Riverbrian

He's a free agent and if you can't get him to extend... then you gotta consider trading him because he might bring something nice back. If it was me... I've already been on the phone with his agent to get a price and I'm paying it. However... If I'm Escobar and I'm having the year I'm having. I'm thinking that I can wait and see what Free Agency brings me. I can always go back to the Twins if they make a competitive offer.

Plus... At this point you have to add to this to your scenario. The quarterly report he is currently looking at says that the company is significantly under the YOY goal while over budget and the projections for the next quarter are even worse.

I don't think there are any service time worries with Curtiss, Duffey, Busenitz and Moya. The Twins would probably like to get a good look at Mejia and May though, since they will be out of options and it's a lost season and they have to make decisions on them for 2019. My personal theory with no inside information what so ever was that Belisle was an answer to the question: Front Office: Paul, Is there any pitcher that you will trust so you don't go to Reed, Pressly and Hildenberger over and over again? Paul: Yeah Belisle

I'm willing to bet that it's Mejia. Let the 2019 set up begin.

That is true but the minimum wage kid you hired just got out of jail for embezzlement at his previous place of employment and you released a fairly replaceable minimum wage kid in the maintenance department where they are understaffed just to make it happen. And... no matter the 1 percent. 800K is still a lot of money to just throw away after 11 days.

I think the Bullpen Burning Today was the final straw. They need an extra bullpen arm and this gives them an excuse to make it Romero.

And the fact that the Twins paid him 800K to join the team after the Indians were willing to eat 1.5 million on the guy makes the black mark blacker. That's why they can't just eat the 800K after 11 days... They will look like idiots. (Yeah it really can't be avoided right now). It was a stupid stupid move. In the Indians defense: They took a low risk shot with a minor league deal on a guy who last had a closer job on a playoff team. The Twins took a desperation shot out of frustration on a guy that was happily granted his release by their main competition. Belisle isn't going to walk away from the Indians money and ask for his release unless his agent had heard from somebody that the money was replaced by a team that was going to put him on the 25 man. The Twins in reality just cleared nearly million dollars off the books for the Indians to spend in July. The plug is pulled. Belisle ain't going anywhere for a little while. He's gonna have to stink it up a few more time. I really want to know who the advocate for the Belisle signing was?

The Pohlad's probably can read the box scores... what they will be wondering is if anybody in the front office can read scouting reports, performance statistics, advanced metrics, warning flags, birth certificates along with the current standings and then properly assess who they spend $800K of their American Dollars on.

That's another good point. Another move that helps set up for 2019. I really think the Twins just pulled the plug. It probably started with Sano and it's going to roll southward from here.

Not to be overly dramatic. The Twins have a club option for 2019 with Rodney. He's been pitching alright and they already have a lot of players to replace in the off-season. Barring injury or complete collapse. I believe the Twins will pick up that option.

I like to give the front office the benefit of the doubt as often as I can. This Belisle signing was off the charts stupid. I want to know who the advocate was.

From a fan's perspective sure. If the team was fighting for a playoff spot sure. I realize that $800k is chump change in major league baseball... However, it doesn't matter what profession you are in... You have to at least try and justify your hire. Can you imagine walking into your bosses office and saying that you just threw $800K away after 11 days time. The next question from the boss would be... If it took you 11 days to come to this conclusion... Why did you sign him in the first place?

Unless they are setting up for 2019 and I think they are. By keeping Romero down and using Mejia, Slegers or Gonsalves until Santana arrives... it will allow them to open 2019 with Romero on the 25 man roster and avoid Super Two Status and therefore delay his arbitration. Next possible move... not to be overly dramatic. They got about 20 days to take Buxton off of the D.L. and then send him down to Rochester for the rest of the year to keep him from Arbitration next year. I don't believe that his arbitration is anything to be feared next year in consideration of the year he is having but Arb 2 and Arb 3 can change the money quickly if he gets it right. Delaying those arbitration years might allow you to spend the money elsewhere when the pieces are in full gel.

