Roster Downsize: Which Twins Hitters Could Be Sent Back Down in a Week?

[Theo Tollefson]

Roster sizes for all MLB teams will be shrinking by two spots come May 2nd. Teams will be limited to 26 players until September. While the Twins have taken advantage of these spots for more pitchers in April, there are hitters on the Twins bench that may be impacted by roster decisions next Monday.

The Twins lineup is stacked on paper. Their performance is off to a cold start in April. Even with the slow start from hitters such as Miguel Sano and Jorge Polanco, their performances will not cost them a roster spot. 

The Twins hitters most likely to be sent down are the outfielders on the active roster not named Byron Buxton or Max Kepler. With Alex Kirilloff also entering a rehab assignment with the Saints this week, his return to the Twins roster will also cause the clearance of a roster spot. 

If one outfielder on the Twins' current roster would benefit from being a 'victim' of the roster downsizing next week, it's Gilberto Celestino. The 23-year-old has been used primarily as a pinch runner and defensive replacement in his ten games with the Twins this season. He has made just three starts, including last night's game against the Tigers. Celestino has only managed one hit in 12 at-bats and one walk.

During his time with the Twins last season, Celestino has been on the Twins roster for his running and defensive skills but has struggled to adjust to hitting against major-league arms. Celestino certainly has the talent to be an everyday outfielder or even fourth outfielder for the Twins someday. He is showing he still needs regular playing time at St. Paul to adjust to Major League pitching, and Celestino would be the Twins hitter who would benefit the most from these upcoming roster cuts.

In addition to Celestino, Trevor Larnach could benefit from the roster downsizing, especially if Kirilloff returns to the Twins by May 2nd. Larnach has shown signs of improvement at the plate in the 12 games he has played for the Twins this year. Larnach and Kirilloff are still far from playing their 100th career game, and the Twins front office seems to lean toward Kirilloff being the everyday left fielder for the time being. 

Kyle Garlick is the last outfielder on the Twins roster that could be sent back down to St. Paul following next Monday. The Twins' 30-year-old backup outfielder has only managed two hits in 15 at-bats this season but has been a pinch hitter in crucial spots against left-handed pitching. Garlick certainly looks to be the safest in keeping a roster spot with the Twins when the rosters shrink, but if he continues a cold streak at the plate, will that cost him a trip back down to St. Paul?

Jose Godoy is the last hitter on this list, likely sent down when the roster size goes down from 28 to 26. Godoy does not have many of the same questions as Celestino, Larnach, or Garlick. Yes, he would benefit from more consistent playing time with the Saints. However, the main question that hangs over Godoy staying with the Twins after May 2nd is if the front office wants to have three catchers on the roster and not two. 

With Gary Sanchez day-to-day and emergency catcher Jhon Romero on the ten-day injured list, Godoy's spot on the Twins roster looks to remain for the time being. Before the Twins called him up for his season debut on Sunday, Godoy had caught four games for the Saints, hitting .133 with the team. 

The Twins are currently carrying 14 pitchers and will likely keep it that way until they need to bring the number of pitchers on their roster down to 13. That date changed on Monday when it was announced that teams will be able to keep 14 pitchers on their 26-man roster until May 29th when they can only have 13 pitchers on the 26-man roster. Celestino is the hitter that makes the most sense to be sent back down out of these four. Celestino has talent that still needs to see consistent playing time, and with how the Twins' everyday lineup currently pans out, he won't be seeing that playing time.

Check back later when we look at which pitchers might be candidates to head to St. Paul. Let us know which hitters you would send down and why in the COMMENTS below. 

 

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[DJL44]

3 catchers is dumb. Either play Gary Sanchez and send down Godoy or put Sanchez on the IL and keep Godoy.

[4twinsJA]

When healthy the first 11 are pretty set- Jeffers, Sanchez at C, Sano, Polanco, Correa, Ursela in IF, Kirilloff, Buxton, Kepler in OF, Arraez at DH, Gordon at Utility. Some of these can move around some like Kirilloff at 1B, Arraez at 3B or 2B so there is some flexibility. If Twins go with 14 pitchers, I go with Garlick for RH bat in OF for 12th position player, although he has not been very productive yet. 3rd catcher is only a phone call away if needed.

I really like Urshela addition, great defensively and getting on base. To me he is fulltime 3B with Arraez at 3B occassionally to give day off.

[LA VIkes Fan]

Agreed. The two players going down at the end of the week are Celestino and Godoy unless Sanchez still can't play,. Then it's Celestino and Sanchez to the injured list.  

