Bernier, Pino Outrighted

[Seth Stohs]

According to Twins PR man Dustin Morse (via Twitter), the Twins have outrighted IF Doug Bernier and Pitcher Yohan Pino. This means that they cleared waivers. 

 

 

 

The #MNTwins have outrighted Doug Bernier & Yohan Pino off the roster.

 

They can become free agents (Bernier already has, according to Mike Berardino). Jeremy and I said these were Roster Casualty Probables in a recent Twins Hangouts podcast. We also agreed that we would expect both to re-sign with the Twins fairly quickly.

[Mike Sixel]

It's a start. I assume more will follow.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I know Pino and Bernier are the type of guys you like to have in AAA to call up in a pinch but yuck. I'd like to see the team just move on from those types of players permanently.

[Badsmerf]

I really see no point in these guys on the 40-man roster. If an INF gets hurt... I mean if 2 of Dozier, Santana, Escobar, Nunez get hurt, you call up Polanco. If a SP gets hurt you call up Meyer, Berrios, or the slew of AAAA guys you have congesting Rochester. Wish we had something cooler to talk about.

[bird]

I see this as just more steady progress. Pino was an upgrade last year from the previous year with guys like Hernandez, Walters, and DeVries. Now Darnell, Duffy, Wheeler, Rogers, Johnson- all of whom may end up being AAAA guys, are upgrades over Pino. Progress.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Pino struck me as someone you keep on the 40 for occasional spot starts until his options are used up. I wouldn't mind having him back with the org, but I suppose with the pitchers coming up, I don't see him getting that many spot starts. Makes sense to let him see if he can find a home elsewhere.

[notoriousgod71]

I almost had a meltdown until I realized it was Pino and not Pinto.

[tobi0040]

Good to know the innings we gave pino over meyer and

may really paid off

[Seth Stohs]

Guys like Pino and Bernier are terrific to have on AAA rosters. They help that team win and keep the affiliate happy. They know they're not future stars, but they're happy to keep putting on the uniform. More important, they both played well that they earned and they deserved their promotions. 

 

They are now off the 40 man roster, and like I wrote, I expect both to come back to the organization. Bernier could retire, of course, but I like having these types around. 

 

Despite Bernier having spent 1/2 of last season with the Twins, when he and Santana were on the Rochester roster this year, Santana played every day. Bernier played elsewhere. He's also such a good person and knowledgeable of the game that he is like another coach. 

 

Pino, he's been a good pitcher for his whole career. He gets his role. He earned his promotion.

 

I hope both come back.

[ashbury]

I almost had a meltdown until I realized it was Pino and not Pinto.

Also Bernier and not Dozier.

[Rosterman]

Yes, you can ask the question of why Pino got innings and Bernier got not only a few at bats, but bench time. They are valuable, as aging vets, who can make the stopgap call if need be in the majors. But, yes, did one take innings from May/Meyer. Did another one take a looksee from, say, Debinson Romero. For a rebuilding team, having them on the major league roster (Colabello and Deduno also), blocked prospects. The Twins weren't totally rebuilding all year, so some time in the majors was understandable. Expect Colabello and Fryer to be quickly added to the discard pile (Eli Whiteside is available if we need an AAA catcher again). Do the Twins really need more than 5-6 sports for 40-man additions at the call before the overrated Rule 5? More worried about minor league guys that need to be sent to AA or AAA rosters to keep being lost in the minor league portion.

[Brandon]

I think Bernier makes really good emergency MI.  And Pino could make the team and replace Swazak when he becomes too expensive either next year or the year after.   He's a good 13th /14th pitcher for the staff for both emergency starter or 2 weeks in long relief when needed.  Neither player is great but they are veteran enough and good enough to avoid the rookie mistakes. 

[stringer bell]

"Wrong side of 30" and "limited upside" applies to both players. Neither player is needed at this point to fill in, perhaps at some point they could get a callup if they stay with the Twins. Mostly these guys are players who can help the Red Wings. I think they are replaceable from within the organization. Pino has options available and can pitch as a starter and out of the bullpen. Whether the Twins re-sign him or not, he will probably get another shot in the majors if his arm is not too badly damaged.

[tobi0040]

"Wrong side of 30" and "limited upside" applies to both players. Neither player is needed at this point to fill in, perhaps at some point they could get a callup if they stay with the Twins. Mostly these guys are players who can help the Red Wings. I think they are replaceable from within the organization. Pino has options available and can pitch as a starter and out of the bullpen. Whether the Twins re-sign him or not, he will probably get another shot in the majors if his arm is not too badly damaged.

 

This seems to be the point of the year we wish we still had these guys around, but then again we seem to sign replacements that are just as good. I think these guys are pretty replaceable.  You have a lot of 28-31 year olds that can fill in when needed.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

So, there's spots for Sano and Meyer to be added to the 40 Man - I imagine some more moves will come soon to make room for a few more young guys, possibly in the bullpen?

[Otto von Ballpark]

I see this as just more steady progress. Pino was an upgrade last year from the previous year with guys like Hernandez, Walters, and DeVries. Now Darnell, Duffy, Wheeler, Rogers, Johnson- all of whom may end up being AAAA guys, are upgrades over Pino. Progress.

I get that there appears to be a progression here -- but not sure if the Twins deserve any credit for the Pino part of it.  Pino has been freely available for the last 3-4 offseasons -- if he was an upgrade over some of our MLB starters in 2012-2013, why wait?  Is there some rule that you have to try the lousier pitchers first?

 

Also, we added Pino the 40-man the same year we removed Hendriks, who filled a very similar role (outstanding AAA starter, MLB fill-in) in his new organization, just 5 years younger.  That doesn't seem like much progress to me.  (And we also gave away Worley this same year, who actually became a significant 2014 MLB contributor in his new org.)

 

EDIT: Another way to put it, when you assemble as bad a MLB starting staff as the Twins did in 2012-2013, you can do just about anything and will likely see "progress".  Actually, it seems that describes the 2014 Twins starting staff fairly well...

[Otto von Ballpark]

Also, is Pino still hurt?

[Joe A. Preusser]

A lot of borderline disrespect being thrown towards these two players in this thread.  I for one appreciate their contributions this past year and hope they can continue playing the game they love, either with MN or another club.  We can argue all offseason about where they should fit on (or off) our roster, but my take is that most fans on here devalue their caliber of player.  Every team in the majors has players like them filling roles in AAA or at the end of their MLB bench.  If we currently have better options, great, so be it.  But let's treat them with the respect they deserve, not like disposable commodities.