More bullpen changes coming

[old nurse]

 

The most frustrating thing about all of this nonsense is everyone KNEW this would happen, and that during the off-season this would have been a rather easy at least partial fix.

Yup, outside of the top tier that free agent market was brimming with relief pitchers that are successful this year. Proper medical staff would have foreseen all the injuries. Pressly's implosion after 3 years of growth should have been obvious for all to see as well as Tonkin's decline. Kinzler,, Duffrey, Rodgers, an effective Pressly, a serviceable Tonkin, Belesle pitching like he did the last two years would be serviceable as a bullpen with any of the multitude of prospects stepping in at mid season. Breslow, Haley,O'Rourke,  as plan B.Rucinski, Tepich and Wimmers as plan C Perkins being available falls under the category of widhfullthinking   Sometimes things go very wrong. But yeah EVERYBODY knew this off season this would happen.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Jay just went back to the DL so we can continue to not factor him in. 

 

seriously? cripes.

[70charger]

Yeah, what the hell man? Why can't we have nice things?

 

http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/twins-tyler-jay-sidelined-again-with-shoulder-issue/

[wsnydes]

 

I'm not sure Kepler was ready at the beginning of the year, I had no problem with giving him extra time in the minors. He basically player every day starting June 1. I have a really hard time complaining about the development of Kepler.

 

 

It is my recollection that Kepler had two separate stints with the big league club and spent most of his time sitting on the bench.  I'm not sure how that's productive.  If he was going to sit up on the big squad, he should have been in AAA playing every day.  I think that's the part that people complain about.  He should have been playing every day whether it be in AAA or with the Twins not sitting on the bench collecting splinters.

[Vanimal46]

 

Jay just went back to the DL so we can continue to not factor him in. 

 

Ugh... Another lost season for a Twins RP prospect. 

[drjim]

It is my recollection that Kepler had two separate stints with the big league club and spent most of his time sitting on the bench. I'm not sure how that's productive. If he was going to sit up on the big squad, he should have been in AAA playing every day. I think that's the part that people complain about. He should have been playing every day whether it be in AAA or with the Twins not sitting on the bench collecting splinters.

He came up late 2015 and didn't play much, but that was after the AA season so nothing was impacted too bad. If nothing else, probably good to get some mlb exposure.

 

He was called up early in 2016 as an injury replacement. He didn't play every day but also didn't do well. Got his reps, learned what he needed to work on, did it at AAA for a couple months then was recalled and played every day.

 

This strikes me as a very common development path and so far seemingly very effective. I don't share any of the complaints on how Kepler was developed. Actually strikes me as the model of how it should be done.

[Mike Sixel]

 

He came up late 2015 and didn't play much, but that was after the AA season so nothing was impacted too bad. If nothing else, probably good to get some mlb exposure.

He was called up early in 2016 as an injury replacement. He didn't play every day but also didn't do well. Got his reps, learned what he needed to work on, did it at AAA for a couple months then was recalled and played every day.

This strikes me as a very common development path and so far seemingly very effective. I don't share any of the complaints on how Kepler was developed. Actually strikes me as the model of how it should be done.

 

So Garver should be up, and on that path right now, I take it?

[Han Joelo]

Good news.  While he may have been DFA'd, "Wilson", along with Cuddyer, will represent the Twins at the Draft.  Make a good pick, old friend.

 

*This is per MLB.com's Twins home page right now.  When you click on the headline, which says "Cuddyer, Wilson to represent Twins at draft," it just takes you to the general article, which is this: http://m.twins.mlb.com/news/article/233740060/george-brett-2017-mlb-draft-representatives/?topicId=27118388  Apparently, someone named John Wilson will be there along with Cuddy on behalf of the Twins.  Mostly likely he is an old ham radio operator or teletype expert with a direct link to Twins HQ.

[twins_89]

 

Jay just went back to the DL so we can continue to not factor him in. 

 

So it's June and the Twins top 4 relief prospects (Jay, Chargois, Burdi, Reed) have pitched a grand total of 21.2 innings with none of them currently active. At some point the front office might have to accept that the bullpen upgrades from the minors we've been waiting a few years for may not happen.

