Article: Monday Morning Roster Cuts

[gocgo]

I know it's only spring training, but this team has scored 18 runs in the last 7 games. That's all I see from this lineup on a regular basis. To put it in perspective, Justin Verlander pitching every day for this team wouldn't go .500.

[Dantes929]

Remember how last year offense wasn't going to be a problem with Morneau another year past concussion, Willingham coming off career year and Hicks ready to break out. That's the way baseball goes sometimes. Maybe this year is the year Hicks breaks out, Parmalee and Hicks turn it around and Coloabello catches up with the speed of major leagues and replicates his minor league numbers. I am not all that optimistic but having success in the past does not guarantee success in the future and failing in the past does not guarantee failure in the future.

[Zephrin]

What is the likelihood that the Twins are in trade talks with other teams who have out of option players? Specifically, I would wonder about picking up a fringe CF that can legitimately back the position up in return for Diamond or Theilbar?

[SweetOne69]

Remember how last year offense wasn't going to be a problem with Morneau another year past concussion, Willingham coming off career year and Hicks ready to break out. That's the way baseball goes sometimes. Maybe this year is the year Hicks breaks out, Parmalee and Hicks turn it around and Coloabello catches up with the speed of major leagues and replicates his minor league numbers. I am not all that optimistic but having success in the past does not guarantee success in the future and failing in the past does not guarantee failure in the future.

 

You are right, we just don't know what this team is going to do offensively (other than Mauer of course).

 

Was last year a fluke for both Dozier and Willingham?

Can Plouffe find consistency?

Has Hicks, Arcia, Parmelee and Colabello figured out ML pitching?

Will Kubel perform like 2012 or 2013?

 

Are they going to be the team that scored 700 runs in 2012 or the one that scored 600 in 2013.

[TheLeviathan]

It would be some crazy irony if Bartlett made this roster because of his "veteran-ness"....

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I would be better with Kubel in the outfield than Willingham, but not at the cost of Arcia's at-bats. I think Bartlett is insurance for Florimon since he's just off surgery. JB has a point. It may be the Twins Front office is taking notes from the St Paul Saints front office ALA Daryl Strawberry.

[savvyspy]

I'd cut Bartlett, Kubel, Diamond, and Rohlfing. None figure into the teams future plans and serve zero purpose on the major league roster.

[tmerrickkeller]

Posters here have summed up the final decisions pretty well. I see Presley v Bartlett, but with a real likelihood of picking up some other team's final roster cut to be our backup CF/4th OF, and both Presley and Bartlett being gone.

 

I also see it coming down to 2 of Parmelee/Colabello/Kubel, with good arguments for different outcomes. Colabello has hit the best and is RH. However, with Pinto making the team, he could be a RH DH. Parmelee is younger than Kubel and can back up 1B. Everyone here seems to feel that Kubel has some invisible inside track. Though he makes little sense from a ticket-selling standpoint, he has had better ABs the last week.

 

My inclination is to remove the non-roster 3 (Kubel/Bartlett/Rohlfing), leaving us with Pinto, Colabello, Parmelee, Presley, and Escobar for DH/bench, with a little speed and some versatility, plus at least potential power from both sides.

 

My preference would be to find a 4th OF with speed and versatility, and let Bartlett and Presley go. It would demonstrate that we are taking younger players in position-wars (Arcia, Hicks, Pinto, Parmelee, Colabello) and won't let marginal veterans clog up the pipeline.

[cmathewson]

If Bartlett makes it, it's because of his versatility. As much as I like him, I hope they take the best right handed bat instead. And that is Colabello. With Hermann going down, the possibility of Pinto DHing diminishes (given Gardy's penchant). That means they need a good right handed stick to DH. Bartlett is not that guy. And I can't see him instead of Presley either. He's out of options, and they would likely lose him, further thinning their center field ranks. Two innings of spring training doesn't make you a center fielder. Ergo, Bartlett is toast.

 

the interesting call is Kuble vs Parmelee. Berardino had a great interview with him today and it hints that Kubel is the guy, but he will have to play more in the field than he has all spring.

[GCTF]

It would be some crazy irony if Bartlett made this roster because of his "veteran-ness"....

 

Counting the days until there's a photo of him muffing a pop up with Kubel jogging in behind him.

[twinsnorth49]

Bartlett vs Presley

 

This says it all......sigh.

[twinsfan34]

Given that Rohlfing is going down.

 

My feeling is Bartlett has to go...just hasn't done anything and the 2 years away. Just can't see it. Not much upside here. If he takes the AAA demotion, hits .320+ bring him back up in May.