I believe Belisle voided his deal with the Indians and was granted his release. The Twins signed him immediately to an $800,000 deal for the rest of the season.

1. It wasn't going to be a position player because we only have 1 Infield, 1 Outfield and 1 catching backup. On the pitching side: 2. Like it or not... Belisle was signed to a guaranteed contract. In my opinion... this was a (real) bad decision but since the contract was guaranteed.... The Twins are not going to flush it after only 11 days. Matt will get some additional chances to impress us before they flush it. He wasn't an option. Don't shoot the messenger. 3. Lynn, Rodney, Reed, Duke, Pressly and Magill would be exposed to waivers if taken off the 25 man. Magill is probably the only guy they could consider exposing to waivers. 4. Berrios, Gibson, Hildy and Rogers can be sent down but they won't be. 5. This leaves your choices dwindled down to Odorizzi as the only reasonable (for front offices) option besides Romero. Odorizzi could be demoted penalty free. He has options left and has not reached 5 full years of service time and in my opinion... Odorizzi has been much worse than Romero for a significant stretch. Romero hasn't been horrible... Odorizzi has. 6. I believe that Romero was only supposed to be up for a taste of the big leagues. A Bridge between Hughes going away and Santana arriving. He started fantastic and Santana took to long to come back. So he may have over stayed the carefully laid plan. So why was Romero chosen? Conclusion: Eventual innings limit could be a factor but if they stop the service time accumulation in what might be a lost season. Romero can start with the big club on opening day 2019 and avoid Super-Two status down the road. I know that some don't care much for service time rules or decisions based upon them but... all 30 teams consider them and consider them heavily. Not to be dramatic... But... It's quite possible that we won't see Romero in the big leagues again until opening day 2019. Not to be dramatic but the front office MAY... May... may... in my opinion of course... may have pulled the plug with this move. If they thought they were still in contention. They probably hang on to Romero since he has been (while not perfect)... better. Not to be dramatic again... but my guess is that Dozier, Escobar, Morrison, Lynn, Duke and Santana are now officially on the trading block. Drama!!!

I agree with the sentiment 100%. However... the 39 Losses?

Ouch

A little possible clarity on why he was released and why he hasn't been signed.

Maybe. I imagine dialogue, advocacy and compromise between the front office and the manager on 25 man decisions. Molitor doesn't always play the players given to him... which should cause diologue, advocacy and compromise on 25 man decisions if there wasn't any before.

I call it pretzel logic but reverse works. Rodney still can generate the K, one of our top K options and you need K's when your back is against the wall and he seems to pitch a little bit better in higher leverage situations. His Career WHIP is 1.45 with the bases empty. Although, I'm not a big Rodney fan and my point probably got lost by bringing him up. My main point, I'd like the 9th to be pitched by a guy with a low WHIP (Hildenberger?) and I think the closer role is a little over rated. Not that I want anybody coughing up leads in the 9th.

Meh... Small Sample Size. If you gave him another 30 innings against the Red Sox he could get the ERA down to 15.00.

I can imagine it... Although, my imagination can get a little dark at times.

I'd love to see baseball get away from the closer mentality as well. Your closer can come in the 7th inning when needed if the situation dictates it. Besides, If I were to hand pick a closer... I'd be looking for a lower WHIP then Rodney typically produces because Closers usually start bases empty. Rodney is more suited for getting out of jams because he is practiced at the art of getting out of them by producing jams. However... As long as Closers are paid more money then the other bullpen guys. Players are going to insist on that role and as long as managers continue to use them for 9th inning duty... sadly, it won't change for awhile. Bullpens are very important these days and I continue to insist on them being stuffed to the rafters with 7 guys who can get major league hitters out. However, it's becoming apparent that even this isn't enough. You also need 7 guys that a manager will trust and use.

I have no doubt that Molitor will keep going to his guys come hell or high water. He has proven that consistently. I believe that Belisle is one of his guys.

Just a theory but it kind of adds up. Belisle has a uniform.