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The Minnesota Twins came into the 2023 season with Nick Gordon penned in as their utility man. After being the fifth overall pick during the 2014 draft, he'd finally found his footing at the highest level with a nice 2022 season. The year played out differently than planned, though, and now questions about his future are impossible to ignore. Image courtesy of Matt Blewett - USA TODAY Sports When the Twins took Nick Gordon out of high school with the fifth overall pick during the 2014 Major League Baseball draft, they did so hoping the bloodlines from father Tom Gordon and brother Dee Strange-Gordon would produce a high-level big leaguer. It took time for Gordon to mature physically, and he had a few setbacks along the way. Reaching the majors during the 2021 season, he never found a consistent home. Moving off of shortstop full-time as he progressed through the minors, Gordon exhibited positional flexibility. Playing third and second, he also spent time in the outfield. Gordon isn’t nearly as fast as his brother Dee was, but his instincts on the grass played well. When he hit .272 across 136 games last year, we saw the makings of a true asset at the highest level. Concerns for Gordon included a lack of plate discipline and only minimal ability to drive the ball. He did register 28 doubles and nine home runs in 2022, but his 105/19 K/BB needed to be improved. Still, the 111 OPS+ earned him plenty of reason to open on the 26-man roster as Rocco Baldelli’s primary utility player. Even after Minnesota claimed Willi Castro and signed Donovan Solano, there was no reason to believe Gordon’s job was in jeopardy. Just 34 games into his season, Gordon fouled a ball off his right shin and wound up with a fracture. That injury sidelined him the rest of the season, and despite working back with a group that included Chris Paddack, Jorge Alcala, and Byron Buxton, Gordon’s body didn’t allow him to get major-league game action after appearing in six games for the Saints. Now eligible for arbitration for the first time in his career, Gordon’s projected figure checks in at only $1 million. That’s only a nominal amount over the major league minimum, so many isn't the issue as far as bringin him back. Where he fits going forward is a question, though. Even if Gordon was still a shortstop, and he isn’t, Carlos Correa is the Twins' answer. Jorge Polanco is back to play second base alongside Edouard Julien, and first base isn’t an option for Gordon. Royce Lewis plays third base; Max Kepler and Matt Wallner will occupy the corners. Gordon played well in center field and certainly could rotate in for a healthy Buxton, but banking on that isn’t a good plan, and Minnesota will be looking for a Michael A. Taylor-caliber starting-level replacement. Beyond just starting roles, things got even more cloudy when Castro popped up with a 106 OPS+ and played better defensively. He’s also two years younger, and while projected to be slightly more expensive, the floor is arguably safer. Gordon looks the part of a major-league talent, but finding a fit with the Twins seems complicated. That all but necessitates a trade, and he should have an allure to a handful of organizations. While plenty of teams have players who can fill fringe roles, Gordon has shown he can do it at the highest level, and it comes at a cost that would rival the promotion of any prospect. With dollars always looking to be stifled at the back end of active rosters, Gordon is the perfect type of asset to round out a lineup or allow for a more significant contract elsewhere. Plenty of teams look to limit spending on a yearly basis, and Gordon, representing a straightforward opportunity to do that while still having starting chops, could be a selling point. Expecting a sizable return for Gordon would be misguided. Regardless of his former prospect or draft status, that isn’t happening. He could net a nice flier or bullpen arm, though, and the Twins may be inclined to see if that type of return is something they have an interest in. What do you think? Will Nick Gordon stay with the Twins during the 2024 season? View full article

By Friday at 7:00 pm, MLB teams will need to offer their pre-arbitration and arbitration-eligible players a contract for 2024. The Twins have already made their official decision on two arbitration-eligible players and have to make their decisions on seven more players. And those decisions come with several question marks. (Article updated Friday, 7:40 pm after roster decisions announced) Image courtesy of Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports Article Update (7:40 pm): On Friday night, the Twins announced that they have tendered 2024 contracts to all seven arbitration-eligible players. It was also announced the Jovani Moran is expected to be having Tommy John surgery in the near future and miss the 2024 season. The Twins are trying to get him to sign a two-year minor league deal. In addition, the Twins did not tender a 2024 contract to RHP Ronny Henriquez. With Moran and Henriquez coming off of the 40-man roster, the roster is now at 36 players. There are 17 pitchers, three catchers, eight infielders and eight outfielders. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- When the offseason began, the Minnesota Twins had nine players on their roster that were arbitration-eligible. Since then, the Twins made quick decisions on two of them. Soon after their playoff run concluded, Jordan Luplow and Jose De Leon were designated for assignment and became free agents. That leaves seven players that the Twins still need to make decisions about their 2024 status. Below, I will run through these seven players and make some notes on each. Several of them may involve answering some difficult questions. A few are pretty easy decisions. Please feel free to ask questions and discuss these decisions in the Forum below. Also, generally-speaking not many pre-arbitration players are non-tendered, but it has happened. We aren't going to try to project which, if any, of those players will be non-tendered on Friday. (Players sorted by MLB Trade Rumors Projections) 2B/OF Nick Gordon Service Time: 2.136 (two years, 136 days, Super 2) Arbitration Year: 1 of 4 Age in 2024: 28 MLB Trade Rumors Projected 2024 Salary: $1.0 million Deadline Decision: Tendered 2023 Season: If this decision had to be made after Gordon’s 2022 breakout season, it would have been simple. However, Gordon’s 2023 season started out very slow, but just when he started playing well, he broke his leg and was out the remainder of the season. However, he was an impressive teammate and cheerleader for the team in October! Potential 2024 Role: Gordon can play second base and performed well in left field and centerfield over the previous year. In a pinch, he can play shortstop and third base as well. He could be the left-handed side of platoons or a more traditional