Mitch Garver ready?

[darin617]

So if the Twins get a solid offer to trade Kurt Suzuki would Mitch Garver be ready to make the jump to the majors? From what I read so far he sounds like he has a decent bat and a strong throwing arm but there is no mention of whether he can frame pitches or if he calls a good game behind the plate.

[Mike Sixel]

"ready"? probably not.....but if they deal Suzuki, I would call him up and see what he has, and get his feet wet.....

[Vanimal46]

Agree with Mike. I doubt he's ready, but if Suzuki's traded bring him up to see how he does. Can't be much worse than JR Murphy in April. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

Why wouldn't you just promote Murphy, and move Garver up to AAA?  As bad as Murphy has been, he's still more likely to break camp with the Twins next year.  Maybe if August sees Murphy make no progress, and Garver adjust rapidly to AAA, you could call him up for September.

[darin617]

I have a question, does Mitch Garver need to be added to the 40 man roster next year? If he does, then it would seem at least a September call up would happen.

[clone52]

 

Why wouldn't you just promote Murphy, and move Garver up to AAA?  As bad as Murphy has been, he's still more likely to break camp with the Twins next year.  Maybe if August sees Murphy make no progress, and Garver adjust rapidly to AAA, you could call him up for September.

 

I like the idea of giving Garver a shot this year.  While it is more likely that Murphy will be the guy, there are some advantages to giving Garver the shot.  If he is ready, then we don't have to worry about Murphy next year.  If he's not ready, the time spent in the Big Leagues this year would help him learn what he needs to work on in AAA next year.

[diehardtwinsfan]

No, not ready.  I'd probably call Murphy up though and put Garver in AAA.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Side note, if he's 40 man eligible this offseason, Garver might get a Sept callup as well.

[DaveW]

If you are going to call him up you need to get him "starter" at bats.

Murphy is still dogging it in AAA, so my guess would be Centero would be the starting catcher and the Twins would sign some AAAA type to be backup until Murphy earns a shot.

[drivlikejehu]

I'd call him up if Suzuki was dealt, and use him as the starting catcher. I'm not even particularly high on him as a prospect, but I don't see a better option. Garver is already 25 1/2 so it wouldn't be quite the same as calling up a young prospect drafted out of HS with only a moderate amount of time in the high minors.

[mudcat14]

He's only caught 41 games this year, but he's thrown out 19 of 37 base stealers.  I'm probably in the camp of moving him to AAA and calling up Murphy.  

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I'd call him up if Suzuki was dealt, and use him as the starting catcher. I'm not even particularly high on him as a prospect, but I don't see a better option. Garver is already 25 1/2 so it wouldn't be quite the same as calling up a young prospect drafted out of HS with only a moderate amount of time in the high minors.

 

Upon further reflection, I think I agree.  Murphy has really been awful at AAA, and Turner is starting to look like he is on the Butera path to MLB.  Might as well turn to Garver, barring a more interesting catcher option coming back in trade.

 

Which is why, although admittedly like most prospects he probably won't amount to anything in MLB, it sure would be have been nice to be able to give John Hicks a shot right now.  Because frankly I'd be shocked if the called up Garver right now, and I wouldn't be surprised if the lack of reasonable alternatives prevents us from dealing Suzuki at all.

[jimmer]

JR murphy has done squat in AAA. 

 

At this point, a demotion to AA is a better option than a promotion to the majors. Do we really want to promote a guy with A .563 OPS who didn't show much on defense either?

[jorgenswest]

He needs a full year of AAA as the main catcher. Our young pitchers need a catcher with good receiving skills. Pinto was rushed but he had 60 AA starts and 14 AAA starts prior to arriving in 2013. He wasn't close to ready.

[clone52]

 

If you are going to call him up you need to get him "starter" at bats.

Murphy is still dogging it in AAA, so my guess would be Centero would be the starting catcher and the Twins would sign some AAAA type to be backup until Murphy earns a shot.

