Twins Roster Moves - 2021

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

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

If they refuse the assignment, they don't become a free agent. They are still on the roster and their contract is still in effect. Refusing the assignment just forces the team to do something else, if they want to get rid of them (trade, release, etc.).

 

(Technically, players in that situation do have the separate right to elect free agency, but virtually none of them do so. Maybe it's a consideration if the player is already on a league-minimum salary deal, or if a player is still getting paid after being released by a previous team anyway.)

[nicksaviking]

I have zero interest in watching Randy Dobnak start. If this team isn't going to compete, lets just get on with Jhoan Duran's evaluation. He's already 23, he'd be 31 before the team loses his service time. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

Waddell has been optioned, and Thorpe recalled to start tonight.

[Mike Sixel]

I have zero interest in watching Randy Dobnak start. If this team isn't going to compete, lets just get on with Jhoan Duran's evaluation. He's already 23, he'd be 31 before the team loses his service time.

This. Plus, it makes it more likely he's ready next year....

[LA Vikes Fan]

Isn't Duran on the IL? Same with Balzovic? If not, I'd be tempted to bring them up to pitch out of the bullpen for now. I'd rather have Thorpe start than Dobnak.  

[nicksaviking]

 

This. Plus, it makes it more likely he's ready next year....

 

Plus, if the organization's best pitching coach is on the major league team, seems like that's the best spot for him.

[nicksaviking]

 

Isn't Duran on the IL? Same with Balzovic? If not, I'd be tempted to bring them up to pitch out of the bullpen for now. I'd rather have Thorpe start than Dobnak.  

 

I guess so. Looks like both are close though:

 

https://www.mlb.com/news/twins-set-2021-minor-league-rosters

 

So I'll call off the dogs temporarily. But this team better not waste a down year trying to salvage a respectable record at the cost sanding the rough edges off of the prospects at the MLB level. Those guys need as much MLB time as possible if the team wants to rebound next year.

[LA Vikes Fan]

 

I guess so. Looks like both are close though:

 

https://www.mlb.com/news/twins-set-2021-minor-league-rosters

 

So I'll call off the dogs temporarily. But this team better not waste a down year trying to salvage a respectable record at the cost sanding the rough edges off of the prospects at the MLB level. Those guys need as much MLB time as possible if the team wants to rebound next year.

I completely agree. We are about a month of playing at this level away from turning this into a "reloading" or "rebuilding" year. If we aren't back over .500 by May 31, time to change approaches and get guys up here to learn and grow. Larnach, Duran, Balzovic, Celestino and maybe even Gordon, Blankenhorn, Weil and Vasquez need to be evaluated at the MLB level. Rooker and Jeffers should get another shot. Cave, Garlick, Colome, and the rest of the parade of mediocre relievers can go.

 

Will if be painful to watch? Absolutely. Will it help us be better next year? We have to hope so.  

[MNT1996]

 

I completely agree. We are about a month of playing at this level away from turning this into a "reloading" or "rebuilding" year. If we aren't back over .500 by May 31, time to change approaches and get guys up here to learn and grow. Larnach, Duran, Balzovic, Celestino and maybe even Gordon, Blankenhorn, Weil and Vasquez need to be evaluated at the MLB level. Rooker and Jeffers should get another shot. Cave, Garlick, Colome, and the rest of the parade of mediocre relievers can go.

 

Will if be painful to watch? Absolutely. Will it help us be better next year? We have to hope so.  

 

Can't be any more painful to watch than what we're already watching now

[Otto von Ballpark]

Not to be the thread police, but I think this thread is intended to list transactions, for reference, more than discuss them.

 

If there's a specific move or player that you want to discuss, you could create another thread for it (if one doesn't exist already).

[rikker49]

The following players have been Released or Retired

Alex Robinson P
Ricardo De La Torre SS
Yeremi De La Cruz C (Ret.)
Victor Heredia 1B
Tanner Brubaker P (Ret.)
Michael Montero P

[rikker49]

Anthony Escobar was last seen playing in Venezuela (Tiburones de La Guaira)

Niklas Rimmel was last seen playing for the Germany National Team

They are still part of the organization, but not assigned to a team

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

It's official: Kirilloff to the 10-day IL, Sano activated.