utility player, capable of playing at least five positions if needed. With the emergence of Edouard Julien, Matt Wallner and Royce Lewis, and the likes of Austin Martin and Brooks Lee potentially ready in the near future, playing time may be more and more limited. Biggest Question Marks: Gordon has had several injuries in his career. And while his 2022 season was just as good as Willi Castro’s 2023 season, Castro is the better defensive player at each spot on the field. Gordon is also out of options, so he couldn’t be sent to the minor leagues by the Twins without going through waivers. Prediction: The dollars are low and Gordon should have value to teams, including the Twins. I would predict that he will be tendered a 2024 contract, although I would think that the Twins front office might be looking to trade him to a team looking for a solid utility option. A trade could happen before Friday’s deadline, or anytime after Friday (assuming he is tendered). RHP Jorge Alcala Service Time: 4.014 (four years, 14 days) Arbitration Year: 2 of 3 Age in 2024: 28 MLB Trade Rumors Projected 2024 Salary: $1.0 million Deadline Decision: Tendered 2023 Season: After pitching just twice in 2022, Alcala made the 2023 opening day roster. However, after 10 games and 15 innings, he went on the Injured List in mid-May and didn’t return until the final game of the season. However, in that game, he was displaying a fastball between 97 and 99 and a sharp slider. Potential 2024 Role: The “potential” for Alcala has been the same each of the past five offseasons. When healthy, he has a big fastball and quality secondaries that are inconsistent but have big… potential. He has the potential and talent to be the top set up man, joining Griffin Jax and Brock Stewart in getting the ball to Jhoan Duran. I’d like to see what he can do in a fully healthy season. Biggest Question Mark: Health. That’s it. Yeah, he can work on pitches too and become more consistent, but the only way to do that is to stay healthy and get the innings. Prediction: This should be a very easy decision. The Twins should absolutely tender him a contract. If it’s $1 million, that’s fine. A year ago, he avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $790,000 deal, just $70K over league minimum. With his limited pitching the last couple of seasons, I would think he would happily sign a one-year, $900,000 deal, or something in that range. Sure, the team can still look to trade him if someone sends a quality prospect. However, Alcala hasn’t been optioned in the past, so he’s got three years worth of options remaining which might allow him to work on things and get innings if he’s not with the Twins. 1B Alex Kirilloff Service Time: 2.141 (two years, 141 days, Super 2) Arbitration Year: 1 of 4 Age in 2024: 26 MLB Trade Rumors Projected 2024 Salary: $1.7 million Deadline Decision: Tendered 2023 Season: Because of ongoing wrist pain, Kirilloff’s 2022 season ended after just 45 games. He had a surgery which involved shaving bones in his wrist to help alleviate the pain. The Twins brought him back slowly early in the 2023 season. He missed some time, but generally speaking, his wrist was not an issue. He played in 88 games and posted a .793 OPS with 14 doubles and 11 homers. He struggled in the playoffs and was removed from the roster in the ALDS series against the Astros due to a shoulder injury. He had surgery shortly after the Twins playoff run came to an end. Potential 2024 Role: When healthy, Kirilloff will be the primary first baseman. While his surgery turned out to be much more minor than feared, he could still miss some time early in the season. When he’s healthy, he is potentially an All Star bat. Can he still reach that level? Biggest Question Mark: That is the question. He will get healthy in time, though that has certainly become his biggest issue so far. He was pretty strictly platooned in 2023 due to some horrific numbers versus southpaws. Can he put up decent-enough numbers against same-siders to be an everyday player? Prediction: Easy decision. He will be tendered a contract. Can they negotiate a deal with him and his agent (Boras) to sign a deal for below the projection? Maybe. C Ryan Jeffers Service Time: 3.089 (three years, 89 days) Arbitration Year: 1 of 3 Age in 2024: 27 MLB Trade Rumors Projected 2024 Salary: $2.3 million Deadline Decision: Tendered 2023 Season: After hitting a combined .203/.277/.384 (.661) in 152 games between 2021 and 2022, the Twins brought in veteran backstop Christian Vazquez on a three-year deal. Early in the season, Vazquez was playing approximately two out of three games. However, Jeffers started playing much better behind the plate and at the plate. In 96 games, he hit .276/.369/.490 (.858) with 15 doubles and 14 home runs. His OPS+ was 134! The Twins played six playoff games in 2023. Jeffers caught all six of them. Potential 2024 Role: Aside from “normal” catcher bumps, bruises and pain, Vazquez and Jeffers remained healthy throughout the 2023 season. The two should continue to split time, with Jeffers getting the start in two out of three games. If he’s hitting like he did in 2023, he could get more DH opportunities too. Biggest Question Mark: He’s a catcher. That alone comes with inherent risks of injury. That shouldn’t be a consideration in this discussion. So the big question for Jeffers in 2024 will be if he can replicate his 2023 success as opposed to revert to his 2021 and 2022 levels. Prediction: Another easy decision. In fact, these two sides should spend time this offseason working on a four or five year deal to keep him in a Twins uniform for a long time. LHP Caleb Thielbar Service Time: 5.131 (five years, 131 days) Arbitration Year: 3 of 3 Age in 2024: 37 MLB Trade Rumors Projected 2024 Salary: $3.0 million Deadline Decision: Tendered 2023 Season: Since returning to the Twins before the 2020 season, Thielbar has been remarkably consistent, and remarkably effective as a setup man for the Twins. 