Twins Claim OF Michael Reed From Atlanta

Here I was totally invested in Josh Field...

I’m seeing a trend with the front office. They definitely like grabbing AAAA / post-hype guys near their age prime. Robbie Grossman, Jake Cave, Tyler Austin, this guy. Doesn’t seem like a bad strategy.

Looks to me like the Brewers pushed this guy pretty fast.  Had a real nice year at Appleton in the Mid-West League when he was 20 with several solid seasons since.  Played this year at 25 after breaking in with the Brewers at the age of 22.  

Expect they had to get rid of one of the excess outfielders to open spots before this move...releasing either Fields or Granite.  Now expect both will be gone and they come to spring training with 6 outfielders, Rosario, Buxton, Kepler, Cave, Grossman and Reed...subject to any trades over the winter.

Have no problem with that group, a group that still has the potential to be as good as any outfield in the league.

I'm fine with this if it's AAA depth. Please go get a real RH OF who can challenge Kepler for the starting job. Knowing the Twins, this will be the move; players like Adam Jones and McCutchen won't be considered.

Hey Vanimal, I think your bang on the buck for Jones and McCutchen would be limited. Guys on the wrong side of 30, used to commanding salaries of 14-18 million per, and in steady statistical decline. Jones was only 0.2 WAR last season. Rosario, a healthy reinvigorated BB, and around the corner Max is my wish list. Reed falls in after Cave, maybe alongside Wade in the pecking order. Depth is good.

Any idea why Atlanta released him?

They did not.  They moved him off their 40-man roster and had to pass him through waivers to do so.  Same way that Randy Rosario was picked by the Cubs.  The Twins did not release him.

So, does he have to be put on / kept on the 40 man?  Is it like a Rule 5 draft thing?

I'm fine with this if it's AAA depth. Please go get a real RH OF who can challenge Kepler for the starting job. Knowing the Twins, this will be the move; players like Adam Jones and McCutchen won't be considered.

Do NOT underestimate Max Kepler. Otherwise, when he's an all-star, you are allowed no happiness. Seriously, this is his age 26 season, and he should do well, but even I'm afraid it might not be what we were hoping for. There's a chance, though...

I'm fine with this if it's AAA depth. Please go get a real RH OF who can challenge Kepler for the starting job. Knowing the Twins, this will be the move; players like Adam Jones and McCutchen won't be considered.

I agree with this. We have promoted guys who are undeserving and other guys like Kepler are just left to "take their lumps" in hope that a light goes on and they figure it out.  I am tired of this strategy.

One huge problem we have had is literally no players in AAA.  It is almost as though we have disregarded AAA completely.  That is the next step and if there is little to no depth or competition there it fosters a weak culture.  Buxton, Sano, Kepler....these guys need to feel the heat.  They are not in need of more nuturing.  THey have gotten that in spades.

This generation of Twins needs to understand that where you were drafted and how much hype you have been given does not give you an endless leash.  YOu need to perform and if you don't for long enough we are going to sit you down or demote you and find someone else who can play.  

We will need to expose him to waivers again if he is going to be in AAA, he is out of options.  If there isn't an injury in Spring training or a move to clear some space we could easily lose him before he gets an AB,  I don't think he is ahead of any of our current OF Rosario, Cave, Kepler, Buxton, or Grossman.  

His high AA/AAA average was driven by a crazy BABIP of .426 and .477.  For reference Vlad Jr had a lower BABIP and higher Average.  Reed found a hole nearly 50% of the time he put it in play, that doesn't seem realistic.  .477 is more than 100 points better than his next best season at any level.

But I do like the pick up, especially if he passes thru waivers.  I am not opposed to freeing up some space either.  Grossman does not field well at all and it seems like a waste to have our everyday DH be an OBP minded player.

Agreed. Do it immediately so he's not taking up a 40 man roster space all winter.

Waiting might increase our odds of keeping him since now is when teams have the most free roster spaces.

So expose him.....if they lose him, they never had him. No biggie either way most likely.

That's what I am saying, he will be exposed at some point. 

It also prevents the team from signing someone better in the OF. I'm not gambling on this guy being as lucky in 2019 as he clearly was in 2018.

In my opinion outfield is one of the only positions we don't need to sign someone in.  Our priorities should lie in Relief pitching, Middle Infield, and a DH that can back up 1st or 3rd.