Article: Twins Add Seven To Their 40 Man Roster, Lose Achter, Pinto

[bird]

My disappointment regarding Pinto occurred two years ago, when it became clear that, after a decade of minor league ball, his catching skills were still below MLB standards in the eyes and minds of the pros who saw him in action every day and were able to competently assess every aspect of his performance. And unfortunately for Josmil, his battle with concussions probably puts the nail in the coffin on his future as anything other than a DH. It might be a long shot for him to become league average as a DH as well. 

[Mike Sixel]

 

My disappointment regarding Pinto occurred two years ago, when it became clear that, after a decade of minor league ball, his catching skills were still below MLB standards in the eyes and minds of the pros who saw him in action every day and were able to competently assess every aspect of his performance. And unfortunately for Josmil, his battle with concussions probably puts the nail in the coffin on his future as anything other than a DH. It might be a long shot for him to become league average as a DH as well. 

 

Especially in the NL....

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

What is the statute of limitations for that?

Are you saying that that Padres can NEVER trade Pinto to the AL, or that they can't trade within a certain time period after the waiver claim?

Common sense says they could trade him after awhile, sure.  Common sense also says teams probably aren't resorting to subterfuge to acquire Josmil Pinto at the present moment.

 

Also, judging by waiver priority, the Athletics and Tigers both had a chance at claiming Pinto but passed.  (The NL really had most of the terrible records this year.)

[sane]

The Twins had to waive Pinto.

If he had stayed, the Twins would have TWO concussed ex-catchers (Pinto/Mauer) on the roster.

What if, because of memory loss, both of them (plus Suzuki) all ran out to home plate at the start of a game?

[Mike Sixel]

Lots of angst (just like every year) over guys that probably won't accumulate more than 1.5 WAR in their careers.....

[nicksaviking]

I think I would have protected Michael, Jones and Pinto over O'Rourke, Dean and Landa, but if the Twins needed to rely on any of these guys in the next two years, something went wrong. 

 

I agree that Jorge likely doesn't get claimed as a low 90's starter in A ball isn't too attractive on paper, but I think some team could fix that if they're ambitious and have a roster spot to kill.  This guy has the weakest delivery I've seen outside of a knuckleballer.  The guy basically has a high leg kick and plants it right back where he picked it up from.  He doesn't step to the plate at all, he throws with all shoulder and looks like he's trying to step on an egg without crushing it.

 

 

I'd love to see what he does if he didn't throw like a dead-ball era pitcher playing catch with a toddler in the back yard.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Dean has some value, but not in this org.

No doubt.  But even having some value to this org doesn't mean he has to be protected in Rule 5.

 

I'll eat my hat if Dean becomes anything more than Dave Gassner.  (Meaning we'll win both of his MLB starts )

Edited November 20, 2015 by spycake

[sane]

 

Common sense says they could trade him after awhile, sure.  Common sense also says teams probably aren't resorting to subterfuge to acquire Josmil Pinto at the present moment.

 

Also, judging by waiver priority, the Athletics and Tigers both had a chance at claiming Pinto but passed.  (The NL really had most of the terrible records this year.)

Maybe the Athletics and Tigers weren't the AL teams that wanted Pinto.

And maybe some AL team badly wanted Pinto to be their DH, for his 2013 hitting. (ops=.963)

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Lots of angst (just like every year) over guys that probably won't accumulate more than 1.5 WAR in their careers.....

The angst from me is that we're protecting such players and not presently using the roster spot to find a potentially better player (i.e. Hultzen).

[sane]

 

This guy has the weakest delivery I've seen outside of a knuckleballer.  The guy basically has a high leg kick and plants it right back where he picked it up from.  He doesn't step to the plate at all, he throws with all shoulder and looks like he's trying to step on an egg without crushing it.

That is all correctible, if he is actually athletic with good arm strength.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Maybe the Athletics and Tigers weren't the AL teams that wanted Pinto.

And maybe some AL team badly wanted Pinto to be their DH, for his 2013 hitting. (ops=.963)

You really think Pinto has any value right now?  I wouldn't have minded if we brought him to spring training, I wouldn't mind if my team took a waiver flyer on him, but he really doesn't have any value at the present moment.

 

Adding to the list of things I'll eat my hat about, I will eat my hat if Pinto returns value in trade this winter.  

[sane]

 

The angst from me is that we're protecting such players and not presently using the roster spot to find a potentially better player (i.e. Hultzen).

Maybe that is why the roster is currently at 38.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I agree that Jorge likely doesn't get claimed as a low 90's starter in A ball isn't too attractive on paper, but I think some team could fix that if they're ambitious and have a roster spot to kill.

You could say that about almost any player.  But very few players get chosen in Rule 5.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Maybe that is why the roster is currently at 38.

Could be.  One is for Park, we'll see about the other.  We're pretty far down the Rule 5 draft order to expect much there.  A lot of people here apparently want Matt Thornton signed.

[sane]

 

Adding to the list of things I'll eat my hat about, I will eat my hat if Pinto returns value in trade this winter.  

I will eat my hat if I am able to remember that list of things for which you said you will eat your hat.

[SwainZag]

Looking at the OF on the roster, what's the chances they look at drafting one in the Rule V?  With Robinson and Hicks gone it has to be a possibility right?

[nicksaviking]

 

The Padres may have claimed Pinto for the sole purpose of trading him to an AL team that asked the Padres to claim him FOR THEM.

 

AL teams should have had priority over the NL teams when it came to claiming Pinto.

[sane]

 

Looking at the OF on the roster, what's the chances they look at drafting one in the Rule V?  With Robinson and Hicks gone it has to be a possibility right?