 

If they call Garver up, I would think an every other day or 2 out of 3 with Centeno makes sense for a Catcher's first dip into the major league level.

[clone52]

 

He needs a full year of AAA as the main catcher. Our young pitchers need a catcher with good receiving skills. Pinto was rushed but he had 60 AA starts and 14 AAA starts prior to arriving in 2013. He wasn't close to ready.

 

He probably does, but I don't think giving Garver a cup of coffee at the major league level and then having to spend a full year in AAA next year is a terrible idea.

 

Honestly, the starting C position next year should be an open competition between Murphy, Centeno and Garver and anyone else they bring in.  If Garver is the top option, let him make the jump.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

He needs a full year of AAA as the main catcher. Our young pitchers need a catcher with good receiving skills. Pinto was rushed but he had 60 AA starts and 14 AAA starts prior to arriving in 2013. He wasn't close to ready.

I don't think receiving skills have such a linear correlation with experience.  Pinto was catching professionally for 7 years when he reached MLB, I just don't think he had the natural skills in that department.

 

Garver was a 4 year catcher, and 3 year starter, at a pretty good college program, plus a few years in the pros now, so he's not a late conversion.  I'll defer to others as to what his natural skills are at the position -- "worse than Turner" might still mean good enough for MLB.

[jorgenswest]

I don't think receiving skills have such a linear correlation with experience. Pinto was catching professionally for 7 years when he reached MLB, I just don't think he had the natural skills in that department.

 

Garver was a 4 year catcher, and 3 year starter, at a pretty good college program, plus a few years in the pros now, so he's not a late conversion. I'll defer to others as to what his natural skills are at the position -- "worse than Turner" might still mean good enough for MLB.

I believe he will be good enough for MLB. I don't believe he is today. I believe they risk his development by rushing him. If they believe he has a future as a starting catcher in the major leagues, they need to start playing him at catcher 4-5 times a week beginning right now and continuing into next year in AAA.

[insane16]

I have a question, does Mitch Garver need to be added to the 40 man roster next year? If he does, then it would seem at least a September call up would happen.

If you add anyone to the 40-man roster in September, you may need to DFA whomever he replaces to make room. IMO it's better to give September callups ONLY to 40-man-roster players who will be CERTAIN major leaguers next year. Other players can be added to the 40-man roster at the proper time when necessary for Rule V protection.

[clone52]

 

If you add anyone to the 40-man roster in September, you may need to DFA whomever he replaces to make room. IMO it's better to give September callups ONLY to 40-man-roster players who will be CERTAIN major leaguers next year. Other players can be added to the 40-man roster at the proper time when necessary for Rule V protection.

 

I thought I was reading that the Twins only have 37 guys right now on the 40 man (plus Perkins and Hughes).  If they trade Kintzler, Abad, Nolasco (dream), Milone and/or Suzuki for minor league guys, they could have a lot of 40 man spots open.  If you know you are going to protect someone from the Rule V and you have plenty of open 40 man spots, no reason not to add them early if you want to see them in September.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I believe he will be good enough for MLB. I don't believe he is today. I believe they risk his development by rushing him. If they believe he has a future as a starting catcher in the major leagues, they need to start playing him at catcher 4-5 times a week beginning right now and continuing into next year in AAA.

Yeah, they probably shouldn't have limited his reps this year by pairing him with Turner.  That should have already been corrected with a promotion to AAA, I'd say.

 

That said, I don't think some MLB catching reps before AAA ones is really that risky.

[goulik]

I thought I was reading that the Twins only have 37 guys right now on the 40 man (plus Perkins and Hughes).  If they trade Kintzler, Abad, Nolasco (dream), Milone and/or Suzuki for minor league guys, they could have a lot of 40 man spots open.  If you know you are going to protect someone from the Rule V and you have plenty of open 40 man spots, no reason not to add them early if you want to see them in September.

