REPORT: Twins Sign RHP Mike Morin

[Nick Nelson]

Per Brandon Warne, confirmed via Darren Wolfson who says the reliever will get a spring training invite:

 

 

Actually an interesting signing, and not just because Morin's an Andover, MN native. At age 27, he has logged 174 innings in the majors with a 3.32 FIP and 1.28 WHIP. Big buy (6'4" 220) and doesn't throw too hard but has a nice changeup, which he leans on heavily. 

 

Have the Twins found their next Matt Magill?

[jokin]

 

 

Have the Twins found their next Matt Magill?

 

You mean for Red Wings bullpen depth?

 

At first glance, this one doesn't move the needle. I honestly thought he was washed up when I saw the name.

 

In the last twp seasons, he's thrown 93 AAA innings and 24 ML innings. Has he had arm trouble?

 

Career FIP/xFIP 2.89/3.44 vs RHB shows possible hidden retread value ala Magill.

 

Could be on the Rochester shuttle if he has an option left.

 

 

[notoriousgod71]

Matt Magill is not good so it's quite likely.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Could be on the Rochester shuttle if he has an option left.

No options left for Morin, he burned them in 2015-2017. Although Seattle was able to outright him to the minors 3 times last season.

[rdehring]

There's a typo in your comment, Nick.  Couldn't believe my eyes with your comment that he logged 1174 innings in the majors, it was 174.

[Vanimal46]

[diehardtwinsfan]

I really hope that this is just a depth move. 

[Squirrel]

I really hope that this is just a depth move.

 

Yeah, but given the Twins it’s more likely a ‘hope and a prayer’ move. And he’ll make the roster out of ST.

[RatherBeGolfing]

#OneOfUs strikes again

[Mr. Brooks]

No options left for Morin, he burned them in 2015-2017. Although Seattle was able to outright him to the minors 3 times last season.

Yeah, a guy like this might as well have unlimited options.

Nobody is likely to claim him, and if they do, there are 100 more just like him.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

At age 27, he has logged 174 innings in the majors with a 3.32 FIP

 

...

 

Have the Twins found their next Matt Magill?

Statistically reminds me a bit of Oliver Drake in this way:

 

Morin career: 4.66 ERA, 3.32 FIP

Drake career: 4.59 ERA, 3.47 FIP

 

Or Tyler Duffey's 2017 season:

 

Duffy 2017: 4.94 ERA, 3.72 FIP

 

Guys who can record K's and generally avoid HRs, so they have a decent FIP -- but still get hit pretty regularly in MLB.

 

Magill had the reverse discrepancy, as he gives up too many HR (plus a few walks):

 

Magill 2018: 3.81 ERA, 5.08 FIP

[Otto von Ballpark]

Fangraphs, May 2016: "Mike Morin Has Baseball’s Silliest Changeup"

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/instagraphs/mike-morin-has-baseballs-silliest-changeup/

[Thrylos]

His changeup is really intriguing (video here). 

 

If the Twins can tweak his fastball to make it a bit better than batting practice pitch, it will be interesting to see what may happen.  Zero downside. Not even a 40-man roster spot.   Plenty of upside, since he is 27 years old (a year older than Jake Reed for comparison.  Now if he had Reed's FB, with that CH....)

 

Not a bad singing at all.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

In the last twp seasons, he's thrown 93 AAA innings and 24 ML innings. Has he had arm trouble?

That's primarily just modern reliever usage.

 

Morin did miss about a month in early 2017 with "neck tightness". (Has never been on the DL with an arm issue as a pro.)

 

He also "missed" September 2018 because the Mariners declined to add him back to their 40-man roster for a September call-up.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Morin does already have 3 years and 41 days of MLB service time, so that limits his upside a little bit as compared to a guy like Magill, who came here with only 47 days service time. Limits our potential control to ~3 seasons for Morin, and after 2019 it would be at arb prices (although those would still be pretty reasonable, given his career to date).

 

Still, for a minor league deal, there's no risk at this point. It gets a little costlier if he makes the team and reduces the roster flexibility by being out of options, but hopefully he'd be making up for it with valuable performance or else he could just get cut (although it doesn't always work out that way).

[nicksaviking]

The Twins do pretty well with these signings so I'd actually be disappointed if they didn't buy a commitment-free bullpen lotto ticket this year.

 

Just so long as they aren't expecting him to help, planning on him to make the team or think that he in anyway counts as shoring up the pitching staff for 2019. He should be none of those things, he's just a cross-your-fingers-and-hope-for-Brandon-Kintzler guy.

[S.]

 

Yeah, a guy like this might as well have unlimited options.
Nobody is likely to claim him, and if they do, there are 100 more just like him.

Which brings us back to the question of why the hell do we want this guy, and how does this improve our team in any way? As others have said, lets hope this is a depth move and not a "rounding out our bullpen" move.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Yeah, but given the Twins it’s more likely a ‘hope and a prayer’ move. And he’ll make the roster out of ST.

