What Will The Twins Do in Center Field?

Assuming 2024 is another fulltime DH season for Buxton.

I'm guessing 2024 will see Celestino in CF in MAT place. With Gordon and Celestino switching in and out depending on matchups. Maybe Martin could be in the mix if he makes it to AAA this year.

The whole outfield could be new/different starting player's next season. I don't expect the FO to spend much if anything on CF. 

Not sure about next year but RIGHT NOW but Kepler in CF. Taylor is automatic out. Bring Wallner back for RF (8 Straight on base) and send Julien down and put Farmer or Lewis at 2nd. That gets all the bats and some new blood into the lineup.

Just asking….could the Twins get anything for Buxton?  Would another team take him and let him play?  The article says he has been productive.   To me his simple stats look bad.   He seems limited in running and stealing bases.  His average looks sad.  Should he have more HR’s and RBI’s as a DH?   His salary/contract seem to call for greatness.   Love him but very torn/perplexed.  

Celestino.

I don't understand the question...

13 hours ago, farmerguychris said:

I would bet the Twins are hoping Celestino is ready to take over CF next season.

This should have been the case.  He needs to put it all together this year, and I think he was on the right track prior to the Twins getting all needy with him and all.  But sometimes it just doesn't work out for a guy the way it should, and he seems a candidate for that.  2023 is his prep year, and he's hurt the first half at least.  Whether he's the solution or not, I don't see the Twins counting on him, and they'll likely bring another in.

BTW, you can say Buxton is the fifth best DH right now, but his stock is almost nil in the simulation leagues I play in where defense is just about as important as in MLB.  Owners won't be able to play him in CF next year,  Nobody sees all that much value in him as their DH relative to alternative.  So we can talk him up all we want, but this is a really bad situation for the Twins.

To say Buxton has been productive at DH, is setting the bar pretty low for that spot.  He needs to be in centerfield...period.   His defense is what excels him into an elite category...remember when he was  a platinum defender?   He needs to be in the CF mix, playing at least 2-3 times per week, where his defense can make a difference because it certainly isn't happening much offensively.

Like most everyone here, in an ideal/healthy world, we'd have Buxton back in CF full-time. As far the DH role, I appreciate the deep dive the article did on the stats. To my eye test, Buxton has been less than stellar at DH, striking out too much and/or hitting into double plays. The second coming of Nelson Cruz he is not. All that said, I sure wish he would use his world-class speed at lot more. We've seen him running the bases, and in the past in the field. Why can't he bunt for a few hits? Or steal more bases? With speed like he has, it can be VERY disruptive to the opposing team. But hey, if he still IS having knees issues, I understand the reluctance not to go sliding into bases (albeit bigger ones this year!).

15 hours ago, Cody Schoenmann said:

I agree that Buxton playing CF and being able to stay in the lineup would be the best case scenario, but it sadly has only happened once and that was roughly six years ago when he, as I noted in my article, played 140 games in 2017. I think we need to start getting used to seeing Buxton as the DH for the rest of this season and seasons to come whether we like it or not.

In 2022, Buxton hit better as a CF than as a DH, but was still very good as DH- OPS .829, wRC+ 138.

His OPS in April this year was .864. wRC+ was 139, like last year when he was somewhat healthy early in the year.

In May, Buxton's line is .179/,324/.645. wRC+ this month is 87.

He's apparently hurting more, and right now he's nowhere near the DH you are claiming.

If he can't play CF, we need to replace him at both positions until he's better.

Buxton is breaking out as an everyday DH and, more importantly, staying in the lineup with a relatively outstanding bill of health as evidenced by his ability to play in 90% of games so far this season.

One of the funniest parts of the article, comparing Buxton to full time DH's and saying he is breaking out!  Breaking out the K stick is more like it.  FO didn't sign him long term to be a full time DH. He has better chance of getting hurt at DH as he does playing in the field.  Playing in the field, running, throwing the ball and mentally staying in the game keeps your body loose and muscles engaged.  Walking to the plate and 45 seconds later coming back to dugout is not influencing the game.  On pace for 90% of the games this year is so false of a statistically measure of his importance.  

