Article: Twins Trade Lance Lynn to Yankees

[jkcarew]

I think the point with Austin is that he can hit left-handed pitching, and for power. Look at the numbers against lefties, not the overall numbers. That...particularly if/when Dozier is gone and Sano has yet to find his way...makes him a potentially better fit than LoMo. Based on the scarcity of 25-man spots available to position players, Austin would have to improve at least some against righties to have a shot....but I’m sure that’s the thought in accepting him in the deal.

[NewClearHarley]

 

I suspect the narrative on Austin will be: he just needs a change of scenery, or coaching maybe. He zoomed up the prospect list in 2012 and ended up at AA. It's been a very slow rise since. 

 

In the majors, he's shown no plate discipline (53K vs 8BB this year) and it wasn't great in AAA either. The right-handed batter has shown one skill - he has slugged around southpaws. It's only 104 plate appearances, but he has a 961 OPS, and it's been consistent from year to year. 

that is good because someone who can crush southpaws is something our offense has been sorely lacking

[twinssouth]

Like the trade, surprising they got anything for Lynn. Per MLB, Meija is scheduled to take Lynns start on Wednesday. I was hoping Gonsalves or Romero would get the start. We need to see what we have with all these young pitchers.

[NewClearHarley]

 

Austin was a rousing 3 for 24 with 15 Ks in his last 7 games with the Yankees back in late-May/early-June.

and yet many on the twittersverse were begging the yanks to keep playing him and dump Bird

[Otto von Ballpark]

Yeah, that Robin Ventura really didn’t pan out.

Ventura was wrapping up his 4th full MLB season when he charged Nolan Ryan. At the time, Ventura was about to win his 3rd Gold Glove (although obviously not a boxing glove ). He was even an all-star the previous year. Not quite a rookie anymore. (Unless there is another Ventura mound-charging incident to which you are referring.)

 

I guess relative to Nolan Ryan, though, everyone was a rookie.

Edited July 31, 2018 by spycake

[MikeW]

Next time the Twins hit the All Star break in contention, several of these minor leaguers will be used as trade chips.

[USAFChief]

 

Next time the Twins hit the All Star break in contention, several of these minor leaguers will be used as trade chips.

Maybe we can get Pressly back.

[Chthulu]

Like the trade, surprising they got anything for Lynn. Per MLB, Meija is scheduled to take Lynns start on Wednesday. I was hoping Gonsalves or Romero would get the start. We need to see what we have with all these young pitchers.

Meija only just turned 25.

Edited July 31, 2018 by Chthulu

[NewClearHarley]

Here is why this trade is phenomenal:

 

1) We open up a slot in our starting rotation for one of Romero, Gonsalves, or Mejia

 

2) We add a much needed RH power bat that was not playing regularly with the Yankees because he was blocked and that can play more positions than Kennys Vargas

 

3) We dump half of Lynn's salary

 

4) We get a teenage flier pitcher

 

5) We get to watch Lynn get LIT up at Yankees' stadium.

[purplesoldier4u]

 

AS of the beginning of this year, Fan Graphs did not list Luis Rijo as one of the top 27 prospect in the organization, though they did list him at a "Future Back-End Starter."

The NYY minor league system is some kind of awesome! They keep dumping talent and they're still loaded!

[Twins33]

Maybe Lynn's last start--6 innings, only 2 earned runs, a 96 mph fastball, some Ks--against the Red Sox made Lynn attractive to the Yankees.

Probably helped, but he's been decent for awhile.

 

Hard to watch, but not absolutely horrible stats since May (4.12 ERA or so from May to now). That's basically the Lynn I expected to get when the Twins signed him.

 

That being said, really like the trade.

[Danchat]

It sounds like the Yankees are going to use Lynn as the long reliever and that's why they moved on from Adam Warren... which still puzzles me because they're giving a very good reliever in Warren to the Mariners, who are direct competition to them, but whatever, hopefully it backfires. Lynn should be better as a long reliever, though.

[glunn]

 

Luis Rijo – 18-years-old, RHP – The Yankees signed Rijo in 2015 and he has one year of DSL experience under his belt and is playing well in his first taste of the GCL. He has a 3.75 ERA and 49 K : 9 BB in 48 innings this season. He’s a low velocity guy, sitting in the high 80’s, low 90’s right now. He has good secondary pitches though and at his age should add some velocity as the years go on.  from http://bronxbaseballdaily.com/2017/09/whos-hot-on-the-farm-rookie-leagues/

I agree about potential improved velocity as he ages, which could raise his ceiling. 

