4 big questions the Twins need to answer before March is over
By Josh Hill
Is there room on the Opening Day roster for Austin Martin?
It was looking like Austin Martin might be a shoo-in to make the 26-man roster, but the Twins trading for Manuel Margot changed all of that. Now Martin needs to battle his way back into the conversation and even then he might end up starting the year in St. Paul waiting to get called up.
Things were perfectly aligned for Martin before Margot arrived. He's a right-handed hitting outfielder capable of platooning with Byron Buxton in center while also putting in some innings at second base. Adding depth behind two of the team's best players isn't a bad spot to be in, and it seemed like a natural stepping stone for a prospect we've all been waiting to see get a shot at potentially flourishing.
Unfortunately for Martin, all of those boxes are also checked by Margot. The Twins could have held off on trading for him and putting his salary on the books, and the fact that they didn't might be telling of how Martin is views (not negatively but more of an ancillary piece).
Minnesota's youth movement last season helped power the team to its deepest postseason run since 2002, and there's a chance the movement continues this year. Martin is out in front leading that charge, which is why there was so much excitement about him potentially being in line to make the Opening Day roster.
Instead he'll likely begin the year in the minors and wait to be called up in April. That being said, there's still a chance he makes the roster if he turns things up in March. Willi Castro would then be on the bubble, since they do similar things, but it feels like it'll take quite the effort from Martin to force that conversation to happen.
As it stands now, though, there just doesn't seem to be room for him.