4 at bats that may last 5 minutes if he never touches first base and 150 minute ballgame and he influences the game 0.0333% of his appearances.  Game changer of a player, absolutely not day in and day out.  He is doing his best Sano impersonation.  So let's say he rips a double down the line in his last at bat of the game after sitting the bench for 2 hours, good chance he can pull a hammy and break a finger with his ugly sliding techniques.  DH is tougher than playing the field due to lack of concentration by watching the game vs playing a full game.  

90% pace is a kids participation trophy at best

15 hours ago, Bigfork Twins Guy said:

I’m hoping for Austin Martin so we can also get somebody with contact skills and a tablesetter  in the lineup.  No more 3 outcome players.

Bingo! Martin should be our #1 option of backing up Buxton. They wasted all last season playing him at SS & tinkering with his swing. He could be our best lead off hitter at least against LHPs. Of course the best solution is having Buxton there now.

Until last year Cave was our choice & everybody thought he was great. Taylor, Gordon, Celestino, Martin are a far cry better choice than Cave. So we are in a far better situation than years past.

I'd say Lewis would be our best solution at CF before his ACL issues, now he shouldn't be even considered as an option. And he shouldn't even need to be with our other inhouse options.

After scanning the medical paper @Eris linked, it says 5% of all surgeries for injured baseball players are knee surgeries. That is all knee surgeries not just the ACL. It does state that knee injuries are more common for outfielders, but I couldn't find any stats on that. The paper categorized knee injuries as relatively rare in baseball it being a non-contact sport.

After mulling this over, it doesn't seem to matter whether Lewis plays infield or outfield. I do think if he is more comfortable in the infield, then I would leave him there for now as he makes his way back post surgery. As suggested above, later this year he should start getting practice reps in the outfield for future positional flexibility. Then later this year as things play out with Buxton, Celestino, MAT and Martin, you chart your coarse forward.

Any athlete in any sport has to learn how to protect themselves during play. Some are better than others. Lewis still can get there and be healthy going forward. The big question is, is it too late for Buxton? Has he already done too much damage earlier in his career? 

Amen to that tarheeltwinsfan!!!  I liked the idea of a trade with the A's for Estury Ruiz.  Have no idea what the cost would be but maybe I'll go on BBTV's and see what it would take.  Unfortunately, I'm getting more and more pessimistic that Buxton is ever going to be a factor in CF going forward.  

BBTV's puts Estury Ruiz's value at 16.6.  He's 24 years old.  It puts Larnach's value at 18.4.  Larnach is 26 years old.  I'd make it a one-for-one swap.  Larnach is a corner OF'er with power and RBI potential.  He's expendable due to the glut of LH hitting corner OF'ers we have.  Ruiz gives the Twins a CF'er with speed.  You could also do the trade for Winder and Salas but I prefer Larnach straight up due to the surplus of LH hitting corner OF'ers.  I'd call the A's up and see what they think.  

22 hours ago, Rod Carews Birthday said:

Ideally, as everyone has said, Buxton would be playing CF almost every day and the question would be answered for at least the next few years.  Barring that happening, I would like to see them sign one of the better free agents to play CF.  Free agents only cost money, not prospects.  A fall back for me would be to get Austin Martin back on the field ASAP and have him become a CF.  He's athletic enough and if he can get hit anywhere near how he did in the AFL, the problem could be solved. 

It cannot be said enough that Buxton at DH is not a good play overall for the team.  Yes, he might be a top 5 DH.  However, that combines with a #29 CF, offensively speaking.  A young player like Julian, Wallner, or Larnach (assuming all are healthy) would likely be a top 10 or 15 DH, which when combined with a CF Buxton who would likely still be top 5 in CF, is a much better overall result.  CF is a position that Buxton has played all of his life. He may now have old man bad knees, but he would certainly still be able to play at a good level (maybe not gold glove, but still solid).  He is a player that needs to learn to play the position within reasonable parameters and not like superman.  The results would be just fine and the team would benefit. It's called maturity.

The offense needs Buxton in CF with someone else DH'ing (Wallner, Larnach, Miranda, ???). If Buxton gets hurt Twins just move on without him. Wasting a big part of his talents by sitting on the bench except for 4 AB's while he hits .230 or below.

simulated of course... Miranda may be one hit wonder and he really has no defensive position.  Celestino isn't a full time CF.  Pagan isn't a good sweetener but can't hurt. If they want lanarch, would do that as well.  Just don't buy that he is a good fit for us long term.