Twins Sign Robbie Grossman (Minor League Contract)

[Vanimal46]

 

With that kind of piranha-y goodness coming around, someone's gonna need to send Ozzie Guillen some rubber underpants to wear.

This made me laugh. Thanks for that. Really need it today. 

[bluechipper]

 

Also strikes out alot and is a switch hitter. Sort of like Aaron Hicks with less power and no defense.

A poor man's Aaron Hicks, nice. I can't wait until he takes over as everyday left fielder.

[Thrylos]

 

Walker might never play an inning of OF in the Major Leagues, and Vargas can be cut from the 40 man any time and I won't shed a tear...

 

Yeah this comes across as shuffling chairs around the deck of the Titanic, but finding at bats for someone when Danny Santana, Adam Walker, Kennys Vargas are the ones most likely effected doesn't seem to be cause for great concern 

 

Have you check how Vargas has been hitting in May when it got a bit warmer?   

 

And Vargas has been playing mostly 1B (31/38 Rochester's games)

 

 

[alarp33]

 

Have you check how Vargas has been hitting in May when it got a bit warmer?   

 

And Vargas has been playing mostly 1B (31/38 Rochester's games)

 

Yeah he's starting to hit a little bit as he approaches his 26th birthday.  He's never going to be a fit on this roster since he's not particularly good, and the GM has stockpiled DH's

[nicksaviking]

 

Right, I'm ok with this move if it means no more Danny Santana... but like you said, that's extremely unlikely.  

 

In almost the same number of PA, Danny Santana has been the better MLB player in every measurement and he's a year younger.

[alarp33]

 

In almost the same number of PA, Danny Santana has been the better MLB player in every measurement and he's a year younger.

 

1) I didn't mean it to come across as "I hope Grossman is the long term replacement for Danny Santana".  I meant; "I hope Grossman being called up for the next 4 weeks before the return of Buxton spells the end of the Danny Santana era - fingers crossed!"

 

2) Since the start of 2015 - which obviously removed the ridiculous BABIP inflated 2014 season... this is Danny Santana's line - .223/.247/.302 w/ a 45 wRC+.  I'm pretty sure they could venture over to St. Paul and find an improvement on that in the Saints lineup.  

[jud6312]

 

In almost the same number of PA, Danny Santana has been the better MLB player in every measurement and he's a year younger.

But Robbie Grossman was a Top-100 prospect on one list 4 years ago. That's gotta count for something, right? Obviously, the Twins problems lay squarely on the shoulders of Danny Santana. The blame is all his.

[alarp33]

 

But Robbie Grossman was a Top-100 prospect on one list 4 years ago. That's gotta count for something, right? Obviously, the Twins problems lay squarely on the shoulders of Danny Santana. The blame is all his.

 

Well he's been arguably the worst regular player in baseball since 2015 started, so he certainly deserves plenty of that blame! I don't think anyone said it all rests on him though

[Thrylos]

 

Obviously, the Twins problems lay squarely on the shoulders of Danny Santana. The blame is all his.

 

Nope.   It is all Jerry's and Stellie's fault.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Kepler will play one of the four OF spots or 1B. 

Four OF spots? Is Rochester trying some new radical defensive alignment?

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Maybe my expectations are so freaking low with some of the crap they have done this season, I'm just happy its a guy who's still young, not 34 year olds who would rather retire than play here.  

Darin Mastroianni was once a 26 year old Twin too, and here we are, 4 years later...

[Primetime82]

Just another GROSSMAN move to me! Typical Ryan signing....

[Seth Stohs]

 

Four OF spots? Is Rochester trying some new radical defensive alignment?

 

Yes, they're adding a 'rover' like in slow-pitch softball. HA!

[DocBauer]

Have you check how Vargas has been hitting in May when it got a bit warmer?   

 

And Vargas has been playing mostly 1B (31/38 Rochester's games)

While there is concern as to actually having a ML future with the Twins, (maybe if Mauer does regress and retire to be with family?), Vargas was my top milb player to click this season. After his poor start, he has been much better as of late. There is still a lot of season left. I wouldn't be surprised at all if he ends up with some impressive numbers.

[DocBauer]

My take is this, I think this is a better version of the Murphy signing. While I am not saying I like it or not, or that it's smart or not, it should not take away from Buxton, Walker, Kepler or even Vargas getting AB. 3 OF spots, 1B and DH are all available. This could be an attempt to find another option, that hopefully doesn't completely suck, in order for a Rosario demotion to get AAA time with Buxton and Kepler and get himself right.

