Minnesota Twins Add Dallas Keuchel to Big League Roster, Place Joe Ryan on Injured List

[Matthew Taylor]

On Thursday afternoon, the Minnesota Twins purchased the contract of former Cy Young award winner, Dallas Keuchel. To make room, the Twins have placed Joe Ryan on the injured list with a groin strain.

Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints

On Tuesday afternoon, Dallas Keuchel informed the Minnesota Twins that he would be opting out of minor-league contract with the St. Paul Saints. With that news, the Twins had 48 hours to add him to the major-league roster, otherwise Keuchel would become a free agent.

Then on Thursday, at seemingly the last minute, the Twins announced that they have purchased Keuchel’s contract, officially making the left-hander a Twin.

Dallas Keuchel has been a popular name in Twins Territory after the team signed him to a minor-league deal earlier this summer. Since joining the St. Paul Saints in June, Keuchel owns a 1.13 ERA across 32 innings. Keuchel is 35-years-old with a fastball that fails to reach 90 miles-per-hour, but his ability to keep the baseball in the ballpark has aided him in posting stellar numbers in his short stint with the St. Paul Saints.

Because of the Twins depth and health in their starting rotation, it really appeared as though the Twins were going to lose Keuchel. All five rotation spots were spoken for, and the Twins have never shown a desire to go with a six-man rotation.

In a somewhat surprising move on Thursday, though, the Twins announced that they would be placing Joe Ryan on the 15-day injured list with a groin strain, making room for the team to add Keuchel to the major-league roster.

The injured list move for Ryan comes on the heels of his disastrous outing on Wednesday in St. Louis where he threw 103 pitches in just four innings, allowing seven earned runs on four home runs. Since his complete game shutout at Target Field against the Red Sox, Ryan has an 8.63 ERA in seven starts, surrendering 17 home runs in 32 1/3 innings.

The groin injury would certainly help to explain Joe Ryan’s struggles as of late, however, the move could also be a way to get Ryan some rest and get a chance to see Keuchel in the big leagues after how well he’s been pitching with the St. Paul Saints. The injury did come as a surprise to manager, Rocco Baldelli, who had this to say:

 

There is still no news as to when we can expect to see Keuchel make his first start with the Twins. If he were to simply take Ryan’s spot in the rotation, his next start would come on Monday, August 7 against the Detroit Tigers.

What do you think about Dallas Keuchel joining the Twins? Leave a comment below and start the conversation.

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[LewFordLives]

Not good. 

[Jocko87]

In the Ryan injury trivia game, groin would not have been high on my list of choices. 

Worth a shot at this point.  They just can’t not have a reclamation project. 

[Blyleven2011]

I didn't read the article but wanted to congratulate Keuchel for his perseverance on sticking with the game  , hope  he comes through with some good starts , we need a lefthander in the rotation  ...

He put up good numbers in AAA and let's hope it carries over , we need a pitcher not a belly itcher ...

How long has ryan been dealing with the groin injury  ??? , just curious since they never report anything to the media or fans ...

I'll go read the article now 

[HerbieFan]

I sure hope Ryan is legit dinged up cuz these last seven starts were....concerning 

[wabene]

I posted this this morning. Don't want to toot my own horn, but I think Falvine is reading my posts.

"I would give each of the starters a break. Some more than others like maybe a 10 day stint for those that need it. Forget the 6 man, use Keuchel to give them a break moving him through the rotation one spot at a time. Kind of like a six man but with IL stints if necessary. When this is done you will know exactly what you have, which may be 7 viable starters including Varland. Of course by then it would be time to sweet talk Kenta into the pen."

[Dman]

Congrats to Kuechel on making it back now he just needs to work on staying there. I guess he can't do much worse than giving up 7 runs like Ryan did.  It is a risky move but if they were ever going to use the chip they gained it needed to be now or never.  I have no idea how Kuechel will do as MLB is so different from AAA.  I just hope he is effective enough to get us some wins.  If not they can probably go back to Varland and if he isn't ready they could probably try Dobnak in that role as well. Not sure how severe this groin injury is but let's hope it isn't Ober like as I think it took him months to come back from his.

[WinTwins2023]

8 minutes ago, wabene said:

I posted this this morning. Don't want to toot my own horn, but I think Falvine is reading my posts.

"I would give each of the starters a break. Some more than others like maybe a 10 day stint for those that need it. Forget the 6 man, use Keuchel to give them a break moving him through the rotation one spot at a time. Kind of like a six man but with IL stints if necessary. When this is done you will know exactly what you have, which may be 7 viable starters including Varland. Of course by then it would be time to sweet talk Kenta into the pen."

I believe this is the definition of tooting one's own horn.

[LastOnePicked]

21 minutes ago, Blyleven2011 said:

How long has ryan been dealing with the groin injury  ???

Since about 5 minutes before this move was made, is my guess.

"You have a groin injury, right Joe?"

"No, I feel gr-"

"YOU HAVE A GROIN INJURY, RIIIIIIIGHT JOE?"

[Blyleven2011]

2 minutes ago, LastOnePicked said:

Since about 5 minutes before this move was made, is my guess.

"You have a groin injury, right Joe?"

"No, I feel gr-"

"YOU HAVE A GROIN INJURY, 

I was thinking the same  thing but didn't have proof ...

Great minds think alike  ...

[CRF]

Must be from twisting his body around to watch those 400 ft rockets leave the park. 

[2wins87]

16 minutes ago, wabene said:

I posted this this morning. Don't want to toot my own horn, but I think Falvine is reading my posts.