[SwainZag]

 

Can't be any more painful to watch than what we're already watching now

 

Actually we could be Tigers...

[stringer bell]

 

It's official: Kirilloff to the 10-day IL, Sano activated.

Why can't we have nice things? About half of my reasons for watching the Twins are shelved.

[puckstopper1]

 

Why can't we have nice things? About half of my reasons for watching the Twins are shelved.

 

Welcome back big Whiff!

 

I hope you get hot and prove us naysayers wrong...

[Danchat]

 

Not to be the thread police, but I think this thread is intended to list transactions, for reference, more than discuss them.

 

If there's a specific move or player that you want to discuss, you could create another thread for it (if one doesn't exist already).

Yeah, I'd prefer it if we could keep this to transactions, or at the very least impending transactions that we are speculating about.

[Danchat]

Thorpe sent down for Smeltzer, and so the bullpen carousel continues.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I'm sure there will be an article on this shortly, so you can save up your hot takes for it, but just to spread the news:

 

Buxton to the 10-day IL, and Larnach will be added to the roster.

 

Another move will have to be made to make room for Larnach on the 40-man roster.

[Otto von Ballpark]

It's official: Waddell has been DFA'd, to make room on the 40-man for Larnach.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Stashak optioned, Derek Law added to the roster. Blankenhorn DFA to make room on the 40-man.

[stringer bell]

Blankenhorn? I would guess he’ll get claimed. 40-man roster decisions get tough sometimes.

[ashbury]

Blankenhorn? I would guess he’ll get claimed. 40-man roster decisions get tough sometimes.

50/50? He has minor-league options remaining, so a bottom-feeder team might take a flyer in hopes he has further growth.

 

He's kind of a tweener - no special glove skills but has that magical "versatile" label. Bat isn't strong enough for the corners, would be OK if he could excel at an up-the-middle position - that tenth inning flub at 2B may haunt him.

 

I guess I'd be a little disappointed if my team grabbed a guy like that, but again it would depend on what the current roster status looked like.

 

[stringer bell]

50/50? He has options remaining, so a bottom-feeder team might take a flyer. Depends on what they want. He's kind of a tweener - no special glove skills but has that magical "versatile" label, bat isn't strong enough for the corners. I guess I'd be a little disappointed if my team grabbed a guy like that, but again it would depend on what the current roster status looked like.

 

He’ll be with the Tigers, everyone else is.

[LA Vikes Fan]

Stashak optioned, Derek Law added to the roster. Blankenhorn DFA to make room on the 40-man.

Absolutely the right one for the bullpen. I would hate to lose Blankenhorn although he doesn’t really look like you’ll be a solid MLB player. He still has potential though. Will be interesting to see if he gets picked up.

 

Best of all, the FO is now starting to make aggressive moves to improve the roster. Larnach Is up, Law is up. I would like to see Broxton come up to replace Cave but I have this feeling they’re going to wait until Kirilloff is ready to come off the IL to send Cave packing. Frankly, I think now the FO done about as much as they can with the players they have. All these guys now have their shot. Let’s see who takes advantage.

[Danchat]

They’re DFAing Blankenhorn? Hmm, I don’t like that. I guess the FO doesn’t see him as a legitimate prospect anymore. That’s disappointing.

 

Waddell got claimed by the Orioles.

[Danchat]

Arraez activated off 7 day concussion list, Gordon optioned.

[Danchat]

Smeltzer put on the IL with left elbow inflammation - Shaun Anderson called up.

[Brock Beauchamp]

11 hours ago, Danchat said:

Smeltzer put on the IL with left elbow inflammation - Shaun Anderson called up.

That went well. 

[Vanimal46]

Blankenhorn claimed by the Dodgers. Good luck to him