Too Much Versatility Is Hurting the Minnesota Twins

[ashbury]

6 hours ago, Matthew Lenz said:

Do you think the Twins’ defensive struggles trace back to too much roster shuffling and a lack of true standouts at each position? Let me know what you think in the comments!

 

This question is quite a bit at odds with the headline which at first I came here to rebut:

Quote

Too Much Versatility Is Hurting the Minnesota Twins

Too low a threshold for what is considered acceptable, combined with a conviction the player will improve that proves to be incorrect.  There's the problem.  Tristan Gray is an example of the former, Brooks Lee at SS is the latter.

True versatility is valuable. 

Half-assing it?  Not so much.

 

[ashbury]

34 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Talent plays. 

In particular, the bat has to play.  Mookie Betts has, until recently, never has to justify his bat, and then his relative skills at a given position become secondary to who else is on the roster.

A quick and dirty approach to lineups is to take the 9 best hitters at your disposal (subject to handedness of the opposing pitcher and possibly other considerations) and then ask "who's the best SS among these?" then "who's the best CF?" then "who's the best 2B?" and on down the defensive spectrum.  After that, decide which position represents the biggest compromise on defense, probably shortstop, check the 4 remaining bats not in this lineup, see if one of them improves things enough to make up for the worse bat or if it's best to leave the lineup as it is.

But this simplistic method only works if *somebody* with a decent bat can play the skill positions.  If one guy is the only answer at SS, CF, and maybe 2B, the supposed versatility of that player doesn't get the job done.

That's what we've seen on the Opening Day roster, and it still haunts us to a lesser degree. 

[PuckettPond]

Multifunctional is better than functional. Baking soda & WD-40 has over 1001 uses toilet paper has one. Who was the only Twins players to play all positions in a game?

[weitz41]

It's a frustrating make up for the Twins and us fans. The draft is the key to where the team is now IMO. Drafting sluggers that can't hit same side pitching, combined with bat 1st players who can't play average defense. You end up with a platoon heavy, mediocre team.

Royce's two knee injuries changed the equation a bit. As someone who's had rotator cuff surgery on both shoulders, I feel safe in saying you never are the same as you were before those happened. Lee was never going to be a starting SS on a payoff worthy team defensively. You can go over each position and you end up with Buxton and....

Right now, the Twins are built to fight for a wild card. They don't have the players to have a Hrbek, Puckett, Gaetti, Knoblauch, Harper and Gagne in line up. Some of them, but not enough. so, we have what we have.

[DocBauer]

I both agree and disagree with the OP. Positional versatility is a GOOD thing on a limited size roster. You need to move guys around once in a while for days off, matchups, or even injuries. But OVERALL roster construction is important. 

And the construction of the Twins Opening Day roster was flawed at best. And while changes made during the season haven't erased those initial roster mistakes, they have made the defense a little better than how it began. 

Lee to 3B was the 1st move that created a cascading event. I believe this was the RIGHT move as I think it's Lee's best position for a variety of reasons. And he will only get better.

WHEN Kreidler played SS, the whole INF was better. If there's one thing about Shelton I disagree with, it would be he love of Gray. At BEST he's a decent 3B/2B backup who can play SS here and there. K-Pepper is a very talented young man, but a rookie, who may move to 2B when Houston is ready, but let us not pick on him so early, OK?

I don't think Lewis was a poor 3B, I just like Lee better there. And again, I think he'll only get better. I think Lewis has the potential to be a very good 1B with a little more time and experience there. As a former SS and 3B, I really don't have a problem with him playing some 2B here and there. He SHOULD be able to be competent there with a little more work.

I still believe Keaschall can be competent at 2B with time and work. He's too good of an athlete to NOT be able to get over the "over thinking" plays and just trusting his instincts and natural ability. But regrettably, I DO think he's better in the OF. He's actually flashed in the OF, but has also made some poor mistakes out there. But I actually believe he has the potential to be a solid OF with some more time there. I even think he can be a decent backup CF with more experience. 

