What Will be Stauffer's Role

RealTwinsFan357 · March 15, 2015

TIm Stauffer has not impressed me at all so far in Spring training. I know it's still early, but his numbers look absolutely horrible (ERA of 15.00, only 2 strikeouts in 6 innings). With so many candidates for both the fifth starter job and bullpen spots, I just don't see how Stauffer fits in at all. Would the Twins cut him despite signing him as a free agent this offseason?

Thrylos · March 15, 2015

Hard to tell that early during ST... 3 more weeks left. If he continues like that he should be DFA'd...

Brock Beauchamp · March 15, 2015

Based on the first two weeks of spring training, Tim Stauffer's official role will be "fan punching bag".

nater79a · March 15, 2015

Stauffer is officially in the Pelfrey world of job security based on big guaranteed dollars.... Uff da.

jorgenswest · March 15, 2015

Based on his road numbers and his use as a low leverage reliever in San Diego, he really needed to come out an establish himself as a late inning reliever option. In no way should he be considered a lock for any toster.

There is a reason why he had to sign for 2 million. Minnesota might be the only team where he would be the 7th or 8th inning guy. If he doesn't excel in that role, I don't see why they would waste low leverage innings in a decline phase veteran with an expiring contract.

Wouldn't it be better to give those low leverage innings to a young pitcher with upside?

Thrylos · March 15, 2015

Stauffer is officially in the Pelfrey world of job security based on big guaranteed dollars.... Uff da.

Nah. Two words:

Nick Blackburn

Willihammer · March 15, 2015

Bullpen constipator

nater79a · March 15, 2015

Wonder if Stauffer ends up on the DL by opening day with a mysterious arm ailment?

HitInAPinch · March 15, 2015

Wouldn't it be better to give those low leverage innings to a young pitcher with upside?

That's what I would think. I have no idea what Terry Ryan was thinking by signing all these middle of the road pitchers to longish term contracts when he has a few promising 25 year olds waiting in the wings.

Willihammer · March 16, 2015

https://twitter.com/MillerStrib/status/577216382787518465

mikelink45 · March 16, 2015

Please, let's not be committed to an offseason mistake. I know it is the Twins MO, but we are supposed to be in the new era!

Go young please.

Danchat · March 16, 2015

As somebody said it before, give some props to Stauffer's agent who got him $2M guaranteed somehow.

twinscowboysbulls · March 16, 2015

https://twitter.com/MillerStrib/status/577216382787518465

Wait that's still a thing? Only with TR.

What's scary is his average fastball speed is 2 mph slower than last year... I wouldn't think it would matter, considering he is still only pitching 2 innings per appearance...

DocBauer · March 16, 2015

It's early, but.......

Graham has looked good. Better than I had expected. I expected velocity but control issues. Again, it's early, but he looks like more than a stash.

I'd still rather go young, but Pelfrey has actually looked good as well. As has been speculated on TD at various times, could he re-invent himself as a quality reliever? It might just happen.

Stauffer....I understand the whole arguement of working on things, finding a feel, building arm strength, etc. but he has just been lit up! Nobody wants to admit a mistake, but at this point, and this day and age, his contract really isn't that much crow to eat.

Mike Sixel · March 16, 2015

That's what I would think. I have no idea what Terry Ryan was thinking by signing all these middle of the road pitchers to longish term contracts when he has a few promising 25 year olds waiting in the wings.

This, 100% this. But, they seem REALLY averse to young bullpen arms right now.

beckmt · March 16, 2015

I have heard that Stauffer starts like this and velocity increases as spring training goes on. Talk about it in 2 weeks if it does not change.

twinscowboysbulls · March 16, 2015

I have heard that Stauffer starts like this and velocity increases as spring training goes on. Talk about it in 2 weeks if it does not change.

Where did you hear this? Let me guess, TR.

Linus · March 16, 2015

I assume they are on the hook for his contract, regardless (as he was signed as a free agent)?

Or is there a date if they release him by where they can get out of it?

nicksaviking · March 16, 2015

If he pitches to his potential: 2013 Anthony Swarzak.

If he pitches to his floor: 2014 Anthony Swarzak.

The anticipation to find out is almost killing me.

ashbury · March 16, 2015

What Will be Stauffer's Role

Low-leverage reliever, just like it was in San Diego. 10th or 11th man on a 12-man staff.

