Twins Claim LHP Austin Davis

[Seth Stohs]

As rosters can be increased to 28 on Thursday, the Minnesota Twins have added a left-handed reliever to their roster. The Twins claimed 29-year-old Austin Davis from the Red Sox. Learn more about the southpaw. 

 

The Boston Red Sox DFAd Austin Davis on Sunday. On the season, the lefty had worked in 54 1/3 innings over 50 appearances. He was 2-1 with a 5.47 ERA. He had 29 walks but also struck out 61 batters. 

The 29-year-old has pitched in 134 big-league games dating back to his 2018 MLB debut with the Philadelphia Phillies. He remained with them until 2020 when he was traded to the Pirates. He remained with Pittsburgh until last year's trade deadline when he was traded to the Red Sox for Michael Chavis. 

Originally drafted in the 12th round of the 2014 MLB draft from Cal State-Bakersfield, he will be arbitration-eligible for the first time after this season. In other works, in theory, the Twins could keep him through the 2026 season. 

While the numbers haven't been great, it might be clear why the Twins specifically would have interest in him. In three career games against the Twins, Davis has given up just one hit. Twins batters have hit .067/.125/.133 (.258) against him. He has struck out seven Twins batters in 4 2/3 innings (16 batters faced). 

Davis has thrown his fastball, which has averaged 94.1 mph, 45.4% of the time. He has thrown 39.5% sliders this year which have averaged 90.6 mph. He also has a mid-80s changeup that he'll throw occasionally. 

 

As you can see from his StatCast numbers over at Baseball Savant, he hasn't allowed a lot of hard contact, but other than that, he doesn't have any carrying traits. 

That said, the Twins need a left-hander to team with Caleb Thielbar in the Twins bullpen, and Davis could fill that role. It's a role I'm sure they'd love to just let Jovani Moran take and run with, and frankly, he has while with the Twins. In 23 1/3 innings, he has posted a 1.93 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. He has struck out 31 batters. However, he has also walked 15 batters. Hence the concern. In addition, he has posted a 6.00 ERA and 1.63 WHIP in his 24 innings with the Saints this year. However, it is possible that all three will remain on the roster throughout September. 

With rosters expanding to 28 players on Thursday, the Twins will be able to add one pitcher. Austin Davis will likely be that guy. He won't have to travel far. In fact, he was traveling with the Red Sox and is at Target Field. He just has to pack up a bag and head over to the home clubhouse. 

A few days ago, Tim Beckham was designated for assignment, so the Twins did not need to make an additional 40-man roster move to clear space for Davis. 

Speaking of Beckham, he did clear waivers and was outrighted to St. Paul. However, he elected free agency. According to Darren Wolfson, he could be back. 

 

 

In addition, Tyler Duffey has a new home. He opted out of his minor-league deal with the Rangers and has now signed with the New York Yankees. 

 

 

 

 

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[Alex Schieferdecker]

I know that if you're an MLB GM, it makes sense to go with a proven guy, even if he's mostly just proved to not be very good. But we've got Jovani Moran and Evan Sisk both proven to be able to pitch at least at the AAA level. Would've liked to give those guys more of a run.

[roger]

Interesting.  He can't replace Moran as Moran cannot be optioned due to the 5 option rule now in effect.  With Mahle ready to return, who does he replace in the bullpen?  Or do the Twins risk losing Moran?

[IndianaTwin]

Unless they genuinely see something in him, Davis has the makings of a two-day signing, with another DFA coming on Saturday when Mahle is activated.  

[DJL44]

16 minutes ago, roger said:

With Mahle ready to return, who does he replace in the bullpen?

Aaron Sanchez is going to get DFA

[CRF]

Why? Organizational depth? Maybe we can't hit the guy, but someone has been. C'mon...we've got much better alternatives than Davis. 

[nicksaviking]

48 minutes ago, IndianaTwin said:

Unless they genuinely see something in him, Davis has the makings of a two-day signing, with another DFA coming on Saturday when Mahle is activated.  

I hope so, because I'm not much of a LOOGY fan, particularly with the new pitching rules. If this is a long term experiment, I'd much rather see Evan Sisk, or Louie Varland if we aren't particular about which hand is used.

Winder is gearing up too, so I suppose Davis is going to have a hard time sticking around.

[stringer bell]

Does Davis have an option? I presume they will DFA Sanchez when Mahle is activated. 

[Game7-91]

21 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Does Davis have an option? I presume they will DFA Sanchez when Mahle is activated. 