 

I don't know that he's even capable, or not, OT to what degree, of actually helping the Twins in any way. BUT, if your plan is to at least temporarily play Rosario, Buxton and Kepler at Rochester before coming back up in the next month or so.

 

Look, we're already losing and having a bad season. I don't like it either. But if a month or two of Arcia getting consistent playing time, Mastroianni, Santana all over the place, Grossman, and Sano in the OF until a permanent move back to 3B would actually be part of a plan until moving the youngsters back up in mass, it might not be the world's worst idea.

[Guest]

Yeah he's starting to hit a little bit as he approaches his 26th birthday.  He's never going to be a fit on this roster since he's not particularly good, and the GM has stockpiled DH's

Bring me up to speed here. Are you talking about Garrett Jones? The Pirates (of course) were very happy to get him for his age 28 season, when he had a 142 wRC+.

[Guest]

He should take Mastrioannis spot if he shows any kind of bat at AAA. Mastrioanni is at best roster fodder and the 25th man who should be the 235th option. Darren Mastrioanni has proven he is the quintessential AAAA player.

So much want to agree, except Robbie G can't play CF, which means his value could be even less than DM's, who hits worse than Bartolo Colon.

 

Look on the bright side. RG has good experience playing for the #1 draft pick.

[alarp33]

Bring me up to speed here. Are you talking about Garrett Jones? The Pirates (of course) were very happy to get him for his age 28 season, when he had a 142 wRC+.

Nope, was pretty clearly talking about Kennys Vargas. But yes, looking for odd statistical outliers to put on each prospect will certainly work.

 

Maybe people have been too hard on Grossman. Just look at JD Martinez, seemed to work out for the Tigers, right?

[Guest]

Nope, was pretty clearly talking about Kennys Vargas. But yes, looking for odd statistical outliers to put on each prospect will certainly work.

Maybe people have been too hard on Grossman. Just look at JD Martinez, seemed to work out for the Tigers, right?

Grossman is a year older than Vargas. He never had as good a year hitting, majors or minors, as Vargas did last year. He never hit in the majors as well as Vargas did in 2014. The Twins have odd patterns of undervaluing their developing players and overvaluing other teams' castoffs, and many fans have learned how to kick the young players, too. It sounds smart, to repeat these maxims of why someone isn't any good. The fact that these maxims exist is a good example how behind the curve in analytics the Twins are. Someone will want Vargas' bat, as soon as the Twins decide to release him.

[twinssporto]

 

It looks like Grossman's elite skill is taking walks. He has a .271 BA in the minors, with a .379 OBP. He walked over 100 times back in 2011, which got BP to rank him their #76 prospect.

Maybe he should be playing in Oakland.  I read Moneyball.  I heard Beane loves those type of players. 

[alarp33]

 

Grossman is a year older than Vargas. He never had as good a year hitting, majors or minors, as Vargas did last year. He never hit in the majors as well as Vargas did in 2014. The Twins have odd patterns of undervaluing their developing players and overvaluing other teams' castoffs, and many fans have learned how to kick the young players, too. It sounds smart, to repeat these maxims of why someone isn't any good. The fact that these maxims exist is a good example how behind the curve in analytics the Twins are. Someone will want Vargas' bat, as soon as the Twins decide to release him.

 

I'm not going to argue about whether the Twins value Grossman or not, for now he was signed to a minor league deal, and I would doubt he ever becomes anything more than a temporary stop gap.  

 

I would be shocked if Vargas was claimed if the Twins removed him from 40 man - there's not a huge market for Designated hitters that don't really hit

[jokin]

 

One key piece missing from these reports: how Grossman was a free agent to begin with.  He opted out of his minor league deal with Cleveland yesterday:

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/05/robbie-grossman-opt-out-free-agent.html

 

Then immediately signs with the Twins today.  Sure sounds like he sees a path to MLB here...

 

I think he's the new David Murphy. 

 

So do you mean he's going to retire just as Terry Ryan is about to promote him to the Twins?

[jokin]

 

He should take Mastrioannis spot if he shows any kind of bat at AAA. Mastrioanni is at best roster fodder and the 25th man who should be the 235th option.

 

Darren Mastrioanni has proven he is the quintessential AAAA player.

 

It seems like Terry Ryan has the market cornered on filling rosters full with "AAAA quintessence".

