DFA Claims.

[stringer bell]

When other teams are signing free agents, they have to DFA players. This is the bargain basement the Twins might be shopping in.

Today, for example, Toronto designated Paxton Schultz. My guess is that he will be claimed given the information provided by MLB Trade Rumors. The Twins have a high claiming priority and have room to add to their 40-man roster, so I’m believing they will claim a player or two. 
 

[old nurse]

Just like minor league free agents, DFA means a club did not think you were good enough to protect.  A player like Stewart was available due to injuries.  He continued on that trajectory. Can someone on their third or more organization be changed into something greater than what they have been?  

[big dog]

12 minutes ago, old nurse said:

Just like minor league free agents, DFA means a club did not think you were good enough to protect.  A player like Stewart was available due to injuries.  He continued on that trajectory. Can someone on their third or more organization be changed into something greater than what they have been?  

Remember that we aren't talking rational decisions here, we're talking Falvey who just signed a shortstop who can't hit and doesn't field well and is on the downslope of his career.

[old nurse]

58 minutes ago, big dog said:

Remember that we aren't talking rational decisions here, we're talking Falvey who just signed a shortstop who can't hit and doesn't field well and is on the downslope of his career.

Rationality would be saying that he signed someone with a minor league deal that spent most of his season last year ad backup on the worst team in baseball. To expect that he is anything more than a no cost flier for organizational depth is irrational 

[The Great Hambino]

1 hour ago, old nurse said:

Just like minor league free agents, DFA means a club did not think you were good enough to protect.  A player like Stewart was available due to injuries.  He continued on that trajectory. Can someone on their third or more organization be changed into something greater than what they have been?  

Bah Gawd, that's Brent Rooker's music

(I get your point, it's very rare)

[DJL44]

Schultz would be a good addition to the 40-man roster.

[stringer bell]

3 hours ago, old nurse said:

Just like minor league free agents, DFA means a club did not think you were good enough to protect.  A player like Stewart was available due to injuries.  He continued on that trajectory. Can someone on their third or more organization be changed into something greater than what they have been?  

I'd say absolutely. The Twins traded Yennier Cano to the Orioles as a throw-in for Jorge Lopez and the Birds got an outstanding year and a half from Cano. I think he was 29 or 30 years old at the time.

Danny Coulombe is another example. He was signed on minor league contracts for both the Orioles and Twins and was outstanding for three years. I believe the Twins were his third organization.

[stringer bell]

Another ex-Twin “success” is Trevor Megill. Milwaukee is his third organization and he broke through at age 30 with the Brewers. When it comes to relief pitchers, the vast majority are in the category of “you never know”. 

[TNtwins85]

5 hours ago, old nurse said:

Just like minor league free agents, DFA means a club did not think you were good enough to protect.  A player like Stewart was available due to injuries.  He continued on that trajectory. Can someone on their third or more organization be changed into something greater than what they have been?  

The Twins got 2.9WAR in 77 innings for a couple million dollars total in Stewart. Worth the waiver claim? Absolutely! Reliable? Not so much. 

[thelanges5]

Schultz would be a great addition and he has two options left.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/01/blue-jays-designate-paxton-schultz-for-assignment.html

[TNtwins85]

41 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Another ex-Twin “success” is Trevor Megill. Milwaukee is his third organization and he broke through at age 30 with the Brewers. When it comes to relief pitchers, the vast majority are in the category of “you never know”. 

Exactly, a reliever who has just one year of good production provides so much value when you’re only paying them a million dollars at most as a waiver claim. Worth the risk for sure

[old nurse]

3 hours ago, TNtwins85 said:

Exactly, a reliever who has just one year of good production provides so much value when you’re only paying them a million dollars at most as a waiver claim. Worth the risk for sure

 

4 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Another ex-Twin “success” is Trevor Megill. Milwaukee is his third organization and he broke through at age 30 with the Brewers. When it comes to relief pitchers, the vast majority are in the category of “you never know”. 

Yup, you can find relievers. Maybe the front office is not so stupid for trading relievers last year

[TNtwins85]

42 minutes ago, old nurse said:

 

Yup, you can find relievers. Maybe the front office is not so stupid for trading relievers last year

Throw DFA/waiver claims and NRI guys at the wall and see what sticks. Maybe you get a few relievers out of the deal.

[Parfigliano]

58 minutes ago, old nurse said:

 

Yup, you can find relievers. Maybe the front office is not so stupid for trading relievers last year

Trading Varland was stupid.