2023 was the first time in his career that he missed significant time due to injury. He strained his oblique, probably came back too quickly, strained it again and then took longer to return the second time. So, he only pitched in 36 games, but in his 30 2/3 innings, he had 36 strikeouts and just six walks. For the first time since his 2013 rookie season, he had a WHIP of under 1.00. Potential 2024 Role: More of the same from Thielbar. Yes, he will be 37, but he hasn’t lost velocity, and his curveball continues to be a great pitch. He should continue to get crucial spots anywhere from the sixth through ninth innings. He can also continue to be a mentor in the bullpen. Biggest Question Mark: Can he stay healthy throughout most of the season? And obviously can he remain effective for another year? And on some level, how much longer does he want to continue pitching? Prediction: Sure, there are questions, but this is another easy decision for the Twins’ brass. Thielbar will be tendered a contract for 2024. And I would like to see the two sides come together and discuss a longer-term deal. Maybe it’s a series of options. $3 million for 2024, then an option for 2025 at $3 million that vests with 50 innings. If he is between 40 and 49 2/3 innings in 2024, the option vests at $2.5 million. If he’s under 40 innings, there could be a club option at $2 million but if they decline it, there could be a player option at $1.5 million. And, of course, Thielbar would have the right to retire at any point. The lawyers could get involved to creatively work through a one-year deal with a couple of options that would keep Thielbar pitching for his hometown team until he retires. UT Willi Castro Service Time: 4.017 (4 years, 17 days) Arbitration Year: 1 of 2 Age in 2024: 27 MLB Trade Rumors Projected 2024 Salary: $3.2 million Deadline Decision: Tendered 2023 Season: Following the 2022 season, Castro had accumulated just over three years of service time with the Tigers. He was projected to make $1.7 million in his first year of arbitration, so Detroit non-tendered him. The Twins pursued him aggressively and he quickly signed a minor-league deal with the Twins in which he would make $1.8 million if he was with the Twins all season. Because of injuries and more, Castro made the Twins Opening Day roster, and after not playing for the first several games, he found a way to spend the entire season as a very valuable role player with the Twins. He was fantastic defensively at three infield positions. He did a nice job filling in left and center field as well. In his parts of four seasons with the Tigers, he accumulated 0.4 bWAR. In 124 games with the Twins in 2023, Castro ranked third among Twins hitters with 2.6 bWAR. He played strong defense. He hit .257/.339/.411 (.750) with 32 extra base hits. He stole 33 bases in 38 attempts, an element the Twins haven’t had for a long time. Potential 2024 Role: His role in 2024 should be very similar to what it was in 2023. He can play three to five times per week all over the diamond. The fact that he is a switch hitter allows him to give guys off at different spots regardless of that day’s starting pitcher. Biggest Question Mark: He was well worth the $1.8 million in 2023, and we can all picture him continuing to be valuable, but his 2023 production was significantly better than it had been the two previous seasons when he played over 110 games. Won’t the real Willi Castro please stand up? And, how does the front office see the combination of Castro and Gordon in the organization? Can they both be on the roster and provide value? Castro is a year younger. Prediction: This is really the first one where I’ve had to think about how much I buy into Willi Castro’s 2023 season. That said, I think the Twins will tender him a contract, try to come up with a little lower than projected number, and use his switch-hitting and defensive versatility in 2024. IF Kyle Farmer Service Time: 5.129 (five years, 129 days) Arbitration Year: 3 or 3 Age in 2024: 33 MLB Trade Rumors Projected 2024 Salary: $6.6 million Deadline Decision: Tendered 2023 Season: Farmer came to the Twins after the 2022 season from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for RH RP Casey Legumina. At the time, he was technically the Twins starting shortstop. As you all know, after a long and winding road, Carlos Correa came back to the Twins which meant it was back to the bench for Farmer. That said, Rocco Baldelli kept his bench active all season. Farmer got extended time at second base early in the season when Jorge Polanco was out. He got quite a bit of time at third base in between the Jose Miranda demotion and the return of Royce Lewis. And late in the year, he played shortstop most every day when Correa was resting his plantar fasciitis. In between, he was a platoon player, often splitting time with, and mentoring, Edouard Julien at second base. Solid defense around the infield. Fantastic leader and teammate. Generally mashes left-handed pitching. Took a fastball to the mouth and went through multiple surgeries. Potential 2024 Role: It would be the same general role for Farmer in 2024. Depending on how the right side of the infield shakes out this offseason, he could platoon at first and/or second base. He can pinch hit, DH, and even be that emergency catcher. Depending on health, it is likely his playing time would decrease. Biggest Question Mark: Payroll. Just what will the Twins payroll be in 2024. We know it’s going to drop, so can the Twins afford to pay a utility player over $6 million? Unfortunately that is the reality because my sense is that everyone associated with the Twins would love to bring Farmer back. Prediction: This is by far the most difficult decision for the Twins front office. As noted, if payroll remained the same, he would very likely be tendered, but with payroll down, we can’t assume that. We know his value to a big-league roster. You would hate to non-tender him and lose him for nothing. So, I don’t think they’ll do that. I do think that they will try hard to trade him for something over the next 24-36 hours, but if they can’t before Friday’s deadline, I would guess that they will tender him a contract and continue to try to deal him throughout the offseason. There are quick glimpses at the seven remaining arbitration-eligible cases that the Twins front office have to make decisions on before Friday evening. Will they tender all seven? How many do you think they will, or they should tender? Could they be looking to make a trade or two, either of these players or of some pre-arbitration players to make additional room on the roster? How many of these players should be considered for multi-year contract extensions? Feel free to discuss below. And again, check back over the next couple of days to find out what the Twins decided to do. View full article

In this mailbag episode, I turned to my channel members to see what was on their minds. Topics discussed include the TV contract, potential front office and coaching staff departures, the infield logjam, offseason targets, Austin Martin's future and more. View full video