[drjim]

So Garver should be up, and on that path right now, I take it?

Garver is not close to Kepler. So probably not.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Garver is not close to Kepler. So probably not.

 

He's one of your catchers next year, probably.....

[drjim]

He's one of your catchers next year, probably.....

That's far from certain, hard to know how he's doing as a catcher right now. Wouldn't be surprised if Murphy or another vet gets the first crack as Castros backup.

 

But to follow the Kepler path he'd get called up in September (likely) or if there is an injury. That strikes me as his current standing.

[yarnivek1972]

That's far from certain, hard to know how he's doing as a catcher right now. Wouldn't be surprised if Murphy or another vet gets the first crack as Castros backup.

 

But to follow the Kepler path he'd get called up in September (likely) or if there is an injury. That strikes me as his current standing.

I believe Garver is actually older than Murphy.

[drjim]

I believe Garver is actually older than Murphy.

Bigger issue will be Murphy is out of options (I think?), Garver will have 2 left.

[yarnivek1972]

Bigger issue will be Murphy is out of options (I think?), Garver will have 2 left.

Which is why Murphy probably should have been DFA instead of optioned this spring. It's extremely unusual to carry 4 catchers on a 40 man roster for an entire season.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Wilk wouldn't be eligible until 10 days after he was sent down. So, end of next week at the earliest.

Actually Wilk was outrighted, not optioned. So the 10 day rule shouldn't apply. Not that it would make much sense to add him back so quickly.

[drjim]

Which is why Murphy probably should have been DFA instead of optioned this spring. It's extremely unusual to carry 4 catchers on a 40 man roster for an entire season.

They didn't exactly have a roster crunch. Nothing wrong with delaying the decision until necessary.

[wsnydes]

He came up late 2015 and didn't play much, but that was after the AA season so nothing was impacted too bad. If nothing else, probably good to get some mlb exposure.

 

He was called up early in 2016 as an injury replacement. He didn't play every day but also didn't do well. Got his reps, learned what he needed to work on, did it at AAA for a couple months then was recalled and played every day.

 

This strikes me as a very common development path and so far seemingly very effective. I don't share any of the complaints on how Kepler was developed. Actually strikes me as the model of how it should be done.

2015 wasn't the issue. Last season, even as an injury replacement, he should have been playing every day. He played sparingly in his first call up. In what was supposed to be an evaluation year and considering how terrible last April was, having him sit so much very well could have contributed to his early struggles. While I agree that the progression isn't abnormal, this team isn't in a normal circumstance. The young players should have gotten playing time over stopgap veterans. That includes Kepler.

[Darius]

Definitely some hard luck involved here. Guys like May, Burdi, Jay, and Chagrois should probably be here to go with Duffey, Kintzler, etc, which makes a nice looking 'pen on paper.

 

That said....they should've brought in another free agent in the offseason. Everyone on Earth knew it. A few million bucks might be the difference between making the playoff and not this year.

[nicksaviking]

The Rangers are/were going to DFA Sam Dyson but it sounds like multiple teams are interested in trading for him:

 

https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/870467962007957505

 

A sinkerballing, journeyman reliever who surprisingly got handed a closer gig last year despite not having strikeout material or any real experience in that role.

 

I think I've heard that one before.

[Blackjack]

 

DFA is not "walking papers." It is just a common procedural move to send him back to Rochester.

Uh huh. Heading to Rochester by way of California??

[Otto von Ballpark]

Uh huh. Heading to Rochester by way of California??

I didn't anticipate a trade (I don't think anyone did), but my point stands that the DFA did not represent "walking papers" regardless of where he ended up.

 

And actually Wheeler was optioned, so he is in Oklahoma City, not California. Had I said AAA instead of Rochester I would have still been correct!