[DocBauer]

I think claiming Schultz has merit. His K rate last year was 10.2 and his BB was an acceptable 2.9 per 9. For a rookie making his debut the BB aren't bad when backed up the K's. What seemed to hurt him was the 27 HITS in his 24.2 IP. Having a pair of options helps increase his value.

IDK if they SHOULD claim him as I don't know anything about his STUFF. But it looks like there is something to work with there. And I'm always in favor of a former starter being converted, or having just been converted as an option for a mid market team to take a flier on. 

That being said, I still want at least TWO actual, veteran arms, one from each side, to be added to deepen and help stabilize the pen. There's a lot to be said about veterans assisting other young arms in their transition to the pen just showing how to go about their business.

I can't recall, but was Castro a FA when the Twins grabbed him? Or was he a DFA from the 40 man the way Schultz was? It's not dumpster diving to grab someone 25/26yo, or even Schultz at 28yo, who hasn't "found himself" yet, or is moving to the pen for the first time and might suddenly take off in that new role.

I don't think it's a formula for great success, but you do sometimes get surprises. Thielbar, Stewart, and Castro are recent examples of the Twins uncovering "hidden" talent of castoffs of other teams.

I've caught a bit of flak in the past few days...which is fine...for me stating I was OK with the recent MILB signing of veteran glove man, utility player Orlando Arcia. He costs zero prospects, a zero immediate 40 man spot, and costs very little $ wise IF he actually makes the roster. IMO, just keeping Fitzgerald on the 40 man was the best option as he's a good clubhouse guy, and a solid backup option for what is probably a temporary position until a couple prospects like K-Pepper and possibly Schobel are ready for daily duty, or depth. I just don't understand the Twins love and belief in Kreidler as the best option for that role.

I say all of this to say I'm really disappointed the FO seems to limit their imagination at times. They grab Castro for virtually nothing a few years ago and are greatly rewarded. But KNOWING they have a SERIOUS need for a backup SS they have seemingly ignored MILB options that might be available to sign, or make a minor trade for...no pun intended...in hopes of MAYBE finding Castro-lite.

I digress, but am also making a point. Schultz might not fit the Jay's roster and plans. But I'm betting they hope he passes through waivers. And he might. But again, I think it's a bit short sighted to ever claim a "cut" from another team might be "dumpster diving". Thielbar actually had a really solid AAA season when Detroit let him go, and he was outstanding back with the Twins again. Ditto with Castro. Never leave a stone unturned where you might find value. That's all I'm saying.

Schultz is fine. Is he better than the 28yo Orze we picked up in a small trade?

Depth is a good thing. I'm actually a little excited about the arms that are about to be converted to the pen. I just don't want the FO to stop at potential. 

[stringer bell]

1) I think there’s 5-10 guys floating around who will be big bullpen assets and Schultz is an excellent candidate.

2) Castro was a non-tender IIRC and I think the Twins signed him to a minor league contract.

3) Everybody has access to a wealth of information and people who can be had for free or almost free have red flags. Finding gems in the second-hand store is harder to do these days. IMHO Castro was a good pickup because he had legit versatility and speed. I think it is easier to find diamond-in-the-rough pitchers than position players. Finding that little something that makes a reliever successful happens pretty often. 

[old nurse]

19 hours ago, stringer bell said:

I'd say absolutely. The Twins traded Yennier Cano to the Orioles as a throw-in for Jorge Lopez and the Birds got an outstanding year and a half from Cano. I think he was 29 or 30 years old at the time.

Danny Coulombe is another example. He was signed on minor league contracts for both the Orioles and Twins and was outstanding for three years. I believe the Twins were his third organization.

Coulumbe was with the Twins before he was sold to Baltimore. When he signed here again it was a major league contract for 3 million.  

Cano was the major league ready arm so Baltimore had someone to replace Lopez. As a player who was traded I am not sure why he was brought up. Ib a discussion of free agents. Megill was also brought up. He was a trade to Milwaukee, not a free agent signing 

[stringer bell]

23 hours ago, old nurse said:

Can someone on their third or more organization be changed into something greater than what they have been?  

37 minutes ago, old nurse said:

Coulumbe was with the Twins before he was sold to Baltimore. When he signed here again it was a major league contract for 3 million.  

Cano was the major league ready arm so Baltimore had someone to replace Lopez. As a player who was traded I am not sure why he was brought up. Ib a discussion of free agents. Megill was also brought up. He was a trade to Milwaukee, not a free agent signing 

Your original posting asked the question above? Coulombe was on his third organization when acquired by the Twins on a minor league deal, he signed another minor league deal but was claimed by the Orioles due to the upward mobility clause. Doesn't that fit what you asked?

