Which Twins Lineup Do You Like Best?

[Hans Birkeland]

With Luis Arraez off to less green pastures, what kind of lineup combinations can we expect, assuming full (or terrible) health?

Image courtesy of © Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

 

The Twins would seem to have quite a hole to fill in their lineup, and some utility lost given Luis Arraez’s ability to play multiple positions. The reality is that, as much as we love Luis, his production is replaceable (but not his at-bats), and his fielding is very replaceable. He also would have made it difficult for Nick Gordon, Alex Kirilloff and Trevor Larnach to get at-bats as they each approach the second half of their twenties.

So what kind of lineup combinations can we expect this year sans Arraez? With Joey Gallo and Michael A. Taylor aboard, here’s my projection for opening day against a righty:

You can quibble with whether Buxton or Polanco leads off (or Gallo for that matter), but I wouldn’t expect much deviation from this configuration, even though I would certainly prefer Gallo further down in the lineup.

Lefties dominated Twins hitters last year, especially down the stretch. How will the 2023 team counter? Probably something like this:

This is also where I could see the team looking at Luke Voit or possibly Anthony Santander, because it seems like this iteration of the lineup is a bat short.

It does have the potential to defend really well, however. If the infield is even average, the outfield alone makes this a top-five defense.

Let’s run through a few more just for fun:

The Sunday Getaway Day Lineup

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The Outfield gets Besmirched AGAIN

(This one assumes that we suffer the same number of season-ending outfield injuries as last year)

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The Trade for Anthony Santander

(Santander had a .913 OPS against lefties last year and the Orioles are listening)

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The Miranda Can’t Handle Third

(If the team wants to avoid putting Gordon on the infield, this outcome means Larnach is sent down. Hope the sexy new body helps, Jose!)

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The Lewis and Lee have Arrived and Aren’t Taking Prisoners

(AKA what the front office prays for every night)

And lastly, my personal favorite:

Nick Gordon Leading Off on Opening Day

 

He’ll be the skinniest DH in history, but I’ll bet he makes the score 1-0 more times than you would think.

How would you configure the 2023 lineup? Should the team make more additions? Who would you put in the leadoff spot?

 

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[Byrdman]

LEE & Julien will not be with the twins this year at all, unless there are a ton of injuries. Both of there defenses are not good or really have a spot to play.  They need a full year in AA/AAA. 

Martin and will be traded by the deadline. I could see Julien traded as well. 

[Parfigliano]

Polanco leadoff.  Buxton 3rd I hope.  Lee and Julien remain in minors because there are no injuries I hope.

[Fire Dan Gladden]

Barring injuries, the lineup should look like this:

Buxton
Polanco
Correa
Miranda
Gallo

Polanco and Correa could be interchangeable.  Everything after Gallo is interchangeable.

[Blyleven2011]

It would be nice for Rocco to find a lineup that works well  and stay with it as much as possible  ...

Kepler  ( for sure ) and Gallo shouldn't be batting high in the order 

[chpettit19]

I hope they put Polanco between Buxton and Correa due to his pretty severe splits. I want him facing as many righties as possible and putting him between those 2 would pretty much guarantee the other team is never using their lefty relievers against that part of the order. 

I also think Larnach starts the year higher in the order than Kirilloff, and hopefully Kepler. I'm not sure how much faith I have in them being willing to sit Kepler or Gallo early, but I hope this spring training means more than most and there's a true competition for those corner OF and DH spots. Not necessarily spring stats, but who's hitting the ball the hardest, and looking best prepared to start the season. The IF, and Buxton, look pretty well set right now, but the cOF and DH jobs should be a true spring competition in my eyes.

Love the Lee and Lewis idea, although I'd split the 2 lefty bats in that lineup for sure. Probably put 2 guys between Polanco, Kirilloff, and Kepler/Gallo/Gordon to put a whole lot more pressure on the other manager to decide when to use their lefty. Many teams only carrying 1 lefty these days with the 3 hitter rule so not sure why you'd make it so easy on them by stacking your lefties in that order. It'd also be interesting to see who is jettisoned in that roster configuration. Farmer is under control for 2024 as well, I believe, while Gallo isn't. I think I'd rather see them move on from Kepler or Gallo than Farmer.

Sunday getaway and massive injury lineups make me sad so I won't even comment on them.

