Next Roster Move: Pitcher for Batter, but Whom?

[caninatl04]

It was my impression that a 13 pitcher roster would be temporary and was a preemptive move to cover a weak starting rotation.

 

Sooner or later, a move will have to be made to reduce the staff to 12.  Two questions: who goes down and who comes up?

 

Note:  I am limiting this discussion to a pitcher-to-hitter substitution.  I will leave discussions of Berrios for Meija / Gibson or, say, Reginatto for (D.) Santana for other posts.

 

Sent down?  Taylor Rogers has the highest WHIP among relievers.  Tonkin has only 2 appearances.  Breslow has only pitched 1.2 innings.

 

I list the last two of these not because of their quality, but because, it seems that so far, they have been the least needed.

 

Brought up?

 

Catcher (I know many are clamoring for Mitch-- I will leave the debate of three catchers to those posts)

 

Any 1 of three 1B  (Park, Paulsen, Vargas)?  This will allow Mauer to rest for, oh, the next 300 games or so (until his contract expires-- although he is playing 1B at a Gold Glove level))

 

Palka?  He could play RF.

 

My guess would be Tonkin down and Park up.

 

Your thoughts?

 

 

 

 

 

[USAFChief]

I just hope it's soon.  I have a bet with someone about the number of days with a 13 man staff, and I'm getting worried.

[Danchat]

Adrianza will be healthy very soon, so they'll have to make a decision on him. Not sure if they want him on the bench or at AAA. I imagine if it's a batter they want to call up from AAA, it'll be someone on the 40 man roster, aka Vargas.

 

I don't see what Tonkin or Breslow is accomplishing on the roster. I'd move on from Tonkin first and Breslow a bit later if he doesn't prove himself.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Adrianza will be healthy very soon, so they'll have to make a decision on him. Not sure if they want him on the bench or at AAA. I imagine if it's a batter they want to call up from AAA, it'll be someone on the 40 man roster, aka Vargas.

 

I don't see what Tonkin or Breslow is accomplishing on the roster. I'd move on from Tonkin first and Breslow a bit later if he doesn't prove himself.

 

Arianza is, IIRC, out of options. If they try to send him down, he might get claimed.

 

I'm guessing Breslow or Tonkin is gone, based on usage, with Palka called up. While it would be great if they had a RH OF in AAA that was ready, they don't. Palka could DH while Grossman plays the OF, when an OF needs a day off. He could also play the OF if needed.

 

If Park was healthy and playing well, I'd guess he comes up.

 

I'm not surprised no move has been made, unless there is an injury or utter horribleness, I don't think teams make many moves in April.

[70charger]

I think it was Aaron Gleeman who said Tonkin is probably a pretty reasonable, major-league level 6th or 7th inning guy. Nothing special, but nothing bad. However, Molitor refuses to use him that way, clearly doesn't trust him with any leverage, and sticks him in spots where he just won't be very successful. So why delay the inevitable? If the manager won't use him right, anyway, what's the downside of losing him?

 

I think there's something to that take. 

[yarnivek1972]

Levine talked about this on the pregame yesterday.  I think holding 13 until the next off day gets a little closer is what he indicated.  It's still 8 days away.  It won't be Rogers or Breslow.  They won't go to only one lefty.  Belisle has a guaranteed contract, indeed, the only guaranteed contract he and Falvey gave to a FA pitcher.  That tells me they aren't going to cut bait yet.  Duffey is flourishing in his role to the point that he is likely to get chances in higher leverage situations soon.  That leaves Tonkin, Pressly and Haley.  At some point, I could see all 3 being replaced this year.  JT Chargois and Jake Reed will hopefully be healthy and able to pitch at the MLB level this season.  Trevor Hildenberger is another guy I think could help with his quirky delivery.  Assuming no one gets hurt between now and next week, I'm going to say that Tonkin is probably the odd man out.  As the second long man, he's the redundant piece.  Of course, that will add presure to Haley.  Might be another reason the Twins hang onto Gibson in AAA.