The Twins will have some roster cleaning to do this winter on the 40-man roster. Here are three arbitration-eligible players who likely won’t return at their expected price tag. Image courtesy of Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports During the off-season, spots on the 40-man roster become even more valuable to a front office. Teams can stash injured players on the 60-day IL during the season and not worry about that player taking a spot on the roster. This roster flexibility disappears in the winter, so teams can’t hoard talent at the big-league level. The Twins entered the winter with seven players on the 60-day IL who needed spots back on the 40-man roster. Five pitchers are on the 60-day IL, including Matt Canterino, Jose De Leon, Tyler Mahle, Jovani Moran, and Oliver Ortega. Jose Miranda and Nick Gordon are the position players that will need a roster spot. The team also needs roster spots to add eligible prospects before the Rule 5 Draft. On Friday, the Twins outrighted Andrew Stevenson and Jose De Leon, which were both expected moves. Both players passed through waivers unclaimed, and they have the right to elect free agency. The projected arbitration totals below come from MLB Trade Rumors. Here are some other names the Twins will likely consider removing from the 40-man roster in the coming weeks. Jordan Luplow, OF Project Arbitration Salary: $1.6 million The Twins claimed Luplow off of waivers last August, and he found a role with the club for the stretch run. At the trade deadline, Minnesota was searching for a right-handed bench bat, and Luplow met those criteria. In 32 games, he posted an 83 OPS+ with five extra-base hits and two steals. Defensively, he logged time at all three outfield positions and even saw some time at first base. The Twins will likely have a cheaper option to fill a bench role, so it seems easy to part ways with him at his projected salary. Jorge Alcala, RP Projected Arbitration Salary: $1.0 million Alcala hasn’t been healthy over the last two seasons, which is unfortunate because he’s previously shown some positive signs. In 2020, Alcala posted a 2.63 ERA while striking out more than ten batters per nine innings. Over the last two seasons, he has been limited to 13 appearances due to injury. There have been flashes of Alcala being a solid big-league reliever, especially with an excellent changeup. Minnesota’s bullpen struggled at different parts of the 2023 season, but the Twins might want to reallocate Alcala’s projected salary to other options. Nick Gordon, UTL Projected Arbitration Salary: $1.0 million Many fans had high hopes for Gordon entering the 2023 season because he was one of the team’s most consistent hitters in 2022. In 136 games, he posted a 111 OPS+ with 41 extra-base hits while playing multiple infield and outfield positions. His 2023 season started slowly (35 OPS+ in 34 games), and then he fouled a ball off his leg and fractured his tibia. The Twins have praised Gordon in the past for the attitude he brings to the clubhouse daily, and fans saw him being the team’s biggest hype-man in the playoffs. Minnesota could try to keep him in a utility role, but the club might not trust him as a backup infielder at multiple positions. Are his positive traits enough to keep him on the roster, especially since he is out of options? Tough decisions must be made with the roster at this time of year. However, many of these cuts seem straightforward for a team cleaning up its 40-man roster at the start of the off-season. Will the Twins part ways with any of these players? Which one would you most like to keep on the roster? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Playing the last minor league game of the season for the Minnesota Twins affiliates, the St. Paul Saints came out Sunday afternoon looking to avoid inclement weather for the second consecutive day. With plenty of Twins trying to get in rehab action, there was more than enough to watch. Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints TRANSACTIONS RHP Chris Paddack completes rehab assignment and is activated by Minnesota RHP Josh Winder optioned to St. Paul SAINTS SENTINEL Toledo 3, St. Paul 2 Box Score After a rainout on Saturday evening, the St. Paul Saints took the field Sunday afternoon for their final game of the 2023 season. Although Chris Paddack was activated by the Twins, Byron Buxton, Joey Gallo, Nick Gordon, Brock Stewart, and Jorge Alcala all continued their rehab assignments. Patrick Murphy took the ball for Toby Gardenhire on Sunday and worked four innings. Murphy allowed seven hits and three runs while giving up a walk and striking out four. Brent Headrick then took over in relief for St. Paul. The Mud Hens took the lead with a run in the second inning, and then tacked on another pair in the third inning. St. Paul got on the board in the fifth inning, and it was because of Michael Helman’s hustle that they got two. Beating out an infield single, Helman was on when Jair Camargo stepped in and launched his 21st homer of the season. The two-run blast made it a 3-2 game with the Saints drawing closer. Taking over for the seventh inning, and looking to keep things close for St. Paul, was Ronny Henriquez . He worked a scoreless inning of relief while striking out one. Hunter McMahon got the eighth inning with the Saints still needing a run to tie things up. McMahon followed Henriquez’s lead and worked a scoreless inning of his own. Unable to score in the eighth inning, Cole Sands was on to hold the deficit in the ninth, and give the Saints a chance. He did his job working a scoreless inning, and St. Paul was down to their final three outs. Yunior Severino struck out for the fourth time on the afternoon to kick off the inning, and DaShawn Keirsey Jr. was a strikeout victim as well. Buxton stepped in with just one out left and worked a 3-2 count. His fly out to centerfield ended the game Gordon finished the day going 0-for-2 with a strikeout and a walk. Buxton finished 0-for-4 with a strikeout, and Gallo was 0-for-3 with a strikeout. The Saints finish their season with an 84-64 record. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day –Brent Headrick (St. Paul) - 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K Hitter of the Day – Jair Camargo (St. Paul) - 1-3, R, 2 RBI, HR(21) PROSPECT SUMMARY Here’s a look at how the current Twins Daily Top 20 performed: #1 - Brooks Lee (St. Paul) - 0-3 #7 - Austin Martin (St. Paul) - 0-2 #14 - Yunior Severino (St. Paul) - 0-3, 3 K #20 - Brent Headrick (St. Paul) - 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Sunday’s game! View full article

Royce Lewis did it again. He set the Minnesota Twins single-season record by hitting his fourth grand slam of the season. He’s also the fastest player to five career grand slams by nearly a half season. That big blast led the Twins to a 10-2 victory over the White Sox Friday. In the minors, Brock Stewart and Nick Gordon both began their rehab assignments with St. Paul and the Kernels won their elimination game in convincing fashion. Cedar Rapids advances to the Midwest League Championship, a best-of-three series. View full video

