stringer bell

Perhaps off-topic, but what happened to Michael Helman? I see he's on the IL for over a month. I know his season started late because of an injury, but I never heard of another injury to him.

With the trade deadline approaching, the Twins do not seem inclined to add salary so it would appear they will have a quiet interlude as far as acquiring new players. However, the club had a rash of injuries prior to the All-Star break and several players are close to returning to the active roster. Not long ago, I thought the Twins had more major league players than they had active roster slots, particularly on the position player side, but several guys now on the active roster look like they would be better served by being in the minors playing for the Saints. In addition, a couple of guys who can't be optioned could be shed form the active roster. Here is my list--position players first--then pitchers. 1) Jair Camargo--Camargo was called up shortly before the All-Star break when they Twins appeared to have better health. The suspicion is that one or both of the regular catchers was nicked up and Camargo was added for protection against a short term (non-IL injury). Then the injuries came. While Jeffers and Vázquez continued to take their turns behind the plate, Camargo kept the bench warm. He got into a couple games in the late innings and started a game as the DH (hitless). It is very apparent the major league field staff doesn't trust Camargo as more than a stopgap behind the plate. While he does have good power, I don't think Camargo can make consistent enough contact to be much of an offensive threat. He definitely isn't much help to the major league team and should be optioned as soon as an injured player is taken off the IL. Note: The Twins optioned Camargo today with no corresponding move yet announced. 2) Austin Martin--Since returning from an IL stint after the All-Star break, Martin is hitless. His BA is down to .244, with an OPS of .647. Martin failed to make the play when the Brewers scored a key run in extra innings and overall his defense needs work. He's started two of five games since returning, and with other players returning to health, it will get tougher and tougher to give him opportunities on the field. He does have some versatility and his speed off the bench is an asset. 3) Edouard Julien--Julien returned to the Twins after the All-Star break and has continued to have maddening plate appearances. He's 2-12 (both singles) with three walks, but eight strikeouts. Julien continues to take called third strikes, leading all of MLB despite being sent to the minors for more than a month. His trip to the minors in June hasn't seemed to have helped. 4) Brooks Lee--Since July 12, Lee is 4-32 (all singles) with four walks and six strikeouts. He's made a couple of questionable decisions in the field while playing second, short and third. Lee started yesterday at shortstop, and I think he's the best defender at short on the active roster. While I still think the future is bright for Lee, he also might benefit from a reset in St. Paul, but Julien and Martin should go first. 5) Kyle Farmer--Farmer has been on the IL since July 12th. At the time of his injury, many on this site were calling for him to be DFA'd, but the subsequent struggles of Lee, Julien and Martin make his return from the IL more palatable. The veteran Farmer seems to have lost a step and hasn't hit for average or power. He's versatile, but this year's poor hitting still makes him a DFA candidate. 6) Manuel Margot--The overall view of Margot's season is pretty bad. He's got a -.8 WAR, a .235 BA and a 78 OPS+. Margot was brought in as a platoon corner outfielder who could cover in center when Buxton was absent. He's done well as the right handed option versus left handed starters, but he's 0-25 as a frequently used pinch hitter and his defense has been marginal. Could Austin Martin or someone else do better? The first four guys can be optioned, making them more likely to be taken off the active roster without being lost for good to the club. I haven't included Alex Kirilloff on this list, although he is certain to be sent to St. Paul for rehab when he's ready for game activity. Depending on how long it takes for AK to be ready for a rehab assignment, he might save his 2024 option. Pitching 1) Steven Okert--Yesterday's opener hasn't been very effective for the Twins on the whole. He is definitely more effective against left handed hitters, but lefty specialists don't really exist anymore. Too many base runners and too many inherited runners scoring for Okert to be considered a keeper. 2) Caleb Thielbar--After having his best run of the year prior to the break, Thielbar has yielded runs in both appearances since the All-Star game. His numbers are worse in almost every stat, metric or split and it is getting late in the game to say it is bad luck. 3) David Festa--Nominally the fifth starter, Festa may have won a reprieve by doing quite well against a stacked Phillies lineup yesterday. Good strikeout numbers help, but he has allowed a lot of hard contact. 4) Kody Funderburk--He is on the IL currently, but I don't think he is one of the eight best relief pitchers for the Twins or one of the 13 best pitchers (counting the starters). "Fundy" is funky and when he can get ahead in counts, he can be very effective and make hitters look pretty silly. However, when the hitters get ahead, he doesn't have enough stuff to win those battles. Given the lack of depth and performance of Twins' left handed pitchers, Funderburk probably will keep getting chances, but I can't see him on a playoff roster. I also have to mention Cole Sands. I have been skeptical of his stuff and ability, but he has shown himself to be pretty good as a multi-purpose bullpen arm. The increased velocity without loss of command has made him a major leaguer IMHO and he is currently not in jeopardy of being sent to the minors.

