Thread: Jeff Gray

Service time is service time, it doesn't matter where you come from. He won't have the necessary service time at the end of the year to choose free agency on his own.

Originally Posted by thrylos98

I am confused here: if a free agent signs an one year contract, he is not a free agent after the next season? I understand how arbitration works after trades and waiver picks but didn't Burton just sign an one year contract?

You can only gain "true" free agent rights after you acquire enough service time in the major leagues, if you are cut in the meantime you can sign with any team of your choosing, but if you happen to have a monster year you can't just go back onto the market and demand a multi year deal (imagine if this was the case for Josh Hamilton who was cut by numerous teams)

The fact we have Burton for another year makes it more foolish to even consider cutting him, I'm not against trading him by any means, but you have to make sure you get some decent talent back as he isn't a guy you should just trade for anything (unlike Pavano, Doumit and possibly Jamey Carroll at this point)

Originally Posted by snepp

Service time is service time, it doesn't matter when you come from. He won't have the necessary service time at the end of the year to choose free agency on his own.

Whoa, your alive?

Can we all just admit that Gray will be the casualty when we need the 5th starter next SAT.
Last 7gms 6.1IP 9h 10er 3bb 4k
5.16 ERA when 2nd worse pen ERA is Perkins 3.65
We have 7 competant bullpen guys w/o him & several deserving relievers in AAA.

Originally Posted by greengoblinrulz

Can we all just admit that Gray will be the casualty when we need the 5th starter next SAT.
Last 7gms 6.1IP 9h 10er 3bb 4k
5.16 ERA when 2nd worse pen ERA is Perkins 3.65
We have 7 competant bullpen guys w/o him & several deserving relievers in AAA.

Should be (and should have been a while ago - and at least they are using him in blowouts, which is good) but will be? Who knows? They might send down Manship again.

Originally Posted by greengoblinrulz

Can we all just admit that Gray will be the casualty when we need the 5th starter next SAT.
Last 7gms 6.1IP 9h 10er 3bb 4k
5.16 ERA when 2nd worse pen ERA is Perkins 3.65
We have 7 competant bullpen guys w/o him & several deserving relievers in AAA.

I pretty much agree all the way with greengolblinrulz. While you play a little with stats, Gray's numbers overall just aren't that good. There are several relief pitchers in the minors, some with considerable upside. The team is carrying only four starters. Gray isn't needed and there are a lot of replacements for him.

Originally Posted by shanewahl

Now that the blow up has occurred, time to DFA him and not care if some team is foolish enough to claim him. Time to go with guys who might be part of the future, namely Slama.

Isn't Slama on the DL right now? I'm guessing they would go with Guerra.

For now, Gray is fine in his mop up role. The Rockies DFA'd a 26 year with a live arm and horrible numbers. The Twins might inquire about Esmil Rogers. His arm is solid enough that the Rockies will probably be able to make a trade.

I'd like to see if Slama can be part of the solution, but I believe he is injured now. It might also be good to see Guerra who will be out of options next year. Hopefully, he will get at least 2 months of this season with the Twins. Hendriks is a logical call up for the 5th starter but he might be better off with another 6 weeks in AAA. Another guy I would like to see later is Oliveros. Guerra, Oliveros and Hendriks are young and would benefit from more time in AAA. It also may delay their arbitration year.

Originally Posted by sbknudson

Isn't Slama on the DL right now? I'm guessing they would go with Guerra.

7-day DL. Assuming he's healthy, he'd be ready to go after next Wednesday.

Originally Posted by jorgenswest

For now, Gray is fine in his mop up role. The Rockies DFA'd a 26 year with a live arm and horrible numbers. The Twins might inquire about Esmil Rogers. His arm is solid enough that the Rockies will probably be able to make a trade.

I'd like to see if Slama can be part of the solution, but I believe he is injured now. It might also be good to see Guerra who will be out of options next year. Hopefully, he will get at least 2 months of this season with the Twins. Hendriks is a logical call up for the 5th starter but he might be better off with another 6 weeks in AAA. Another guy I would like to see later is Oliveros. Guerra, Oliveros and Hendriks are young and would benefit from more time in AAA. It also may delay their arbitration year.

The Twins are carrying two long reliever types in addition to Gray (Swarzak & Manship). They could use another RH 7th inning guy along with Burton because the Twins don't want to use Burton on consecutive days. Gray isn't that guy, and I don't think Manship or Swarzak is either. Slama, Guerra, Oliveros, and Fien all could fill that role better than Gray.

Originally Posted by thrylos98

I am confused here: if a free agent signs an one year contract, he is not a free agent after the next season? I understand how arbitration works after trades and waiver picks but didn't Burton just sign an one year contract?

Most players sign 1 year contracts through their arbitration years. While Burton did sign a 1 year contract he doesn't have enough seniority to become a FA. Let's give another example. Alexi Casilla signed a 1 year contract for this year but he will not be a free agent at the end of the season (unless he is non-tendered) as he has 1 year of arbitration remaining.

I'm gonna guess actually that unless Manship starts, he'll get sent back down. No reason to DFA a guy when we have guys with options we can send down that aren't doing that much better

I've never understood the argument that you should keep a bad player on your roster, because his role is unimportant. I'd rather they cut bad players, than keep them around for low leverage roles, especialy relievers. Between Slama, Guerra and Oliveras, they are covered with fine options. Cut him, cut him now, and bring up whichever of those three you like.

spdieyo, the reason to DFA Gray is that he's bad at his job. Just because Masihp isn't good either (in some peoples' opinions) doesn't excuse keeping Gray on the roster.

Originally Posted by mike wants wins

I've never understood the argument that you should keep a bad player on your roster, because his role is unimportant. I'd rather they cut bad players, than keep them around for low leverage roles, especialy relievers. Between Slama, Guerra and Oliveras, they are covered with fine options. Cut him, cut him now, and bring up whichever of those three you like.

Slama is on the disabled list.

The Twins can offer him arbitration and thus have to sign him for an agreed upon amount. He is not a free agent, unless the Twins don't offer arbitration. They still have one more year of control. Gray, if waivered, would have to be claimed and kept on the 50-man roster of a team (and the 25 for now). Not sure if he can refuse a minor league assignment and become a free agent if not claimed. Doubtful. Would be like Maloney. Slama is on the DL. That could hurt any immediate chances with the Twins. Nothing like bringing a guy up from the kinors and then him being injured and getting paid major league money for sitting around. Oliveros is probably higher on the list than Guerra, still. Anyone worrying about the absolute need for Swarzak if you can have a choice between him, Manship, and say DeVries?

I am aware that slama is on the dl, for a few days. Not sure how that impacts if Gray is kept around or not, given they have at least two more options.

slama is indeed on the DL, but once he comes off, it will be him and Guerra fighting for a spot up with the big club.

Given Manship is fine, I want Gray and Swarzak to be DFAed. They are both not good. Both have viable replacements (Manship becomes long man) when Slama is back and either Waldrop, Oliveros, or Guerra is promoted.

Swarzak has been good as a long man and okay as a mopup guy. He's been knocked around as a starter. Given the state of the Twins rotation, two long guys (Manship and Swarzak) makes sense, especially if they stay with a 12-man staff. I would say that Manship has done nothing to merit demotion, Swarzak has done more good than bad, while Gray hasn't done that much in the last month. More than his appearance against the Cubs, I think Gray's fate may have been decided by his outing against the Royals when he had a 5-run lead and couldn't finish the inning. While moving Gray would likely cost his spot, there are 3-5 guys at Rochester that can do what he does and perhaps more. It does sound like the move will be DFAing Gray and Hendriks being recalled to fill out the rotation.