The Twins’ season has been a disaster thus far, but they’re on the verge of getting some desperately needed reinforcements. The team announced that Byron Buxton will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul beginning today, and Kenta Maeda will make a rehab start for the Saints tomorrow. The 27-year-old Buxton stormed out of the gates looking like a legitimate MVP candidate, slashing .370/.408/.772 with nine home runs, 10 doubles, five steals and his typical stellar defense through 24 games (98 plate appearances). A Grade 2 hip strain has sidelined him for more than a month, however.
Maeda, meanwhile, was the AL Cy Young runner-up in 2020’s shortened season but has had a rough go of it in 2021. The 33-year-old posted solid numbers in his first three starts but didn’t tally many innings due to high pitch counts. He’s since had a bit of a velocity dip while struggling in the run-up to an IL placement of his own due to a groin strain. The Twins have trotted out a carousel of outfield options with Buxton, Max Kepler and utilityman Luis Arraez all injured, while injuries on the pitching staff have prompted the team to remain committed to veteran Matt Shoemaker in the rotation despite pronounced struggles (as explored here by Dan Hayes of The Athletic).
Some more notes from the division…
- Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said in an appearance on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM this morning that he plans to give catcher Eric Haase “as much playing time as I can” to afford him further opportunity to cement his place on the big league roster (Twitter link, with audio). The 28-year-old Haase, a Detroit native and childhood Tigers fan, has been an out-of-nowhere success story since being summoned to Detroit. The minor league veteran has tallied 74 plate appearances and responded with a .265/.324/.647 slash and a whopping seven home ruins. Hinch called Haase a “pretty good athlete,” which is why he’s seen time in left field, and suggested Haase could also handle first base. There’s a case being made to keep Haase on the roster even when the team’s other catching options come off the injured list.
- Hinch also noted in his appearance (via MLB.com’s Jason Beck, on Twitter) that right-hander Spencer Turnbull will miss “a little bit of time but not nearly as long” as the Tigers originally feared when he first alerted the team to the forearm strain that has landed him on the 10-day IL. That sounds like Turn bull is in for more than a minimal stint, but it’s good that a worst-case scenario has been avoided. The 28-year-old Turnbull drew headlines for this year’s no-hitter, but he’s been a solid starter for Detroit dating back to 2019. During that stretch, he’s logged a combined 4.13 ERA in 255 innings with a 22 percent strikeout rate and a 9.1 percent walk rate. With three years of club control remaining beyond the 2021 season, a healthy Turnbull would figure to command considerable interest on the summer trade market, though that club control also means the Tigers are under no pressure to move him if a compelling offer doesn’t present itself.
- The Royals optioned righty Jakob Junis to Triple-A Omaha this week on the heels of some recent struggles, and skipper Mike Matheny told reporters after the move that 28-year-old will stretch out for longer stints even though his eventual role upon his return to the Majors isn’t yet determined (link via Lynn Worthy of the Kansas City Star). “You can be a starter (in the minors) and that doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t come back as a reliever,” Matheny said of Junis, who made four solid starts earlier this year but has been hit hard out of the bullpen. Matheny noted that Junis “should” be a pitcher who is capable both of working multiple innings as a reliever but also succeeding when plugged into high-leverage spots. The future role for Junis is surely somewhat dependent on how young pitchers and prospects like Brady Singer, Daniel Lynch, Jackson Kowar and Kris Bubic develop. Junis was a solid back-of-the-rotation piece for the Royals from 2017-18 (4.35 ERA, 101 ERA+ in 275 1/3 innings) but has just 19 innings of bullpen experience in the Majors.
7 home ruins huh?
He’s every real estate agents nightmare.
Or every child’s.
As it turns out, the nightmare belongs to the opposing manager! He’s had two games with two “home ruins” each.
I believe he has had 3
i wonder if a team could take a look at Junis in trade. clearly KC doesnt view him as a long term SP, but maybe someone else can get value out of him.
