Article: Twins DFA Kennys Vargas, Acquire OF Cave From Yankees

[LaBombo]

 

http://www.quickmeme.com/img/49/498794749f1ab35f1868fc509391c6f875e514ae6857d2382deee16176442a1e.jpg

 

Edited March 17, 2018 by LaBombo

[LaBombo]

 

 

I think Granite is at risk in the Cave trade.

 

 

Possible beat writer headline idea: 'Granite crushed by Cave in trade' ?

Edited March 17, 2018 by LaBombo

[jorgenswest]

They need both Granite and Cave. Their position player depth on the 40 was very thin.

[LaBombo]

 

Falvey suggested that he profiles better in the corners, but is usable in center. 

 

"Usable" in center... so is that the scout-speak equivalent of describing a blind date as having a nice personality?

 

Just from what I've read so far he sounds a bit like the store brand version of Kepler. But a good store brand like Kirkland vitamins, not a bad store brand like Krogers' toilet paper.

 

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that the Twins won't expect Cave to sustain the .414 BABIP he notched in AAA last year. The .266/.317/.516 line that came with his AA BABIP of .319 seems more representative of his real ability level.

 

And Gil looked like a promising prospect based on the exhaustive 30 seconds of research I did on his scouting reports, so now I need a new low A pitching prospect to project unrealistic expectations onto. Any suggestions?

 

Edited March 17, 2018 by LaBombo

[USAFChief]

These guys bring two different skill sets.  In the same league (IL) Cave hit .324/.367/.554, with .403 wOBA,  156 wRC+, 6.1 BB% & 27.6 K% and stole 1 base and Granite .338/.392/.475, with .386 wOBA, 144 wRC+, 7.7 BB% & 10.9 K% and stole 15 bases.

 

They both can play CF, but Garver is much better there.

If Garver is much better in center, I pray Buxton stays healthy.

[operation mindcrime]

Do we get 10 days to trade Kennys Vargas? \m/

[LaBombo]

 

Likely depth insurance in case Rosario does not recover as quickly as hoped.

 

This worries me a little if it's a trend. The latest issue of Kiplingers' specifically criticized outfielder depth insurance as second to only home appliance repair insurance as a bad investment.

Edited March 17, 2018 by LaBombo

[Otto von Ballpark]

Do we get 10 days to trade Kennys Vargas? \m/

DFA used to be 10 days, now it is just 7 days. We could also waive him, which I think would have to be done within 4 days (as waivers takes 3 days). If he went unclaimed, we could outright him off the 40-man roster to the minors.

[Otto von Ballpark]

"Usable" in center... so is that the scout-speak equivalent of describing a blind date as having a nice personality?

 

Just from what I've read so far he sounds a bit like the store brand version of Kepler. But a good store brand like Kirkland vitamins, not a bad store brand like Krogers' toilet paper.

 

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that the Twins won't expect Cave to sustain the .414 BABIP he notched in AAA last year. The .266/.317/.516 line that came with his AA BABIP of .319 seems more representative of his real ability level.

 

And Gil looked like a promising prospect based on the exhaustive 30 seconds of research I did on his scouting reports, so now I need a new low A pitching prospect to project unrealistic expectations onto. Any suggestions?

There's this kid Kirkland who is usable. Another one named Kroger who has a nice personality.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

So, SOOOO disappointed it turned out to be Jake Cave instead of Nick. Couldn't they at least have gotten one of the current or former Bad Seeds, I'm thinking maybe Toby Dammit or Kid Congo Powers for a low A prospect?

https://youtu.be/FG0-cncMpt8

 

I had the same thought. Maybe Antony will put a piano in the locker room just to see if Cave can play it...

[Otto von Ballpark]

Interestingly, Cave was selected in the Rule 5 draft (2nd overall) by Cincinnati in December 2015, but returned to the Yankees by opening day 2016. That was the first year he was eligible for Rule 5. He then went unselected in December 2016, and the Yankees protected him with a 40-man roster spot before the Dec. 2017 draft.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

They need both Granite and Cave. Their position player depth on the 40 was very thin.

now all they need is a left handed outfielder named Quarry and the screwball comedy script writes itself

[PseudoSABR]

 

Interestingly, Cave was selected in the Rule 5 draft (2nd overall) by Cincinnati in December 2015, but returned to the Yankees by opening day 2016. That was the first year he was eligible for Rule 5. He then went unselected in December 2016, and the Yankees protected him with a 40-man roster spot before the Dec. 2017 draft.

That interesting, in that we're not the only team to see Cave as roster spot worthy, even before his swing adjustment, on which so much depends.  (As you seem to point up thread, it's the three options that add necessary patience to determine whatever value Cave has.)

Edited March 17, 2018 by PseudoSABR

[LaBombo]

 

Do we get 10 days to trade Kennys Vargas? \m/

 

Only in his original packaging and with a copy of our receipt. I believe there's a 15% restocking fee also.

[Rosterman]

I think with Rosario pulling up a tad lame, the Twins want more protection than Granite or Grossman or any of the AAAA guys might give them. Enough that they added him to the 40-man. He has some punch, some power, and can play all three outfield spots...is he a betterfit that Grossma, who could be cut and only paid a fraction of hismarbitration salary. Only time will tell.

