Twins To Sign Zach Duke, Maintaining Interest In Mike Napoli

So is the 40 man roster currently at 40?

Duke signing means Boshers is on the bubble more likely. Napoli signing would mean Vargas or Grossman could be on the bubble...probably Vargas sold to Japan.

Dear FO,

Um....this isn't my ONLY X-mas present....is it?!

Seems like this analysis above is correct.  There are plenty of 40 man spots that can be used for a DFA. My best guess is that Vargas will not be here long.

there must be a min amount of time for players added to the 40, to remain. Otherwise protect them from rule 5 and then take them off the 40.

If you take them off the 40 man roster they have to go through waivers

there must be a min amount of time for players added to the 40, to remain. Otherwise protect them from rule 5 and then take them off the 40.

They would be able to designate anyone not named Thorpe, Little, or Gonsalves.  There are more than enough candidates if they sign other players

Did Thyrlos get his Christmas wish and the Twins will cut Boshers? 

i don’t think they can put them through waivers until spring training, or maybe day one of the season.

They are Designated For Assignment.  As Tom Froemming noted, the Braves & Brewers did this in the past week.  They then have 10 days to open up a new spot on the roster and return them to the roster.  Or they can put them on waivers, trade, release or outright them to the minors.  Here is a good description of the possibilities https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Designated_for_assignment

Good Signing, Lots of upside with Duke as a LH Relief Pitcher. Solid veteran bullpen arm as well.

 

It has been interesting to read through the comments section of most Twins Daily articles from this off-season and see all of the unimpressed people with the individuals the organization is bringing in. Everyone wants a big flashy free-agent signing, a big name to come join the Twins. That isn't/hasn't been our style, our biggest ever signing was Mauer and that was to an extension to an already internal candidate.

 

Don't get me wrong, i'm all about the hypothetical rumors and throwing around Pohlad's money like we are playing a game of monopoly but people forget that this is a business and a business's goal is to make money. A businesses decision(s) aren't always going to appease the masses either.

 

Personally, i'm in agreement to the Duke, Pineda and Rodney signings - They are short term and don't tie up too much money. If they work out, the value will be tremendous. If they falter, they won't cost the organization an extended amount of time and money.

Individually they’re fine. We have too many of these fringe signings. Rodney makes the least amount of sense. Just my opinion

So far the front office does way too much hype and then ends up doing nothing. See it in trade department and free agents. So far they have been bad in this department and the rule V draft. They did do an alright job in the rule iV draft though. I give them a B-

Yankees bring in Cole and Stanton, Twins bring in rodney, Duke and maybe Napoli.

Glad we are keeping pace with the other playoff teams.

Failing to see how the Falvey off seasons are much different then the Ryan off seasons so far. Maybe it’s not a GM problem and an ownership problem?

As Twins fans we have been fed "too early to tell" and "wait and see" for years, but with a new front office it's the best advice.

But yeah, so far there's been no difference. 

There seems to be a disconnect between the Twins and the rest of MLB in the evaluation of Twins prospects. This makes trades "difficult", though not impossible. The next two months should see if that difference has changed or not. The longer the "top prospects" stay in the minors causes me to conclude posters may be over evaluating them compared to the rest of baseball. 

Finally a Craig Breslow replacement. Just like the trade deadline and last off-season, a strong effort by the front office to build a playoff team.

So far the front office does way too much hype and then ends up doing nothing. 

This.

At least with the old regime it was never really hinted/suggested/stated/etc. that something would be done before they did nothing. The expectations were low or non-existent, so we could be disappointed, but not surprised at their lack of moves.

I think it's at least been suggested that things are going to be different.

But so far the Wonder Twins' powers have activated to bring in a defensive-minded catcher whose defense took a step backward; a Rule 5 who was good enough to take up a roster spot for most of the season, but not good enough to stick in the end; a closer who's the human form of trying to stomp out a forest fire with a dried out Christmas tree; a "flamethrower" Rule 5 who is seemingly afraid of the strike zone; and an aging lefty who pitched OK in an injury-shortened 2017.

Who/what did I miss?

As someone said above, one or two of these types of signings is fine, but it's quickly becoming the norm.

I'm less offended by the Duke move, because he likely won't be in as high leverage positions as Rodney will. I just fear that if one or both of these guys falter, low financial  investment or not, they won't be able to pull the trigger on releasing or demoting them because they're too concerned about making their "signature" cheap move.

The only move that's made a ton of sense and strayed from the same old pattern is Pineda. Now, if they were to go do the same thing with Rosenthal, I'd be less concerned about these bullpen "upgrades" they've made this year.