Why the Heck Won't the Minnesota Twins Call Up Alex Kirilloff?

[NorthernAggression]

I think Garlick is the reason he hasn't been called up yet. They Garlick's bat vs. LHP and likely don't want to shuffle Kiriloff back and forth. So now they are waiting to make that roster move (sending down a pitcher, Miranda?, I don't see them DFA'ing Gordon). 

[KBJ1]

They better not trade Kiriloff!!

With Lewis now out, there is a little less of a logjam. Gordon or Miranda are the odd man out for Kiriloff to come up Until they reduce the Bullpen #'s.

Trade someone for good relief pitching,  NOT a starter. Even good starters only go 5-6 innings. 

It's ALL about relievers today.

[Riverbrian]

Dear Thad,

I just picked up Alex Kirilloff in my fantasy baseball league.

I'm willing to hold him for a little while but I'd thought I'd let you know that he will be taking up valuable roster space on my roster until you call him up. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Riverbrian

 

[FlyingFinn]

I've got Kirilloff coming up on Sunday, after the string of 3 lefty starters for the opponents are done. Since we have to get down to 13 pitchers, Thornburg or Cotton will be gone, unless we are done with Duffey. Barring an injury, the decision will then be between Miranda and Garlick. Without Garlick, we should be rotating Buxton so he always plays CF against lh's with Celestino in the OF as well. Garlick has one option left I believe so he would go to St. Paul to wait for the next injury to bring him back up. That is one reason the Twins are waiting IMO as they don't want to use up everyone's options.

[twinstalker]

Soto got the call because it was temporary.  Obviously you wouldn't call up Kirilloff just to demote him (or DFA him!).

My guess is 1) Kirilloff needs to show it longer because he's already been gifted a lot, and they don't need him breaking down in MLB again, and/or 2) they're keeping him down long enough to get beyond super two status, and/or 3) they're showcasing Larnach for trade.  Larnach for Castillo as the trade basis makes some sense and shouldn't hurt the Twins.

It's probably a combination of all three, somewhat.

[LA VIkes Fan]

We can have 3 of the following 5 on the 26 man roster - Celestino, Miranda, Larnach, Garlick and Kirilloff. I think it's really 2 of 4 since Celestino is the only one who can play CF - and we need that 2-3 times a week - and he is hitting .330 (albeit with with no power). It's a tough call. 

I would bring up Kirilloff and option Garlick and Larnach, Keep Miranda up in the bigs.  I would prefer to keep Larnach up but we need the RH bat. I prefer Miranda over Garlick because I think Miranda is a big part of the next 5 years and Garlick is not. I still see this year as a higher level developmental year, not a go for broke to try to get a championship year. We will need Miranda a next year if Ursehla is gone and will need his bat if Correa is gone. I'd frankly like to find a way to get Kirilloff, Miranda and Larnach 400-500 ABs apiece this year but there's probably only room for 2 of them to get that many. Still, very tough call. 

 

[Major League Ready]

4 hours ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

We can have 3 of the following 5 on the 26 man roster - Celestino, Miranda, Larnach, Garlick and Kirilloff. I think it's really 2 of 4 since Celestino is the only one who can play CF - and we need that 2-3 times a week - and he is hitting .330 (albeit with with no power). It's a tough call. 

I would bring up Kirilloff and option Garlick and Larnach, Keep Miranda up in the bigs.  I would prefer to keep Larnach up but we need the RH bat. I prefer Miranda over Garlick because I think Miranda is a big part of the next 5 years and Garlick is not. I still see this year as a higher level developmental year, not a go for broke to try to get a championship year. We will need Miranda a next year if Ursehla is gone and will need his bat if Correa is gone. I'd frankly like to find a way to get Kirilloff, Miranda and Larnach 400-500 ABs apiece this year but there's probably only room for 2 of them to get that many. Still, very tough call. 

 

I agree with all of this but might be more inclined to send Miranda down if we were to bring up Kirilloff.  They have Kirilloff/Arraez for 1B plus Sanchez if needed.  Urshella/Arraez for 3B and Polanco/Arraez/Gordon for 2B.  seems like Miranda would be the most expendable in this scenario.  Garlick's bat against LH pitching is a real asset.  Kirolloff's defense is better at 1B and I am not sure we really lose anything defensively at 1B with Arraez vs Miranda.  Obviously, we lose defensively with Miranda at 3B instead of Urshela.  

[h2oface]

Who needs a player consistently hitting like Kirilloff? We seem to like inconsistent streaky hitters. Some real good hitters, but streaky. Many can't even get a hit 25% of official at bats, and they are considered above average hitters now. Go figure. Who needs a .382 average and 1.182 OPS hitter in AAA. Wait until he cools off. Let him get all the hits in AAA. 

