Twins demote Romero

[notoriousgod71]

A NINTH bullpen arm is necessary despite an off day on Monday.

[Danchat]

W-What? Why? I know Romero hasn't been very good in his past few starts, but not as bad as Odorizzi and why does Belisle need to be on this team? I've usually refrained from saying Falvey/Levine = Terry Ryan but man, we're getting there. Zero trust in these rookies... I guess we'll just lose trotting out the same veterans. Blech.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Starting to feel like they're making transactions with an eye towards next year's draft.

[old nurse]

The Twins are far closer to the 4th pick in the draft than to the playoffs.  To that end they could have kept Hughes. 

[twins_89]

My guess is Busenizt comes up for tomorrow's game and then Mejia is added later to fill Romero's spot in the rotation (with Belisle waived).

[Mike Sixel]

My guess is Busenizt comes up for tomorrow's game and then Mejia is added later to fill Romero's spot in the rotation (with Belisle waived).

My guess also.

[TheLeviathan]

I would bet this has to do with limiting his innings.  I would consider this the first sign of their intentions this year - it's sell time.  We're playing for the future now.

[yarnivek1972]

My guess is Busenizt comes up for tomorrow's game and then Mejia is added later to fill Romero's spot in the rotation (with Belisle waived).

Well, it won’t be Slegers who started tonight and most likely not Curtiss who threw 29 pitches yesterday.

[Danchat]

 

I would bet this has to do with limiting his innings.  I would consider this the first sign of their intentions this year - it's sell time.  We're playing for the future now.

But if it's about his inning limit, why not move him to the bullpen in the majors? He could be a big help there.

[Danchat]

Darren Wolfson is reporting Busenitz is coming up. It's about time.

[TheLeviathan]

 

But if it's about his inning limit, why not move him to the bullpen in the majors? He could be a big help there.

 

I would imagine they still want him starting, they'll just space him out a bit more over the next few months and we'll see him back after the deadline.  

 

I'm just speculating though.

[Kelly Vance]

I remember we talked about how they would stop his innings at some point. Some of us  agreed putting him in the BP was a way to do that, but he may have developed some trend that is tipping his pitches or something. Anyway, he will be back.

 

 

[USAFChief]

It's like they're intentionally trying to determine just exactly how far they can go before I stop paying any attention whatsoever.

[Riverbrian]

 

But if it's about his inning limit, why not move him to the bullpen in the majors? He could be a big help there.

 

1. It wasn't going to be a position player because we only have 1 Infield, 1 Outfield and 1 catching backup. 

 

On the pitching side: 

 

2. Like it or not... Belisle was signed to a guaranteed contract. In my opinion... this was a (real) bad decision but since the contract was guaranteed.... The Twins are not going to flush it after only 11 days. Matt will get some additional chances to impress us before they flush it. He wasn't an option. Don't shoot the messenger. 

 

3. Lynn, Rodney, Reed, Duke, Pressly and Magill would be exposed to waivers if taken off the 25 man. Magill is probably the only guy they could consider exposing to waivers. 

 

4. Berrios, Gibson, Hildy and Rogers can be sent down but they won't be.

 

5. This leaves your choices dwindled down to Odorizzi as the only reasonable (for front offices) option besides Romero. Odorizzi could be demoted penalty free. He has options left and has not reached 5 full years of service time and in my opinion... Odorizzi has been much worse than Romero for a significant stretch. Romero hasn't been horrible... Odorizzi has.

 

6. I believe that Romero was only supposed to be up for a taste of the big leagues. A Bridge between Hughes going away and Santana arriving. He started fantastic and Santana took to long to come back. So he may have over stayed the carefully laid plan. 

 

So why was Romero chosen? 

 

Conclusion: Eventual innings limit could be a factor but if they stop the service time accumulation in what might be a lost season. Romero can start with the big club on opening day 2019 and avoid Super-Two status down the road.  I know that some don't care much for service time rules or decisions based upon them but... all 30 teams consider them and consider them heavily. 

 

Not to be dramatic... But... It's quite possible that we won't see Romero in the big leagues again until opening day 2019. 

 

Not to be dramatic but the front office MAY... May... may...  in my opinion of course... may have pulled the plug with this move. If they thought they were still in contention. They probably hang on to Romero since he has been (while not perfect)... better.  

 

Not to be dramatic again... but my guess is that Dozier, Escobar, Morrison, Lynn, Duke and Santana are now officially on the trading block.  

 

Drama!!! 

[Otto von Ballpark]

2. Like it or not... Belisle was signed to a guaranteed contract. In my opinion... this was a (real) bad decision but since the contract was guaranteed.... The Twins are not going to flush it after only 11 days.

I think Cleveland is on the hook for Belisle's salary, less the minimum while he is on our roster. I think we could release him with nothing further owed.

[yarnivek1972]

If the Twins trade Lynn and Santana that would presumably put Romero back in the rotation, would it not? Sure, there’s Mejia and Slegers. But it’s also pretty likely neither of those two would stick until the end of the season.

[USAFChief]

I think Cleveland is on the hook for Belisle's salary, less the minimum while he is on our roster. I think we could release him with nothing further owed.

Either way, BaseballRef tells me he's on a 1.5 mil deal. Less than a mil left.

 

If that is driving this decision, we can no longer take the Twins seriously.

[mikelink45]

I do not like it.  Nothing to do with limiting innings, nothing to do with sabremetrics.  Romero is now part of the rotation and should stay there.  Why have anyone on the bench - lets just fill it with bullpen pitchers.  I am not sure what is happening to MLB.

