LA Vikes Fan

Sad, but true. Wouldn't surprise me if Gallo si on the roster for the season.

You called it. That's tonight's lineup. Probably don't make a decision until later tonight or tomorrow on Solano depending on the MRI. Call up for Friday's series in Philly if he goes on the IL.

Mike, if the choice is bring up Williams and DFA Gallo, I am right there with you. I would do that TODAY. I just think the question is who plays 1B for the next 2-5 days before we bring back Lewis. I'd rather it be Polanco or Julien than Gallo or Williams. If Solano goes to the Il (I think likely), I'd be most happy with a Gallo DFA, Williams call up, Lewis call up and Polanco or Julien at 1B.

I think the plan is to have Lewis up for next Tuesday against Detroit after a week in AAA. I don't see it being a rush if we wait through tomorrow to see if Solano recovers and if not, we back date his IL stint the 3 days and he goes on effective today. We then call up Lewis for Friday in Philly. He'll have 3 days in AAA instead of 6. He' is going to play every day regardless whether it be in AAA or with the Twins. In the interim, please no Joey Gallo at 1B. Polanco or Julien, please. Let's at least see if that works.

Chris Williams has a 37.5% strikeout rate in 2023, 35.7% in the AAA potion of 2022. Average at AAA is 23.2%. That percentage generally goes up when they move to the MLB level by about 5%. In short, Williams is presently a AAA whiff machine liley to become a MLB SO king. Having Williams and Gallo share 1B will lead to a minimum of 2 SOs a game from that position, usually 3. Love the guy, hope he matures to cut that SO rate down below 30%, but right now he isn't likely to help, he's more likely to make our SO problem worse. Better call is to move up Lewis early, and have Polanco or Julien move to 1B.

Well, now what do we do with Solano spraining his knee? Hard to believe that's a day to day thing. By the way, "sprained knee" is often the diagnosis until the MRI shows a torn meniscus or ligament damage. So what do we do? God help us if the answer is play Joey Gallo every day. I say we we cut Lewis' rehab stint in AAA short and get him back up. Lewis plays 3d, Polanco goes to 1B most days, with Gallo there only occasionally. I can already hear the chorus of "move Julien to 1B, he stinks at 2B". I hear that, but moving a guy who's never played 1B over there when he just got to the MLB level is playing with fire. Polanco is a veteran, he's played all over the IF, and he's seasoned enough to not let the transition effect his hitting. He's been around and a good bet to pick up the basics at 1B pretty quickly, He'll make mistakes but he'll make the routine plays most of the time and be in the right position most of the time. It's also a good audition for next year when his highest and best use may be as the super UTL guy who plays 5 days a week at a combination of 2-3 days at 2B and 1B against LH starting pitching while Julien DHs or he or Kirilloff sit, a day or two as the DH, and a day at 3B to spell Lewis. Hey, I think an IF of Correa, Lewis, Julien. Kirilloff, Polanco, and one of Castro, Famer, or Gordon, is exactly where we need to be at the beginning of the 2024 season. There aren't any IFs breaking down the door at AAA (Lee may get there in 2024, but so far in AAA he's 2-18), I say let's get there now.

Well, now what do we do with Solano spraining his knee? Hard to believe that's a day to day thing. By the way, "sprained knee" is often the diagnosis until the MRI shows a torn meniscus or ligament damage. maybe we cut Lewis" rehab short and get him back up?

Look, we signed Kuechel off of the scrap heap and got 5 decent innings in a win at home in a start against an average MLB team. That's a big win for the Twins. He'll probably get 2 more starts, one in Philly and one against Detroit. If we can split those games, another big win. At that point it's definitely time to stop tempting fate and get him out of the rotation. Kuechel reminds me of Dylan Bundy. He's not awful, has veteran moxie (whatever that is), and can give you a few decent 5 inning starts. Remember April 2022 when Dylan Bundy was a legit Cy Young candidate? Over time, he kills your bullpen because he can't go that 3rd time through the order, and his ERA/FIP/Sierra start creeping higher and higher until it's over 5. Hats off to the FO for getting him since we don't really have much else at AAA. He's better than watching SWR, Varland (best of the lot), or Headrick flail around at the MLB level while we hold our breath that they can keep us in the game for 5 innings. Still, Kuechel just is not even a back end MLB starter on a good team. He is classic veteran depth for a few starts here and there. Nothing wrong with that but let's not go crazy here.

Really?! I would be shocked if there is even 1 solid MLB starter for 2024 in that group and if there is, it's probably Larnach or maybe Prato. We're talking about a 1 year option for Kepler so the real question is which of those guys will be a solid starter in 2024, not beyond. Stevenson is almost 30 and previously failed with the Nats, Kiersey is 26 and just got to AAA (where he isn't hitting), Williams is now hitting at age 26 but has an over 33% SO rate in AAA, and Camargo is a catcher with an over 33% SO rate in AAA. Laranch has been spotty in previous tries and regularly injured, and Prato just got to AAA. If the question is do we keep Kepler in 2025, maybe one of these guys can be the replacement if they show well in 2024 during the inevitable call ups for injuries like Julien has or as a bench OF. For 2024, no way would I put trust in the idea that one of them will be a starting caliber MLB OF for a full season. And if they aren't, much as it pains me to write this, you gotta keep Kepler if the goal is to contend.

