The Twins are in the thick of a playoff chase, sitting one game behind the third American League Wild Card spot and three games back of the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central. That kind of race tends to sharpen every decision, and for Minnesota, two roster spots suddenly look a lot less secure.
INF Tristan Gray and OF Austin Martin are the names to watch. Both need a stronger second half if they want to stay in the mix as the Twins push forward.
Gray’s value starts with versatility. He can handle all four infield spots, which is no small thing for a club trying to stay flexible.
But the production hasn’t matched the utility. He’s hitting .232/.271/.333 in 182 plate appearances, and the defensive numbers at shortstop have been rough: -6 Defensive Runs Saved and -7 Outs Above Average in 263 innings.
Minnesota has better answers at some of the other infield spots, too. Brooks Lee and Kody Clemens have those jobs covered, which narrows Gray’s path even further. Ryan Kreidler has also taken over as the starting shortstop and has been the stronger option on both sides of the ball.
That said, Kreidler’s recent slide has changed the picture a bit. He’s batting just .152/.200/.182 over 33 at-bats this month, a sharp drop from the .287/.357/.505 line he carried into July. His overall line now sits at .254/.320/.425.
That downturn may actually put Gray in a tougher spot, not a safer one. With Kreidler cooling off, the Twins are more likely to look toward Kaelen Culpepper, who could be back in the conversation once he returns from the IL.
Culpepper went on the IL on July 6 with a glute injury for the second time this season, but his Triple-A numbers have been loud enough to keep him on the radar: .272/.376/.492 with 14 home runs, 43 RBI and 15 stolen bases in 63 games for St. Paul.
If Minnesota brings Culpepper up, it won’t be for a cameo. The expectation would be regular playing time, which points to shortstop as his landing spot.
That would leave Kreidler or Gray vulnerable, and because Kreidler has been better than Gray overall this season and can also play the outfield, Gray looks like the likeliest odd man out. He does have options, so the Twins could send him to Triple-A St.
Paul and keep him in the organization.
Martin’s situation is different, but the pressure is real all the same. When the Twins optioned Matt Wallner on May 14, Martin was rolling with a .333/.454/.429 line and a 154 wRC+. He had effectively taken over right field duties while Wallner was out.
Since then, the bat has gone quiet. Martin is hitting .171 with one home run and 32 strikeouts in 128 at-bats since Wallner was sent down. Even with Buxton on the IL, his role has shrunk to mostly facing left-handers.
There is one thing still working in his favor: Martin has a .417 on-base percentage against southpaws this season. That could be enough to keep him on the roster for now. But if he keeps struggling against right-handers, the Twins may start thinking about a different direction with the former Blue Jays prospect, whether that comes sooner or in the offseason.
In Other News...
Byron Buxton's Return Forces Twins Into A Telling Roster Decision
Byron Buxton is back on the Twins active roster after being reinstated from the 10-day injured list, a timely boost for a club trying to stay in the playoff mix. Minnesota cleared room by sending infielder Tristan Gray to Triple-A St. Paul, a straightforward roster shuffle on paper but one that reflects how much value the Twins still place on Buxtons presence in center field.
Buxton had been sidelined since July 5 with a right hip strain, and his return comes at a moment when every healthy regular matters. The Twins are still in contention and trying to navigate a crucial stretch before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, so getting Buxton back now gives them a needed spark while also forcing a few more roster questions into the background. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Trade Deadline Pressure Is Starting To Feel Very Real
With the August 3 trade deadline drawing closer, the Twins are trying to push forward as buyers even while the standings keep the pressure on. General manager Jeremy Zoll said trade talks are picking up around the league, and Minnesotas priorities are clear enough: the club wants help on the mound, with injuries having thinned out the pitching staff and left the front office looking for ways to steady the roster for the stretch run.
Byron Buxtons expected return would give the lineup a needed lift, but the bigger question is whether the Twins can do enough before the deadline to make the rest of the season matter. Sitting at 49-51, they are close enough to the race to justify adding, but not so secure that every loss does not sharpen the urgency, especially if the search for rotation help has to happen against a crowded market. [Read more 🡒]
Joe Ryan Made The Nelson Cruz Trade Look Even Better For Twins
Five years after the Twins sent Nelson Cruz and Calvin Faucher to Tampa Bay, the deal has aged into one of those trades that looks better with every passing season in Minnesota. The return brought back Joe Ryan and Drew Strotman, and while Cruz helped the Rays in their 2021 run, Ryan has become the far more important piece for the Twins, developing into a pitcher the organization can build around.
Ryans rise has been about more than just results. From the start of his big league career, he flashed the kind of upside that made the trade feel worthwhile, and since then he has kept adding layers to his game. He has worked his way from a fastball-heavy approach into a more complete mix, with his development at Driveline Baseball helping shape the version of him the Twins now rely on, which only makes the original swap look even more lopsided in their favor. [Read more 🡒]