Article: Look Who’s Back: Twins Claim Vargas

[Cody Christie]

It’s been a whirlwind week for Mr. Kennys Vargas. After spending his entire career in the Twins organization, Vargas was put on waivers earlier this week and claimed by the Reds. His tenure in a Cincinnati uniform didn’t last long.

 

Now just two days later, he finds himself back with the TwinsVargas was designated for assignment by Cincinnati and Minnesota claimed him back.

The Reds seemed like a tough spot for Vargas to fit, with Joey Votto occupying first base and no designated hitter in the National League. Because of his switch-hitting ability, there was some thought that he could serve as a bench bat or the club could try to sneak him through waivers to the minors.

 

That plan didn’t work as he is back in Minnesota.

 

Some Twins fans were a little paranoid about losing Vargas. It’s hard to blame fans for remembering when the club made one of the biggest judgment gaffes in baseball history. Letting David Ortiz go was a mistake. Even former General Manager Terry Ryan has admitted as much. But let’s make one thing clear… Kennys Vargas isn’t David Ortiz.

 

It’s easy to see why fans can see similarities between the two players. Both players fit a similar profile as large men who have little to no defensive value. Even more eerie might be the fact that the Twins let both players go entering their age-27 season. Beyond those surface level similarities, there are some stark differences between these two players.

 

Ortiz broke into the majors as a 21-year old in 1997. He played a little over 100 games through his first three seasons before becoming a regular player in 2000. From 1997-2002, he hit 266/.348/.461 (.809) while averaging 10 home runs and 18 doubles per season. He also had 339 strikeouts compared to 186 walks in 455 games.

 

His best season in Minnesota was his last as he hit .272/.339/.500 with 20 home runs and 75 RBIs in 125 games. He battled injuries throughout his time in a Twins uniform. During the 2002-2003 off-season, Ortiz was due to make roughly $2 million through the arbitration process. Matt LeCroy would take over the designated hitter role with Doug Mientkiewicz penciled in at first base. Justin Morneau was closing in on the big leagues as well.

 

“There wasn’t any one thing,” Terry Ryan told MLB.com. “If you look at his numbers across the board, they were very respectable. And not that it was totally about money, but we were a little bit strapped. That would be a good excuse, but it wasn’t that entirely. It was just a bad error in judgment of a guy’s talent.”

 

Ortiz would sign with the Red Sox for $1.25 million and the rest is history.

 

Vargas is a much different story. He made his debut as a 23-year old in 2014. During his four seasons in Minnesota, he hit .252/.311/.437 (.748) with 35 home runs and a more strikeouts (251) than hits (197). While Ortiz showed flashes of brilliance in the upper minors, Vargas posted a .248 batting average in 630 Triple-A at-bats.

 

Vargas might the definition of a replacement level player.

Ortiz became known for his clutch hits to help the Red Sox win multiple championships. Vargas struggled to be successful in high-leverage spots on rebuilding Twins teams.

 

Because both the Twins and Red Sox train in Fort Myers, Vargas and Ortiz have become acquaintances over the years. In fact, a friendship has developed between these Caribbean born players. Vargas also knows it took Ortiz multiple years to make it as a big leaguer. “He was in my spot years and years ago,” Vargas told the Pioneer Press. “He just trusted in himself, and he found a spot and (won) three World Series.”

 

Vargas is still searching for his spot and now he’s back with the organization he’s known for his entire career.

 

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[Tommygun921]

Will be interesting to see how this all plays put. Especially with Sano not receiving a suspension. Wonder if the Twins will try to sneak him thru waivers again.

[Respy]

I don't recall something like this happening before.  But, I'm not surprised.  So Cincinnati picked up Vargas hoping they could get him to clear waivers.  We decided we'd rather have him back than to let the Reds stash him in AAA (partly out of spite?).  Maybe the FO decided they plan to waive Grossman at some point.  Otherwise I don't know how they fit Vargas on the roster.

[ashbury]

I don't recall something like this happening before. 

Someone (spycake I believe) the other day kindly pointed out Adam Rosales became the subject of a turf war between Oakland and Texas a few years back:

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rosalad01.shtml

 

August 2, 2013: Selected off waivers by the Texas Rangers from the Oakland Athletics.