Utility player Nick Gordon has begun ramping up baseball activity, increasing his chances of returning from the 60-day IL before the end of the 2023 regular season. With the Twins' 28-man roster already crowded, is there room left for the potentially soon-to-return Gordon? Image courtesy of Matt Blewett - USA TODAY Sports In the 2023 season, expectations for utility player Nick Gordon were as high as they have been since the Twins selected him fifth overall in the 2014 Major League Baseball draft. Following a strong 2022 season, where he hit .272/.316/.427 (.753) with an above-average wRC+ of 111 over 443 plate appearances, Gordon got the 2023 Opening Day start at second base in place of the then-injured Jorge Polanco. Whether it be second base, left field, centerfield, designated hitter, or shortstop, the left-handed-hitting Gordon was bound to find himself in the lineup whenever the Twins faced a right-handed starting pitcher. Gordon was the Twins' top left-handed-hitting utility player. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to keep that spot for long. On May 17, Gordon fouled a ball off his right shin, forcing him to exit in the fifth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Gordon underwent testing, and was announced that he had sustained a fractured right shin. Gordon was immediately placed on the 10-day IL following his diagnosis. On May 29, the Twins transferred Gordon to the 60-day IL, leaving many to wonder if his 2023 season had sadly come to an end. Tibia-fibula fractures typically take four to six months to fully recover from, so the only thing Gordon could do was gradually recover with the hope of being able to play in games by mid-to-late September. Luckily, the best-case scenario has occurred, and Gordon is participating in baseball activities, and a rehab assignment looks to be in his near future. While Gordon's quick recovery is incredible news, one has to wonder if there is a spot for him on the Twins' now 28-man roster if he can return from his fractured shin injury before the end of the regular season. Since Gordon was placed on the 60-day IL in late May, young players like Edouard Julien, Royce Lewis, Alex Kirilloff, Willi Castro, and Matt Wallner have emerged as full-time contributors, leading to the competition over playing time and at-bats. While Gordon had earned himself a vital role on the 2023 Twins before the regular season began, the situation the Twins and Gordon find themselves in has changed dramatically. With Gordon's return from the 60-day IL potentially happening in the next handful of weeks, the Twins may need to decide if they want to open up a spot for him on the 28-man roster, keep him on the 60-day IL, or designate him for assignment as he has run out of minor league options. The Twins designating Gordon for assignment feels unlikely as the 27-year-old utility player is young and provides value due to his flexibility and usually steady bat. The Twins could shut Gordon down for the rest of the season, but if he is confirmed to be healthy by the Twins' training staff and he expresses a desire to return, then shutting him down for the rest of the season could soon become a non-option. The Twins might need to make a tough decision soon, and the likely outcome is that the Twins will find Gordon and his versatility too valuable to cut bait. So, what corresponding roster move should the Twins make? Here are three options. The Likely Move: Designate Andrew Stevenson for Assignment The first transaction the Twins could make to active Gordon from the 60-day IL is to designate fan favorite Andrew Stevenson for assignment. Stevenson was an incredible story for the Triple-A St. Paul Saints this season and will likely win the Saints Most Valuable Player award after this season. Unfortunately, Stevenson has not produced offensively since earning a call-up on September 1. Since getting promoted from Triple-A St. Paul, Stevenson is hitting .235/.278/.235 (.513) with four hits and a 44 wRC+ over 18 plate appearances. Stevenson has performed well defensively in centerfield and joined Castro as one of the few Twins players who attempts to steal bases, but his performance at the plate has largely been uninspiring. Stevenson, who hits left-handed, primarily plays centerfield with the ability to play the corner outfield spots, so Gordon, who possesses a nearly identical player profile, could naturally slide into Stevenson's role. The Twins designating Stevenson for assignment in favor of Gordon is the most likely move to occur as things stand. Once again, Stevenson is an incredible story and deserves to be rewarded for his services at Triple-A St. Paul, but Gordon is the better player. The Plausible Move: Demote Jordan Luplow to Triple-A or Designate Him for Assignment The second transaction the Twins could make is optioning Luplow to Triple-A St. Paul or designating him for assignment. To preface, Luplow plays a distinct role for the Twins as a right-handed hitting corner outfielder who hits left-handed pitching well. This skill set is important, and most Major League Baseball teams have a player like this on their active roster, but as the season begins to dwindle with the Twins essentially locked into winning the AL Central, one has to wonder if keeping such a niche player like Luplow is still necessary. The most crucial factor to consider down the stretch when deciding if Luplow deserves a 28-man and eventually playoff roster spot is the front end of the rotations of the teams the Twins could face in the postseason. Right now, the Twins will face either the Texas Rangers or Toronto Blue Jays in the three-game Wild Card round at Target Field starting October 3. Here are the current starting rotations of both teams: Rangers - RHP Nathan Eovaldi, RHP Max Scherzer, LHP Jordan Montgomery, RHP Jon Gray, LHP Andrew Heaney Blue Jays - RHP Kevin Gausman, RHP José Berríos, RHP Chris Bassitt, LHP Hyun Jin Ryu, LHP Yusei Kikuchi Sixty percent of the pitchers listed above are right-handed, and most of them, besides Gray of the Rangers, are listed as front-of-the-rotation pitchers. If the Twins were to face the Rangers, they would likely face Eovaldi and Scherzer in Game 1 and Game 2, with the potential of facing the left-handed pitching Montgomery in Game 3. If the Twins were to face the Blue Jays, it is a near guarantee that they would face Gausman and Berríos in Game 1 and Game 2, with the potential of facing Bassitt in Game 3. So, out of the six above hypothetical games, the Twins would potentially face a left-handed starting pitcher in just one. Now, the Rangers and Blue Jays could use their left-handed starting pitchers as relief pitchers in playoffs. The Blue Jays currently have two left-handed relief pitchers, and the Rangers have five, so while it might not make sense for the Rangers to add Montgomery or Heaney to their presently left-handed dominant bullpen in the playoffs, the Blue Jays would be incentivized to add Ryu and Kikuchi to theirs. Both the Rangers and Blue Jays are bound to use left-handed pitchers at some point in the playoffs, so keeping Luplow on the 28-man roster down the stretch and eventually adding him to the playoff roster makes sense for the Twins. It is doubtful that Gordon will make the Twins' playoff roster if he can return from the 60-day IL. Plus, Gordon hits left-handed, so swapping Luplow out for Gordon makes little sense for the Twins. The Surprising Yet Unlikely Move: Demote Matt Wallner to Triple-A The