Twins Claim Speedy Outfielder Bubba Thompson Off Waivers

[sampleSizeOfOne]

9 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

Positivity has been shred to the point that it can't be recognized any longer. 

A "mission accomplished" moment, eh?

[sampleSizeOfOne]

1 hour ago, ashbury said:

C'mon, he's Bubba!  

Clete Thomas got his moment in the Minnesota sun, Bubba deserves no less.

I have high expectations associated with the name due to the movie Bubba Hotep.

No less than saving the team from dark forces of an ancient evil. Or one of them AL east teams..

[Mike Sixel]

3 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

Really good point regarding Castro’s value in covering some many positions.  In terms of him needing to be a completely different player at STP, I am not so sure.  He was pretty respectable in AA and AAA when he was with Texas.  His AA OPS was .808 and his AAA OPS was .829.  In comparison, Brooks Lee had an OPS of .750 his first year of AA and .841 his 2nd year and .731 in AAA.  I think there is a decent chance they keep him on the 40 man and hope to get a Castro like improvement.  He only has 241 ABs at the big league level.  Nice low risk play with a guy that still has upside.

"first year" come on. It was a couple months. and how long was he in AAA, a year out of college in his first full year as a pro. Night and day. Night and day.

[Major League Ready]

13 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

"first year" come on. It was a couple months. and how long was he in AAA, a year out of college in his first full year as a pro. Night and day. Night and day.

I guess I could have or should have said "Lee who's experience was not exactly parallel or that their aggregate AA/AAA numbers are not all that far apart.   However, in context, I was simply saying I am not so sure he has to be a "completely different" player as suggested in an earlier post.  The point was meant to be on one hand we have a highly touted prospect that most people are very sure will make it.  On the other hand, we have a 1st round pick with a relatively similar AA and AAA performance who needs to be a "completely different player" and who everyone has written him off after 241 PAs in the majors.  Your response in defense of Lee only serves to support my point which was not they are equal prospects but that they are being seen in drastic contrast.

BTW ... Lee's OPS for AA/AAA combined is .807.  Thompson had a bad year in 2023 but during his time at Texas that I referenced he had a combined AA/AAA OPS of .815.   Now, I certainly don't think Bubba has anywhere near the prospect status of Lee but I also don't think Thompson is the lost cause as portrayed by some posters here.  As I said, nice low risk / no cost shot at acquiring a contributor for nothing.

[Rosterman]

More depth and speed. But why not jsut play Austin Martin!?!

[RpR]

17 minutes ago, Rosterman said:

More depth and speed. But why not jsut play Austin Martin!?!

Professional sports people do not think he is ready, probably.

[Doctor Wu]

The Twins pick up some guy named Bubba Thompson on waivers and there are already 4 pages of comments on this site!? Man, it's been a slow off-season!

[miracleb]

22 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Kiersey is older and has had less success in AAA

Look at both of the AAA seasons last year..........it's Kiersey who had the better year and frankly the increasingly BETTER years.  I don't have a problem with adding Thompson if you can sneak him through and take him off the 40-man.  I also don't want him keeping Kiersey from getting an opportunity.

[Major League Ready]

1 hour ago, miracleb said:

Look at both of the AAA seasons last year..........it's Kiersey who had the better year and frankly the increasingly BETTER years.  I don't have a problem with adding Thompson if you can sneak him through and take him off the 40-man.  I also don't want him keeping Kiersey from getting an opportunity.

Keirsey was 26 at AAA last year and put up a wRC+ 7% below league average.  He was also below average in 2021 and 2022.  He is not high on the depth chart.  Martin is next.  Then, Gordon or Castro and Erod is not that far off.  They would likely put Erod in CF before Keirsey. 

[miracleb]

14 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

Keirsey was 26 at AAA last year and put up a wRC+ 7% below league average.  He was also below average in 2021 and 2022.  He is not high on the depth chart.  Martin is next.  Then, Gordon or Castro and Erod is not that far off.  They would likely put Erod in CF before Keirsey. 

And Thompson is behind all of them...and also on the 40-man......that was the point!  :)

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

2 hours ago, miracleb said:

And Thompson is behind all of them...and also on the 40-man......that was the point!  :)

No offense, but for me, Martin, Kiersey and Thompson are all about the same right now.  Heresy  LOL.  What I mean is they are all in the AAA area on the verge of moving up.  I have no problem seeing who of the 3 has the hot hand to likely fill a bench spot at some point this season.  If Thompson flashes enough in spring training then he may remain on the 40 man.  We have ample fringe players to drop.  I am not too worried about a lottery ticket, but at the same point you never know when you might find something useful. 

[Greglw3]

On 1/24/2024 at 3:42 PM, chpettit19 said:

Would be awfully surprised if he makes it through spring on the 40-man. Wouldn't be as surprised if he makes it through waivers with the Twins as they'll be sending him through at a more chaotic time for rosters than now, but I'll be very surprised if he makes this team. The Twins rotate players way too much to have a speed only guy on the roster. But he is ideal for getting through waivers and then claiming a playoff roster spot to be a late inning steal guy. Or maybe they carry him on the 40-man hoping they never need him during the regular season. But with Rodriguez already on the 40-man you probably don't want another guy who isn't likely to be a real MLB contributor on the 40-man.

He has speed, yes, but his MLB career avg is .242, about average and he has plenty of time to improve as he;s only 25. Call Rod Carew and work with him on bunting for base hits.