"I would give each of the starters a break. Some more than others like maybe a 10 day stint for those that need it. Forget the 6 man, use Keuchel to give them a break moving him through the rotation one spot at a time. Kind of like a six man but with IL stints if necessary. When this is done you will know exactly what you have, which may be 7 viable starters including Varland. Of course by then it would be time to sweet talk Kenta into the pen."

I feel like using the IL as a way to rotate out starters is a recipe for half a dozen grievances from the MLBPA.  I guess Ryan agreed that he is at least going through some kind of discomfort, but there is usually no incentive for any player to agree to an IL stint if they aren't injured, and I think at some point if it was obvious enough even the commissioner's office would tell them to knock it off.

[Blyleven2011]

1 minute ago, CRF said:

Must be from twisting his body around to watch those 400 ft rockets leave the park. 

17 twist is a lot in a short period of time , something had to give  , a stiff neck would sound more logical  though ...

[Dave Borton]

24 minutes ago, Dman said:

they could probably try Dobnak in that role as well.

No to Dobnak. Hitting .279 against him in AAA, 1.55 wHip.

[wabene]

25 minutes ago, WinTwins2023 said:

I believe this is the definition of tooting one's own horn.

I said I didn't want to, I didn't say I wasn't going to, LOL

[AceWrigley]

26 minutes ago, CRF said:

Must be from twisting his body around to watch those 400 ft rockets leave the park. 

I figured it would be whiplash.

[Dave Borton]

36 minutes ago, 2wins87 said:

I feel like using the IL as a way to rotate out starters is a recipe for half a dozen grievances from the MLBPA.

I was curious about the system.

CBA requires a Certified Athletic Trainer (ACT)  to initiate the addition to IL but a doc must sign off as having examined player or discussed w/ACT who also signs it. Copy goes to Players Association office and player.

CBA reads:

"I, [ATC Name], certify that [Player Name] has an injury [insert injury] that requires placement on the Major League Injured List. The estimated time of recovery for the injury is [insert estimated time for recovery]. Dr. [Physician Name] has evaluated the player, or has dis- cussed the injury and all relevant evaluations with me, and agrees with the diagnosis and the estimated time of recovery.

I have reviewed the above information, including the email review."

cc: Player
Players Association

[wabene]

It would be in any of the starter's best interest to take a break and I believe most would welcome it. That could be missing one start or an IL stint . Outside of Pablo and Maeda the others have shown signs of wear. This is a luxury, my friends, that us Twins fans aren't accustomed to. 

[Dave Borton]

Ryan pitched a total of 147 inn last year. The meter already reads 126 for '23.

[Teflon]

The Twins and their MLB cohorts need to put more effort into the assigning of phantom injuries to players they want to sit down for a while. Something like, earlobe necrosis or having a vestigial tail removed. 

PS - Glad to see Keuchel. Not so much that I have high hopes for him, but just because it's something different and therefore interesting.

[Whitey333]

Good for Dallas.  Not sure it's good for the Twins.  I guess it's worth shot.  Why not?  Ryan, whether he's hurt or not, looks cooked and may need a rest. Dallas has been released several times by several ball clubs the past few years.  The Twins love reclamation projects.  I don't see him doing much to help the Twins.

[Blyleven2011]

59 minutes ago, wabene said:

It would be in any of the starter's best interest to take a break and I believe most would welcome it. That could be missing one start or an IL stint . Outside of Pablo and Maeda the others have shown signs of wear. This is a luxury, my friends, that us Twins fans aren't accustomed to. 

I once said the same thing about berrios  one year that he was wearing down  and needed rest , but we didn't have the luxury  in starters like we do now ...

They give Buxton and Correa days off , no reason not to give a pitcher some rest too ...

[KnoblauchWasFramed]

He will get lit up and/or destroyed almost immediately.  But deep down ,we already knew that.  

[SwainZag]

Amazing how many of you point and jump to "phantom injury" over Ryan admitting it was something he was trying to pitch thru.  Either way, I think he could use a little break. 

[wabene]

2 minutes ago, KnoblauchWasFramed said:

He will get lit up and/or destroyed almost immediately.  But deep down ,we already knew that.  

Welp then Louie will have to step up, I'd watch that. 

[wabene]

Just now, SwainZag said:

Amazing how many of you point and jump to "phantom injury" over Ryan admitting it was something he was trying to pitch thru.  Either way, I think he could use a little break. 

Exactly, there is no conspiracy here. There also isn't a starter in baseball that couldn't use a breather at this point. 

[Dman]

1 hour ago, davidborton said:

No to Dobnak. Hitting .279 against him in AAA, 1.55 wHip.

Yep get that his season stats are not good.  July though he has a 3.15 ERA and 1.00 WHIP.  He has been turning things around as of late.

[Dave The Dastardly]

11 minutes ago, Blyleven2011 said:

I once said the same thing about berrios  one year that he was wearing down  and needed rest , but we didn't have the luxury  in starters like we do now ...

They give Buxton and Correa days off , no reason not to give a pitcher some rest too ...

How about we give every player making ten million or more this year the rest of the season off?

[Blyleven2011]

Just now, Dave The Dastardly said:

How about we give every player making ten million or more this year the rest of the season off?

I hope it's Gallo they give the rest of the year off ...

[wabene]

Just now, Dave The Dastardly said:

How about we give every player making ten million or more this year the rest of the season off?

To be sure not every player will want or need time off. But it is equally true that many are dinged up to some degree and could use a break or legitimately go on the IL. Of course there is nothing to be ashamed of or no moral failing involved in that. Lol