 

[Mr. Brooks]

If the Twins trade Lynn and Santana that would presumably put Romero back in the rotation, would it not? Sure, there’s Mejia and Slegers. But it’s also pretty likely neither of those two would stick until the end of the season.

Trade Santana? He still isn't throwing sliders, last I read.

He has no value to anyone anytime soon.

[Riverbrian]

 

I think Cleveland is on the hook for Belisle's salary, less the minimum while he is on our roster. I think we could release him with nothing further owed.

 

I believe Belisle voided his deal with the Indians and was granted his release. The Twins signed him immediately to an $800,000 deal for the rest of the season. 

[Mr. Brooks]

I believe Belisle voided his deal with the Indians and was granted his release. The Twins signed him immediately to an $800,000 deal for the rest of the season.

If 800k is any factor in this decision, then this club has reached a new low.

If they are keeping him because they believe they can improve him, fine. I disagree, but fine.

If they know he's terrible but don't want to lose 800k, then they are a lost cause.

[Riverbrian]

 

If the Twins trade Lynn and Santana that would presumably put Romero back in the rotation, would it not? Sure, there’s Mejia and Slegers. But it’s also pretty likely neither of those two would stick until the end of the season.

 

Unless they are setting up for 2019 and I think they are. 

 

By keeping Romero down and using Mejia, Slegers or Gonsalves until Santana arrives... it will allow them to open 2019 with Romero on the 25 man roster and avoid Super Two Status and therefore delay his arbitration. 

 

Next possible move... not to be overly dramatic. 

 

They got about 20 days to take Buxton off of the D.L. and then send him down to Rochester for the rest of the year to keep him from Arbitration next year. I don't believe that his arbitration is anything to be feared next year in consideration of the year he is having but Arb 2 and Arb 3 can change the money quickly if he gets it right. Delaying those arbitration years might allow you to spend the money elsewhere when the pieces are in full gel. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

I believe Belisle voided his deal with the Indians and was granted his release. The Twins signed him immediately to an $800,000 deal for the rest of the season.

I believe you are correct. Wow, that move was even worse than I thought...

[Riverbrian]

 

If 800k is any factor in this decision, then this club has reached a new low.
If they are keeping him because they believe they can improve him, fine. I disagree, but fine.
If they know he's terrible but don't want to lose 800k, then they are a lost cause.

 

From a fan's perspective sure. If the team was fighting for a playoff spot sure.

 

I realize that $800k is chump change in major league baseball... However, it doesn't matter what profession you are in... You have to at least try and justify your hire. 

 

Can you imagine walking into your bosses office and saying that you just threw $800K away after 11 days time. The next question from the boss would be... If it took you 11 days to come to this conclusion... Why did you sign him in the first place? 

 

 

[DocBauer]

Thought about this for a bit before I chose to respond. There are a couple factors here to keep in mind, no matter how much I/we dont like this move.

 

1] If the ream felt they needed to make a move on the Rochester expressway, even a temporary one, thjs kind of makes sense due to options and the such. (Like it or not, Belisle will get a bit more rope).

 

2] With at least some concern over season IP totals, this could be part of the plan, even a small part.

 

3] Despite his great stuff, potential, and what he's shown, he hasn't been quite as good lately. He's not exactly the first big arm to look great, slide back a little bit, and get a milb "re-set" to build in what he's done and learned and come back. Look no further than his very talented teammate Berrios.

 

4] Honestly, other than just pulling the plug on Belisle thjs quickly...which they are not going to do...who else would they send down to play the roster game?

 

It stinks! But I think it's more roster juggling...something they did better last season IMO...and not an indictment of Romero or his potential.

[Thrylos]

 

 

 

 

Not to be dramatic again... but my guess is that Dozier, Escobar, Morrison, Lynn, Duke and Santana are now officially on the trading block. 

 

Add Rodney, subtract Santana.  He is damaged goods and unless he can prove that he can get MLB hitters out, nobody will trade for him.

[Riverbrian]

 

I believe you are correct. Wow, that move was even worse than I thought...

 

I like to give the front office the benefit of the doubt as often as I can. 

 

This Belisle signing was off the charts stupid. I want to know who the advocate was. 

[Thrylos]

I think that there is another driver regarding this decision:  They have to see what Mejia has before he runs out of options next season...

[Otto von Ballpark]

So, many of us thought it was borderline criminal not to cut Belisle after the Friday night game, given the general pen situation.

 

But if they were going to demote Romero, and waited until after the Saturday game to do so, is that even worse? That sounds like a pretty obvious roster bungling. I can't even think of a flimsy, phony rationale for it. What, they would have kept Romero if not for Odorizzi's short start? Or it took them a full 24 hours to process their thoughts on Romero?

[USAFChief]

From a fan's perspective sure. If the team was fighting for a playoff spot sure.

 

I realize that $800k is chump change in major league baseball... However, it doesn't matter what profession you are in... You have to at least try and justify your hire.

 

Can you imagine walking into your bosses office and saying that you just threw $800K away after 11 days time. The next question from the boss would be... If it took you 11 days to come to this conclusion... Why did you sign him in the first place?

It's the equivalent of telling your boss the near minimum wage kid you hired can't be trusted and you're going to replace him with a different minimum wage kid.

 

The effect on the payroll is around 1 percent.

 

I really really hope it's not about his salary.