Justin Upton to the Twins?

[AlwaysinModeration]

He’s now a free agent.  How long until he is signed?

[Twodogs]

I think once he clears waivers and refuses a minor league assignment he can pretty much go where ever he wants?  And after he clears I believe the Angles still owe him his contract minus whatever the league minimum salary is which the team who signed him would have to pay.  I think San Diego would probably be a good spot for him.

[Brock Beauchamp]

48 minutes ago, Twodogs said:

I think once he clears waivers and refuses a minor league assignment he can pretty much go where ever he wants?  And after he clears I believe the Angles still owe him his contract minus whatever the league minimum salary is which the team who signed him would have to pay.  I think San Diego would probably be a good spot for him.

The Angels are on the hook for his contract, any other team needs to only pay him the minimum, I think.

And yes, he'll be able to go wherever he pleases. San Diego might be a good spot. He could also come to Minnesota, that wouldn't surprise me at all. I'm pretty lukewarm on the Twins acquiring him and don't really care much either way.

[Doctor Gast]

Twins do need desperately a CF back-up but I don't think Upton is a good choice. Looking closer at him, not only he's digressed offensively, he has digressed defensively to the point where he no longer can handle CF.

[Squirrel]

1 hour ago, Doctor Gast said:

Twins do need desperately a CF back-up but I don't think Upton is a good choice. Looking closer at him, not only he's not digressed offensively, he has digressed defensively to the point where he no longer can handle CF.

Upton would be a horrible choice. We DO have CF backup in Gordon, Kepler and Celestino. Gordon and Kepler would be used occasionally, but Celestino is a decent backup. I'd like him to get more time in AAA, but the latter half of the season he really came on very strong there. We do not need another CF backup.

[a-wan]

Even in his younger days Upton was never much of a CF. He’s a corner OF now. He’s perfect for the Twins. Right handed, doesn’t matter about playing time., some power. Celestino needs AAA time.

[Doctor Gast]

5 hours ago, Squirrel said:

Upton would be a horrible choice. We DO have CF backup in Gordon, Kepler and Celestino. Gordon and Kepler would be used occasionally, but Celestino is a decent backup. I'd like him to get more time in AAA, but the latter half of the season he really came on very strong there. We do not need another CF backup.

Yes we DO have CF back ups but they aren't CFers except Celestino and I agree with you that he needs to spend more time in AAA and should not be further rushed because we don't have a legit CF back up. 

I don't want Kepler in CF at all because he's not comfortable there and we take a hit there both defensively & offensively. He can barely cover his own position much less try to take up the slack in both LF and RF. Keplers is a good fielder but he doesn't command CF in positioning himself and controling the other OFers.

Rays doesn't come close to our line-up but yet they always compete in the post season, why is that? 1 reason is that they have adequate quality depth in their middle fielders. They have 4 CFers to cover CF which are much better than our #2. Celestino, Lewis and Martin will be very good back-ups in the the near future until then we need a legit CF back-up. I like Gordon and he trys very hard but he's over stretch at CF.

[bunsen82]

They wouldn't consider it unless they thought they could flip him at the deadline.  There just isn't much value there.   

[Brandon]

Upton would have to be convinced he could get enough playing time at 1B, all 3 OF spots and DH.  It seems there may be more of an opportunity with the Pads if he wants more opportunity.  THat will be hard to top.  

[lecroy24fan]

1 hour ago, bunsen82 said:

They wouldn't consider it unless they thought they could flip him at the deadline.  There just isn't much value there.   

He'd be here on the league minimum so they wouldn't care if it came to that. They could just cut bait. I'm still not interested though.

[gunnarthor]

No reason to sign Upton.

[nclahammer]

Pass on Upton, too many miles and not enough tread left.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

[Doctor Gast]

41 minutes ago, Otto von Ballpark said:

 

OMG why?

[LA VIkes Fan]

While it definitely would help us to have a right-handed hitting Outfielder on this roster, Upton doesn't look like the answer. The problem is, who else is there? Kepler cannot hit left-handed pitching and frankly, right now, Kirilloff can't hit anything. He looks overmatched and may be in need of a trip back to AAA to refine his stroke. Celestino is basically it though in the organization for a RH hitting OF. Garlick didn't hit in spring training and is a lousy fielder, and every other decent outfielder in St. Paul and Wichita hits left-handed. The only RH hitting real infield prospects at either level are Lewis, Miranda and Martin. So Celestino is it in the organization unless we move Miranda or Martin to the outfield and have them try it at the MLB level. Doesn't seem like a good idea and right now Miranda is playing third base and Martin is playing short.

Looks like we have three choices, We can keep Celestino on the big club and actually play him, recall Garlick (yuck), or find someone to pick up. Hence, the interest in Upton because it just aren't any other decent RH OF bats out there yet. I'd like to see them play Celestino tomorrow night in place of Kirilloff to give him a chance and clear the latter's head, and then play him again in place of Kepler on Tuesday when the Dodgers pitch Andrew Heaney. Seattle gave us LH starters twice in 4 games and the Dodgers are giving us two in two games. It looks like the book is getting to be throw left-handers against the Twins and half their lineup goes kaput because Arraez sits, Kepler and Kirilloff can't hit lefties, and Polanco is a better LH hitter than RH hitter.  Let's find out if Celestino's impressive run in AAA was real improvement because it sure looks like we need someone to fill that RH hitting OF role pretty quickly. If not, we're going to have to try Garlick or Upton.

