Unless he falls back into the black hole he was in earlier this year I think they pick up the option. The only other thing that could make them let him go is if the Pohlads hold or cut payroll next year and they cant fit him in.
Trading one of them should be considered. They will probably only try to keep one of them for 24 so try to get something for the one they are going to let walk. If I was the GM it would Gray (thank god I'm not) as Maeda has looked good after coming back and has his tommy john out of the way, and Gray is probably due for one. I think the return could be better than expected due to demand.
This team is probably not going to make any noise in the playoffs, so make a couple trades to reload for next year without completely ruining our chances to win the division this year. Trade one of the starting pitchers that are going to be free agents and one of the lH corner outfielders For a controllable RH outfielder that hits left handed pitching and a reliable reliever. DFA Gallo if no one wants him and bring up Keuchel to finnish out the year.
Agree with this 100%. The same can be said for Popkins, he's putting forth a hitting philosophy the FO believes in. I think the problem is they want all the hitters to take the same approach. Now, most front offices have a way they believe things should be done and the coaches need to preach the company line. For better or worse.
Agree with chepittit19 100%. I always thought Kepler would become a star. He just looks like a player, but I don't think it will happen now, at least not with the Twins.
As per Michael Rand of the Tribune, Pagon ranks 1128th of 1133 pitchers since 2021 by WPA. Who's 1133 you ask. Alex Colome of course, and Trevor McGill is right between them at 1130th. How incompetent does a front office have to be to have 3of the 6 worst pitchers in MLB the last 2.5 years?
When Maeda comes back go to a 6 man rotation at least a couple times through. Give everyone a little more rest. Odds are by then someone will need an IL stint or something will happen to resolve the situation.
Not to worried about his hitting. Signing him made complete sense last winter, and I was surprised and happy they did. This team has spent a lot more on riskier contracts. Lopez getting $75 million for one. Someone who has great stuff but has never turned in results to match, and has had recurrent shoulder problems. I think this is the one to worry about.
Put Buxton back in the field! The team is only getting about 30% of his value this way. 80-90 games of him playing the field is better than is better than what were getting now. At least try 2 in the field then a day at DH, try something to get him out there.
His defense is spectacular. On offense it seems that he only hits when the game has already been won or lost. That has been true last year and this year, so why not at least move him down in the order.
Swept by Houston and tied with Detroit for the central division. Then losing 3 out of 4 to Cleveland. This team looks like they expect bad thing to happen. Maybe Lewis can spark them but that's asking a lot of a rookie in a clubhouse with Correa and Buxton in it.
If the lack of hitting keeps up the pitchers will start feeling like they have to be perfect. Then the mistakes will start. suddenly the score will be 8-1 instead of 3-1
He's allowing his career's highest home run rate (1.1 HR/9), but it's a limited sample size to this point.
I'm not saying he hasn't shown improvement, but you can't use the good things as proof he has improved, and the bad is just small sample size.