Baseball America on Twins 40 man roster

[gunnarthor]

They have a small thing on every team, here's the Twins write-up:

 

Minnesota Twins (36)

Extremely Likely Protections: SS/2B Jorge Polanco.

Possible Protections: 1B Kennys Vargas, OF Max Kepler, LHP Logan Darnell, RHP A.J. Achter.

It’s hard to see Kepler sticking and contributing to a big league roster in any way after just a half-season at low Class A Cedar Rapids, especially since he’s not going to add defensive or baserunning value. But the Twins have the roster spots, so they can likely avoid the risk of exposing a legitimate prospect. Polanco’s spot on the 40-man roster seems much safer. Even though he hasn’t played above Class A, his defense, speed and athleticism is the kind of profile that allows a younger player to contribute to the 25-man roster even if his bat isn’t ready. Think Everth Cabrera, whom the Padres Rule 5′d in 2008. Vargas is a switch-hitter with some power and feel for hitting, but he’s far enough away that it’s likely worth the risk of leaving him exposed. Achter and Darnell are a pair of upper-levels pitchers with feel for setting up hitters, but neither has a plus pitch to likely entice a team to draft them.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/watch-list-for-rule-5-protection/

[DaveW]

What's the story on Achter?

 

I would protect Polanco and Darnell for sure. Maybe 50/50 on Vargas, though I doubt anyone is going to grab him as well since he has zero defensive value and isn't even close to contribute as a DH/1B (even then he is pretty iffy prospect)

[Otto von Ballpark]

I posted in the other thread that the Everth Cabrera comparison might not be fair to Polanco. Cabrera had just turned 22 when drafted. Polanco won't be 21 until next summer, I think. Cabrera was also coming off a 73 SB season in the minors, which implies at least one "standout skill" that Polanco doesn't yet have.

[PseudoSABR]

Mike Berardino ‏@MikeBerardino 10m #mntwins have added Logan Darnell, Max Kepler, Jorge Polanco and Kennys Vargas to 40-man roster

 

They outrighted BJ Hermansen as well

[Otto von Ballpark]

So the roster is at 39 now...

[whydidnt]

Doesn't adding a guy to the 40 man roster also start his option counter? So there is a fine line to balance between adding a very young, raw guy such as Kepler or Vargas vs. protecting him, right? At some point you would prefer guys like Kepler don't burn all their option years toiling in the low level of the minors, I think. I'm sure the Twins take all that into account, just another consideration when you start discussing who to add. I wouldn't add someone just to add them, unless I felt there was a risk of losing that player. For a guy like Kepler, who seems to have a high ceiling it's probably not worth exposing him, but not sure I feel the same way about Achter or Vargas, though I suppose someone might try to grab and stash one of these guys for a year. I think the A's did something like that with a 1B last year.

[gunnarthor]

Doesn't adding a guy to the 40 man roster also start his option counter? So there is a fine line to balance between adding a very young, raw guy such as Kepler or Vargas vs. protecting him, right? At some point you would prefer guys like Kepler don't burn all their option years toiling in the low level of the minors, I think. I'm sure the Twins take all that into account, just another consideration when you start discussing who to add. I wouldn't add someone just to add them, unless I felt there was a risk of losing that player. For a guy like Kepler, who seems to have a high ceiling it's probably not worth exposing him, but not sure I feel the same way about Achter or Vargas, though I suppose someone might try to grab and stash one of these guys for a year. I think the A's did something like that with a 1B last year.

 

Real young guys like Kepler and Polanco get another option year.

[Seth Stohs]

Remember, Eric Fryer is causing this situation. And BJ Hermsen.

 

Eric Fryer had pretty much no say in the situation...