[mikelink45]

Gallo is too high on most of these - number 7 is the place I put him.  I do like the Gordon lead-off idea, but doubt it is a possibility.  The problem is that we do not have a lead-off player like Arraez and Julien and Martin are not here .  If Kiriloff got back to what he did in the minors I could see him up there at some point.

Right now I would have 

1. Polanco
2. Correa
3. Buxton
4. Miranda
5. Larnach
6. Kiriloff
7. Gallo
8. Vasquez
9. Kepler 

But I hope I am wrong and there is a major change in the roster.

When Gallo flames out Gordon takes over for him and moves everyone down a notch.  At that point Martin might come up or Julien.

If Kepler is gone it will depend on the trade, but at some point Martin, Lee, Lewis, Julien play into this mix.

[JD-TWINS]

Going with what I see as Reality roster for everyday guys out of Spring Training

V. LH starter:

Taylor CF - Buxton DH - Correa SS - Miranda 1B - Polanco 2B - Farmer 3B - Gordon LF - Jeffers C - Kepler RF

30 games or so v. Lefthander.

V. RH starter:

Gordon CF - Kirilof 1B - Correa SS - Larnach DH - Polanco 2B - Gallo LF - Vazquez C - Kepler RF - Miranda 3B

Buxton plays v RH maybe 80 games as CF & another 20 as DH. Gordon plays 50 games in CF…….Taylor has all the CF starts against LH starters.

CC batting 3rd & Polanco batting 5th day in day out for stability.

Lewis in the mix at end of July with Gallo or Kepler possibly being moved, based on results after 100 games.

[pierre75275]

2 hours ago, Byrdman said:

LEE & Julien will not be with the twins this year at all, unless there are a ton of injuries. Both of there defenses are not good or really have a spot to play.  They need a full year in AA/AAA. 

Martin and will be traded by the deadline. I could see Julien traded as well. 

I don't believe the young guys will be traded. I feel like it is more of the established veteran type like a Polanco, or a Kepler or even Gray that gets traded.

If the kids show value in AAA I think the Twins keep that value and trade the more established veteran to a team looking for that one last piece for the playoffs.

[South Dakota Tom]

This was a very well-though-out article, and while some adjustments might be made (as suggested above), I think yours is a solid starting point.  Will Joey hit?  Will we add a RH slugger anywhere? 

The next extension of this is a "who do we bring up if X is injured?" - If Buxton (RH OF), I think it's Garlick.  If LH OF, I think it's Wallner.  If it's the right side of the infield, right now I'd say Julien.  If it is the left side of the infield, either Farmer slides into the everyday 3B/SS role, and we add Julien, but maybe there's a spot for Martin (Lee) (Lewis).  I don't know who they would consider the 3rd catcher, but glad they have some names at AAA to chose from.

[Doctor Gast]

I like your personal favorite. I've stated before that we should never trade Lewis, because of his many tangible & intangible qualities. But I'd trade him in a heart beat if management has any inkling  of playing him in the OF. I'd rather lose him to another team than the risk of him losing his MLB career.

Many say there's no difference in danger between the INF to OF and I'd kinda agree if the player has no knee problems. Running full blast, jumping high and coming down on that problem leg at that angel & force is like playing Russian Roulette which in Lewis case was the 1st attempt. Now w/ his 2nd operation, the gun has only a single chamber.

I don't care if it doesn't fit your depth chart, you can't take that risk on Lewis.

[Blyleven2011]

2 hours ago, South Dakota Tom said:

I don't know who they would consider the 3rd catcher, but glad they have some names at AAA to chose from.

Farmer is the emergency 3rd catcher until a replacement arrives from AAA ,,,

[Blyleven2011]

16 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

you can't take that risk on Lewis.

Yes it is a risk on his career with those 2 operations and could possibly  threaten his career ...

If tge fo and manager say he's a outfielder , I say no ...

If Lewis says he wants to play outfield , it's his career he's risking is definitely in question  ...

He most likely will have problems  in the future with that knee  where every he plays ...

I hear your concerns and he is valuable to our team  in every phase of the game , he's a players player and will contribute to a great clubhouse atmosphere  ...

 

[Joey Self]

First thing I thought of when I saw this was "do not line up too many left handed hitters in a row, even against a righty."  These days, since a pitcher has to face three batters, a lefty reliever needs to be sure of seeing at least one right handed batter.  Polanco in the midst of some lefties would do that--and of course, provides a left handed bat when a slew of righties are due up. 

