Romero to the pen

[HrbekRules]

According MLB.com Romero will be in the pen this year. I hope they use him as more of a super reliever, going multiple innings if needed, at crucial times, instead of a set role like closer.

 

http://mlb.com/r/article?ymd=20190216&content_id=304051742&vkey=news_min&c_id=min

[Richie the Rally Goat]

According MLB.com Romero will be in the pen this year. I hope they use him as more of a super reliever, going multiple innings if needed, at crucial times, instead of a set role like closer.

 

http://mlb.com/r/article?ymd=20190216&content_id=304051742&vkey=news_min&c_id=min

Good response from Romero too. I want him to get that World Series ring too.

[gunnarthor]

I'm ok with this move. The Perez signing makes no sense to me but moving him to the pen doesn't mean he could never get another chance to start again (Santana and Liriano both were in the pen earlier in their career). Eventually, the Twins will move off of Perez and guys like Mejia and Gonsalves will probably get chances to start before him.

 

It'll also be interesting if they want to set him and, say Gonsalves, up in a opener/starter role. Soft tossing lefty followed by flame throwing righty might make it difficult for other teams to adjust for a bit.

[diehardtwinsfan]

not liking this at all. Taking a guy that can throw 160+ innings at a potentially better than league average rate is the surest way to not solve the problem we have of lacking good starters.

[TheLeviathan]

Following this team my entire life leads me to believe that a move to the bullpen is probably permanent.  And I don't like that.

 

We could've solved our pen issues with the ample money we have available and left this promising kid in a starting spot.  If we want him, Mejia, or Gonsalves starting I don't care which of the scrubs like Perez or Odorrizzi we have to bump.  

[jorgenswest]

Romero has a good fastball and promising slider. He has worked for years trying to develop an adequate third pitch trying yet another new change up grip during last year. Maybe it is time to put his energy into making his two fastballs very good and his promising slider a solid option. Constant work on the change up takes time away from refining what he has the potential to do well.

 

The Twins need starters long term but I am not sure it makes sense to send Romero to AAA at 24 in hopes that he will finally find that third pitch. It might be time to take what he does well and make it better.

[notoriousgod71]

I don't have faith in this organization to do anything right so I assume this is the wrong move... just as I'd assume it was the wrong move if they named him a starter.

[twinkiesfan11]

love this. Romero struggled toward the end of his MLB stint as a starter and was underwhelming as a starter in AAA the rest of the year. Despite those results he is undeniably talented and he seems like a guy that needs to be on the big league staff in some capacity. If his future is as a weapon in the bullpen that is still a very valuable role.

 

There is nothing stopping him from growing into a starter role again. There is precident within the organization (mostly different FO though) in Santana and Liriano. Adam Wainright, Carlos Martinez, Chris Sale, David Price off the top of my head started their big league careers out in the pen with excellent results.

 

Get him on the big league roster, put him in a position to thrive and let him and the teams needs dictate where things go from there.

[ahart10]

I’m happy as long as he’s on the MLB roster. Let’s not waste those bullets in the minors. As myself, and many others, have said this doesn’t stop him from being a starter down the road. Let’s get the best 12-13 pitchers on the team.

[Otto von Ballpark]

but moving him to the pen doesn't mean he could never get another chance to start again (Santana and Liriano both were in the pen earlier in their career).

Liriano was only in the pen very briefly -- just over a month to begin 2006.

 

Santana was coming off mostly lost/limited seasons in 2000-2001 when he went to the pen in 2002, but even that was more as a swingman than as a traditional reliever -- other than his Rule 5 season, he never spent anything close to a full season in relief.

 

Both of those guys were in the pen more as 6th starters / starters in waiting than they were ever moved to relief, which is how the Romero move feels to me. Of course, Romero is nowhere near as good as Santana circa 2002 or Liriano circa 2006 so it's not necessarily a bad decision.

[FormerMinnasotan]

So, now that Romero is going to be moved to the ‘pen, what young arm is going to solidify the top part of the rotation with Berrios (who’s really at best a #2)? I mean I don’t see Stewart, Littell, Gonsalves, or Thorpe really making a big enough impact to give us hope. Our best hope now is that Brusdar Graterol can become the top tier pitcher we need.

[Badsmerf]

There is still time. At least he'll be facing MLB hitters and contributing to wins for the Twins. I've long advocated for young pitchers to cut their teeth in the pen while developing in the big leagues. Disappointing as it is, he isn't advanced for his age anymore, and the Twins can use an arm like his.

[h2oface]

Whatever. Vets that suck get way too many starts. Probably still will this year (can you say Perez and Parker?). How about this creative idea..... put the best pitchers on the team! And 24 isn't "young". 20 and 21 and 22..... that's "young". Talent shouldn't be confined by age. Hell, Harper and Machado are 26, and they are 'old', and can't even get a long term contract!

 

Time to sign Marwin and Dallas and Craig! Especially Marwin.

[jkcarew]

Tough call. I want him to be a starter, but there is all kinds of evidence staring me in the face that says it might be a good call at this point to see how his stuff plays out of the bullpen. He's worn down every year...K/9 falling steadily and significantly as he pitches more innings...and still has never made it to 150 innings. Last year finished AAA season at 6.8 K/9, and a 1.29 whip...fine, but not exactly hinting at top-of-rotation MLB type. I'd give him another year in the starter role, but can see the rationale for the move.

[Blake]

 

According MLB.com Romero will be in the pen this year. I hope they use him as more of a super reliever, going multiple innings if needed, at crucial times, instead of a set role like closer.

http://mlb.com/r/article?ymd=20190216&content_id=304051742&vkey=news_min&c_id=min

I have to admit, I don't care as long as that arm is someone available for the team to use this year.

[USAFChief]

Unsurprising and probably for the best.

[jud6312]

If Martin Perez is too young to pitch out of the bullpen, then Romero is definitely too young for that role.

 

Personally, I'd take Romero with two good pitches over Perez with zero, or Jake using 114 pitches to get through 5.

 

Disappointing, but not at all surprising.

 

Some t-ball reject in an office plugged some numbers into a computer and decided Marty is a better starter than Fernando and the geniuses upstairs bought into it.

[Vanimal46]

Unsurprising and probably for the best.

It's only unsurprising for me because they didn't address the bullpen in FA. Someone had to fill these roles, and of course they'd rather try someone making $550k.

[jorgenswest]

Many relievers are failed starters.

 

Romero hasn’t failed as a starter yet. Do we trust our staff to foresee that failure and change course before he gets there or do we need to see a failure with our own eyes?

[RaoulDuke]

I want to be upset about this but honestly I think this is how you maximize Romero. 

 

He throws a truly nasty fastball but his secondary stuff is never going to be top starter quality.  Good starters need at minimum 3 pitches they can locate, Romero can only place his fastball.  His slider flashes good but break and location are inconsistent.  His 89-92 mph change is not a serviceable 3rd pitch.

 

He does have a great fastball and if his development is focused into his slider he could be a nuclear bullpen option.  I am all for making him the bullpen ace, its not ideal for a top pitching prospect but they need to maximize what they can.

 

Romero at 110% nuclear fastball/ (worked on) slider/ occasional change is a nasty bullpen piece.

 

[nicksaviking]

Berrios is the only starter on roster locked into a rotation spot for 2020. I would not assume this to be necessarily permanent. 

 

If Wes Johnson is as good as advertised, I'd rather have Romero at his side all season long as opposed to Rochester. Maybe he's the key to unlocking that changup anyway.