Wolfson: Twins Sign LHP Sean Burnett (Min Lg Deal)

[Brandon Warne]

 

I will pile on, but I also mean this as an honest question.

What difference does it make that Burnett throws left-handed?

LHB are 0-18 against Abad, with 1:5 BB:K
LHB are 0-6 against O'Rourke, with 2:2 BB:K

 

Because for better or worse the baseball mantra is "you can never be too left-handed." I don't really care what hand he throws with. He hasn't been good in a while -- or healthy I don't think -- but it's worth a shot if he can do something different than what the current pen does. I'm skeptical of that. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

We could eventually be looking at the following bullpen for your 2016 Twins:

 

Jepsen (FA after season)

Burnett (FA after season)

Perkins (FA after 2017 guarantee + 2018 team option)

Abad (arbitration this winter, FA after 2017)

Kintzler (arbitration this winter, FA after 2017)

Tonkin (can't be optioned, same as all of the above players too)

 

And possibly if Gibson comes back, but Dean stays in the rotation, we could add:

 

Nolasco (FA after 2017 guarantee) -- I assume it's safe to omit Nolasco's 2018 option, right?

 

That's a rebuilding bullpen right there!  Should clear up a lot of questions going into the winter... I hate to wish players to get or stay injured, but it might be bad for Perkins to return anytime soon and add to this short-term veteran logjam.  (To be fair, Burnett was probably signed because of Perk's latest setback, although I wouldn't be surprised if he stuck around after Perk's eventual return.)

[tobi0040]

I don't know that he thinks it's fun.

 

But just like most of us, if we score big on a prediction, fantasy player, or get in on the ground floor of a hit TV show, we tend to be proud of our take and perhaps ride it longer than we otherwise would. I bet this happens a lot with amateurs on the stock market also.

I think he likes to be proven right with rehab projects. Seems like they tend to make the roster when not warranted and have a longer leash than others.

 

The fact that an 11 win team is signing a 33 year old and will hand him $1M when he makes the team is yet another sign that Terry is utterly clueless.

 

For those keeping track at home. We tendered Milone, Fein, and now handed this guy $1M (he will be up shortly). That is $8.5M we could have spent on the pen this off-season.

[Rosterman]

Wow, yes. $8.5 million. And a rebuilding team doesn't need anyone on staff that will be a free agent next year, or probably even at the end of the 2017 season, if you aren't willing to sign them longterm.

 

$8.5 million. Combine that with the 445 million for a starting rotation that is pretty bad. THE TWINS could gamble BIG on players and still not lose, when you look at the big picture. Two $20 million starts. An $8 million solid killer relief specialist. And we would be no worse off than we are now, even if they ended up tanking!

[gmarais66]

I don't know why there are so many negative comments on this move. We are through just one-fourth of the season and the Twins starters have been lucky to throw five innings (see the UGLY 2 2/3 innings Nolasco threw last night). At this pace, they are going to be burning through relievers at a breathtaking pace. They need every arm they can get. Chances are good, nearly every reliever in Rochester is going to be called into service at some point. Ryan is just restocking the shelves for the inevitable need for arms down the road. 

[nicksaviking]

 

I think he likes to be proven right with rehab projects. Seems like they tend to make the roster when not warranted and have a longer leash than others.

The fact that an 11 win team is signing a 33 year old and will hand him $1M when he makes the team is yet another sign that Terry is utterly clueless.

For those keeping track at home. We tendered Milone, Fein, and now handed this guy $1M (he will be up shortly). That is $8.5M we could have spent on the pen this off-season.

 

If Burnett ends up being a trade-deadline move I'm just fine with this one. I don't know that he has anything left but his name value will help if he does out-perform our expectations.

 

You still won't get much for him though, and there's also risk that he'll out-perform expectations and this front office would extend him instead, as we've seen that more than once.

[Mike Sixel]

In a lost season, when you have "too many people on teh 40 man"....you need to bring up young players and see who can hack it. This year is lost. This year should be about next year and the year after. I don't see how anyone can say this is a good idea, in the grand scheme of prepping this team for next year.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Chances are good, nearly every reliever in Rochester is going to be called into service at some point.

We've heard this before, and it hasn't necessarily been true.  Also, Chargois is the only reliever in Rochester right now who is on the 40-man roster.  Boshers, O'Rourke, Runzler, Walden, Wimmers, and now Burnett are the others, plus non-40-man starters who could see MLB bullpen duty, led by Milone and Wheeler.

[tobi0040]

If Burnett ends up being a trade-deadline move I'm just fine with this one. I don't know that he has anything left but his name value will help if he does out-perform our expectations.