Larnach mashing? Hitting .182 in his last 7 games, .137 his last 15 games, and .229 his last 30.

Kepler? .179 his last 7 games, .200 his last 15 games, and .226 his last 30.

Sanchez? .185 his last 7 games, .222 his last 15 games, and .222 his last 30. But Kirilloff can't catch.

And first? Arraez and Miranda. Arraez absolutely needs to be in at first or third, and sometimes second.

Miranda? .269 his last 7 games, .302 his last 15 games, and .233 his last 30.

He is coming into his own, but his fielding is horrible, and as good as he is getting at the plate, if Kirilloffs numbers transfer, and with better fielding, it is still not even close. But do you switch the two? Hmmmmmm. 

Is Larnach really going to be a better option in left? Kepler is the vet. Hmmmm.

Shame to not get Kirilloff up here, and Celestino is spelling Buxton very well in center, hitting surprisingly well, and keeping Buxton's streaky awesome bat in the lineup. We already suffered through May Buxton. It is going to get more consistent, right? June started great.

I don't think Kirilloff is going anywhere, but then, I didn't think Graterol was either. Someone, or two or three, will be going on the IL. You need depth.

 

[twinstalker]

Um, Garlick is a part of Twins plans the next few years if he can stay on the field.  What he does vs lhp is very rare, and you probably don't have the baggage of the hitter thinking he's better than every third day.  The Twins love him.

He'll be super-two arb eligible this year and a free agent at the end of 2026.  I would sign him each year until it proves to be a mistake.  I'm not sure Falvine can avoid giving him an unnecessary Dobnak-like contract.

[Danchat]

3 hours ago, twinstalker said:

Um, Garlick is a part of Twins plans the next few years if he can stay on the field.  What he does vs lhp is very rare, and you probably don't have the baggage of the hitter thinking he's better than every third day.  The Twins love him.

He'll be super-two arb eligible this year and a free agent at the end of 2026.  I would sign him each year until it proves to be a mistake.  I'm not sure Falvine can avoid giving him an unnecessary Dobnak-like contract.

I don't see a comparison at all between Dobnak and Garlick - Kyle turns 31 in January and we have him through 2026, I see no need to lock down his arb numbers. Dobnak was still young when the extension was made and gave the Twins some cheap options if they wanted him way down the line. Any options on Garlick's deal would retain his age 35+ season(s), which seems wildly uncessary.

[TopGunn#22]

I think it's time to get Kirilloff up.  I like BOTH Larnach and Kiriloff,  but Kirilloff has always had the bigger upside.  I've always felt that at some point,  BOTH would show themselves to be solid major league hitters and that because of Kepler, eventually,  one would need to be traded for a player who could help the team more...like a SS or a SP.  With Correa, I don't see us trading for a SS.  Larnach profiles as a Jesse Winker type player and I'd think both the A's and the Reds would be interested in him as part of a Montas or Castillo deal.  

Either of those pitchers would lead our rotation and give us somebody who could be counted on to consistently throw close to 7 innings a start.  That takes a little pressure off the BP and deepens the rotation.  A top 3 of Montas/Castillo with Ryan and Gray is something I'd be confident in going into a playoff series. 

And I agree with the prevailing sentiment on TD.  Why not get a scorching hot Kirilloff up and into the Twins lineup NOW (or at least very soon).  He should probably slot into the 5 or 6 spot in that lineup and could even be our #3 at some point if he keeps raking.  ANY lineup could benefit from THAT type of hitter.  

[LA VIkes Fan]

23 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

I agree with all of this but might be more inclined to send Miranda down if we were to bring up Kirilloff.  They have Kirilloff/Arraez for 1B plus Sanchez if needed.  Urshella/Arraez for 3B and Polanco/Arraez/Gordon for 2B.  seems like Miranda would be the most expendable in this scenario.  Garlick's bat against LH pitching is a real asset.  Kirolloff's defense is better at 1B and I am not sure we really lose anything defensively at 1B with Arraez vs Miranda.  Obviously, we lose defensively with Miranda at 3B instead of Urshela.  

Another good way to go. It's a tough choice between keeping up Miranda or Garlick. For that matter, it's a tough choice to send down Larnach so Kirilloff can come up but Larnach stopped hitting so maybe it's getting a little easier. 

[Riverbrian]

On 6/15/2022 at 4:35 PM, Riverbrian said:

Dear Thad,

I just picked up Alex Kirilloff in my fantasy baseball league.

I'm willing to hold him for a little while but I'd thought I'd let you know that he will be taking up valuable roster space on my roster until you call him up. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Riverbrian

 

Thanks Thad

If there is anything I can do for you. Don't hesitate to give me a call. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Riverbrian