To those saying Jenkins is not knocking on the door -  yes he is.  

.281

.377

.462

.838

102

Subtract 200 points of OPS from AAA stats to get a ballpark for MLB equivalent production.

[Woof Bronzer]

41 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Emmanuel Rodriguez played his first game in AAA yesterday after returning from the 60 day injured list. It was the minor league Field of Dreams game, which is a career highlight for most of these players. Rodriguez went 0 for 3 with a walk. I guess that walk means he’s 100% ready for a major league promotion and the Twins are idiots to not promote him today.

Yes, when are the Twins going to learn how dumb it is to play young, cheap players before they are fully polished, 100% complete MLB players who will step right in to All Star level production?  This organization is going to be much more successful holding back young guys as long as possible, and instead filling out the roster with more expensive, washed 33 year old DHs on 1 year deals.  This strategy has been so successful over the past 35 years that the team even won a divisional-round playoff series 24 years ago!  

Four, five more years of seasoning in St Paul and E-Rod will be on the cusp of a call up!

[MapleGroveTwinsFan]

10 minutes ago, Coach Wheels said:

Do you Larnach in a platoon DH role or do you see him moved? I can go either way with Larnach, he's had a good year offensively

He shouldn't even be offered arb, like they should have done with Farmer, unless they think they can pull off a trade like the did with Seattle, I mean if you can get a old flash in the pan RP, an injured SP and a young prospect like they did with Polanco. 

[nicksaviking]

52 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Emmanuel Rodriguez played his first game in AAA yesterday after returning from the 60 day injured list. It was the minor league Field of Dreams game, which is a career highlight for most of these players. Rodriguez went 0 for 3 with a walk. I guess that walk means he’s 100% ready for a major league promotion and the Twins are idiots to not promote him today.

No, but they probably are for being stubborn enough to give James Outman an opening day roster spot instead.

[Road trip]

If healthy, and if hitting in AAA, I think he's a good candidate for the September call up.  Beyond occasional starts he'd be a valuable pinch runner/late inning defender off the bench.

Not mentioned here, but his minor league splits show EmRod is the rare lefty hitter who handles left handed pitching very well.  Twins certainly could use someone who may not need to be platooned.  

[Danchat]

ERod is finally back at AAA after missing about 3 months, but even when the rust is knocked off, he was striking out at a 29.4% clip there. He's gonna look like Fedko if called up now.

There's no chance of DFA'ing him and getting him back next year if they don't want him on the 26 man roster, so they will either have to start playing him in the majors or include him as part of a trade package in an offseason trade. Personally, I would move him while teams still consider him a top 100 prospect.

There have been opportunities to call him up previously and get a look at him (they were burning an option year regardless) and the Twins passed... and in the midst of trying to tread water, I don't think they're going to give him a chance in the next few weeks. Maybe we see him cameo in September.

[Woof Bronzer]

1 minute ago, DJL44 said:

Subtract 200 points of OPS from AAA stats to get a ballpark for MLB equivalent production.

Yep, better keep Jenkins down another year or two.  He might have a learning curve at the MLB level and we absolutely can't have that.  Much better to give MLB time to players who performed even worse at AAA, like Tristan Gray.  

[Dman]

37 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

To those saying Jenkins is not knocking on the door -  yes he is.  

.281

.377

.462

.838

102

He's coming off a .777 OPS for July which is his most recent full month of work.  That's a good number for the Majors but in AAA you usually want guys in the .900 OPS range as it generally drops 200 points once they get to the majors.  

It's only like 7 games or so but he is having a Good August getting to his power more and for that month has a 1.000 OPS. If he can keep that up for few more weeks they might decide to call him up.  Right now though it seems premature as he is struggling with AAA pitching and the Majors is much, much harder.

He's got a good approach, but like Erod he might need to be more aggressive than he has been.  If BUxton comes back I don't see them adding him unless he continues to perform at a really high level and or they are out of the playoff race.

[DJL44]

2 minutes ago, Woof Bronzer said:

Yes, when are the Twins going to learn how dumb it is to play young, cheap players before they are fully polished, 100% complete MLB players who will step right in to All Star level production?  This organization is going to be much more successful holding back young guys as long as possible, and instead filling out the roster with more expensive, washed 33 year old DHs on 1 year deals.  This strategy has been so successful over the past 35 years that the team even won a divisional-round playoff series 24 years ago!  

Four, five more years of seasoning in St Paul and E-Rod will be on the cusp of a call up!

Yes, the Twins should definitely play minor leaguers who are injured in the major leagues instead of putting them on the minor league injured list.

Rodriguez has not been promoted because he can’t stay on the field. He has missed nearly 400 games due to injury over the past four seasons. 

