Twins Add Pitchers Marco Raya, Travis Adams to 40-Man Roster, Leave Intriguing Prospects Eligible for Rule 5 Draft

[Twins GFP]

Personally a little surprised to see Moran left unprotected.

This process always reminds me how much fans overvalue their own prospects.

[Rosterman]

WELL, YOU WONDER WHAT THEY EXPECT TO DO WITH THE REMAINING THREE ROSTER SPOTS. 

You always keep a few players around to jettison if you sign a free agent or make a trade. Names like Michael Tonkin and Brock Stewart are also questioned about being retained thru arbitration.

People forget that the Twins added at least five guys this past season who weren't on the 40-man at the beginning of the season.

Most of the other names mentioned ae up-for-grabs. Hey, no one talks about first rounder from 2020 Sabato, who is also Rule 5 eligible.

When you also talk about Rule 5 passes, you have to ask if there was much interest in anyone obtaining the guys from the Twins as part of a prospect package at the deadline. And, if so, why wouldn't the Twins pull that plug if they could've improved themselves.

[USAFChief]

35 minutes ago, Bigfork Twins Guy said:

2 catchers left unprotected?  I thought catching was a weak spot in this organization.

It's become really difficult to carry a rule 5 catcher on the 26 man roster. 

Any position player is difficult, because the guy has to play. You only have 13 spots. 

You can get away with that if the guy is a spare outfielder, or maybe a middle infielder.

Carrying 3 catchers for any length of time is just too hard.

They're not losing a C, particularly the low talent ones left unprotected. 

[DJL44]

41 minutes ago, Bigfork Twins Guy said:

2 catchers left unprotected?  I thought catching was a weak spot in this organization.

It is weak, that's why they didn't protect any of their catchers. They aren't worth protecting.

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, DJL44 said:

It is weak, that's why they didn't protect any of their catchers. They aren't worth protecting.

Or, they believe, rightly, no one will carry those guys as a third catcher on a MLB roster. 

[DJL44]

28 minutes ago, Rosterman said:

WELL, YOU WONDER WHAT THEY EXPECT TO DO WITH THE REMAINING THREE ROSTER SPOTS. 

I hope it is LHRP, RHB outfielder, 3B (assuming Lewis to 2B, otherwise 2B).

[DJL44]

7 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Or, they believe, rightly, no one will carry those guys as a third catcher on a MLB roster. 

None of them is worth carrying as a backup catcher on an MLB roster in 2025.

[Mike Sixel]

19 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

None of them is worth carrying as a backup catcher on an MLB roster in 2025.

I fail to see how that's an issue with the system? Or maybe you weren't agreeing with the post you quoted?

[PDX Twin]

14 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Or Johan Santana or Roberto Clemente. 

Sadly, the Twins would not take Clemente. Not "their kind of player." No homeruns, no strikeouts, defense-shmefence.

[FlyingFinn]

The Twins won't take anyone in the Rule 5 draft. Any pitcher we would want in the our bullpen for 2025 will be drafted prior to our turn.

[jmlease1]

42 minutes ago, PDX Twin said:

Sadly, the Twins would not take Clemente. Not "their kind of player." No homeruns, no strikeouts, defense-shmefence.

Early nominee for the Preposterous Statement Award!

[Fatbat]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

I hope it is LHRP, RHB outfielder, 3B (assuming Lewis to 2B, otherwise 2B).

We don’t need another infielder. Probably make a trade or two but there is no budget room for a big FA signing. 
I can see Rosario getting nabbed as a 5th OF. Similar to how Akil Badoo got picked. 
 

There might be a RH OF rule 5 guy out there somewhere.  I hope we don’t go that route tho.

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

I fail to see how that's an issue with the system? Or maybe you weren't agreeing with the post you quoted?

If your system doesn't have any catchers worth protecting in the high minors, then it's pretty weak for catchers. I don't know if they have anyone who projects as a big-league catcher.

[DJL44]

2 minutes ago, Fatbat said:

We don’t need another infielder.