The roster crunches come when Gray is ready to come back and Kirilloff is ready to be elevated. When Gray comes back., either Jax or Stashack goes. When Kirilloff is ready, we have to lose either Larnach back to AAA or DFA Garlick. While I would prefer a DFA of Garlick with Larnach playing most days in LF, Kirilloff at 1B, and Sano as a part time DH and back up 1B,  and I think the more likely result is Larnach back to AAA to play in LF every day. 

[chpettit19]

My guess is Larnach goes down when Kirilloff comes back. Celestino and Godoy go down when the rosters shrink. Or at least that's what I'd do.

[Mike Sixel]

5 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

My guess is Larnach goes down when Kirilloff comes back. Celestino and Godoy go down when the rosters shrink. Or at least that's what I'd do.

Same.....but I'd rather Larnach was up and AK was at first.....plus, how long until AK feels pain again?

[chpettit19]

23 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Same.....but I'd rather Larnach was up and AK was at first.....plus, how long until AK feels pain again?

Expecting Kirilloff to be back on the IL sooner than we'd like is actually why I'd send Larnach down. I'd get him back to AAA and in the lineup everyday so he can build on the progress he's made (at least I think he's made progress) in Minneapolis and hit the ground running when Kirilloff heads back to the IL. That's how I'd play it this early in the season at least. Things will obviously change as the season goes on and we'll see if/when Sano gets on his surface-of-the-sun-hot streak. If Kirilloff stays healthy for a month and Larnach and/or Miranda are mashing in AAA and Sano is still struggling I think the formula changes. But right now I'd prefer Kirilloff and Larnach both getting as many ABs as possible and think Larnach in AAA is the way to get that.

[Doctor Gast]

Nice article Theo, good argument on these options. In the OF the best fielder of the 3 is by far Celestino yet he'd probably need more time in minors to hone his hitting skills, thus the 1st to go down. Although Larnach isn't great in the field yet he's better than Garlick. I'd like to send Larnach down to futher hone his skills but I'd rather have Larnach stay because IMO he's close to be able figure things out on the MLB level.

The worse of the 3 is by far Garlick that should never be on the 40 man. Even if he starts mashing LHPing, I'd have him around for PHing with very limited fielding opportunities. That leaves Godoy, evidently he's our best option of those in AAA. So I'd like to keep him around so the rotation can get used to him and he's old enough where maybe a trip down to AAA might not be benificial for him to improve his hitting. 

[In My La Z boy]

I am ready to let Larnach have LF. He is better than Kirilloff. If Kirilloff feels good and looks ok, I'd give him 1B. Celestino needs to play so he goes down. I am sure as time develops we can find a better right handed OF than Garlick.

[puckstopper1]

I know it won't happen but I would welcome the Twins cutting Sano as one of their roster drops.  

I also know that Kirilloff needs to prove he is and can stay healthy for that to happen...

[RpR]

6 minutes ago, In My La Z boy said:

I am ready to let Larnach have LF. He is better than Kirilloff. If Kirilloff feels good and looks ok, I'd give him 1B. Celestino needs to play so he goes down. I am sure as time develops we can find a better right handed OF than Garlick.

That is not saying much, the supposed better of two very bad choices in left field.

[Thegrin]

I agree with most people. Godoy has to stay until both Sanchez and Jeffers can catch. Celestino needs to play every day in St Paul. Larnach should go down when Kiriloff is ready.  The one change I;d like to make is to send down Garlick and bring back Cave. Cave fields better, throws better and hits better even though his at a disadvantage vs lefties.

[Rosterman]

Kepler and Gordon can backup centerfield.

 

If Kirilloff hits, he takes oevr first with Sano regulated to part-time field duties and action at DH. If Larnach can play everyday, keep him. 

 

But the Twins also see the need to egt Arraez and Gordon in the lineup, and best spots for those two are 1B and LF, it seems.

 

Garlick can go back to St. Paul. But if Celestino also goes, too many outfielders there. But you would open up a roster spot.

 

More curious about what pitcher departs when Gary comes back. Winder and Jax are great for multi-inning pitchers, moreso than Stashak.

 

I wish we could get Smeltzer up here to be the long lefty out of the pen. And want to see more from Coulombe to understand if he is a true keeper.

 

People coming back from injuries changes any of our thoughts drastically.

