Striking Out on the Waiver Wire

[Vanimal46]

So the Twins have the luxury of being the 1st team on the waiver wire this month, but haven't taken advantage of it... Are there not better options to pick up than what they currently have? 

[gunnarthor]

Well, not sure who's been released.  

[Physics Guy]

You sound concerned.  Who have the Twins missed out on that is better than what we have?

[Vanimal46]

 

You sound concerned.  Who have the Twins missed out on that is better than what we have?

 

Not concerned. Mostly I'm curious who the options have been that they could have picked up while they are the #1 priority on the list... 

I've been trying to find a list but all that pops up on Google seems to be fantasy baseball related. 

[drjim]

Nick Franklin (meh) and some other relievers that are also meh.

 

We'll have to see if a legit 4th OF sneaks through.

[Vanimal46]

 

Nick Franklin (meh) and some other relievers that are also meh.

 

We'll have to see if a legit 4th OF sneaks through.

 

Frankly that's what I'm hoping for. Just wanted to see if anyone has been following the waiver wire and if any potential 4th OF has been put on the wire. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

I was hoping for some more activity too, even if it was just taking a couple fliers.

 

But looking at the Phillies from 2015-2016, they didn't do much with their waiver priority either.  They claimed Peter Bourjos in December 2015 and something called Bobby LaFromboise in January 2016.

 

Diamondbacks from 2014-2015 don't appear to have made any waiver claims with their top priority, although that was a now-ousted management team, no?

 

The Astros were much more active, although ultimately didn't wind up with too much.  They did get Collin McHugh with their waiver priority, but not much else over the course of several seasons.  (They also got Will Harris when they only had 4th priority after the 2014 season.)

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I've been trying to find a list but all that pops up on Google seems to be fantasy baseball related. 

Fox Sports MLB Transactions site seems like the best source. You can narrow it down by month/year, team, transaction type, etc.

 

http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/transactions?year=2017&month=4&type=14

 

It's not perfect because I think it is only registering guys with MLB experience.  So it doesn't have the various Adam Brett Walker claims, for example...

[Blake]

 

Frankly that's what I'm hoping for. Just wanted to see if anyone has been following the waiver wire and if any potential 4th OF has been put on the wire. 

Yeah, Santana just isn't a 4th outfielder. Not happy with his play at all yesterday. In fact, I think Molitor would have shown some "outside the box" thinking if he'd have given up the DH and put Kepler in as the late inning defensive replacement. I believe the Twins had reached the point in the game where pitchers were only going to work 1 inning anyway.

[howieramone2]

 

So the Twins have the luxury of being the 1st team on the waiver wire this month, but haven't taken advantage of it... Are there not better options to pick up than what they currently have? 

Nope. Why break up a winning lineup?

[Vanimal46]

Don't expect a waiver wire pickup to be an everyday player. I think we can all agree that a waiver wire pickup could improve the horrific bench situation they currently have. 

[Dr. Evil]

I prefer an internal promotion for a 4th outfielder. Not sure if he is ready. But, I would like to see Granite in the mix pushing Rosario and Buxton and then see who emerges as the top two. Buxton is certainly not a golden child IMHO. Kepler is solid. Santana's ship has sailed with this organization.

[howieramone2]

 

Don't expect a waiver wire pickup to be an everyday player. I think we can all agree that a waiver wire pickup could improve the horrific bench situation they currently have. 

Which horrific bench situation is that?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Nope. Why break up a winning lineup?

... said Mike Yeo, after game one?

[drjim]

 

I prefer an internal promotion for a 4th outfielder. Not sure if he is ready. But, I would like to see Granite in the mix pushing Rosario and Buxton and then see who emerges as the top two. Buxton is certainly not a golden child IMHO. Kepler is solid. Santana's ship has sailed with this organization.

 

Granite hasn't played yet in AAA. The other negative is he is a LH hitter, limits his value with Kepler and Rosario in the corners.

[Otto von Ballpark]

From that link above, here are waiver claims since the 2016 season ended who have appeared in MLB in 2017:

 

Evan Marshall, RP, Seattle
Nick Franklin, utility, Milwaukee
Jumbo Diaz, RP, Tampa
Scooter Gennett*, 2B, Reds
Jesus Aguilar, 1B, Milwaukee
Zach Lee, P, Padres
Blake Parker, RP, Angels
James Pazos, RP, Mariners
Dominic Leone, RP, Blue Jays
Jeremy Hazelbaker, OF, Arizona
Nori Aoki*, OF, Astros
Arismedy Alcantra, utility, Reds
Steve Selsky, OF, Red Sox
Willy Garcia, OF, White Sox
Jake Esch, P, Padres

 

A few others might now be usefully stashed on the DL or in AAA too.  Adrianza might qualify for that with the Twins, and David Rollins with the Cubs.