final and least likely transaction the Twins could make to activate Gordon from the 60-day IL is to demote Wallner back down to Triple-A. Wallner, who has had an awe-inspiring second season with the Twins, has struggled as of late. Here are Wallner's hitting numbers since August 1: Wallner - .206/.336/.454 (.790), 116 PA, 20 hits, four doubles, six home runs, 10.3% BB%, 33.6% K%, .247 ISO, .344 wOBA, 120 wRC+ Admittedly, Wallner's numbers are impressive and do not indicate any signs of struggling. Yet, his performance has steadily regressed since the beginning of August, as evidenced by his OPS dropping from .915 on August 1 to .837 on September 9. This move feels highly unlikely, and there is plenty of reason to believe that Wallner can make the necessary adjustments to get out of his mini-slump before the beginning of the playoffs. Yet, the Twins demoting Wallner in favor of fellow left-handed hitting outfielder Gordon cannot be ruled out entirely. With Gordon appearing set to return from the 60-day IL, the Twins will likely be forced to make a complicated 28-man roster decision. Do you think the Twins should prioritize activating Gordon off the 60-day IL? If so, which Twins player should Gordon replace on the 28-man roster? Comment below. View full article

The Twins may have signed Willi Castro as a depth piece this offseason, but he has quickly turned himself into an integral piece of the team and may have cemented himself in the team's long-term plans. Image courtesy of Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports When the Minnesota Twins signed Willi Castro to a minor-league deal in late December, it was mostly an afterthought. However, since joining the team, Castro has thrust himself into the role of solid super-utility man. His slash line of .234/.315/.359 may not jump off the page, but Castro is finding ways to help the Twins win and continues adding exceptional value to the minor-league contract he signed. Castro has excelled on the bases in 2023. Leading the Twins in stolen bases with 20 (tied for 12th in the MLB), Castro has consistently given the Twins an extra weapon when he gets on base. Whether he's stealing second base with two outs to get into scoring position for an RBI opportunity or stealing home on a first/third delayed steal play, Castro has been a significant asset on the bases. The discussion has begun on what the Twins will do if Nick Gordon, returns and the Twins don't have a spot for him. Since Castro has an option remaining, the argument could be made that the Twins should option Castro and have Gordon return as the team's super-utility man. However, if the Twins were smart, they'd stick with Castro for the rest of 2023 and beyond. While Gordon provides more home run pop at the plate, Castro has been better than Gordon in almost every other facet. Castro is a better fielder and baserunner than Gordon. He has come through in some big moments at the plate as well. Gordon had a good 2022, but his .503 OPS before his injury should not offer much optimism for his return to his 2022 form. Willi Castro has consistently been among the Twins' most valuable position players in 2023. His ability to play great defense and run the bases while providing enough impact at the plate has resulted in a solid first half of the 2023 season. The Twins should continue to use him almost every day as their super-utility man, and since he's under team control until 2026, they should consider keeping him in their long-term plans. View full article

Injuries have again impacted the Twins during the 2023 campaign, but hope is on the horizon with a handful of players on track to return. Here’s a ranking of the top five players returning from injury and what each can offer the roster. Image courtesy of Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports The team expects each injured player below to return at some point before the season ends. Below is a brief explanation of their injury and an expected timeline for their return. The Twins haven’t been the most reliable at meeting those timelines in the past, but the current medical staff was new at the beginning of the year and can be given the benefit of the doubt. Other injured players that didn’t make the top five include Jose Miranda, Jorge Alcala, and Chris Paddack. 5. Nick Gordon, OF/INF Injury: Right Tibia Fracture Expected Return: September Minnesota needs to improve offensive production from the corner outfield spots, and Gordon was looking to build off a 2022 season where he posted a 110 OPS+ in 136 games. Unfortunately, Gordon struggled out of the gate in 2023 with a .503 OPS in 34 games before fouling a ball off his leg and fracturing his right tibia. He had the cast and brace removed from his leg near the end of June. Gordon has yet to start running but has been working in the weight room. The Twins have other corner outfield options, but the 2022 version of Gordon would assist the offense. 4. Brock Stewart, RP Injury: Right Elbow Soreness Expected Return: August Stewart saved the bullpen earlier in the season when multiple players struggled in late-inning roles. He’s previously dealt with other arm injuries, and the Twins are attributing his latest injury to his increased workload in 2023. In 25 2/3 innings, he posted a 0.70 ERA with a 1.01 WHIP and a 35-to-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio. At the beginning of July, he threw from 90 feet without issue, but he will require a rehab stint before returning to the MLB level. Minnesota will likely be in the market for relief pitching at the trading deadline, especially since Stewart won’t return until August. 3. Caleb Thielbar, RP Injury: Right Oblique Strain Expected Return: August Like Stewart, Thielbar was a critical component of the bullpen in the first half. Oblique injuries are complicated, as he tried to return early this season before reinjuring himself. Over the weekend, he threw a 30-pitch bullpen session and expects to throw another one early this week. His next steps would be to throw live batting practice before starting a rehab assignment. He doesn’t seem likely to return to the roster before the trade deadline, so the Twins will likely be looking for bullpen upgrades. 2. Royce Lewis, 3B Injury: Left Oblique Strain Expected Return: August Lewis has been unable to catch a break regarding staying healthy, a trend that follows many of the team’s recent top prospects. Over the last two seasons, injuries have limited him to 38 big-league games, but he’s posted a 131 OPS+. He is expected to begin baseball activities this week after doing other core work over the last week. He may return to the line-up by early August, but more will be known after the team returns from their current road trip. There’s been some speculation that the Twins might be interested in trading for a third baseman, but it seems more likely for the team to rely on other players with the hope Lewis returns shortly after the deadline. 1. Jorge Polanco, 2B Injury: Left Hamstring Strain Expected Return: Late July Minnesota’s offense has lacked a particular element without infielders like Polanco and Lewis. His return can provide a veteran presence to the line-up, but the Twins will need to find a way for him and Edouard Julien to coexist in the same line-up. Polanco began a rehab assignment on July 16, and he will likely need multiple weeks to ramp up before joining the Twins. In 30 games this season, Polanco has posted a 102 OPS+ with nine doubles and five home runs. If the Twins make the playoffs, the line-up is better, with Polanco playing at full strength. How would you rank the injured Twins players on their importance to the club in the second half? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