[USAFChief]

33 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

OMG why?

Have you seen our LH hitting OFers vs LH pitching?

[Brock Beauchamp]

Huh. So Upton was quite good against LHP in 2021 and was terrible against LHP in 2018 and 2019 (both short seasons for him so not sure how much stock to put in those performances).

[Brandon]

You can never have too much offense.... Right?  If it works for pitching.....

[Doctor Gast]

1 hour ago, USAFChief said:

Have you seen our LH hitting OFers vs LH pitching?

We can do much better somewhere else

[RickOShea]

If you sign Upton, then package Kepler with minor leaguers and get some relief pitching.

 

[USAFChief]

2 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

We can do much better somewhere else

Who?

[terrydactyls]

On 4/9/2022 at 11:53 AM, Doctor Gast said:

Twins do need desperately a CF back-up but I don't think Upton is a good choice. Looking closer at him, not only he's digressed offensively, he has digressed defensively to the point where he no longer can handle CF.

Do you mean regressed?

[glunn]

I hope that they go with Celestino and other internal options. I think that the Angels cutting bait says a lot.

[CRF]

Please...NO!

[TwinsDr2021]

8 hours ago, USAFChief said:

Who?

It is only 3 games and the Twins corner outfielders are 1 - 21, so that has to get better right? Actually if you throw Buxton in there they are 4 - 33, with all 4 hits being homers. (With as bad as the top as the offense has been, 1 -2 isn't horrible)

[Doctor Gast]

8 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

Do you mean regressed?

I guess I did, thank you

[chpettit19]

If they think he can still hit lefties I think Upton makes a ton of sense as a league minimum right handed platoon bat in the corner OF. If he struggles for 3 weeks in that role you cut him without thinking twice. Garlick had every chance to claim such a role in spring training and completely flopped. They traded Rooker. Celestino needs more time in AAA and is being wasted on the bench in Minneapolis. If you have someone you're not too concerned DFAing off the 40-man right now I don't know why you wouldn't give Upton a trial for the rest of April and see if he can thrive as a part time player. If he fails cut him and bring back Celestino or Garlick.

[Otto von Ballpark]

3 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

Garlick had every chance to claim such a role in spring training and completely flopped.

I was going to say Garlick too, but didn't realize he was 1-for-27 this spring, which is a little rough! Only 7 Ks though, plus 3 walks and 1 HBP, so perhaps some bad luck. Garlick is already 3-for-8 with St. Paul, including a HR, a triple, and 4 walks.

FWIW, Upton was 5-for-15 this spring, with 3 HR, 3 BB, and only 1 K. But the Angels still cut him...

[chpettit19]

14 minutes ago, Otto von Ballpark said:

I was going to say Garlick too, but didn't realize he was 1-for-27 this spring, which is a little rough! Only 7 Ks though, plus 3 walks and 1 HBP, so perhaps some bad luck. Garlick is already 3-for-8 with St. Paul, including a HR, a triple, and 4 walks.

FWIW, Upton was 5-for-15 this spring, with 3 HR, 3 BB, and only 1 K. But the Angels still cut him...

Yeah, Garlick was brutal during the spring. I'd be ok with either of them and would prefer either of them on the bench over Celestino since Celestino may have a future and is losing valuable development reps in St Paul to sit on the bench in Minneapolis. Guessing it's all a 40-man thing. They want some time to decide on some arms before they DFA someone. Wouldn't be surprised to see Garlick replace Celestino when they've decided on which pitcher to DFA.

[Cap'n Piranha]

On 4/9/2022 at 3:42 PM, Doctor Gast said:

Yes we DO have CF back ups but they aren't CFers except Celestino and I agree with you that he needs to spend more time in AAA and should not be further rushed because we don't have a legit CF back up. 

I don't want Kepler in CF at all because he's not comfortable there and we take a hit there both defensively & offensively. He can barely cover his own position much less try to take up the slack in both LF and RF. Keplers is a good fielder but he doesn't command CF in positioning himself and controling the other OFers.

Rays doesn't come close to our line-up but yet they always compete in the post season, why is that? 1 reason is that they have adequate quality depth in their middle fielders. They have 4 CFers to cover CF which are much better than our #2. Celestino, Lewis and Martin will be very good back-ups in the the near future until then we need a legit CF back-up. I like Gordon and he trys very hard but he's over stretch at CF.

We need to define the terms though--when we say backup CF, do we mean a guy who can play in CF max 1x a week to give Buck a rest?  If so, Kepler and Gordon are perfectly acceptable.  If by backup we mean a guy that can handle the position daily if Buxton is out for 10 days on the IL, then Celestino is the only option anywhere close to big league ready.

That said, Upton doesn't change any of that, so if the Twins sign him, it is at the expense of PAs for Kiriloff, Kepler, Sanchez, and Sano.  I don't think I'd rather have Upton getting PAs over any of those guys, all of whom have at least some upside that Upton does not, particularly when you consider that the Angels would rather pay Upton not to hit for them.