[TheLeviathan]

4 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

Expecting Kirilloff to be back on the IL sooner than we'd like is actually why I'd send Larnach down. I'd get him back to AAA and in the lineup everyday so he can build on the progress he's made (at least I think he's made progress) in Minneapolis and hit the ground running when Kirilloff heads back to the IL. That's how I'd play it this early in the season at least. Things will obviously change as the season goes on and we'll see if/when Sano gets on his surface-of-the-sun-hot streak. If Kirilloff stays healthy for a month and Larnach and/or Miranda are mashing in AAA and Sano is still struggling I think the formula changes. But right now I'd prefer Kirilloff and Larnach both getting as many ABs as possible and think Larnach in AAA is the way to get that.

I agree with you that the decision should be made on the basis of "Larnach needs to play nearly every day".  I'm on the record of being in favor of riding things with Sano, but if the team thinks they're better with Larnach at DH and Kiriloff at 1B....so be it.

I mean, at this point, Kepler should also be on watch.

[ToddlerHarmon]

Is Nick Gordon our best fourth outfielder? With Arraez available to spell infielders, maybe that's the best way to play it for now, and send Celestino and Larnach and Garlick out when Kirilloff is back. Especially if we only have to have 12 position players until late May. 13th player is probably Larnach or Celestino, pushing Gordon to the end of the bench

[RpR]

Larnach is the worst fielder of the bunch, Celestino is definitely the best Center Fielder and Garlick is the best Left Fielder but Gordon is the most versatile.

Time to send Larnach down to AAA, but Kirilloff has not done enough fielding to justifiy anything yet.

[joemama]

As others have stated, the most obvious is Celestino - needs to go play - and Godoy goes if Sanchez is ready. If Sanchez isn't ready, he can go on the 10-day IL retroactive to 4/21 if necessary...but it sounds like he's close. Larnach goes when Kirilloff comes back. BUT I hope Kirilloff stays in AAA until he's mentally over the hump of not thinking about that wrist, which I'm guessing will take anywhere from a several days to a few weeks. If Larnach is raking at that point, they could consider sending out Garlick and trying to find a way to get everyone in the lineup regularly (more regularly than Garlick and Celestino currently get in). A healthy team creating a roster crunch is a great problem.

[dxpavelka]

19 hours ago, DJL44 said:

3 catchers is dumb. Either play Gary Sanchez and send down Godoy or put Sanchez on the IL and keep Godoy.

Unless one of them is going to DH on a somewhat regular basis.......

[dxpavelka]

18 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Same.....but I'd rather Larnach was up and AK was at first.....plus, how long until AK feels pain again?

My guess is AK pulls something on the trip from St. Paul.

[Whitey333]

I'm not a Jake Cave fan at all.  But he would certainly be better than Garlick.  Garlick needs to be DFA.  He can't hit major league pitching.  Yet he keeps getting sent in to pinch hit.  He strikes out or had very weak at bats.  I'm not sure what the Twins see in Garlick.  There has to be someone better in st. Paul better than him.

[jorgenswest]

Go to 2 catchers.

Send out an outfielder. Celestino is a more useful piece in a 3 man bench with his speed and defense. Would you pinch hit Garlick for Kepler or Larnach or Arraez? I am not sure he is a clear upgrade there. If the answer isn’t a clear yes then they need to find a better third man on the bench.

As for Kirilloff I think he needs a long enough stay to really get his timing down. He may benefit from an extended stay beyond his rehab days. Perhaps he finds his timing and returns when they have to go to 13 pitchers.

[GKuehl]

Larnach is hitting way too well for him to go down when AK comes back. There’s no reason Larnach can’t man LF with AK at 1B and Sano splitting time at DH with Sanchez. 

[Schmoeman5]

On 4/27/2022 at 1:02 PM, RpR said:

That is not saying much, the supposed better of two very bad choices in left field.

RpR. What do you know about baseball? Trevor Larnach is a much better outfielder. Did you see the homerun Garlick totally miss played in Boston. TL has a better arm and is much better at the plate. I read all your comments. The glass is always empty. Not even half full. If Carl Yaztremski was patrolling left field you'd complain. 

[RpR]

10 hours ago, Schmoeman5 said:

RpR. What do you know about baseball? Trevor Larnach is a much better outfielder. Did you see the homerun Garlick totally miss played in Boston. TL has a better arm and is much better at the plate. I read all your comments. The glass is always empty. Not even half full. If Carl Yaztremski was patrolling left field you'd complain. 

Your opinion , believe as you wish.