Twins Roster Moves - 2021

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I had thought that non-40-man players would be subject to typical waivers if they were sent down after replacing COVID-IL guys on the roster, but didn't know about the "outbreak" rules.

The "outbreak" rules are new this year. Last year, there was a lot of DFA action when teams had a bunch of COVID cases.

 

 

I would guess that Telis and Riddle would clear waivers, but wouldn't be totally confident - a catcher who's hit well at AAA (although maybe ultimately a AAAA type) or an infielder with a good defensive rep as a true shortstop could appeal to some team. 

Seems doubtful that they would be claimed, unless some other team was simultaneously experiencing a COVID outbreak of their own.

 

Telis has hit about the same at AAA since 2014, yet he cleared waivers in 2018 and has been freely available each offseason since then, re-signing with Minnesota to be our 4th or 5th string catcher each time.

 

Riddle is a bit more of a wild card -- this is only his first season on a minor league deal. But his previous MLB experience was with some pretty bad teams, and he's almost 30 now. Again, maybe a guy you'd like to plug in during your own COVID outbreak, but not someone you'd want to give a 40-man spot to otherwise.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Yesterday (Saturday), Farrell was returned to the alternate site (and removed from the 40-man roster) while Thielbar was activated.

 

Today (Sunday), Smeltzer was optioned, Stashak was recalled.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Gordon optioned, and Simmons activated today (Monday).

[AceWrigley]

I wonder why they didn't let Gordon get in a game this weekend?

[whosafraidofluigirussolo]

 

Gordon optioned, and Simmons activated today (Monday).

 

Not that it really matters much in the long run, but this got me wondering about the COVID roster rules again. When a player goes on the COVID-IL, they don't count against the 40-man roster, so the team gets an extra 40-man spot for the duration of the player's stay. 

 

When Simmons came back from the COVID-IL, they sent down Gordon, who already was and would remain on the 40-man roster. The pair of moves, together, effectively fill one more 40-man spot. 

 

I was wondering how this worked, but it looks like after they made the flurry of moves last weekend, they still had one "free" 40-man spot because of the guys on the COVID-IL. Is anyone keeping track enough to know whether that's right?

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Not that it really matters much in the long run, but this got me wondering about the COVID roster rules again. When a player goes on the COVID-IL, they don't count against the 40-man roster, so the team gets an extra 40-man spot for the duration of the player's stay. 

 

When Simmons came back from the COVID-IL, they sent down Gordon, who already was and would remain on the 40-man roster. The pair of moves, together, effectively fill one more 40-man spot. 

 

I was wondering how this worked, but it looks like after they made the flurry of moves last weekend, they still had one "free" 40-man spot because of the guys on the COVID-IL. Is anyone keeping track enough to know whether that's right?

Yes, that is right. It is confusing!

 

We're at 43 listed on the 40-man right now, but Colina, Riddle, Garlick, and Kepler don't count, so it's really just 39.

 

So we can probably activate both Garlick and Kepler when they are ready by removing only 1 more player from the 40-man -- likely Tzu-Wei Lin can be returned to the alternate site and taken off the 40-man, like Telis and Farrell before him. (And Riddle can probably be activated straight from the COVID IL to the alternate site off the 40-man roster again too.)

[Shaitan]

 

I wonder why they didn't let Gordon get in a game this weekend?

 

It's unusual, but I read it as circumstantial. The games where we was on the roster were all very close. If he wasn't getting the start, he wasn't going to pinch hit either.

[AceWrigley]

 

It's unusual, but I read it as circumstantial. The games where we was on the roster were all very close. If he wasn't getting the start, he wasn't going to pinch hit either.

Gardy would have started him a game.

[Rosterman]

So far the Twins have two guys on the 26-man who didn't get in a game - Gordon and Anderson. Last year it was Minaya. So, officially these guys were on the Twins major league roster?

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

So far the Twins have two guys on the 26-man who didn't get in a game - Gordon and Anderson. Last year it was Minaya. So, officially these guys were on the Twins major league roster?

Yes, they get MLB service time, salary, and benefits for those days, although they obviously won’t appear in most stat registers, since they didn’t accumulate any stats.

 

Telis was also on the roster briefly last week without getting into a game.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Big day for roster moves (Thursday April 29)

 

- Activated RF Max Kepler and RF Kyle Garlick from the 10-day injured list

- Optioned OF Brent Rooker and C Ryan Jeffers to Alternate Training Site.

- Activated SS JT Riddle from the 10-day injured list and designated him for assignment.

- Designated SS Tzu-Wei Lin for assignment.

[Otto von Ballpark]

On the DFA guys:

 

I'm guessing that Lin wasn't eligible for the special COVID outbreak 40-man roster removal because he replaced Telis rather than a COVID case.

 

And while Riddle originally replaced Simmons, that was before the outbreak too -- single COVID case replacements aren't eligible for 40-man roster removal either. The Twins likely didn't get that those special outbreak permission from the league until a few days later when Garlick and others had to be replaced.

[stringer bell]

Three off the roster and two return. What is the final move? Sanó is on the IL for at least two more days. Another pitcher? Perhaps they will promote another catcher.

