40 Man Roster, Free Agents and Arbitration

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'll be surprised if Walker isn't protected.  He's rule V eligible this offseason, and while there's plenty of quesiton marks, his ceiling is high enough that he's protected. It gives the Twins 3 option years to figure out if he can be a good major leaguer, which if he figures it out, he'll be a very very very good major leaguer.

[BoomBoom]

The guy was the best in AA in HRs and RBI and Strikeouts.  With 2 out of 3 being on the better half, I'd say he's worth protecting.  Just think this way:  If a guy who averages 28 and 103 can figure it out just a little - WOW - What would you have on your hands?  He's not just some dude.  I can picture a flawed 35 and 120 some day.

[USAFChief]

 

The guy was the best in AA in HRs and RBI and Strikeouts.  With 2 out of 3 being on the better half, I'd say he's worth protecting.  Just think this way:  If a guy who averages 28 and 103 can figure it out just a little - WOW - What would you have on your hands?  He's not just some dude.  I can picture a flawed 35 and 120 some day.

The question isn't is he worth protecting.

 

The question is does he need protecting.  

 

If no other team would keep him in the big leagues through the 2016 season, then he doesn't need to be on the 40 man.

 

While I personally doubt another team would keep ABW on it's roster through all of 2016, I'm just guessing, and the Twins would obviously be in much better position to make an educated guess on that than any of us. 

 

I also thought there was no need to put Kepler on the 40 man last winter, and the Twins did, so they must have judged that some other team would hide Kepler for a year.  

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I also thought there was no need to put Kepler on the 40 man last winter, and the Twins did, so they must have judged that some other team would hide Kepler for a year.  

Actually, it was two years ago (after 2013) that the Twins added Kepler to the 40-man.  Kepler was even more raw at that time, but he would have been a little easier to hide than Walker, given he has pro experience in all 3 outfield spots plus first base.  Plus he was only 20 years old at the time -- the opportunity to get a young guy with upside like that is rare enough to often be a Rule 5 risk worth taking.  Walker turns 24 this month, so even with some potential and upside he's in a much broader bucket of talent.

 

Still, I have no real issue with protecting Walker today, Kepler in 2013, or other borderline Rule 5 eligibles we want to see some more.  The issue is usually protecting/re-signing guys like Schafer, Fryer, and Thompson at the expense of guys like Gilmartin or another selection in Rule 5.

[70charger]

 

The question isn't is he worth protecting.

 

The question is does he need protecting.  

 

If no other team would keep him in the big leagues through the 2016 season, then he doesn't need to be on the 40 man.

 

While I personally doubt another team would keep ABW on it's roster through all of 2016, I'm just guessing, and the Twins would obviously be in much better position to make an educated guess on that than any of us. 

 

I also thought there was no need to put Kepler on the 40 man last winter, and the Twins did, so they must have judged that some other team would hide Kepler for a year.  

 

This is pretty much exactly it. I have no problem with having him added to the 40-man if the Twins determine he's in danger of being poached (I don't see it, but I'm not a baseball executive), or if it isn't going to cause the Twins to lose someone they can't afford to.

 

I doubt they need to protect him, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did it anyway out of caution.

[TNLooky2015]

This article about the AFL shares why I think Walker has upside and is worth protecting:

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2015/9/3/9243857/arizona-fall-league-three-prospects-to-watch-closely

 

[Mike Sixel]

ABW will be protected, as stated above, they need to stop protecting bad RP in their 30s when young pitchers are in the system.....

 

There is no need to sign their FAs before the Rule V, is there? On any of them? I just don't see this massive logjam that others do.

[sane]

ABW will be protected, as stated above, they need to stop protecting bad RP in their 30s when young pitchers are in the system.....

 

There is no need to sign their FAs before the Rule V, is there? On any of them? I just don't see this massive logjam that others do.

The FA's that need to be signed early are those that THEY DON'T WANT TO RISK LOSING.

IMO, that is nobody this year, but if they really want Hunter, they would at least have to verbally commit early to signing him later.

