From Rotation Staple to Roster Casualty: What Went Wrong for Simeon Woods Richardson? ​

[mrguy]

I think part of the decision could've also come down to some of the options brewing in AAA right now. Even if SWR held on a bit longer, Ryan Gallagher or CJ Culpepper are both starting to improve in AAA, Paredes had already quickly established himself in AAA, and Prielipp and Rojas while both already on the 40 man are mainly up in the majors due to injuries early in the season from guys like Abel. Had those injuries not happened, the conversation would've become who's spot on the MLB active roster should they take. I feel like this was a decision that was probably going to happen at some point this season, but the other factors affecting the Twins right now just forced that decision to happen sooner rather than later.

[ashbury]

3 hours ago, East Coast Twin said:

Teams have seven days to put in a claim.  He was DFA'd on Saturday.  

If I have it right, the waiver claim period is only 48 hours, but it has to fit somewhere within the 7-day DFA period.  The Twins have the choice when to start that 48-hour clock.  That part of the rule allows a team to try to work out a trade, for example.  Had the Twins begun the waiver process on Saturday when they DFA'ed him, we'd have our answer already.  It's possible they don't plan to ask waivers until Thursday morning, in which case we won't know until Saturday.  Other options, such as a trade being announced Thursday morning or earlier, reside between these two endpoints.

[Dman]

Just now, mrguy said:

I think part of the decision could've also come down to some of the options brewing in AAA right now. Even if SWR held on a bit longer, Ryan Gallagher or CJ Culpepper are both starting to improve in AAA, Paredes had already quickly established himself in AAA, and Prielipp and Rojas while both already on the 40 man are mainly up in the majors due to injuries early in the season from guys like Abel. Had those injuries not happened, the conversation would've become who's spot on the MLB active roster should they take. I feel like this was a decision that was probably going to happen at some point this season, but the other factors affecting the Twins right now just forced that decision to happen sooner rather than later.

I tend to agree with all of that, but the questions many have if that is the case is did they reach out to see if anyone was willing to trade for him?  Given teams like Colorado, the Angels, the Giants etc could use starters and are essentially out of contention, why not buy low on an arm that just last year pitched to an ERA better than most teams 5th starter?  I mean even if SWR is bad all this year they'd have 4 years to fix him or wait for him to rebound. Maybe no team wanted to take that chance and felt like they could maybe just get a waiver claim if he made it to them?  Still with so many teams needing arms I'd think some team would be willing to give up something half way decent to jump the queue.

I get he's no ace and never will be given his arsenal, but he looked close to being a mid rotation arm if he could improve a little.  Obviously he regressed and maybe those are the best numbers he will ever put up.  Hard to say.  I'd just think one of these rebuilding teams would be interested so the DFA is surprising.

[East Coast Twin]

53 minutes ago, ashbury said:

If I have it right, the waiver claim period is only 48 hours, but it has to fit somewhere within the 7-day DFA period.  The Twins have the choice when to start that 48-hour clock.  That part of the rule allows a team to try to work out a trade, for example.  Had the Twins begun the waiver process on Saturday when they DFA'ed him, we'd have our answer already.  It's possible they don't plan to ask waivers until Thursday morning, in which case we won't know until Saturday.  Other options, such as a trade being announced Thursday morning or earlier, reside between these two endpoints.

It looks like you're correct. 

According to MLB.com, within seven days of the DFA, the team can either trade the player or place them on waivers.  If my reading of the language is correct, the Twins have until Saturday to place Woods-Richardson on waivers.

Designate for Assignment (DFA) | Glossary | MLB.com

[ashbury]

6 minutes ago, East Coast Twin said:

It looks like you're correct. 

According to MLB.com, within seven days of the DFA, the team can either trade the player or place them on waivers.  If my reading of the language is correct, the Twins have until Saturday to place Woods-Richardson on waivers.

Designate for Assignment (DFA) | Glossary | MLB.com

That's the slight detail I'm unclear on.  Can the player be off DFA and on waivers?  Then the total time in limbo could be nine days.  I don't think that's so, but maybe?

[Danchat]

16 minutes ago, ashbury said:

That's the slight detail I'm unclear on.  Can the player be off DFA and on waivers?  Then the total time in limbo could be nine days.  I don't think that's so, but maybe?

