Article: Trevor May Headed To The Bullpen

[Seth Stohs]

On Wednesday, the battle for five starting pitcher spots in the Twins rotation was narrowed by one. Trevor May was told a couple of hours prior to tonight's game that he will be in the Twins bullpen.

 

(Updated with quotes from Terry Ryan and Paul Molitor.)Prior to Wednesday night's game against the Red Sox, Twins General Manager Terry Ryan informed a group of media gathered that Trevor May would be heading to the bullpen for now.

 

"We are going to put him in the bullpen."

Ryan said that May took the news "Well". He then kind of corrected himself saying, "He took it with the respect for the manager and the pitching coach that this is the way we're going to go. I don't know that he was pleased."

 

Following Wednesday night's game, manager Paul Molitor said, "It went really well. It was made very clear to him, both in conversation on the phone prior to spring training and when he got here, that it would take some extraordinary circumstances in terms of unexpected turns, people also competing for positions, injury."

 

Ryan indicated that he still sees May as a good starter but understand that for this team right now, it is best that May go to the bullpen.

 

"I envision him being a future starter. I don't know why he can't be a starter in the major leagues," He continued, "He's got the pitches. He's got the strength. He's shown he can do it. Right now, for this ball club, it seems to be a better fit coming out of the bullpen."

 

There are still seven pitchers vying for the Opening Day starting rotation. That said, Ryan admitted, "If two guys get hurt in the next two days, what are we going to do?"

 

Molitor said later, "The hard part is potentially he's got a nice four-pitch mix which kind of speaks to starting."

 

The most important thing is what he can do for the team now. Molitor added, "He strengthens our bullpen. This gives us enough time to, I think we've got him scheduled for seven more appearances from now until the end of camp which should be plenty for him to make the adjustment."

The envisioned back-end of the bullpen got much stronger with the decision. Being able to end games with May, Jepsen and Perkins is pretty exciting.

 

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[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Personally, I think it was the wrong decision.  I'll leave it at that and encourage everyone else to maintain said respect. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

I wonder if they still see May as a top setup guy. If they don't carry a true long reliever, I could see them using May more for longer relief assignments, assuming Perkins, Jepsen, and Fien are all healthy (plus Abad and Kintzler if they make the club).

[USAFChief]

Pretty sure they see May as a late game, one inning guy.

 

I'm ok with that, I think it's his best role.

[Kwak]

No surprise here.  His skills show this is his best utilization, and it dovetails with the needs of the organization.

Edited March 17, 2016 by Kwak

[jimmer]

No surprise at all.  He was never in competition for a spot, regardless of what the FO said.. This was obvious even before TR did nothing to improve the bullpen this offseason.  What a waste of talent..

[Vanimal46]

He's the best fit for the bullpen because this has been in the plans all offseason. This shouldn't be shocking news to read.

[DocBauer]

{Facial expression of feigned shock}

 

Whhaaat?

[Blackjack]

Is anybody really surprised? If you raise your hand I have some beachfront land in Alaska to sell you.....

 

People complain because the Twins aren't doing enough to win NOW but when they make a move like this that is best for the 2016 team -- they have plenty of starters, need a good reliever, May fits the bill -- its roundly booed. You can't have it both ways.

 

The only one hurt by this is May, instead of making starter wages when he hits free agency he'll make reliever wages of half half that, Boo hoo, cry me a river.

 

In a few years when Hughes, Santanna, and Nolasco are gone he'll get his chance.

 

 

[TheLeviathan]

I'm glad they didn't carry on the ruse of him competing any longer.  I'd rather him start preparing for his role now if that's what the decision was always going to be any way.

[jimmer]

 

Is anybody really surprised? If you raise your hand I have some beachfront land in Alaska to sell you.....

 

People complain because the Twins aren't doing enough to win NOW but when they make a move like this that is best for the 2016 team -- they have plenty of starters, need a good reliever, May fits the bill -- its roundly booed. You can't have it both ways.

 

The only one hurt by this is May, instead of making starter wages when he hits free agency he'll make reliever wages of half half that, Boo hoo, cry me a river.

