Kyle Farmer Can Be a Crucial Fit for the Twins

[Nick Nelson]

FORT MYERS, FL—Because the move to acquire Kyle Farmer came so early in the offseason, and was followed by a huge flurry of high-profile activity, it can be easy to overlook him in the Twins' plans.

But make no mistake: the versatile defender and lefty masher can play a big role in the team's success this year and next.

Image courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle Farmer knew he was going to get traded this past offseason. It was only a matter of where. 

"I'm happy I'm here," he said, looking around the bustling Twins clubhouse ahead of Tuesday's game against Atlanta. 

Maybe a little bit less happy than he was at the time of the move. It's no secret that he loves playing shortstop, where he was Cincinnati's primary starter for most of the past two seasons. Farmer was reportedly "blindsided" when the Reds moved him to third base last August, favoring prospect Jose Barrero at short.

“It sucks,” Farmer said at the time. “I love short. I’ve loved short my entire life. It’s part of the game, I guess, and they see me at third. Hopefully I play well enough to maybe play third here next year.”

Well, Farmer won't be playing third in Cincy this year, but he should see plenty of action there for the Twins. He started at the hot corner against Boston on Monday after making his spring debut at his beloved shortstop in Saturday's home opener at Hammond Stadium. He'll get the nod at second base on Wednesday against the Phillies.

Farmer was lined up as the de facto starting shortstop when the Twins acquired him from the Reds in exchange for pitching prospect Casey Legumina on November 18th, and as the offseason progressed, it looked increasingly like Farmer would indeed assume primary duties as at least an interim fixture. Free agent shortstop options came flying off the board while Minnesota's pursuit of Carlos Correa appeared doomed.

As it turns out, this pursuit was in fact not doomed. Correa signed with the Twins in January and just like that, Farmer's hopes of a full-time return to the shortstop position were dashed. But for his part, he doesn't express too much consternation about it.

"Love short, love second, and I also love third," he said. "I feel more comfortable playing second probably over anywhere besides short if I had to choose, but third base comes naturally to me too." 

Farmer also has experience at first base, which seems relevant in light of the uncertainty surrounding Alex Kirilloff's situation, but it's clear he fundamentally enjoys playing around the two-bag. "Playing up the middle it’s like, I’m having fun in baseball, it’s not like a job."

 

He will have a job to do for the Twins, and an important one. Farmer has a pretty good idea of how the team plans to use him. 

"Someone needs a day off or a lefty’s pitching or maybe they put me in certain situations but I expect to play all over the infield."

What about the outfield? There's been some chatter about that possibility, given the need for righty-swinging depth in the corner spots, but Farmer's MLB experience in the outfield is extremely scarce, amounting to total four innings in left field back in 2020 and 2021. That said, he's open to the possibility.

"I haven’t done it yet in spring training but that option’s open," Farmer shared. "As long as I’m in the lineup hitting it doesn’t matter where I play defensively."

And that's what it really comes down to: is he hitting? Farmer's strong splits against lefties are an obvious point of appeal after the Twins scuffled versus southpaws last year, but he might struggle to force his way into the lineup on a regular basis if he's not at least holding his own against righties. Last year he slashed just .235/.291/.320 against them.

Offensively, Farmer said he's focused this spring on using his hips and lower body more in his swing, gaining more consistency with his load move. The 32-year-old admitted that as he gets older, it takes him a bit longer to find his timing and get in a groove. Luckily (for him, not us), there's still plenty of spring left.

Under control for two more seasons, Farmer has the ability to impact the Twins in a range of different ways, especially if his work at the plate leads to an improvement upon his sub-par overall career OPS+ of 85. (For comparison, Max Kepler finished at 93 in a career-worst 2022 season.)

One intriguing tool in his defensive versatility kit that hasn't yet been discussed? Farmer originally came up as a catcher, and played more than 80 innings there as recently as 2019. The Twins are a little iffy on catching depth beyond Christian Vázquez and Ryan Jeffers, so Farmer's experience there feels somewhat relevant, separating him from your standard "emergency catcher."

To be clear, the Twins are still treating him as such. Rocco Baldelli was assertive in stating that Farmer is only a break-the-glass option as opposed to a third catcher – "He will catch in an emergency and that’s it." Still, it's awfully nice to have someone in that role who is a legit backstop, and it takes away any level of hesitation about carrying only two catchers on the roster, or DH-ing one of Vázquez and Jeffers against lefties.

Compared to catching, Baldelli was a bit less rigid on the idea of Farmer getting some time in the outfield, although it doesn't sound like he's planning around it. 

