Blake Parker Signs Officially; John Curtiss DFAd

[Seth Stohs]

Welp, you can call me surprised.

 

 

We all knew the Parker signing was happening. That was a Ken Rosenthal report a week or so ago. 

 

Earlier today, Jon Heyman tweeted that the guaranteed money in the deal was less than we thought ($1.8 million) but that there are incentives based on days on the active roster that can push it up to $3.2 million.

 

 

The news that is shocking to me is that John Curtiss was the player to be DFAd. Dude throws hard,, has some secondary pitches and a good mentality. He was probably about 8th on my personal list of guys who might be DFAd... Guess not. I assume he will be claimed by someone. 

[diehardtwinsfan]

Curtiss... wow.. would have thought Duffey would have been let go. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

A year ago, I would have been surprised.

 

But Curtiss basically had his worst BB and K rates of his pro career in Rochester last year, and he's almost 26 years old.

[Monkeypaws]

And so the last best hope of the 2014 great reliever draft is gone:

 

Burdi, Cederoth, Clay, Reed, Cutura, Steele, and now finally Curtiss.

 

This draft now riding on the shoulders of Nick Gordon.

 

Ironic that the only reliever to see significant time with the Twins from that draft was the 22nd rounder, Hildenberger.

[B Good]

 

A year ago, I would have been surprised.

 

But Curtiss basically had his worst BB and K rates of his pro career in Rochester last year, and he's almost 26 years old.

And yet Duffey, who is now 28, and pitched to a 7.20 ERA and only 6.8 K/9 rate last year still has a spot.  It probably doesn't matter as neither is likely to be a difference maker, but I just can't see how Duffey keeps clogging up a roster spot. 

[howieramone2]

I really don't think it matters. I thought a lot of the hangers-on were going to disappear. Back in the days of yore the Twins only invited 13 pitchers to spring training once. I thought it was crazy, but it ended up being one of those addition by subtraction deals.

[Squirrel]

I really do not know what to make of this FO’s decisions anymore. I know I am far from knowledgeable as they are, and don’t have all the information they do, but just don’t know what to think anymore. I’ve worked hard to give them every benefit of a doubt, but that is just impossible to do anymore.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

And yet Duffey, who is now 28, and pitched to a 7.20 ERA and only 6.8 K/9 rate last year still has a spot.  It probably doesn't matter as neither is likely to be a difference maker, but I just can't see how Duffey keeps clogging up a roster spot. 

I mean, they're both on the fringe, but I can see a case for keeping Duffey over Curtiss. Duffey has some MLB success in 2015 and 2017, and was a bit better at AAA in 2018 (similar ERA, but better peripherals and capable of pitching multiple innings). Neither pitcher was out of options.

 

I'd gladly cut Duffey tomorrow for a quality MLB free agent reliever, of course.

[Thrylos]

i expect at least 3-4 more changes to the 40-man before the start of the season.

 

That said, I am surprised that one of Granite/Reed did not get DFA'd, esp. Granite.  With Wade and Cave around he is trice redundant (LH throwing OF who can play CF)

[howieramone2]

 

I really do not know what to make of this FO’s decisions anymore. I know I am far from knowledgeable as they are, and don’t have all the information they do, but just don’t know what to think anymore. I’ve worked hard to give them every benefit of a doubt, but that is just impossible to do anymore.

We got a bit of a preview last September. Stewart and May pitched themselves into the mix, IMO Hildy pitched himself off the opening day roster, and Gonsalves looked like 80% of starting pitchers making their debut. No one else did too much. I'm not surprised at all.

[Platoon]

MLB has drifted to hard throwers, especially in the pen. And we keep a frisbee throwing artist in Hildy and a right handed balloon like curve ball pitcher in Duffey. Carol has a point, it's getting harder to see where this is going.

[howieramone2]

 

MLB has drifted to hard throwers, especially in the pen. And we keep a frisbee throwing artist in Hildy and a right handed balloon like curve ball pitcher in Duffey. Carol has a point, it's getting harder to see where this is going.

I'm guessing Duffey won't make it up north and Hildy is on the shuffle. Romero and May give us 2 hard throwers. Plenty of time to add another bull pen arm. Best to let things play out.

[Mike Sixel]

I have no idea how Granite is surviving, given the options

[Danchat]

I really don’t like this move. Feels like when they gave up on Randy Rosario after a middling year in AA and now the Cubs seemingly figured him out. Yet another bullpen prospect flunks out here...

[Doomtints]

 

I really do not know what to make of this FO’s decisions anymore. I know I am far from knowledgeable as they are, and don’t have all the information they do, but just don’t know what to think anymore. I’ve worked hard to give them every benefit of a doubt, but that is just impossible to do anymore.

 

For what it's worth, when I lived in Texas I thought this about nearly every Ranger move.

[jud6312]

 

And so the last best hope of the 2014 great reliever draft is gone:

 

Burdi, Cederoth, Clay, Reed, Cutura, Steele, and now finally Curtiss.

