The Twins Trade Deadline Needs: A Power Outage in Two Power Spots

The issues with the INF are the same as the OF, just not playing up to talent and potential. The difference is, I think the INF is closer to being "fixed". 

3B is fine as long as Lewis is around. Period! Both Miranda and Castro can help give him days off. Lee also, in the future. I'm deliberately leaving Farmer out of the equation for obvious reasons, but he can bring a solid glove there if you need him to.

SS is more than fine with Correa playing as well as I've ever seen him. OPS is down across MLB and he's still 60 points higher than average. Castro provides a solid backup option. Again, so will Lee at some point. Same caveat about Farmer there.

1B still has me "meh", though I don't like the term, lol. Santana is NOT a difference maker there in any way. But he's been solid. He started horrible, got hot, slumped, and has been better again as of late. For some CRAZY reason, he has more HR and XBH and RBI batting LH against RHP, even though his actual 4 part splits are MUCH HIGHER against LHP. HUH? Crazy but true. Can he maintain his solid but not great bat the remaining 2/3 of the season? I expect some regression to the norm at least. Miranda needs to be in the lineup for now, and the future. He can do so at 3B here and there, and at 1B along with DH. I don't know that Kirilloff gets any sort or reset if he goes to AAA. What's he going to accomplish there? He needs to figure stuff out NOW at the ML level. He can be part of the 1B/DH plan, along with a few games in the OF. But Larnach is out producing him and looks far better. And Wallner might be close to ready for a promotion again. That means AK back to AAA, though I don't know if that helps him. And that's sad to say.

I have a lot of belief and faith in both Julien and Lee. But Julien has hit a bump in the road that many/most young players hit. His bump was just bigger than I expected. The talent and approach are correct, but he's gotten mixed up in the aggressive/passive approach that he's known for. Lee needs time. Lee can play 3 spots, Julien 2, with 1B still being a spot I think he's going to be a part of in the future. Castro can be just fine at 2B, but he's not only needed everywhere, but maybe at his best when he IS playing everywhere. Eventually, Farmer is going to be gone. That leaves room for both Lee AND Julien at some point, but for now, 2B is holding down the INF, and limiting Castro's greatest strength. 

1B/DH/2B are all strangely tied, with some OF mixed in, simply because we're waiting...impatiently...for 2 or 3 young and youngish bats to get their act together.

At this point, Vazquez is experience and great defense with HOPE that he's going to be at least a little bit better. Right now, he's a slightly better version of Drew Butera. I'm betting he sticks for the remainder of the season based not only on contract, but also his defense. The Twins, IMO, might be forced to release him next offseason, or early next year, and just trust Camargo. And Camargo has some ability as a catcher and a hitter. And at some point, the Twins just might have to eat the 3rd year of the Vazquez deal.

The INF is in flux, but I actually feel better about it than the OF at the moment.

6 hours ago, High heat said:

I think you give some guys thru the month of June but Kiriloff Farmer Margot ones going to be off the roster.  
 

Vazquez gets through the month as well but a serious discussion on Camargo is needed.  If you’re going to ride out Vazquez this yr and next maybe you look at trading Camargo.  I have heard Chris Williams has been focusing on his defense behind the plate and has really improved. Is him and Winker viable 3rd catchers?
 

one of Kiriloff Larnach and Wallner aren’t part of the future and a decision in which one is needed.  
 

If the Twins are going to have a similar or lower payroll next yr I would consider moving Kepler at the deadline. 
 

Bring up Michael Helman!  The bats getting hot he can play the Castro role and do everything defensively Castro can. The next injury to any position player should be Helmans job.  

By all reports, Williams has worked very hard on his defense and is trusted behind the plate. (A shoulder surgery in college has limited his arm previously and I don't know if that's improved over time or not). But Williams has suddenly stopped hitting. Camargo is the better option at this point, and he's healthy again and rehabbing his way back to St Paul. Again, by all reports, he's solid behind the plate, has a solid arm, has power and some HIT ability. I just don't know that Vazquez is going anywhere based on his defense and contract for THIS year.

You won't find a bigger fan of Helman anywhere besides me. He RAKED at St Paul in 2023 but had 3 different injuries, and he probably missed his window as a result. And the Twins ended up with Luplow. Helman has hit ability, some power, good speed and SB results, and is solid at 7 defensive spots. He had a .902 OPS at AAA last year, and has been sitting in the .820-.830 range for the season. I believe he's over 1.000 OPS the past couple of weeks. He was slowed by a small injury to begin the year, and I'd bet his OPS is over .900 from about week 2 or 3 until now.

But he's not on the 40 man, Martin is. And Margot is a veteran who's surprisingly hit pretty well the past couple of weeks. IMO, Martin is still a bit of an unknown. I would have loved to replace Margot with Helman a few weeks ago to see what they've got. I don't care he just turned 28yo, I wanted to see what he might be able to do given a chance as a late blooming utility guy. The Twins obviously like him. They just don't seem willing to give him a shot at this point for whatever reason.