Cano wasn't on his third organization when he had success but he was not Lopez' replacement (closer) on the Orioles. To that point he had not produced anything that suggested he was "major league ready".  He was definitely a throw-in with Povich being the main piece. He had had close to zero major league success and was 29 before experiencing any success.

While Megill was technically traded to the Brewers, it was a trade after he was DFA'd IIRC, just like the Wagaman trade made last week. Doesn't that fit the criteria of your original question?

[Riverbrian]

On 1/5/2026 at 10:03 PM, stringer bell said:

Finding gems in the second-hand store is harder to do these days. IMHO Castro was a good pickup because he had legit versatility and speed.

True... Castro has that versatility which opens the doors for playing time possibility everywhere and that's a huge advantage for survival. 

Finding gems is also hard because opportunity has to present itself and versatility simply creates more opportunity.  

Castro was a NRI in 2023.

Kiriloff and Polanco were injured as the Twins broke camp that year and Castro got a spot that he probably wouldn't have gotten otherwise.

I don't believe it was anyone's intention for Willi to get playing time with that roster spot. At least not initially.

Willi had 34 AB's in April 2023 and that ranked 13th on the team for the month and Willi didn't do a lot with those 34 AB's. For comparison purposes... Jose Miranda had 104 AB's in April 2023. Nick Gordon with 53 AB's had more opportunity than Castro was provided. 

He didn't get a lot of opportunity that April despite Kepler, Gallo and Farmer all spending time on the IL with Polanco and Kirilloff still out. Nothing screamed eureka for that first month with Willi. It may have been the end of Willi Castro right there but those additional injuries and that flexibility kept him floating along. His playing time shifted around May 12th. His OPS had also bottomed out right around that time. At 56 AB's into his 2023 season... his OPS bottomed out at .607 on May 15th. 

Starting on May 16th while getting nearly everyday playing time at multiple positions. Willi over the next 50 AB's raises his OPS from .607 to .788 going 16 for 50 with 3 dingers to close out May.

From that moment Willi was now somebody. He had a bad June but he's still somebody and he's allowed to continue into July which was a good month into September and that was a fantastic month. He ends up 4th on the team in AB's for the year in a year that we were playoff bound. 

 

[stringer bell]

Lots of players being claimed and more DFAs in the past couple days, including  Jhonkensey Christmas (2x). Some guys had pretty good numbers. So far nothing about the Twins, but I suppose we’ll hear Fitzgerald’s fate pretty soon. 

[Mike Sixel]

On 1/5/2026 at 1:59 PM, old nurse said:

 

Yup, you can find relievers. Maybe the front office is not so stupid for trading relievers last year

If you can easilty find good ones, why did all those teams need to trade for them?

[ashbury]

23 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

If you can easilty find good ones, why did all those teams need to trade for them?

He didn't say anything about good, now did he?

[old nurse]

On 1/5/2026 at 4:43 PM, TNtwins85 said:

Throw DFA/waiver claims and NRI guys at the wall and see what sticks. Maybe you get a few relievers out of the deal.

That is what teams do, i don’t think there is enough muscle in the FO to do that if Felix Bautista became available. 

[old nurse]

On 1/7/2026 at 5:17 PM, Mike Sixel said:

If you can easilty find good ones, why did all those teams need to trade for them?

 

21 hours ago, ashbury said:

He didn't say anything about good, now did he?

Look at all the astounding names listed in this thread. Ooops most were traded for. Why did they trade relievers? Probably because in the long term they were getting more back than what they gave up, except with 2 exceptions. Jax wanted out on short notice was one, Stewart was an injury waiting to happen. 

[stringer bell]

I see that Schultz got claimed by a team with a worse record (Washington). Really not surprised that he was claimed.

[Vanimal46]

Marco Luciano was DFA’d by Baltimore today. I’d much rather take a flier on a 24 year old than Arcia or Brujan 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=lucian000mar

[old nurse]

2 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Marco Luciano was DFA’d by Baltimore today. I’d much rather take a flier on a 24 year old than Arcia or Brujan 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=lucian000mar

The Twins have passed twice on him

[mnfireman]

11 minutes ago, old nurse said:

The Twins have passed twice on him

They're waiting for a few more teams to DFA him before they claim him...

[old nurse]

22 hours ago, mnfireman said:

They're waiting for a few more teams to DFA him before they claim him...

Maybe this guy will travel more than Hendricks did from December ‘13 to November ‘14 3 has, 2 trades