August 8, 2013: Selected off waivers by the Oakland Athletics from the Texas Rangers.

August 12, 2013: Selected off waivers by the Texas Rangers from the Oakland Athletics.

 

Ell Oh Ell. So let's go for the record, shall we?

[jud6312]

 

I don't recall something like this happening before.  But, I'm not surprised.  So Cincinnati picked up Vargas hoping they could get him to clear waivers.  We decided we'd rather have him back than to let the Reds stash him in AAA (partly out of spite?).  Maybe the FO decided they plan to waive Grossman at some point.  Otherwise I don't know how they fit Vargas on the roster.

It's possible that the positional flexibility of guys of like Adrianza, Escobar, Garver, and to a lesser degree Morrison, would allow them to keep Vargas and Grossman, while having Granite a call away should anything happen.

 

Buxton goes down, Kepler/Rosario shifts over. Rosario/Kepler goes down, Grossman/Garver/Adrianza/Morrison goes in.

 

Obviously not ideal, but if it's anything more than a day or two, Granite could be up quickly.

 

Or, maybe they're hoping to try to pass him through again with the final big roster purge of the spring and hope he gets lost in the shuffle and he can be one of those guys just a call away in Rochester.

[Puckett34]

Potentially huge claim. Some say he’s the next David Ortiz.

[Rosterman]

The thing is, if the Twins don't keep him on the 25-man, they have to send him thru waivers yet again. Right? He's out of options.

[jud6312]

 

The thing is, if the Twins don't keep him on the 25-man, they have to send him thru waivers yet again. Right? He's out of options.

Correct, either they think they've got enough flexibility to survive a game or two if someone were to get dinged, or they're confident they can get him through this time ... even after they and the Reds have both already failed to do so.

[jorgenswest]

It is a different context a week later. Polanco is out. Sano isn’t suspended.

 

A bench of Garver, Adrianza, Grossman and Vargas is possible. If Rosario needs the DL, Granite is a call away. Meanwhile Vargas needs to show he is a better bench bat than Grossman

[Vanimal46]

Oh boy. Game changer for this team! /s

[Halsey Hall]

Kenny is in Puerto Rico, just had a baby boy two days ago. 

[Vanimal46]

It is a different context a week later. Polanco is out. Sano isn’t suspended.

 

A bench of Garver, Adrianza, Grossman and Vargas is possible. If Rosario needs the DL, Granite is a call away. Meanwhile Vargas needs to show he is a better bench bat than Grossman

I don't see how the Polanco and Sano decisions affected Vargas coming back. Unless they're benching one of Morrison or Mauer, the situation is still the same.

[Monkeypaws]

Hehe, here is Kennys' profile pic on MLB.com. Short lived.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/images/players/head_shot/573627.jpg

 

probably photoshopped.

 

Reminds of of collecting baseball cards as a kid, and sometimes players would change teams too late to get a pic, so they would paint them:

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

What is interesting from this process is that now the Twins know no one but the Reds likely claimed Vargas ahead of them in the waiver list.

[BJames]

Can we get Chargois back too?  I like Kennys for the Bench. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

Can we get Chargois back too?

 

I was going to say, Chargois has an option remaining so he is unlikely to go on waivers again so soon. But in fact, he is also making the Dodgers opening day roster:

 

https://www.ocregister.com/2018/03/23/dodgers-season-opening-roster-starting-to-come-into-focus/

 

Claimed off waivers from the Minnesota Twins early in camp, Dodgers relief pitcher J.T. Chargois has been charged with only one run in eight Cactus League innings and allowed only two hits while striking out 10. Manager Dave Roberts indicated he will be part of the Opening Day roster.

[Vanimal46]

[HitInAPinch]

"It’s easy to see why fans can see similarities between the two players."

 

Man, not me.  I've got no idea why Twins management took Vargas back: a one dimensional who isn't very good in that dimension.   

[jud6312]

 

I was going to say, Chargois has an option remaining so he is unlikely to go on waivers again so soon. But in fact, he is also making the Dodgers opening day roster:

https://www.ocregister.com/2018/03/23/dodgers-season-opening-roster-starting-to-come-into-focus/
 

If any of the new bullpen arms tank, this could be the one that really hurts this team the most.

[Darius]

"Lets make one thing clear....Kennys Vargas is not David Ortiz."

