Morales traded to Seattle

[teekz]

You can never have enough infielders playing in the outfield!!

 

I can't wait to see an all SS outfield soon!

[DaveW]

Yeah I agree but when you have little to no leverage you take the best value given I guess. Sucks that he is injured and will ultimately take a 40 man spot. Must be something the Twins liked about him.

 

40 man space is hardly an issue at this point for the Twins, there are SEVERAL players who can be taken off.

 

In limited MLB action he has a 2.20 ERA or so and 35k in 32 innings and throws 96. I'm sure that is what the Twins like about him, maybe he never comes back from injury or maybe he just never is effective again, doesn't really hurt them and if Rick Anderson can work a little magic you are looking at a possible nice bullpen option who is cheap for several years.

[naobermiller]

I understand that every team is thin on those positions. To me, this guy seems like an organizational filler. He might not amount to anything. I hope I am wrong. My point was, we have a lot of guys like him in the minors already. Why not look at some of our thin positions and get another organizational filler in those positions. Maybe a guy who could be a 4th OF rather than running our minor league SS out in the major league OF.

 

He does have good ML numbers so far in his career.

 

Stephen Pryor, just turned 25 (seriously...turned 25 yesterday) year old RHP. 34 career ML appearances from the bullpen with a 2.81 ERA. Minor numbers show a bullpen guy as well.

 

 

Was throwing a 96MPH fastball in 2012 and 2013. He's currently in AAA rehabbing surgery on his latissimus dorsi muscle. Mostly a fastball slider pitcher. Fangraphs shows a few curveballs the last couple years, and very small number of change ups.

[joeboo_22]

The move of Polonco must mean that Mauer is close to coming back? you'd think if it was any significant playing time they would bring up Pinto right?

[DaveW]

I understand that every team is thin on those positions. To me, this guy seems like an organizational filler. He might not amount to anything. I hope I am wrong. My point was, we have a lot of guys like him in the minors already. Why not look at some of our thin positions and get another organizational filler in those positions. Maybe a guy who could be a 4th OF rather than running our minor league SS out in the major league OF.

 

He is a boom or bust type guy, he is 24, throws 96 MPH and has had a little success in his cup of coffee in the majors.

 

Org filler is a 28 year old Doug Bernier or Scott Diamond type. I know the Twins are a bit thin on OF at the current moment, but another 4th OF is very low on their needs moving forward as they already have Fuld.

[whydidnt]

Nothing really wrong with this deal. Morales has been pretty disappointing and since they aren't going anywhere this year, and he's a FA at the end of the season, might as well take what you can for him. The Pohlad's just made another $4+ million too. Would really have liked to see them bring up Vargas or Pinto to try and lay claim to the DH spot though. Not sure what they are planning to do with Polanco at this point, but seems curious to bring him up and have him sit on the bench when they don't have a need for another MI at this point. The continuation of curious roster moves continue.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I think Pryor may have two option years left after this year, so we'll have some flexibility to send him to the minors in 2015-2016 even if he occupies a 40-man spot.

 

He was added to Seattle's 40-man roster when called up June 2012, was briefly sent to the minors in late July for 8-9 days after a rehab stint, but that shouldn't have been enough to use an option year.

 

And 2013, it appears he was on the MLB 60-day DL for most of the season, with his minor league appearances coming in another rehab stint.

 

So 2014 should represent his first option year.

[John Bonnes]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php/3277-Twins-Trade-Kendrys-Morales-for-Seattle-Reliever-Stephen-Pryor

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Nothing really wrong with this deal. Morales has been pretty disappointing and since they aren't going anywhere this year, and he's a FA at the end of the season, might as well take what you can for him. The Pohlad's just made another $4+ million too. Would really have liked to see them bring up Vargas or Pinto to try and lay claim to the DH spot though. Not sure what they are planning to do with Polanco at this point, but seems curious to bring him up and have him sit on the bench when they don't have a need for another MI at this point. The continuation of curious roster moves continue.

