Article: Twins Select RHP Tyler Kinley In Rule 5 Draft (Lose Burdi to Phillies, Bard to Angels)

[Seth Stohs]

See updates below...The Twins lost two players in the Major League portion of the Rule 5 draft and added a right-handed pitcher. In the minor league Rule 5, they added two players without losing anyone.

 

On Thursday morning, the 2017 Winter Meetings will come to a close with the annual Rule 5 draft. Last month, the Minnesota added three players to their 40-man roster, but they left several very talented players unprotected. The Twins could potentially lose a couple of players (at least tentatively) to the Rule 5. However, they currently have just 37 players on their 40-man roster, so in theory, they could make a Rule 5 pick (or three!).

 

Below you'll find a brief preview of the 2017 Rule 5 Draft, but as the draft takes place, this article will continue to be updated if the Twins lose or gain players. So be sure to check back often. The draft starts at 8:00 a.m. central time.8:15 Update: A computer glitch delayed the inevitable, but with the 3rd overall pick in the Rule 5 draft, the Phillies selected Nick Burdi from the Twins. It was expected. Reports from Orlando indicate that he will be traded.

 

8:18 Update: Angels selected Luke Bard.

 

8:19 Update: The Twins selected right-handed pitcher Tyler Kinley from the Miami Marlins (more to come after draft).

 

Tyler Kinley was the 16th round pick of the Miami Marlins in the 2013 draft out of Barry Universityl in Miami Shores, Florida. He spent the 2017 between High-A Jupiter and AA Jacksonville. Combined, he threw 53.1 innings in 50 outings. He walked 22 and struck out 72. He had a 1.98 ERA in High-A, and a 5.19 ERA in AA. He will turn 27 in January.

 

The Major League portion of the Rule 5 draft is complete. The Twins add Tyler Kinley and lose Nick Burdi and Luke Bard. The Minor League portion of the draft is starting.

 

8:51 Update: The Phillies traded Nick Burdi to the Pirates for international slot money.

 

8:37 Update: The Twins select RH Yancarlos Baez from the Yankees roster in the AAA Rule 5. Baez was signed by the Yankees as a shortstop, but in 2017, he transitioned to pitching in the GCL. Interesting gamble.

 

8:43 Update: The Twins selected Sandy Lugo, a 22-year-old RHP from the Dominican, and from the Reds organization. In 2017, he split the year before Low-A Dayton (2 games) and High-A Daytona (4-6, 5.32 ERA in 42 relief games). In 64 innings, he had 40 walks but he struck out 82.

 

8:51 Update: Nick Burdi was traded to the Pirates in exchange for international bonus pool money.

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Below we're going to start with the basics. Who is eligible for the Rule 5 draft? Who could the Twins lose in the Rule 5 draft, and who could they select if they do make a pick? Also, check back often during the 8:00 hour as I'll be updating this article if (or when) they lose a player or add a pick.

 

 

The Basics

 

Let's start with who is eligible.

• Players who were 18-years-old when they signed as an international free agent or draft pick signed in 2013. This group includes players such as Kohl Stewart and Lewin Diaz.
• College players selected in the 2014 Draft. This category includes the likes of Nick Burdi and Jake Reed.
• Players who are not yet minor league free agents and have been eligible in previous seasons. Luke Bard and Ryan Eades are two from this group.

For much more on the players who are eligible for the Rule 5 draft, with the exception of the three players added to the 40-man roster, click here.

 

To make an MLB selection, a team must pay $100,000. That player needs to be on the drafting team’s 25-man roster all season or be offered back to the original team for $50,000. The other option is that the teams can work out a trade. The Twins have examples of what can happen with their five most recent picks.

• Scott Diamond – Twins selected him from the Braves. He did not make the opening day roster, but the Twins and Braves were able to work out a trade. Diamond was taken off of the 40-man roster and the Twins sent RHP Billy Bullock to Atlanta.
• Terry Doyle – The Twins selected Doyle from the White Sox organization. He was returned to Chicago late in spring training.
• Ryan Pressly – The Twins drafted Pressly from the Red Sox organization. He remained on the Twins roster the entire 2013 season. He was able to be sent back to AAA during the 2014 season and pitched well enough to be called up during the season’s second half.
• JR Graham - The Twins selected Graham from the Atlanta organization. He spent an entire season on the Twins roster in 2015 only to be DFAd less than two months into the 2016 season.
• Justin Haley - The Twins selected Miguel Diaz from the Brewers organization with the top pick in the 2016 Rule 5. They traded down and got starter Justin Haley. He made the roster and made a few appearances. He spent a couple of stints on the DL before the Twins sent him back to the Red Sox.

