Article: Twins Claim Ehire Adrianza, DFA Pat Light

[Seth Stohs]

The Minnesota Twins announced on Monday that they have claimed infielder Ehire Adrianza from the Milwaukee Brewers.

 

To make room on the 40-man roster, hard-throwing right-hander Pat Light was designated for assignment.Ehire Adrianza has spent parts of each of the past four seasons with San Francisco Giants. He was DFAd by the Giants late last month when the Giants signed Nick Hundley. The Brewers claimed him but then put him back on the DFA roller coaster. The Twins claimed him.

 

He hasn't hit much in the big leagues, .220 over 154 games and 331 plate appearances. He primarily played shortstop and second base, but he also played a little at the corner infield spots.

 

The 27-year-old could compete for the 25th man on the 40-man roster, or the Twins could keep the roller coaster going.

 

Pat Light was acquired by the Twins at the July trade deadline last year for LHP Fernando Abad.

 

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[ppearson50]

Meh.

[Seth Stohs]

I'd say that the Twins are trying to obtain depth of players that play defense. That was the decision with Castro. 

 

My guess is he'll be DFAd, hoping they can get him to Rochester. That way they have someone to be a backup middle infielder who can catch the ball if Polanco can't, or something else. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

This guy can catch the ball. I like the move. We don't need every player to be a masher at the plate.

 

Small sample but Fangraphs loves his UZR/150.

[GP830]

 

I'd say that the Twins are trying to obtain depth of players that play defense. That was the decision with Castro. 

 

My guess is he'll be DFAd, hoping they can get him to Rochester. That way they have someone to be a backup middle infielder who can catch the ball if Polanco can't, or something else. 

As I said in the previous thread--

It feels like they are DFAing guys with either more potential or higher upside in exchange for guys who either conflict with, or represent downgrades to, players who are already on the roster that aren't being DFA'd. 

[Kwak]

It's like changing the paper rolls in the men's room.

[Thrylos]

I hope that he is ahead of Danny Santana in the IF depth mix.  Great glove at SS, was rated among top Giants' prospects from 2008-13.  Switch hitter and bat weak, esp. from the left side.  Better than Florimon, but not that much.

[notoriousgod71]

Dick spent all of the last two months of the season telling me how great Pat Light was. What gives?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Dick lied?

[DaveW]

File this under "meh"

 

I don't understand why Santana remains on the 40 man roster at this point though. This guy is a better replacement IMO.

 

Still think they messed up by DFA Park though. If Light was gonna be let go anyways, why not just let Light go last week and DannyS today?

Edited February 6, 2017 by DaveW

[Rosterman]

I was thinking Pat Light would be up to be a free agent himself if he chose, which was one of the reasons the Red Sox dealt him to the Twins...they had no place for him on their own 40-man.

 

But not sure the reasoning behind this 40-,am acquisition, unless they hope to flip him to the minors themselves.

 

 

[diehardtwinsfan]

honestly, the only thing this tells me is what Falvine thinks of Antony's ability to acquire talent... I'm only half joking there.  Wasn't expecting a ton for Abad, but it didn't take long to move Light off the roster. I wonder if he'll get claimed.

[Tom Froemming]

I feel a little silly saying it, because there's probably a decent chance Adrianza gets DFA'd in a week if the Twins find somebody better floating out there, but I love this move. I've been clamoring for the Twins to add a legit defensive SS all offseason. No, this guy's probably not a threat to steal the starting gig (unless the new FO is really serious about improving the defense), but it's great to have a reliable glove man available to start once or twice a week and be a late inning defensive replacement off the bench. Some things to consider ...

 

1. Of the 88 players to amass 300 innings at SS since 2013, Adrianza ranks 3rd in UZR/150. He trails only Andrelton Simmons and Francisco Lindor. Sure, that's over a small sample, but still encouraging.

 

2. Adrianza has hit .311/.391/.431 in 439 PAs at AAA. Maybe there's more in that bat than he's show with the Giants.

 

3. I know a lot of people were intrigued by Pat Light's heat, but the guy averaged 5.7 BB/9 in Triple A over 57 total appearances. That's rough.

[Shaitan]

 

This guy can catch the ball. I like the move. We don't need every player to be a masher at the plate.

Small sample but Fangraphs loves his UZR/150.

If he can pinch run too, I'd say he's competition for DSan.

[TheLeviathan]

Is he a legit defensive SS though?

[Tom Froemming]

 

Is he a legit defensive SS though?

The Giants have never put him in the outfield over his entire minor league career. He has played 6,411 minor league innings, less that 100 of them have come at a position other than SS. Pretty clear they thought he was legit there.

 

A lot of his time in San Francisco had been spent at 2B, but that's just because Brandon Crawford is a plus defensive SS.

[jud6312]

Unless the point is to try to DFA and try to sneak him to Rochester, I don't get it.

 

Yes, it's important to have a bench that can play some defense, but you have to have something that can pinch hit if needed. A bench of Grossman, Escobar, Adrianza/Santana and Gimenez/Murphy is dreadful.

