We’re just a few games into the Minnesota Twins season and already the team’s depth is being tested. Injuries have ravaged the roster, something that started even before Opening Day rolled around.
The biggest blow was Royce Lewis getting sidelined with a right quad strain. It’s an injury that is both ‘severe’ and one that will take him out of action for at least a month if not more. Lewis isn’t the only Twins player who has even knocked out of action, as top relievers Jhoan Duran, Caleb Thielbar, and Justin Topa all started the season on the IL, with Anthony DeSclafani’s season already over after needing elbow surgery.
Max Kepler might also soon be headed to the IL, further depleting a Twins roster that has only played three games this season. If Kepler misses time, Brooks Lee and Trevor Larnach aren’t going to be available to get called up and replace him due to injuries of their own.
Depth is something the team prided itself on during the spring but already moves are being made to ensure the Twins have enough of it to tread water the rest of Apri.
Minnesota Twins pull off early season trade with Blue Jays
According to Twins Twitter legend and Locked On Twins host Brandon Warne, Minnesota is acquiring Tanner Morris from the Blue Jays. It’s a low level trade, with just some cash going back to Toronto, but it’s a move that helps add some suddenly much-needed depth.
The Twins have acquired infielder Tanner Morris from the Blue Jays for cash. He’ll report to St Paul.
— Brandon Warne (@Brandon_Warne) April 1, 2024
Morris won’t be in the mix at the MLB level until a little later, and there’s a chance he doesn’t get called up at all. What this tells us is that the Twins might be a little worried about its quickly thinning roster depth in the wake of so many injuries.
Kepler hasn’t yet been added to the IL but it’s worth wondering if he hasn’t because the team is running out of bodies. Trevor Larnach is hurt, otherwise he’d make sense as someone who could get called up and the same goes for Brooks Lee.
Right now Kyle Farmer and Willi Castro are platooning over at third base to make up for the loss of Lewis, with Austin Martin getting called up to add depth behind Eduoard Julien with the Farmer and Castro needed elsewhere.
Trading for Morris might not end up having a huge impact, but it seems to be a sign that the Twins are being extra cautious as the team desperately tries to fend off the injury bug.