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The trade deadline has come and gone, and the Minnesota Twins have officially turned the page toward the final two months of the regular season. Jeremy Zoll added multiple pieces at the deadline, all of the new acquisitions are now on the active roster, and the focus shifts to making a run at a postseason berth.
But just because the deadline has passed doesn't mean the Twins are done improving their roster. Some of the biggest upgrades available are already in the organization. With every game becoming more important, Minnesota can't afford to let roster spots go to players who aren't contributing while impact talent waits in St. Paul. If the Twins want to put themselves in the best position possible for the stretch run, there are three moves they should make immediately.
1. Option Tristan Gray to Triple-A St. Paul and promote Kaelen Culpepper.
Gray being called up when Byron Buxton landed on the injured list was a curious decision from the beginning, and it has only become more confusing over the last week. Since joining the Twins on July 29, Gray has received just two plate appearances, going 0-for-2 with two strikeouts. The lack of playing time says everything. The Twins simply don't trust him enough to put him in the lineup, meaning they've essentially been playing with one fewer roster spot.
Instead of carrying a player who isn't going to play, the Twins should hand that opportunity to Kaelen Culpepper.
The organization's top shortstop prospect has battled injuries throughout the season, but he has looked healthy since returning and continues to produce. Culpepper owns an .826 OPS at Triple-A this season and reminded everyone what he's capable of by going 3-for-5 with a triple on Tuesday night. He's a right-handed hitter, something Minnesota desperately needs, and he brings considerably more upside than Gray.
Giving Culpepper regular opportunities at shortstop while Ryan Kreidler fills a reserve role would make the Twins younger, more athletic and with greater offensive upside. At some point, the organization has to find out what it has in one of its top prospects, and there may not be a better opportunity than right now.
2. Designate Alex Jackson for assignment and recall Matt Wallner from Triple-A
Carrying three catchers over the last month made perfect sense before the trade deadline. Ryan Jeffers was one of the biggest trade candidates on the roster, and keeping Jackson around gave the Twins insurance in case they decided to move Jeffers. They didn't end up moving him, however.
Now that Jeffers is still in Minnesota, there isn't much reason to continue carrying three catchers. Jeffers and Victor Caratini form one of the better catching duos in baseball, and that extra roster spot could be much better utilized elsewhere.
To Jackson's credit, he has been a pleasant surprise during his time with the Twins. Still, with a $1.35 million contract, there's a reasonable chance he could clear waivers and remain in the organization if another club isn't interested.
Replacing him with Matt Wallner would immediately make the Twins' lineup more dangerous.
Wallner's demotion in May was justified after his slow start to the season, but he has done everything the organization could have asked of him since arriving in St. Paul. He owns a .938 OPS with 20 home runs since being sent down, and he added another homer Tuesday night. He has forced his way back into the conversation.
The Twins have been searching for offensive consistency for weeks, and Wallner's power gives them another legitimate threat in the middle of the lineup. That is simply more valuable than carrying a third catcher who has no clear role.
3. Option Alan Roden to Triple-A and select the contract of Walker Jenkins
When the Twins promoted Alan Roden in early July, the move was easy to understand. He was swinging the bat well at Triple-A, was healthy and deserved an opportunity to prove himself in the majors.
Unfortunately, it hasn't happened.
Roden has produced just a .514 OPS with no extra-base hits over his first 50 plate appearances with Minnesota. The Twins have also made it clear they aren't comfortable playing him in center field, limiting his versatility even further. Between his lack of production and limited defensive role, Roden simply hasn't established himself as someone who needs to remain on the roster.
That opportunity should now belong to Walker Jenkins.
Jenkins is one of the top prospects in baseball for a reason. He has posted an .818 OPS in Triple-A this season and has looked even better since returning from injury at the end of June. More importantly, he passes the eye test every time he steps on the field. He looks like a player who is ready for the next challenge.
With Buxton sidelined, there are plenty of at-bats available. Jenkins can play either corner outfield spot and is capable of handling center field as well, giving manager Derek Shelton another athletic option while adding one of the organization's highest-upside bats. At some point, prospects stop benefiting from Triple-A and start benefiting from major league experience. Jenkins appears to have reached that point.
The Twins have struggled to score runs over the last few weeks, and waiting around for the offense to suddenly improve isn't much of a strategy. The front office already addressed external needs before the deadline. Now it's time to maximize the talent that's already in the organization.
Calling up Culpepper, Wallner and Jenkins would inject youth, upside and offensive potential into a lineup that desperately needs a spark. If the Twins are serious about making a run over the final two months, these are the kinds of aggressive roster decisions they should be making now instead of waiting until it's too late.
What do you think? Are these the three roster moves the Twins should make immediately, or would you go in a different direction as they begin their postseason push? Leave a comment below and start the conversation!
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