[MapleGroveTwinsFan]

8 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Subtract 200 points of OPS from AAA stats to get a ballpark for MLB equivalent production.

Max Clark says hello. 

 

[DJL44]

3 minutes ago, Woof Bronzer said:

Yep, better keep Jenkins down another year or two.  He might have a learning curve at the MLB level and we absolutely can't have that.  Much better to give MLB time to players who performed even worse at AAA, like Tristan Gray.  

I don’t remember the Twins giving Tristan Gray playing time in the outfield.

[HarmonK03]

3 minutes ago, Woof Bronzer said:

Yep, better keep Jenkins down another year or two.  He might have a learning curve at the MLB level and we absolutely can't have that.  Much better to give MLB time to players who performed even worse at AAA, like Tristan Gray.  

I think they should target 2029 at the earliest for Jenkins, hopefully by then he will have an OPS 1.100 in AAA and then he will be ready.

[MapleGroveTwinsFan]

6 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

I don’t remember the Twins giving Tristan Gray playing time in the outfield.

But they have started him 52 times (34 at SS, 15 at 3B, 3 at 2B), Which means it pushed Krieder out to the outfield 17 times. So by extension it cost at minimum 17 games for outfielders or outfield prospects, no?

[LA Vikes Fan]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

They need to find him a spot on a team that is not trying to win in 2027. This is exactly why I thought he was a good player to trade to the Angels for Neto.

Couldn't agree more. He's the guy we should have traded but I don't think other teams value him very highly with the injury issues and inconsistent performance. Great potential, not so great performance. Was reported out here that the Angels were not interested in him. 

I'm interested to find out where Gleeman got his info that Emma is unlikely to get a 4th year option. I think the rule is that a player who exhausts his 3 options without yet accumulating five full professional seasons of service time gets a 4th year option. If so, he should qualify (which says a lot about why he couldn't be traded). Has that changed?

Anyway, options or no options Roden should go down either for Buxton o`r a AAA guy but not for Emma, he should go down for the player(s) that have performed the best. That's Jenkins first, then Ben Ross, then Mendez, and maybe then GG before you get to Emma. No scholarships, no promotions based upon tantalizing potential. Promotion based upon performance. Roden has gotten over 50 ABs this year, 188 overall, and simply has not performed at the plate and hasn't added a lot in the field. His next shot is next year and it might be with another team. I suspect  they're waiting for August 15 for Jenkins or Buck to return. Roden should be gone after this weekend. Emma is not his replacement.  

[DJL44]

1 minute ago, MapleGroveTwinsFan said:

But they have started him 52 times (34 at SS, 15 at 3B, 3 at 2B), Which means it pushed Krieder out to the outfield 17 times. So by extension it cost at minimum 17 games for outfielders or outfield prospects, no?

So you want Walker Jenkins to play 17 games in the majors this season instead of getting everyday playing time in the minors.

[Major League Ready]

1 hour ago, mikelink45 said:

To those saying Jenkins is not knocking on the door -  yes he is.  

.281

.377

.462

.838

102

His OPS is 150 points lower than Wallner and Sabato.  He ranks 12th in OPS among Saints players.  His numbers are decent and he has been a little better lately, but I would not characterize his production as demanding a spot on the MLB roster.   

[thelanges5]

Get Emma and Jenkins up to the MLB. Are they trying to win now or not? If they are, they should have the top 26 guys playing for the big club.

[saviking]

Pretty simple, E-Rod up next year over anyone that still has options. I mean, if the Twins gave Outman a long runway even though he was horrible at the end of last year just because he was out of options they most certainly will do it with E-Rod. 

[nicksaviking]

10 minutes ago, Danchat said:

ERod is finally back at AAA after missing about 3 months, but even when the rust is knocked off, he was striking out at a 29.4% clip there. He's gonna look like Fedko if called up now.

There's no chance of DFA'ing him and getting him back next year if they don't want him on the 26 man roster, so they will either have to start playing him in the majors or include him as part of a trade package in an offseason trade. Personally, I would move him while teams still consider him a top 100 prospect.

There have been opportunities to call him up previously and get a look at him (they were burning an option year regardless) and the Twins passed... and in the midst of trying to tread water, I don't think they're going to give him a chance in the next few weeks. Maybe we see him cameo in September.

I think the lack of options is going to be an issue trading him too. You're going to have to find an absolute dog of a team that is willing to commit a roster spot to him in 2027 whether he's playing well or not. So maybe the Angels, A's and Rockies? Maybe the Giants if they go into rebuild mode? 

Otherwise, I'm sure most other teams would happily give him a shot, but I doubt they'd give up any players they'd care at all about losing.