"I don’t think so," the manager said when asked if he anticipated any appearances from Farmer in the outfield this spring. "We generally will make adjustments the last couple weeks of spring training depending on what the roster looks like or any injury concerns around the team, and then if someone has to get some extra work or go play some positions they haven’t, we’ll do that at that point."

Incidentally, Trevor Larnach was scratched from Tuesday's game with lower-body soreness. Meanwhile, the third baseman Miranda has only been able to play DH so far this spring due to a throwing shoulder issue, and we still have yet to see second baseman Jorge Polanco in a spring game as he works back from a knee injury. Carlos Correa is slated to make his Grapefruit League debut at shortstop on Wednesday, serving as Farmer's double-play partner, but injury concerns will inevitably loom over him and his ankle. As we've discussed, the first base and catcher positions have their own question marks.

Given all of this, it's easy to see how the flexible Farmer – who's been very durable (he would've ranked third on the Twins in plate appearances last year, and fourth in 2021) – is an extremely nice piece of have on hand, with improved offense almost feeling like a bonus on top of what he can provide with his glove all over the field.

For a team that was so often forced to use players out of position or push them beyond their station last year, Farmer is a fantastic roster fit. A floor-raising player like him might not be the most exciting, but following a season where the bottom fell out, it's a vital necessity.

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[Riverbrian]

If you are going to have injuries and we are going to have injuries... you need a roster full of players who can play. I've been preaching this for years.

If you have a roster full of players who can play... you should play them. 

Take the 13 pitchers and the two catchers (also catcher position) on the 26 man roster out of the mix. 

You are left with 11 position players and 8 spots (DH,1B,2B,3B,SS,LF,CF,RF) to fill the daily lineup.

Consider those numbers and it should be apparent that you can't back up every position directly.

Position Flexibility is demanded.

Farmer will play. 

 

[Maybebaby]

Larnach, Miranda, Polanco REALLY ALREADY??

M*A*S*H 4077 for 2023...🤨

[miracleb]

Hmmmm.....Against lefties:  "Last year he slashed just .235/.291/.320 against them.

Not a ringing endorsement as to how we are going to go after lefties in 2023......

[umterp23]

Will always root for the guy who loves the game 24/7.  Farmer seems to be that type of guy.  Position flexibility, will do what is asked when asked, prepares for any situation and is healthy.  Is he the front line star? No, but he doesn't have to be and he knows that.  Pencil his name in the lineup and I won't be disappointed.  

[Doctor Gast]

I'm a big fan of the Farmer trade. Before that we were starving for quality INF depth. SS we had nobody, I deemed Gordon & Martin not adequate, Lewis & Lee not ready. 3B we have  Miranda that played hardly any MLB 3B. 2B we have Polanco which the Twins want to take slowly, behind him we had nobody (Martin has shown himself worthy in ST, but there was doubts before and depending on debuting rookies never bode well with Twins).

With Farmer we secured ourselves  a starting SS. I never considered him as our fulltime SS, if we didn't land Correa (which seemed very unlikely), I'd bring in a LH bat Guillorme (NYM)   that'd provide us with terrific tandem & the minimum INF depth. W/o Farmer to set the floor in the beginning, FO would be scrambling to find someone at the end. And we all know how ugly that can get.

Farmer should played against every LHP and because of our lack of LH bats on the left side of the INF he'll see some RHPs. His durability is a big plus.

[Squirrel]

10 minutes ago, miracleb said:

Hmmmm.....Against lefties:  "Last year he slashed just .235/.291/.320 against them.

Not a ringing endorsement as to how we are going to go after lefties in 2023......

That was his line against righties …. This was the quote:

‘ if he's not at least holding his own against righties. Last year he slashed just .235/.291/.320 against them.’

[miracleb]

TY Squirrel....stand corrected!
:)

[Squirrel]

17 minutes ago, miracleb said:

TY Squirrel....stand corrected!
:)

I’d worry, too, if that were against lefties … still concerned with our offense, but think it’s trending in the right direction. Time will tell, and when it does, I hope I’m enjoying it!

[tony&rodney]

MLB athletes were mostly stars on their teams growing up. It is an adjustment to accept part time usage. Farmer was a solid addition for the Twins and his experience and versatility will be a plus this season. If he does well and the Twins guys like Royce Lewis develop into strong players this summer, Farmer may be moved again at some later point, perhaps after the season. Guys who can play shortstop usually find jobs.

