NEWS: Twins Claim Relief Pitcher Ryan Jensen On Waivers

I get the sense that Jensen will end up on waivers again, but I get picking him up since he has two options left and throws hard.  The problem is he appears to be a one pitch pitcher unless something has recently changed.  From what I read if he can find a second pitch that he can control he will be a solid pen arm, but he has had quite a while to get there and hasn't yet.  Not an arm I would want clogging the 40 man, but likely someone they can try and get through waivers at some point.  Let the games begin.

This is the kind of under the radar move that teams (including the Twins) do all the time.  There's a pretty good chance it's a nothingburger, but there's also a greater than zero chance that he could be a useful part of a bullpen.  In Jensen's case, it is obviously a bet on the talent level that made him a first rounder a few years back.  If nothing comes of it, OK, but it's worth the shot.   This is a normal winter signing. 

21 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

As the 39th or 40th man on the 40-man roster he might be worth taking a shot at, if the staff think that there's something that could be unlocked. Easy enough to waive if you need the roster spot, upside if he can figure something out. he seems too wild for me, but I don't mind the move.

Wonder if he's another of the group of players whose career development got screwed up by missing a minor league season due to the pandemic? he advanced really fast and then crashed into a wall at AA.

Yeah below is part of what Fangraphs had to say about him last year and looking at his numbers it seems accurate. There's always a chance something clicks but not even having an average second offering feels like a longer way to go than most arms.

 "Lackluster command of his secondaries and a violently effortful delivery that features a long arm action were perhaps always likely to push him to the ‘pen. Even though none of those pitches are very good, it’s possible Jensen’s repertoire depth will enable him to work in a multi-inning relief role. He certainly has the stamina to sustain plus velocity for multiple innings, but most big league relievers have at least two plus pitches, and he has been searching for a second one for a while now."

A nothing burger with nothing on it

2 minutes ago, Blyleven2011 said:

This is another dfa'd player before the season starts ...

This guy was a first round pick in 2017 ,,, the OP didn't mention  really any of his stats all in the minors ...

He has walked 24% and struck  out 27% , he can't seem to throw strikes , but who knows if our staff can harness anything  out of him , 3 other clubs didn't  .. 

Only thing he has going for him is he's has options to stash in st Paul as depth  , but he takes a roster spot and if something better comes along  he'll be dfa'd  ...

We are up to 38 roster spots , 1 starting pitcher and a 1 bullpen arm are needed , maybe found in the same trade , and maybe a quality contact hitter ...

Reaching for straws and just another dumpster diving attempt  , if Macky or minor league coaches can get him to throw strikes on a consistent  basis , they will be deemed geniuses  ....

Its a no risk pick up.  They get him to develop and throw quality strikes in MLB they're geniuses.  They dont nobody expected any thing in the first place so nothing lost.

39 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

Its a no risk pick up.  They get him to develop and throw quality strikes in MLB they're geniuses.  They dont nobody expected any thing in the first place so nothing lost.

There is some risk and cost in that he is currently on the 40-man roster. Upon reflection, I think the team will DFA him well before the regular season starts with the hope of getting him through the process and getting him to St. Paul.

4 hours ago, Rod Carews Birthday said:

This is the kind of under the radar move that teams (including the Twins) do all the time.

Many moves remain under the radar because they never reach liftoff.

Dangit, we passed up this guy when we drafted Keoni Cavaco.

3 hours ago, SteveLV said:

I believe the Twins will also open up room with players shifted to the DL.

I don't think so. The only way to open room is place guys on the 60-day IL, which IIRC isn't in place until Opening Day. On top of that, I don't know of anyone who won't be ready to play by Opening Day or soon thereafter.  

12 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

I don't think so. The only way to open room is place guys on the 60-day IL, which IIRC isn't in place until Opening Day. 

Spring Training, I believe.

1 hour ago, Fat Calvin said:

Who?

He's on first.

57 minutes ago, ashbury said:

Spring Training, I believe.

But anyone on the 60-day list misses the first 60 days of the regular season (I’m pretty sure of that) so other than clearing roster space, there is no point in placing a player on the IL.