You're ruining my Christmas

[Monkeypaws]

He was drafted twice, and selected off waivers twice - he's certainly got his admirers. 

[ashbury]

He was drafted twice, and selected off waivers twice - he's certainly got his admirers. 

Twice on waivers? Oliver Drake says, "hold my beer".

 

_{^{May 5, 2018: Purchased by the Cleveland Indians from the Milwaukee Brewers.}}

_{^{May 31, 2018: Selected off waivers by the Los Angeles Angels from the Cleveland Indians.}}

_{^{July 26, 2018: Selected off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays from the Los Angeles Angels.}}

_{^{August 3, 2018: Selected off waivers by the Minnesota Twins from the Toronto Blue Jays.}}

_{^{November 1, 2018: Selected off waivers by the Tampa Bay Rays from the Minnesota Twins.}}

_{^{November 26, 2018: Selected off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays from the Tampa Bay Rays.}}

[USAFChief]

/yawn/

[Vanimal46]

/yawn/

But wait.... There's more!

 

He's one of us.

[ashbury]

But wait.... There's more!

OK: /Ho hum/

[Danchat]

All teams make signings like this during free agency, so there's no reason to overreact and assume Morin is going to be given a role on Opening Day. Let's hope for some bullpen moves soon... hopefully soon.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

 

Per Brandon Warne, confirmed via Darren Wolfson who says the reliever will get a spring training invite:

 

 

Actually an interesting signing, and not just because Morin's an Andover, MN native. At age 27, he has logged 174 innings in the majors with a 3.32 FIP and 1.28 WHIP. Big buy (6'4" 220) and doesn't throw too hard but has a nice changeup, which he leans on heavily. 

 

Have the Twins found their next Matt Magill?

Ala Mike Pelfry?

[DocBauer]

Just a still young bullpen arm for Rochester depth which lightening could strike and turn him in to a useable arm. Nothing to get excited nor upset with.

 

I do chuckle when he is compared to Magill. Magill may not be anything special, but he was actually a decent piece in 2018 for his role. But for a "dumpster diving" addition, I still find him interesting. His FB sits consistently in the 93-95 range and his slider can just be wicked! Unfortunately, there were also games where he just walked too many guys or coughed up a dinger.

[Rosterman]

Interesting. The Twins either have guys that they expect to play into the future with the team, or guys that HAVE to play to increase their worth in the marketplace...all filling up 40-man spots. You could probably say that the ultimate "fluff" on the current 40-man are basically Granite, and maybe Slegers and one of Magill or Duffey. That's about it. Unless you sign a major league free agent, is there anyone that you will grab as a minor league free agent that is better, or shows more promise, than anyone already being paid 40-man money. 

 

Spring Training will be interesting.

 

Also, the Twins have been light in signing minor league free agents. Granted 10-12 guys from the 40-man will fill up the roster roster. There are worthy names at AA that need to advance. There are always injuries. I hope the Twins do push more "prospects" rather than fill up AA/AAA with castoffs from other teams. They added a lot of depth last season in those mid-season trades, some international grabs and all...kinda heavy in bodies at A/A+ ball for the moment.

 

Of course, veteran minor league guys do get an invite...pitchers come early to camp most of the time anyways. The biggest thing is cutting guys rather sooner than later (sending to the minors) in case they get injured in spring training while in major league camp. If they do, they collect major league roster money!

[Doomtints]

I'm starting to question the logic of getting new blood in the front office just to do the same thing.

 

It is still early but I think the current roster is largely who we can pencil in. Don't bet against Trevor May being the next closer.

[howieramone2]

 

I'm starting to question the logic of getting new blood in the front office just to do the same thing.

 

It is still early but I think the current roster is largely who we can pencil in. Don't bet against Trevor May being the next closer.

There are still 3 or 4 moves to be made. Romero is more likely to close more than May next season.

 

This is what Theo refers to as a small move. Every team, every year makes many, many of these moves. No need to exaggerate what is obviously a routine move.

[Doomtints]

I know every team makes these moves. Let's just say I have a hunch. You should have a hunch too. Even if you don't agree with all of these points, you probably agree with two or three of them:

 

1) The owner said he doesn't see the team as having much to spend this year.

2) Falvey/Levine said they learned their lesson about signing players late as they may show up unhappy about their situation and not play well. It's not "late" yet, sure, but they won't wait long after signings start en masse (which should be soon), assuming they wait for the big teams to start making moves before picking up the phone.

3) The press is reporting the Twins are all but done with signing people this year and pieces have been written about the internal options the Twins will use in relief. Not all of these articles were written in a vacuum.

4) St. Peter and Pohlad probably still have bitter memories about Bill Smith's obsession with signing relief pitchers and might be skeptical about the whole process, and might want Falvey/Levine to do the exact opposite of point #2 and instead wait until the last minute to pick up whoever is left (and cheap). Who wins that standoff and what's the end result for the team? Contrary to popular belief, good relief pitchers are not cheap, though the deals are shorter.