[youngtwinsfan]

While I agree with all of you that there are many better options than Wimmers, I don't disagree with the move as much. At the beginning of the year before this team was competing everyone was wanting the FO to cycle through the guys in minors and find out what we have. The Wimmers move is probably short term until Vargas is able to come back up, and maybe not even that long. They are giving Wimmers a shot to see what he's got, and maybe he surprises everyone and something clicks and he takes off. If not they send him back down and nothing is lost in my opinion. 

[Blackjack]

 

I didn't anticipate a trade (I don't think anyone did), but my point stands that the DFA did not represent "walking papers" regardless of where he ended up.

And actually Wheeler was optioned, so he is in Oklahoma City, not California. Had I said AAA instead of Rochester I would have still been correct!

My point still stands that it was pretty rude, young guy spent YEARS working his up the Twins ladder, gets his call-up, family shows up in town, they're excited, then after a brief appearance, he not just optioned back to Rochester, he's told by the DFA that we don't need you after your years of toil.  Rude.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I doubt Wheeler has any complaints. He got a few extra days of MLB service time and salary while he was in DFA limbo -- that was $3000 per day, plus inching toward pension benefits. That turned out much better than simply getting optioned.

 

And he is still on a 40-man roster getting more minor league pay than before, even if he is playing his home games in Oklahoma City rather than Rochester. (Plus he went to an organization that actually wanted him on some level and didn't simply have persistent rights to renew his minor league contract.)

[Mike Sixel]

 

I doubt Wheeler has any complaints. He got a few extra days of MLB service time and salary while he was in DFA limbo -- that was $3000 per day, plus inching toward pension benefits. That turned out much better than simply getting optioned.

And he is still on a 40-man roster getting more minor league pay than before, even if he is playing his home games in Oklahoma City rather than Rochester. (Plus he went to an organization that actually wanted him on some level and didn't simply have persistent rights to renew his minor league contract.)

 

I think he gets access to lifetime health insurance also.....

[Rosterman]

Good for Wheeler. He got his chance, the Twins got his look, but shows what happens when you play 40-man musical chairs, you stand a chance of losing the player. Some, it shouldn't matter if they go elsewhere. But if a team claims you, you do stay momentarily on the 40-man (with a pay increase) and a chance. Otherwise you languish in the organization.

 

No one claimed Wimmers when he was made available. He could've still gone anywhere, but chose to stay with his signing team, the Twins. And given a chance, some players excel. Boshers AND Wimmers are pitching like they know it IS their chance to be in the majors. Otherwise, either could be removed from the 40-man and, given their recent outings, possibly claimed by another team (who then have their own opportunity to send the guys out).

 

And leave it to the Twins that rather than get a low-level prospect from the Dodgers, they would rather take cash.

[laloesch]

 

Definitely some hard luck involved here. Guys like May, Burdi, Jay, and Chagrois should probably be here to go with Duffey, Kintzler, etc, which makes a nice looking 'pen on paper.

That said....they should've brought in another free agent in the offseason. Everyone on Earth knew it. A few million bucks might be the difference between making the playoff and not this year.

 

If May were healthy he'd be starting this season, IMO.  That said i agree with the rest.

[Ben Noble]

I'd like to see Luke Bard added to the 40-man and brought up for an audition next. He's two years removed from missing two straight seasons, and pitching like the player we drafted in the supplemental round back in 2012 for losing...Jason Kubel.

[drjim]

 

Definitely some hard luck involved here. Guys like May, Burdi, Jay, and Chagrois should probably be here to go with Duffey, Kintzler, etc, which makes a nice looking 'pen on paper.

That said....they should've brought in another free agent in the offseason. Everyone on Earth knew it. A few million bucks might be the difference between making the playoff and not this year.

 

I don't know if it is covering after the fact, but it has been interesting to read/hear in local media several references to the second wave of relievers all succumbing to injury, leading to some of the current bullpen issues.

 

It is obviously true, but it is also some of the context some of the front office is providing to local media. Shouldn't have had an impact on signing Belisle over a better reliever, but also would suggest there was some sort of a plan going into the season of planning on internal options throughout the year.

 

Now that it has fallen apart, and the Twins are in the face (perhaps unexpectedly to the front office), will be interesting to see if they invest some real prospect resources into acquiring more help.