Article: Twins Claim RHP Chris Heston; Add Him To 25-Man Roster

[puckstopper1]

I guess Heston is better than trotting Wilk out there again...

[Seth Stohs]

 

I'm sure people are upset about this, but meh. It's a dart throw on a guy who doesn't throw hard, but has pretty good offspeed stuff. Was really good as recently as two years ago. Whatever. I don't hate it. 

 

Yeah, I mean it was clear that Santiago needed a DL stint (either due to performance or maybe something is actually wrong since his velo was down a bit in his last start). It's not like top guys are available right now, so you try to catch some lightning in a bottle on the fringes. I have no problem with this. 

[Penthang]

Not a bad move, filled a short term hole without haveing to give up any type of prospect with someone who could be serviceable. If he isn't there is no cost to pulling the plug as someone might pick him up when he's on waivers.

[Seth Stohs]

 

He may be a short term filler but why? Give Gonsalves a look. Do something interesting.

 

Gonsalves has made 4 starts since missing two months with a shoulder thing... How about let's let him get a few more AA starts and hopefully in July send him to AAA, and then in August, see where the team and Gonsalves are... Same with Romero (though he wasn't injured, he's been very up and down through the first two months).

 

I think they believe Slegers could be solid, but he's been up and down too. Let him keep working in AAA. They already lost Wheeler, so the other AAA options to call up are Yohan Pino, David Hurlbut, Adam Wilk and Nik Turley types. 

 

I don't have any problem with claiming guys for the back end of the 40-man and 25-man roster. For years we talked about how the Twins should be doing more of that. The Twins probably need a Sunday starter. Heston can fill that, and if/when Santiago or Hughes come back, or they deem someone from AAA or AA ready, you DFA and hope he sticks so you've got more arms in the system. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

I guess Heston is better than trotting Wilk out there again...

 

Maybe... I mean, both were acquired in the same way, are about the same age, one's left-handed and the other is right-handed, but they're pretty similar in profile. Again, I'm good with the move because they need to accumulate some arms and hope one hits, but my expectations are not very high here.

[twinsnorth49]

I have a problem with this, not in the short term perspective that they obviously had to do something now, but from the perspective that they allowed themselves to be in this position at all.

[drjim]

 

I have a problem with this, not in the short term perspective that they obviously had to do something now, but from the perspective that they allowed themselves to be in this position at all.

 

I'm not sure there is a ton they could have done in the offseason to prevent these specific problems.

 

They clearly should have aimed higher than Belisle, Breslow, and Haley as their additions, but that would have improved the active bullpen. There is not much that can be done to add quality depth to the minors in an offseason, especially when basically the entire stock of quality depth gets injured.

 

They could (and should) have had a better bullpen, but the scramble to fill it out would still be ongoing. There's a reason the Twins only won 59 games last year.

[gil4]

 

Need a starter for Sunday. Heston became available. Not sure if people thought Darvish or Scherzer might be available...

They could have at least asked

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

What happens if Heston pitches well in Santiago's absence? If he's kept on the 25-man, who goes down when Santiago returns? He can't be optioned, so do we DFA him after a good game or even two? I can't imagine Heston being a long term answer, but even a AAAA guy can surprise you in the short term, and the optics of then discarding him would be bad. This roster is still a nightmare.

Actually Heston still has an option remaining.  In fact, he has been optioned this year by both Seattle and the Dodgers already.

[Kwak]

It appears the new FO has a low opinion of "in-house prospects".  Said FO had better be very good in Monday's draft--or this will be a never-ending rebuild.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Heston was previously claimed off waivers by the Dodgers on May 26.  Assuming waiver priority was granted based on the standings through May 25th, 24 MLB teams passed on him at that time, including the Twins:

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/?year=2017&month=05&day=25

[Thrylos]

 

There should be a Starting Pitcher Subway Sandwich promotion. Once we punch off 12 for this season, we should all get a free 12” sandwich.

Run with this TD!

 

The Twins used 7 different starters this season.  The league leading Astros used 8.

 

just sayin'...

[nater79a]

Have to believe if Mollie goes out to the mound to make a pitching change after a particularly rough outing, Heston will say "I'll give you the baseball if you pry it from my cold, dead hands".

[Otto von Ballpark]

How about, "Soylent green is people!"

[old nurse]

 

It appears the new FO has a low opinion of "in-house prospects".  Said FO had better be very good in Monday's draft--or this will be a never-ending rebuild.

What in house prospects? Guys with an ERA over 4 in AAA?  AA starters with little  time at that level?

[Dave The Dastardly]

 

Heston was previously claimed off waivers by the Dodgers on May 26.  Assuming waiver priority was granted based on the standings through May 25th, 24 MLB teams passed on him at that time, including the Twins:

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/?year=2017&month=05&day=25

Well now that's reassuring.

[Twodogs]

 

Heston was previously claimed off waivers by the Dodgers on May 26.  Assuming waiver priority was granted based on the standings through May 25th, 24 MLB teams passed on him at that time, including the Twins:

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/?year=2017&month=05&day=25

Well Rodon is on rehab for the White Sox now, so probably in about 3 weeks Pelfrey will be available.    

[Guest]

Heston > Tepesch

[gman]

If this looks weak now, fast forward 6 months. Do they go to arb with Santiago or Gibson? Seeing Berrios start, do we expect Romero or Gonsalves to start quicker? I personally don't expect either before the middle of 2018 on a semi-regular basis. Following the expected trade of Santana, 2018 doesn't have much in the way of starting pitching in the picture. It doesn't look like the rotation picture begins to clear up much before 2019.

[yarnivek1972]

If this looks weak now, fast forward 6 months. Do they go to arb with Santiago or Gibson? Seeing Berrios start, do we expect Romero or Gonsalves to start quicker? I personally don't expect either before the middle of 2018 on a semi-regular basis. Following the expected trade of Santana, 2018 doesn't have much in the way of starting pitching in the picture. It doesn't look like the rotation picture begins to clear up much before 2019.

Santiago is a FA. Gibson would be arb eligible. I would assume he'll be non-tendered if he is still even under team control at season's end.

 

Gonsalves (assuming he remains healthy the rest of the season) figures to be in the mix for a rotation spot at the beginning of next season. Romero, most likely not until mid 2018.

Edited June 9, 2017 by yarnivek1972

[D.C Twins]

 

The Twins used 7 different starters this season.  The league leading Astros used 8.

 

just sayin'...

 

Agreed….but we’ve got a looooong season left with only 1-2 slots in the rotation really a lock.

[D.C Twins]

 

Heston > Tepesch

but ≤ to AAAA pitcher.......

[howeda7]

 

If this looks weak now, fast forward 6 months. Do they go to arb with Santiago or Gibson? Seeing Berrios start, do we expect Romero or Gonsalves to start quicker? I personally don't expect either before the middle of 2018 on a semi-regular basis. Following the expected trade of Santana, 2018 doesn't have much in the way of starting pitching in the picture. It doesn't look like the rotation picture begins to clear up much before 2019.

If we're desperate for starting pitching, why are we trading Santana? He can be under control through 2019, and despite his nice start, no one is giving us a massive haul for him.