I agree that Polanco is the tougher call. He's still cheap - I think his 2024 salary is set at 5.15m. IF, and it's a big IF, he performs over the rest of the season like his career average of a little worse - say .265/.325/.425 with a solid to good glove- it's hard to replace that production for $5m. He's also a team leader and has been a clutch hitter. So where do you play him? I agree that in 2024 Julien will be the 2B, with Kirilloff at 1B and Lewis at 3B. Could Jorge learn 1B and the three of them basically share those 4 spots with some DH appearances if Buxton can actually play in the OF? That way one of those 4 is on the bench most games with Castro, Taylor or some other backup CF, and a catcher. Could Polanco learn to play LF? I think he could but given his leg issues, I'm not sure the OF is the best choice. If he could, solve the search for a RH hitting OF but now you take ABs away from Wallner unless Kepler sits against most LH pitching. Still, I think they will keep Polanco for at least one more year and work him out at 1B as insurance against injury or performance issues from Julien, Lewis and/or Kirilloff. Again, the issue is we really don't have any one else knocking down the door for a spot at the start of 2024. Lee is more likely a June callup if he performs at AAA. By then all kinds of things could happen that would make having Polanco a very good thing.

I've long been in the dump Max crowd but I do think they will pick up his option, particularly if there are metrics that suggest this recent resurgence might be sustainable. Why? Because WE GOT NOBODY ELSE FOR 2024. Your 2024 Twins OF without Kepler - it's uh, well, uh, hmmm, here are the options: Buxton - maybe but for no more than 100 games in the field, likely less. Wallner - has looked great in 82 ABs, classic small sample size but I say he starts in 2024. Larnach - maybe, but a career MLB slash line of .223/315/.380(.695) suggests we at least need a fall back if he doesn't work out. Taylor - nice 4th OF, not an everyday starter on a contending team. Pending FA who may want to go to a team where he can start if Buxton is going to play CF. Lewis - maybe, but last time in the OF, he tore his ACL. Not sure the Twins want him out there again. Gordon - maybe, but so far a half year wonder, hardly an established OF. Castro - nice UTL guy, hitting almost exactly where his career lines are - .247/.331/.376 (.706), 96 OPS+ this year, career .681 OPS, 89 OPS+. Sounds like a 4th or 5th OF to me. Gallo and Lupow - please no. IFs maybe turned into OFs - Polanco, Julien, Miranda - doesn't seem like a good bet. Maybe Polanco could do it? Other AAA OFs - Celestino, Garlick, Keirsey, Prato, Stevenson - a lot in their mid-late 20s (not a good sign for a "prospect"), high SO rates all around. Best slash line is Stevenson and he'll turn 30 in June, 2024. Hard to see a 2024 starter in that group. Frankly, hard to see a 2024 bench player there except maaaybe Celestino, with Keirsey and Prato an outside chance. The rest are AAAA depth. Free agents - does anyone really think the Twins will commit $15m a year plus to a free agent OF? I don't. To me, the Bottom line is that I hope Kepler's second half is who will be next year. Heck, I would take .240/.310/.440 next year from Max. We need to hope, because the Twins will exercise the one year option for a very simple reason - because we don't have anyone else we can count on to replace him. And, it's only one year so we can trade him at mid-season if someone else takes his job.

Comment from yet another history major - AceWrigley is right. in 1918-1939 the war just shifted to world economy, WWI never really ended.

While not adding payroll may have played a part, I think the main reason they didn't add is that the team isn't very good and they no longer have a surplus of prospects to trade. Adding a Teoscar Hernandez, Tommy Pham, or 32 plus year old reliever doesn''t get us to contention this year. Even more importantly, the team is being transitioned from the current core vets to a new younger group. You don't trade prospects when you do that. You need those prospects either to be in the first wave or to be in the second wave if the first wave fails. Think about it this way -what current vets on the 26 man will be here next year and in 2025 and why? I define vets as MLB 3 full years or more by end of 2023. Likely to be Correa, Vasquez (contract), Buxton, Lopez, and . . . Maaaaybe Polanco , maaaybe Kepler but most likely not, possibly Pagan and Theilbar if he lasts that long. All the rest will be gone. By mid-next year or at least 2025 one would expect the primary IF to be a combo of Correa, Julien, Kirilloff, Lewis, Polanco and Lee with maybe Farmer as a UTL if one of those 6 is hurt or Lee isn't ready and Castro is in the OF. The OF is Buxton, Wallner, Kepler for maybe one more year, Larnach and Castro(?), maybe Gordon(?). We need OFs starting next year, can't trade any we now have. The pitching staff is Lopez, Ryan, Ober, Varaland, and SWR (or Maeda for 2024), with Duran, Jax, Balazovic, Pagan, Moran, Thielbar or Floro and young guys or FA retreads filling out the bullpen. Jeffers and Vasquez are the catchers. So who you going to trade for a Pham, Hernandez, or RP? Not Larnach, Lee, Castro, Lewis, Balazovic, Varland, SWR, etc. And you can't trade the next wave guys like Festa, Raya, Camargo, Severino, Williams, Miranda, Oliver, DeAndrade, etc. because then you have no Plan B if a part of that first wave fails. Bottom line to me is threefold, (1) the current team can win the division with what they have, (2) the current team is very unlikely to do better than win one playoff series even with a couple of rentals, and 3) we got nobody to trade that we won't need in the next 2 years and probably don't even have enough guys for our own needs. Was money an issue? Probably. I think the talent level on the team and in the organization is the bigger issue.