 

You still won't get much for him though, and there's also risk that he'll out-perform expectations and this front office would extend him instead, as we've seen that more than once.

Nail on the head. If it turns out to be a deadline move...great. We hear that everytime TR goes dumpster diving.

 

But the player has to 1) Be good 2) Be traded at the deadline and 3) Get something of value in return.

 

TR does five of these a year. I can't think of one in the last 5-6 years at least that has hit even two of these three

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

TR does five of these a year. I can't think of one in the last 5-6 years at least that has hit even two of these three

 

Sam Fuld?

[jokin]

 

As bad as the pen has been, there's room for this guy and Chargois at the major league level for what it's worth.  Plenty of guys likely to be removed at some point.  I've been on record saying I think JT needs a bit more of a sample in AAA, and I'm guessing that by mid to late June, if he's still doing what he's doing he should get the call. 

 

At AA, our bigger names have been hurt at this point.  I'm hoping this is just AAA depth and have no issues with it in that scenario.  If not, I'd rather give Chargois/Boshers a chance over this guy.

 

AAA depth...? For all of three+ weeks?

[jokin]

 

 He hasn't been good in a while -- or healthy I don't think -- but it's worth a shot if he can do something different than what the current pen does.

 

I'm skeptical of that. 

 

Who isn't?

 

This move- at this point in the season- smacks of sheer desperation, maybe a 100-to-1 shot. In a long-ago lost season, why? Even if Burnett somehow miraculously succeeds, nothing is truly "gained"- except they re-sign him and further muddle the RP situation going into next season.

 

Perhaps this is just a continuation of the "message-sending", that started with Fien and Milone, to all of the players in the entire organization. Something along the lines of:

 

"We've made things too comfortable for all of you, for too long. Time to get your act together and step up. To prove that I mean what I say, I'm willing to replace you on the roster at a moment's notice with the latest DFA or waiver wire wonder... check that, I'll replace you with the first guy who picks up the phone and asks me for a job."

[Platoon]

"We got a call from a guy that said we should take a look at this guy. That's what i need to continue to do. Now we are being rewarded."

Have I got a deal for you. You call Terry, tell him you know a guy they should look at. That would be me. Soft tossing, PTC, veteran, actually very veteran. I sign the big contract. We meet in the Subway in Rochester, and I go halfsies with you. (Minus travel expenses, and the $5 foot long of course)

[tobi0040]

Sam Fuld?

If the 1 out of 25 is Fuld, flipped for Milone, who was DFA'd and cleared we need to just stop doing this.

[Mr. Brooks]

Because for better or worse the baseball mantra is "you can never be too left-handed." I don't really care what hand he throws with. He hasn't been good in a while -- or healthy I don't think -- but it's worth a shot if he can do something different than what the current pen does. I'm skeptical of that.

You use the phrase "it's worth it if...."

I'm curious what you mean by that.

Do you think this team can still turn it around and make a playoff run?

[Mr. Brooks]

Chargois is deserving until he comes up and walks the first three batters he faces and then Terry ruined him. You can't win right now no matter what you do -- and that's not a joke, based on results either.

 

Let's keep in mind we're still talking about a pitcher who is fewer than 20 innings removed from walking 5.5 -- FIVE. POINT. FIVE. -- batters per nine last year. I'd err on the side of caution too, and I don't have any skin on the line.

What was Ryan's justification for not improving the pen this offseason?

It was that we had hard throwing youngsters who he hoped would be ready quickly.

That logic makes no sense if he's going to use Chargois 2015 walk rate against him no matter how utterly dominant he is this year.

[tobi0040]

Chargois is deserving until he comes up and walks the first three batters he faces and then Terry ruined him. You can't win right now no matter what you do -- and that's not a joke, based on results either.

 

Let's keep in mind we're still talking about a pitcher who is fewer than 20 innings removed from walking 5.5 -- FIVE. POINT. FIVE. -- batters per nine last year. I'd err on the side of caution too, and I don't have any skin on the line.

It was 4.7 per 9 Across both leagues. Certainly high but look at all his numbers. 9.9 k's, 7.1 H netted him a 2.62 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. 1 HR allowed in 48 IP. 2.1 k to BB.

 

Nothing in 2015 should be holding him back, especially considering what is standing between him.

 

I don't necessarily agree that he is deserving until he walks three batters. I could see Paul firing up the pen after the first BB and Terry optioning him after the game. But they should and would be properly ridiculed for the short leash for yet another talented prospect.