I believe that is accurate, I remember reading that the process can take up to 9-10 days and the 7 + 2 math aligns with that.

[KirbyDome89]

8 hours ago, LewFordLives said:

I was never under the illusion that SWR was a front-line starter, but why now, and only after a couple bad months? Ober was terrible almost all of last year? Why was he given a chance to get it together but not SWR?

This move would be more understandable if he was with the Yankees or Dodgers, who have other options and legit World Series asperations. The Twins, on the other hand, are struggling to fill holes in the rotation and bullpen.

Given the fodder that still exists in the bullpen I think the decision to DFA was pretty short sighted. Maybe SWR would've been a poor relief pitcher, maybe he never regains any sort of useful form, but this same team was totally comfortable beginning the season with a patchwork pen and now there's suddenly no room? Eh...

Ober gets a longer leash because he's been a much better pitcher than SWR. I think it's that simple. If Ober has a few more outings similar to his last start in Pittsburgh we're probably starting to have the same uncomfortable conversation about him. 

[ashbury]

7 minutes ago, Danchat said:

I believe that is accurate, I remember reading that the process can take up to 9-10 days and the 7 + 2 math aligns with that.

In that case I have been misleading people by suggesting we'll have closure by Saturday morning.  Could be Monday morning instead.

[bean5302]

SWR was traded to the Blue Jays for cash.

[ashbury]

6 hours ago, ashbury said:

In that case I have been misleading people by suggesting we'll have closure by Saturday morning.  Could be Monday morning instead.

3 hours ago, bean5302 said:

SWR was traded to the Blue Jays for cash.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

20 hours ago, KBJ1 said:

This is a tough one to figure out. The guy literally saved the rotation in 23 & 24. It has to a combination of something physical and mental going on. Is this team cursed? Lewis goes to AAA & has multiple homes games, comes up & can't hit at all. How do we continuously have guys go from hitting 6 grand slams in their first 100 games (Lewis) to DFA'd?? Makes no sense?

Baseball is a funny game.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

11 hours ago, bean5302 said:

SWR was traded to the Blue Jays for cash.

In other words...for nothing helpful to the Twins.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

15 hours ago, Dman said:

I tend to agree with all of that, but the questions many have if that is the case is did they reach out to see if anyone was willing to trade for him?  Given teams like Colorado, the Angels, the Giants etc could use starters and are essentially out of contention, why not buy low on an arm that just last year pitched to an ERA better than most teams 5th starter?  I mean even if SWR is bad all this year they'd have 4 years to fix him or wait for him to rebound. Maybe no team wanted to take that chance and felt like they could maybe just get a waiver claim if he made it to them?  Still with so many teams needing arms I'd think some team would be willing to give up something half way decent to jump the queue.

I get he's no ace and never will be given his arsenal, but he looked close to being a mid rotation arm if he could improve a little.  Obviously he regressed and maybe those are the best numbers he will ever put up.  Hard to say.  I'd just think one of these rebuilding teams would be interested so the DFA is surprising.

The Twins are "one of those rebuilding teams", especially in the bullpen. The Twins should have kept him in the bullpen.

[Dman]

Wow I really overvalued SWR.  I just thought they could get some value and I guess I was wrong about that.  All that wishing. hoping and waiting for him to make it from the minors to amjors and now he is just gone. I thought given the track record of 24 and 25 he would at least fetch a prospect of some kind, but cash?  That is the ultimate insult IMO.  

Look I get that this year he has ERA of almost 8.  A poor K rate and super high WHIP.  A typical journey man reliever or starter with those stats as we all know is generally only worth cash.  Still a guy that just last year was a serviceable 5th starter with nearly a 9 K/9 seems like someone that could be fixed. Again I get the upside is likely minimal beyond 5th starter and he was the weakest link in the starting 5, but I just thought he might be worth something.  I guess it goes to show I can get too caught up in my favorite players and think are worth more than they really are.  Any bottom 10 team could have had him for a minimal prospect or cash and they passed.  So his value is much lower than I anticipated.

Do I think the Twins will have better future options in the 5th spot?  I do.  It's just hard to see him go for nothing.