Leading Off Podcast: Alex Kirilloff Time?

So you want to bring him up and hope he gets hot so can cannot play in the postseason?

The Twins can patch together a team to win the division. The playoffs... it could be really ugly if these injuries still linger.

If they can find room for him, I see no reason not to bring up the best hitter in the organization's minor league system. Hard to believe Arraez wasn't ranked that high...

So you want to bring him up and hope he gets hot so can cannot play in the postseason?

 

The Twins can patch together a team to win the division. The playoffs... it could be really ugly if these injuries still linger.

For the love of God, they can make him playoff eligible. Just like Graterol if they want. 

So you want to bring him up and hope he gets hot so can cannot play in the postseason?

 

The Twins can patch together a team to win the division. The playoffs... it could be really ugly if these injuries still linger.

He can play in the postseason. He was in the organization before 9/1. The league petition is a rubber stamp process, so long as you have an eligible injured player to replace, which the Twins do.

True, but we only really have one at the moment (an eligible injured player to replace -- Gordon).

 

Of course, any of Buxton, Marwin, Dyson, etc. could go on the IL too and become eligible for replacement -- but I'm guessing we want those guys in the postseason mix!

Sean Poppen is eligible to come off the 60 day IL on 9/30.

I see no losing in calling him up. Why not put him on a roster that wins to give him that playoff experience. His bat is undeniable. It’s Mauer-like, but with power. Just give him a jersey.

He can probably sit with the team in the dugout, if that's the kind of playoff experience you want to give him.

There are a few costs -- chiefly, one less 40-man spot to protect another player or claim/sign someone this winter. Also would make it more likely an option is used on Kirilloff in 2020. An offseason or spring training injury (a non-negligible risk with Kirilloff) could require him to go on the MLB DL and collect service time.

Nothing insurmountable, if the guy is a ready phenom, but I have my doubts about that at the moment. Even if he quickly manages 2019 Cave/Schoop/Arraez/Adrianza level performance, but parks one of those guys on the bench, you haven't really gained anything.

You're too logical Spycake.  In all honesty, your take is probably the correct take in every sense.  It's conservative, and it's because we have such a potent offense already in place.  When Kepler got the complimentary call up from Chattanooga in '15, it was because we had some give.  I just wish it wasn't so far fetched because the kid is a real talent and deserves a call-up.

You're too logical Spycake.  In all honesty, your take is probably the correct take in every sense.  It's conservative, and it's because we have such a potent offense already in place.  When Kepler got the complimentary call up from Chattanooga in '15, it was because we had some give.  I just wish it wasn't so far fetched because the kid is a real talent and deserves a call-up.

I have to disagree with the potent offense part as of right now. An outfield consisting of Rosario, Wade, and either Miller/LaMarre is not potent what so ever. Also with Cruz, Sano and Cron (thumb) dealing with nagging injuries we need a consistent and powerful bat to fill the void we have right now. Cleveland is still within striking distance and a lineup similar to the one that we threw out on Sunday is very worrying because there is not much fire power in there. Twins need a reinforcement. Kirilloff should be that guy. I wouldn't be expecting him to come up and make an immediate impact, but I bet he would give the Twins much better at bats than either Wade, Miller, or LaMarre. 

I don't think so -- his minor league IL time doesn't count toward the 60:

 

"time spent on a minor league 7-day Injured List or minor league 60-day Injured List does NOT count toward the minimum number of days a player must spend on an MLB Injured List if a player is recalled from an optional assignment"

 

https://www.thecubreporter.com/book/export/html/3538

 

Basically, you can't recall a minor league player and then make their MLB IL placement retroactive. (Poppen last pitched in the minors on August 6 too, so even if it could be retroactive, he wouldn't be eligible to return until Oct. 6, two days after the start of the ALDS.)

Good catch, thanks.

I don't know the chances of Buxton and Kepler being back for the post season, but from the outside side it feels like there is very little chance with Buxton and maybe a 60% chance with Kepler. I think it would be foolish for the Twins not to give Kirillof a try to be the RF for the stretch run and if he succeeds to add him to the post season roster. If Kepler gets healthy an OF of Kirilloff, Kepler, and Rosario on paper sounds much better than gimpy Cave, Kepler, and Rosario.

If Kepler doesn't get healthy then we are talking an OF of Wade/Gonzalez, Cave, and Rosario (with two of those three returning from injury).

I don't know -- there's a huge difference between AA (even playoffs) and MLB, especially the MLB postseason.

And we're not to the point of starting LaMarre in the playoffs yet or anything -- I know everybody seems banged up right now, but I'd expect Cave to be back, at least. And Arraez can play the outfield with Schoop taking over 2B, and Adrianza as a capable reserve. (And I'd still expect one of Kepler, Buxton, and Marwin to make it back too.) Edit to add: we also may need a spot for Carved when Castro starts behind the plate...

Are we really expecting Kirilloff to make some adjustment to be meaningfully better than Cave, Arraez, Schoop in just 3 weeks? By facing Detroit and KC pitchers, no less? I remember Kubel dominating multiple levels in 2004, including AAA, and even looking pretty good in his September MLB debut, only to get exposed pretty badly in ALDS Game 2 vs the Yankees...

I thought immediately of Kubel also but the counter to that is Arraez who has thrived. Buxton is now officially out so I would want a possible impact guy like Kiriloff.    Rosario, Kepler and Cave but I would be happy with Kiriloff backing them up.   

If Kirilloff had dominated AA I think it would be different. For much of the year his numbers weren’t remarkable. It was clearly the injury that set him back but he missed that valuable time and couldn’t make the most of the time as he recovered.

The Twins should be aggressive as they were with Arcia, Sano and Buxton when players dominate a level. I think they would have been with a healthy dominating Kirilloff.

I have to fully agree with you here.  The Twins will probably take the approach Spycake mentioned, but I get greedy.  I'm not a fan of bringing in AAAA players who have a higher floor.  And again, for the record, I CANNOT STAND the term "years of of player control".  If a player proves to be of worth on a major league roster, give it to him.  Kirilloff could easily take the spot on the 40 man.  Get him up here while we got guys who need rest.  Give him a taste, if he hits, we keep him on.  If he tanks, we don't.

Kirilloff's numbers haven't been absolutely lights out, but he's earned it.  However, we all thought Buxton was "can't miss".  Kubel was dominant in his minors tenure.  Same as Oswaldo.  There's just something about Kirilloff that reminds me of Mauer w/Morneau power.

I have to disagree with the potent offense part as of right now. An outfield consisting of Rosario, Wade, and either Miller/LaMarre is not potent what so ever. Also with Cruz, Sano and Cron (thumb) dealing with nagging injuries we need a consistent and powerful bat to fill the void we have right now. Cleveland is still within striking distance and a lineup similar to the one that we threw out on Sunday is very worrying because there is not much fire power in there. Twins need a reinforcement. Kirilloff should be that guy. I wouldn't be expecting him to come up and make an immediate impact, but I bet he would give the Twins much better at bats than either Wade, Miller, or LaMarre.