 

As for the hitter, Vargas is the most likely candidate, especially with Park on the DL.  It sounds like he's  two weeks away and the change to 12 pitchers should be before that.

[Brock Beauchamp]

It has to be Vargas. Grossman is good, Mauer is bad, and the Twins need some help in both the outfield and at first base.

 

Vargas checks all those boxes or allows others to check those boxes if he rotates into the lineup.

 

I don't like the idea of losing Adrianza but both Escobar and Polanco look good this season. I'm surprisingly unconcerned about the left side of the infield right now.

[Otto von Ballpark]

FWIW, Pressly could be optioned too. Like Gibson, I don't know if it is particularly likely or even advisable, but it is technically possible.

[Thrylos]

 

 

 

My guess would be Tonkin down and Park up.

 

Your thoughts?

 

Tonkin is out of options and likely will be out not down.  And unless Park's hammy is good enough to get him off the AAA DL, he is not  going anywhere.

 

I don't mind losing Tonkin.   If I had my pick of the litter for position players, it would be Niko Goodrum who will provide enough versatility (he can play every position but C), but the real issue here is not a lack of position players, but Danny Santana's .343 OPS and Byron Buxton's .292 OPS primarily, and Joe Mauer's .473 OPS and Eddie Rosario's .448 OPS secondarily.   If these 4 guys were hitting at league average levels, there would be no issue.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Tonkin is out of options and likely will be out not down.  And unless Park's hammy is good enough to get him off the AAA DL, he is not  going anywhere.

 

I don't mind losing Tonkin.   If I had my pick of the litter for position players, it would be Niko Goodrum who will provide enough versatility (he can play every position but C), but the real issue here is not a lack of position players, but Danny Santana's .343 OPS and Byron Buxton's .292 OPS primarily, and Joe Mauer's .473 OPS and Eddie Rosario's .448 OPS secondarily.   If these 4 guys were hitting at league average levels, there would be no issue.

 

Of course, DanSan has shown no ability to do that for the last two years.... nor has Buxton...mostly Rosario has not either. Mauer is in decline, but this is ridiculous and he'll get better.

[Brandon Warne]

Anybody who claims to know is lying to you. It'll probably come down to an injury or something. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

To answer the question posed, I think its either Tonkin or Pressley down and Park up with the timing dependent on when Park ad Adrianza are ready. Adianza stays at the MLB level since he will be claimed if DFA'd. He replaces DanSan. I think that's why we're seeing Grossman in the OF now, to see if he can be the 4th OF. They want Adrianza because they need him to play either SS or UTL if they trade Dozier at the deadline. Vargas? .250 in AAA?  Hard to see why. 

 

SOoo, one of two-

 

If Adrianza is ready first, he comes up and DanSan goes DFA. 

When Park is ready, he comes up and either Tonkin goes DFA or Pressley goes down depending on who's pitching better. 

A perfect world sees the following:

 

Adrianza replace Santana

Vargas replace Tonkin

 

That's the optimal roster right now, IMO. I'd consider replacing Gibson with Berrios and probably sliding Kyle to the bullpen, but I'm not sure who I'd bump off the roster for him.

[Linus]

I agree with this, Molitor is never going to trust Tonkin to use him in any leverage situations. It is pretty clear he will be lucky to get mop up duty. I'm guessing he would get claimed if he were put on waivers because he throws hard. To me it is time to free up the 40 man roster of both Boshers, and Tonkin. Neither is going to help the Twins do anything this year. Boshers will never make it up and Tonkin, Molitor isn't going to use in any meaningful role.

In this Era Tonkin doesn't throw hard. Plus it's straight and he can't command his slider. I might cut Breslow first but Tonkin is nothing

[Platoon]

It is my impression/understanding Adrianza is a glove first SS? This really does not help the bench. Vargas seems logical for a bat and 1B glove. Tonkin? I would believe he would love to get out of here. No, he ain't Andrew Mller from the other side, but he was abused by Molitor last year, and it's obvious Molitor is not a fan. The troubling part of all this, is that while DanSan should likely go, it's only going to increase the inning RG stands in the OF like one of those plaza statues, difference being the statues have better arms. I know there was a different lightly commented blog on Molitor, but all you need to know about his managerial chops? He thinks Robbie Grossman is a RF!

