Twins Claim RHP Ian Gibaut, LHP Brandon Waddell

Assume they need to go on the 40-man?

The Twins need to make a decision on Rosario. And also Cruz. If they jettison both, you basically have Kirilloff, Garver, Sano, Rooker working between the OF/1B/DH Not a horrible thought, and you cut $20 million in salary.

The Twins have a bullpen of Rogers, Thielbar, Thorpe (out of options), Alcala, Duffey, Stashak, Wissler. You still have Littell in the mix if you add him back on the 40-man.

When you can troll for guys like Waddell and Gibaut, I guess you don't need to bring back Clippard, Romo or May.

The Twins could spend BIG on a starter, and leave the fifth spot to Dobnak, Smeltzer (and Thorpe) until a prospect emerges.

Backup infield could be Blankenhorn and Gordon. If not those two, you don't need them on the 40-man.

Zero risk to a DFA claim in October when you have 33 on the roster.

Worst case for the Twins is they drop them later (which is, of course, less than ideal for the player).

Moves like this is why the Twins fall on their face in the Playoffs. Is it their goal to win Minor League Championships? It would be really good to move away from the Terry Ryan theory of Hope and A Prayer acquisitions.

How exciting.

Especially an out of shape beanball pitcher.

Since Thielbar and Wisler shocked me last year I will reserve judgment or I would simply post - WHO?

Since Thielbar and Wisler shocked me last year I will reserve judgment or I would simply post - WHO?

Since I expect serious regression for both of them, hopefully these additions can fool people for a June through September once the front office has given up on the first two.

Since I expect serious regression for both of them, hopefully these additions can fool people for a June through September once the front office has given up on the first two.

I think "regression" is the operative word here. I'm not sure I expect Wisler to put up the same numbers over a full season. If he threw 50-60 innings in 2021, with 2020 numbers guy would be an All Star. But the former top prospect is still relatively young for a RP and seemed to find real life with the Twins. Only partially in jest, I have commented previously, that he might be a young Romo. A guy who brings something very different and something very effective. Regression of some sort would be expected, but he could still prove to be very useful as well as effective.

I'm less certain about Thielbar. He absolutely re-invented himself. I'm still surprised Detroit didn't keep him. And again, I'd expect regression as his 2020 numbers were just outstanding. But I'm not sure he won't still be useful going forward. But I have less belief/faith in him than Wisler.

There doesn't seem to be much here though Waddell could be ok. I can't see why they would let May go. I think that is a big mistake if they don't re-sign him. Clippard has the experience but generally doesn't do well but once every 3 seasons. I'm looking for bigger and better fish.

To be fair, May isn't gone yet, despite being a FA. There are those who believe some team will offer him 2-3yrs at $5-6M per and he will be gone. And it only takes one team to like him that much for it to happen. But we are already seeing quality ML players being let go despite very reasonable $ numbers. I have reasonable hope and expectation...IMHO...that May's best offer will come in around $4M per. As much as I like him and want him back, as much as I believe at 31yo he has anotherlevel in him with just a bit more consistency, he's not a BIG TIME, PROVEN fireman, much less a closer. I think is a very good chance be comes back to the Twins still.

As to your comment about Clippard, I'm sorry but I think you are very wrong in your statement about him. He is a strange enigma as a RP. He seems to have built a career of bouncing around the league on short term and reasonable contracts, but has put up very consistent numbers most of his career. In fact, his career numbers are borderline sparkling. But he's never really been the high velocity 9th inning guy who grabs the headlines. All he does is perform.

I ABSOLUTELY want him back for around $3M per.

At first I thought they brought back Bartolo Colon.

Every team makes moves like these every offseason...
 

Is this an echo? Not every team. Some actually get rid of guys like this.......

Every team uses multiple 40 man spots on waiver pickups every offseason?

It's not unusual to make the waiver claims. The question is whether these guys stick. Most of the time the move is going to be marginal, shoring up an area where you don't have a lot of depth in the upper minors or taking a flyer on someone you think you might be able to uncover. The last 3-4 spots on the 40-man are pretty fungible. I have no problem with the Twins making a grab on guys right now to see what they might be able to do.

This isn't going to significantly impact free agency; this is covering every option to make sure that your floor is handled.

Not sure either guy does much for me: Gibaut has some talent, but I think control is a tough one to fix. If they can, well, he has the stuff to compete. Waddell might be a bullpen option and will be easy to move on from if whatever they see in him turns out to not work out. Marginal moves, but I approve of the idea of constantly trying to make marginal improvements on the back end of the roster as part of your total strategy.