Article: Twins Send Six To Arizona Fall League

[Seth Stohs]

On Wednesday afternoon, MLB announced the rosters for the 2016 Arizona Fall League. Six players in the Twins organization will join Chattanooga pitching coach Ivan Arteaga as members of the Surprise Saguaros.The Twins are sending three position players and three pitchers to the Fall League this year.

 

Maybe the biggest surprise is that catcher Mitch Garver will be returning to Arizona. The Albuquerque, NM, resident caught there last year along with teammate Stuart Turner. Garver moved up to AA Chattanooga to start this season and has now done well since being promoted to Rochester last month. This does not necessarily mean that Garver will not be a September call-up following the Red Wings final game on September 5th as the Fall League doesn't start until October. (the ability to trade Kurt Suzuki is a much bigger factor). Garver was the Twins ninth-round pick in 2013 out of the University of New Mexico.

 

Shortstop Nick Gordon will get another 70-80 plate appearances this fall after a successful season in the Florida State League. The Twins top pick from the 2014 draft has struggled some in August, though he had a five-hit game on Monday night. He is one of the Twins top position player prospects.

 

It was an injury-plagued 2016 for outfielder Tanner English. The terrific defensive centerfielder started the season with the Miracle. He had Lasik eye surgery and on his final day of rehabbing before he would return to the Miracle, he injured his ankle in an extended spring training game. He finally returned to the Miracle lineup earlier this month and will now make up some lost at-bats. English was the Twins 11th- round pick in 2014 out of the University of South Carolina.

 

Lefty Mason Melotakis returned this season from Tommy John surgery. The Twins and Lookouts were cautious in his recovery and he has pitched just 32.1 innings this year. He's spent a couple of DL stints as well. This will give him an opportunity against good competition and should prepare him to compete for a Twins bullpen spot sometime in 2017. He was the Twins second-round pick in 2012 out of Northwestern State University of Louisiana.

 

Right-hander John Curtiss began 2016 in Cedar Rapids, but after being named our Relief Pitcher of the Month in April, he moved up to Ft. Myers where he has been a solid contributor. He was the Twins sixth-round pick in 2014 out of the University of Texas where he was a closer for the College World Series bound team.

 

Like Melotakis, Randy Rosario is a left-hander who was returning from Tommy John surgery. He pitched half of the 2015 season in Cedar Rapids before being added to the 40-man roster. He started this season in the vaunted Ft. Myers rotation. In the last two or three weeks, he has moved up to the bullpen in Chatanooga. The 22-year-old signed with the Twins in 2010 out of the Dominican Republic.

 

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[mazeville]

Mike Berardino mentioned 40-man roster constraints in explaining why Garver won't be a Sept. callup.

 

This is a big problem for the Twins, I think. He deserves at least some consideration. 

[Vanimal46]

 

Mike Berardino mentioned 40-man roster constraints in explaining why Garver won't be a Sept. callup.

 

This is a big problem for the Twins, I think. He deserves at least some consideration. 

That doesn't make much sense to me. There are at least 4-5 easy cuts that could be made on the 40 man. 

[Vanimal46]

At what point are players not allowed to attend the Arizona Fall League? Clearly once they make it to the majors.... But is there an age or years of minor league experience limit that disqualifies other people?

[Seth Stohs]

 

Mike Berardino mentioned 40-man roster constraints in explaining why Garver won't be a Sept. callup.

 

This is a big problem for the Twins, I think. He deserves at least some consideration. 

 

I'm sure if they had found any way of trading Kurt Suzuki, they would have and Garver would have been a September call up. They want three catchers, but not four, which makes sense. 

[108Stitches]

When do they release the instructs invites?

[ashbury]

I'm sure if they had found any way of trading Kurt Suzuki, they would have and Garver would have been a September call up. They want three catchers, but not four, which makes sense. 

Suzuki gone in exchange for a low minor leaguer, Garver comes up in his absence.

 

Suzuki DFA'ed and is released for the last 30 days, same 40-man effect as above, oh no no no, can't do that to bring Garver up.

 

If they are more worried about the optics than what's good for the players, I'm bothered.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I'm sure if they had found any way of trading Kurt Suzuki, they would have and Garver would have been a September call up. They want three catchers, but not four, which makes sense. 

 

so  cut Centeno? Or Suzuki? He's a FA.....

 

It makes zero sense to not have Garver on this roster in Sepbtember, zero. 

 

The only constraints are self induced constraints. 

[Tom Froemming]

Excited to see Gordon on this list. Should be good experience for him to be facing a bunch of Triple-A and Double-A pitchers.

[Rosterman]

It will be an opportunity (hopefully) for Garver to catch everyday. So that is a plus. What are the qualifications for a player to go to AFL? I think they have to be Hugh A+ or above. It is usually a stepping stone to going on the 40-man. And most do make the major leagues in some capacity.

[bluechipper]

Only the Twins would send two 25 year old guys to the AFL. Now, Melotakis is a fine choice, but it's just like them to send a couple old guys over there.

[Mike Sixel]

Remember that Garver thread, where people said we should patient, he'll be in MN in September....good times.

