Minnesota Twins: 5 questions that need to be answered before the end of the season

The Minnesota Twins missed the opportunity to compete in 2018. Here are 5 questions the team needs to answer as they look forward to 2019.

The Minnesota Twins came into 2018 with high aspirations. The roster looked poised to capitalize on a surprisingly strong 2017. That provided the front office plenty of reason to go out and bolster the roster through some free agent additions as well as a notable trade.

The Twins added Zach Duke, Lance Lynn, Fernando Rodney, Addison Reed, and Logan Morrison by signing them to free agent deals. They also swung a trade for starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi. Everything looked like it was heading in the right direction as those players were set to join a continually improving Byron Buxton, Miguel Sano, and Jorge Polanco.

That was until Buxton struggled and was hurt, Sano struggled to hit and struggled with his fitness, and then Polanco was suspended for 80 games due to PED use. Instead of riding off into the playoff sunset the Twins sit 10.0 games back of the Cleveland Indians for the division lead and are already looking ahead to next season.

After such a failure of a season, there are plenty of questions that much be answered before the Twins enter the offseason with another opportunity to improve their roster.

Who is the 2019 First Baseman?

Isn’t this the question at the front of most of our minds when it comes to 2019? It really is probably stated more accurately as will Joe Mauer be back in a Twins uniform? Mauer is in the last year of that massive 8-year and $23 million per year contract that he signed. The Twins front office will need to decide if they should continue employing Mauer as the first baseman or move onto the next wave of Twins players.

Mauer has been putting together another pretty strong season that would likely look much better statistically if it wouldn’t have been interrupted by injury. He is slashing .276/.356/.370 and has 17 doubles. In the month of June when Mauer was struggling the most through his injury he slashed .224/.264/.367. After he seemed to be fully healthy again he hit .292/.333/.377 through the month of July.

Based on his 2017 and 2018 performances, Mauer may be deserving of another short-term contract from the Twins. If this does prove to be the last season for Mauer in a Twins uniform the Twins aren’t short of options to fill in at first base. One of the players that needs to get a good look down the stretch is recently acquired Tyler Austin.

Austin represents the potential for a right-handed power bat in the Twins lineup. He hasn’t performed at a level to stick in the majors yet but has also only logged 132 plate appearances and hit .230/.287/.459 and 15 home runs. If he can get closer to his minor league numbers in the majors he could be a valuable bat in the Twins lineup.

Brent Rooker is another right-handed bat that could be ready to take over first base come 2019. Rooker did stumble a bit to begin the season but has been hitting very well lately at Double-A Chattanooga. After hitting .317/.400/.625 and a 1.025 OPS with 13 home runs and 19 doubles since June, Rooker looks ready for a promotion to Triple-A and eventually a September call-up. He may need a little more time at the start of 2019 in the minors, but he doesn’t look far off from being a major league contributor.

What to do with all of these Triple-A relievers?

The Twins have a whole bunch of relievers that have been in Triple-A or back and forth between Rochester and the majors that it would be nice to know if they are major league ready. The Twins will need to fill the roles of Zach Duke, Ryan Pressly, Matt Belisle, and maybe even Fernando Rodney depending on what they do with his option come 2019.

The end of 2018 is the perfect opportunity to get those guys some major league innings to see what they have to offer the Twins. It is still absolutely maddening that the Twins seems unwilling to give Alan Busenitz more of a run in the Twins bullpen. Busenitz has been very efficient at Triple-A tossing 36.0 innings with a 2.00 ERA and 10.3 K/9. He hasn’t done as well in his 13.0 major league innings this season, but that is why this is the perfect moment to see him work on getting major league hitters out. Busenitz’s strong end to 2017 should give at least an audition through the end of this season.

John Curtiss is another pitcher who deserves a longer look with the Twins. In Triple-A this season he has a 3.29 ERA and a 10.5 K/9 over 41.0 innings. He has only seen time in parts of two games in the majors. Like Busenitz, it wasn’t good as he gave up 3 runs in 0.2 innings but there is no better time than now in a lost season to see what Curtiss may be able to provide for 2019.

Thankfully, it seems manager Paul Molitor is finally letting Matt Magill have some time on the mound. He looks like he could help the Twins in 2019 as he currently holds a 3.86 ERA over 39.2 innings and a respectable 8.8 K/9. Tyler Duffey, Luke Bard, Jake Reed, and Nick Anderson should all really get some time if possible as well.

The Twins bullpen could look very different next season. The Twins need to start figuring out if they can fill those rolls from within or need to go seek out what is available on the free agent market this offseason.

Is Nick Gordon the 2019 second baseman?

It is no secret at this point that there is a big hole in the Twins clubhouse after the trade of Brian Dozier to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is a free agent at the end of the season so there was never any guarantee he was going to be with the Twins in 2019. Dozier now in Los Angeles does provide an opportunity for the Twins to see who might be filling his shoes in 2019 since it has never seemed that the front office had any desire of bringing him back on another deal.

The big question now is to find out if former first-round selection Nick Gordon is ready to take on a role with the major league club. Gordon began 2018 by tearing up the Southern League with Double-A Chattanooga. He batted .333/.381/.525 in 42 games before his promotion to Triple-A Rochester. Since in Rochester he has faced one of his first real challenges as a pro ball player.

In 68 games Gordon is only slashing .212/.240/.299. While we never want to see a top prospect scuffle, in all fairness Gordon is only 22-years-old and playing at four and a half years younger than the average player in his league. He has plenty of time to become a major league regular. The Twins will need to make an evaluation on whether he will be ready to help the major league club in 2019.

If Gordon isn’t ready for 2019 to take over a starting role, it seems safe to say the Twins starting second baseman likely isn’t on the roster right now. They could turn back to Dozier or Eduardo Escobar to try and fill out their infield. There will certainly be other infielders available and they will have the payroll to even pay for the top end of available players like Manny Machado.

What is up with Buxton and Sano?

Next to Jorge Polanco’s suspension, Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano’s seasons are likely the biggest contributors to what has made 2018 such a flop for the Twins. Without Buxton and Sano able to contribute not only is 2019’s ability to compete in jeopardy but it puts the franchise in a concerning place potentially for the next several seasons.

As has been well documented, after slashing only .203/.270/.405 to begin the season Sano was sent to Single-A Fort Myers to work on his fitness level and approach at the plate. Now just five games back in the major leagues, Sano looks much leaner and has improved at the plate. He looks to be making better contact and is hitting .250/.333/.375 and has two doubles.

While an injury may have hindered Sano in his offseason preparation for 2018. Injuries have completely made 2018 a lost season for Buxton and things aren’t really looking good for him going forward either as he has been shut down for the near future. Concussion, toe, and a bad wrist have all prevented Buxton from finding a rhythm at the plate. The speedy center fielder will always be able to contribute to a major league team with his defense, but just how good he can be will depend on things clicking at the plate.

For these two former top prospects, it isn’t a matter of figuring out if they can play. Instead the Twins really need to figure out how to make these two players consistent major league level contributors.