 

In a few years when Hughes, Santana, and Nolasco are gone he'll get his chance.

Problem is, they don't have plenty of BETTER starters, so it hurts the 2016 team by having inferior options in the rotation.  Second, they need good relievers because they did nothing to address the bullpen, the self-proclaimed #1 priority in the offseason.

 

And yes, it is unfair to May, who did nothing to deserve the demotion last year to begin with. You say boo-hoo cry me a river,   I say unfair is unfair even for professional ball players.  These guys work hard most of their lives to get to the show and their effort shouldn't be minimalized because you think they should just be happy with having an inferior role.

Edited March 17, 2016 by jimmer

[jimmer]

 

I'm glad they didn't carry on the ruse of him competing any longer.  I'd rather him start preparing for his role now since that's what the decision was always going to be any way.

FTFY

[Craig Arko]

The surprising headline would have been: Trevor May Headed to the White Sox.

[jimmer]

 

The surprising headline would have been: Trevor May Headed to the White Sox.

Almost as surprising as if we had read, 'Trevor May will start the season in the Twins rotation.'

[Oxtung]

Personally I don't have a problem with this decision based on the current roster. There are many adequate options for the starting rotation (Though I think May would be better than a few of those) where as the bullpen is in dire straights without him. So given those realities the team is currently the best with May in the bullpen.

 

My problem is with the offseason decisions that put the Twins in this position to begin with. A spot in the rotation could have been created and the bullpen could have been shored up. IMO that would have been the best solution given the roster at the beginning of the offseason.

[Darius]

I don't like it, and dont agree that it's a "win now" decision. I don't think you can honestly say that he's not one of the best 5 starting pitchers in the organization right now. Especially not one of the best 5 with the big club, since Berrios won't be there either.

 

It has a lot to do with contracts.

[jimbo92107]

This also means the #5 spot is between Nolasco and Milone, with Milone the odds on favorite because he's a better pitcher. So Nolasco will wind up in the pen, where he will stew and mutter to himself.

[jokin]

 

Problem is, they don't have plenty of BETTER starters, so it hurts the 2016 team by having inferior options in the rotation.  Second, they need good relievers because they did nothing to address the bullpen, the self-proclaimed #1 priority in the offseason.

 

And yes, it is unfair to May, who did nothing to deserve the demotion last year to begin with. You say boo-hoo cry me a river,   I say unfair is unfair even for professional ball players.  These guys work hard most of their lives to get to the show and their effort shouldn't be minimalized because you think they should just be happy with having an inferior role.

 

Not only that, but I would think that last year's decision to put May in limbo for a month in the middle of a pennant race, then to a defined bullpen role, followed by the inevitable decision for May's continuation of that role for him in 2016 are all likely going to prove to be very costly to Trevor when he first becomes eligible for arbitration in 2018.

 

 

[jimmer]

 

Not only that, but I would think that last year's decision to put May in limbo for a month in the middle of a pennant race, then to a defined bullpen role, followed by the inevitable decision for May's continuation of that role for him in 2016 are all likely going to prove to be very costly to Trevor when he first becomes eligible for arbitration in 2018.

unfortunately, by then, he'll be 30 or so and pigeonholed into being a reliever in the league.

[Oxtung]

 

I don't like it, and dont agree that it's a "win now" decision. I don't think you can honestly say that he's not one of the best 5 starting pitchers in the organization right now. Especially not one of the best 5 with the big club, since Berrios won't be there either.

It has a lot to do with contracts.

He might be one of the five best starters currently.  Even so the Twins are probably a better team with May pitching high leverage innings out of the 'pen.

[jimmer]

 

He might be one of the five best starters currently.  Even so the Twins are probably a better team with May pitching high leverage innings out of the 'pen.

except there's no guarantee that's what will happen. an article on MLB has Ryan hints he'd like to see him do something else,'"We are going to put him in the bullpen," Ryan said. "I don't know how they'll use him. If he throws two innings, three innings, I don't care. I kind of like those multi-inning relievers."'

 

in any event, if the bullpen had been addressed properly, it wouldn't be necessary (assuming it is, which I question)..

