Minnesota Twins Trying to Get Reinforcements Back on the Field

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Chris Paddack
Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Twins have absolutely fallen apart. They are no longer a playoff team, and every aspect of the roster is struggling. Rocco Baldelli has tried everything as the manager looks for answers, but the reality is that the bodies are no longer there. A couple of fresh faces may surface at Target Field in the final week though.

Pitching help incoming for the Minnesota Twins

Recently the Minnesota Twins claimed Cole Irvin and optioned Jorge Alcala. The move was a curious one, but the bullpen needs a breathing human being to step up and get the job done. There aren’t many out there capable right now, Irvin included. The Star Tribune’s Phil Miller says both Justin Topa and Chris Paddack could be options this week.

“Topa will be examined by Twins doctors when the team returns home on Tuesday, though since the Saints’ season ended Sunday, it remains unlikely that he will be activated to pitch in the majors this season.“

Miller on the possibility Justin Topa joins Minnesota (Star Tribune)

Topa was the major league centerpiece of the Jorge Polanco trade. He never got healthy out of spring training, and it appears he won’t make a single pitch for Minnesota this season. His presence was supposed to create a sizable impact in Baldelli’s bullpen. That reality is part of the problem the Twins find themselves in now.

“Far more plausible, according to Twins sources, is that Chris Paddack shows that he is healthy again now that the forearm strain he felt just before the All-Star break has gone. Paddack will throw a session of live batting practice to injured right fielder Max Kepler on Monday afternoon at Target Field, and both will also be examined afterward to determine what the next step is.”

Miller on the possibility Chris Paddack joins Minnesota (Star Tribune)

Paddack’s return would come in the form of a bullpen appearance. He could eat some innings behind the rookie starters, but he hasn’t been built up enough given the time he has missed. Last season Minnesota had the former Padres starter in the bullpen. He put up 3 2/3 scoreless innings during the American League Division Series against Houston.

Related: Minnesota Twins Swap Out Bullpen Pitchers

With just six games left, three against Miami and Baltimore, the Twins are really up against a tough timeline. The ability to get players back from injury has been a hurdle all season.

Should Minnesota want any of the help?

It’s weird to think that a team struggling to stay afloat would be against additional options. Of course they would welcome both pitchers and Max Kepler back into the clubhouse. From a production standpoint though, it’s a legitimate question as to whether any of the trio actually do help.

A healthy Topa is the best of the bunch. Since returning to St. Paul he has allowed runs in just one of seven appearances. His 10/3 K/BB is solid, and he showed that he can be a high-leverage reliever at the big league level last season. The runway not being long enough for him to return would be disappointing.

Chris Paddack worked out of the bullpen last postseason, but he gave up three runs in two appearances to end the year before that. In 17 starts this year, he owns a 4.99 ERA and has never looked sharp for any consistent period of time. Yes, he is better than the bottom of the Twins current bullpen, but the bar is not high to clear

As for Kepler, the Twins should want him nowhere near the lineup. He has made a habit of playing poorly through injury, and short of a hot start out of the gate, he has been abysmal. The defensive help makes sense as a replacement for Matt Wallner or Trevor Larnach, but if the knee issues linger, then the upgrade may not be worthwhile.

Related: Pitching is Obvious Problem… but Minnesota Twins Bats Might be Worse

All of it boils down to grasping at straws, and being too little, too late. The Twins didn’t need to be in this position. Injuries sunk them, and the performance of those on the roster did them no favors either.

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