Article: Twins Claim LHP Adam Wilk From Mets

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Wilk has surely earned this promotion over Hildenberger or Berrios?

[Otto von Ballpark]

Adam Wilk

AAA career vs LHB: 1.07 WHIP, 18.5% K%, 2.7% BB%

AAA career vs RHB: 1.37 WHP, 18.1% K%, 5.1% BB%

[Blake]

Wilk is Triple A filler so the Twins can call someone up without making corresponding moves at the lower levels in the farm system?

[Otto von Ballpark]

DJ Baxendale (a RHP)

AAA career vs LHB: 0.89 WHIP, 32.9% K%, 4.3% BB%

 

(admittedly in relief, but same sample size as Wilk's 2016 vs LHB, ~70 PA)

[Mike Sixel]

"we can't use the depth, then we won't have depth if we need it"

 

You realize how that sentence reads, right?

[Riverbrian]

Not really sure who he is... I had to look him up on Wilkapedia.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Wilk is Triple A filler so the Twins can call someone up without making corresponding moves at the lower levels in the farm system?

 

I don't think "shortage of AAA filler" was among the Twins pressing needs.  Except perhaps that some of their AAA filler has been on the MLB roster recently...

 

Also, Wilk took the open 40-man spot that could have conceivably gone to a AAA call-up, like Hildenberger (doing well at AAA, will require a 40-man spot this winter anyway) or even Turley.

 

And LHP Melotakis is approaching his 26th birthday, using his second of 3 option years, and he still hasn't sniffed AAA.  Burdi hasn't touched AAA yet either and, like Hildenberger, will need a 40-man spot this upcoming winter.  Same for Bard, Curtiss, Van Steensel.... there are plenty of options for "corresponding moves" without spending 40-man (and 25-man!) roster spots on AAA filler.

[drjim]

That's not the question, is it?

 

The question is, do they feel the front office is doing everything possible to augment it?

Impossible to know what everyone thinks for sure.

 

I would generally think they focus on their own work, support the players in the clubhouse, and don't get overly excited about prospects.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I mean, all kinds of guys have bad outings. The indictment of a rule 5 pick shouldn't be one game. Haley hasn't been good but he is a Rule 5 pick. Those guys are overmatched and you're trying to sneak them through the year in a mop-up role so that you can send them down to the minors and work on things in a low-leverage position the next year. That's how Rule 5 is supposed to work.

 

I know how Rule 5 works, and the potential benefits for teams -- but the context of the post was, how does that look from the perspective of other players on the Twins MLB roster?  They're trying to win, and the front office is not only giving a roster spot to a guy who didn't "earn" it, they also rushed him back to Minneapolis after 1 rehab inning.

[Doug ogilvie]

So why option Rucinski and not DFA? This uses his last option year.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I would generally think they focus on their own work, support the players in the clubhouse, and don't get overly excited about prospects.

I would generally agree with you -- but we already know that MLB players do get concerned when their GM doesn't sign or trade for players they think the club needs to win.

 

Sometimes I'd take the GM's side in those disputes, but It's not too much of a stretch to think similar feelings might be brewing in the Twins clubhouse now, as it becomes apparent that the Twins Plan A for the bullpen (and perhaps Plan B for the rotation?) was to rotate whatever minor league mediocrities through the spots, regardless of whether the alternative would be prospects or MLB acquisitions.

 

And it would be awfully hard to take the FO's side in this one, without resorting to "I trust the plan" platitudes (which can still mask all sorts of misgivings).

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

So why option Rucinski and not DFA? This uses his last option year.

No one is concerned with using Rucinski's last option year.  It's a nice bonus for flexibility, but he's 28 years old.  If he's somehow still around and can't crack the roster next year at age 29, he can be DFA'd just as easily then.

[Mr. Brooks]

Monitor doesn't use guys as LOOGY, so I'm not sure this guys splits are all that important.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

Is it my imagination, or do Falvey and Levine not speak much in public? Terry Ryan used to have regular spots on somebody's radio show, didn't he? "What's the plan with WIlk" is something Ryan would have been asked, and he would have answered straightforwardly (even if he couldn't tell the complete story). With the present regime we're left to wonder. Or... are they speaking somewhere and I'm not picking up on it, being out of town as I am?

It is not your imagination. As drjim pointed out, they do have the Sunday radio show, but most of the time it seems like Molitor is doing the day-to-day speaking for the organization. 

 

That said, Berardino wrote up an article yesterday about the Santiago-Berrios relationship and did get some quotes from Falvey on why Berrios is still in Rochester. Link: 

 

http://www.twincities.com/2017/05/10/jose-berrios-is-dominating-triple-a-again-so-what-are-the-twins-waiting-for/

[yarnivek1972]

I mean, all kinds of guys have bad outings. The indictment of a rule 5 pick shouldn't be one game. Haley hasn't been good but he is a Rule 5 pick. Those guys are overmatched and you're trying to sneak them through the year in a mop-up role so that you can send them down to the minors and work on things in a low-leverage position the next year. That's how Rule 5 is supposed to work.