Luplow shows as on the bench for today's game. Assume he is the Buxton replacement on the 26 man roster.

I remember Lupow as a pretty good hitter with Cleveland. Probably only played against lefties. Meh move, but still better than Gallo.

You're right. I clicked on the article to see which 5 would be included. Shocked Correa isn't on the list.

The expected move happened. Ryan to the 15 day IL, Keuchel up to replace him. I think this will help Ryan be more effective when he returns. Looked like he had a pretty dead arm although the designation is a groin strain. Not sure what Keuchel will bring but he deserves the shot as the most productive AAA pitcher in the last month.

The expected happened. Ryan to the IL, Keuchel up in his place.

I had the same thought but then I looked at his numbers since he was traded from Baltimore to Houston at the deadline last year. Here they are: With Houston 2022 - .176/.258/.364 (.622) - 7 doubles, 8 home runs, 22 RBIs in 165 at bats, 186 plate apps. (Ouch!) With Chicago Cubs 2023 - .234/.299/.336 (.635) - 12 doubles, 4 HRs, 28 RBIs in 235 ABs (263 PAs). (Not Good) Against LH pitching 2023 - .223/.306/.351 (.657) - 6 doubles, 2 HR, 15 RBI in 141 ABs (255 PAs) (Still Not Good) Id love to upgrade from Gallo, not sure Mancini is much of an upgrade at the plate, probably a downgrade in the field. I would rather call up Larnach or Williams for those ABs.

I completely agree on Gallo. Whether or not you initially agreed with Gallo experiment - I thought it was worth a shot - it failed. We're 2/3 of the way through the season. The chances of a comeback by Gallo are small. Time to DFA him and either bring up Larnach or Stevenson, or grab a RH DFA guy like Trey Mancini. I'd bring up Larnach and move on. Also agree on trades but for a different reason. We couldn't make an impactful trade because don't have much to trade. The Saints are are collection of AAAA players for the most part and we needed to keep the "real" prospects we had there or at AA. We just don't have a lot of guys that other teams want.

Interesting that Castro is not in the lineup two days in a row, I understand playing MAT, Kepler and Wallner in the OF, but I wonder is Castro has ever played 1B. Might be an improvement over Gallo in the field, definitely an improvement at the plate.

I generally agree with the post except that it's missing one possibility - trading Larnach or Wallner for a good reliever with at least 1.5 years of control left. Was that possible? I don't know. I would have considered that kind of deal with Larnach, not sure on Wallner. I'm thinking , something like Larnach and a prospect like Severino or Urbina for Kyle Finnegan or maybe Wallner for Finnegan plus a Severino type propect from Washington. I'd be very curious to what as to whether that kind of a deal was out there. Otherwise, I just don't think there are any trades that make sense to be had. The value of the first round draft choice we get if Gray rejects a qualifying offer is probably more than we could get for Gray as a two month rental. Maeda has some value, but it's probably a mid-level to lower-level prospect at best. Certainly not a quality reliever or right-handed hitter unless we want to trade rental for rental and then Maeda as a starting pitcher is the one with the most value. Gallo, Kepler, Farmer, Solano, Pagan simply have no value other than low level prospects if that. Trading Polanco or Maranda now is selling low. Bottom line, other than Larnach or Wallner, there just isn't anyone out there that we could trade that would have much value to anyone other than our more highly rated prospects and those are exactly the kind of people you don't trade for a team unlikely to have World Series aspirations.

This. I'm fine with no trades. Larnach was the guy most mentioned and I rather have him than trade him for an older rental. We will need him next year when Gallo, MAT, and possibly Kepler is gone. All of this is fine IF they move out Gallo, and play the younger players going forward. It's not ok if we are treated to lots of ABs given to guys like MAT, Gallo and Solano.

Ugly stuff.

And . . . Nothing. Who says the trade deadline isn't exciting?