JcS

[Doctor Gast]

55 minutes ago, Blyleven2011 said:

Yes it is a risk on his career with those 2 operations and could possibly  threaten his career ...

If tge fo and manager say he's a outfielder , I say no ...

If Lewis says he wants to play outfield , it's his career he's risking is definitely in question  ...

He most likely will have problems  in the future with that knee  where every he plays ...

I hear your concerns and he is valuable to our team  in every phase of the game , he's a players player and will contribute to a great clubhouse atmosphere  ...

 

Lewis usually says yeah put me anywhere, I want to play. When Lewis said he prefer to play the INF, Lewis hates to say no, IMO that's him saying indirectly that he doesn't want to play the OF.

[Blyleven2011]

7 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

Lewis usually says yeah put me anywhere, I want to play. When Lewis said he prefer to play the INF, Lewis hates to say no, IMO that's him saying indirectly that he doesn't want to play the OF.

Yes I've heard  or read tgar somewhere ,,, he definitely is like arreaz and has the love of the game and would play anywhere you asked him ...

I feel the pain and would also not like to lose him to a career injury ... 

Lewis will bring alot to this game  and maybe will be a fan favorite over Buxton and Correa  , we need that after trading arreaz  ...

[gman]

I wouldn't want both Kepler and Gallo in the lineup on the same day. An opponents starting pitcher would love to see them together in the lineup. One a strikeout and the other a grounder to second.

lineup

Polanco 2b, Correa ss, Kirilloff 1b, Buxton cf, Miranda 3b, Larnach lf, Vazquez c, Gallo rf, Gordon dh

[dex8425]

5 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Gallo is too high on most of these - number 7 is the place I put him.  I do like the Gordon lead-off idea, but doubt it is a possibility.  The problem is that we do not have a lead-off player like Arraez and Julien and Martin are not here .  If Kiriloff got back to what he did in the minors I could see him up there at some point.

Right now I would have 

1. Polanco
2. Correa
3. Buxton
4. Miranda
5. Larnach
6. Kiriloff
7. Gallo
8. Vasquez
9. Kepler 

But I hope I am wrong and there is a major change in the roster.

When Gallo flames out Gordon takes over for him and moves everyone down a notch.  At that point Martin might come up or Julien.

If Kepler is gone it will depend on the trade, but at some point Martin, Lee, Lewis, Julien play into this mix.

That seems about right. Gordon should definitely hit before Kepler. 

[Brandon]

I like the lineup option with Gordon batting Leadoff.  My only quible would be to switch Killeroff with Kepler at the 7th and 8th slots in the lineup.  Killeroff has more offensive potential if he is truly healthy.  

[PatPfund]

I generally like your lineups, though I'd bat Polanco 1st since (if healthy) he'd likely force more pitches early, and be a base stealing threat (pretty sure Byron is going to be grounded, and Carlos doesn't run any more). You probably have the middle okay, but if Kirilloff is playing, he probably is healthy and will force his way past Gallo and Kepler, and even early I'd never bat him below Jeffers (even against a righty).

[Sean.h]

Miranda will definitely be in the lineup against LHO either at  (with farmer at 3b) 1b or dh

[TopGunn#22]

TREMENDOUS Hans!  This was a fun read and everyone's suggestions are very interesting.  I would also bat Kepler 9th in any lineup construction he's in.  Gallo lands at 7th, maybe 6th, but no higher.  I have to admit, my favorite lineup is the Lewis & Lee one, just because it's pretty cool seeing their names on a lineup card.  In my "Let's Dream" lineup, which would probably be more 2024 (although September could possibly see Lee up) and if those two guys are truly taking no prisoners, here's what it would look like:

1.  Buxton CF  2. Polanco 2b  3. Correa SS  4. Kirilloff 1B  5. Miranda DH  6. B. Lee 3B  7. R. Lewis LF  8. Gallo/Larnach RF

9. Vazquez C

Kepler has been traded for Frankie Montas just prior to breaking camp.  The starting rotation as we move into the playoffs is Montas, P. Lopez, Ryan, Gray, Mahle.  Maeda and Ober long relief.  Duran, J. Lopez, Alcala, Theilbar.

If Gallo has a decent year (30HR's good OBP) he's in the lineup and on the team.  If not, Larnach is in there.  This doesn't account for a big trade at the deadline, but it fulfills my fantasy that Lewis and Lee are up and on there way to being All Stars.  A guy can dream can't he?