I know the injuries complicated this situation, but the Twins absolutely bungled this. The Twins waived the white flag on the 2025 season before it even started. They said they were competing this year but dropped payroll by 30M which means they never were serious about it. He could have been put on the opening day roster of either of those squads. And if they weren't going to entertain that idea, he should have been traded before this season even started. How did this club not see this coming?

[Brandon]

2 hours ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

I don't see the issue.   Larnach becomes the DH.  

Buxton, Rodriguez and Jenkins is the outfield.    Martin is the bench outfielder.   Roden is optioned to AAA.  

And then there is Gabriel Gonzales and Mendez and.....

[MapleGroveTwinsFan]

Just now, DJL44 said:

So you want Walker Jenkins to play 17 games in the majors this season instead of getting everyday playing time in the minors.

Didn't say Jenkins, I said 17 games for outfielders or outfield prospects. It could have been Larnach, Wallner, Martin, Roden, GG, Keashall and healthy outfielder on the 40 man. Now if it was me it wouldn't have been Larnach, Waller, Martin of Roden. 

I am for getting the young guys up and seeing what you have and not brining them up late and then having them be average or worse for multi years until finally at 29 and when they actually cost real salary end up being a platoon player. For example Larnach has spent time in the the majors for the last 6 years and has a total of 4.4 WAR, not terrible but not great either, The hope is that one of Twins prospects can put close to that up yearly. The Twins could have straight up cut Wallner, Larnach, and Martin after the 23 season and they would be no worse off today (again not what I would have done). 

I have wanted Jenkins up for some time now, but I think that ship has or should have sailed for this year, they choose Culpepper (which I am fine with) but they need to get ERod up in the next 6 or 8 games and figure out what they have with him. Imagine they trade him this offseason without every seeing him play and he ends up being a player between Ortiz and Steer, the fans are going to be pissed. 

[DJL44]

11 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

I think the lack of options is going to be an issue trading him too. You're going to have to find an absolute dog of a team that is willing to commit a roster spot to him in 2027 whether he's playing well or not. So maybe the Angels, A's and Rockies? Maybe the Giants if they go into rebuild mode? 

To the Royals for Massey could work.

[bean5302]

The Twins were willing to move Kaelen Culpepper as part of a trade for Soriano. Emmanuel Rodriguez wasn't connected to any trades probably because his value has been extinguished and he can no longer be the big piece in any significant move.

Is it really a problem Emma is out of options? While this site, and some analysts, have pushed Emma as a knocking at the door kind of player for years now, the Twins have passed him over for any number of outfield options for the past couple of years. The team clearly does not believe in him, and other teams clearly don't value him highly, either.

If Emma is the 4th outfielder coming out of camp 2027, is it really a big deal?

[Road trip]

20 minutes ago, LA Vikes Fan said:

 

Anyway, options or no options Roden should go down either for Buxton o`r a AAA guy but not for Emma, he should go down for the player(s) that have performed the best. That's Jenkins first, then Ben Ross, then Mendez, and maybe then GG before you get to Emma. No scholarships, no promotions based upon tantalizing potential. Promotion based upon performance. Roden has gotten over 50 ABs this year, 188 overall, and simply has not performed at the plate and hasn't added a lot in the field. His next shot is next year and it might be with another team. I suspect  they're waiting for August 15 for Jenkins or Buck to return. Roden should be gone after this weekend. Emma is not his replacement.  

Performance?

Emma - .899 OPS
Ross - .856
Mendez - .820
GG - .725

And Emma is by far the fastest and a better outfielder than GG or Mendez.  Honestly those last two shouldn't even be in the discussion for 2026.  They are barely handling AAA.

Jenkins is a special case.  Bring him when deemed ready, be that today or in 2027.

[DJL44]

8 minutes ago, MapleGroveTwinsFan said:

I have wanted Jenkins up for some time now, but I think that ship has or should have sailed for this year, they choose Culpepper (which I am fine with) but they need to get ERod up in the next 6 or 8 games and figure out what they have with him. Imagine they trade him this offseason without every seeing him play and he ends up being a player between Ortiz and Steer, the fans are going to be pissed. 

I think he will be on the roster September 1 if he can manage to avoid injury that long. There have been a dozen opportunities for Rodriguez to get promoted over the past three seasons but he has almost always been injured when the Twins had an opening.

[LA Vikes Fan]

14 minutes ago, thelanges5 said:

Get Emma and Jenkins up to the MLB. Are they trying to win now or not? If they are, they should have the top 26 guys playing for the big club.

Agree with you on Jenkins but not sure where. Emma is not one of the top 26 guys we have. There are at least 3- 4 guys ahead of him in AAA - Jenkins, Ross, Mendez, and maybe Gonzalez - and that's before we even think about Wallner and Sabato.