[Mike Sixel]

The FA's that need to be signed early are those that THEY DON'T WANT TO RISK LOSING.

IMO, that is nobody this year, but if they really want Hunter, they would at least have to verbally commit early to signing him later.

Rightio, sir (or madam, but I think sir is correct).

[Rosterman]

You take a gamble on Rule 5 guys and keep them on the roster, than option them out for one or two years following. The best candidates are those that can fill-in the back of the bullpen (Santana when he was signed, Graham now) or a solid utility guy for the infield with some speed and a glove (usually not a high priority) or a fourth outfielder who can actually play the field, be a defensive replacement, and might offer speed. Kepler did offer some of that, plus teams love to purge million-dollar signees from other teams if they can. Walker would be more of a bench bat, which can be a liability, but if you were a rebuilding team you might grab him to sit on the bench, and then go back to the minors for two seasons before having to make a decision in 2019. The cost is only $50 grand, and you can always get half-of-that-back. If you have the roster spot, it is much better to grab a highly-paidout minor league draftee from anotehr team and further develop them than draft and sign the guy yourself. This usually doesn't happen, but teams like the Twins and Astros, who have fairly strong minor league systems and won't be able to protect everyone, could be ripe for pickings.

[diehardtwinsfan]

yeah, i think a rebuilding team would love Walker as a bench bat.  He's also incredibly dangerous when pitchers have to throw him strikes.  I think he could fill that role next year, which is why i think he's protected.

[lightfoot789]

If a hitting coach can help ABW's approach and not alter his swing to much - What could they turn 31 HRs; 31 Doubles; and 106 RBI into?  That's why the Twins will protect him for the time being.

 

The question becomes - where does he fit in the Twins line up when and if he does adjust his flaws?

 

What type of Batting Average and OBP would ABW need to unseat the likes of Buxton; Kepler; Hicks; and Rosario?  Even if ABW were able to continue to put up his normal production numbers with his fixed flaws in 2016 -

 

Who would you be willing to get rid of then?  If the answer is still ABW - why waste a roster spot now?  Trade him

[Shane Wahl]

There is no 40-man log jam. Not even close.

[bird]

 

 

 I'm just guessing, and the Twins would obviously be in much better position to make an educated guess on that than any of us. 

 

 

 

Are you allowed to even SAY this on TD?

[East Coast Twin]

Twins reinstated both Logan Darnell and Ryan Pressly today from the 60-day DL.

 

[sane]

"the Twins would obviously be in much better position to make an educated guess on that than any of us"

"Are you allowed to even SAY this on TD?"

Humility is a virtue so seldom seen on blogs, that it is unlikely that there are any rules prohibiting it.

[sane]

There is no 40-man log jam. Not even close.

Disagree!

There are 34 roster spots taken, so room for six additions (or five if they sign FA Shane Robinson):

Don't want to lose any of the following:

1)Walker

2)Chargois

3)Rogers

4)Jones

5)Bard

6)Jorge

7)Meloutakis

[jsteve96]

Hermann/Darnell can be outright, Pinto Traded or outrighted. all the open spots go to- FA catcher, FA RP, Walker, Charges, Jorge, Michael, Melotakis, and Rogers.. the final spot goes to maybe a FA

[jsteve96]

 

yeah, i think a rebuilding team would love Walker as a bench bat.  He's also incredibly dangerous when pitchers have to throw him strikes.  I think he could fill that role next year, which is why i think he's protected.

any GM with a brain would rule 5 draft him

[Shaitan]

IMO You don't send a player to the AFL and not protect them.

[Lonestar]

Sometimes you send a player to the AFL to see if you should protect him.  Having said that, I have no doubt the Twins will protect him.

[TNLooky2015]

He's 2nd in the AFL in HRs now and showed his speed on his first triple of the short AFL season,  today.  He has a .389 OBP so far as well - Definite 40 Man protected IMO

[jsteve96]

 

I know that some scouts compare Walker's swing to that of Giancarlo Stanton.

believe it or not I've heard this as well.... highly unlikely but high K rate and Iso definitely could see somewhat a comparison here with maybe few more k's little less Power