But if you haven't already guessed by my comments, the problem is TIME and EXPERIENCE. ALL of these changes have been happening ON THE FLY during the season. But as average to poor as the results have been, the defense has still looked better. That's how badly the roster was initially constructed. 

And that's why I state I agree and disagree with the OP.

Lewis HAS worked out at 2B in the offseason, but was then told to forget it and concentrate on 3B. NOW he's learning 1B, and also being asked to play a little 2B. Even Mauer took a season or two to become an excellent 1B.

Lee has been asked to play 2B, SS, and 3B in his brief career. Now he's finally SET at a singular position. I think that's important. 

Keaschall, due to his arm injury, has played very little 2B. He's mostly played 1B, OF, and DH while in MILB. His TALENT says he can play all of these positions. But come on! The kid has played all over the place just to keep developing his BAT before surgery. Then he comes up early, flashes, and gets a broken forearm that robs him of months. He's not only still, hopefully, getting at least a little more arm strength back over time, but also adjusting to semi-new positions at the ML level with limited time playing them in MILB.

Do you realize Julien had more time at 2B to prove himself than Keaschall has had?

Bouncing around at both the MILB level and at the ML level hasn't exactly been beneficial to his development. But he's flashed in the OF, and made some poor plays in the OF. But he does seem to learn from his mistakes. 

But here is where the GOOD NEWS starts to take place.

Lewis will gain confidence and experience at 1B and continue to get better. I still don't have a problem of him playing a little 2B or 3B if needed. But he will be the PRIMARY 1B in 2027.

Lee is now the 3B. The fact that he CAN play a little SS or 2B if needed due to injury or late game changes is OK. But he's the regular 3B.

Until Houston is promoted to the regular SS spot...and I'd seriously consider that for Opening Day based on potential, and the BEST INF alignment...K-Pepper is the Opening Day SS.

So again, I agree and disagree with the OP. In 2027, there just shouldn't be a need for Caratini to play 1B unless it's a late game switch.

Kreidler should ONLY be a Super Utility player, and not a regular. There's just no reason for him being anything but that.

Keaschall is a key to the lineup. I remain STUNNED that Shelton hasn't already put him in the #1 slot. Larnach has been slumping, and Keaschall has been great since May. But how much better might he be defensively in 2027 with some hard work at 2B AND the OF. It's up to him to improve, but I have a hunch he will put in the work.

I DON'T dislike roster flexibility.  I think it's a good thing when you have the talent to do so, unlike this current roster who is doing so out of necessity. But that's going to change in 2027.

Even with some growing pains, the OF of Rodriguez, Buxton, and Jenkins will bring back memories of the "no raindrops falling" of past OF defense. Keaschall will have the offseason to turn himself in to the next Marwin Gonzalez. And I'm not joking when I say that. He's got a lot of work to do, but he's got the potential to be a 5 position player. And we already know he's got the BAT to play.

I really respect Kreidler. And even with a slump, he still impresses me with his bat approach, some power, and his defense is excellent.  Even still, I'd love to see Ross give him serious competition for 2027.

SOME of the roster flexibility for this season HAS held the Twins back, no question. But roster flexibility as a whole is a good thing with better players.

The Twins for 2027 are poised for a better lineup, potentially, and with better roster flexibility out of options, and NOT necessity. 

Clemens becomes a great 5 position player who can also DH. Kreidler, unless Ross beats him out, is the Super Utility player. Keaschall can also be a 5 position player who plays daily because his BAT is too good to not play. I'd have him as the #1 in the lineup daily.

The only thing this team needs is a good hitting RH OF to balance the roster.

So yeah, the roster flexibility of the 2026 team is actually kinda hurting them because of changes on the fly.

BUT some of those changes could really help in 2027. Personally, I think that's more important. 