[Vanimal46]

Dobnak sent to St Paul

[stringer bell]

 

Dobnak sent to St Paul

Stretch him out now that games will be starting soon so that he can replace Shoemaker?

 

I just spent an hour plus crafting a poll and posting and this might answer it.

[jun]

Thorpe might be up.

[jun]

 

Stretch him out now that games will be starting soon so that he can replace Shoemaker?

 

I just spent an hour plus crafting a poll and posting and this might answer it.

I am not sure Dobnak is the answer. Thorpe would be a better choice.

[Puckett34]

 

Sounds like at most one more shot for Shoemaker Thursday against Texas, and then bye bye if he doesn't perform. Does anyone know if he has any options left or would he require a DFA?  Frankly, I would go to Thorpe on Thursday, with Dobnak getting a start or two in St. Paul this week so he's ready for the next time the 5th starter spot comes up after this week. I calculate that as Wednesday May 12 assuming everyone stays on schedule. If they go one more round with Shoemaker, which I think is the likely result, that gives Dobnak and Thorpe each a chance for at least one start in St. Paul to get ready for starting.   

Even if he were to have options remaining, he's gotta have too much service time to be able to option him without his consent. Right?

 

Through a little Googlizing I found this from 2011:

 

"Per Article XIX-A of the CBA: Any player who has accrued 5 years of Major League service has earned the right to refuse any minor league assignment. If such a player exercises this right, his team must either reinstate the player to the active roster or grant him his unconditional release." 

 

That may be from a old CBA, so I could be wrong. 

 

EDIT: looked at it further and this rule is for outright assignments, not options. So now I'm not sure,

[Shaitan]

 

Dobnak sent to St Paul

 

Clearly they're trying to boost Saints ticket sales.

[Squirrel]

 

Clearly they're trying to boost Saints ticket sales.

Or ... they want to get him stretched out and ready to start for when Shoemaker is released

[rdehring]

 

Or ... they want to get him stretched out and ready to start for when Shoemaker is released

I think you hit it right on the mark, Squirrel.

 

Expect they want to get Dobnak at least two starts, maybe 3, in St. Paul to get back to 5-6 innings. Then bring him up to replace most likely Shoemaker.

 

Did his contract extension kick in this year and is it one-way, ie, is he getting his big league salary while in St. Paul?

[Danchat]

Waddell was called up in Dobnak's place.

 

Lin and Riddle cleared waivers and will return to AAA.

[The Wise One]

Who comes up when Waddell is sent down?

[ashbury]

Who comes up when Waddell is sent down?

Some guy Tomas Telis at AAA calls Meat, probably.

 

[SwainZag]

Nick Gordon up, Arraez to 7 day IL Concussion list.

[puckstopper1]

 

Nick Gordon up, Arraez to 7 day IL Concussion list.

 

Sano must not be ready (fortunately IMO).

[yeahyabetcha]

Sano must not be ready (fortunately IMO).

Yeah, the sombrero must be really missing Miguel by now.

[lecroy24fan]

 

Even if he were to have options remaining, he's gotta have too much service time to be able to option him without his consent. Right?

 

Through a little Googlizing I found this from 2011:

 

"Per Article XIX-A of the CBA: Any player who has accrued 5 years of Major League service has earned the right to refuse any minor league assignment. If such a player exercises this right, his team must either reinstate the player to the active roster or grant him his unconditional release." 

 

That may be from a old CBA, so I could be wrong. 

 

EDIT: looked at it further and this rule is for outright assignments, not options. So now I'm not sure,

 

He can still decline the assignment, and would have to be DFA'd regardless as he has no options.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Sounds like at most one more shot for Shoemaker Thursday against Texas, and then bye bye if he doesn't perform. Does anyone know if he has any options left or would he require a DFA?

 

 

He can still decline the assignment, and would have to be DFA'd regardless as he has no options.

 

Technically Shoemaker does have 2 option years left -- he was optioned annually from 2014-2016, but in 2015-2016 he spent fewer than 20 days on optional assignment each year, thus he got credited for a full year of MLB service time those seasons and did not expend an option year.

 

However, as another poster already alluded to, players with 5+ years of service time have the right to refuse such an assignment:

 

Per Article XIX-A of the CBA, any player on an MLB 40-man roster who has accrued at least five years of MLB Service Time (as well as an international player with Article XIX-A contractual rights) has the right to refuse an Optional Assignment to the minors

https://www.thecubreporter.com/book/export/html/3521

 

And if they refuse, the team has to either keep them on the roster or DFA/waive/trade/release them.

 

It's rare for a player with 5+ years service time to accept an optional assignment. The only one I can think of right now is Anibal Sanchez for the 2017 Tigers. He had been relegated to mop-up bullpen duty for a month and a half, and I expect that he accepted the minor league assignment with the understanding that he would return to starting in the minors and the Tigers would call him back up once he was stretched out (he returned after 4 minor league starts).

[Rosterman]

But...if they refuse the assignment and thus become a free agent, do they lose pay?