[wabene]

2 hours ago, Nick Nelson said:

Carlos Correa is slated to make his Grapefruit League debut at shortstop on Wednesday, serving as Farmer's double-play partner, but injury concerns will inevitably loom over him and his ankle.

Carlos Correa injured his ankle almost 10 years ago. It has been healthy since. Someone decided they don't want to risk $350m on it. Now not only does he have to answer questions about how it feels to miss out on $150m, he has to constantly hear about his "problem" ankle. He does handle it well. 

[Drew]

29 minutes ago, wabene said:

 Now not only does he have to answer questions about how it feels to miss out on $150m, he has to constantly hear about his "problem" ankle. 

Yep, I can already tell this will become my eye-rolling pet peeve this season.

"Carlos "Injured Ankle?" Correa steps to the plate. He's hitting .281 with one good ankle, one bad ankle and 13 homeruns this year. Here's the pitch and he smokes one to left and Carlos and his bad ankle are on with a lead off single. Up comes Jorge Polanco but you have to wonder if Carlos will ever even make it to second base, that ankle could simply fall off at any moment. It's fair to ask if they'll just cut that leg off to get it over with. Aaaand it's 1-0 to Jorge who, by the way, has much better ankles than Carlos.."

 

[gunnarthor]

If he's our UI, great. He can fit in and plug a hole here and there. But I'd really hate to have him as our starting anything. 

[Bigfork Twins Guy]

2 hours ago, Maybebaby said:

Larnach, Miranda, Polanco REALLY ALREADY??

M*A*S*H 4077 for 2023...🤨

Welcome to TD Maybebaby.

[LA VIkes Fan]

Farmer's biggest value might have just come in - as a trade chip to the Dodgers to replace Gavin Lux at SS after Lux tore his ACL yesterday.  The Dodgers other option is 34-year-old Miguel Rojas they just acquired from the Marlins before spring training. You have to think the Dodgers are looking for a starting caliber SS that's locked into a reserve role on another team, particularly one who can be a 1 or 2 year option while Lux recovers or they get a free agent next winter. Voilà! Kyle Farmer seems to meet all of those criteria.

Interestingly enough, the Dodgers could also use a proven outfielder. They do have Mookie Betts in right, but are looking at an aging Chris Taylor and an unproven  Trayce Thompson to play center with a very unproven James Outman in left. It seems like a respected veteran like Max Kepler might be a good fit.

I think there's a real possibility that Kyle Farmer becomes a trade talking point between the Twins and the Dodgers. It would not surprise me if Kepler is also in the discussion. The Dodgers have a deep farm system particularly in pitching and catching. I do think there's a match. What you guys think?

[Fire Dan Gladden]

Look!  Out in the field!
It's a third baseman!
It's a second baseman!
...
It's SUPER PUNTO!

[MN_ExPat]

3 hours ago, Maybebaby said:

Larnach, Miranda, Polanco REALLY ALREADY??

M*A*S*H 4077 for 2023...🤨

Not necessarily... It's still early in ST and we can almost certainly agree that the staff isn't taking any unnecessary chances with those guys, especially Larnach and Polanco.  

[IndianaTwin]

2 hours ago, wabene said:

Carlos Correa injured his ankle almost 10 years ago. It has been healthy since. Someone decided they don't want to risk $350m on it. Now not only does he have to answer questions about how it feels to miss out on $150m, he has to constantly hear about his "problem" ankle. He does handle it well. 

Just think what kind of grief he'll get if someone speculates on some modest bilateral ankle weakness. 

[IndianaTwin]

I liked the Farmer trade from the beginning. Whether or not he's better than Urshela, his positional flexibility is definitely a better fit for the roster. I've speculated that one of the reasons people haven't recognized his fit is that so many were in a Correa or Bust mindset.  

 

[MN_ExPat]

58 minutes ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

Farmer's biggest value might have just come in - as a trade chip to the Dodgers to replace Gavin Lux at SS after Lux tore his ACL yesterday.  The Dodgers other option is 34-year-old Miguel Rojas they just acquired from the Marlins before spring training. You have to think the Dodgers are looking for a starting caliber SS that's locked into a reserve role on another team, particularly one who can be a 1 or 2 year option while Lux recovers or they get a free agent next winter. Voilà! Kyle Farmer seems to meet all of those criteria.

Interestingly enough, the Dodgers could also use a proven outfielder. They do have Mookie Betts in right, but are looking at an aging Chris Taylor and an unproven  Trayce Thompson to play center with a very unproven James Outman in left. It seems like a respected veteran like Max Kepler might be a good fit.

