Austin Martin Has Reached A Crossroads

[gman]

I think we have pretty much run to the end of Martin's time with the Twins. Trade or DFA, there really is no room in the outfield for next year. The Twins need to improve at all levels and holding playing time for maybe's is something that has to change.

[dxpavelka]

22 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Berrios WAR as a Blue Jay during the seasons of team control the Twins traded away: 0.8. The extension he signed with the Blue Jays is irrelevant

Only if you assume there was no way the Twins wouldn't have been able to extend him.  And we all know how to spell ASS u ME

 

[DJL44]

37 minutes ago, dxpavelka said:

Only if you assume there was no way the Twins wouldn't have been able to extend him.  And we all know how to spell ASS u ME

They didn’t want to pay Berrios market rate for those years, which is looking like the correct decision.

[umterp23]

If the twins are serious about building a competitive roster , then Martin isn't on this team. Super utility or utility guys mean they aren’t good at any position, they just aren’t. If ownership group wants us to believe they are spending/building the future competitive team than guys like Martin aren’t needed. 
 

DFA candidate most likely, bottom barrel teams we would be lucky to make a trade, nothing meaningful though. I don’t believe in our team senior leadership to build via trade or free agency, 2027 might be brutal compared to this year

[TheLeviathan]

I really hope the Twins work with him on how he can make harder contact at a better rate.  Given his pedigree, cost, and low value this is not a guy I'd want to get rid of at this point.

This should be the kind of guy that the team invests resources in to improve.

[soyouresayingtheresachance]

I was thinking we'd probably see an outfield group of 

Byron Buxton 

Walker Jenkins 

Luke Keaschal 

Emmanuel Rodriguez 

Alan Roden

I figured Martin played himself out of a spot on the 26 man roster. 

[Vanimal46]

The option year and being pre-arb $ saves him in 2027. I only pencil him in as injury fill in or 13th position player continuing Alex Jackson’s 1,000 piece puzzle in the clubhouse. Most likely he’s playing every day in St Paul. 

[stringer bell]

Given the injury histories of Keaschall, Rodriguez, Jenkins and Buxton, I think there will be a place for Martin on the Twins' roster as presently constructed. I'd rather see Martin in the lineup and playing the outfield than Rosario or Gonzalez.

He's had a few months of good play (August, September '25 and April '26) so I think a bit run should be given and he's only at about 800 lifetime plate appearances. The low bat speed, exit velocity and hard-hit rate are red flags and he has made more than his share of head scratching mental errors, but with an option remaining, a low salary and the lack of better RH hitting options, I think he should be rostered and probably has at least a partial last chance in 2027.

[Riverbrian]

Rostering Martin will domino into other players. He will hit them rather hard. 

If you give Martin a 26 man spot next season. You will not roster others.  Buxton, Keaschall Emma are locks. 

Jenkins, Larnach, Roden and Wallner are left handed options for the final two spots. If you add Martin to that group. He's 5th in my eyes. 

Give Martin a spot. The 4 lefthanders become the choices for 1 spot. You can stash Jenkins, Roden and Martin. 

If you give Martin a spot over the 4 left handers... you are choosing a lesser player. You are making a decision that is not based on talent. 

If Martin gets a spot. He will take all AB's against left handing pitching from someone.