The current MLB depth chart has Brooks Lee as a starter and Eddie Julien, Michael Helman and Austin Martin as backups. They need another outfielder and another infielder. All of those guys should start the season in AAA.

[old nurse]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

None of them is worth carrying as a backup catcher on an MLB roster in 2025.

A no hit catcher that is excellent at catching can have a job if the number 1 catcher as talented as Will Smith for the Dodgers 

[old nurse]

1 hour ago, PDX Twin said:

Sadly, the Twins would not take Clemente. Not "their kind of player." No homeruns, no strikeouts, defense-shmefence.

Austin Martin come to mind 

[DJL44]

19 minutes ago, old nurse said:

A no hit catcher that is excellent at catching can have a job if the number 1 catcher as talented as Will Smith for the Dodgers 

I wish the Twins had someone like that in the minors. That doesn't describe anyone above rookie ball.

[Mike Sixel]

2 hours ago, DJL44 said:

If your system doesn't have any catchers worth protecting in the high minors, then it's pretty weak for catchers. I don't know if they have anyone who projects as a big-league catcher.

So if other teams don't protect catchers their system sucks for catchers also? Want to bet on how many catchers are added today?

[DJL44]

13 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

So if other teams don't protect catchers their system sucks for catchers also? Want to bet on how many catchers are added today?

Yes, if they have no catcher in the high minors on their 40-man roster that means their system is pretty weak for catchers (or that catcher isn't Rule 5 eligible yet). The Twins have Camargo, but they like him so much they nailed him to the bench when he came up to the majors.

Catcher depth is a real problem in MLB.

[Fatbat]

2 hours ago, DJL44 said:

The current MLB depth chart has Brooks Lee as a starter and Eddie Julien, Michael Helman and Austin Martin as backups. They need another outfielder and another infielder. All of those guys should start the season in AAA.

That could be a legit argument but last season everyone had thrown Miranda away.  I would expect all those kids you mentioned to up their game and fill any open spot.  I’d hope the Fo brings an allstar vet IF but the chances are zero %.

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, Fatbat said:

That could be a legit argument but last season everyone had thrown Miranda away.  I would expect all those kids you mentioned to up their game and fill any open spot.  I’d hope the Fo brings an allstar vet IF but the chances are zero %.

They didn't throw Miranda away. They sent him to AAA and made him earn his way back.

If you want to give scholarships to AAA players you will be mostly disappointed. They don't need an All-Star veteran, they need an adequate placeholder. Bringing back Carlos Santana and moving Miranda to 3B would work.

[stringer bell]

8 hours ago, old nurse said:

A no hit catcher that is excellent at catching can have a job if the number 1 catcher as talented as Will Smith for the Dodgers 

I think that describes Winkel and he spent the whole season at Triple A. 

While adding a decent third catcher to be at St. Paul and ready to step in and actually play if one of the catchers on the roster went down. However, a Rule V selection has to be on the major league roster for the entire regular season (barring injury) or be offered back to the original team. I would really like to see the Twins acquire a young good defense catcher with an option available (preferably a left handed hitter), but I doubt there are a lot of guys available and the cost might be unacceptably high. 

[old nurse]

32 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

I think that describes Winkel and he spent the whole season at Triple A. 

While adding a decent third catcher to be at St. Paul and ready to step in and actually play if one of the catchers on the roster went down. However, a Rule V selection has to be on the major league roster for the entire regular season (barring injury) or be offered back to the original team. I would really like to see the Twins acquire a young good defense catcher with an option available (preferably a left handed hitter), but I doubt there are a lot of guys available and the cost might be unacceptably high. 

Either you have to give up something to pry them loose or you have to figure out what team soured on a player and talk them into giving them up. I don’t think the Twins will sell anything to demand a catching prospect be part of a deal.

[old nurse]

17 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Yes, if they have no catcher in the high minors on their 40-man roster that means their system is pretty weak for catchers (or that catcher isn't Rule 5 eligible yet). The Twins have Camargo, but they like him so much they nailed him to the bench when he came up to the majors.

Catcher depth is a real problem in MLB.

That is why Vasquez has a job