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I would be shocked if Vargas was claimed if the Twins removed him from 40 man - there's not a huge market for Designated hitters that don't really hit

I think Vargas would get claimed.  He can still be optioned this season, and he's getting back to his usual solid minor league hitting this month (1.086 OPS).  I see a few teams around the league who could use a 1B/DH, and a few more who could stash one in AAA for the low cost of a 40-man roster spot.

 

Of course, I don't think anyone would give up much for Vargas in trade.  He still doesn't have great odds of MLB success, it's his last option year, and he's totally blocked with the Twins -- the Twins are very likely to drop him from the 40-man by October/November, so teams will just wait it out rather than give up anything to get him.  But I would guess there would be takers on a waiver claim -- you'd get 4+ months to audition him this year, and if you could later pass him through waivers yourself, you could outright him to AAA and keep him for another year too.

[Rosterman]

He will replace Mastro and make Danny Santana a super sub eventually, if we don't send down Rosario, which might be a good thing, but still...then we send down Sano, too.

 

And there is a good chance we would lose Mastro if he is cut, going thru waivers and not having to return to the Twins if he wishes...again.

[jokin]

 

 

I'm not going to argue about whether the Twins value Grossman or not, for now he was signed to a minor league deal, and I would doubt he ever becomes anything more than a temporary stop gap.  

 

I would be shocked if Vargas was claimed if the Twins removed him from 40 man - there's not a huge market for Designated hitters that don't really hit

 

As the weather is warming up, so is Vargas' bat. Here's his May slash:

 

.346/.471/.615/(1.086)

 

with 14 walks and 10 Ks.

 

I think in this hitting starved world in which we live in that more than one team would put a claim in and take a risk-free chance on Vargas.

[alarp33]

 

I think Vargas would get claimed.  He can still be optioned this season, and he's getting back to his usual solid minor league hitting this month (1.086 OPS).  I see a few teams around the league who could use a 1B/DH, and a few more who could stash one in AAA for the low cost of a 40-man roster spot.

 

Of course, I don't think anyone would give up much for Vargas in trade.  He still doesn't have great odds of MLB success, it's his last option year, and he's totally blocked with the Twins -- the Twins are very likely to drop him from the 40-man by October/November, so teams will just wait it out rather than give up anything to get him.  But I would guess there would be takers on a waiver claim -- you'd get 4+ months to audition him this year, and if you could later pass him through waivers yourself, you could outright him to AAA and keep him for another year too.

 

I guess we will find out in Oct./Nov. what other teams think of him, because yeah, like you said this will be his last season in the Twins org.  There's no need to cut him from the 40 man now obviously, with only 39 (and Mastro, Dean, etc. being more "cuttable") ... so I'm not suggesting they do that. 

 

When I say he wouldn't get claimed, I'm eliminating 15 teams right off the bat, because I think he is a DH.... I'm guessing the other 14 AL teams have some sort of "Kennys Vargas" in their own system they would value more.  Nothing in his swing, numbers, etc. suggest to me he's capable of being a productive ML hitter.  

 

[alarp33]

 

As the weather is warming up, so is Vargas' bat. Here's his May slash:

 

.346/.471/.615/(1.086)

 

with 14 walks and 10 Ks.

 

I think in this hitting starved world in which we live in that more than one team would put a claim in and take a risk-free chance on Vargas.

 

If the belief is multiple teams would have interest in him for their 40 man, I'm not sure why the Twins haven't traded him, even for a low level prospect?  I think most can agree he has no future in MN, rather than risk missing out on waivers, why hasn't anyone attempted to get him?

[jokin]

 

If the belief is multiple teams would have interest in him for their 40 man, I'm not sure why the Twins haven't traded him, even for a low level prospect?  I think most can agree he has no future in MN, rather than risk missing out on waivers, why hasn't anyone attempted to get him?

 

My guess would be that teams already might have made inquiries and Ryan is (temporarily) overvaluing him as critical DH depth and doesn't like what teams might be offering. And also, other teams know that Vargas is soon out of options and can be had for free as a FA.

[alarp33]

 

My guess would be that teams already might have made inquiries and Ryan is (temporarily) overvaluing him as critical DH depth and doesn't like what teams might be offering. And also, other teams know that Vargas is soon out of options and can be had for free as a FA.

 

If you are right and Ryan is holding onto him as "DH depth", then I just don't know what to say....