 

I like Thielbar over Diamond.

 

Colabello has to stay, one of the best bats we have. No one is locking down the DH or LF jobs, problem is he's similar to Willingham, but can play 1B. My best is Willingham hits decently well, any injuries to teams needing a guy, he's deal for a Sulburan (for Butera) like prospect as soon as it's available.

 

Parmalee is the other problem, in that he's a lot like Kubel. But Parmalee can play some 1B.

 

In both cases, Colabello and Parmalee aren't as good as Willingham and Kubel respective to right now. But are younger, offer more potential, and can play more positions respectively.

 

Keeping both of them on the roster might tell a bit of the direction the Twins will be going in 2015. They'd likely want to figure out if Colabello and Parmalee have any future with the Twins this year. 2015 will offer the likes of Vargas at 1B/DH and maybe Buxton in the OF which could squeeze any superfluous room.

 

If Gardy's a platoon guy this year, he'll keep the some LH/RH options. Colabello makes sense over Presley/Kubel as we already have quite a few LH hitters with Hicks and Arcia.

 

Kinda see Presley as expendable if they like Hicks. Presley's glove isn't that great. It's better than the others, however everyone else: Willingham, Arcia, Kubel, Colabello offers more bat than Presley.

 

All in all, kind of a crapshoot I guess.

 

I do think Hicks won the position though...after Rob Anthony wanted someone to step up. Albeit, he's had a few Puig like moments on the basepaths.

 

[Dr. Evil]

I would enjoy watching Pinto behind the plate 5 days a week under the direction of the major league coaches(supposed to be your organization's top teachers) much more than I would enjoy a season of Suzuki who is probably not the future.

 

I would prefer Colabello and Parmalee on the 25 man roster for a full season to see what their ceilings might be as opposed to plugging Kubel and Bartlett and Presley in there.

 

Tonkin was fun to watch in spring training and did a really good job. Thielbar was very solid last year. I would rather keep those guys on track and progressing as they currently appear to be. If you stick Diamond and/or Deduno in the pen and send them down, what message does that send? The guys have done what you asked them to do. I doubt that we need to hoard our fringe players considering our track record these past 3 years.

[beckmt]

Twins need to keep the young players and see what they can do. Diamond should be sent thru waviers and back to Rochester. Afraid if he pitches well in his next outing, the Twins will send Gibson down, not to lose Diamond to waivers. Twins need Collabella's bat off the bench. Do not know what they are going to do with Parmelee, who the Twin need to see if he can stick up here. Should send Kubel and Bartlett to Rochester for a month, until the young players can make it or fail. Then you make your decisions.

[PseudoSABR]

All the remaining players (aside from Rohfling) will see a LOT of time at the ML level even if they don't make the roster. So it makes little sense to cut Diamond, Parmelee or Kubel for the either Theilbar or Colabello, even if the later are more deserving. *Similarly, I could see Bartlett making the roster over Presley, to keep Bartlett with the organization, and if Kubel and Willingham will see a lot of time in the OF. *Edit: I wrote this assuming Presley has options, which he doesn't; Bartlett will not make the roster.

 

The AAA guys are just a phone call and a day away; and having the perfect roster is less important than having a larger pool of players who can fill roles as injuries inevitably occur.

[troyhobbs]

mlbtraderumors is saying Kubel and Escobar are in and Bartlett is out. Not sure what that means for Parms and Calabello. Parmelee is a former 1st rounder w/ a nice minor league resume, I'd hate to see him out and then go rake somewhere else. My feeling is that they don't want Diamond but don't want to lose him for nothing. Hopefully there's a lot of transactions this season or it doesn't appear like there'll be a lot of reasons to follow the team after May, of course most of us will for some reason.

[Winston Smith]

Did I miss something last year in that Colabello showed he was a good hitter at the major league level? As I remember it he was really bad and a few at bats in the spring often don't mean anything. Luke Hughes a few years ago, Aaron Hicks last year.

[cmathewson]

Did I miss something last year in that Colabello showed he was a good hitter at the major league level? As I remember it he was really bad and a few at bats in the spring often don't mean anything. Luke Hughes a few years ago, Aaron Hicks last year.

 

Most guys struggle when they first arrive in the majors. Some of them do better in their second chances, others do not. You never know if you don't give them a second chance.

[Halsey Hall]

This says it all......sigh.

 

Not really. Bartlett can play other positions, Presley is more or less worthless.

