Randy Dobnak is the last guy in the Bullpen

[DJL44]

10 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Specifically who could be brought up that has upside, and also doesn't create 40-man issues as soon as one of the rostered pitchers is ready? Maybe Funderburk, that's about it. I think it's important that Dobnak is trusted to go multiple innings and can be replaced later by a one-inning guy and still leave that opening on the 40-man when he exits.

Travis Adams was added to the roster for this role. If they don't trust Adams with a few innings of mop-up duty, then they made a mistake adding him to the roster.

They don't need an opening on the 40-man roster to bring back Tonkin or Stewart.

There are dozens of minor league free agents with an opt-out and about a dozen pitchers on waivers. There has to be someone on that list more interesting than Dobnak.

[chpettit19]

I don't think the Twins have any plans to have Randy Dobnak throw a single pitch for them. Obviously they are fully prepared for it to happen, but we've seen Sands and others sit in the pen for weeks on end while never throwing a pitch. That's what I think they have Randy scheduled for. They prefer to give Adams and any other youngster regular scheduled work in AAA to start the year than to have them sitting around twiddling their thumbs in the pen. 

I think their hope is he gets some time with the boys on the big club for a couple weeks until Stewart or Tonkin comes back and then he gets shipped back to AAA. Or preferably claimed off waivers and somebody else pays him 3 mil this year. 

I don't love the move, but I don't think it's outrageous or worth getting too up in arms over, either.

[jud6312]

8 hours ago, djm24 said:

So, please cut your negativity and criticism of Dobnak. Life is too short to be angry over things which we have no control over.

 

 

 

 

 

Nah, I'm good. Last time I checked criticism was allowed on this website. I haven't attacked the man or anyone else personally, so I'll continue as I see fit.

[Linus]

3 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

I don't think the Twins have any plans to have Randy Dobnak throw a single pitch for them. Obviously they are fully prepared for it to happen, but we've seen Sands and others sit in the pen for weeks on end while never throwing a pitch. That's what I think they have Randy scheduled for. They prefer to give Adams and any other youngster regular scheduled work in AAA to start the year than to have them sitting around twiddling their thumbs in the pen. 

I think their hope is he gets some time with the boys on the big club for a couple weeks until Stewart or Tonkin comes back and then he gets shipped back to AAA. Or preferably claimed off waivers and somebody else pays him 3 mil this year. 

I don't love the move, but I don't think it's outrageous or worth getting too up in arms over, either.

Nailed it.  The Twins hope he never even warms up and is sent back down whenever it works best.  If he pitches it will be picking up a couple innings in a blowout.  For this situation it actually makes sense.

[Twodogs]

On 3/25/2025 at 2:31 PM, jud6312 said:

If he was going to turn into anything worthwhile, don't you think he would have by now? And there's no "last spot" on a roster. There's just 26 spots. 

It doesn't really matter to me one way or another. Personally I wouldn't have brought in Harrison Bader or Ty France.  Ty France has seemed to do well this spring, so hopefully he can keep producing.  

But back to Dobnak, I mean he has pitched at the MLB level a few times albeit mixed results.  However, he seemed to pitch very well at the minor league level last season!  So he has shown some upside at times.  He's obviously a good clubhouse guy or they wouldn't be bringing him along and he can perform many different roles.  

With the question of don't you think you would have seen it by now, well last year in the minors he looked sharp.  But I start to think of guys like Ronel Blanco for Houston.  I mean he's already 31, he spent many many years in the minors and then last year he had a good season. So I mean it can happen whenever.  Also I think of Frank Viola, yes he finally got good at much younger age, probably like 25, but his first 2 seasons he went 11 - 25 with about a 5.40 era in an era where guys weren't hitting 40 - 50 Hrs per year.  In fact one season he led the league in earned runs.  If Viola had come up in today's game with those numbers he would have been cut and he'd be playing for the Pecos League or for the FM Redhawks.  So give him a chance to be a mop up guy, he may surprise, he probably won't, but he isn't going to hurt the squad and the young guys need every day innings so they probably are better off in the minors rather than sitting on a bench in the majors right now.  JMO

[djm24]

7 hours ago, jud6312 said:

Nah, I'm good. Last time I checked criticism was allowed on this website. I haven't attacked the man or anyone else personally, so I'll continue as I see fit.

OK.No one's perfect. And I admit I'm far from being so. But no one deserves to be harshly criticized because they are not meeting YOUR high standards. I hope you are able to see some good in all people. And NO player should be determined to be "worthless". 

Give Dobnak a break. There are other players whose contracts are extremely higher than Dobnak's and IMO those players are not earning those high contracts. Dobnak's contract was a gamble made by the FO. The FO offered that contract to him. Anyone would have been foolish to refuse that contract. If anyone is to be blamed for that contract, they are the people in the FO. Not Randy. Yet Randy is being criticized because the Twins now are now $9M+ "poorer" and that money could supposedly have been spent on a "better player".

So continue as you "see fit"  if you care. But, as I stated in another post, life is too short. Lighted up and strive to be less negative.