I think there's a real possibility that Kyle Farmer becomes a trade talking point between the Twins and the Dodgers. It would not surprise me if Kepler is also in the discussion. The Dodgers have a deep farm system particularly in pitching and catching. I do think there's a match. What you guys think?

It's an interesting thought at a minimum, and on the surface does appear appealing in that if structured appropriately, it could help both teams (which should really be the point of a trade anyway... not to "win" it).  I think a lot would depend on how ready some of the upcoming younger players are to take a bigger role in the Show.

[stringer bell]

With his R/L splits, Farmer should be starting against lefties all the time. Not as a good for him to fill in against right handers. He’ll get quite a few at-bats filling in anyway. I guess I’d prefer him at third and Miranda at first. 

[Bigfork Twins Guy]

1 hour ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

Farmer's biggest value might have just come in - as a trade chip to the Dodgers to replace Gavin Lux at SS after Lux tore his ACL yesterday.  The Dodgers other option is 34-year-old Miguel Rojas they just acquired from the Marlins before spring training. You have to think the Dodgers are looking for a starting caliber SS that's locked into a reserve role on another team, particularly one who can be a 1 or 2 year option while Lux recovers or they get a free agent next winter. Voilà! Kyle Farmer seems to meet all of those criteria.

Interestingly enough, the Dodgers could also use a proven outfielder. They do have Mookie Betts in right, but are looking at an aging Chris Taylor and an unproven  Trayce Thompson to play center with a very unproven James Outman in left. It seems like a respected veteran like Max Kepler might be a good fit.

I think there's a real possibility that Kyle Farmer becomes a trade talking point between the Twins and the Dodgers. It would not surprise me if Kepler is also in the discussion. The Dodgers have a deep farm system particularly in pitching and catching. I do think there's a match. What you guys think?

I'd be OK with trading Kepler due to our stable of outfielders, but not Farmer.  He fits in nicely and if we trade for prospects then we are taking from this year for potential in future years that may never come to fruition.

[DocBauer]

I have loved the acquisition of Farmer since the day it happened. Now, I wasn't thrilled with him as the full-time SS, but he actually provides a league average infield starter with a great bat against LHP, and has normally been around league average-ish or slightly below against RHP. 

That's a really outstanding utility player and well worth the $5M he's going to be paid this year. It's nice that he's still got team control as well. That provides a lot of roster security and possibilities over the next few years.

And Solano provides a really solid 1yr fill-in if Farmer has to step in to an every day spot for any extended time. Lewis, Lee, and Julien will all get their shot and force their way on to the roster,  but don't have to be rushed. And while there's a couple non roster guys who might provide additional opportunities at some point...27yo Helman and the still 26yo Will Castro...there's probably no need for them right now barring a huge rash of injuries.

Just a very smart acquisition.

[DocBauer]

7 hours ago, MN_ExPat said:

Not necessarily... It's still early in ST and we can almost certainly agree that the staff isn't taking any unnecessary chances with those guys, especially Larnach and Polanco.  

And just to add, Polanco has stated he feels good, but he and the Twins are in agreement to give him a gradual ramp up.

Some shoulder soreness for Miranda, or anyone, a week in is not unusual. SO FAR, nothing has been stated as this being an issue. (Though teams are always tight lipped). I mean, why not be extra cautious this early? Besides, he's still getting AB so I doubt it's much of an issue.

I'm still frustratingly confused as to exactly what happened to Larnach in 2022. Was it a hernia? I have heard that whatever it was too a long time to heal up and for him to recover. So I believe it would have to be some sort of hernia or muscle tear. It's already been stated that like many of the 2022 walking wounded, a slow ramp up is expected. Hopefully, this latest report and day off is nothing more than just soreness and nothing to be concerned about. While, again, teams tend to be tight lipped, I've never heard anything all offseason there was concern about his readiness for 2023. And it does seem those kind of things tend to leak out at some point.

Didn't mean to hijack the thread, just wanted to comment/add.

[USAFChief]

14 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

If you are going to have injuries and we are going to have injuries... you need a roster full of players who can play. I've been preaching this for years.

If you have a roster full of players who can play... you should play them. 

Take the 13 pitchers and the two catchers (also catcher position) on the 26 man roster out of the mix. 

You are left with 11 position players and 8 spots (DH,1B,2B,3B,SS,LF,CF,RF) to fill the daily lineup.

Consider those numbers and it should be apparent that you can't back up every position directly.

Position Flexibility is demanded.

Farmer will play. 

 

I concur position flexibility has become something of a necessity in the days of massive pitching staffs.