On every team, some players enter the season with high expectations, but baseball can be a cruel game. Here are some of the players that have failed to meet their lofty preseason projections. Image courtesy of Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports In the preseason, fans can use multiple projection systems to analyze any team and its outlook for the upcoming campaign. The Twins used the offseason to build depth at multiple positions, which has helped the team stay near the top of the AL Central. Each player below was expected to fill a specific role for the 2023 squad, and they have yet to meet expectations. Here are five players whose performances have been disappointments so far in 2023. 5. Tyler Mahle Injuries are tough to predict, but Mahle has dealt with shoulder and elbow problems over the last two seasons. ZiPS projected Mahle to finish second on the team in WAR for pitchers, but he was limited to five starts with a 3.16 ERA. He had Tommy John surgery in May and will miss the remainder of the 2023 season. He will be a free agent at season's end, but the Twins can try and sign him to a contract that buys out some of his free agent seasons. Mahle ranks at this spot on the list because some injury concerns surrounded him entering the season. 4. Nick Gordon Gordon ended the 2023 season on a high note, so there was some hope that the former first-round pick was ready to take the next step. He was given a more prominent role to begin the 2023 season because of injuries to other left-handed hitters, but he failed to reproduce his numbers from last season. In his first 34 games, he hit .176/.185/.319 (.503) with eight extra-base hits and a 37 OPS+. ZiPS projected him to have a .309 wOBA, but he has been limited to a .214 wOBA. Gordon might have started to find his swing, but then he fouled a ball off his leg and broke his shin. The team moved him to the 60-day IL earlier this week, and now he will have to wait until the season's second half to get back on track. 3. Christian Vazquez The Twins signed Vazquez to a three-year, $30 million deal this winter to take over as the team's primary catcher. However, his first year in Minnesota could have started better. He has his lowest OPS+ since 2018 and is on pace for career lows in multiple other categories. ZiPS projected him to hit .250/.303/.351 (.654) with 16 extra-base hits. He has yet to hit his first home run for the season, and there have been little signs of offensive improvements. To be fair, he wasn't signed to be an offensive force, but Minnesota had to be expecting to get a better performance from him. There have been some positive impacts on the pitching staff, and the Twins hope he can start to provide more offensive value. 2. Jose Miranda Entering the season, ZiPS projected Jose Miranda to finish fourth on the team in WAR behind Carlos Correa, Byron Buxton, and Jorge Polanco. The Twins handed the starting third base job to Miranda after a tremendous rookie campaign where he had a 114 OPS+ with 25 doubles and 15 home runs. Miranda has struggled this season while hitting .220/.275/.318 (.593) with seven extra-base hits in 35 games. Minnesota demoted him to Triple-A in the middle of May, and he has a .383 OPS in his first 14 games at that level. Miranda can still be a middle-of-the-order bat for the next decade, but no one expected this kind of start to the 2023 campaign. 1. Carlos Correa The Twins invested $200 million in Carlos Correa this winter to be a franchise-altering player. Two months into his new deal, it's hard to imagine things going much worse. He is off to a slow start for the second straight season, hitting .210/.304/.381 (.686) with 18 extra-base hits in his first 47 games. He is playing through a recently diagnosed plantar fasciitis injury, but that hasn't impacted him for the entire season. ZiPS projected him to lead the team in WAR and post a .355 wOBA. Baseball-Reference ranks him 19th on the team in WAR, behind players like Caleb Thielbar and Tyler Mahle. Correa's offensive performance improved throughout the 2022 season, so the Twins have to hope the veteran will start to figure it out at the plate. Do you agree with the rankings? Who else would you add to the list? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Twins regularly used Michael A. Taylor and Nick Gordon in center field so far in 2023. With injury concerns for both, how does the organization’s depth look at one of baseball’s most important positions? Image courtesy of Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports Minnesota’s front office had a clear roster plan when addressing the team’s center field depth. The club traded for Michael A. Taylor this winter to provide depth and defensive flexibility in the outfield. Expectations were for Nick Gordon and Joey Gallo to have the ability to play in center depending on the pitching match-up. Gordon went on the IL earlier this week after fouling a pitch off his leg. He fractured his right shin and will be sidelined for multiple weeks. It’s a tough break for Gordon, who was looking to build off a strong 2022 season where he posted a 111 OPS+ in 136 games. His 2023 season was off to a slow start (.143 BA in April), but he had raised his batting average by over 50 points in May. Now, the Twins will need to look at other center-field options. Gordon had been getting more playing time in center because Taylor was dealing with a sore back. In his age-32 season, Taylor has seen some ups and downs with his performance. Through April, he hit .244/.294/.419 (.712) with three doubles and four home runs. Since May 1, his OPS has dropped to .583 as he’s been limited to one extra-base hit. His back has been an issue recently, likely tied to his decreased offensive production. The Twins can hope his back improves, but that seems unlikely if he is forced to play more regularly with Gordon on the IL. Byron Buxton is the other elephant in the room. When healthy, Buxton is one of baseball’s top defenders in center field. He has yet to play a defensive inning because the club wants him in the lineup as much as possible. He’s played in 40-of-44 games