Do the Twins Have a Dark Horse Utility Candidate?

[Ted Schwerzler]

Last season, the Minnesota Twins employed Andrelton Simmons at shortstop while using Jorge Polanco at second base and Luis Arraez in a roving role. Nick Gordon became a utility player down the stretch. The infield is in flux this season without a current shortstop, and the organization may have already tabbed a new utility man.

As much as I’d be a proponent for Gordon seeing continued reps in the role, there’s reason to believe it could be recently signed Daniel Robertson. While former first-round pick Tim Beckham is the more prominent name of Minnesota’s minor league contracts signed of late, Robertson is younger and could make more sense.
 
Last season Robertson played in 50 games for the Milwaukee Brewers. It was his worst season as a big leaguer, and he posted just a .164/.303/.274 (.577) slash line. Robertson has never hit for power, with nine longballs being his most in a season coming back in 2018. Like Beckham, Robertson made his debut with the Tampa Bay Rays. He’s played six different positions in a single season and can play shortstop.

Similar to Beckham, Robertson is stretched defensively almost everywhere. The utility aspect allows him to fill in anywhere, but his glove isn’t likely to be the first option anywhere. The 816 innings at second base would qualify for his greatest at any position, and he’s compiled a -1 DRS in that time.
 
Unlike Beckham, Robertson has some strong plate discipline skills. Even with the ugly .164 average last season, he still reached base at a .303 clip. That’s mainly due to a chase rate of just 25% and a career whiff rate under 10%. Robertson’s hard-hit rate is not impressive, and he puts the ball on the ground a ton, but the ability to make contact could be something the Twins opt for off the bench.
 
In an interesting comp for Robertson, Baseball Savant has former Twins backstop Chris Gimenez (during the 2017 season) as a similar batter. That year, Gimenez posted a .731 OPS being a low average but high on-base guy. Gimenez also played a more premium position but contributed as a veteran across 74 games. That Twins squad won 85 games and would seem comparable to the current group, depending on how pitching works out.
 
Personally, the inclusion of either Robertson or Beckham on the Opening Day roster would be less than ideal. Gordon likely presents at least the same amount of utility, and I think his speed should be a differentiating factor. That said, Minnesota will go lighter somewhere on the roster to accommodate the pitching needs, and the last bench spot certainly isn’t a bad place to do it.
 
What do you think? Is Daniel Robertson on the Twins Opening Day roster? Does Tim Beckham get that look? Maybe Nick Gordon keeps his role from 2020?

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[farmerguychris]

Neither Robertson or Beckham sound like someone who is going to catapult us into a first round playoff victory - might as well let Gordon keep developing.  

[Trov]

To me, the only way that Robertson or Beckham get the nod over Gordon is if Gordon has no future with the team, and they should just release him to find a team that would see a possible future. 

[Dman]

If we are adding someone to the 40 man Roster I would rather it be Palacios who has a decent glove can play shortstop and has shown power.  Why in the world this FO likes to ignore there own guys boggles my mind sometimes.  At any rate Palacios would be my vote unless the Twins do ultimately find something that makes more sense on the FA market.

[Doctor Gast]

Although Robertson and Beckman are more veteran than Gordon, I don't see them as better. IMO they are both long shots (although this FO might see things differently, Cave example), even if they trade Arraez. I'd rather see Miranda elevated to that position.

[LastOnePicked]

This feels a little like the vibe some of us had for Keon Broxton last year, and we probably had more hope than foresight. I think I agree with the other posters here for 2022 - would be far better to continue Gordon's development, or to give Palacios a shot.

[gman]

I agree with the statement that Robertson or Beckham on the Roster would be less than ideal. I also agree with Dman on the Palacios choice as I have made similar comments to other to other discussion topics. Palacios is rated as the best infield defender and best infield arm in the system, as well as showing power last season.

[The Mad King]

Casting my lot with Gordon

[mikelink45]

We have Miranda coming up - No to both of these. 

[baul0010]

Maybe the guy can start hitting just a little bit and we could flip him for something later down the line.  Hopefully, he is stashed at Triple A and we won't be talking about his lack of hitting during the season.  If the F.O. is worried fans won't have someone to complain about because of a lack of hitting...just resign Andrelton Simmons.

[bean5302]

Sub-600 OPS and far below average defense at shortstop. I don't understand the interest here. Robertson looks like MiLB depth who is likely to be released if there aren't injury concerns and our prospects move up.

[Nashvilletwin]

Sign Story. Then Arraez and Miranda can be your utility players. 

[stringer bell]

It would be a good idea if the utility infielder could play shortstop. The Twins management team seems to have misgivings about Gordon’s ability to do so. Apparently Robertson and Beckham are competent shortstops. 
 

Of course, there is still a need for a regular shortstop. 

[Seth Stohs]

Like Beckham, Robertson provides depth, nothing more... No one is signing a minor-league deal to make a team a World Series contender. Also, no idea when the lockout is going to be over, so they need players in St. Paul if Miranda and Lewis and other 40-man roster guys aren't able to play yet. And, it's always good to have depth. 

[GNess]

Gordon > Robertson

[jimbo92107]

Nick Gordon, y'all! He has been getting better and more versatile every year. His glove plays up the middle. His bat plays okay in various spots. Occasional gap power. Good speed and instincts on the bases. A good (not great, but good) all-around ballplayer. 

Odd - Twins Depth Chart lists Gordon as the starting SS. Doesn't that detract from his value as a utility man?

[miracleb]

Can't believe I am saying this......but even I would choose Gordon over these two.  (and I am the one who said "if Gordon gets substantial innings in 2022, the Twins will be a below 500 team.....")

[twinsfansd]

On 2/17/2022 at 12:22 PM, Dman said:

If we are adding someone to the 40 man Roster I would rather it be Palacios who has a decent glove can play shortstop and has shown power.  Why in the world this FO likes to ignore there own guys boggles my mind sometimes.  At any rate Palacios would be my vote unless the Twins do ultimately find something that makes more sense on the FA market.

Except after the Rule 5 draft, Palacios might be gone. That may be what they are protecting against.

[Dman]

On 2/19/2022 at 10:56 AM, twinsfansd said:

Except after the Rule 5 draft, Palacios might be gone. That may be what they are protecting against.

Yeah there is a good chance a bottom team would add in him in rule V as I think his floor is utility player.  I can see why the Twins didn't add him as the bat is still a bit of a question mark.  He had a .779 OPS at AA if he were to move to the majors he would likely lose at least 100 point of his OPS and could lose up to 200 points.  So that would put him as 600 OPS player or less.  Still Simmons wasn't much better than that last year and Palacios costs a lot less. A fair number of guys they have been looking at aren't much better than that either.

Palacios might not be the long term answer at short for the Twins  but he is one of the few guys in the system who looks close to ready and can actually play a decent shortstop.  They must have thought they might have a chance for Story or maybe they believe Lewis can still step in at some point yet this year or they believe Palacios likely isn't quite ready and no one will take him in rule V.  Hard to say but given the way things look right now I wish they would have protected him.