Twins manager Rocco Baldelli talked about making adjustments to his roster after another poor performance from the slumping offense on Tuesday night. On Wednesday morning, the Twins made a major trade, optioning first baseman Jose Miranda to Triple-A St. Paul, where he hopes the 24-year-old will get a chance to reset.
After a solid rookie season, Miranda hit just .220 with a .275 on-base percentage, a .318 slugging percentage and three home runs in 35 games. The 66 OPS+ mark is 34% below the league average for the hitter. In May he is 3 for 25 (.120). This was coupled with poor defense at third base.
Miranda got off to a slow start in the majors last season as well, hitting .164 through the first 19 games. This led the Twins to option him to St. Paul, though his stay was brief – the very same day Royce Lewis was called up, crashed into a wall and tore his ACL, prompting the Twins to bring Miranda back.
Upon his return, he hit .287 with a .797 OPS and 14 home runs in 99 games, finishing the season with a 114 OPS+ and 119 hits in 125 games.
Miranda was the corresponding move from the roster for outfielder Kyle Farmer, who was returned from his rehab assignment and placed on the disabled list. Farmer was hit in the mouth with a pitch on April 12, requiring 35 stitches to repair a facial laceration and several rounds of oral surgery. He played in four games while on a rehab assignment with the Saints.
