Kendry Rojas Activated By Twins Following Injury List Stint

[Steve Drumwright]

 

The setback sustained by right-hander Mick Abel has a trickle-down effect.

The Minnesota Twins on Sunday activated left-hander Kendry Rojas from the 15-day injured list, with right-handed reliever Justin Lawrence designated for assignment. Rojas, Twins Daily's No. 9 prospect, had been out since May 29 with inflammation in his left elbow.

Abel, on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation, threw a bullpen session Friday in anticipation of him starting Sunday, but woke up Saturday with a sore elbow, forcing the Twins to come up with an alternate plan. That will be right-hander Mike Paredes starting the series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Rojas could be a relief option for Sunday. He has made five appearances (one start), including his MLB debut, and been very good. Rojas has a 1.26 ERA in 14⅓ innings, walking 10 and striking out 14.

Lawrence has been DFA'd for the second time this season. The Twins acquired Lawrence for cash considerations from the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 2 after he was DFA'd. His brief time with the Twins did not go well. In six innings across seven appearances, Lawrence had an 18.00 ERA, getting tagged for 12 runs on 10 hits with nine walks and 12 strikeouts. This came after a 5.32 ERA in 22 games with the Pirates.

 

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[Danchat]

18 ERA! Wow, that even dwarfs Garcia's 10.38. Nice to see Rojas back, but I'd like to see Raya get his first chance soon. He's already on the 40 man and they could easily option Adams or Laweryson to get him up.

[HerbieFan]

If I never have to see Justin Lawrence pitch again for the Twins it'll be too soon.....

[jaimedude]

Raya should get an opportunity at Adam's spot. 

[LA Vikes Fan]

4 hours ago, HerbieFan said:

If I never have to see Justin Lawrence pitch again for the Twins it'll be too soon.....

Amen, Brother. Lawrence is the worst pitcher of all of the flotsam and jetsam we've tried in the bullpen this year. I figured he was gone with the way Shelton pulled him from Saturday's game where we lead 16-2 and he gave up 5 runs in 2/3 of an inning.  He couldn't get out there fast enough and he looked like he was cursing under his breath. He wouldn't even look at Lawrence when he took the ball. If you can't even get a couple of decent innings out of a guy when up 14 ruins and the other team is pulling its regulars, then when can you pitch him? We were operating one guy short in the bullpen until Lawrence was replaced. That's not fair to the manager, and not fair to a team that's playing hard and trying to win and stay relevant. Thank God he's gone.  

[tarheeltwinsfan]

I feel sorry for Lawrence. He probably has a family and his baseball career is probably over in  ignominious fashion.

[arby58]

56 minutes ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

I feel sorry for Lawrence. He probably has a family and his baseball career is probably over in  ignominious fashion.

He’s making $1.225 million this year - not sure there is a need to feel sorry for him.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

8 hours ago, arby58 said:

He’s making $1.225 million this year - not sure there is a need to feel sorry for him.

I disagree. Money is not everything.

[old nurse]

2 hours ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

I disagree. Money is not everything.

He made like 4 years of service time as a borderline mlb player. He made the most of his talents to get chances.  So he goes to AAA if not claimed and works for another chance. The state of mlb pitching is such he will get another shot. Nobody has to feel bad for him. Nobody should be disrespecting him either. 

[Twins_Fan_For_Life]

13 hours ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

I feel sorry for Lawrence. He probably has a family and his baseball career is probably over in  ignominious fashion.

I hope he catches on with the White Sox or Cleveland. 

[amjgt]

1 minute ago, Twins_Fan_For_Life said:

I hope he catches on with the White Sox or Cleveland. 

Just not Toronto

[ashbury]

6 hours ago, Twins_Fan_For_Life said:

I hope he catches on with the White Sox or Cleveland. 

The Twins might be willing to cover part of the salary if he does.

[lecroy24fan]

59 minutes ago, ashbury said:

The Twins might be willing to cover part of the salary if he does.

The Twins are only on the hook for a prorated minimum, according to MLB TRade Rumors. PIT is on the hook for the rest.

[arby58]

1 hour ago, lecroy24fan said:

The Twins are only on the hook for a prorated minimum, according to MLB TRade Rumors. PIT is on the hook for the rest.

I think you missed the humor in the prior post - saying the Twins would pay them to pitch for them.

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, lecroy24fan said:

The Twins are only on the hook for a prorated minimum, according to MLB TRade Rumors. PIT is on the hook for the rest.

Arby's correct about the joke

But since Pittsburgh didn't cut unJustifiable Lawrence - it was a trade for cash considerations - I believe our Twins would still be the ones on the hook for the princely sum of $1.225M prorated, if they were to actually release him - news of which I haven't seen, merely the DFA with the likely purpose to outright him to St Paul.  Assuming the next step is waivers, any team so foolhardy as to put in a claim would then inherit the salary obligation.

[lecroy24fan]

3 hours ago, ashbury said:

Arby's correct about the joke

But since Pittsburgh didn't cut unJustifiable Lawrence - it was a trade for cash considerations - I believe our Twins would still be the ones on the hook for the princely sum of $1.225M prorated, if they were to actually release him - news of which I haven't seen, merely the DFA with the likely purpose to outright him to St Paul.  Assuming the next step is waivers, any team so foolhardy as to put in a claim would then inherit the salary obligation.

Fangraphs/Cot's Contracts is showing $131,720 is the Twins obligation. Pirates obligation shows $454,435. Maybe the cash considerations was the remainder of the deal minus the MLB minimum prorated? 

[ashbury]

34 minutes ago, lecroy24fan said:

Fangraphs/Cot's Contracts is showing $131,720 is the Twins obligation. Pirates obligation shows $454,435. Maybe the cash considerations was the remainder of the deal minus the MLB minimum prorated? 

Ha!  If accurate, it would be just like the Twins for the "cash consideration" to be money going to them in return for taking the player off the other team's hands.