Who The Twins Could Lose

• Throughout the week, we have heard from several sources that Nick Burdi is very likely be be selected. The flame-thrower had Tommy John surgery in June and will likely miss much of the 2018 season. If he does, the requirement of staying on a team's active roster will carry into the 2019 season.
• Jake Reed and Luke Bard are two other relievers that I feel have a chance at least to be selected. They are both hard-throwing relievers who finished 2017 in AAA. They both get a lot of movement. They could be stashed on an MLB roster, but they are also guys who could contribute in 2018.
• Lewin Diaz is less likely to be selected due to his proximity and his lack of position flexibility.
• Ryan Eades had a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League and did have a couple of appearances in AAA late in the season.
• Kohl Stewart was the Twins top pick in 2014 out of high school in Houston. He's put up strong ERAs (until 2017), but he's never put up the strikeout numbers that the front office might hope for.

Who The Twins Could Pick

 

I don't know if the Twins will make a pick. My general theory is that a team should almost always take a Rule 5 pick and see how it goes. The Twins have three open spots on the roster, so they could take three players. They won't, but they could take one. Here are two good sources for lists of who might be available.

• Baseball America- 91 names
• MLB.com

The Twins have the 20th pick in the Rule 5 draft (as they will next June in the Rule 4 draft). However, several teams ahead of them have full 40-man rosters so they won't be able to make a pick. Some teams may pass.

 

 

Minor League Rule 5 Draft

 

Shortly after the Major League Rule 5 draft, the Minor League (AAA) portion will start. We'll also update you on any players the Twins gain or lose in that draft.

 

Feel free to discuss the Rule 5 draft before, during and after...

 

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[h2oface]

Burdi, Reed, Stewart, Bard. Such high hopes. Now willing to throw away another #1 pick. Daley must not like them at all.

[h2oface]

Falvey. Damn spell check and no edit functions from my phone...

[h2oface]

Falvey. Damn spell check and no edit functions from my phone...

[h2oface]

I quit.

[BJames]

It seem weird to see that the Twins might lose pitchers in the Rule 5 Draft.  We've had such a shortage and these guys never got much of a shot in AAA.  Fingers are crossed that we don't lose them.  I'd like to see all of them at AAA next year. 

[Seth Stohs]

I'm willing to let it play out. In other words, they left four open spots on the 40 man roster by leaving Burdi, Reed, Stewart, Bard, etc. off of the 40 man roster. They used one spot on Michael Pineda. Let's see how they fill the 40.

 

But, I tend to agree... If you're looking for arms, Burdi at least feels like a big one, though we know the injury risk. And Reed hasn't put up the numbers to match his 'stuff.' 

 

So, I also understand taking the risk of leaving them off. 

[SarasotaBill]

Not protecting Burdi is Falvey's biggest mistake.

A team only needs to carry him for 90 days (half of the full year since he'll be on the 60 day DL). In addition, 30 of those 90 days will be in September.

So a team essentially needs to carry Burdi on the 24 man roster for 60 days excluding September (2/5 of the full year minus September).

Plus the flexibility to take him off the 60 day DL at their preferred time.

[Tom Froemming]

Always have to remember the team knows more than we (or any of the other teams) do about their guys. There's a reason why Burdi was unprotected. There's a reason why he was almost traded to the Braves. There's also a reason why the Braves opted to take another prospect for Jaime Garcia.

 

I'm sure the Twins would prefer to keep Burdi (and everybody else) rather than lose them for nothing, but there's always the chance a guy gets drafted and then returned or the Twins even have the opportunity to trade to get a guy back.

[theBOMisthebomb]

I recommend the Twins take the next Johan Santana-type success story.

[ppearson50]

I would rather the Twins sign a reliever but they are apparently unwilling to go over a one year deal for a reliever from another team. That is the same strategy that Terry Ryan used. 

[zenser]

I would have much rather added Burdi to the 40 man, let him rehab and have the option to option him to the minors than take a flyer on a guy that eats up a spot on the 25 man roster.  I hope they don't select anyone.  Not the kind of roster move I want to see at this point. 

[zenser]

Burdi to Philly.

[olivia11]

Phillies select Burdi with #4 pick

[drock2190]

Bard to Angels!

[drjim]

I'm pretty indifferent to losing Bard, but it is still surprising to me they didn't protect Burdi, unless they have no confidence in his ability to recover.

 

Smart of them to leave Diaz unprotected. Going to need that extra option (assuming he even makes it that far).

[jud6312]

Wow, color me underwhelmed.

 

Kinley's numbers look like absolute garbage above A+. I understand not protecting Bard, but losing Burdi and drafting what appears to be Jim Hoey 2.0 is just asinine. 

[whosafraidofluigirussolo]

I guess I wonder what distinguishes the hard-throwing reliever with questionable control they took from the one(s) they lost. First instinct is I'd rather have Bard still in the system than Kinley, but that probably has as much to do with valuing the guy I've heard of as anything.

