2:56pm: In addition to the previously reported moves, the Twins announced that they’ve optioned lefty Adalberto Mejia to Triple-A. More interesting, though, is the fact that they’ve reinstated Byron Buxton from his rehab assignment and also optioned him to Rochester. That means that two of the centerpieces of the Twins’ young core — Sano and Buxton — have both been optioned to the minors just one season after seemingly establishing themselves at the big league level.
It’s been a tough season for Buxton, admittedly. The 24-year-old went on the disabled list early in the season due to a severe bout of migraines — similar to the issue that sent New York’s Brandon Drury to the DL. While playing on a minor league rehab assignment from that issue, Buxton fouled a ball into his foot and sustained a broken big toe. The Twins made the curious decision to bring him back a couple of weeks later despite the fact that the toe was still healing and without sending him back out on a rehab assignment.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Buxton was dreadful at the plate under those circumstances; in 51 plate appearances between DL stints, he hit just .122/.140/.163. Buxton has yet to find his swing in Rochester, albeit through just 11 games on a new rehab assignment. But the extent of his struggles, after a prolonged development period in which there were doubts he’d ever realize the potential he showed last season, have to be of fairly significant concern — especially when juxtaposed with the struggles of Sano to this point in the season as well.
Given the fact that Minnesota has received no on-field value from the combination of Sano, Buxton and still-rehabbing righty Ervin Santana, it’s not exactly surprising that the Twins are nine games back from the Indians in the AL Central division.
2:32pm: The Twins are set to reinstate Jorge Polanco from his 80-game suspension following a failed PED test, as La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune writes. Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported earlier today that righty Zack Littell would also be returning to the Majors and will work in a relief role for the time being (Twitter link).
In order to clear a spot on what is currently a full 40-man roster to accommodate Polanco’s activation, the Twins are set to designate outfielder Ryan LaMarre for assignment, Neal further reports (via Twitter). They’ll need to make a second move to recall Littell.
Polanco, 25 on Thursday, was expected to serve as the Twins’ everyday shortstop after a strong second-half showing in 2017. The former top 100 prospect got off to a poor start to the season last year but slashed .316/.377/.553 with 10 homers, 15 doubles and a pair of triples in his final 234 plate appearances in August and September.
Polanco was plagued by a dismal .239 BABIP through the first four months of the 2017 season, and his improvement in the final two months correlates nicely with a fairly significant drop in his chase rate on pitches out of the strike zone. However, an 80-game suspension fresh off a breakout finish to the season will undoubtedly lead to plenty of skeptics about his ability to maintain that output. He’ll hope to retake an everyday role in the Twins’ infield and prove that he’s able to repeat that output moving forward.
With Miguel Sano still in the minors following a terrible run to open the season, there should be ample opportunity for Polanco to earn his way back into the lineup. Minnesota has been relying on Eduardo Escobar at third base with Sano in Fort Myers, and while Ehire Adrianza has been a surprisingly productive hitter of late, he’s a soon-to-be 29-year-old defensive specialist without much of a track record of offense. Polanco should figure into the mix prominently in the early going from his return. And, depending on whether the Twins are able to right the ship over the next four weeks, further at-bats could become all the easier to come by; both Escobar and Brian Dozier are free agents at season’s end.
As for LaMarre, the 30-year-old has batted .263/.321/.313 through 109 plate appearances with Minnesota, logging plenty of time in center field with Byron Buxton on the shelf. LaMarre has fanned at a 30.3 percent clip in the Majors, however, and he’s currently in Triple-A Rochester despite the fact that Buxton is not yet back from his rehab assignment.
LaMarre joined the Twins on a minor league pact this winter and served as a useful depth piece given the minor league options he had remaining, so the Twins likely would prefer to see him clear waivers and remain in the organization. Having previously been outrighted, though, LaMarre will have the option of electing free agency even if he does clear waivers.
As a Twins fan, this just makes sense. LaMarre is a hard working guy, but is replaceable. Best of luck to him in the future. Maybe with Minnesota, maybe with another team
Yeah, Nice guy, LaMarre, but had no real future with the Twins.
Still, this shows us how Polanco gets back on the 40-Man, but doesn’t say who goes down to make room on the 25-man. Astudillo, sadly, is my guess. But possibly Ehire goes on the 10-Day DL?
Aha! They did put Ehire on the 10-Day DL, and they optioned Buxton to AAA, so Astudillo still has life on the Big-League Team. Good for him.
Yeah, makes sense get rid of LaMarre, who can play defense. Versus Grossman who can’t play defense. Total Twins move.
Agreed I would rather let Grossman go
I also agree.
So, at what point is Buxton a bust or has that ship sailed?
He was an all star last year…by your logic Cody Bellinger, Gary Sanchez, Jon Gray all busts. I do agree however that Buxton was extremely overhyped, but he’s produced at the big league level before and can certainly do so again with adjustments and mentoring.