[saviking]

The first one for this year and the last one for next year ..

[Swing Batter-Batter]

The best line up is the one that Rocco does NOT change every game.

[tony&rodney]

Seems like Buxton will be a DH for 30-40 games at least. I'm hoping we see a patient line drive machine possessing power who can run the bases efficiently leading off against right handed pitchers - Julien. 

[Hans Birkeland]

On 2/6/2023 at 8:38 AM, Byrdman said:

LEE & Julien will not be with the twins this year at all, unless there are a ton of injuries. Both of there defenses are not good or really have a spot to play.  They need a full year in AA/AAA. 

Martin and will be traded by the deadline. I could see Julien traded as well. 

I could see Lee needing a full year in the minors but Julien figures to be one of the first reinforcements, similar to Lewis or Miranda last year. He turns 24 in April and has a pretty advanced approach. Do you want the team to trade from its already thin system?

[Hans Birkeland]

On 2/7/2023 at 7:25 AM, TopGunn#22 said:

TREMENDOUS Hans!  This was a fun read and everyone's suggestions are very interesting.  I would also bat Kepler 9th in any lineup construction he's in.  Gallo lands at 7th, maybe 6th, but no higher.  I have to admit, my favorite lineup is the Lewis & Lee one, just because it's pretty cool seeing their names on a lineup card.  In my "Let's Dream" lineup, which would probably be more 2024 (although September could possibly see Lee up) and if those two guys are truly taking no prisoners, here's what it would look like:

1.  Buxton CF  2. Polanco 2b  3. Correa SS  4. Kirilloff 1B  5. Miranda DH  6. B. Lee 3B  7. R. Lewis LF  8. Gallo/Larnach RF

9. Vazquez C

Kepler has been traded for Frankie Montas just prior to breaking camp.  The starting rotation as we move into the playoffs is Montas, P. Lopez, Ryan, Gray, Mahle.  Maeda and Ober long relief.  Duran, J. Lopez, Alcala, Theilbar.

If Gallo has a decent year (30HR's good OBP) he's in the lineup and on the team.  If not, Larnach is in there.  This doesn't account for a big trade at the deadline, but it fulfills my fantasy that Lewis and Lee are up and on there way to being All Stars.  A guy can dream can't he?

This team is an optimist's dream considering the extremely high variance across the 40 man. I'm hoping we just beat the 50th percentile outcome.

[Hans Birkeland]

On 2/6/2023 at 7:55 PM, PatPfund said:

I generally like your lineups, though I'd bat Polanco 1st since (if healthy) he'd likely force more pitches early, and be a base stealing threat (pretty sure Byron is going to be grounded, and Carlos doesn't run any more). You probably have the middle okay, but if Kirilloff is playing, he probably is healthy and will force his way past Gallo and Kepler, and even early I'd never bat him below Jeffers (even against a righty).

I sincerely hope Kirilloff and Miranda are ahead of old Max and Joey in the lineup. I just don't see it happening at the start of the year.

[Hans Birkeland]

On 2/6/2023 at 3:50 PM, gman said:

I wouldn't want both Kepler and Gallo in the lineup on the same day. An opponents starting pitcher would love to see them together in the lineup. One a strikeout and the other a grounder to second.

lineup

Polanco 2b, Correa ss, Kirilloff 1b, Buxton cf, Miranda 3b, Larnach lf, Vazquez c, Gallo rf, Gordon dh

I don't mind this lineups at all! But I don't think the brass would stick Kirilloff 3rd right away. Maybe if he blows us away in spring and his wrist is right. Big ifs though.

[Hans Birkeland]

On 2/6/2023 at 1:57 PM, Doctor Gast said:

I like your personal favorite. I've stated before that we should never trade Lewis, because of his many tangible & intangible qualities. But I'd trade him in a heart beat if management has any inkling  of playing him in the OF. I'd rather lose him to another team than the risk of him losing his MLB career.

Many say there's no difference in danger between the INF to OF and I'd kinda agree if the player has no knee problems. Running full blast, jumping high and coming down on that problem leg at that angel & force is like playing Russian Roulette which in Lewis case was the 1st attempt. Now w/ his 2nd operation, the gun has only a single chamber.

I don't care if it doesn't fit your depth chart, you can't take that risk on Lewis.

I think Lewis has expressed a desire to stay on the infield and we should have room down the line with Polanco on team options through '25 and Miranda a question mark at third.