2024 Minnesota Twins Positional Battles: The 5th Starter

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

Paddack at 140 to 160 innings isn't really going to constrict too much.  Just basically means we won't let him go deep in games.   I am really curious to see what he looks like.  I honestly don't think we will be missing Gray too much 😉.

As to Desclafani it all comes down to health.  2022 with the foot injury which they repaired (effectively never had the ligament, the body just compensated) seems like a 1 off.   The elbow injury with the PRP injection is the bigger issue.  Can the elbow hold out for 2024 and is he closer to the 2023 spring version and 2021 version.  If the elbow starts to fail, he is toast for the year.  For 4 million that is a good gamble with potential, #2 to #3 upside.  We could have a #1 followed by 4 pitchers that are #2 or #3 quality.  If so that would be a hell of a staff especially with the bullpen we should have this year.  

[rick kayser]

A 5th starter in April seems to point to a Twin's strength, with several options to fill that position. The need will be determined by a variety factors including the weather, the success, and health of the other starters, and the bullpen. It might be the chance for a Bullpen game. Hitters tend to start slower in April and facing a variety of pitchers could be difficult Imagine a batter on a cold, damp, Spring day, knowing that he will face 3-5 different pitchers. 

 

                                                              

[DocBauer]

I think Pierson Ohl should be added to the list of possibles. If he can continue from where he left off last season, he could be a nice option about mid year.

[Fatbat]

5 hours ago, IndianaTwin said:

Plus you can control his workload much better as a starter than by trying to squeeze in a bullpen outing or two. 

I'd also consider slotting Paddack in at No. 2 in the rotation. Pitching the day after Lopez is the best likelihood of pitching with a rested bullpen. 

Having Paddack pitch the day before lopez, we could count on a rest day for the bullpen when lopez pitches. And, we would already know who needs the rest day. 

[farmerguychris]

I understand why this is an article - people want to know.  (I'm pretty confident if no spring injuries it will be Desclafani), but I think more importantly - who will be the 5th starter in late September.  Any guesses on that TD?

[Major League Ready]

1 hour ago, DocBauer said:

I think Pierson Ohl should be added to the list of possibles. If he can continue from where he left off last season, he could be a nice option about mid year.

Great dark horse candidate Doc.  I hope they can get his velocity bumped up a couple MPH.  I think that would be a pretty big deal with him.  We have a few guys ascending from that AA level that will be interesting to watch this year.

[Doctor Wu]

20 hours ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

Dobnak's career arch has just been insane. Uber driving to starting a playoff game at Yankee stadium and earning a contract extension to a finger injury and being stuck in the minors.

I'm still hoping that Dobnak can fully recover from that finger injury and make it back to  MLB, hopefully with the Twins, in the near future. I realize that it's a longshot at this point, but I love these sorts of "left field" stories. 

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

2 hours ago, Doctor Wu said:

I'm still hoping that Dobnak can fully recover from that finger injury and make it back to  MLB, hopefully with the Twins, in the near future. I realize that it's a longshot at this point, but I love these sorts of "left field" stories. 

Yup. It makes for a really good story.

[USAFChief]

On 2/20/2024 at 7:33 AM, Cory Engelhardt said:

I agree, but I'm more saying that they could go with just, say, Lopez/Ryan/Ober/DeScalfani through the first 2 weeks or so of the year, while also carrying Paddack (as an example) and then have Varland come up after that point. 

Just a thought.

"Carry" Paddack for 2 weeks while not pitching him? Why would they voluntarily  play with effectively a 25 man roster?

[nicksaviking]

1 hour ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

Yup. It makes for a really good story.

The only story I care about is the one about winning a World Series.

When Dobnak was up and given that weird contract years ago, the Twins were a different team. His pitch-to-contact, groundball-heavy approach is the complete opposite of what the Twins look for in their rotation now.

[Cory Engelhardt]

19 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

"Carry" Paddack for 2 weeks while not pitching him? Why would they voluntarily  play with effectively a 25 man roster?