 

This draft now riding on the shoulders of Nick Gordon.

 

Ironic that the only reliever to see significant time with the Twins from that draft was the 22nd rounder, Hildenberger.

Isn't Reed still around though?

[Dman]

Well that caught me off guard.   There must be something they don't like about Curtis or don't see him making it.  His K9 is good, some control issues as his 1.30 WHIP was far from elite but MLB site has him ranked as our #26 prospect as of last summer and they said this about him "Curtis' brief time in Minnesota no doubt whetted his appetite and sets the stage for him to spend more time in the big league bullpen in 2018. It wouldn't shock anyone if he one day closed games at the highest level, though a career as a valuable setup man isn't out of the question, either."

 

That doesn't sound like a guy you get rid of to me.  I haven't really seen him pitch so I realize I don't know as much as the FO but come on they have like 5 center fielders on the roster and they can't play them all.  To top it off they have yet another outfielder in Kiriloff that could be ready by year end or next year as well.  Color me puzzled.

 

Not that relievers can't be fairly easily replaced but they had him controlled for the next 6 years and if he was mildly successful they could have at least turned him into more prospects. Hard to give these guys the benefit of the doubt after the rule V fiasco last year which most everyone thought was a terrible idea except the FO.  I don't know, I question this move.  

[Monkeypaws]

 

Isn't Reed still around though?

Twins drafted Jake Reed - Addison Reed is the one on the 40 man roster. He is still around though, afaik.

 

There is also the OF Michael Reed who they claimed off waivers from Atlanta.

[jud6312]

 

Twins drafted Jake Reed - Addison Reed is the one on the 40 man roster. He is still around though, afaik.

 

There is also the OF Michael Reed who they claimed off waivers from Atlanta.

I know all of that, but I'm pretty sure Jake Reed's still in the organization. Left off the 40-man, but I don't think he was taken in the Rule 5.

[Vanimal46]

Curtiss was cast aside last season when the team was desperate for relievers. I'm not surprised nor mad they let him go. Frankly I am hoping they sign another great reliever or 2 so we can be done with Duffey and Magill. In due time that will happen too.

[Doomtints]

Jake Reed was great for the Vikings.

[Rosterman]

Surprise move. I guess. But probably set to be passed by by others. Not sure the need to keep Duffey, DeJoeng or Magill in the mix. It is confusing why you cut ties with a hard-throwing prospect, except he is a bit wild. Be interesting to see who else takes a gamble on the guy.

[Riverbrian]

When it comes to these decisions. The margins are razor thin. 

 

All teams have to make them and all teams make mistakes making them from time to time. 

 

That's why... I'm Ok with the team picking up the occasional player off what other term the "Scrap Heap". 

 

Ultimately... I'd like to see my Twins get better at this so they come out on the winning end of the deal more often then they don't. 

 

 

 

 

[Dman]

So MLB Trade Rumors states Curtis' velocity backed up last year and his ground ball rate was low.  Maybe the FO thinks they can pass him through or work a trade.  Have to wait and see I guess.

[Mr. Brooks]

I really don’t like this move. Feels like when they gave up on Randy Rosario after a middling year in AA and now the Cubs seemingly figured him out. Yet another bullpen prospect flunks out here...

Rosario had a 4.68 FIP last year, with some truly awful bb and k rates. He looks like a AAAA player at best to me.

[Danchat]

 

Rosario had a 4.68 FIP last year, with some truly awful bb and k rates. He looks like a AAAA player at best to me.

I had a feeling someone would bring that up, though he also had 0.79 ERA with 2.4 BB/9 in AAA before he was promoted. He's only 24 and could improve, though it seems he's not going to strike out a lot of guys.

 

I'd still much rather have him than cling to Matt Belisle for 4 months... or hold onto Tyler Duffey now.

[Shaitan]

 

I had a feeling someone would bring that up, though he also had 0.79 ERA with 2.4 BB/9 in AAA before he was promoted. He's only 24 and could improve, though it seems he's not going to strike out a lot of guys.

 

I'd still much rather have him than cling to Matt Belisle for 4 months... or hold onto Tyler Duffey now.

 

Is Belisle still available?

[Physics Guy]

I really don’t like this move. Feels like when they gave up on Randy Rosario after a middling year in AA and now the Cubs seemingly figured him out. Yet another bullpen prospect flunks out here...

Or Chargois or Burdi or...

[DocBauer]

I have seen enough good done to not bash this move. For whatever reason, they felt thjs was the guy to let go. More moves yet to come? A strong belief in the other arms on hand and how the pen will be managed going forward? Who knows. But while Curtiss looked wild at times, you could see the potential. Just not sure i understand this move.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Well that caught me off guard. There must be something they don't like about Curtis or don't see him making it. His K9 is good,

Curtiss's K/9 *was* good. Last year, I think it was basically average for a AAA reliever.

 

And regardless, a "good" minor league K/9 doesn't seem like a very good predictor of MLB success.