 

Your Tepesch criticism is right on though. That was sad and that's what paved the way for Haley on Sunday -- the Twins used a lot of pitchers Saturday so Haley was in a game that was way too close for your Rule 5 pickup.

 

Not sure who else they should be turning them into? Tepesch is pretty awful but I'm encouraged by Wilk's potential as a LOOGY. There just aren't amazing players floating around on the wire. I'd like to see Wimmers/Burdi/Chargois get a shot as the summer goes along but I'm willing to trust the FO that those guys aren't quite ready yet and indulge them throwing things at the wall to see what sticks with a guy like Wilk.

I think with Haley there might likely be a physical issue. He only had one rehab appearance before being summoned because Tonkin was DFA. Maybe should have waited until a replacement was actually ready to pitch.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Also -- if Adam Wilk is really an effective relief candidate, why not sign him in the offseason? Then you would have more time to prepare him, in spring training and perhaps even in a brief minor league assignment. There is a cost to attempting this conversion on the fly in MLB.

 

Also, Adam Wilk has been a free agent in each of the last FIVE offseasons. Never been signed by the Twins or either of Falvey's or Levine's clubs. Either they have been ignoring his relief potential for a long time... or he's just another stopgap addition to this staff.

Edited May 11, 2017 by spycake

[Blake]

 

I don't think "shortage of AAA filler" was among the Twins pressing needs.  Except perhaps that some of their AAA filler has been on the MLB roster recently...

 

Also, Wilk took the open 40-man spot that could have conceivably gone to a AAA call-up, like Hildenberger (doing well at AAA, will require a 40-man spot this winter anyway) or even Turley.

 

And LHP Melotakis is approaching his 26th birthday, using his second of 3 option years, and he still hasn't sniffed AAA.  Burdi hasn't touched AAA yet either and, like Hildenberger, will need a 40-man spot this upcoming winter.  Same for Bard, Curtiss, Van Steensel.... there are plenty of options for "corresponding moves" without spending 40-man (and 25-man!) roster spots on AAA filler.

I didn't think about Wilk taking up a spot on the 40 man. 

 

Anyway, that's why I asked a question. 

 

Thanks for the information.

 

I admit, I was reaching to find a justification for signing Wilk. 

[Jham]

Not really sure who he is... I had to look him up on Wilkapedia.

Ftw!

[Otto von Ballpark]

Rostering marginal pitchers is taking a Wilk on the wild side!

[Otto von Ballpark]

The Twins are busy preparing a new promo video, extolling the virtues of their latest acquisition. It'a called "Triumph of the Wilk."

[Otto von Ballpark]

Even though I don't understand the move, if he is still on the roster when the team returns home next week, I will be the first to greet him -- Wilkommen!

[Squirrel]

 

That's not the question, is it?

 

The question is, do they feel the front office is doing everything possible to augment it?

Yes, I'm sure they feel that the FO is doing everything possible to augment the problem.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Yes, I'm sure they feel that the FO is doing everything possible to augment the problem.

 

I love snark. Seriously. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Rostering marginal pitchers is taking a Wilk on the wild side!

Right now I am at the restaurant with Adam Wilk and some of his relatives, and they are nice people. I think this character assassination needs to stop. Come down and have dinner with us. When you get here, ask for John Wilk's booth.

 

(too much?)

[Gagne Fan]

It's awful that we have other teams trash on our 25 man roster over players that have been in the Twins system that have been successful....

We should be giving guys like Baxendake and Hildenberger opportunities before somebody who has failed in another organization. Bax's numbers are much better as a starter and reliever compared to Wilk and his splits against lefties are also better than the lefthanded Wilk.

Not sure WTF our new FO is doing but Tepesch, Haley, Rucinski and Wilk is NOT the answer

[Gagne Fan]

Don't even get me started about Kevin Chapman....he's now blocking Melotakis.

Falvine has not impressed me so far

They chose Santana and Tonkin to start the year

 

Belisle, Haley .....their guys

 

It's a joke to have a guy with a 8+ era in your pen

 

The new FO must have a big ego because they have let "their" guys fail with no accountability

[Otto von Ballpark]

Adam Wilk(es Booth) was the Mets replacement starter for Matt Harvey (Oswald).

 

Kind of a metaphor for the Mets season thus far...

[USAFChief]

 

Right now I am at the restaurant with Adam Wilk and some of his relatives, and they are nice people. I think this character assassination needs to stop. Come down and have dinner with us. When you get here, ask for John Wilk's booth.

(too much?)

Let's just hope he doesn't ruin tonight's play.

[ashbury]

I didn't think about Wilk taking up a spot on the 40 man.

Claiming a guy on waivers means putting him on your 40-man.

[ashbury]

Let's just hope he doesn't ruin tonight's play.

"Other than that, Mr Molitor, how did you enjoy the game?"