Article: Surprises Mark Twins Opening Day Roster

[Seth Stohs]

Reports out of Ft. Myers tell us that the Twins have made their final roster cuts and we know the - at least tentative - Opening Day roster. (Please note that the Twins have not made these moves official yet, so it is subject to some editing if we learn anything more.)

• Adalberto Mejia is the 5th starter.
• Tyler Duffey will pitch out of the bullpen.
• Chris Gimenez will be added to the 40-man roster and be the backup catcher.
• John Ryan Murphy was optioned.
• Byungho Park was reassigned to minor league camp. (as were JB Shuck, Matt Hague, Bengie Gonzalez, Ben Paulsen, and Eddy Rodriguez)
• It is not yet known whether Kennys Vargas has been optioned or whether he'll start the season on the Disabled List.

What does it all mean?In a strange and surprising decision, the Twins have decided to start the season with 13 pitchers.

 

Mejia has won the fifth starter job, but Duffey is also on the roster. With two off days in the first nine days of the season, it's an interesting decision to go with 13 pitchers.

 

It certainly limits Paul Molitor's bench, but then again, it isn't as if there are guys on the roster that will be used as pinch hitters. The core of the lineup is comprised of guys that won't be pinch hit for. But it is limiting, no doubt.

 

With Park heading to AAA to start the season and Vargas seemingly on the DL, it means that the Twins primary Designated Hitter will be Robbie Grossman (a move I discussed in our forums two weeks ago, and yet am a bit surprised about). If Park was on the 40-man roster, there would be no doubt that he would be on the roster, but since he isn't, many will be very surprised by the decision. He hit over .350 and hit six home runs. Though, as we always remind people, spring training stats don't matter.

 

So here is the Twins tentative Opening Day roster:

 

Starting Pitchers:

Ervin Santana

Hector Santiago

Kyle Gibson

Phil Hughes

Adalberto Mejia

 

Bullpen:

Brandon Kintzler

Matt Belisle

Ryan Pressly

Taylor Rogers

Craig Breslow

Michael Tonkin

Justin Haley

Tyler Duffey

Ryan O'Rourke (DL)

 

Catchers:

Jason Castro

Chris Gimenez

 

Infielders:

Joe Mauer

Brian Dozier

Miguel Sano

Jorge Polanco

Eduardo Escobar

Ehire Adrianza (DL)

 

Outfielders:

Eddie Rosario

Byron Buxton

Max Kepler

Robbie Grossman

Danny Santana

 

So there you have it. A long, extended (due to WBC) spring training is all-but-complete. We have our tentative Opening Day roster, and the team will soon travel to Minneapolis for Monday's Opening Day.

 

Why do I keep saying 'tentative Opening Day roster?' It is also likely that Derek Falvey and Thad Levine are fielding phone calls from other teams or agents looking to find roster spots for their players.

 

In reality, it's possible the roster changes by April 3rd. It's also likely the roster is very different even within the next two or three weeks. In fact, John Bonnes flies out of Ft. Myers today, but he was able to be in the clubhouse this morning where he reported the following after the press met with manager Paul Molitor. Molitor referred to the roster as "short term."

 

 

What do you think?

 

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[GP830]

Well- I'm a bit stunned by the lack of Park and the inclusion of DanSan. But here we are...

[DaveW]

It's almost like they are begging fans not to care and are trying to lose another 100+

 

Park going to the minors is the most baffling, wtf?

 

Danny Santana has no real purpose being on the roster and starting the season with 13 pitchers is unheard of.

 

Does this team have any idea, plan or clue on what they are doing?

[Guest]

Wow!

 

To start the season, Duffey's the long man, Haley will be hidden, Mauer is going to play 1B every day, Berrios may be the #6 starter.

 

Within a few weeks, they may need to find roster spaces for Park and Adrianza, and/or Vargas, if he's hitting well. Those will be interesting decisions.

 

[Squirrel]

So, once Adrianza is off the DL, does he have a spot on the roster? In place of whom?

[Willihammer]

Fingers crossed the Duffman excels out of the pen like he did at Rice.

[GP830]

I guess the plan is to let Park continue to rake against AAA pitching to prove he's not just picking apart low-level, late-inning, spring training guys. I assume Vargas and Park will split DH and 1B duties in Rochester and we'll see one of them sooner than later.

[Seth Stohs]

 

So, once Adrianza is off the DL, does he have a spot on the roster? In place of whom?

 

My guess is that he isn't guaranteed anything. They'll likely get his oblique healthy and send him out on a full 20-day rehab and see what they see at that time, offensively and defensively. 

[GP830]

 

It's almost like they are begging fans not to care and are trying to lose another 100+

Park going to the minors is the most baffling, wtf?

Danny Santana has no real purpose being on the roster and starting the season with 13 pitchers is unheard of.

Does this team have any idea, plan or clue on what they are doing?

I assume there is some hyper, next-level thought process here that none of us are privvy to yet. The notion that Mauer will begin to play a bit less this season takes a nose dive when you realize both of his back-ups are now in Rochester. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Fingers crossed the Duffman excels out of the pen like he did at Rice.

 

I personally think that's the best spot for him, and he could do very well out there. 

