Article: What's Next For Kohl Stewart?

[drjim]

 

If you avoid taking pitchers high in the first round, you won’t get pitchers like Price, Verlander, Strasburg and Kershaw, so that might not be a good rule of thumb. To me, what the results from the Jay and Stewart picks (and the flame-outs of so many other highly drafted pitchers) show is (i) the folly of the strategy of drafting relievers with the idea of converting them to starters, which works about as often as the strategy of converting 280 pound infielders into outfielders after they get to the majors; and (ii) the importance of a sophisticated and coordinated pitcher-development program, which is a lot more than just getting good arms and giving them opportunities.

 

I would say the one exception I would make would be a clearly ready college arm - Price and Strasburg were about as surefire as you can get, Verlander quite close too.

 

Kershaw, like he is in many ways, is an exception to a rule. And even he was a #7 pick. What's interesting too, is that 5 college arms were selected before him that year and none stuck as a starter (though a couple became good relievers). The college bat taken ahead was Longoria.

[ChrisKnutson]

While Kohl Stewart does have the potential too be a regrettable loss, we left him of the 40-man for a reason. And it would plain stupid to just let him go through the Rule 5 Draft. He's a 1st rounder!!! Whose stock hasn't taken too big of a hit. Hopefully all this means is that Falvine is planning to deal Stewart like the A's dealt Jaycob Brugman to Orioles (MLBTR). In the same MLBTR article, it was also mentioned that the Twins are exploring trades for relievers such as Raisel Iglesias, Brad Hand, Alex Colome, and Justin Wilson.

 

Although I've said this many times, I still believe that Brad Hand would be the best option for the Twins, and would fit perfectly in our bullpen (another lefty besides Rogers) and Minnesota (hometown is Chaska). In the comment section of the MLBTR article it's mentioned many times that Nick Gordon would probably be the center piece in a deal for any of those 4 relievers.  So I believe a package of Gordon, Stewart, and Felix Jorge would be an offer that San Diego would find hard to refuse be they are in dire need of a SS and needs young starting pitching (like every other team in the league).

[Guest]

I would say the one exception I would make would be a clearly ready college arm - Price and Strasburg were about as surefire as you can get, Verlander quite close too.

 

Kershaw, like he is in many ways, is an exception to a rule. And even he was a #7 pick. What's interesting too, is that 5 college arms were selected before him that year and none stuck as a starter (though a couple became good relievers). The college bat taken ahead was Longoria.

It does seem that college pitchers generally have done better than HS, but it’s hard to draw a firm rule. Bumgarner was pick #10 out of high school. Lots of college pitchers have been bad, also, including Mark Appel. If there’s any pattern that I’ve noticed, it’s that it’s bad to be a pitcher selected by the Orioles. Other than that, with all the changes happening in scouting and development, I wouldn’t draw rules about drafting based on data more than a few years old and recent data is a lot of SSS.

[sploorp]

Is it possible the team is planning to trade Stewart and that's why they didn't protect him?

[ashbury]

My only complaint in all of this is that the guys THE TWINS DIDN'T PROTECT were all valuable tradechips during the summer

A Kohl Stewart thread isn't really the place to debate a bigger-picture thing like this, but I think you've said it before, and I don't understand why. Other teams can see the 40-man dilemma approaching for such players, just as we can.

[gman]

I hope we are coming to the end of 30 years of failed pitching development, which starts with who you draft.

[dgwills]

I felt like Stewart had to have a big year in 2016 to regain his prospect status. It's been 2 years and he has slightly improved. He's a bust and has been for a while. If he wasn't a top pick he wouldn't of even been hardly mentioned by any of us.

Not that I don't wish him well and all, but I can't really see any reason to add him to the 40 man roster at this time. Seems like a good decision by the front office. What's the saying in poker? Don't throw good money after bad money.

[beckmt]

I like the new direction and wish Kohl Stewart well whether it be with the Twins or another club.  Twins have changed from pretenders to contenders, and with this change the Twins need major league ready talent.  None of the players left off are regarded as sure things, so you take the chance.  Only downside will be if the Twins do not spend money this winter to improve the club and fill those holes. Players like Slegers were regarded closer to helping the big team than Stewart.  We may disagree, but I do not mind this direction.