 

[djm24]

5 hours ago, Linus said:

Nailed it.  The Twins hope he never even warms up and is sent back down whenever it works best.  If he pitches it will be picking up a couple innings in a blowout.  For this situation it actually makes sense.

Just YOUR opinion. If the Twins thought that, why would they have given him that roster spot at all? 

[Doctor Wu]

I'm still waiting for an update or clarification on Castellano's status. Has he actually been released and sent back to the Phillies? Or put on waivers and any team can claim him? Or will the Twins still try and work out a deal with Philly and keep him in the minors?

[Fatbat]

3 minutes ago, Doctor Wu said:

I'm still waiting for an update or clarification on Castellano's status. Has he actually been released and sent back to the Phillies? Or put on waivers and any team can claim him? Or will the Twins still try and work out a deal with Philly and keep him in the minors?

Per mlb.com, Castellano was returned to Philly on 3/25.

[Doctor Wu]

18 minutes ago, Fatbat said:

Per mlb.com, Castellano was returned to Philly on 3/25.

I just noticed that on another thread. Thanks!

[arby58]

On 3/25/2025 at 12:08 PM, Cory Engelhardt said:

I wouldn't want to waste a young starter in the 8th man in the bullpen role who will no doubt be designated again when Brock Stewart is ready in a few weeks. 

And frankly, Dobnak looked ok this spring. Not the worst thing to have a guy in the opening weeks who can give you multiple innings.

Plus, way more things to actually be angry about.

I get the general strategy, but 'Dobnak looked ok this spring' is glossing over his 'bleah' record in the MLB games that actually count. 135 IP, 9-12 W-L record, 4.99 ERA, -0.2 WAR, 84 Ks, 1.397 WHIP. 

I doubt you will find many MLB pitchers on 26 man rosters with that kind of a career stat line. 

[jorgenswest]

15 hours ago, arby58 said:

I get the general strategy, but 'Dobnak looked ok this spring' is glossing over his 'bleah' record in the MLB games that actually count. 135 IP, 9-12 W-L record, 4.99 ERA, -0.2 WAR, 84 Ks, 1.397 WHIP. 

I doubt you will find many MLB pitchers on 26 man rosters with that kind of a career stat line. 

It would be better to have someone with options and upside that they can shuttle to AAA though I do think Dobnak’s ability to throw strikes and give them length isn’t that different from the last pitcher in many bullpens. I am more concerned about Justin Topa and his role in the bullpen. 

[nicksaviking]

1 hour ago, jorgenswest said:

It would be better to have someone with options and upside that they can shuttle to AAA though I do think Dobnak’s ability to throw strikes and give them length isn’t that different from the last pitcher in many bullpens. I am more concerned about Justin Topa and his role in the bullpen. 

I have no affinity for Dobnak, but as mentioned previously, his contract basically makes him an optionable player. No one is likely to claim him. 

[Brandon]

I don't expect Dobnak to be in too many games, I do expect him to be a multi inning reliever going into lost games to save the pen for another day.  I do think this is atleast an opportunity for Dobnak to provide value on his contract.  If he can pitch a few decent games before he goes down he could be positioned to be called back up.  Also if he pitches well, he could be claimed by a team that gets desperate with injuries and save the Twins some money.  Always a good idea for the opportunity to showcase him for that reason.  Its up to him to earn the claim when he gets sent down but its possible. I just wrote a blog post asking what you think is a justifiable season total of innings and results for his 3 million salary this season.  go there and let me know.

[USAFChief]

Does he clear waivers and end up back in St Paul?

I say yes

[Twodogs]

10 hours ago, USAFChief said:

Does he clear waivers and end up back in St Paul?

I say yes

Probably leads the Twins in innings pitched right now?

 

Did his job and now will wait around until needed again.  

[LewFordLives]

From a coldly practical vantage, it sorta makes sense. However, he's a veteran who has been battling to get back to a regular role in the big leagues. He makes the team out of spring training, has a good outing, and is sent right back to St Paul. What's going on here? Is there something going on in the locker room that we're not seeing. If I'm Dobnak, I hope someone claims me.

[Twodogs]

2 hours ago, LewFordLives said:

From a coldly practical vantage, it sorta makes sense. However, he's a veteran who has been battling to get back to a regular role in the big leagues. He makes the team out of spring training, has a good outing, and is sent right back to St Paul. What's going on here? Is there something going on in the locker room that we're not seeing. If I'm Dobnak, I hope someone claims me.

I think that is every MLB players hope after they get DFA'd.  The thing with Dobber is that he gets paid no matter what.  He did his job, I think he probably can't throw again for about 4 days so I'm assuming the Twinkies are bringing in someone who can so as to not be short in the bullpen.  JMO

[USAFChief]

In case anyone missed it, Dobnak cleared waivers and accepted his outright assignment to St Paul. He's off the 40 man 

He didn't have to accept the assignment, BTW.  But he'd have had to forfeit his contract. Shockingly he didn't.