I'm with you, let's have our best 26 guys for this final push. Buxton for Roden is a given. Jenkins for . . . Jackson? Martin? Kriedler? Martin hits LH pitching well (.258/.409/.400 (.809) in 2026, .895 OPS in 2025 against lefties). We likely lose Jackson if he goes on waivers. We need Kriedler's glove, especially if Culpepper can't hold down SS. Maybe for Jackson but then he's likely gone for 2027 because he has an arbitration year remaining so the acquiring team can tender a contract and keep him, probably for less than $2m. Jackson then only becomes available if waived or released by an acquiring team, not real likely given the paucity of catching. Jeffers proably leaves for 2027 so we need Jackson or we're back on the FA catching market in 2027, which is pretty grim. No other spots. Jenkins probably has to wait for an injury and he's next. To me, very doubtful Emma comes up in 2026 unless we fall out of the race and the FO wants to see where he is with the options exhausted. 

[Dman]

35 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

The Twins were willing to move Kaelen Culpepper as part of a trade for Soriano. Emmanuel Rodriguez wasn't connected to any trades probably because his value has been extinguished and he can no longer be the big piece in any significant move.

Is it really a problem Emma is out of options? While this site, and some analysts, have pushed Emma as a knocking at the door kind of player for years now, the Twins have passed him over for any number of outfield options for the past couple of years. The team clearly does not believe in him, and other teams clearly don't value him highly, either.

If Emma is the 4th outfielder coming out of camp 2027, is it really a big deal?

I think you are right they can carry him as they had Outman who they barely used and they currently have three catchers so they have proven they can carry dead weight if they need to.

I think the main issue is what if he is really bad, pretty unplayable bad like Lewis and Wallner were to start the year.  With no options you can't send him down to get at bats with live pitching in game situations.  He just has to sit on the bench and rot or they lose a top prospect that just needs more time to develop for nothing.  That is the larger issue.

If he performs half way decent then it's no problem whatsoever to carry him as he wouldn't need a reset.  It's just that he has a near 30% K rate in the minors and that doesn't bode well for the majors.  He also has a fair bit of in zone swing and miss. I think it's going to take time for him to adjust.

We'll see what happens as they are going to add him.

[MapleGroveTwinsFan]

16 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

To the Royals for Massey could work.

yes lets add another 29 year unproven player over a 23 year old prospect. 

[thelanges5]

5 minutes ago, LA Vikes Fan said:

Agree with you on Jenkins but not sure where. Emma is not one of the top 26 guys we have. There are at least 3- 4 guys ahead of him in AAA - Jenkins, Ross, Mendez, and maybe Gonzalez - and that's before we even think about Wallner and Sabato.

I'm with you, let's have our best 26 guys for this final push. Buxton for Roden is a given. Jenkins for . . . Jackson? Martin? Kriedler? Martin hits LH pitching well (.258/.409/.400 (.809) in 2026, .895 OPS in 2025 against lefties). We likely lose Jackson if he goes on waivers. We need Kriedler's glove, especially if Culpepper can't hold down SS. Maybe for Jackson but then he's likely gone for 2027 because he has an arbitration year remaining so the acquiring team can tender a contract and keep him, probably for less than $2m. Jackson then only becomes available if waived or released by an acquiring team, not real likely given the paucity of catching. Jeffers proably leaves for 2027 so we need Jackson or we're back on the FA catching market in 2027, which is pretty grim. No other spots. Jenkins probably has to wait for an injury and he's next. To me, very doubtful Emma comes up in 2026 unless we fall out of the race and the FO wants to see where he is with the options exhausted. 

Wasting a roster spot on Jackson because they are worried about the 2027 backup catcher situation is roster mismanagement. 

[bean5302]

6 minutes ago, Dman said:

I think you are right they can carry him as they had Outman who they barely used and they currently have three catchers so they have proven they can carry dead weight if they need to.

I think the main issue is what if he is really bad, pretty unplayable bad like Lewis and Wallner were to start the year.  With no options you can't send him down to get at bats with live pitching in game situations.  He just has to sit on the bench and rot or they lose a top prospect that just needs more time develop for nothing.  That is the larger issue.

If he performs half way decent then it's no problem whatsoever to carry him as he wouldn't need a reset.  It's just that he has a near 30% K rate in the minors and that doesn't bode well for the majors.  He also has a fair bit of in zone swing and miss. I think it's going to take time for him to adjust.

We'll see what happens as they are going to add him.

If he's really bad, you DFA him and he passes through waivers or you move on if somebody claims him. He wasn't good enough to make the roster for 8 years in the system at that point. I'm not too concerned.