[JADBP]

15 hours ago, Cris E said:

This is the whole thing. The Twins draft for hitters the way some teams draft for fastballs. For example their second rounder this year is a giant Texas catcher who hits like a lumberjack, but no one has said much about his glovework. As first rounders Lewis and Lee may have been a SS long-term, but Royce's injuries derailed that and Lee always had 3B or LF legs, so eventually they had to be moved. You draft a glove like Houston and you're drafting a SS that you hope hits enough to stick. You draft a glove like Sabato or Ganzalez or Kirriloff or Wallner or Larnach and you are hoping he keeps hitting enough to make you keep him on the roster. The Twins' high choice of Houston was noteworthy because of how out of character it was. 

But the larger hypothesis that the article tried to address is wrong.  The flexibility is not the problem because it was never the goal.  Sure Kreidler and Grey were picked up as utility guys, but no one else was. Those other guys were all acquired to play specific positions, positions that many of them really couldn't handle better than poorly. 

The theory has always been that you play guys at the hardest position they can handle to leave room for other, better hitters that can't play defense as well. Leave LF open for a Ted Williams or Greg Luzinski, Jeter can play SS well enough, Bobby Bonilla is so bad at 3B they have stationed an EMT in the first base box seats  so it's time to move him, etc. This is just a stubborn, slow walk through that process that was delayed a long time before Shelton began moving guys down the spectrum. The bad D numbers cited have improved a lot month over month, and it's due to not wasting more innings or SS Lee or 2b Keaschall. 

So the flexibility thing is false when measured in terms of roster construction, but in terms of filling injury holes it is a real challenge, and one that every team has to face when they don't have enough depth at some positions. For example they have had trouble covering CF for Byron this year because they did not acquire the usual high quality (Harris/Bader) caddy for him, and inhouse subs (Clemens, Keaschall, Martin, etc) were not up to the task whenever Kreidler was at SS. But they did have a ready sub when Jeffers wrecked his hand. 

So in conclusion, what? I guess we go with Bart Simpson: Libya is a land of contrasts. Thank You.

 

Almost, but not quite. 

The Twins have long had the oft-stated draft strategy of "taking the best athlete, regardless of need" in the early rounds.  But, they are almost always taking a SS or CFer.  There is an odd pitcher thrown in and Sabato (wasted pick) and Lackey (obvious pick).  But the problem is that we draft a SS, like say Lewis, Lee, Culpepper, Cavaco, Nick Gordon, etc., the team becomes glued to the belief that this player is the next long term answer at SS.  And, they are almost always wrong.

We end up realizing that these players are really not good enough to hold down SS at an elite level either in front of or behind the plate.  And, when they are eventually exposed at the MLB level, we start moving them around, hoping that they can find a position where they can be at least above average.  Same list of names.  We have not drafted a long term, elite fielding and hitting SS since....hmmmm.... Knoblach (who was moved to 2B)?  Cuddyer (never played a single game at SS)?

Drafting the best athlete is a fine strategy as long as we realize early on that they need to move off SS.  BUT WE DON'T!  We keep trying to force Lewis or Lee or which ever SS we drafted into the SS position, no matter how bad the fit.  Consequently, we never end up training the the best athlete for the position where he really fits well and can excel.  

We draft Lewis, keep him at SS until he comes up to MLB,  and we have been bouncing him around since.  He could be a really good 1Bman but we stick him there, give him a couple of weeks of instruction and then we have a frustrated coach and player when he doesn't perform at an elite level.  He likely would have if you had made that switch at A or AA ball.  I can understand his frustration!

Now, I have high hopes that we finally drafted a really slick fielding SS in Marek Houston, and I hope he hits at least average in the biggs.  Until then, it will likely be musical chairs because of the ineptitude of the Twins coaching and management to develop players.  This is one of he key reasons that the Twins continue to suck and why the roster is so F'ed up.  Can Zoll figure this out?  He hasn't shown anything to make me believe in him. 

[Matthew Lenz]

22 hours ago, Bangkok Twins Fan said:

I like versatile players, Willy Castro being one such good example. But sometimes I think this concept of switching players around from position to position, platooning, or whatever, certainly CAN hurt their development or play with their heads. Where I am playing this week? Players like Royce Lewis, Keaschall, Martin, and even Brooks Lee and Clemons seem adrift in the grand scheme of things. I really don't know the answer, but it seems like most players would like to know which position they are going to play for the next couple of years and stick with it, rather than trying to take on a new role. 

