Twins Claim Oliver Drake, Johnny Field

[Seth Stohs]

The Twins announced this afternoon that they have claimed RHP Oliver Drake from the Blue Jays and IF Johnny Field from the Rays. Drake will join the team tomorrow (Saturday). Field will report to Rochester.

 

 

Official Press Release: 

 

Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN – The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have claimed two players off waivers, right-handed pitcher Oliver Drake from Toronto and infielder Johnny Field from Tampa Bay.  Drake will join the Twins tomorrow and wear uniform number 32 and Field will report to Triple-A Rochester.

 

Drake, 31, pitched in 14 games this season between Milwaukee, Cleveland, Los Angeles-AL and Toronto, combining to go 0-1 with an 8.59 ERA (14.2 IP, 14 ER), two walks and 14 strikeouts.  In parts of four major league seasons, he has gone 5-6 with a 5.00 ERA (117.0 IP, 65 ER), 51 walks and 129 strikeouts.

 

Field, 26, played in 63 games for the Rays this season, hitting .213 (36-for-169) with nine doubles, six home runs, 14 RBI, 20 runs scored and four stolen bases.  He was drafted by Tampa Bay in the fifth round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft and appeared in 538 minor league games over six seasons in the Rays minor league system, hitting .272 (567-for-2084) with 162 doubles and 53 home runs.

[Mike Sixel]

Drake is 31? Ugh, not interested. Is this a rebuilding year, or not? cripes.

 

Indifferent on Field.

[bluechipper]

The Matt Magill signing worked out ok, so maybe the Drake claim will work. He at least strikes guys out.

[Tom Froemming]

"infielder Johnny Field"

 

Jesus, even the Twins don't know who this guy is! He's never played infield. Pretty sure they're mixing him up with former Red Wings infielder Tommy Field.

[zenser]

What is the purpose of this?  There are plenty of arms in AAA that I want to see if they have what it takes at the MLB level.

[FlauerPauer]

BOOOO!! Just another stupid move by this front office. I just got this notification and am still scratching my head WTF?!

 

These dudes gotta go!

[howieramone2]

 

Drake is 31? Ugh, not interested. Is this a rebuilding year, or not? cripes.

 

Indifferent on Field.

We aren't rebuilding. We still have the core of 4 plus Rosario and Polanco. No one knew Buxton and Sano would crap the bed.

 

By the way, if we lose Buxton in free agency, we just got his replacement from the Astros. Life is fair.

[twins_89]

I look at these additions as why not type of moves. The Twins had 2 open spots on the 40 man roster and rather than leaving them empty claimed a couple of placeholder guys. I seriously doubt either Drake or Field will be on the 40 man roster in a few weeks.

[Mike Sixel]

 

We aren't rebuilding. We still have the core of 4 plus Rosario and Polanco. No one knew Buxton and Sano would crap the bed.

 

By the way, if we lose Buxton in free agency, we just got his replacement from the Astros. Life is fair.

 

What are they doing the rest of this year, if not rebuilding and seeing what they have? We are talking about this move, this year.......This move, this year.

[Rigby]

Tanking 101.

[zenser]

They could have picked up Greg Holland instead.  If we are picking up cast offs, why not bring him in. 

[70charger]

Not a fan. What's the point of this?

[FlauerPauer]

 

They could have picked up Greg Holland instead.  If we are picking up cast offs, why not bring him in. 

 

 

To be fair, no other organization has picked him up either. These moves are still inexcusable.

[h2oface]

Dumpster Diving. With all the prospects we have that should get a look, the FO does this. What a joke.

[Rigby]

Wonder what Jason McLeod's up to??

[h2oface]

 

To be fair, no other organization has picked him up either. These moves are still inexcusable.

 

To be fair, then why wouldn't this FO do it? Look what they just did!

[FlauerPauer]

 

To be fair, then why wouldn't this FO do it? Look what they just did!

 

You're right. That's why this move in inexcusable. Falvey and Lavine are jokes.

