Injuries and COVID Opens Doors

[jorgenswest]

The Twins losing week ended on a positive note and several players had a chance to show their talents. I am left with these impressions.

Palacios has a plus major league glove at SS and minimally will be a valuable piece on the bench. I am thankful that the rule 5 was canceled.

Cotton looks like a useful mid game arm and should remain on the roster.

I want to see more from Moran.

Miranda looks much better at the plate. He looks like a helpful depth piece that can move back and forth on options.

Gordon has really improved in the outfield and is worthy of a spot a major league roster.

Celestino looks like a future starter. I wonder how much he would bring back in trade.

I have more confidence in Smeltzer than any other starter other than Ryan and Gray.

I have no confidence in Duffey or Pagán.

They don’t have enough pitching.

[Squirrel]

Pretty good summation. 

[LA VIkes Fan]

Excellent summation. I do think that Ober and either Winder or Archer can hold down the ##4 and 5 spots once Gray and Ryan are back. Good luck until then. Bundy and Duffy need to be gone, 

I would actually start Celestino in LF - CF when Buxton sits or DHs - and make Larnach the LH DH. I'd like to see what Celestino can do playing every day. He would improve the defense and Garlick is out so why not? Hit him 8th or 9th and add some speed to the lineup. 

[Rosterman]

Kirilloff needs to return to the mix.

The pain is that most of the immediate crop in St. Paul aren't that much better than Duffey or Thielbar. We can argue about how out-of-shape Alcala is and how much time he will need in the minors. I picture Coulombe being out a lot longer than we thought. Not sure when Stashak is set to return, but he can still be optioned out.

I'm losing faith in Bundy. I have hope for Archer. When Gray returns, we suddenly have one starter too many (right now we have one starter too few).

 

[LastOnePicked]

4 hours ago, jorgenswest said:

I am thankful that the rule 5 was canceled.

You and me both. He's a valuable piece here, or a potential trade addition for a larger deadline deal. I want him to have a good shot at an MLB career this year despite missing a chance in the draft.

[Number3]

I'll  leave roster management to the "GMs" on the board. All I know is that everyone was concerned about the Toronto series to the tune of about 100 posts and look what happened. Meanwhile I was concerned about the Detroit series and look what happened. Sometimes its better to just look at the forest and not worry about the trees, I jokingly said that the Twins might score 10 on the Jays in game one with a depleted roster. I was wrong; they only scored 9.  Thank you very much. Look out Bombers.

 

[howeda7]

The last thing they need is to trade Celestino. They've needed a decent back-up CF'er for years and will continue to need one for the rest of Buxton's career. The only way I trade him is if Correa re-ups long-term and Lewis becomes a CF'er.

[dex8425]

3 hours ago, howeda7 said:

The last thing they need is to trade Celestino. They've needed a decent back-up CF'er for years and will continue to need one for the rest of Buxton's career. The only way I trade him is if Correa re-ups long-term and Lewis becomes a CF'er.

Gordon can also play CF. But less of an every day player than GC.

[jorgenswest]

4 hours ago, howeda7 said:

The last thing they need is to trade Celestino. They've needed a decent back-up CF'er for years and will continue to need one for the rest of Buxton's career. The only way I trade him is if Correa re-ups long-term and Lewis becomes a CF'er.

To get pitching they will need to part with valuable pieces. It is encouraging to me that Celestino looks to be a valuable piece.

[howeda7]

39 minutes ago, dex8425 said:

Gordon can also play CF. But less of an every day player than GC.

Meh. Gordon is not a long-term answer. They need someone who can play CF 60-80 games for the next 6 years.

[howeda7]

19 minutes ago, jorgenswest said:

To get pitching they will need to part with valuable pieces. It is encouraging to me that Celestino looks to be a valuable piece.

They have prospects they can trade and I would trade Kepler before Celestino if you're trading off the current roster. Besides I'm not sure a slap hitter hitting about 50 points higher than he should be is as valuable as you think.

[jorgenswest]

2 hours ago, howeda7 said:

They have prospects they can trade and I would trade Kepler before Celestino if you're trading off the current roster. Besides I'm not sure a slap hitter hitting about 50 points higher than he should be is as valuable as you think.

He may not be but he is 23 and finding success in the majors both with the bat and glove. Sellers are going to be looking for major league ready players. They will be offered players of similar age yet to play in the majors. 

[TwinsDr2021]

14 hours ago, howeda7 said:

They have prospects they can trade and I would trade Kepler before Celestino if you're trading off the current roster. Besides I'm not sure a slap hitter hitting about 50 points higher than he should be is as valuable as you think.

Kepler seems like a guy you trade to a team competing that needs an outfielder for a prospect, Celestino seems like a guy you trade to a team rebuilding for a major league relief/starting pitcher. IMO

[bunsen82]

Palacios is essentially on-par with a Kiner-Falefa.  He needs to show just a tad more bat,  but that player is an asset in this league - either as a utility player or a defensive shortstop similar to the Yankees trading for Kiner Falefa.  

[howeda7]

On 6/7/2022 at 7:47 AM, TwinsDr2021 said:

Kepler seems like a guy you trade to a team competing that needs an outfielder for a prospect, Celestino seems like a guy you trade to a team rebuilding for a major league relief/starting pitcher. IMO

In a vacuum, yes. With the Twins/Buxton specific circumstances, no.

[TwinsDr2021]

12 hours ago, howeda7 said:

In a vacuum, yes. With the Twins/Buxton specific circumstances, no.

My point was why would a rebuilding team want Kepler? He is 29 with over 20 million due for the next 2 plus years, I don't think team looking to rebuild are looking for that type of player.