[laloesch]

I hope we are coming to the end of 30 years of failed pitching development, which starts with who you draft.

One can only hope. They have a lot riding on Leach and Enlow but it will be several seasons before they know what these guys will end up being. Cautiously optimistic.

Edited November 23, 2017 by laloesch

[IaFan1]

What your looking at is a second coming of Todd Ritchie. Another Texas high schooler who was overhyped and drafted number one by the Twins. Todd couldn't strike anyone out either (5.6/9). When the Twins gave up on him he actually went to a bad Pittsburgh team and won 15 games. The next year the league pretty much had him figured out. But he did parlay that into about 7 million dollars. I'm not going to lose any sleep over losing Kohl Stewart.

 

[nater79a]

 

While Kohl Stewart does have the potential too be a regrettable loss, we left him of the 40-man for a reason. And it would plain stupid to just let him go through the Rule 5 Draft. He's a 1st rounder!!! Whose stock hasn't taken too big of a hit. Hopefully all this means is that Falvine is planning to deal Stewart like the A's dealt Jaycob Brugman to Orioles (MLBTR). In the same MLBTR article, it was also mentioned that the Twins are exploring trades for relievers such as Raisel Iglesias, Brad Hand, Alex Colome, and Justin Wilson.

 

Although I've said this many times, I still believe that Brad Hand would be the best option for the Twins, and would fit perfectly in our bullpen (another lefty besides Rogers) and Minnesota (hometown is Chaska). In the comment section of the MLBTR article it's mentioned many times that Nick Gordon would probably be the center piece in a deal for any of those 4 relievers.  So I believe a package of Gordon, Stewart, and Felix Jorge would be an offer that San Diego would find hard to refuse be they are in dire need of a SS and needs young starting pitching (like every other team in the league).

 

Think trades for Colome or Hand would take a higher end pitching prospect than Stewart to go with Gordon.  Maybe need to add Thorpe or Littell..most likely a deal breaker.   Wilson tailed off a bit with the Cubs late this year so he could probably be had for less.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I would take him in an instant if I was a bad team. Put him in the bullpen and see what his stuff looks like.

Same here, but I put Stewart's chances of sticking on a 25-man roster for a full season very low. Like

 

Which raises the next question: does the new front office like Stewart enough to take him back or would they work out a deal with the claiming team?

[beckmt]

 

Same here, but I put Stewart's chances of sticking on a 25-man roster for a full season very low. Like <10% low.

 

Which raises the next question: does the new front office like Stewart enough to take him back or would they work out a deal with the claiming team?

I would hope they would take him back, but a prospect that would not have to be added to the 40 man for a couple of years with upside could be fine with me.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I would hope they would take him back, but a prospect that would not have to be added to the 40 man for a couple of years with upside could be fine with me.

I mean, probably. My primary question is whether the organization is so down on him that they'll take anything for him just to move on.

[Badsmerf]

I'm over Stewart. I've been hoping he could put it together, but doubting it more each day. If I was a bad team, why would I want a guy that doesn't miss bats and sits in the low 90s with a straight fastball? He won't get claimed. Jury is out on him. Unless he finds more bite to his slider or a cutter, he is destined to fizzle out.

[AZTwin]

I'm over Stewart. I've been hoping he could put it together, but doubting it more each day. If I was a bad team, why would I want a guy that doesn't miss bats and sits in the low 90s with a straight fastball? He won't get claimed. Jury is out on him. Unless he finds more bite to his slider or a cutter, he is destined to fizzle out.

I would try him in the bullpen. Might get a couple more ticks and figure this guy out. Definitely would be worth a look

[jimmer]

I want to offer a word of caution. Many people were saying we had become contenders after the 2015 season (praising Ryan for a super quick rebuild). Then 2016 happened. With our pitching, I am not sure we can say we are out of the woods yet because we had a good season. We could EASILY end up in the 70 win area next season.

Edited December 2, 2017 by jimmer

[Shaitan]

Not that it means much, besides the odds of drafting, but 2013 #1 overall Mark Appell was also left off a 40 man.