to start the year while posting a 128 OPS+ and ranking sixth in fWAR among DHs. He may play in center field later this season, but Buxton and the team have to be happy with his abundant availability so far in 2023. Gallo and Willi Castro are the only players on the big-league roster who have seen time in center field. Center field isn’t the optimal defensive position for either of these players. Castro can play nearly every defensive position, but he’s stretched in center field. The Twins needed Gallo at first base while Alex Kirilloff was returning from injury, and he’s won Gold Gloves in both corner outfield spots. Like Gordon, Gallo left Wednesday’s game after fouling a ball off his shin, but he didn’t suffer a fracture. Minnesota would likely call someone up before giving either of these players significant innings in center field. Royce Lewis is rehabbing at Triple-A in the minor leagues, but the team plans to use him at shortstop and third base. Also, he can't be activated from the 60-day IL until the last day of the May. Also, last season, he tore his ACL for the second consecutive season when playing center field. It doesn’t seem out of the question for the Twins to reevaluate whether he can be used in center field in the future, but third base might be his best chance for regular playing time at the big-league level this season. Austin Martin, one of the team’s top prospects, would be a prime candidate to see time in center field. However, the team shut him down during spring training with a UCL sprain. He has yet to resume baseball activities, and there is a chance that he will need surgery. Like Martin, Gilberto Celestino injured himself this spring, or he might be in the center field conversation. He ruptured the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb, which has a recovery period of 6-8 weeks. It has been over eight weeks since his surgery, and he hasn’t begun a rehab assignment. At Triple-A, Andrew Stevenson and Mark Contreras have seen the bulk of playing time in center field. Stevenson is a 29-year-old signed with the Twins this winter after playing eight seasons in the Nationals organization. The former second-round pick is hitting .276/.372/.391 (.762) with seven extra-base hits and 12 stolen bases in 31 games. Contreras played 28 games for the Twins in 2022 and posted a 22 OPS+ with 21 strikeouts. He’s off to a strong start with the Saints this year with ten doubles, five home runs, ten steals, and an .888 OPS. Contreras might be the best option from Triple-A if the Twins need a center-field replacement, especially because he hits left-handed. Many fans will call for Buxton to start getting reps in center field, but that seems unlikely. Will the Twins need more center-field depth in 2023? Who is the next best option? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Twins have been struggling with runners in scoring position lately, and Bailey Ober didn't have his best stuff in this outing, but the team pulled out a win and Carlos Correa stepped in big time to help give the Twins a victory over the Padres. Image courtesy of Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports Box Score SP: Bailey Ober 6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K (96 pitches, 66 strikes (69.0%) Home Runs: Kyle Farmer (2), Top 3 WPA: Carlos Correa (.259), Joey Gallo (.183), Kyle Farmer (.165), Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) On the very first pitch of the game, Bailey Ober gave up a home run to Fernando Tatis Jr. giving the Padres the first run of the game. Ober ran up his pitches and found himself in some jams but still only gave up three earned runs. In his six innings, Ober allowed a couple of doubles and two home runs that gave the Padres the lead, but the defense was there to help manage the damage. Nick Gordon had the play of the game helping Ober get out of another jam in the fifth inning, flying into center field to catch a ball off Manny Machado to end the inning. “A pair is overrated,” said Justin Morneau in the booth - but not when it comes to the Twins offense in the second inning with a pair of singles from Alex Kirilloff and Jorge Polanco against the Padres Yu Darvish. With the bases loaded and one out, Darvish walked Joey Gallo to bring home Kirilloff and tie the game. The Twins had bases loaded for four straight hitters and only brought in one run, with Byron Buxton and Ryan Jeffers both striking out. Emilio Pagan was the first pitcher out of the bullpen and seems to be coming out of his 2022 slump these past few weeks. Pagan struck out his first batter with four pitches and had a scoreless seventh inning, making it look seamless and easy. Brock Stewart had a rough eighth inning. He threw just 10 strikes, loaded up the bases with two walks and a hit batter. Thanks to great defense from Michael A. Taylor, who robbed the Padres of two fly balls, and a big strikeout, Stewart was able to get out of the inning with no runs. Kyle Farmer returned to the line-up on Wednesday, after taking a fast ball to the face a month ago. On Thursday, the inevitable happened... he was hit by a pitch for the first time since the injury. Farmer didn’t flinch. He just took first base. After nearly missing a home run the previous night, Farmer caught a hanging breaking ball over the plate and hit his second home run of the year to tie up the game. The Twins took advantage of the Padres bullpen, scoring three runs in the seventh inning to pull ahead. Padres pitcher Brent Honeywell Jr. loaded up the bases and Kepler hit a groundball to short that wasn’t executed quickly enough for a double play to end the inning. Instead Gallo scored when Kepler beat the throw do first base (despite a cramp that caused him to slow down as he approached the base and then leave the game). Why stop there? After Gallo was brought home, Carlos Correa stepped up to the plate and hit a line drive double down the third base line to bring home Ryan Jeffers and Michael A. Taylor (who replaced Kepler) gave the Twins a 5-3 lead. Jorge Lopez came in for the ninth inning and had a 1-2-3 inning. He struck out Nelson Cruz - who came in to pinch hit with two outs - to give the Twins a game and series win over one of the best National League teams. What’s Next? The Twins welcome the Cubs to Target Field for the first time since 2021 for more interleague play! Game 1 - Thursday – 7:10 pm CDT – RHP Sonny Gray (4-0, 1.35 ERA) v. LHP Drew Smyly (3-1, 3.05 ERA) Game 2 - Friday – 2:10 pm CDT - RHP Joe Ryan (5-1, 2.45 ERA) v. RHP Hayden Wesneski (2-1, 3.93 ERA) Game 3 - Saturday – 2:10 pm CDT - Louie Varland (0-0, 4.32 ERA) v. RHP Marcus Stroman (2-3, 2.28 ERA) Postgame Interviews Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet SUN MON TUE WED THU TOT Pagán 12 0 24 0 12 48 Stewart 11 0 0 9 25 45 Jax 0 0 18 17 0 35 Lopez 0 0 0 17 15 32 Alcala 0 0 23 0 0 23 Durán 0 0 0 17 0 17 Morán 0 0 0 0 0 0 Rodriguez 0 0 0 0 0 0 View full article