You are exactly right. We have 39 on the 40 but two of those (Perkins and Hughes) are out for the season and do not count so we have room for 3. ATM I would hold off in case a Dozier or Santana trade brought in multiple guys that were on other peoples rosters. (I.e. -1 trade dozier, +2 prospects already on 40 man but not 25 man rosters. And a Dozier or Santana may get more than just two if someone is desperate)

[DuluthFan]

If Suzuki is traded, the responsible move would to bring Murphy back up to the majors to finish out the season with Centeno. Both Murphy and Centeno need to be evaluated before next season. Their success or failure could lead to an offseason signing. Depending upon who is signed next season, or for that matter, who is acquired in any trades in the next month, Garver may or may not be in the short term plans.

[Monkeypaws]

Nice to see folks are daring to dream big now that the Twins made a deal 

 

 

This whole convo reminds me why Ramos for Capps was my all time most hated trade in Twins history.

[mlhouse]

THe whole problem is with the question.  The complete fascination with "READY" is what is holding htis team back in rebuilding.  

 

OF course Mitch Garver isn't ready.  Sano, Buxton, Rosario, Kepler, Vegas, Berrio, etc werent ready eitehr.  

 

 

BUt what the Twins organization needs to do is get rid of the concept that all of these prospects need to be "ready" and get them up to the major leagues.  At this level these players can be developed.  THey ahve already proven they can hit or pitch in the minors.  Keeping htem down on the farm only hinders our rebuilding process.  Move them up.  Teach them how to play at the MLB level.  THe ones without enough talent will be identifiable pretty quickly and new guys can then be brought up to replace them.  

 

Let them all learn togehter.  Take the mistakes and the loses.  Develop the team.  

 

[insane16]

I thought I was reading that the Twins only have 37 guys right now on the 40 man (plus Perkins and Hughes).  If they trade Kintzler, Abad, Nolasco (dream), Milone and/or Suzuki for minor league guys, they could have a lot of 40 man spots open.  If you know you are going to protect someone from the Rule V and you have plenty of open 40 man spots, no reason not to add them early if you want to see them in September.

I agree if those requirements are met.

1)you know you are going to protect someone from the Rule V

2)plenty of open 40 man spots

Just don't change your mind on #1.

Failure to protect a Sept. call-up, will not generate much loyalty in that kid.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

THe whole problem is with the question.  The complete fascination with "READY" is what is holding htis team back in rebuilding.  

 

OF course Mitch Garver isn't ready.  Sano, Buxton, Rosario, Kepler, Vegas, Berrio, etc werent ready eitehr.  

 

 

BUt what the Twins organization needs to do is get rid of the concept that all of these prospects need to be "ready" and get them up to the major leagues.  At this level these players can be developed.  THey ahve already proven they can hit or pitch in the minors.  Keeping htem down on the farm only hinders our rebuilding process.  Move them up.  Teach them how to play at the MLB level.  THe ones without enough talent will be identifiable pretty quickly and new guys can then be brought up to replace them.  

 

Let them all learn togehter.  Take the mistakes and the loses.  Develop the team.  

 

Garver has been pretty Meh in AA so far this year minus a scorching hot month this month. I'm going to go out on a limb and say he needs to work a bit more in the high minors. Part of this org's problem is constantly pulling these guys from AA/AAA with very little time in the high minors (Hicks, Buxton, Sano, Vargas, and Arcia).  Only Sano has played well enough to make it look smart. I'd entertain Garver as a Sept call up, but not really any earlier. I'd certainly send him to Rochester and see how he does there.

[insane16]

Also, adding players to the 40-man earlier than necessary starts the clock ticking toward arbitration / FA/ etc....

 

[Mike Sixel]

Also, adding players to the 40-man earlier than necessary starts the clock ticking toward arbitration / FA/ etc....

He's almost 26..... FA is not an issue.

[insane16]

 

He's almost 26.....

Sorry, I meant that generically.
I was referring to ANY September call-up who is not on the 40-man, YET.