Honestly I think it's something that needs to be developed before they get to the majors. So many guys in this 2026 team are learning new positions at the highest level of baseball in the world. Hard to put all the blame on them.

[Matthew Lenz]

22 hours ago, HarmonK03 said:

Clemens was a fringe type guy when we got him, if he wants to stay in the major leagues, his best chance is as a utility player, which he does well.  He is a streaky player and right now similar to April he is almost unplayable offensively.  I am not giving a regular spot to Clemens, he needs to move around to be valuable.

Have one maybe two guys like this is fine. Having 4+ is an issue, IMO.

[thelanges5]

2027 Opening Day Roster:

C Caratini 

1B Royce 

2B FA or ?

SS Culpepper 

3B Lee

RF Jenkins

CF Buck

LF Keaschall

DH sign a Yandy Diaz type

Bench

Jackson, Roden, Clemens, sign a righty that hits lefties

 

[JD-TWINS]

On 8/14/2026 at 9:52 AM, The Great Hambino said:

It's an interesting thought, but it doesn't really prove anything if you don't look at how versatile other teams are in comparison to their defensive rankings.  A single data point is not a trend.

There's also a chicken-or-the-egg aspect to it.  Guys who are lockdown defenders at their position don't get moved around.  Buxton doesn't get moved around.  The good version of Correa didn't get moved around.  Are they bad defenders because they get moved around, or are they getting moved around because they aren't good enough to lock down a position?  That certainly raises questions about your scouting and development practices, but that's a discussion for different thread

Then there's simple roster math.  With the expansion of pitching staffs, teams just don't have the position-player depth that they used to be able to have.  Back in the day, there was a 25 man roster, a 10 man pitching staff, and no DH.  Take away a starting and backup catcher, and you had 13 players to cover 7 spots.  Now, with a 26 man roster, a 13 man pitching staff, and a permanent DH spot, you have 11 players to cover 8 spots.  Increased versatility is a necessity, and I don't think this gets acknowledged enough

To me, it’s obvious that Keaschall gets moved around because he’s not good enough to lockdown a position. He had 2B handed to him and was brutal - either move him on the diamond or demote him……those were the options.

Martin & Clemons move around to fill gaps left by others.

Lee had SS handed to him and was brutal - had to move him to 3B full time.

Buxton being hurt for long stretch drives much of the “moving around”. Kreidler & Keaschall have had to play CF to fill the void.

Larnach/Martin in LF - Buxton/Keidler in CF - Keaschall/Roden in RF

Lee/Kreidler - Culpepper/Kreidler - Clemons - Lewis - Jeffers/Caratini  ……….. DH - Bell …..w/o Jackson on roster, there will seldom be a Caratini at 1B line-up.

With Buxton being healthy & able to play, the rest of the positions are pretty well set!

………………..

13 guys ……full-time DH ……. still with 2 Catchers …… there are 10 guys to cover 7 spots.

[killercarewoliva]

On 8/14/2026 at 9:52 AM, The Great Hambino said:

It's an interesting thought, but it doesn't really prove anything if you don't look at how versatile other teams are in comparison to their defensive rankings.  A single data point is not a trend.

There's also a chicken-or-the-egg aspect to it.  Guys who are lockdown defenders at their position don't get moved around.  Buxton doesn't get moved around.  The good version of Correa didn't get moved around.  Are they bad defenders because they get moved around, or are they getting moved around because they aren't good enough to lock down a position?  That certainly raises questions about your scouting and development practices, but that's a discussion for different thread

Then there's simple roster math.  With the expansion of pitching staffs, teams just don't have the position-player depth that they used to be able to have.  Back in the day, there was a 25 man roster, a 10 man pitching staff, and no DH.  Take away a starting and backup catcher, and you had 13 players to cover 7 spots.  Now, with a 26 man roster, a 13 man pitching staff, and a permanent DH spot, you have 11 players to cover 8 spots.  Increased versatility is a necessity, and I don't think this gets acknowledged enough