Mike Sixel · March 16, 2015

Low-leverage reliever, just like it was in San Diego. 10th or 11th man on a 12-man staff.

then it should be a AAA guy with options, who can go down and up as needed. I just don't get this decision from a flexibility perspective.

jay · March 16, 2015

then it should be a AAA guy with options, who can go down and up as needed. I just don't get this decision from a flexibility perspective.

Agreed on the flexibility aspect. A guaranteed $2M for a low-leverage, low-velo righty doesn't seem to be a great fit.

However, I think it's fair to say some help in the bullpen beyond Perkins (carryover of injury concerns), Fien (30+, never a big strikeout guy) and Duensing (30+, never a big strikeout guy) was reasonable. I just would have rather seen it be a proven setup guy to slide Fien down a notch in leverage or a reclamation project a la 2012 Burton (with a better chance than Boyer). Either way, someone with heat.

shs_59 · March 16, 2015

at this point i'd take Hamburger or Lester Oliveros over Stauffer.

Will the Twins? No way.

But seriously we're going to be in the running for "worst MLB Bull-pen in the League" By Easter, Hopefully it auto-corrects itself by Mid May or June.

Come September

Tonkin, Zach Jones, Nick Burdi , Oliveros, Thompson, Fien, Perk, Duensing could be the 'pen.

with maybe J.T. Chargois and Jake Reed in AAA.

Otto von Ballpark · March 16, 2015

I assume they are on the hook for his contract, regardless (as he was signed as a free agent)?

Or is there a date if they release him by where they can get out of it?

Yup. Free agent deals are fully guaranteed. Only year-to-year pre-FA/arb players can be released with termination pay before April 1st (like Nunez).

Rosterman · March 16, 2015

I questioned the need when they signed him, except that they wanted him to take Swarzak's spot, basically, at an increased expense but better overall results. Yet isn't there bodies to look at in their own minor league system.

Also, do they have the ability to cut him at some point and not be on the hook for his entire salary?

Like when looking at Milone, Boyer, Pelfrey, Nunez and any also rans...take the best 25 north. If the others find a spot in the organization, okay. If not, live with it.

Brock Beauchamp · March 17, 2015

If he pitches to his potential: 2013 Anthony Swarzak.

If he pitches to his floor: 2014 Anthony Swarzak.

The anticipation to find out is almost killing me.

My god, I love this post so much.

ashbury · March 17, 2015

then it should be a AAA guy with options, who can go down and up as needed. I just don't get this decision from a flexibility perspective.

I just phrased it differently. I was not happy when the signing was announced.

jokin · March 17, 2015

Based on his road numbers and his use as a low leverage reliever in San Diego, he really needed to come out an establish himself as a late inning reliever option. In no way should he be considered a lock for any toster.

There is a reason why he had to sign for 2 million. Minnesota might be the only team where he would be the 7th or 8th inning guy. If he doesn't excel in that role, I don't see why they would waste low leverage innings in a decline phase veteran with an expiring contract.

Wouldn't it be better to give those low leverage innings to a young pitcher with upside?

Good post. I mocked the Twins on the day of the signing, and identified just this likely thinking in the FO- something to the effect of - "Ladies and Gentlemen, meet your new 7th-inning set-up relief man!" They have a history of signing failed starters and promising the agent that his client will get a fair shot at a rotation spot, knowing all along that Stauffer's somewhat intriguing, albeit artificially-inflated, but still-high, K-rate over the last two seasons was just a possible part of the actual master plan in the Twins way of rolling the dice on "discovering" a discount-rate late-relief option.

I'd look for Stauffer to change his mound-approach completely between now and March 31, and possibly show some improvement enough to at least temporarily move into the 2014 Burton role come April 1. Needless to say, I'm not very confident on this ending well for Stauffer, but the good news is that a decision should come quickly, ideally with the "promotion" of someone like Tonkin, or the call-up of whomever the youngster is throwing the best gas in Rochester.

Old Twins Cap · March 17, 2015

Well, at least the Twins have options this year. Gotta like that. Add a reliever from the NL, cut a couple loose that need a new home, got a few extra starters that have good stuff, the MiLB is full of young arms on their way up.

I like our chances. If Stauffer tanks, that's the cost of doing business in MLB, but there are options.

Worst thing the Twins can do is panic when one of their cast-off signings tanks.

Fogeddaboutit.

The Twins have made a lot of terrible signings in the last five years. Now at least it will have no real effect on their chances.

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