After a realtively decent spring, things took a sharp turn for the Minnesota Twins last week. From an injury scares involving Byron Buxton, Max Kepler, and Brooks Lee, to actual injuries to four pitchers, the Twins are limping toward Opening Day.
Last Monday the Twins placed Jhoan Duran and Caleb Thielbar on the IL, as well as starter Anthony DeSclafani. While Duran and Thielbar are expected back within the next few weeks, DeSclafani might need season-ending surgery, all of which creates a need at two different levels of the pitching staff.
The week closed out with Justin Topa being placed on the 15-day IL after hurting his knee, something that takes out another key reliever and puts Minnesota's bullpen depth to the test right away.
It was a less than ideal way to end Spring Training, but the man in charge of the operation doesn't seem that concerned about how the injuries will impact the team moving forward.
Derek Falvey doesn't sound worried about recent Twins injuries
To be clear, there's obvious cause for concern. Minnesota is missing three key pieces of its bullpen which will put pressure on guys like Kody Funderburk and Cole Sands to step up in ways we weren't expecting them to this early in the season.
In speaking with the media, though, it doesn't sound like Derek Falvey is too concerned about the recent rash of injuries that have taken a bite out of Minnesota's bullpen depth.
“We are monitoring the opt-outs and guys who are around and available and having conversations with different people,” Falvey said, via the Pioneer Press. “More just as we continue to build up depth, we have guys in camp who we think can do some of this, certainly fill some of these roles. It never hurts when you’re down a few to keep an eye on how to add to that depth. We’d be doing that even if we weren’t dealing with some injuries.”
His confidence is greaty appreciated, but this is a situation that will need to play out on the mound and not between quote marks. Falvey is right in that the Twins have internal options that could prove valuable in this situation. Jorge Alcalá was already a fringe candidate to make the 26-man roster and it now seems like he's a lock. Funderburk and Sands are depth pieces at Triple-A who seem like they'll now begin the season at the MLB level, and there are other options like Matt Bowman, Daniel Duarte, and Ryan Jensen as well.
The main takeaway from what Falvey said is his general lack of urgency in trying to correct the situation. It doesn't sound like this is going to change his mind about spending money in free agency or making a trade, nor does it sound like the team is going to do anything outside of the ordinary.
Staying the course has been the team's mantra all winter, and it doesn't appear the be changing even after all that has happened.