[Platoon]

I'm sure if they had found any way of trading Kurt Suzuki, they would have and Garver would have been a September call up. They want three catchers, but not four, which makes sense.

 

Who's the third catcher?

[Platoon]

Suzuki gone in exchange for a low minor leaguer, Garver comes up in his absence.

 

Suzuki DFA'ed and is released for the last 30 days, same 40-man effect as above, oh no no no, can't do that to bring Garver up.

 

If they are more worried about the optics than what's good for the players, I'm bothered.

When you get a guy who throws out a runner every month, you gotta hang onto him.

[ashbury]

Who's the third catcher?

Murphy's probably the forgotten man here.

[Platoon]

so  cut Centeno? Or Suzuki? He's a FA.....

 

It makes zero sense to not have Garver on this roster in Sepbtember, zero. 

 

The only constraints are self induced constraints.

 

Next spring we will read that he is starting the year in Rochester to get some reps, and more experience.

[Platoon]

Murphy's probably the forgotten man here.

I was not playing nice, Murphy wasn't forgotten.

[Tom Froemming]

 

At what point are players not allowed to attend the Arizona Fall League? Clearly once they make it to the majors.... But is there an age or years of minor league experience limit that disqualifies other people?

Here's a link to the AFL roster rules.

 

Sounds like the main constraints are a player must have less than one year of MLB service time and teams can only send one player from below Double-A. 

[bluechipper]

 

Here's a link to the AFL roster rules.

 

Sounds like the main constraints are a player must have less than one year of MLB service time and teams can only send one player from below Double-A. 

Curtiss, Gordon, and English are all below AA though.

[Winston Smith]

Does anyone know if adding a player in Sept to the 40 man and bringing them up burn up an option year?

 

found an answer: Once a player has been placed on a team's 40-man roster, a team has 3 option years on that player. A player is considered to have used one of those three option years when he spends at least 20 days in the minors in any of those 3 seasons.

 

This probably why they only bring up guys already on the 40 man, just a guess.

Edited August 31, 2016 by Winston Smith

[Tom Froemming]

 

Curtiss, Gordon, and English are all below AA though.

Oh yeah, you're right. Huh, that link is to the AFL official offshoot from MLB.com, but they must not be keeping that updated.

[Platoon]

Some on here wonder about the negativity lately. And it is admittedly increasing exponentially. Myself included. But the Twins manage their roster like they have a catcher next year, and they have reliable SP next year. And I see Buddy pitched a clean inning the other day, meaning he is just an airline ticket from TF. Which will give a rebuilding team with a supposedly stacked MiLB system, the possibility of THREE Indy players on the same roster. I don't know if they will bring up Garver, Murphy, or Turner. They could in theory bring up all three, lord knows there's plenty driftwood on the 40, and there is nothing to be learned watching Centeno or Suzuki play anymore games. Just the chance that a team with likely the worst catching in MLB is having roster issues over a catcher is UGH.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Murphy's probably the forgotten man here.

 

If only we could.....

[bluechipper]

Looks like Nick Gordon will be double-play partners with Yoan Moncada. That should be a fun team to watch. Austin Meadows  is on the team too.

[howieramone2]

 

Some on here wonder about the negativity lately. And it is admittedly increasing exponentially. Myself included. But the Twins manage their roster like they have a catcher next year, and they have reliable SP next year. And I see Buddy pitched a clean inning the other day, meaning he is just an airline ticket from TF. Which will give a rebuilding team with a supposedly stacked MiLB system, the possibility of THREE Indy players on the same roster. I don't know if they will bring up Garver, Murphy, or Turner. They could in theory bring up all three, lord knows there's plenty driftwood on the 40, and there is nothing to be learned watching Centeno or Suzuki play anymore games. Just the chance that a team with likely the worst catching in MLB is having roster issues over a catcher is UGH.

Our woes this season have absolutely nothing to do catching. Do you have any math or science to back that up?

[Mike Sixel]

 

Our woes this season have absolutely nothing to do catching. Do you have any math or science to back that up?

 

I don't think that's what he said, is it? He said they have one of the worst catching situations in the majors, and can't find room on the roster for a 25 year old (who I think will be 26 before next season starts) on the 40 man this September because of a roster crunch....

[Seth Stohs]

 

When do they release the instructs invites?

 

I would think in the next few days, maybe this weekend. Basically it's a bunch of guys from Cedar Rapids down. 

[Squirrel]

AFL assignments is the thread topic. Let's keep it there.

[Winston Smith]

 

I don't think that's what he said, is it? He said they have one of the worst catching situations in the majors, and can't find room on the roster for a 25 year old (who I think will be 26 before next season starts) on the 40 man this September because of a roster crunch....

It's likely not about finding room but, right or wrong, about burning up an option year for a few weeks of play in Sept. 

Is playing 10-12 games in Sept worth burning an option year?

[Seth Stohs]

 

so  cut Centeno? Or Suzuki? He's a FA.....

 

It makes zero sense to not have Garver on this roster in Sepbtember, zero. 

 

The only constraints are self induced constraints. 

 

Yup, those ideas would work and I'd be fine with them... I just try to be realistic too. Ha!