 

However...I strongly disagree with the part about playing lesser players just to play them.

 

Why play your lesser players when you don't have to? Play them when/if you need to, because the better player is unavailable. If the better player never becomes unavailable, great. No need for the lesser guy. 

[Riverbrian]

10 hours ago, USAFChief said:

I concur position flexibility has become something of a necessity in the days of massive pitching staffs.

 

However...I strongly disagree with the part about playing lesser players just to play them.

 

Why play your lesser players when you don't have to? Play them when/if you need to, because the better player is unavailable. If the better player never becomes unavailable, great. No need for the lesser guy. 

4 reasons, first a clarification. 

To Clarify: Your lesser players need to play less. But, you have to define the lesser. How much less? The proportion of playing time should be close to the proportion of how much less.  

If they are really really lesser... if they are Celestino like struggling. They need to be replaced... off the roster, replaced with someone anyone who isn't really really lesser until you have 13 functioning roster spots. This is the battle of evermore for major league rosters. 

The Bottom Line: If a "bench" (as defined by others not me) player can't be trusted to help us win games. If it hurts the team to play him. He can't be on the roster because the time will come when you need him to help us win games. He's useless gathering dust until you need him to go out there and struggle. 

If a "bench" (as defined by others not me) player CAN be trusted to play. If he can help the team win when given the opportunity. There are no concerns playing him and there is no reason not to so therefore no worries if he is in the lineup. Not playing him when he is capable will only make him not capable when he was capable in the first place. Don't sacrifice depth for a player that maybe an inch better.  

It doesn't take much to keep your 13 players active when they all can get the job done and the difference is only slight degrees. If Polanco plays 6 out of 7 games and Miranda plays 5 out of 7 games so Farmer can get some time... it's OK... it only hurts if any of those three are struggling. 

Many think what I'm saying is an attack on good players. It's the opposite... it's an attack on bad players. If players can't be trusted to play... they need to be gone.   

The 4 reasons

1. Front offices are often wrong. Every front office... every year. That comment isn't aimed at ours specifically. It's aimed at every front office. The Margins are thin, players get better and get worse. Kepler was supposed to be better than Gordon. He wasn't. They will be wrong somewhere this year as well. How do you correct being wrong if Plan B Gordon is on ice waiting for the team to give up on Plan A Kepler?

2. When we talk about Kepler and Gordon... or Miranda and Farmer. We are not talking about the performance difference between Trout and Tyler Wade. There isn't a big enough gap between Kepler and Gordon to just dispose of the other. If we have Mike Trout like production... by all means... play him close to every day. Teams don't have Trout's up and down the roster. They have Brandon Marsh type players. I don't think it's wise to play Marsh like he is Trout or bench a Marsh because Taylor Ward is a little bit better. Who knows... You might be able to trade Marsh to the Phillies.

Develop your talent.  All of it. If you tell yourself they are bench type talent and deploy them as such, just get rid of them. They are useless when you need them and they have no future value because you have decided to not improve future value by benching it.   

3, Each roster spot is a chance to develop talent or increase the value of talent. If an organization purposely chooses to use 9 spots out of the available 13 roster spots on a 26 man roster. They are making perhaps the biggest mistake any organization can make. The increasing of players value is JOB ONE of every front office. Increasing players value increases the odds of winning, it increases what you get back in trades. It increases your chances of being successful not only today and but also tomorrow.

A sitting bench player does not increase in value. A sitting bench player does not help you win. A sitting bench player is a waste of development opportunity that is available to all organizations. A sitting bench player is purposely placing your organization at a competitive disadvantage by not utilizing all the production capability (roster spots) available.  

The infrastructure can produce 13 chairs. Why would you only produce 9? And... Some of those 9 chairs are Max Kepler and nobody is buying Max right now (Point #1), You went for 9 chairs when you could have produced 13 and you ended up with 8 chairs because Max didn't become a chair like you wanted. 

4. You may not need the lesser player this week but you are going to need them next week or the week after... it's inevitable. 

Prepare for the inevitable. It makes no sense to just keep players on ice waiting for the inevitable injury. Why wait for a player to fail or get injured before trying plan B. Why not have a clue what Plan B will do if Plan A fails or gets hurt. All or nothing is unnecessary. No one should trust a front office to be right all the time. Front offices shouldn't trust themselves to be right all the time. 

All or nothing only happens unless you convince yourself that a player being a hair better then the other means it's winner take all while the other dies on the floor. That player dying on the floor will need to be resuscitated at some point so... keep them alive. If they can't do it... get rid of them.