Article: Twins Claim Brooks Raley from Cubs

[Seth Stohs]

You can view the page at http://www.twinsdaily.com/content.php/2669-Twins-Claim-Brooks-Raley-from-Cubs

[ScottyB]

Twins today claimed Brooks Raley, a 26 YO lefty from the Cubs. I'm assuming he has to be put on the 40-man. He's done some starting and relieving, but I've never heard of the guy. Anyone have a scouting report?

 

Did Rob Antony decide to make a move while TR is out?

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Maybe hoping he can pass through waivers and be AAA filler?

[Oldgoat_MN]

Maybe hoping he can pass through waivers and be AAA filler?

 

Yeah, it worked so well for the Cubs.

[maxisagod]

Yeah, it worked so well for the Cubs.

 

The Cubs did get him thru every NL team.

[nicksaviking]

Maybe hoping he can pass through waivers and be AAA filler?

 

I hope so. I was already hoping the Twins were trying to find a taker for Duensing, Diamond or the new guy Kris Johnson as it is. I thought this team was done stockpilling swingmen but this team certainly seems to have a soft spot for soft-tossing lefties.

 

Duensing's improved K/9 is making him look pretty darn good in this mess, even with his arb payday.

[Mike Sixel]

Not a fan....but as long as he doesn't keep an actual prospect from being in AAA or the majors, I don't care.

[ashbury]

The Cubs did get him thru every NL team.

 

This time of the year, don't waivers operate across MLB, in reverse order of 2013 record, and not league-first?

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

I like his name. That's all I got right now.

[tobi0040]

Did Rob Antony decide to make a move while TR is out?

 

That is hilarious

[James]

Yeah... this move is a bit of a head scratcher.

[ScottyB]

This time of the year, don't waivers operate across MLB, in reverse order of 2013 record, and not league-first?

 

You are correct sir. So he passed by Houston, Miami and the Chisox.

[edavis0308]

This makes me want to hurl.

[DaneDiggy]

They even look like each other...

 

 

[Lonestar]

Strictly a LOOGY. Not at all Diamond like? Do we have another in Rochester?

 

Career MLB stats in very small sample in 38.1 innings

.194/.293/.306/.598 vs LHB

.316/.396/.564/.960 vs RHB

[jokin]

Not a big vote of confidence for Scott Diamond. Why not just sign Chris Capuano?

[DaveW]

Not a big vote of confidence for Scott Diamond. Why not just sign Chris Capuano?

 

Because Capuano is a starter and would command a guarantee contract? While Raley is a zero risk guy? Apples and Oranges really.

[Danchat]

I don't really get this signing, but maybe the writing on the wall is Scott Diamond getting traded away (for a PTBNL, of course). I was really hoping that Emilio Bonifacio would get this last spot on the 40 man, but I don't think he's coming because of this move.

[DaveW]

Strictly a LOOGY. Not at all Diamond like? Do we have another in Rochester?

 

Career MLB stats in very small sample in 38.1 innings

.194/.293/.306/.598 vs LHB

.316/.396/.564/.960 vs RHB

 

I don't think we have many LOOGY's in the system at this point who are ML ready LOOGY's. However I am not sure he is truly a LOOGY (.663 OPS against LH in 2013 minors, .728 in 2012), with that said, the Twins have a lack of LHP at this point anyways, can't hurt to give another guy a shot, maybe they see something they like?

[oldguy10]

To me Raley is simply just another warm body, how many really does the team need in Fort Myers? Signings such as these are surely getting tiresome, aren't they?

[DaveW]

To me Raley is simply just another warm body, how many really does the team need in Fort Myers? Signings such as these are surely getting tiresome, aren't they?

 

You can never have enough (LHP) Pitching.

[jokin]

Because Capuano is a starter and would command a guarantee contract? While Raley is a zero risk guy? Apples and Oranges really.

 

Apples and Oranges?, not really for Raley-

 

107 career minor league appearances, 102 starts. 5 major league appearances in 2012, 5 starts. (25 of 27 2013 appearances in AAA were also starts, the guy's job has been as a starter until his 9 lousy relief appearances for the Cubs last year.)

 

Apples or Oranges, no....Prime Rib versus a Soup Bone, yes.

[Kwak]

More garbage. Always scraping the dumpster to try to find something useful--the need is quality, not utility.

