Keon Broxton Backup Outfielder?

[stringer bell]

Keon Broxton was signed to a minor league contract today by the Twins. He does offer some things that the Twins could use in a backup outfielder--good speed (possible pinch runer), plus defense and a right-handed bat. Especially if Kirilloff and Arraez are spending a lot of time in left field, it would figure that using Broxton as a defensive replacement might make some sense. 

 

Broxton has never hit much and he'll be 31 for most of the coming season, but I think the Twins'prospective bacup outfielders really lack speed and defense and none really figure as a fill-in for Buxton. If he can provide anything offensively, he might be a good fit for the 2021 Twins.

[MNT1996]

I'd trust Cave more in the backup role

[Otwins]

I think Cave will be the back up until Buxton gets hurt.  Then they call Broxton up. Neither Cave nor Kepler were as good as Broxton defensively in centerfield and moving Kepler over hurts us in rightfield also.  I think he is Buxton insurance.

[High heat]

Like the signing as a minor league deal, if Buxton goes down he and Cave can cover CF with the rightly lefty platoon.  

 

Also Broxton did hit pretty well in 2017 on that run with milwaukee.  he hit 20 HRs and stole 20 bases and i think hit like 270 while playing really good defense in CF. 

[Doctor Gast]

Keon Broxton was signed to a minor league contract today by the Twins. He does offer some things that the Twins could use in a backup outfielder--good speed (possible pinch runer), plus defense and a right-handed bat. Especially if Kirilloff and Arraez are spending a lot of time in left field, it would figure that using Broxton as a defensive replacement might make some sense. 

 

Broxton has never hit much and he'll be 31 for most of the coming season, but I think the Twins'prospective bacup outfielders really lack speed and defense and none really figure as a fill-in for Buxton. If he can provide anything offensively, he might be a good fit for the 2021 Twins.

I hope Broxton comes through and hit, even if he's average because we've lost too many games for too long with our Buxton's replacements. Cave isn't good enough and we need Kepler in RF.

[bighat]

Appears to be nothing more than a depth signing. Bux goes down, Broxton becomes the 4th OF. Essentially he replaces Wade, and you'd think he might be on the shuttle bus between St. Paul and Target Field here and there.

 

Also, maybe would be a nice piece to have for the playoff roster? Seems like a pretty reasonable minor league signing.

 

 

[Doctor Gast]

 

I hope Broxton comes through and hit, even if he's average because we've lost too many games for too long with our Buxton's replacements. Cave isn't good enough and we need Kepler in RF.

I'd like to prove my point. Here is small snipet from the Tribune

 

SID HARTMAN @SIDHARTMAN
The Twins are 52-23 when Byron Buxton plays this season and 7-13 when he doesn’t. The center fielder is on the seven-day injured list for concussions, meaning he won’t play until Sunday at the earliest.

 

This is a small sample size but it's indicative of the realization of 2 facts which I doubt anyone can dispute.

 

#1 We win a lot of games w/ Buxton

 

#2 We lose a good majority of our games w/ his replacements.

 

I'm not bashing Buxton's replacements, they aren't CFers. There's a big difference between corner OF & CF.

 

We have lost a lot of games though out the years when Buxton is out. I don't like to lose, we need to find a way to improve our odds drastically when Buxton need a rest or is out.

Celestino has not played over high A, they say Lewis isn't ready & like to keep him at SS. So we need to get a replacement , at least temporarily, outside the organization. We can no longer say CF subs are not important and that Cave or Kepler is good enough

[ashbury]

Broxton is off the 40-man at the moment. Unless he has a monster Spring, and maybe not even then, he will remain off the 40. That means if Byron goes down with a medium injury, one that doesn't require the 60-day injured list, there's a disincentive to bringing Keon up. Teams make 40-man moves all the time, yes. But don't think of him as simply a backup CF to be brought up at will. Celestino might be the first one called up to fill short-term needs (similar to how Jorge Polanco was used during his first couple of seasons on the 40).

[AceWrigley]

Depth.

[nicksaviking]

The Twins have next to no incentive to give him a MLB spot unless there's a significant injury. With no options to worry about or 40 man requirements, he can stay in St. Paul all season unless there's an in-case-of-emergency-break-glass situation.