[snepp]

 

Adrianza will be healthy very soon, so they'll have to make a decision on him. Not sure if they want him on the bench or at AAA. I imagine if it's a batter they want to call up from AAA, it'll be someone on the 40 man roster, aka Vargas.

 

I don't see what Tonkin or Breslow is accomplishing on the roster. I'd move on from Tonkin first and Breslow a bit later if he doesn't prove himself.

 

Roster Adrianza, send DanSan packing, bring up bat with a pulse, demote reliever of choice.
 

[Linus]

At this point Dan San is looked upon as an outfielder. He won't be replaced by Adrianza.

[crapforks]

I'd consider replacing Gibson with Berrios and probably sliding Kyle to the bullpen, but I'm not sure who I'd bump off the roster for him.

If Duffey starts being used more in high leverage roles, Gibson becomes the long man with Haley as the medium long man. In that scenario, Tonkin and Brelsow should be concerned.

[Pardon My Dinger]

Now that we all remembered Escobar is a guy who is good at baseball and plays for the Twins, we probably don't need Adrianza, right?

[70charger]

 

A perfect world sees the following:

 

Adrianza replace Santana

Vargas replace Tonkin

 

That's the optimal roster right now, IMO. I'd consider replacing Gibson with Berrios and probably sliding Kyle to the bullpen, but I'm not sure who I'd bump off the roster for him.

 

I think I agree with this. As for the last part, that's harder. Maybe Breslow is out? Maybe Duffey goes to AAA and stretches out starting to be that next guy up? I might lean toward the latter, because if Berrios is up and Gibson is out of the rotation, the starter depth becomes super thin.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Hmmmmmmm.... given the roster construction, I think it's going to be Chargois for DanSan... we need 14 pitches, right?

[diehardtwinsfan]

Now for what I'd do...

 

Vargas for Breslow. 

 

I would think about Adrianza for DanSan.

 

In a couple weeks, Berrios for someone (not quite sure who the some one is just yet).

[TheLeviathan]

 

Hmmmmmmm.... given the roster construction, I think it's going to be Chargois for DanSan... we need 14 pitches, right?

 

At some point I expect we just say screw it and go with a 17 man pitching staff and let the bullpen guys fight it out for the DH spot.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

If Duffey starts being used more in high leverage roles, Gibson becomes the long man with Haley as the medium long man. In that scenario, Tonkin and Brelsow should be concerned.

Tonkin definitely goes and Breslow is probably next on the list but I'm not totally sold on that.

[Otto von Ballpark]

On Gibson, does anyone know if he has any options left? It would be great to switch out he and Berrios if he does.

I mentioned in the other thread, Gibson has 2 option years left.

[snepp]

 

At this point Dan San is looked upon as an outfielder. He won't be replaced by Adrianza.

 

A #5 outfielder without any standout skills.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

A #5 outfielder without any standout skills.

and with Vargas replacing a pitcher, you've got the bench bat or DH and Grossman as 4th OF

[a-wan]

 

At some point I expect we just say screw it and go with a 17 man pitching staff and let the bullpen guys fight it out for the DH spot.

 

Brooks Kieschnick has gotta be only like 40 years old now, right?

 

And Vargas for Breslow seems fairly logical, right?

[snepp]

 

Brooks Kieschnick has gotta be only like 40 years old now, right?

 

Micah Owings and Carlos Zambrano are just 35-ish.

[goulik]

One big move...

Call up Palka, Park and Berrios

Gibson moves to the Pen

Cut Breslow, Tonkin, and Dan San

[lukeduke1980]

 

One big move...

Call up Palka, Park and Berrios

Gibson moves to the Pen

Cut Breslow, Tonkin, and Dan San

I'd entertain a Ben Paulsen for Park for the time being.  He could be RG2