Article: Twins Add Four to 40 Man Roster

[Seth Stohs]

You can view the page at http://www.twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=2490-Twins-Add-Four-to-40-Man-Roster

[diehardtwinsfan]

bit surprised on Achter. Guess the Twins didn't want to risk losking Kepler and Polanco.

[JP3700]

Pretty much what I predicted, including the Hermsen drop. Think they wanted to sneak him through waivers. I just had Wimmers and Oliveros slightly ahead of Darnell if healthy, which they might not be.

[JP3700]

bit surprised on Achter. Guess the Twins didn't want to risk losking Kepler and Polanco.

 

I have a feeling Achter may be the next Slama in the sense that he will continue to put up good numbers in the minors but will never get a fair shot in the majors.

 

I watched him pitch in the AFL and came away thinking he will have a tough time in the majors. He throws four pitches, but his fastball barely touches 90 so he relies a lot on deception and mixing his pitches.

[nicksaviking]

Adding Darnell and trading for and keeping Kris Johnson on the 40-man roster seems kind of strange. Diamond and Albers are still on the list too. Seems like four guys are filling the same whim here.

[Shane Wahl]

No Achter? What? He was the most likely guy to be added!

[Shane Wahl]

Eric Fryer is not going to be more valuable than A.J. Achter. Good lord.

[Thrylos]

No Achter? What? He was the most likely guy to be added!

 

Nope. Vargas was. And he was added. Darnell too. And he was added. Achter? Not that sure.

[Thrylos]

Eric Fryer is not going to be more valuable than A.J. Achter. Good lord.

 

Yeah but that split deal he signed (like Tim Wood last season) meant that he has to be on the 40-man roster at least until opening day. Not sure I agree with what they did, but...

[Shane Wahl]

Nope. Vargas was. And he was added. Darnell too. And he was added. Achter? Not that sure.

 

Achter is the most likely player to be lost out of all of them.

[clutterheart]

I'm most suprised about Vargas.

 

I think the twins feel even if someone takes Achter they have enough similar talents it doesn't matter. But I dont think he will be taken

[Seth Stohs]

I used to get all upset about this stuff, but generally speaking, they get it right... at least from the sense of actually losing players. Who is the last player they didn't protect that they actually lost to the other team? (I'm sure there have been, I just can't think of it)

 

The report on Achter is right, though I think earlier in the year, he was closer to 92-93 with four pitches. I can't really argue with any of these picks.

[lee_the_twins_fan]

I suspect Achter will be gone - selected by the Cubs in Rule 5 draft.

[Mr. Ed]

Adding Darnell and trading for and keeping Kris Johnson on the 40-man roster seems kind of strange. Diamond and Albers are still on the list too. Seems like four guys are filling the same whim here.

 

You can never have enough mediocre lefthanded pitching.

[Shane Wahl]

In other ridiculous news, the Twins signed a Clete Thomas clone in Chris Rahl. About to turn 30 and has never been in the majors.

[Mr. Ed]

In other ridiculous news, the Twins signed a Clete Thomas clone in Chris Rahl. About to turn 30 and has never been in the majors.

 

He will get his "well-deserved" cup of coffee at some point in 2014.

 

Anotan Richardson signed elsewhere,so they need that AAA Filler for when guys get hurt.

[SarasotaBill]

Protected Polanco, Kepler, and Vargas from the likes of Astros, Cubs, ....

 

Darnell - LP at AAA - likely to be plucked in Rule 5

 

Once they sign two FA pitchers - who gets dropped:

- Albers?

- Johnson?

- Duensing - not offered arb?

[Shane Wahl]

It would seem that the Astros and Cubs have their own roster decisions to make with their own players and are not going to use a roster spot on a guy who would then need one or two years back down in the minors.

[gunnarthor]

Nothing surprising here. I'm not too worried about Achter - he walked a lot of batters and we have depth in the bullpen.

[SarasotaBill]

It would seem that the Astros and Cubs have their own roster decisions to make with their own players and are not going to use a roster spot on a guy who would then need one or two years back down in the minors.

 

Carrying a prospect on the 40 man roster for two years is normal.

 

The twins will carry Polanco, Kepler, and Vargas for at least two years before they get a sniff of MLB.

 

There are many examples of guys taken in Rule V while in Class A - Johann Santana, Jorge Bell, ..

