Article: Twins Option Four Players

[Seth Stohs]

Following their game in Bradenton on Tuesday, the Twins optioned four of their players. LHP Stephen Gonsalves, infielder Nick Gordon and outfielder LaMonte Wade were optioned to Rochester. Meanwhile, infielder Luis Arraez was optioned to Double-A Pensacola.Gonsalves started for the Twins in Bradenton on Tuesday and went three innings. He was charged with four runs (3 earned) on four hits and two walks in three innings. He struck out three. He posted a 5.63 ERA over eight spring training innings.

 

Wade entered the game late and went 1-for-2 with a triple and three RBI. For the spring, he hit .296 with a .931 OPS. He had 10 RBI in 27 at-bats.

 

Gordon went 0-for-2 on Tuesday to drop his spring batting average to .300 in 20 at- bats.

 

Arraez, like Wade and Gordon, was added to the 40-man roster this past offseason. He had just three hits in 18 at bats, but he showed defensive versatility around the infield.

 

The moves drop the Twins roster to 47 players. With the season just over two weeks away, there are still a lot of roster cuts to be made. Some of the decisions may be fairly difficult.

 

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[Old Twins Cap]

That LaMonte Wade is a player. 

 

OBP guy, great eye, easy compact, quick swing. Power will play.

 

Start making plans.

 

 

[Einheri]

And Gordon was doing fairly well this spring.  Good luck to Nick in triple-A this year.  We'll see you soon, I'm thinking.

[Dman]

A little surprised that Wade got sent back down.  Although I figured Cave would likely prevail I think Wade looked like the better player this spring.  I know small sample size etc but I think Wade is a MLB caliber player.  Everyone else who got sent down made sense.

[Danchat]

Here’s hoping for good AAA campaigns for Wade and Gordon so they can get themselves up to the majors soon. I think Wade is getting close.

[darin617]

 

A little surprised that Wade got sent back down.  Although I figured Cave would likely prevail I think Wade looked like the better player this spring.  I know small sample size etc but I think Wade is a MLB caliber player.  Everyone else who got sent down made sense.

 

It makes sense to option him out of the major league camp.  He goes on a tear and then you look bad when you tell him he doesn't make the club. And what's the point of bringing him up and start his service time clock being a 4th outfielder?

[beckmt]

Would rather have Wade for his on base than Cave.  We will see how he hits in Rochester.  

Rest where no surprises.

Expect the bullpen picks to be difficult.

[Mr. Brooks]

It makes sense to option him out of the major league camp. He goes on a tear and then you look bad when you tell him he doesn't make the club. And what's the point of bringing him up and start his service time clock being a 4th outfielder?

Whenever his service time gets started, it's going to be as a 4th outfielder. Whether that's now or later.

[Otto von Ballpark]

And what's the point of bringing him up and start his service time clock being a 4th outfielder?

Pretty sure Wade is in a class of prospect where teams don't really worry about service time with them.

[Kelly Vance]

All these moves made sense. Wade is close, but he was never going North with the team. The move shows that they see Gonsalves as a starter, rather than a candidate to compete for innings out of the BP. Get him primed to start games at AAA. 

 

Twins need to DFA Duffy and decide what to do with Jake Reed, who I think is good enough and ready to stick right now. The Twins bet on the wrong Reed if you ask me.  Maybe Jake will get a chance to be the closer down in AAA. 

 

I think we will see some final looks this week. 

 

 

[ashbury]

I think we will see some final looks this week. 

20+ cuts to make, a couple of weeks to make them? I think your guess is safe.

[Seth Stohs]

 

A little surprised that Wade got sent back down.  Although I figured Cave would likely prevail I think Wade looked like the better player this spring.  I know small sample size etc but I think Wade is a MLB caliber player.  Everyone else who got sent down made sense.

I don't think it was a competition. Wade was starting in AAA, where he struggled in the second half last year.  I believe in Wade as well, but these decisions are pretty much all made in the offseason unless there are injuries. 

[Mike Sixel]

It makes sense to option him out of the major league camp. He goes on a tear and then you look bad when you tell him he doesn't make the club. And what's the point of bringing him up and start his service time clock being a 4th outfielder?

Service time? He's 25. You don't worry about service time at that age

[bighat]

Agree that Wade looked great. But I think Cave played well and his experience and play last year makes him the smart play to open the year. The Twins seem to always have a log jam in the outfield, which is a good problem to have I suppose. Just think about it: Rosario, Kep or Bux goes down with an injury to keep them out a few weeks, the Twins have Cave, Gonzalez, and maybe even a guy like Wade can step in.

 

Speaking of Marwin Gonzalez....has the guy got a hit yet this spring? Last I checked he was 0-fer and had a handful of strikeouts to go with his injured shoulder. Should we be concerned about our new starting 3b yet?

[peterb18]

It makes sense to option him out of the major league camp.  He goes on a tear and then you look bad when you tell him he doesn't make the club. And what's the point of bringing him up and start his service time clock being a 4th outfielder?

