stringer bell

Sandy León placed on the IL, with Ryan Jeffers activated from the 60-day IL. Caleb Hamilton continues to add service time.

I think Martin’s skill set gives him a path to the major leagues. He has good speed, positional flexibility and on-base skills. With all the left handed outfielders the Twins have, there’s a pretty big void in right handed corners who could fill center field. I don’t know if he’ll be considered as a shortstop, but that he can help in the infield is a bonus. He’ll play next season at 24 years old and the Twins can hope for huge steps forward starting with his time in the AFL.

I think there’s a real possibility that Smeltzer will be looking for work this offseason. Unless there is a medical explanation, he has fallen off dramatically and doesn’t look like he will get another chance with the Twins. If hard feelings exist, it is likely Smeltzer will elect to be a free agent if he is designated for assignment.

Does Woods-Richardson have to be added to the 40-man roster this winter? If so, sure, bring him up for a start against Chicago. If not, I guess his debut will have to wait until 2023. He is finishing the season strong and healthy with the Saints. A reason for optimism in 2023 and beyond.

Noting the rehabbing major league players—Larnach is done for the year with a wrist injury and Polanco most likely also done due to his lingering knee injury. Along with the continuing hamstring issues for Arraez, it appears second base will continue to be manned by Gordon and Palacios for the remainder of the Twins season.

And BBRef reports Larnach is now officially out for the season with a wrist injury.

I have a lot of thoughts about Buxton. I don't think they fit in categories very well. First, what I want to see (and hope is possible) is 120+ games of 2021 Byron Buxton. He won games with his glove, arm, legs and bat. He was a force on the base paths, even though he wasn't among the league SB leaders, he was elite in center field and he had an OPS over 1.000 with a batting average above .300. Buxton put up a higher WAR than this year in about 40 fewer games. Secondly, my observation beginning in April of 2022 was that Buxton wasn't fully healthy beginning with the ill-fated slide in Boston on the first road trip. I am not sure that the proper path was to try to manage the injury from that point, but it was the course chosen by the Twins. In the end, it didn't work. In the end, using Buxton with frequent days off got him into more games, but made him less valuable. Thirdly, my hope for Buxton's future is that none of the injuries he has suffered will limit him going forward. The knee will be scoped and I would expect that he can get back close to 100% from that. I am not as sure about the hip injury. If he can rehab from that to some semblance of what he has been, he should be good to go in 2023 and his contract may yet be a bargain. Every season that Buxton is dogged by injury is another piece of reality that he will never be the superstar that he might have been. By all appearances, he works hard and does all that he can to get and stay on the field. He just hasn't been able to hold it together and sadly, may never get to play a full season with good health.

Not a roster move, but Buxton will undergo season-ending knee surgery.

The MRIs done on Mahle's shoulder have revealed no significant issues. I don't know if that is "bordering on toast". I also don't think Gray will be traded nor will he request a trade. Taking a quote or two from him at his worst moment doesn't mean that there are irreconcilable differences. Look, there have been multiple injuries seemingly leaving a shell of the team by September the last four years. I think Rocco and the front office have to look at this and at least make revisions in how they are using their pitchers, if not change their plan. I do think there is enough major league talent to contend and I don't want every over-30 player traded or released. They need to figure out a way to have pitchers and position players more healthy in the stretch run. It may be that a team with a centerpiece of Byron Buxton will always be too fragile to compete.

No. Can't agree with that. All three are currently on the Injured List and their trade value is at a low point, with the possible exception of Gray. I would say the value of Berrios and Rogers was pretty high when they were dealt.

Sonny Gray to the 15-day IL. Megill comes off the COVID IL To replace him.

I certainly think the Twins will be only the third pick for 2023, but with much better health and some good acquisitions, they can compete.

Urshela is a quandary. He is a decent player, over 30, who has stayed on the field all year. Will he sustain that next year? For an elite team, he wouldn't be a regular and since he has limited upside, a non-contender wouldn't take him on. The Twins have a bunch of players that might end up at third base--Lee, Lewis, Miranda, perhaps even Arraez--but given the number of injuries that have occurred, Gio might get regular at-bats throughout 2023. The Twins will probably keep him and they probably should. Pagan's time with the Twins absolutely needs to end.

I thought at the beginning of the season there was a legitimate chance that all three would be helping the major league club. Martin's OBP skills and stolen base ability could be very helpful to the Twins as soon as next year despite his struggles this year. With Buxton's injury issues, and so many left handed corner OFs, it would figure that Martin could get lots of playing time in the outfield. Balazovic has pitched much better his last couple of starts and the ability is there. I would hope that next April he will be going 6-7 innings regularly for the Saints and be in a Twins uniform prior to the All-Star break. I guess we'll have to wait and see on Canterino. While I won't criticize anyone for trying to avoid surgery, it seems the Twins have gambled and lost too often in the last couple years.

The peripherals weren't good for Cotton. He's carried an unsustainable BABIP of .182 and below average walk and strikeout numbers. The chances of Cotton keeping a low ERA are pretty remote over time.

Lots of questions, very few certainties. As by noted above, the Twins will have money to spend. Gary Sánchez is a free agent and Correa can opt out , which would create two holes. The return of injured players would give the Twins needed depth and the chance for one or more of them to become fixtures in their lineup. I would advocate picking up a good starter plus a reliever and they seem to be lacking left handers.

Miranda’s been good but Witt and Kwan have played full seasons. Kwan has a higher WAR and Witt has better counting numbers.

Kepler (finally) to the IL (wrist). Wallner (finally) to the active roster. Strotman (finally) DFAed.

Snap!

Tough to turn two with Straw at the plate.

Ugh. E-4.

Ober hasn’t thrown over 70 pitches in an outing since June. He did a great job and maybe he can go 85-90 pitches in an important outing next week.

Ramirez was hit by a back-foot slider, Maile by a tailing fastball. Both guys started swinging at the pitches on which they were hit.

Why send Ober down? If he can give 5-6 good innings, he should stay in the rotation.

Offense, not so much.