[Yossarian]

Methinks the 25-man looks very, very different by 15 June.

 

And Rochester should have a heckuva team.

[Squirrel]

I think they designed this roster in order to delay decision making on some of the players. And I'm not qualifying that as a bad or good thing ... yet.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Danny Santana has no real purpose being on the roster and starting the season with 13 pitchers is unheard of.

Does this team have any idea, plan or clue on what they are doing?

 

They know exactly what they're doing. No doubt about that. And, it's just a short-term thing.

 

Also, when you have this short of a bench, a guy like Santana - even if he's not great in any defensive spot - has value. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Was it Falvey or Levine who said earlier in spring, "we will carry 12 pitchers."

 

It seemed like a firm decision at the time.

[drjim]

 

Methinks the 25-man looks very, very different by 15 June.

 

And Rochester should have a heckuva team.

 

I think it looks a lot different by 15 April.

[Lenny Green]

Un f-ing believable re: Park.  Easily the best story coming out of spring training.  I'm rooting hard for Falvine, but they peed down their leg on this early decision.  I understand valuing their assets, but you need to come out of the gate with your best foot forward.  I have a trip to Mpls in early April and was looking at attending the Indians game on the 17th-  I'll pass, thank you very much.

[savvyspy]

 

They know exactly what they're doing. No doubt about that. And, it's just a short-term thing.

 

Also, when you have this short of a bench, a guy like Santana - even if he's not great in any defensive spot - has value. 

Isn't Santana out of options too? It would make sense to give him one last shot early in the year. 

 

Also, does Grossman as DH hint that the analytics side is starting to win out? With his high OBP and horrible defense he's a guy you want in the lineup but not in the field. I'd love to see how he would do in the leadoff or #2 spot. The one thing Grossman does is get on base.

[drjim]

 

I personally think that's the best spot for him, and he could do very well out there. 

 

I agree Duffey would do well in the pen, but I suspect he is there as a ready replacement for Hughes.

 

As bad as the bullpen is, rotation is still the main problem, right? Santana and Gibson should be able to get some innings, but Santiago is not exactly stretched out, Hughes is a big question mark and Mejia is a complete wildcard. It could come around, but could be very dicey out of the gate.

[woolywoolhouse]

So the plan to rest Mauer more early in the season is by carrying no one else as the back-up first baseman? I hope Danny Santana bought a first baseman's glove from Sports Authority's clearance sale last fall.

[mazeville]

This is why you let your front office hire the manager and not force them to keep a guy who lost 100-plus games in 2016.

 

The two need to be on the same page, and as TD tweeted today, this sounds like dysfunction between the manager and the team. 

 

The team keeps Danny Santana. It sent down a guy who led the team in homers and RBIs during spring training. They are keeping old players on the roster at the expense of young guys with more upside. They have 13 pitchers! In April! 

 

Ugh. Two weeks ago I would have told you the Twins would win 75-80 games. This morning I reduced that to 70-75. Now I'm wondering if they'll win 67. I don't think this bodes well at all. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Wow!

 

To start the season, Duffey's the long man, Haley will be hidden, Mauer is going to play 1B every day, Berrios may be the #6 starter.

 

Within a few weeks, they may need to find roster spaces for Park and Adrianza, and/or Vargas, if he's hitting well. Those will be interesting decisions.

Good point. Who else plays first?

[bird]

Leads me to believe they're coming out of the blocks very concerned about short starts from Santiago and Hughes in particular, and aren't ready to trust a couple of the others to give them longer starts either.

[gocgo]

The thing that I'm struggling with on the Park decision is that he struggled with guys who could throw 95 mph heat last year.  By all reports, he has worked on it and made big improvements.  His reward?  Back to the minors.  What kind of a message does that send to him and the rest of the guys in the minors?  Work hard and improve on your weaknesses and you won't be rewarded....but work hard and improve on your weaknesses!

[drjim]

I thought Park would make it, but I'm not all that high on Park of Vargas, so I can live with Grossman as the primary DH out of the gate. I bet we see a decent chunk of Sano at DH too.

 

Kepler is probably the backup 1b right?

[Mike Sixel]

I would guess Kepler is the backup 1B, yes.

 

13 pitchers, with off days. Must be some kind of stat head nerd geek thing no else has thought of....

[tobi0040]

When Mauer needs a rest they will put Grossman at 1B and DH Danny Santana. My source said they reached out to Jason Tyner but he is firmly retired.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Gimenez played a lot of outfield in camp. How much outfield will he play during the regular season?

[drjim]

 

I would guess Kepler is the backup 1B, yes.

 

13 pitchers, with off days. Must be some kind of stat head nerd geek thing no else has thought of....

 

Looks like Gimenez at 1b.

 

I think 13 pitches represents the question marks in the rotation. 3 guys they are very uncertain of out of the chute.

[drjim]

 

Gimenez played a lot of outfield in camp. How much outfield will he play during the regular season?

 

Grossman and Danny Santana baby!

[Vanimal46]

So, once Adrianza is off the DL, does he have a spot on the roster? In place of whom?

He should take D Santanas spot for sure. Adrianza had a strong spring FWIW and can handle the infield way better than D San ever will.