 

* Aoki was a bit of a special case as well, as the Astros tendered him a $5.5 mil deal to avoid arbitration. Gennett also carried a $2.53 mil salary when claimed.

[KirbyDome89]

 

Which horrific bench situation is that?

The one where they're carrying 13 pitchers, a backup catcher, a utility infielder, and a black hole named Danny Santana. They basically have two bench players worth trotting out. It needs to be fixed. 

[DaveW]

/checks to see if Santana is still on roster

 

Yup, we messed up by not releasing him for literally ANYONE on the waiver wire. There is not a more pointless player in baseball for this club then Santana. At least Juan Castro made a tiny bit of sense

[Doomtints]

 

/checks to see if Santana is still on roster

Yup, we messed up by not releasing him for literally ANYONE on the waiver wire. There is not a more pointless player in baseball for this club then Santana. At least Juan Castro made a tiny bit of sense

 

So you give up the top waiver spot just to dump Santana? Why not dump Santana for someone in the minors and keep your waiver position?

[DaveW]

So you give up the top waiver spot just to dump Santana? Why not dump Santana for someone in the minors and keep your waiver position?

I do a lot of things to dump that dead weight -4.0 WAR over a full season player.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

The one where they're carrying 13 pitchers, a backup catcher, a utility infielder, and a black hole named Danny Santana. They basically have two bench players worth trotting out. It needs to be fixed.

and one of them is the backup catcher/3b/1b/ball boy and works the grounds crew in a pinch

[Mr. Brooks]

So you give up the top waiver spot just to dump Santana? Why not dump Santana for someone in the minors and keep your waiver position?

You don't lose your waiver position by claiming a player.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Bump!

 

Below are the 2017 MLB stats for recent waiver claims with MLB experience -- the ones who get listed in the Fox Sports transactions log:

http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/transactions?type=14

 

Pitchers:

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=0&type=8&season=2017&month=0&season1=2017&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=3397,12756,11468,13763,12297,5224,9073,11240,12253,11266,13394,11378,11928,10044,8402,12854,13762,13796,10337,12277,14857,10330,11681,10529,10946,11580,13339,10160,12962,13166&sort=8,d

 

Batters:

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=0&type=8&season=2017&month=0&season1=2017&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=10166,10339,11342,9399,13075,10711,12957,12956,7740,13355,13180,13419,8418,5277,13271,5398,14282,4779&sort=4,d

[drjim]

Anyone other than Blaine Parker worth it?

[Steve Lein]

I'm hoping Santana's day's are numbered with Adrianza on rehab assignment.

[Otto von Ballpark]

In addition to Parker, Dominic Leone has done pretty well too, and actually has an option year remaining.

 

Campos and Bonilla are projects, but both have 2017 options as well.

[drjim]

In addition to Parker, Dominic Leone has done pretty well too, and actually has an option year remaining.

 

Campos and Bonilla are projects, but both have 2017 options as well.

I'll certainly agree any of them would be better 40 man usage than Tonkin.

[Respy]

Waiver pickups this month by other teams:

 

• RH RP Kirby Yates: One decent year with the Rays in 2014, but generally walks too many
• 3B Ty Kelly: Switch-hitting spray hitter who takes lots of walks, utility guy who is average at several positions
• C Luke Maile: Drew Butera-like (and not the 2016 Drew Butera)
• OF Tyler Goeddel: Former 1st round (compensation) pick, was a Rule 5 pick with the Phillies and had an awful year offensively (hit .192 in 213 AB).  Excellent defender, still only 24, has good speed and some raw power.  Reminds me of Joe Benson. The kind of player I'm sure the Twins would have been interested in, but just have no place on the 25-man roster for.
• IF/OF Nick Franklin: Former top prospect who had a modest year in 2016 but hasn't reached full potential.  Below-average fielder (best at 2B) who hasn't hit enough.  Really struggling in 2017.
• RH RP Evan Marshall: Pretty much exactly the same as Yates above, but had his decent year with the D-Backs in 2014.

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

Tyler Goeddel actually has all 3 of his option years remaining, but nobody seems to want them. After claiming him and optioning him, Cincinnati passed him through waivers themselves and outrighted him off the 40-man roster a few days later.

 

Kirby Yates is actually a pretty good comp for Tonkin, just a few years older.  Solid K rates, not terrible BB rates, but gets battered around quite a bit, especially in the HR department.

 

Evan Marshall is a weird one -- his K rate plummeted at all levels since 2014.

 

I wouldn't quite say Nick Franklin is "really struggling" in 2017, he has barely played.  He has 4 starts all season, and non-consecutive, interspersed among 10 pinch hitting appearances.