The four main guys for the outfield would be Larnack Buxton Rodriguez, Jenkins and Roden. I picked roden because when he does hit it he can hit it a bit harder than Martin, but I really love watching Martin play. in the infield Lee culpepper, Keisha Clemons, caratini, Lewis and Kriedler. Right now then we have two shortstops that don't hit very well at all and only one of them plays good defense. with all the hype for culpepper. hope this is just the start. it'll get better. I am definitely waiting for Houston. that guy is special. if you go back to say the 1940s and 1950s and maybe even later you had your starting nine Major league players and you did not switch around. hardly at all. that person stayed there the whole season he did not get platooned. there was no strategy and there was no strategy for the type of hitter that batted in each position. I really like seeing Cesar tovar leading off rod Carew second Tony will leave III Harmon killerbrew 4th Bob Ellison 5th. think it was Jimmy Hall 6. maybe Ted Uehlander's 7th? and I do recall the game where Cesar tovar played every position catching and pitching. also. I'm missing one eighth. I don't remember. how about Bobby Thompson? second base he passed away with cancer. we're not getting it done. ladies and gentlemen. great looking team. wonderful people but there's too many average hitters. we don't have the 40 home run guy. the 100 RBI guy 18 wins 8 loss pitcher. The best starters we have can be fairly inconsistent. The loss of so many during the season is a major issue. The starting 8 hasn't been injured all that badly. none of them are getting the production done that is needed although nice years are being put together. when the end of the season comes and the voting is done for most valuable player when it comes to the offense, none of those guys are going to be in the top 20.

[JD-TWINS]

1 hour ago, Matthew Lenz said:

Honestly I think it's something that needs to be developed before they get to the majors. So many guys in this 2026 team are learning new positions at the highest level of baseball in the world. Hard to put all the blame on them.

Kreidler HAS to play CF with Buxton hurt.

Keaschall couldn’t figure out 2B …..had to be moved. Athletic & hitting much better …… gotta try him in RF & occasionally in CF with Buxton missing time…….zero time to “train him” in the middle of season, while trying to be “competitive.”

Lewis was displaced at 3B by Lee - Lee was displaced by anyone that could play SS. Lewis going to 1B is perfect going forward ……. needed his offensive infusion when back from AAA ……no time to “train him” at 1B. It’s tough to get moved repeatedly & maybe unexpectedly…….professional athletes though!

Culpepper at 3B - Houston at SS - maybe Lee at 2B - Lewis at 1B going forward seems to make the defense on the dirt much more athletic & solid.

OF going forward in ‘27 is Rodriguez/Gonzalez - Buxton/Jenkins - Keaschall/Jenkins …….Clemens to float……..2 Catchers. Caratini/Diaw and principal DH, Larnach.

Martin - Roden - Wallner ……… all need to be moved ………possibly Rodriguez as well?3

[HarmonK03]

1 hour ago, thelanges5 said:

2027 Opening Day Roster:

C Caratini 

1B Royce 

2B FA or ?

SS Culpepper 

3B Lee

RF Jenkins

CF Buck

LF Keaschall

DH sign a Yandy Diaz type

Bench

Jackson, Roden, Clemens, sign a righty that hits lefties

 

First you are assuming Jackson will be available and also you do realize there are other backup catchers in the major leagues.

[thelanges5]

17 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

First you are assuming Jackson will be available and also you do realize there are other backup catchers in the major leagues.

Yes and okay, I should’ve just typed backup catcher. 

[bean5302]

The Twins don't know their needs anymore because they don't assign positions to players. What position do they need to fill? Beats me. I have no idea who the Twins think should play what position.

Just a bunch of straws to draw at the beginning of the game where almost everybody on the team is a lousy defender at all positions.

Today, what it probably... should be... I guess?