[cmathewson]

All the remaining players (aside from Rohfling) will see a LOT of time at the ML level even if they don't make the roster. So it makes little sense to cut Diamond, Parmelee or Kubel for the either Theilbar or Colabello, even if the later are more deserving. Similarly, I could see Bartlett making the roster over Presley, to keep Bartlett with the organization, and if Kubel and Willingham will see a lot of time in the OF.

 

The AAA guys are just a phone call and a day away; and having the perfect roster is less important than having a larger pool of players who can fill roles as injuries inevitably occur.

 

Except Presley is out of options. It makes little sense to thin our CF depth in order to keep Bartlett around. As of today, they have just one roster spot open for Kubel. Maybe they could trade Diamond between now and the end of spring. If so, they could open a spot for Bartlett. But they still would lose Presley to a waiver claim, which would mean Mastro and then nobody until Buxton is ready. They need Presley in case of injury.

[cmathewson]

Not really. Bartlett can play other positions, Presley is more or less worthless.

 

Bartlett has played all of two innings in center field in Spring training. I would not want him out there on a regular basis.

[Halsey Hall]

Bartlett has played all of two innings in center field in Spring training. I would not want him out there on a regular basis.

 

Oh he wouldn't be out there much, just as Presley shouldn't be either. Bartlett would spend alot more time in other positions. I'm certainly not a Presley fan and would rather have Mastro around. I don't see Presley as a loss if gone.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Here's a fun idea. The Yankees have said Ichiro is available and is willing to be a LH hitting 4th OF. I'd deal Diamond for Ichiro if the Yankees pay half the salary.

I would trade Diamond for Ichiro straight up, but why would the Yankees want Diamond?

[PseudoSABR]

Except Presley is out of options. It makes little sense to thin our CF depth in order to keep Bartlett around. As of today, they have just one roster spot open for Kubel. Maybe they could trade Diamond between now and the end of spring. If so, they could open a spot for Bartlett. But they still would lose Presley to a waiver claim, which would mean Mastro and then nobody until Buxton is ready. They need Presley in case of injury.

Oh, agreed. I had assumed that Presley had options given the talk about Bartlett playing CF. Presley clearly makes the roster. Maybe they are just trying to lure Bartlett into taking the minor league deal rather than giving him release (ala Guerrier). Bartlett has a wife or home or something in Rochester (iirc)?

[righty8383]

I really don't care much for Pressley, but I would rather have him than Bartlett. Bartlett's days of being a productive major league player, at any position, are likely over.

[Spawn of Mientkiewicz]

Has anyone studied any of the other roster cuts that could happen on other teams to see if any would be an improvement on what we've got? From the discussions on the board I'd assume anyone's garbage is better than ours.....

[SweetOne69]

Oh, agreed. I had assumed that Presley had options given the talk about Bartlett playing CF. Presley clearly makes the roster. Maybe they are just trying to lure Bartlett into taking the minor league deal rather than giving him release (ala Guerrier). Bartlett has a wife or home or something in Rochester (iirc)?

 

There is a difference between Guerrier (same with Kubel) and Barlett. Guerrier needed to be notified by tomorrow if he was making the MLB roster and if not would've had to been release or paid $100k retention bonus. Since Bartlett was out of baseball last year, the veteran retention bonus doesn't apply to him.

[ashbury]

Has anyone studied any of the other roster cuts that could happen on other teams to see if any would be an improvement on what we've got?

 

Actually yes, if you take a look at the main Twins Talk forum page on TD (Click on "Forum Home") you'll find these:

 

http://twinsdaily.com/showthread.php/10647-Jose-Mijares

 

http://twinsdaily.com/showthread.php/10661-Juan-Francisco

 

http://twinsdaily.com/showthread.php/10635-J-D-Martinez

 

You could go further back and find others, I'm sure.

[twinsnorth49]

Not really. Bartlett can play other positions, Presley is more or less worthless.

 

OK, my point was we have Jason Bartlett and Alex Presley battling to make the 25 man.......that depresses me.

[JB_Iowa]

There is a difference between Guerrier (same with Kubel) and Barlett. Guerrier needed to be notified by tomorrow if he was making the MLB roster and if not would've had to been release or paid $100k retention bonus. Since Bartlett was out of baseball last year, the veteran retention bonus doesn't apply to him.

 

He had a contractual date of tomorrow, though and he and the Twins mutually agreed to push it back to Sunday:

 

http://www.twincities.com/twins/ci_25409445/twins-jason-bartlett-push-back-veterans-opt-out