I would think not because there are a lot of FA outfielders available. With Buxton, Kepler, Walker in the  wings, I think a short-term veteran fits better into their immediate plans.

[sane]

 

I would think not because there are a lot of FA outfielders available. With Buxton, Kepler, Walker in the  wings, I think a short-term veteran fits better into their immediate plans.

Add Rosario, Santana,  Arcia, , and Sano (as long as Plouffe stays).

[sane]

 

AL teams should have had priority over the NL teams when it came to claiming Pinto.

If that is true, my theory is B.S.!

[Dman]

Not that prospects lists are everything but Jones is at number 23 on MLB.com.  Dean isn't even listed and I don't even remember Dean being on anyone's top 50 either.  How often do teams give up top 20 prospects to the Rule 5?

Edited November 20, 2015 by Dman

[gil4]

 

You would be bold if you bet on that.

I can help you there.

I think there are a few of us who would line up to take his money

[Seth Stohs]

something to remember...

 

The Twins will likely sign a few free agents. They have to have a few guys on the roster right now who can be DFAd to make room for those free agents. The guys who were just added today can't be DFAd until sometime in spring training. 

 

In other words, if they sign Neal Cotts/Matt Thornton/whoever, they'd likely DFA someone else.

[sane]

 

Not that prospects lists are everything but Jones is at number 23 on MLB.com.  Dean isn't even listed and I don't even remember Dean being on anyone's top 50 either.  How often do teams give up top 20 prospects to the Rule 5?

Those lists were not the Twins' prospect list.

The Twins have their own rankings, and the rest of us haven't seen the Twins prospects as often as their bosses have seen them.

Mat Duffy of the Giants was #2 in NL ROY voting and he was NEVER a prospect until the 2014 World Series. I coached him in High School and Pony League and NONE OF US saw his MLB success coming. He hit .260 with NO HR's in college at Long Beach State. This season with the Giants he hit .295/.334/.428 with 12HR, 85 RBI, .762 OPS as an IF.

Who knew?

[gil4]

 

AL teams should have had priority over the NL teams when it came to claiming Pinto.

Apparently that's just from July 31 to the end of the season (See post #31 on this thread)

[AKTwins]

Losing pinto and artcher is a numbers game. With Murphy, garner and turner pinto is not going to catch. We have plenty of DH/1B types that are in front of pinto not including park. I suspect the twins view artcher as a AAAA type of pitcher. Tonkin has more upside. Maybe a change of scenery will help artcher.

 

I surprised by Jones. He is the type of guy a team will stash. Rosario is not, he has not pitched enough. Some of us hmthough Jones may make his big league debut this year. I just hope it's not for another team.

 

Who cares about Levi. No one will give him a roster spot all year. He is not josh Hamilton or deshields.

[nater79a]

 

Tweeted this a bit ago... these are just estimates, but should still be close:

 

Nice.  Also, quick and easy jump to the 25-man for these guys in case a two week disabled list replacement is needed or even a September call-up.  Even a prorated portion of the 500K+ minimum major league salary is a nice chunk of change.

[Thrylos]

 

Who's your predictions to be lost?

 

Working on that, but the Twins have potentially 5-6 MLB-ready pitchers unprotected (Jones, Williams, Johnson, Peavy, Baxendale, Wimmers, Lee) Jorge who someone might pull a Santana, and  Michael, Rodriguez (not the son of Pudge or Jairo) from the hitter side.  That's 10 here. 

[nater79a]

 

Levi Michael will put up better MLB stats next year than Buxton, it sounds dumb now but Ima be bold bc I'm mad were losing him

 

The real question between Buxton and Michael is who spends more days on the DL in 2016.

 

[Rosterman]

Looking at this again, would Acheter and Pinto make the Twins in 2016? Pinto is too far behind in the DH mix, especially if the Twins DO sign Park. Achter is bullpen filler. Is he better or worse than anyone they have (i.e. Dean, maybe). Again, he is probably Anthony Slama 2.0.

 

The bigger question is the 7 who were added. Will they be contributing to the Twins in 2016? We think Rogers could be in the bullpen at the least. But not sure where Dean fits in, except that the Twins need left-handed depth in the roatation, especially if Darnell ends up being cut for a free agent addition.

 

No one will argue with Walker. He is still a season away from even a callup (at the least, he might get a September cup-of-coffee like Kepler did). But IS worth a spot. Landa, Rosario, Chargolis, Melotakis all could be stashed on a team's roster for 90 days and the DL for the rest, possibly, if one wanted to take that gamble. Will the Twins lose Jones? They are taking a gamble that teams will flinch at his Chattanooga numbers this season. And combined with Bard (also a possibility of loss), Burdi, Cederoth, Jay, Reed and others, the Twins do have depth...names that they do have to address in 2017 and especially 2018...so hopefully they don;t sign any reliever to a longterm contract this season.

 

I don't see Michael making the team as a reserve. I think most teams will wait for him to become a minor league free agent (or a throw-in in a deal).

 

Being a General Manager is a tough job. The Twins ahd to weigh the short-term sparks from some injured guys against the fact of losing them in the organization. They have to look at a 25-man roster that is rpetty well set with a few loose cannons if they do decide to sign a free agent (relief pitcher), plus still having the ability to trade a piece or two (a starter, a third baseman come to mind). That they jettisoned Pinto and Achter this early MIGHT mean that they do have sights on a Rule 5 guy and DO EXPECT to sign Park, so two spots needed to open up anyways.

 

Watchm expect Pinto and Achter to possibly be designated for assignment by the teams that picked them as the off-season progresses. That's the joy of grabbing someone off the waiver wire right now, you can play those games.