I wsan’t saying he was. I was asking if he was.
he wasnt an all star. youre thinking of sano. however i do agree, Buxton had a great year especially defensively
Buxton was injured and rushed too quickly back. Now that they has optioned him to the AAA club, the Twins’ Minor League coaches will work with him and get him back up to speed. He’ll be back soon enough.
LaMarre never had a future with the Twins beyond possible 4th/5th outfielder, but it looks like Cave will be given that opportunity instead.
No he wasn’t
The ship is on the water and they’re just about to pull up anchor?
It is puzzling to see the dramatic regression of both Sano and Buxton literally overnight. I hope for the organization’s sake that both get themselves turned around and back up to the majors before the end of the year, but (as I’ve stated here before) the silver lining is that the FO did not offer either one an extension in the offseason.
Sano’s conditioning is questionable at best and Buxton was clearly rushed back. Not a good look for the Twins.
Like the Braves offering an extension to Chris Johnson after one good year. Uhhhg
I’m not sure you know what the word “literally” means.
I literally vomit when the grammar police arrive.
Buxton is 24.5 years old. He has had just over 1000 plate appearances. I think it is too early to say the ship has sailed. It may have, but it’s just too hard to say.
He’s combination of Peter Bourjos and Billy Hamilton……when healthy.
I loved this team 3 years ago. Their farm system was ranked in the top 3 for years. I remember Dick Bremer and Bert Blyleven being all excited on air as a group of prospects was called up.
Today it is questionable that the Twins have more then 3-4 quality players on their major league roster. That reality goes a lot deeper then one guy fouled a ball off his toe, and another got fat and lost focus after a questionable sexual harassment accusation. There is something terribly wrong with the current front office (as there was with the previous front office), the manager and his last 2 coaching staffs. As for the Twins having a new group of top prospects – not buying it. Their vaulted SS’s look ML ordinary / below average, and it appears the league got a book on Romero’s stuff, and he’s been beat up recently.
Eddie Rosario is suffering from Mike Trout disease. The two of them need to be traded to a competitive team(s), where fans around the country can enjoy watching them in a a stretch run, and the playoff’s. Their talent is being wasted playing for 2nd rate organizations.
Talk about your typical Twins fan overreaction. They certainly have more than 3-4 quality players on their roster at the moment. Romero has made 10 starts and you’re already saying that he’s done? This happens with 80-90% of players (especially pitchers) when they first come up, teams adjust to them and they learn and adjust themselves. Very few players ever end up like Mike Trout where they just come up and are good right away. Also if you’re putting Lewis in that list of SS’s then please for your own sake just stop commenting on here because Lewis has been nothing short of spectacular this season. I would also suggest not trying to become a GM if you want to trade Rosario considering they have team control of him for another four years. Obviously things have no gone as well as the Twins would have liked but they went to the playoffs last year and they’ve had only half their players to work with this year so that kind of changes things.
Agree with kleppy12. An overreaction!
The FO has only been around a season and a half. Remember, they sre stuck with a lot of what the last FO did.
As for coaching, Molly isn’t my favorite manager by any measure. I much preferred Gardy. But I just like firey guys who will kick dirt on home plate and also play cards with fans outside the stadium. They’re just different personalities.
Migraines are no joke. Impossible to play through. My wife is a chronic sufferer and is down 2-3 days with each one, completely out of commission, twice a month or more.
Sadly I don’t think buxton will ever be the Star he was predicted to be…at times he looks like mookie betts but than for stretches looks like he belongs in single a at the plate. Mentally he just cant make the adjustments sometimes I watch his at bats and it’s just puzzling how easy Mlb pitchers get him out. He swings and misses at balls 5 feet off the plate at times. His pitch recognition is severely lacking. I hope he figures it out because he has the tools to be a superstar
Buxton is at least good enough to be the Twins 4th outfielder/pinch runner/late-inning defensive replacement. I suspect he’s better than that, but he will be at least that.
I’d have him work in the minor leagues on bunting for base hits and learning Rod Carew-style slap hits + speed. He doesn’t need launch angles and exit velocity. He needs to get on first as often as possible and then steal second. He should be batting lead-off and learning how to take pitches and how to mess with the pitcher’s head once he’s on first.
Buxton was never very good to begin with. Last season he was an ok hitter, and he’s never reached that level any other year.
He needs to figure it out at the majors, I’d trade him if a team is willing to offer value.
His best case scenario is becoming BJ Upton, talented but incredibly frustrating.
He won a gold glove and a platinum glove last year. Buxton needs to work on his hitting, but he’s FAR from a fourth outfield/bench guy.
They should make Buxton a designated base runner like Herb Washington back in the day. I believe he’s 29 for his last 30. 🙂