Edited March 17, 2016 by jimmer

[Rezzy]

I'm glad the decision has been made. Now, I'm sure we will all put it to rest. Haha. Fat chance, we'll hear about this every time Milone takes a L.

 

FWIW. I do like May in the pen though. It suits his pitching style well. I also like Milone in the rotation. Lefty with some junk. Now if I can only get Nolasco in the Royals starting rotation...

[jimmer]

 

I'm glad the decision has been made. Now, I'm sure we will all put it to rest. Haha. Fat chance, we'll hear about this every time Milone takes a L.

FWIW. I do like May in the pen though. It suits his pitching style well. I also like Milone in the rotation. Lefty with some junk. Now if I can only get Nolasco in the Royals starting rotation...

Decision was made last year and solidified in the offseason with the lack of moves.

[tobi0040]

I am not surprised and like others think he should be starting.

 

But it has to be a tough pill to swallow to hear the guy that tendered Milone, still has Nolasco in the mix and had all offseason to find a reliever (and didn't try) say, we just need you in the pen for now.

[blairpaul715]

I guess it all depends on what kind of pitcher you think May is, is he a 3-4 type or a 4-5 type...........if you think 3-4 , then i can see the consternation, but if you think he is a 4-5 then I can see why a person doesnt mind the bullpen when he can crank it up a notch. As far as not picking up anyone for the bullpen, I am fine with that, time for the much heralded Twins minor league bullpen guys to put up, and they will be given a chance, IMO.

[jimmer]

 

I guess it all depends on what kind of pitcher you think May is, is he a 3-4 type or a 4-5 type...........if you think 3-4 , then i can see the consternation, but if you think he is a 4-5 then I can see why a person doesnt mind the bullpen when he can crank it up a notch. As far as not picking up anyone for the bullpen, I am fine with that, time for the much heralded Twins minor league bullpen guys to put up, and they will be given a chance, IMO.

I think he has the talent to be a #2-#3 type.

[Jham]

I have never understood the bullish belief that a) May is a better starter than reliever, and b ) May is a good starter.  

 

May was a disaster as a starter two years ago, rookie jitters, etc. I get it.

 

Last year's results were decidedly mixed.  He had good stretches and bad ones.  His fans assumed he was getting unlucky based on his peripheral stats, but refused to consider whether his relatively strong peripherals were aided by luck.  When he was a starter, he gave up a minuscule number of HR/ball hit in the air, and his walk rate was a mile below his career average.  As such, his average to poor traditional stats mixed with good peripherals likely aided by luck made his season impossible to analyze from a standpoint of being definitively clear about anything regarding May as a starter.  The same peripherals told us Nolasco is probably not nearly as bad as we think either, so I don't get the irrational love for May as a starter when it really can't be argued that he's not a flat out better pitcher out of the pen.  I actually expect some regression from him this year there as well.  

[jimmer]

What kind of good luck do you think he was having?  A well above above average BABIP against?

[Rezzy]

I do think he will end up in the rotation at some point, maybe even this year. But for now, I think the Twins will win more games with him being very good every 2/3 outings, late in games. Rather than being pretty good every other outing as a starter.

 

At least that's how I feel about it from watching him pitch last year.

[Kwak]

 

I have never understood the bullish belief that a) May is a better starter than reliever, and May is a good starter.  

 

May was a disaster as a starter two years ago, rookie jitters, etc. I get it.

 

Last year's results were decidedly mixed.  He had good stretches and bad ones.  His fans assumed he was getting unlucky based on his peripheral stats, but refused to consider whether his relatively strong peripherals were aided by luck.  When he was a starter, he gave up a minuscule number of HR/ball hit in the air, and his walk rate was a mile below his career average.  As such, his average to poor traditional stats mixed with good peripherals likely aided by luck made his season impossible to analyze from a standpoint of being definitively clear about anything regarding May as a starter.  The same peripherals told us Nolasco is probably not nearly as bad as we think either, so I don't get the irrational love for May as a starter when it really can't be argued that he's not a flat out better pitcher out of the pen.  I actually expect some regression from him this year there as well.  

Some people are in love with the concept of "a power arm"--to the point of overlooking the other elements of pitching.