 

Polanco doesn't really seem to fit, but they weren't about to sit Pinto on the bench, and Vargas is still a little green to be taking Kendrys Morales' DH spot. This gives Parmelee, Willingham, and Colabello more chances to hit without fielding. Polanco is better than a pitcher being called up . . .

[naobermiller]

Nothing really wrong with this deal. Morales has been pretty disappointing and since they aren't going anywhere this year, and he's a FA at the end of the season, might as well take what you can for him. The Pohlad's just made another $4+ million too. Would really have liked to see them bring up Vargas or Pinto to try and lay claim to the DH spot though. Not sure what they are planning to do with Polanco at this point, but seems curious to bring him up and have him sit on the bench when they don't have a need for another MI at this point. The continuation of curious roster moves continue.

 

An option year was already used on Polanco, so there's really no harm in bringing him up (unless you think it hurts his development). Pinto you could make a case for, but they WANT him to stick at catcher and he won't get regular reps behind the dish with Suzu around

[jokin]

Polanco doesn't really seem to fit, but they weren't about to sit Pinto on the bench, and Vargas is still a little green to be taking Kendrys Morales' DH spot. This gives Parmelee, Willingham, and Colabello more chances to hit without fielding. Polanco is better than a pitcher being called up . . .

 

+!.

[whydidnt]

Polanco doesn't really seem to fit, but they weren't about to sit Pinto on the bench, and Vargas is still a little green to be taking Kendrys Morales' DH spot. This gives Parmelee, Willingham, and Colabello more chances to hit without fielding. Polanco is better than a pitcher being called up . . .

 

Agree regarding a pitcher, but it seems to me that Pinto's future isn't at C anyway. He has hit pretty well at the major league level, why not promote him and install him as the full time DH. I've seen enough of both Parmelee and Callabello to know they aren't going to be a key part of future teams that I hope are better.

[Dman]

40 man space is hardly an issue at this point for the Twins, there are SEVERAL players who can be taken off.

 

In limited MLB action he has a 2.20 ERA or so and 35k in 32 innings and throws 96. I'm sure that is what the Twins like about him, maybe he never comes back from injury or maybe he just never is effective again, doesn't really hurt them and if Rick Anderson can work a little magic you are looking at a possible nice bullpen option who is cheap for several years.

 

If he recovers well from injury I am sure the Twins will make use of his arm. It just seems like we have relief pitchers with no where to go. Pelfrey will be back next year and possibly in the pen or knocking someone else to the pen so it doesn't fill a need which is disappointing.

 

Granted I am happy they got something for Morales. I was thinking a lower level prospect that wouldn't need to be on the 40 man as don't you need spots for Meyer, Achter, Sano, Rosario, possibly Buxton, and who knows who else. Seems like those spots fill up quickly.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

I think this addition puts more pressure on Pressly to be good - He'll potentially suffer the same fate as Guerrier if he has a bad outing or two.

[stringer bell]

If he recovers well from injury I am sure the Twins will make use of his arm. It just seems like we have relief pitchers with no where to go. Pelfrey will be back next year and possibly in the pen or knocking someone else to the pen so it doesn't fill a need which is disappointing.

 

Granted I am happy they got something for Morales. I was thinking a lower level prospect that wouldn't need to be on the 40 man as don't you need spots for Meyer, Achter, Sano, Rosario, possibly Buxton, and who knows who else. Seems like those spots fill up quickly.

The Twins have a bunch of free-agents-to-be plus there will be a number of guys (Florimon for sure) who will be DFAed off the 40-man. There will be plenty of room for the guys you named. It's going to be the Keplers and Polancos of 2015 who will require thought as to whether they should be added.

[stringer bell]

I think this addition puts more pressure on Pressly to be good - He'll potentially suffer the same fate as Guerrier if he has a bad outing or two.

I agree. I think Pressly was promoted with a chance to make good or be taken off the 40-man roster.

[curt1965]

I like Polanco, but doesn't it seem kind of sad that either there are no other better options to replace Morales DH(slugger) in the starting lineup, or that the FO has no confidence in the other hitters on the 40 man, at least for the remainder of this year........