 

Bell had to play for the Jays as a 21 year old, was in AAA the next year and most of the following year. Three years after being taken in the Rule 5 draft, he started a streak of nine years averaging over 20 HRs a year.

[Han Joelo]

Re: Fryer

I have a feeling the biggest shock to the system all of us armchair GM/stat-heads would have if we actually got a job as the Assistant to the Traveling Secretary a la George Costanza--Major League Catching is a riddle wrapped in a cipher shrouded by a mysterious shroud of enigmatic uncertainty wrapped in an invisible cloak of doubt and dart throwing.

 

Seriously, in a world where Drewby nets a top 20 prospect and 42 year old Henry Blanco is still bouncing around, I have to think we blog commentors seriously undervalue the unquantified intangibles of catching.

 

As for the list, no surprises except Vargas a little bit. Gives me confidence that he's a legit prospect though.

[Rosterman]

Carrying guys for two years is not unheard of, unless there were truly better candiodates for this year. I'm surprised the Twins carry Santana. Doubt that he'll be considered for the majors this year and might be a long shot the following year.

 

Of course, we always need names that can be removed for free agent signings,

 

Darnell Logan I'm not sure if anyone would've truly gambled him for a spot. I don;t see the Twins even finding room on the roster to open the season, even if they failed to sign ANY free agents.

 

Chris Rahl and any other minor league free agent. It's a crapshoot. 10% don't make it thru spring training. 20% start at AA. The question is should the Twins be better fulfilled with AA and AAA rosters full of prospects.

 

Oliveras I could see someone taking a flyer on. Wimmers...I don't see him getting stashed in the back of any bullpen.

 

Now nest year...who do the Twins have to keep.

 

With Kepler and Polancho, makes you wonder about the joy of signing really young players for big bucks if they have to be stashed on the roster. Plus, the guys get a nice minor league salary raise (don't they make like $50 grand now?!

[Thrylos]

In other ridiculous news, the Twins signed a Clete Thomas clone in Chris Rahl. About to turn 30 and has never been in the majors.

 

More of an Antoan Richardson/Denny Hawking clone At least Clete could hit the ball out of the park on occasion

[Seth Stohs]

With Kepler and Polancho, makes you wonder about the joy of signing really young players for big bucks if they have to be stashed on the roster. Plus, the guys get a nice minor league salary raise (don't they make like $50 grand now?!

 

Teams won't even think twice about it. It's part of the business.

 

Players not on the 40 man roster typically make $1500/month.

This isn't confirmed and likely has changed in the 4-5 years since I heard it, but guys in their first year on 40 man roster (in minor leagues), make like $10,000/month. Second year, they make like $12,000/month. Third year, $15,000/month. Likely higher now.

[Heimer]

Would you rather take the chance of losing polanco or achter? My opinion bullpen arms grow on trees future SS do not.

[Jim H]

My thought is you protect the guys you think are likely to become the best players. Trying to guess what 29 other teams might or might not do is a bit of a fool's game. I was a bit surprised by Vargas, I have always thought he was one of those guys who could hit in the minors and has great power, but has too many holes in his swing, not enough bat speed, and no position he can play in the majors. Apparently, the Twins think he can better than that, and likely they are right. Or at least more right than I am likely to be.

[cmathewson]

Eric Fryer is not going to be more valuable than A.J. Achter. Good lord.

 

Relievers like Atcher are a dime a dozen. Fryer is basically a better hitting version of Butera, who proved his worth on the trade market last year.

[Dbohnk]

I used to get all upset about this stuff, but generally speaking, they get it right... at least from the sense of actually losing players. Who is the last player they didn't protect that they actually lost to the other team? (I'm sure there have been, I just can't think of it)

 

The report on Achter is right, though I think earlier in the year, he was closer to 92-93 with four pitches. I can't really argue with any of these picks.

 

 

The last guy they lost if I am not mistaken (RA Dickey) turned out to be a Cy Young candidate, but they did sign him the next off-season only to release him after one season.

[twinsfan34]

Achter...relief pitchers are a dime a dozen. Can find them anywhere...failed starters, etc.

 

Couldn't risk losing Polanco and Kepler. No brainers.

 

Did Vargas have to be added?

[twinsfan34]

Would you rather take the chance of losing polanco or achter? My opinion bullpen arms grow on trees future SS do not.

 

Nailed it. you can find a RP anywhere. Refurbish almost any 2 pitch starter.