C - Jeffers
1B - Bell
2B - Lee
SS - Culpepper
3B - Lewis
LF - Larnach
CF - Buxton
RF - Roden
DH - Keaschall
Util - Kreidler
UO - Martin
Util - Clemens
BC - Caratini

The more playing time a player gets at their static position, the better the player performs in general. Muscle memory from repetition is far superior to knowledge of plays. That doesn't seem to be a commonly believed concept around the forums, though. I can't fathom why. It's the same for everything in life. From playing billiards and golf to laying brick and editing spreadsheets.

[Riverbrian]

On 8/14/2026 at 8:52 AM, The Great Hambino said:

There's also a chicken-or-the-egg aspect to it.  Guys who are lockdown defenders at their position don't get moved around.  Buxton doesn't get moved around.  The good version of Correa didn't get moved around.  Are they bad defenders because they get moved around, or are they getting moved around because they aren't good enough to lock down a position?

 

[ashbury]

On 8/14/2026 at 6:52 AM, The Great Hambino said:

Guys who are lockdown defenders at their position don't get moved around.  Buxton doesn't get moved around.  The good version of Correa didn't get moved around.  

1 hour ago, Riverbrian said:

The two guys mentioned, Buxton and Correa, play two of the key positions on the field. Catcher being another.  If they are lockdown there, it's true they won't be moved to lesser positions, even though they'd probably be lockdown there too.  It's the skill, and the position, in combination.

But there's another way a player might not get moved around, even if not lockdown.  And it's basically the same example.  If there's someone who's "good enough" at 2B, say, he may stay there because he's never going to be asked to play SS, and the starting SS isn't going to be asked to play 2B, if that SS is prime Correa.

Roster dynamics can be complicated, but the addition of just one or two really good defenders could stabilize a chaotic situation almost instantly.

[TheLeviathan]

On 8/14/2026 at 12:15 PM, mikelink45 said:

Nice and thought provoking.  

Defense has always seemed an afterthought since the 1991 team. 

Were you asleep for like....all of 2000-2008?

[Riverbrian]

1 hour ago, ashbury said:

The two guys mentioned, Buxton and Correa, play two of the key positions on the field. Catcher being another.  If they are lockdown there, it's true they won't be moved to lesser positions, even though they'd probably be lockdown there too.  It's the skill, and the position, in combination.

But there's another way a player might not get moved around, even if not lockdown.  And it's basically the same example.  If there's someone who's "good enough" at 2B, say, he may stay there because he's never going to be asked to play SS, and the starting SS isn't going to be asked to play 2B, if that SS is prime Correa.

Roster dynamics can be complicated, but the addition of just one or two really good defenders could stabilize a chaotic situation almost instantly.

It's incredibly complicated but yet so simple. 

Buxton and Correa are tremendous defensive players. They shouldn't move or play any other position.

If you have a Nolan Arenado in his prime. You wouldn't move him off of third base. However... if you had someone else on the team that deserves playing time or coming up through the system that also plays third base with Nolan manning the position. You would move the other player to another position out of necessity. You wouldn't strand him at 3B waiting his turn while they put some really questionable player at 1B because he happened to the best they have. Necessity is the mother of invention and flexibility opens doors for the best to come through. 

Team context is always going to create necessity's that require invention and it's being done mostly on the fly because necessity waits for no one. Necessity comes straight out of the shadows and you don't see it coming so I'd rather players get prepped during the formative years of development.

And another complication to add to an already complicated process. More positions means more doors open for the top ranked prospect to walk through. Or the one who is looking the best in AAA. The injury that could get him some work in the majors plays another position. Correa isn't moving off SS so and why would you but it's your SS in AAA that's knocking down the doors and screaming I'm ready. The ability to do a half way decent job at the position where the injury occured and the space opened up would make him the call up when the necessity reveals itself. Instead of waiting for a specific injury at SS.

Of if you have the flexibility of moving a Keashall back to 2B (Yeah I know... Nobody wants to see that) but if you had that ability... because his bat is playing pretty good right now and he isn't amazing at either 2B or the OF defensively. An injury at 2B can put Keaschall back at 2B then Jenkins can be the call up. Otherwise... it's Tristan Gray because he's the best 2B in the system.