 

Injuries are always a surprise. Thought they would hold off until the absolute end on Vargas. See if maybe can flip him to someone for a 19-year-old prospect, yes?

[JustinCB]

Met Luis Gil on the backfields in Instructs in 2016 while he was rehabbing, good kid skinny as a pole at the time, the Yanks see a kid set to breakout this year like Graterol broke out last year.  Good velo with reportedly good spin rate, a nice lotto ticket for the Yanks.

 

Cave was highly expendable for the Yanks with their OF depth.

 

Seems highly expendable for the Twins too...

[shs_59]

If Vargas had 600 AB's like Lo Mo had last year . I bet he'd hit 30+ bombs too and you would think his batting average would be a bit better than Morrison's .245 ish but Looks lo Mo has more speed and a better OB %

[TFRazor]

"A left-handed swinger whose 1.000 OPS against righties"

 

Sweet bambino, what was the sample size on that OPS?   o_0

[Otto von Ballpark]

"A left-handed swinger whose 1.000 OPS against righties"

 

Sweet bambino, what was the sample size on that OPS? o_0

308 PA: https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=cave--000jak&type=bgl&year=2017

[BJames]

Well, we still need a RH Bat to play outfield.  This signing hurts or backs-off the time table of a couple of guys.  Besides, Vargas, who will benefit from this LaMarre who is batting .500 this spring now has little or no chance with the Twins.  This gives Granite competition and now Wade could stay down in AA?  Also, it might effect when Rooker gets a call-up or if Outfield is now out for him. We'll see, competition is a good thing and the Highest Outfield prospects are Kirilloff,Rooker (who might not see the outfield much) and Baddoo, all of them are a couple of years out.  At the end of the day, this years team has gotten better and that's what you what to do without over paying or singing someone to to long a contract.  I'd give the F.O a Solid A for this fall. Mistakes- not bringing in a RH outfielder for S.T. and letting 3 relief pitchers and Vargas go for nothing.  

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Well, we still need a RH Bat to play outfield. This signing hurts or backs-off the time table of a couple of guys. Besides, Vargas, who will benefit from this LaMarre who is batting .500 this spring now has little or no chance with the Twins. This gives Granite competition and now Wade could stay down in AA? Also, it might effect when Rooker gets a call-up or if Outfield is now out for him. We'll see, competition is a good thing and the Highest Outfield prospects are Kirilloff,Rooker (who might not see the outfield much) and Baddoo, all of them are a couple of years out. At the end of the day, this years team has gotten better and that's what you what to do without over paying or singing someone to to long a contract. I'd give the F.O a Solid A for this fall. Mistakes- not bringing in a RH outfielder for S.T. and letting 3 relief pitchers and Vargas go for nothing.

Rooker’s destiny is in his own hands. Depth isn’t affecting Rooker’s development plan.

 

Wade might be impacted, but if he makes his case, they’ll figure out the finagling.

 

Seems like Levi Michael has to figure some things out... he hasn’t been in the discussion at all.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I think Cave ends up replacing Grossman next year. Seems like the bat has a chance to be decent enough to make him a very dangerous 4th OF... and his defense is much better. This should be depth this season, but if his breakout is for real, this is a great move.

[Dave The Dastardly]

 

Possible beat writer headline idea: 'Granite crushed by Cave in trade' ?

Sounds kinda rocky to me.

[Otto von Ballpark]

now all they need is a left handed outfielder named Quarry and the screwball comedy script writes itself

The Twins front office is mining for that player, as we speak!

[ashbury]

Possible beat writer headline idea: 'Granite crushed by Cave in trade' ?

I dig.

[Riverbrian]

Personally... I'm still not sure if I like Morrison over Vargas but... Molly will play Morrison while he has already shown that Vargas getting playing time isn't a always a primary necessity...  so the decision is easy to make. 

 

I agree with everyone who hopes that Vargas lands with someone who will give him 500 plus AB's.

 

That's the only way I'm going to find out what we had. 

 

 

[jorgenswest]

I wonder if Vargas will have a beak out season like Morrison in his late 20s. I would have had more confidence in Morrison though. The strike out and walk rates distinguish the two. I don’t think Vargas will walk enough to succeed with a strike out rate near 30%. Morrison changed his approach last year and his k% went up but so did his bb%.

 

Vargas really needed to show progress last year and the nearly 500 plate appearances between Rochester and Minnesota at age 26 were underwhelming for a DH.

[Vanimal46]

Good luck to Vargas. I just don't see him getting 500+ PAs in the MLB. To me it's made sense for over a year that he makes his way to Korea or Japan. He could be a folk hero there hitting 40+ HRs and try his luck again in a year or 3.

[Squirrel]

I think the writing was on the wall for some time, but especially after the Morrison signing. I always feel bad for these guys at this point because it's a long fought-for dream and I hope for Vargas it's not over yet. The one thing that makes this an 'awwww' moment for me is that he will miss out playing with the Twins when they are in PR. But, that's the reality of baseball ...

[Twodogs]

I too hope Vargas hooks on with a team and provides 25 - 30 bombs for someone. Good luck Kennys.