[glunn]

 

The NYY minor league system is some kind of awesome! They keep dumping talent and they're still loaded!

It seems to me that the Yankees excel in player development/coaching.

 

[Mike Sixel]

They spend a lot on SS in the IFA market....heck, they just traded for more budget, and signed the number 9 ranked guy.......

[PseudoSABR]

 

Maybe we can get Pressly back.

That's optimistic with you thinking we'll contend next year.

[Otto von Ballpark]

That's optimistic with you thinking we'll contend next year.

Well, Pressly could sign somewhere as a free agent, and then get traded later too...

[old nurse]

 

Maybe we can get Pressly back.

Optimism from the Chief that the Twins will be in contention before the All Star break before Pressly retires.  I would rather be optimistic that Alcala would be more than capable of providing what Pressly has.

[KGB]

 

The NYY minor league system is some kind of awesome! They keep dumping talent and they're still loaded!

 

Every year the Yankees sign 4-5 top 30 international prospects. They trade marginal players for international bonus cap, then trade for a starter from the Twins to help with the current season and have the Twins send them a couple million in the trade.  Then use that money to pay for the international players.

 

In a couple years, you can use that prospect you spend $500,000 on in a trade (only 18 year old, lot's of potential) and save millions in MLB salary (also saving the Yankees tax dollars).  I think they have figured out the system.

 

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Like the trade, surprising they got anything for Lynn. Per MLB, Meija is scheduled to take Lynns start on Wednesday. I was hoping Gonsalves or Romero would get the start. We need to see what we have with all these young pitchers.

 

Meijia is out of options next year. Gonsalves is not. They are probably going to get a look at Mejia first, as a decision will need to be made there.

[Thrylos]

 

Vargas days may soon be over even as a Rochester Red Wing. I think we will see as Vargas get designated for assignment at or near the end of the AAA season.

 

Been there done that and outrighted him.  He is not on the 40-man roster and will be a minor league Free Agent after the last AAA game

 

 

[Thrylos]

So far this Front Office has done a nice job getting something for the players who will be free agents this off-season.  Santana, Rodney, and Dozier should hopefully follow today.

 

At the end $10M + the 2018 second round pick + lost opportunity in 2018 might weigh more  that what Tyler Austin and Luis Rijo will bring to the Twins, however this Front Office has proven that it can take a calculated chance and if it does not work out, cut its losses, which is a breathe of fresh air for the Twins, and about all one can ask from the Front Office.

[USAFChief]

 

That's optimistic with you thinking we'll contend next year.

Well, you know me, Pseudo. Sunshine and rainbows.

[wabene]

Isn't Austin the a-hole who tried to take out Brock Holt at second and then blew his top when he got called on it? Maybe a clubhouse cancer ... Rookies charging the mound are more pre-madonna than fiery spirit.

In my opinion nothing existed before the Ultimate Diva!

[Otto von Ballpark]

In my opinion nothing existed before the Ultimate Diva!

"Back in my day, ballplayers weren't pre-Madonna's -- they were pre-Cher's!"

[wabene]

Meija only just turned 25.

Yah I don't think we should sleep on Mejia he is a nice rotation depth piece who could go on a run.

Edit: oops out of options next year. As stated above they need to see what they have this year

[wabene]

It seems to me that the Yankees excel in player development/coaching.

That's why I'm in the show me category on us fixing a failed Yankee prospect

[Thrylos]

 

That's why I'm in the show me category on us fixing a failed Yankee prospect

 

Austin has a career 268 PAs and 96 OPS+ (a hair below league average.)    If he is a "failed prospect" after 268 PAs, what was Torri Hunter with a 71 OPS+ after his first 440 career PAs?  Not to mention certain other current Twins?

 

Matter of fact Joe Mauer has 100 OPS+ this season and Austin 98.   I guess that the people who are calling for Mauer to return, based on his and Austin's performance, should be more than happy to have a replacement with about the same performance...

[howieramone2]

 

They could have gotten a dirty diaper in return for Lynn. This hopefully opens up a rotation spot for Romero or Gonsalves for the rest of the season. Addition by subtraction.

He has 7 times more wins than Whatsamatta Yu.

[howieramone2]

 

Maybe Lynn's last start--6 innings, only 2 earned runs, a 96 mph fastball, some Ks--against the Red Sox made Lynn attractive to the Yankees.

Lynn is a solid 3 with a good track record. He always was our best trade chip. Note, the one player who may help this year was part of the return.