I meant it more as, they could control his innings and he could piggy-back at the start with someone IF they want to go that route. I wasn't at all saying they would just have him on the roster and not use him.

But if he is stretched out and ready to go 5 innings in a bit over a month, then the rotation looks different right?

[DocBauer]

18 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

Great dark horse candidate Doc.  I hope they can get his velocity bumped up a couple MPH.  I think that would be a pretty big deal with him.  We have a few guys ascending from that AA level that will be interesting to watch this year.

Last I heard, he had been making adjustments last season that had him sitting in the 93-94mph range and touching 95-96mph. Believe when he was first signed he was in the 88-91 range. If the new velocity is accurate, with his location and ability to change speeds, he could be a fast riser this year.

Fingers crossed.

[stringer bell]

7 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

I meant it more as, they could control his innings and he could piggy-back at the start with someone IF they want to go that route. I wasn't at all saying they would just have him on the roster and not use him.

But if he is stretched out and ready to go 5 innings in a bit over a month, then the rotation looks different right?

Piggy-backing rules out two multi-innings guys for several days. If there is someone else having a short start within a day or two of voluntarily using two pitchers for multiple innings, then chaos tends to ensue. Limiting Paddack's innings (to me) means that he won't get that questionable sixth or seventh inning. Also, if he seems to be losing a little, they would be prone to putting him on the IL for a "tired arm" or some such. Finally, if the Twins are trying to nurse both Paddack and the fifth starter (perhaps Canterino), we might see some recalls to give pitchers and extra day or two. They used Varland like that at least once and I would expect Woods Richardson or someone else coming up for a cameo in the course of the season. 

[Cory Engelhardt]

1 minute ago, stringer bell said:

Piggy-backing rules out two multi-innings guys for several days. If there is someone else having a short start within a day or two of voluntarily using two pitchers for multiple innings, then chaos tends to ensue. Limiting Paddack's innings (to me) means that he won't get that questionable sixth or seventh inning. Also, if he seems to be losing a little, they would be prone to putting him on the IL for a "tired arm" or some such. Finally, if the Twins are trying to nurse both Paddack and the fifth starter (perhaps Canterino), we might see some recalls to give pitchers and extra day or two. They used Varland like that at least once and I would expect Woods Richardson or someone else coming up for a cameo in the course of the season. 

All of that works for me. It also makes me think that you think they are done (for now) potentially adding to the rotation. I haven't gotten there yet.

It'll be interesting to see how the rest of the offseason, and the start of the season, plays out.

[stringer bell]

1 minute ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

All of that works for me. It also makes me think that you think they are done (for now) potentially adding to the rotation. I haven't gotten there yet.

It'll be interesting to see how the rest of the offseason, and the start of the season, plays out.

Further additions to the rotation? I'll believe them when I see them. Personally, the money paid for decent to mediocre (or worse) starters in free agency just blows me away. The Twins have managed to trade for good starters (Gray, Maeda, Ryan, López) but it seems to me that more and more is needed to get these guys. Maybe they will develop more in their system going forward. 

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

3 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

The only story I care about is the one about winning a World Series.

When Dobnak was up and given that weird contract years ago, the Twins were a different team. His pitch-to-contact, groundball-heavy approach is the complete opposite of what the Twins look for in their rotation now.

Well, yeah, of course it becomes a good story only if he has success. If the comes makes it back to the bigs and is lit up like a Christmas tree, then no, it is not a good story.

[Dave The Dastardly]

I dreamt a couple night's ago that Rocco went north with 6 starters; played two every game (3 innings each), and had the BP take the last three innings. For the 4th game he raided the stockyards and brought up 2 replacement starters; 3 innings each.

Oh, and Buxton got a "rest day" for games two and four.

Don't know where all that came from, but I've been running a fever ever since... got this nagging cough that won't go away... can't find my old Twins cap... the wife looks furtively away when I ask her if she's seen it...

The world's out to get me I tell you...