Wade looked really good. The philosophy should always be, “Best players play! Period...instead of playing games.” This is especially true of pitchers instead wearing them out in the minors.

[BJames]

AAA and AA Teams starting to look stacked.

 

[bighat]

 

The philosophy should always be, “Best players play! Period...instead of playing games.” This is especially true of pitchers instead wearing them out in the minors.

 

Sure thing. Based on your argument, here's the Twins starting lineup on opening day:

 

P: Martin Perez

C: Rortvedt

1B: Tyler Austin

2B: Eihre Adrianza

3B: R. Torreyes

SS: A. Rosales

RF: Kepler

CF: Bux

LF: Rosario

 

We'd have to lose Castro, Garver, Marwin Gonzalez, Polanco, and Cron, among others. Lots of them don't have options, so they'd just be let go.

 

[Doctor Wu]

Other than the bullpen it looks the toughest decision will be who to keep at first base, as the starter and/or a backup. Cron, Austin and Duda have all hit well this spring. I would assume Cron has the job to lose, but might one of these other guys make the team too?

[Mr. Brooks]

Sure thing. Based on your argument, here's the Twins starting lineup on opening day:

 

P: Martin Perez

C: Rortvedt

1B: Tyler Austin

2B: Eihre Adrianza

3B: R. Torreyes

SS: A. Rosales

RF: Kepler

CF: Bux

LF: Rosario

 

We'd have to lose Castro, Garver, Marwin Gonzalez, Polanco, and Cron, among others. Lots of them don't have options, so they'd just be let go.

Those aren't the best players though. He didn't say the players with the best ST numbers.

[caninatl04]

 

AAA and AA Teams starting to look stacked.

I'm not sure about Rochester.  But I am planning on going to Pensacola to see the 2012 Twins.

 

Has anyone been to Pensacola?

[caninatl04]

Hi Seth;

I much prefer the language of "optioned" or "re-assigned" over "cut".  Thank you.

[peterb18]

Sure thing. Based on your argument, here's the Twins starting lineup on opening day:

 

P: Martin Perez

C: Rortvedt

1B: Tyler Austin

2B: Eihre Adrianza

3B: R. Torreyes

SS: A. Rosales

RF: Kepler

CF: Bux

LF: Rosario

 

We'd have to lose Castro, Garver, Marwin Gonzalez, Polanco, and Cron, among others. Lots of them don't have options, so they'd just be let go.[/quo

 

You now what I meant. The coaches know who the best players are. Example: Even without spring training you know the best players...Rosario, Polanco, Kepler, Gonzales, etc. My point is that Wade, to me, looks like he’s ready now. Might be a better player now than Cave. In conclusion: Spring trading is still a period of conditioning for the best players to get ready for the season.

[howieramone2]

 

Wade looked really good. The philosophy should always be, “Best players play! Period...instead of playing games.” This is especially true of pitchers instead wearing them out in the minors.

The philosophy should always be that ST is just ST. 

Edited March 13, 2019 by howieramone2

[howieramone2]

 

All these moves made sense. Wade is close, but he was never going North with the team. The move shows that they see Gonsalves as a starter, rather than a candidate to compete for innings out of the BP. Get him primed to start games at AAA. 

 

Twins need to DFA Duffy and decide what to do with Jake Reed, who I think is good enough and ready to stick right now. The Twins bet on the wrong Reed if you ask me.  Maybe Jake will get a chance to be the closer down in AAA. 

 

I think we will see some final looks this week. 

The wrong Reed has trade value and has earned a long leash. Last year about this time we had members who wanted to DFA Gibson and Pressly. 

[darin617]

 

Pretty sure Wade is in a class of prospect where teams don't really worry about service time with them.

Tell that to Kris Bryant & if he was not hurt Vlad Guerrero Jr. teams will always take advantage of the system.

 

While you are at it ask Byron Buxton where he was last September?

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Tell that to Kris Bryant & if he was not hurt Vlad Guerrero Jr. teams will always take advantage of the system.

 

While you are at it ask Byron Buxton where he was last September?

I said there is "a class of prospect" for whom service time doesn't really matter. Obviously service time manipulation happens to some guys. I just doubt it applies to every player equally.

 

Teams have incredible incentives to hold back guys like Bryant and Vlad Jr., and maybe even Buxton last year. 25 year old Lamonte Wade? Not so much.

[Kelly Vance]

 

The wrong Reed has trade value and has earned a long leash. Last year about this time we had members who wanted to DFA Gibson and Pressly. 

I'm not sure about his trade value right now. MLB is a "what have you done for me lately" kind of league. He flamed out last year and was horrible after a hot start. This spring he has had 1 decent inning and been lit up badly.  I wanna believe he can right his ship, and ok, its still only ST. I hope he shakes off whatever is bothering him. At some point you just gotta turn the page. 

Edited March 14, 2019 by Kelly Vance