 

Even if there's a minor injury, there will be little incentive to call him up since he'd have to be DFA'd again to take him off of the 25-man. If someone goes down for a week or two, then we might get to see Kirilloff, Larnach, Lewis or Blankenhorn instead.

[stringer bell]

I think Broxton will have a chance to make the Twins Opening Day roster, particularly if the Twins are playing the service time game with Kirilloff. Personally, I don't think Rooker is a fit for infrequent playing time, such as the right handed half of a platoon. Given the Twins'lineup, chances for pinch hitting are few. Further, a bench option that has good speed and defensive ability in the outfield provides some needed elements.

 

I would expect that someone not on the 40-man makes the 26-man and, to me, Broxton provides strengths that most other backup candidates don’t offer. He certainly can't just show up and be expected to make the team in April. If he doesn't make the team, he could benefit from going to St. Paul and showing what he can do.

[Dman]

He has an opt out so if the Twins don't use him He can cut the cord.  I agree with those that say he is injury insurance.  If Buck stays healthy we really don't need him but even if they need him for a couple of weeks I think they can find room on the 40 man. 

 

They aren't going to, and essentially can't keep, all those waiver claimed pitchers on the 40 man past this year. They brought in Waddell, Gibuat and Hamilton to see which of them works out.  They aren't all going to make it unless maybe they appear better than Collina who essentially has the same stuff or Chalmers who has had trouble throwing strikes .  They also will likely at some point this year or next need to add Cantrino and Sands and if Windor is as good as advertised they might want to add him as well or maybe finally Rijo if he has a better year.  Larnach, Miranda and Vallimont would have to be added next year if they prove themselves this year.  The waiver wire guys will have a lot to prove to stick around.

 

I think if Broxton isn't a complete waste at the plate in the spring and we have a need he will be on the 40 man. He is the perfect defensive replacement for Buxton and if he fixes his stroke just a little isn't that far off from what Buxton has given us offensively to this point anyway.  It might hurt a little but they can carry him if they need to and he proves he is worthy.

[Doctor Gast]

I have a feeling that Buxton can help Broxton find himself.

[notoriousgod71]

Broxton will be a good fit if Rocco wants to add some more strikeouts to the lineup.

[DocBauer]

He's AAA insurance. Period. He has an opt out. Good for him. But his ML bat has disappeared the last few seasons. If his bat comes back and somebody comes calling, move on. Otherwise, wait for opportunity. Cave remains a better option at this point.

[bighat]

 

He's AAA insurance. Period. He has an opt out. Good for him. But his ML bat has disappeared the last few seasons. If his bat comes back and somebody comes calling, move on. Otherwise, wait for opportunity. Cave remains a better option at this point.

Exactly. I saw all these posts on MLBTradeRumors from fans saying "wow, what a terrible signing - Broxton is washed up/garbage"....

 

Uhhh, he's like the Twins' 5th or 6th outfielder and isn't on the 40 man. Appears to be just an emergency backup. Nothing wrong with a little insurance.

 

Agree that Cave is a better option, I think the Twins believe that's true also.

[Dman]

If they truly believed Cave was the better option they wouldn't have bothered to even bring in Broxton with an opt out.  Caves UZR in centerfield is negative -1.9 meaning his defense is below average there.  Broxtons is 9.7.  That is a huge difference defensively.  Not Buxton level defense but better than anything the Twins can offer currently on the 26 man.

 

The bat is a different story as it seems to have been essentially a black hole most of his career.  Nobody survives staying in the Majors with a 40% K rate, nobody.  He will have to fix that to get back.  

 

If Broxton can't get his swing in decent shape then they could be better off with Whitefield taking over as he has wheels and if Broxtons swing remains the same can't be much worse. the only issue there is that Whitefield isn't on the 40 man either so that could be problematic if they needed to keep him on the 40 man or if they expose him to getting claimed.  Celestino could work as well but would they really want to burn his options this early?  I doubt it.  Thus Broxton who is expendable could work.

 

If Buxton stays healthy there isn't much need for Broxton at all but what are the odds he stays healthy an entire season since he hasn't done it yet, I would say low.  While Broxton is not a sure thing he'll get a chance if he shows improvement with the bat.  If he can't make contact then I guess both parties will have to look elsewhere.