[PseudoSABR]

While it's nice to get the cash covered, I'm a bit surprised they didn't wait to see if Morales would start hitting, still two weeks until the deadline.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

I think the other hitters all have very specific jobs to do - Polanco is in the right place at the right time.

 

Pinto (I hope) will be up once Suzuki is traded, but he's going to be catching everyday somewhere, that's what the Twins want him to be doing.

Vargas, Kepler will be up in 2015 or 2016, they're not ready yet.

Florimon - NOPE

Herrmann will be fine where he is, probably will take Pinto's spot in AAA.

 

Who am I forgetting?

[naobermiller]

While it's nice to get the cash covered, I'm a bit surprised they didn't wait to see if Morales would start hitting, still two weeks until the deadline.

 

Only one week. July 31st will sneak up on you quicker than you think

[DaveW]

While it's nice to get the cash covered, I'm a bit surprised they didn't wait to see if Morales would start hitting, still two weeks until the deadline.

 

Two weeks?

[James]

While it's nice to get the cash covered, I'm a bit surprised they didn't wait to see if Morales would start hitting, still two weeks until the deadline.

Morales just finished up a 12 game hitting streak. That could possibly the best performance that anyone will get out of him this year. I guess they thought they should make a deal while they had a chance.

[JustinCB]

Morales really didn't seem to like Seattle much. I am surprised he went back there.

 

He didn't have a choice this time.....

[ericchri]

Polanco never even got a game in at AA, did he? I think that may be the item I find most amusing. Obviously he's only up temporarily and will eventually end up there, but what a weird coincidence. What's Jeff Smith saying right now, "I thought I was getting a new shortstop, what happened?"

 

Seems like a solid return for the Morales we've seen this year. Would've been nice if he'd played better for us and could've gotten more back, but a reliever with a 96 mph fastball and a sub 3 ERA in his short stint in the majors sounds good to me, even if he's hurt now.

[pierre75275]

well i thing that went pretty well. we paid some money to see if he would pan out..he didnt so we got out of his salary and got somebody who might contribute out of the bullpen? If we can do that for Morales what can we do for the likes of Willingham, Corria, Suzuki, and Duensing?

[Monkeypaws]

Pryor looks like Jim Hoey 2.0, maybe a little younger.

[James]

Pryor looks like Jim Hoey 2.0, maybe a little younger.

Sure, but it didn't mean giving up a starting SS with nobody to replace him to get Pryor. We have plenty of guys who can DH.

[iTwins]

Agree regarding a pitcher, but it seems to me that Pinto's future isn't at C anyway. He has hit pretty well at the major league level, why not promote him and install him as the full time DH. I've seen enough of both Parmelee and Callabello to know they aren't going to be a key part of future teams that I hope are better.

 

I wouldn't bail on Pinto as a catcher yet. He's too young to simply turn into a full time DH. I'll agree that his defense so far hasn't done much to show that he can be a reliable catcher, but I don't think you give up on his development and make him a fulltime DH just yet. (Especially when the team won't be winning anything this year anyway. May as well let him catch most of the second half and see if he can improve).

 

More on topic - I like the trade. The Twins took a gamble and tried to make a run with Morales. When it didn't work, they got the M's to eat the rest of the deal and got a reliever back. Relatively low risk begot a relatively low reward and (predictably) a relatively low return.

[TheLeviathan]

Morales could have gone on a 20 for 21 binge and still not looked that sexy to trade for. Pryor doesn't have much to like...but this is a great trade because it's the first of a few that need to happen, so having one domino fall already is a great sign.

 

I do wonder if we had kicked in cash if that had mattered, but I really don't care.

[ScrapTheNickname]

I'm sad. I was excited when they signed Morales, but he's been mediocre. And now he's gone. Sad. And we pick up a middling middle reliever. Sad. It's not even winter and I'm sad. And now Morales will hit .400 for Seattle. You know it's true. Just sad. (Just kidding, kind of.)