Twins Make Boring, Necessary Trade for Michael A. Taylor

[bird]

2 hours ago, miracleb said:

Terrible trade!  If you liked Pedro Florimon's bat and Andtrelton Simmon's bat...you will love this guy.  Both players we gave up will pitch in the majors.  Sisk this year and Cruz in 2-3 years(6'7"...he will figure out the strike zone in a few years.)  Everyone will be complaining about why this guy is getting playing time when Walner, Larnach, etc should be playing.  Heck...this guy makes Gordon look like a stud!

Your viewpoint doesn't reconcile with the numbers. In 2022, Taylor had the second highest WAR (3.2) on KCR, much better than Gordon's 1.4 WAR. Taylor would have slotted in at 4th best on the Twins. I for one am looking forward to not shuddering over the shoddy defensive play all around the field. Would you not agree that Taylor is a vast improvement, defensively AND offensively, over Celestino, Garlick, Cave, and Contreras? Gordon still gets his playing time, just not against LHP.

Both Sisk and Cruz have serious and longstanding command issues that make me skeptical that they'll be fixed. Neither are exactly spring chickens or new to those efforts.

[Ruven]

> The big question is this: how in the world do the Twins set up their outfield? With Max Kepler, Buxton, Gallo, Trevor Larnach, Alex Kirilloff, Gordon, Gilberto Celestino, and now Taylor, the team has eight legitimate outfielders for three spots; creativity must be in the cards. <

Assume 13 pitchers, 2 catchers. That leaves 6 infielders, 5 outfielders

Infield is set, yes? Gordon (and Farmer) are utility guys, mostly IF along with the 4 starters third-to-first Miranda-Correa-Polanco-Kirilloff. These utility guys can also play OF in emergencies (in-game injuries, extra innings with a depleted roster) or high-split pitchers (all LH or RH hitters preferred), or non-competitive situations (like 9-2 late), plus Gordon can pinch-run. I think those guys are penciled in as the 6 infielders, and Gallo can also fill in at 1B.

You’re right, the outfield hasn’t shaken out yet. So. Buxton, Gallo, and Taylor are probably in. That’s 3. Between Kepler, Larnach, Celestino and Wallner, pick 2. If no further trades, I’d say Kepler and Larnach get first shot and see what happens. But.…

My bet is we see another deal before spring training ends that moves a couple of these extra MLB-ready outfielders along with a prospect or maybe a starter from the FA2B starters for another >#3 starter, or an established right handed hitting RF if another pitcher turns out to be too expensive.

 

[jmlease1]

4 hours ago, miracleb said:

Terrible trade!  If you liked Pedro Florimon's bat and Andtrelton Simmon's bat...you will love this guy.  Both players we gave up will pitch in the majors.  Sisk this year and Cruz in 2-3 years(6'7"...he will figure out the strike zone in a few years.)  Everyone will be complaining about why this guy is getting playing time when Walner, Larnach, etc should be playing.  Heck...this guy makes Gordon look like a stud!

Cruz is going into his age 24 season and would need to be added to the 40-man soon, and he's averaged 6 BB/9 in his minor league career. he hasn't dipped below 5.5 BB/9 since he was 18 in rookie league ball. He's likely to be available in the Rule 5 draft soon if you really want him back. Sisk probably will pitch in MLB this season...but will he be effective? His control is pretty rough too, he's going to be 26 and until last season he's been both very wild and very hittable ever since rookie ball.

I'm not going to pretend that Taylor is a good hitter (he's not), but he's not Florimon at the plate, who was so bad in his prime that he should have been considered unplayable. I still can't believe we were desperate at SS that he was our primary SS in 2013 but it certainly helps explain why we lost 96 games that year.

[Lagputter]

16 hours ago, jmlease1 said:

Kirilloff is basically going to be playing 1B/DH rather than the OF (he wasn't much out there and might be a superior defender at 1B with consistent work), Larnach is probably the starting DH against RHP, but will certainly get time in the corners when Kepler or Gallo need a break. Gordon will likely find more time in the infield, since Farmer is the only other player we have that can play 2B or 3B.

There's likely enough playing time to go around what with the injury potential, but also the desire to keep players fresh.

Kepler could still be moved, but the roster is still plenty functional. Dang, the OF defense could be amazing.

Actually, there is not enough playing time.  If you assume 14 pitchers, and 2 catchers, that leaves 10 spots.  Buck, C4, Polo, Miranda, Gallo, Kiriloff, Taylor, Kepler, and Gordon take 9 spots.  That leaves Larnach, Wallner, and Celestino all for that 1 spot left.  And honestly, therre are only 2 RH OF options (Buck and Taylor).  I would love see Kepler + 1 moved for another BP arm and a Right handed hitting OF.  The defense will be strong, and I like the trade, but there has to be more coming!

[Mike Sixel]

7 hours ago, Fatbat said:

This puts celestino and wallner in AAA for 2023. TL is a DH guy only… every 4th day. AK is 1st/DH. Buxton will DH 62 games play CF 99 games if he doesn’t get injured.  We now have redundant elite defense everywhere but 3rd base…. Until Lewis takes over. Farmer sits alot and Miranda will DH alot after June. 

Larnach, in small sample sizes, has a TON of defensive runs saved. People on this site really need to look at the stats on him on other sites......

As for the OP, this isn't hard at all.

Gallo in left, Buxton in Center, Kepler in right. Larnach at DH. Kiriloff at first. Celestino in AAA. Gordon on the bench. Taylor on the bench, but starting in right against lefties. 

[jmlease1]

38 minutes ago, Lagputter said:

Actually, there is not enough playing time.  If you assume 14 pitchers, and 2 catchers, that leaves 10 spots.  Buck, C4, Polo, Miranda, Gallo, Kiriloff, Taylor, Kepler, and Gordon take 9 spots.  That leaves Larnach, Wallner, and Celestino all for that 1 spot left.  And honestly, therre are only 2 RH OF options (Buck and Taylor).  I would love see Kepler + 1 moved for another BP arm and a Right handed hitting OF.  The defense will be strong, and I like the trade, but there has to be more coming!

Don't think we're allowed 14 pitchers any longer? Thought part of the deal (which was put in abeyance due to COVID) for the 26 man rosters was no more than 13 pitchers? Am I wrong about this? I could be wrong about this. 

(but even if we are allowed, I wouldn't think we'd carry 14 pitchers and we shouldn't.)

[Lagputter]

1 minute ago, jmlease1 said:

Don't think we're allowed 14 pitchers any longer? Thought part of the deal (which was put in abeyance due to COVID) for the 26 man rosters was no more than 13 pitchers? Am I wrong about this? I could be wrong about this. 

(but even if we are allowed, I wouldn't think we'd carry 14 pitchers and we shouldn't.)

You might be right.  I think they made an exception through the beginning of last year, then rolled it back later in the season.  Glad I'm wrong.  But then, that's one less pitcher who makes the roster, Winder?  IDK.

[djvang]

Insurance for when Buxton gets hurt. Not if. When.

[ashbury]

3 hours ago, djvang said:

Insurance for when Buxton gets hurt. Not if. When.

Then that's not insurance. It's a lay-away plan at the department store, or something.