From Yardbarker, agree with others Davis is ultimately DFA candidate:

 

       "Davis, who turns 30 in February, is out of minor-league options. The Red Sox will have the next seven days to either outright or release the Arizona native. If he clears waivers, however, Davis could reject an outright assignment to the minor-leagues in favor of free agency since he has already accrued more than three years of big-league service time. "

[DocBauer]

Looked at all of his numbers by season as well as ML career hoping to find a positive sign. 

I don't see one.

Pagan part 2 where a hard throwing 29yo is suddenly going to be transformed by the Twins in to something different and better than he's ever been before? I'm not buying it.

[Dave The Dastardly]

Doesn't blow up my skirt.

[nicksaviking]

Well in three innings he does have a sparking 0.00 career ERA against the White Sox.

The Yankees on the other hand, 15.88 career ERA. So…..not hoping for more of that.

The Red Sox seemed have given a marginal reliever a pretty long leash considering what he’s done against their sworn enemy.

[mikelink45]

This is a nothing move - the last few nights have shown what the Red Sox BP is like.  It is not what we need. 

[Seth Stohs]

5 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

I hope so, because I'm not much of a LOOGY fan, particularly with the new pitching rules. If this is a long term experiment, I'd much rather see Evan Sisk, or Louie Varland if we aren't particular about which hand is used.

Winder is gearing up too, so I suppose Davis is going to have a hard time sticking around.

They're in a pennant race in September... there are no long-term experiments at this point. 

There are definitely guys that can be removed from the 40-man. I should have looked. I would assume he's out of options, but he might be willing to go down there. 

[nicksaviking]

30 minutes ago, Seth Stohs said:

They're in a pennant race in September... there are no long-term experiments at this point. 

There are definitely guys that can be removed from the 40-man. I should have looked. I would assume he's out of options, but he might be willing to go down there. 

Well looking at what he's done against the Yankees, the opponent the Twins face after Chicago, he has no business being on the 28-man roster.

[Seth Stohs]

14 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Well looking at what he's done against the Yankees, the opponent the Twins face after Chicago, he has no business being on the 28-man roster.

Maybe... but Moran and Thielbar will still be on the roster, so it's not like he will be (or should be) used in high leverage spots. 

Moran's been bad in AAA (and good, other than the walks in MLB). Sisk has been good in AA and AAA this year, but no idea what he could potentially do. 

Also possible they DFA him when they add someone else to the 28-man roster. 

[bighat]

Duffey to the Yanks - wow. Can you imagine if the guy gets called up and pitches lights out in the playoffs? C'mon....we all know it's gonna happen. Sigh. Wish he'd have signed with SF or AZ or some team out west we'd never have to hear about. Oh well - good for him, we all knew he'd find a job and he'll definitely be pitching in MLB again, no question. 

[Doctor Gast]

I don't like this move, I don't see any advantage of signing Davis. We don't know exactly what condition Malhe's arm will be after he starts to crank it up. He says his arm feels fine but that's what he said just before they yanked him out. I'm a Mahle fan but we need be realistic so I'd keep A Sanchez around for long relief. But this move by the Twins probably means that it's not going to happen.

 

[Mike Sixel]

I'd have preferred the unknown risk with Sisk. But then, Pagan is still somehow on this roster, so it's clear the FO and I don't agree on the bullpen.

[spanman2]

Isn't there an old baseball saying close to 'If you are breathing and a left handed pitcher someone will probably give you a shot'.  Who knows how this will turn out?  Hopefully it does well in our favor! 

[gil4]

4 hours ago, spanman2 said:

Isn't there an old baseball saying close to 'If you are breathing and a left handed pitcher someone will probably give you a shot'.  Who knows how this will turn out?  Hopefully it does well in our favor! 

Against the Yankees he has spent more time choking than breathing...

[LA Vikes Fan]

I think this guy is a 2-3 game experiment and gone when we need a spot. It might be a soon as Saturday when we need to activate Mahle. We DFA the guy, no one claims him, and he finishes the season in St. Paul while we see if he can be fixed.  

[h2oface]

Duffey picks Yankees. Now we know.

It's right in front of him.

[h2oface]

This in MLB Trade Rumors today, Sept 1

Minnesota Twins

• Added LHP Austin Davis (previously claimed off waivers from Red Sox) to active roster
• Selected contract of OF Billy Hamilton from Triple-A St. Paul
• Corresponding move: Transferred OF Trevor Larnach to 60-day injured list

Larnach to 60 day? What does this mean. Finished for the year? Was moved from the 10 day with a effective date of June 24.

 

Then I saw this in another post there:

Larnach has been out more than 60 days already after undergoing surgery to repair a sports hernia back in late June, so the move to the 60-day IL is a pure formality. The Twins are still hopeful that he can return this month.