Mentioned in the Wednesday game recap: Camargo optioned back to St. Paul with no other move being announced as of yet.

Camargo was sent down today with no corresponding active roster move.

Ninja’d!!

The team had to make room on the 26-man roster and the 40-man roster to bring Stewart back. Castillo was the easy choice. I do agree Julien still looks lost at the plate and probably would benefit from another trip on the Green Line, but it looks like Lee isn’t in a much better place. Camargo is hardly being used and Martin’s role is also limited. All of those guys are optionable. There’s room to add back all the injured hitters IMHO.

I was at the game today. It was nice to see a nice crowd on a getaway day. The Twins played Philly at the right time and they held their big hitters in check. They also faced three quality starters and managed to win two of three. The Twins need their best hitters to get back in the lineup! There are plenty of candidates for demotion—Julien, Lee, Martin and Camargo—and they have need for bullpen arms—particularly left handers. There, of course, is also a need for a starter and Festa and Varland are questionable to fill that role. On to Detroit. It seems they are playing better so winning a series won’t be easy.

Castro has struggled at short and maybe been overextended? I didn’t think Willi would get many more innings at third, but with both Miranda and Lewis on the shelf, I think it’s the right call.

Beautiful day at Target Field!

Everyone was bunched up early on Sunday, but Schauffele won it on the back nine with a 31. There wasn't a weakness in his game and he deserved to win. I didn't think he was elite, but he was better than anybody in the tournament.

Still haven’t found a helmet that fits Brooks.

30-47-50-72. Has there ever been a Twins’ infield with higher numbers (in total)? At some point Martin could replace Santana (with Julien at first, then it would be 47-82-50-72.

Who wants Kyle Farmer for $2M for the rest of the year, much less getting something back for him?

All right, so in the six games José Miranda has played first base, he is errorless and according to BBRef, he has two runs saved which projects to 36 runs saved over a full season. I guess Santana is no longer the best choice to play first base. Another example is Brooks Lee. He looked very good, made several nice plays, but made a throwing error at second base, according to your figuring, I guess it means we should never put Lee at second again.

According to what? Fielding percentage? Have you been watching Julien play at St. Paul (I haven't). I'll say this one more time, basing someone's defense on small sample sizes and fielding percentages is a fool's errand.

I enjoyed watching the pros struggling like I struggle--unable to reach par 4s in regulation with a driver and fairway wood, hitting into bunkers , missing greens and missing relatively short putts. I played one round in Scotland seven years ago and the weather was similar--rain and wind and cold in July--it's different from playing on the manicured US courses the tour usually plays on.

Nit pick here. Julien hit the skids in May, his first month was pretty good (.830 OPS). Julien had only one extra base hit after May 1 (a double).

Quite a bit of value in a #3-5 starter. He wasn't very impressive against the Twins, but outside of those two starts he has been serviceable. He's not young, but he has four years of team control after this season. If he could be acquired without losing a top ten prospect, I think it is worth it.

Randy Dobnak is creeping up the charts. He would be on regular rest plus one day and he's done pretty well (especially lately) pitching for the Saints.

It looks like Willi will get the most reps as SS in Correa's absence. Nobody is saying for sure, but I think Miranda will be back tomorrow.

Per the mlbtradesrumors.com report, Rocco says it is a muscle strain and the team doesn't see it it as a long-term disabling injury. Of course, that may or may not be full story.

More transactions to come, I presume. Miranda could be activated tomorrow and Stewart could be brought back as soon as tomorrow. It would seem that Castillo and Camargo would be logical choices to be sent back to St. Paul (I don’t know if Castillo has an option) and as noted, a starter will be needed to face the Phils on Wednesday.

Did we clone him? j/k. You mean Lewis and Correa, I presume.

Julien didn’t exactly force his way back, but it figures that he is back and he’ll play quite a bit.

Julien is back, as is Austin Martin. Correa and Paddack to the IL.