[Tom Froemming]

 

What are they doing the rest of this year, if not rebuilding and seeing what they have? We are talking about this move, this year.......This move, this year.

 

They could have picked up Greg Holland instead.  If we are picking up cast offs, why not bring him in. 

I'm not defending these moves, but to be fair, Holland would be a free agent at the end of this season. If Drake somehow miraculously sticks around, he can be controlled through 2022 via arbitration, Field even longer. So there is potential that these moves could be for beyond 2018 ... like a 0.1% potential, but still.

[Doomtints]

Accept for the sake of argument for just one moment that the Twins might know more about these players than we do. 

 

Let this play out before throwing your computers out the window.

[Vanimal46]

WTF. Why?

[jorgenswest]

Two thoughts...

 

-Most of the players acquired are in A ball or below. I don’t find adding a pitcher and middle infielder to the organization for this month worthy of outrage. Let’s see who is on the 40 this winter.

 

- I really appreciate those who remember that these are men working hard fighting to stay in the game. There should never be a need to characterize anyone as trash from the bottom of dumpster.

[Rosterman]

Do the Twins know something we don't know?

 

Both went thru waivers. Okay, only a small percentage of American League teams passed,

 

But, throwing away money. We still have Motter and Petit at AAA. Is Belisle finally leaving? What does this move say to folks like Duffey, Curtiss and Busenitz?

[Brandon]

Since we already gave up this year, why not. We find lots of treasure on the scrap heap all the time.. .McGill, Grossman, Pressly if you count rule 5 as scrap heap, Kintzler, LaMarre, i know there is more. Matt Guerrier....

 

Though i would like to see our scrap heap guys get a chance. If we are gonna tank it would be cool to see our fringies get a chance to see if they stick.

[Han Joelo]

Was there an open spot on the 25 man?  If not, who is going?

[Obsvr]

 

To be fair, no other organization has picked him up either. These moves are still inexcusable.

Really?

 

Inexcusable?

 

lol...cmon.  This is a lost year...if you pay attention, clearly the FO has a plan.  Why bring up guys that need more seasoning in the minors?  

 

If they had guys in the minors that they felt were ready to audition for a spot, i'm sure they would bring the up.  Why waste options on guys that aren't ready?  Makes more sense to keep them where they are to work on the things they need to do to be ready.

 

That gives the FO much more roster flexibility when they'll actually need it.

 

[Vanimal46]

Really?

 

Inexcusable?

 

lol...cmon. This is a lost year...if you pay attention, clearly the FO has a plan. Why bring up guys that need more seasoning in the minors?

 

If they had guys in the minors that they felt were ready to audition for a spot, i'm sure they would bring the up. Why waste options on guys that aren't ready? Makes more sense to keep them where they are to work on the things they need to do to be ready.

 

That gives the FO much more roster flexibility when they'll actually need it.

Busenitz, Curtiss, and Duffey need more AAA time? They're not young anymore. If they can't beat out Oliver effing Drake, why are they on the 40 man roster?

[gocgo]

Just when I didn't think there was any hope for my major league career....I'm putting myself on waivers.

[RaymondLuxuryYacht]

 

Accept for the sake of argument for just one moment that the Twins might know more about these players than we do. 

 

Let this play out before throwing your computers out the window.

Flagged for reasonableness

[Obsvr]

 

Busenitz, Curtiss, and Duffey need more AAA time? They're not young anymore. If they can't beat out Oliver effing Drake, why are they on the 40 man roster?

 

Why are they is a good question...none of them have been lights out in the majors...nor have they been lights out in AAA.  

 

the way this FO has been acquiring talent I think we'll see some 40 man turnover this off season.

[Danchat]

Was there an open spot on the 25 man? If not, who is going?

It better be Drake for Belisle or I might blow a gasket. Both guys seem like the type to claim and dfa later to gain control of them (like they did with motter). If they get an extended playing time then these moves are just flat out bad.