[ppearson50]

 

Unless the point is to try to DFA and try to sneak him to Rochester, I don't get it.

 

Yes, it's important to have a bench that can play some defense, but you have to have something that can pinch hit if needed. A bench of Grossman, Escobar, Adrianza/Santana and Gimenez/Murphy is dreadful.

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe they are on the verge of signing Napoli or Blanton and figured why not claim this guy, and DFA him and keep him the way the Braves kept Adam Walker. . 

[David HK]

Welp.  So much for "selling high" on Abad.

[TheLeviathan]

 

The Giants have never put him in the outfield over his entire minor league career. He has played 6,411 minor league innings, less that 100 of them have come at a position other than SS. Pretty clear they thought he was legit there.

 

A lot of his time in San Francisco had been spent at 2B, but that's just because Brandon Crawford is a plus defensive SS.

 

Is he actually good at it though?  Sure, it's his primary position, but from what I've read he's hardly shown wizardry there.  

 

If you've got a .600 OPS, you better be a wizard.

[Tom Froemming]

 

Unless the point is to try to DFA and try to sneak him to Rochester, I don't get it.

 

Yes, it's important to have a bench that can play some defense, but you have to have something that can pinch hit if needed. A bench of Grossman, Escobar, Adrianza/Santana and Gimenez/Murphy is dreadful.

Look at the staring lineup, who are you pinch hitting for? Maybe Castro, but not many managers like to put in the backup catcher unless absolutely necessary. Also, Grossman had a 126 OPS+ last season, maybe that was a mirage, but you gotta give him some credit. Outside of Dozier he was their best offensive player last year.

[jud6312]

 

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe they are on the verge of signing Napoli or Blanton and figured why not claim this guy, and DFA him and keep him the way the Braves kept Adam Walker. . 

I think I'd take this guy over Napoli. Talk about a nightmare scenario. Could they keep him and Grossman given neither of them should even be allowed to own gloves? lol

 

There has to be someone who can hit their body weight and not be a complete embarrassment in the field. Happy medium.

[darin617]

This move doesn't do much for me in the least. I felt Pat Light had a huge upside but needed time to work out the kinks. I would not be shocked to see a team offer the Twins a player for Light if they want him and are not on top of waiver list.

[jud6312]

 

Look at the staring lineup, who are you pinch hitting for? Maybe Castro, but not many managers like to put in the backup catcher unless absolutely necessary. Also, Grossman had a 126 OPS+ last season, maybe that was a mirage, but you gotta give him some credit. Outside of Dozier he was their best offensive player last year.

I give Rob zero credits. He started out hot and coasted the rest of the way to mediocrity. And he has to be handcuffed to someone who can play defense, because he certainly can't.

 

Maybe this guy and ole Rob can count as one spot.

[Vanimal46]

As I said in the other thread, this is the type of waiver wire move to make in order to end the D Santana era.

 

There's probably a 10% chance Light gets claimed, so he'll end up in AAA.

 

I'll like this move a lot more if Adrianza is also DFA'd so we can clean up this mess on the 40 man roster.

[Doomtints]

The sample size with this one is very small. The Twins might think they see something that no one else does. He spreads the ball around when he hits and he makes good contact, even if the results aren't impressive. He needs to draw more walks to be the OBP guy that he needs to be in order to succeed. He has no power.

 

As far as defense is concerned, he looks about average.  

 

We can be optimistic and hope that the same underling who was making these weird marginal moves under the previous regime is not still making them, and that there IS something to see with this guy.

Edited February 7, 2017 by Doomtints

[jud6312]

 

As I said in the other thread, this is the type of waiver wire move to make in order to end the D Santana era.

There's probably a 10% chance Light gets claimed, so he'll end up in AAA.

I'll like this move a lot more if Adrianza is also DFA'd so we can clean up this mess on the 40 man roster.

If it did, I wouldn't mind. But given Robbie's defensive shortcomings (understatement of the century), I think they'll continue to view DanSan as a viable 4th OF. 

 

Light I'm not concerned about too much either way.

 

But if the endgame is taking the Santana tool from Molly's belt, they need to just go ahead and do it. Unless the plan is to have Escobar spend more time in the OF, too.

[Tom Froemming]

 

I give Rob zero credits. He started out hot and coasted the rest of the way to mediocrity. And he has to be handcuffed to someone who can play defense, because he certainly can't.

 

Maybe this guy and ole Rob can count as one spot.

If he can just coast to a .272/.352/.422 line like he had a the second half of last season, I'm totally cool with him being the top bench bat on a team that should have no trouble scoring runs. 

[mikelink45]

Okay - help me understand.  We sign a pitcher and DFA a hitter.  We sign a fielder and DFA a pitcher.   Pat Light throws 100 and he's got potential - good bye.  Park hits a hundred home runs and fills the DH slot - good bye.  Belisle is 36 and is a one year filler.  This guy can't hit, cannot make it with the Brewers who are only slightly better than us.   What am I suppose to understand?

[Seth Stohs]

 

Dick spent all of the last two months of the season telling me how great Pat Light was. What gives?

 

They were able to get him in exchange for 2 months of Fernando Abad....