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  • Projecting the Twins 2023 Opening Day Roster: Lopez and Taylor Trades Add Depth


    Cody Christie

    Minnesota's 2023 roster has started to come into focus after the front office completed multiple trades in the last week. Here is how the team projects to start Opening Day.

    Image courtesy of Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

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    Last season, the lockout forced MLB to allow teams to begin the year with 28-man rosters. The lockout forced a shortened spring training, and baseball was worried about an increased chance of player injuries. For 2023, teams must narrow their final roster to 26 players. Players listed below with the ** are on the bubble for the final roster spots. 

    Catchers (2): Christian Vazquez, Ryan Jeffers
    Minnesota's catching duo has been set since the club signed Vazquez to a multi-year deal. It was clear from the onset of the off-season that the Twins targeted Vazquez and paid a premium to sign him. The Twins have six catchers among their non-roster invitees to spring training, including veterans Tony Wolters, Grayson Greiner, and Chance Sisco. Teams rarely rely on just two catchers for an entire season, so the Twins will likely need help from these veterans to play at some point during the 2023 campaign. 

    Infielders (5): Carlos Correa, Kyle Farmer, Alex Kirilloff**, Jose Miranda, Jorge Polanco 
    Adding Correa to this group pushed Farmer to a utility role, which might be a better fit for his skill set. Miranda is getting the full-time job at third base after the team traded Gio Urshela earlier this winter. Polanco figures to get most of the playing time at second base, but it will be interesting to see if he feels any pressure from the team's top prospects. Kirilloff will get time at first base, but the team might have another option (see below) if the team wants him to get regular rest at the season's start. Top prospects like Royce Lewis, Brooks Lee, Edouard Julien, and Austin Martin can add depth to this group in the second half. 

    Outfielders (6): Byron Buxton, Gilberto Celestino**, Joey Gallo, Nick Gordon**, Max Kepler, Michael A. Taylor
    By adding Taylor, the Twins have three former Gold Glove winners in the outfield and another Gold Glove finalist. Minnesota's outfield defense has the potential to be one of baseball's best, but all four players can't fit in the outfield at the same time. Gallo has logged over 746 innings at first base, so the team might be comfortable moving him to the infield so Kirilloff can slowly work his way back. Gilberto Celestino can start the year at Triple-A, a level where he has played fewer than 25 games. Nick Gordon is out of minor-league options, so the Twins will keep him based on his breakout performance in 2022. Trevor Larnach and Matt Wallner add depth to the organization's outfield, but they will have to power their way from St. Paul to Minneapolis.  

    Rotation (5): Sonny Gray, Pablo Lopez, Tyler Mahle, Kenta Maeda, Joe Ryan
    Some Twins fans were disappointed the Twins traded Arraez, but Lopez lengthened the Twins' starting rotation. Depth was needed because there are injury concerns surrounding numerous players in the rotation. Since the last projection, Bailey Ober got bumped to Triple-A because of the Lopez addition. Other young pitchers like Louie Varland, Simeon Woods Richardson, and Jordan Balazovic will be waiting for an opportunity. It is one of the deepest rotations the Twins have had in recent memory, and the club will have to rely on that depth if/when the injury bug strikes again. 

    Bullpen (8): Jhoan Duran, Jorge Lopez, Griffin Jax, Caleb Thielbar, Emilio Pagan, Jorge Alcala**, Jovani Moran**, Trevor Megill**
    Minnesota has done little to address the bullpen this winter, but that has been a common theme for a front office that relies on veterans and internal options. Since Twins Daily's initial roster projection, all of the above names have stayed the same. Duran and Lopez should get the bulk of the high-leverage opportunities. Jax and Thielbar will combine to be a bridge to the late-inning arms. Pagan is a wild card, but the Twins are hoping for a better performance from a player with good stuff. ZiPS projects feel like the Twins' bullpen is top-heavy, which makes sense considering the recent track record of players expected to be on the roster. Minnesota will have some decisions at the bullpen's backend with other 40-man roster options like Ronny Henriquez, Cole Sands, and Josh Winder.   

    How do you feel about the team's depth at multiple positions? What changes will happen to the team's roster before Opening Day? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

     

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      On 1/24/2023 at 7:14 PM, Mike Sixel said:

    Gallo is a gold glove defender in the OF.

    Who is your DH if Larnach and Kiriloff aren't on the roster? 

    I really don't get this at all.

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    We have plenty of LH bats……Larnach & Kirilof will be in the roster if they are healthy - no worries.

    Kepler - Gordon - Gallo are the other Lefty bats we have to play with as well.

    Walner is our LH last resort!!

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      On 1/24/2023 at 8:13 PM, Mike Sixel said:

    I could not disagree with this post more if I tried. so much is factually wrong, let alone the opinions I disagree with.

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    Pretty negative & not much of a realistic view of the Roster in that previous comment. I’m with you on the facts & opinions!

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      On 1/24/2023 at 8:59 PM, Fatbat said:

    Both Celestino and TL will start in AAA. Ober will be on the 26 roster as a 6th starter for april and either he or maeda will throw some BP innnings. Probably just have buck, gordon, gallo, kep and taylor in the outfield most of the season. AK, Polanco, C4, Miranda and Farmer as IF, 2 catchers. Thats only 12 position players and 14 pitchers. Something will change when Lewis makes the roster. 

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    13 & 13:

    Larnach will DH & play LF

    Gordon - Buxton - Gallo is base OF

    Larnach - Gordon - Gallo is OF v. Righties

    Gordon - Buxton - Taylor is OF ……OR ………Gordon - Taylor - Kepler is OF v. Lefties

    Buxton - Larnach - Gallo will DH

    Taylor in CF as pinch hitter late in games - late inning D - plays against all LH pitching

    Kepler is traded or plays RF when Gallo is at 1B or DH or resting. Can’t start him and sit Gordon……..,Not often at least!

    Kirilof - Miranda - Gallo at 1B

    Hopefully, CC will play 140 at SS with Farmer spelling him.

    Same with Polanco at 2B with Farmer spelling him for 25 games.

    Farmer at 3B when Lefties start & Miranda at 1B……….Farmer also spells Miranda for rest - maybe 55 starts at 3B.

    Lewis up at end of July & either Kepler or Gallo goes at that point.

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      On 1/25/2023 at 8:32 PM, vulturepaj said:

    What does a 6 man rotation actually accomplish, though?  Off day on day 2 of season. 

    Now you're one man shorter in the bullpen and we all know how Rocco likes to go to the pen early and often.

    5 Man rotation with Ober to AAA in waiting or Maeda to the pen (for good).  Actually, Maeda in the pen is kind of tantalizing.

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    I really like 5 guys in rotation with Maeda in Pen. He’s the bridge from middle of 6th through the 8th. Does that twice a week & rest of Pen is well rested.

    Other option is to piggyback Ober/Maeda as one guy (one starter) & get them to throw 7-8 innings, combined, every 5th start. This helps Pen a bunch!

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      On 1/25/2023 at 5:18 PM, ashbury said:

    His pattern just looks more extreme than most.  It stood out to me.  And again (again, again), it's small sample size when sliced 9 ways, so I'm not taking it more seriously than, "hm". 

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    “Stabilization” point for OBP against is 540 PA and SLG against is 550 AB. OPS wouldn’t be less than that. For his career Jax has faced 76 number 3 hitters (67 abs).   I think at this point the sample is one to be ignored.

    Your eye test doesn’t need to be ignored. Data can never replace a skilled eye. So much more can be seen by the eye in a short time span than can be seen by the data.

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