 

To be fair, David Ortiz wasn't David Ortiz when they let him go. He was an oft-injured extremely marginal DH, and conveniently became David Ortiz after becoming hooked up with a notorious juicer (Manny). Give Kennys the same "B12 supplement," and we may have our Big Papi.

Edited March 24, 2018 by Darius

[jimmer]

 

"Lets make one thing clear....Kennys Vargas is not David Ortiz."

To be fair, David Ortiz wasn't David Ortiz when they let him go. He was an oft-injured extremely marginal DH, and conveniently became David Ortiz after becoming hooked up with a notorious juicer (Manny). Give Kennys the same "B12 supplement," and we may have our Big Papi.

Wait a minute.  Are you saying Papi juiced his whole career with Boston?

[Monkeypaws]

 

"Lets make one thing clear....Kennys Vargas is not David Ortiz."

To be fair, David Ortiz wasn't David Ortiz when they let him go. He was an oft-injured extremely marginal DH, and conveniently became David Ortiz after becoming hooked up with a notorious juicer (Manny). Give Kennys the same "B12 supplement," and we may have our Big Papi.

Except he came off a decent season and was dropped for chump change monetary reasons for LeCroy. Ouch!

[Darius]

I was going to say, Chargois has an option remaining so he is unlikely to go on waivers again so soon. But in fact, he is also making the Dodgers opening day roster:

 

https://www.ocregister.com/2018/03/23/dodgers-season-opening-roster-starting-to-come-into-focus/

 

 

Still bummed about this one.

 

I won't complain too much. They've made some savvy moves this offseason that'll likely have a much greater impact than Chagrois (Reed, Duke, Odiorizzi, Lynn). But, id take a healthy Chagrois in our bullpen over Kinley, and maybe a couple others.

 

I don't think their intent was to dump him. I think they were probably shocked when he got claimed. They tried to get cute with the roster.

Edited March 24, 2018 by Darius

[jorgenswest]

I don't see how the Polanco and Sano decisions affected Vargas coming back. Unless they're benching one of Morrison or Mauer, the situation is still the same.

Polanco was not suspended at the time Vargas was waived (to clear a spot for Cave). If he had been suspended earlier, Vargas would have remained on the 40 a few weeks longer. Sano avoids suspension lessening the need to fill the empty spot on the 40 man with an infielder.

 

The empty spot allows the Twins to try to add depth with a bench bat. They may waive him again at the roster deadline but it will be harder for teams like the Reds to find space on the 25 in that window.

[Vanimal46]

Polanco was not suspended at the time Vargas was waived (to clear a spot for Cave). If he had been suspended earlier, Vargas would have remained on the 40 a few weeks longer. Sano avoids suspension lessening the need to fill the empty spot on the 40 man with an infielder.

 

The empty spot allows the Twins to try to add depth with a bench bat. They may waive him again at the roster deadline but it will be harder for teams like the Reds to find space on the 25 in that window.

He wasn't going to take Polanco or Sano's PAs. He was going to get ~200 PAs either way.

[Twodogs]

I think playing in Fenway had more to do with Ortiz than possible juicing. I mean look how Mo Vaughn did when he left Fenway and landed in Anaheim. I think big left-handed bombers can put together Hall of Fame careers turning out side fastballs into doubles off the wall in Boston. Anywhere else they are fly balls.

[rdehring]

If they didn't plan on keeping him on the opening day roster, I don't understand why they didn't let him go thru waivers and then try to sign him to a minor league contract.  

 

Will see what they do in the next 48 hours or so.

[Vanimal46]

If they didn't plan on keeping him on the opening day roster, I don't understand why they didn't let him go thru waivers and then try to sign him to a minor league contract.  

 

Will see what they do in the next 48 hours or so.

Both the Twins and Reds tried doing exactly that. He'll be put on waivers again shortly.

[Mike Sixel]

Confused.

[Otto von Ballpark]

If they didn't plan on keeping him on the opening day roster, I don't understand why they didn't let him go thru waivers and then try to sign him to a minor league contract.

If Vargas clears waivers, he is still controlled by the team that waived him. He can't yet opt for free agency to sign with anyone else. So if the Twins want him in AAA, they have to claim him and try to waive him again.