Idk if it’s they don’t value him. I think it’s more the fact that they have some exciting prospects they need to c where they r at with. This could b a Braves situation where one maybe works out or none. But they need to know. And it’s a good time while he’s struggling to get him some innings and maybe even some rest by means of demotion.
If Buxton can stay healthy for the next month the Twins should package him up and move on. He’s always on the DL and he will have a lot of value going into the trade deadline.
Great way for the Twins to restock their farm system.
For all the reason you want to trade him is why his trade value will take a hit. For all the reason you think he is valuable is why you shouldn’t trade him. I’m sure as a lawyer, you already understand this.
If the Twins expect to compete next year, which it seems they do, trading their best player at what most likely will be below value seems like an odd way to do it.
I’d play Haase until he shows he’s overmatched, or until the other catching options show they are better upon their return.
I applaud Mr. Adams for not coming right out and saying “Matheny has turned a decent back-end starter into a crap reliever.” The restraint is admirable.
Buxton just as bad as Judge/Stanton always on the IL.
It’s nice to be getting some production from the catcher’s position. And, I’m thinking Greiner will be the odd man out.
Why can’t any player the Tigers develop be looked upon as a building block? Now Turnbull is being looked at as a trade piece, too? Why can’t Detroit have nice things?!!! They will never come out of a rebuild if they trade every player they developed. Why not look at what it might take to extend him, instead?
Just bad luck the state of the team is so bad, this guy is 29. By the time the tigers are good he will be used up. Trade now her a piece.
Honest to God… how does the rebuild ever end if every year they tear down instead of building up.
Maybe it’s little Mr. I’s wallet and how it can’t be pried open.
Anyone see how that “superior” Cubs organization copied new uniforms like the White Sox? It’s cute because imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Even though like I said that Cubs organization & fan base think they’re better then pretty much everyone else. They’re advertising that their new uniforms are for all 77 neighborhoods of Chicago but they only show/display “WRIGLEYVILLE”. Totally fooled me and that advertising angle along with more fans will totally sell more merch but they still copied the White Sox!
I guess I missed the part of the story that mentioned the Cubs’ and White Sox’ s uniforms.
The Twins went 7-6 in their “easy” 13-game stretch against the Orioles and Royals. Up next is a six-game homestand versus the Yankees and Astros. It’s time to aggressively enter the sellers’ market because the 202`1 Twins just don’t have it.
I’d wait until Buxton, Maeda, Arraez, Kepler play a couple weeks together.
Buxton has played in all of 24 games and is still NINTH in the American League in WAR and fifth in the AL as a position player. A small sample size but beyond impressive.
Posted this the day Detroit acquired Haase:
a761506 1 year ago
The Tigers just got their primary starting catcher, and for nothing… this guy is a totally competent player who has never been given an opportunity. He’s only 27, he has massive power for a catcher, just like most modern power hitters, he strikes out a ton, but he takes enough walks, he looks to have a strong arm based on his minor league caught stealing stats, 34% lifetime mark… his MLB sample size is only 32 AB’s… CLE screwed up.
Haas has certainly hit his fair share of Home Ruins in the minors but that doesn’t always translate. He has a perfect stroke for a small ballpark. However, the COPA is a different story. Zero homers at home. I wish they would resurrect the Tiger Stadium dimensions & have a little more excitement! These long fly outs & bloop singles are boring!!
He just got one on the first pitch he saw.
Avila has had a hard time finding bargains that work out for him. Good for Haase. Good power and certainly seems a better option than Greiner. Should stay when Ramos returns.
As soon as the Tigers picked him up I had been hoping he’d get a chance over at least Grayson Greiner as he has been awful.
Poor timing on the pitcher injuries….just when St Louis realised they are desperate…..
BigAl has all the luck…but that was explained previously……
Remember when all.you Tiger pros slammed me for saying BigAl try to get ALEX REYES, when Alex went in for second tj surgery?
Look who’s the best pitcher in baseball now…..huh? Slam the Superfife? Alex Reyes would be playing for Detroit TODAY had Al only done the right thing and hired the Superfife in the first place…..
If you’d only used me as a reference.