There’s no denying that the Minnesota Twins are one of
baseball’s most exciting teams. Their bullpen should rank among the league’s
best, and the lineup is one that provides envy to virtually every other group
out there. Kicking off a weird 2020 season though, they may need to make some
changes.
When Byron Buxton went down in a heap after tracking a fly
ball on Monday night the worst was feared. Fortunately, it’s just a mid-foot
sprain, and while that may have some lingering effects, there’s still reason to
believe the recovery could be sooner rather than later. Unfortunately for the
Twins, their starting first basemen is uninjured but has yet to show up to
Summer Camp.
Miguel Sano received a positive test diagnosis upon
returning to Target Field. Quarantined and awaiting two negative COVID-19 tests
before his return, the runway to ramp up for the season is running out. The
Twins travel to Chicago in five days, play an exhibition against the Cubs in
six, and open their 2020 campaign against the White Sox in eight. Calling a
return that quickly rushed would be putting it lightly.
So, where does that leave us?
Let’s tackle the more probable scenario, who plays first
base? That answer should be relatively straightforward with utility man Marwin
Gonzalez sliding in. MarGo has started 154 games at first base in his career
and has logged over 1,400 innings there. He’s still best suited in left field,
but there really isn’t a position besides shortstop that he’s overly stretched
in. Certainly, Sano’s bat would be preferred, but having Marwin trend back
towards the .900 OPS he compiled while listening to the trash can would be a
nice resurgence.
Assuming Buxton isn’t back for Opening Day, or even a few
games thereafter, Gonzalez is actually piece of that puzzle as well. Sliding Max
Kepler to center and filling a corner spot with the utility man makes a ton of
sense. With him already in the lineup, the next turn would logically be Jake
Cave. While LaMonte Wade Jr. has a strong on-base presence, Cave is the more
complete player. He should be avoided in center but has a good enough bat to
play on the corners.
Last season Cave finished with an .805 OPS, but what’s even
more impressive is having done that after bottoming out at a .615 OPS prior to
a May demotion. From his mid-June return through the end of the year he posted
an .855 OPS. In 141 plate appearances from July 7 onward he generated a very
nice .964 mark. The bat may be inconsistent, but it’s plenty capable.
Both of these should be relatively short-term scenarios. For
Sano, we see the effects of COVID-19 and what the virus is going to do to this
season. A player with no symptoms tests positive and costs the team their
services over a specific stretch of games. In a 60-game season, that missed
time could be catastrophic, especially if said player is Josh Donaldson or Jose
Berrios.
On the Buxton side, contingency plans in the outfield remain
a must for Minnesota. Unfortunate and unlucky as he is health wise, any absence
by Byron will need to be evaluated in the short and long term. Immediately a
Cave or Wade replacement makes sense. Knowing that him being out of the lineup
opens a corner spot, both Brent Rooker and Trevor Larnach could then find
themselves in the mix for a more prolonged absence.
Let’s hope we aren’t discussing these scenarios too long
into 2020, and their realities are few and far between. Minnesota has a shot at
the World Series this year, but they’ll need all contributors for as much time
as necessary.
