Some combination of Smeltzer, Dobnack, and Thorpe

[Yoshii]

Any thoughts that the Twins will spend the minimum and throw these 3 guys in to round out the 2022 SP rotation behind:

1. Joe Ryan

2. Baily Ober

3. Smeltzer?

4. Dobnack?

5. Thorpe?

 

[whosafraidofluigirussolo]

Zero chance that all 3 of those guys are in the rotation or on the roster, I think.

Even as much as Twins fans are conditioned to expect the team's forays in the free agent market to be modest and/or disappointing...even though we've seen them fall short with a few big-ticket pitching targets like Darvish and Wheeler in recent years...I don't believe that given the state of their MLB-level pitching and the statements from the front office, they would possibly go through this offseason without some significant outside reinforcement to the rotation.

It will be interesting, though, to see the decisions they make on those 3 guys, who all had some promise as back-end starters not so long ago. Dobnak would seem to be in the safest spot because they gave him a multi-year contract, but maybe that makes him the easiest to demote or outright. Thorpe is the one I root for the most, but he's probably done the least to put it together in the majors.

[Rosterman]

All three would have to go thru waivers at some point. Would another team have a 40-man spot for them? Dobnak, if he clears waivers, can be reassigned by the Twins, which could be a likely scenario.

 

With the Twins possinbly needing at best 3-4 removes from their current roster, I could see all three remaining on the 40-man into the winter, jettisoned if a free agent is signed. I'm sure the Twins are watching the medical reports cloely. The Twins already will have five pitchers on their 40-man who are not expected to start the season in the majors. If any of the above also fall into that category, then the Twins hjave made some bad decisions...unless they can ealistically 60-day injure list the guys, and that they feel the need to do so.

 

Two are lefties, so that gives them some worth in the scheme of things. Who knows, failed starters often develop into great relief pitchers (Hawkins, Eddie G, Hendriks, Perkins, Nthan amongst others).

 

 

 

 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

It’s possible, but probably not in the traditional starter roll. I like Nick’s premise and can see Dobnak, Thorpe, and Smeltzer playing rolls in that system. Having lefty/righties piggy back makes it hard to set a platoon advantage lineup against you.

I still would like the Twins to go after a Robby Ray front of the rotation type, but there’s some pieces in house that could get you 3-4 innings very effectively but fall apart the 3rd time through the lineup.

[old nurse]

I think  Thorpe and Smeltzer are closer to DFA than rotation.  Thorpe more than Smeltzer

[TopGunn#22]

Zero.  If the Twins front office does anything other than DFA'ing all three they're fools.  We've seen enough (and it ain't good).  They're never healthy.  And we've got better pitchers coming up.  Turn them loose and watch the feeding frenzy as teams climb over each other trying to sign all three (NOT!!!!).