[Dantes929]

 

I recommend the Twins take the next Johan Santana-type success story.

Was just reading Tom's comment about Burdi being left off the roster for a reason and thought "someone left Santana off their roster for some reason also"   

 

Can someone explain the downside of keeping Burdi on the roster while we have 4 open spots?    Why don't they always have 40 filled and then take guys off as needed rather than take 4 guys off in anticipation of acquiring 4 different guys.   What is the value of having a spot available ahead of time?

[DocBauer]

Always have to remember the team knows more than we (or any of the other teams) do about their guys. There's a reason why Burdi was unprotected. There's a reason why he was almost traded to the Braves. There's also a reason why the Braves opted to take another prospect for Jaime Garcia.

 

I'm sure the Twins would prefer to keep Burdi (and everybody else) rather than lose them for nothing, but there's always the chance a guy gets drafted and then returned or the Twins even have the opportunity to trade to get a guy back.

 

This!

 

I also would have liked to keep Burdi and hope we get him back or don't end up regretting losing him. But he has barely pitched in two seasons. Further, whatever team he ends up on has to carry him on the active roster for 90 days service time or he is returned to the Twins. Even a rebuilding team with a poor record, IMHO, would be hard pressed to keep him and stash him in the pen for that long.

[jud6312]

 

I guess I wonder what distinguishes the hard-throwing reliever with questionable control they took from the one(s) they lost. First instinct is I'd rather have Bard still in the system than Kinley, but that probably has as much to do with valuing the guy I've heard of as anything.

Looking at Kinley's numbers above A+ would say that you're probably right in valuing Bard over Kinley. Aside from Ks, everything else looks really, really rough.

[Old Twins Cap]

Cishek gone as well.

 

Once again, Twins slow on the draw as the reliever market started rolling.

 

They won't win World Series in 2018 in any event, so maybe it's about defining what that window of competitiveness means.  

 

Or, something.

 

Darvish or bust at this point.

[nicksaviking]

I'm actually more disappointed in losing Bard. He was finally healthy, putting up big strikeout numbers in the high minors and could have been a contributor right away had he pitched like he did last year. 

 

Luckily both Philly and the Angels have been making fairly aggressive noise this offseason, hopefully they both are competitive this year and can't afford to waste a 25-man spot if either struggle.

 

This Kinley signing looks completely bizarre. His numbers look so pedestrian and his lack of success above A ball is clear. He looks like such an unnatural selection that I can make no other conclusions other than someone in the front office has some deep dive knowledge about this guy or they just picked a name out of a hat.

[zenser]

Burdi traded to Pittsburgh

 

[DocBauer]

Have to admit, I don't understand the Kinley selection rather than keeping one of our own. I know it's a flier, and he can easily be removed to make room for someone else, but it's a head scratcher to me.

[Vanimal46]

Why are we wasting time with another Rule 5 pick? I can only hope the leash is extremely short.

 

I don't mind losing Burdi and Bard because odds are they'll rot on on MLB bench or get sent back to MN.

[Steve Lein]

Knew it was coming in reference to Burdi, which is why I would have had him in my "for sure" adds to 40-man group.

 

Think it's pretty easy for the Phillies or whoever to keep him given his injury status. 

 

The way I look at it, if Kinley is the guy the Twins selected, who would you rather have? Burdi or him? It's unequivocally Burdi if you ask me (heck, I'd rather still have Bard too). I think this is a mark in the negative column for the FO. Burdi is going to close games if he can stay healthy. That's the big question though. How healthy will he be? There was enough on his medical report for the Braves to say no on a trade for him.

 

Edit: Twins must have good presence in Dominican Winter League. Kinley's numbers there thus far: 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 18.0 IP, 4 H's, 8 BB, 29 K's, 0.67 WHIP.

 

 

Edited December 14, 2017 by Steve Lein

[tarheeltwinsfan]

 

Was just reading Tom's comment about Burdi being left off the roster for a reason and thought "someone left Santana off their roster for some reason also"   

 

Can someone explain the downside of keeping Burdi on the roster while we have 4 open spots?    Why don't they always have 40 filled and then take guys off as needed rather than take 4 guys off in anticipation of acquiring 4 different guys.   What is the value of having a spot available ahead of time?

Yes, please, someone explain this.

[gunnarthor]

Well, if the Bucs traded for Burdi, I think it's a lock that they'll keep him next year when he's recovering from TJ surgery. Bummer but with his injury history, I'll give the FO another pass here. 

[Doomtints]

*shrug*

I honestly couldn't say if any of these guys will eventually provide value. The Twins need more than just arms, they need dependable arms / good arms. Just having pitchers with a pulse hasn't worked out for them. I couldn't say if losing Burdi will ultimately matter....