Twins won't sell Kris Johnson

[gunnarthor]

Per mlbtraderumors and Wolfson, the Twins have gotten offers in the 1-1.5m range for Kris Johnson from teams "overseas" but have not agreed to trade him.  

 

https://twitter.com/DarrenWolfson/status/498637315175354368

[Mike Sixel]

they shouldn't, IMO, unless Johnson really wants to go. He's one of the guys that should be in AAA, ready for when someone gets hurt next year (or maybe is a long reliever here in MN, or something). They don't need $1MM......

[jorgenswest]

He has options remaining. He will be needed next year.

[Willihammer]

Does anyone think the Twins put an undue importance on lefthanded pitching? I wouldn't think a 30 year old with 540 innings of 4.45 ERA ball in AAA would be so hard to replace, regardless of what hand he uses.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'm not sure this is an issue with undo value on a lefty.  It's a depth issue, and if I'm trading Johnson, it's not to the Japanese league's for a million dollars.  I'd much rather get a prospect.  Otherwise, Johnson is what he is, a cheap guy who can come in and play a bit better than replacement level in a pinch.  As long as he has options, I don't see why they'd get rid of him. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

The remaining option year is nice for Johnson, but Pino has even more remaining options.  So does May, Darnell (lefty!), Meyer, and Gilmartin (lefty!).  Even Milone is another lefty with another option remaining, should we really need it.

 

We probably should have been auditioning Johnson for a bullpen spot this year, because if he has any chance to stick on the 40-man this winter, I think that is it.

[Mike Sixel]

I think they've demonstrated that they don't care about handedness.....at least it appears that way. I see no reason to just get rid of him, not given his status as a player with options.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Albers had options remaining too, and was part of more SP-starved Twins/Rochester teams.  He's a year younger than Johnson as well (so basically 2 years younger at the time he was sold).

 

Colabello also had options remaining, but it appeared the Twins were fully willing to sell him with his permission.

[tobi0040]

These are really bizarre transactions.

 

If anyone has a minute, Kyle Kendrick was pranked a few years ago. The Phillies, with the help of the coach and GM told him he was being traded to Japan for a relief pitcher.  It was a good one.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nKKqPOiJxI

[ScottyB]

My guess is Johnson takes over next year for Duensing.

[Otto von Ballpark]

My guess is Johnson takes over next year for Duensing.

I think Thielbar takes over for Duensing.  Maybe Johnson is the second lefty in the pen, but it seems strange the Twins haven't bothered to use Johnson out of the pen at all this year if they really thought he was a top choice for that role.  Statistically, he struggled in Pittsburgh's minor league bullpen in 2012, and only got a brief look there in 2013.