[DuluthFan]

I don't understand the dislike of this move. The Twins picked up a pitcher with some major league experience on waivers. You are not going to find a top of the rotation pitcher on waivers. They didn't sign him, he is already under contract (probably at major league minimum). They probably don't have to pay him until spring training at the earliest. While he is currently a long shot to make the opening day roster, he could come in handy later in the season.

 

The Twins also still need to stock a AAA roster as well as the major league roster. With the possibility of the Twins losing some pitchers due to players with no options left (Deduno, Diamond, Worley), they will need some bodies to fill their roster places. Raley is a "replacement level" pitcher. He will probably replace one of the pitchers that the Twins lose.

[edavis0308]

The important thing is we cant pick up anyone that could help us on offense because, heaven forbid, we might have to expose one of our mid 80's throwing AAAA arms to waivers! eek!

[JP3700]

I think the Twins see something they like.

 

Working out of the bullpen in the majors for the first time last year, he faced 25 LHB. They hit .182/.280/.227 and struck out 32% of the time. Small sample, but perhaps his stuff plays up out of the pen.

 

He's 25 and has an option remaining. I don't see any downside.

[jokin]

I don't understand the dislike of this move. The Twins picked up a pitcher with some major league experience on waivers. You are not going to find a top of the rotation pitcher on waivers. They didn't sign him, he is already under contract (probably at major league minimum). They probably don't have to pay him until spring training at the earliest. While he is currently a long shot to make the opening day roster, he could come in handy later in the season.

 

The Twins also still need to stock a AAA roster as well as the major league roster. With the possibility of the Twins losing some pitchers due to players with no options left (Deduno, Diamond, Worley), they will need some bodies to fill their roster places.

 

Raley is a "replacement level" pitcher. He will probably replace one of the pitchers that the Twins lose.

 

I was with you until the bolded statement. In truth, Raley is a

"below-replacement-level" pitcher (BRef WAR -0.9 FRef WAR -0.6). The definition of a wasted roster-filling space if he ends up sticking with the organization.

[Mike Sixel]

I don't understand the dislike of this move. The Twins picked up a pitcher with some major league experience on waivers. You are not going to find a top of the rotation pitcher on waivers. They didn't sign him, he is already under contract (probably at major league minimum). They probably don't have to pay him until spring training at the earliest. While he is currently a long shot to make the opening day roster, he could come in handy later in the season.

 

The Twins also still need to stock a AAA roster as well as the major league roster. With the possibility of the Twins losing some pitchers due to players with no options left (Deduno, Diamond, Worley), they will need some bodies to fill their roster places. Raley is a "replacement level" pitcher. He will probably replace one of the pitchers that the Twins lose.

 

He has a 40 man spot, it is now full. That MIGHT keep them from promoting / claiming / trading for / signing a guy that is not on the roster, in fear of losing him or another likely awful player. Again, every move has both up and downside risk. There is no move w/o risk.

[Dman]

Personally I just think this is payback for the Cubs claiming Hendricks earlier as I think they were hoping he might slip through. Otherwise this move makes no sense to me as they don't need anymore pitchers clogging up AAA. I don't see anything in this guy they can't get out of one of there own prospects.

[jokin]

I think the Twins see something they like.

 

Working out of the bullpen in the majors for the first time last year, he faced 25 LHB. They hit .182/.280/.227 and struck out 32% of the time. Small sample, but perhaps his stuff plays up out of the pen.

 

He's 25 and has an option remaining. I don't see any downside.

 

I agree with his relative youth and option flexibility as good points with the little downside argument, except that he occupies a roster space. I would hope that Seth is on the right track here, and that the Twins attempt to run him through waivers again.

 

Also, your sample size is extremely small, negative as well as positive results show up amongst those SSS numbers. His MLB career FIP against lefties is 5.40 and against righties is 6.92. His larger sample minor league numbers are about the same versus both left and right, not suggesting a strong LOOGY candidate---

 

 

They may as well have never released Tyler Robertson- both his minor and major league numbers are much better against lefties than Raley. (Anyone nostalgic about the Tyler Robertson era?)

 

 

Against both sides, at the MLB level, he also has given up very high Iso power numbers of .210 and .234.

 

http://minorleaguecentral.com/player?pid=548384&split=3000