Kepler Optioned, Sweeney Released

[Seth Stohs]

This morning, the Twins optioned Max Kepler to AAA Rochester where he will play all three OF positions.

 

Ryan Sweeney was released.

 

From the Twins press release:

 

 

The Twins now have 35 players in camp (8 non-roster): 17 pitchers (4 non-roster), 4 catchers (1 non-roster), 7 infielders (1 non-roster) and 7 outfielders (2 non-roster).

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

This morning, the Twins optioned Max Kepler to AAA Rochester where he will play all three OF positions.

All three, at once?

[alarp33]

 

All three, at once?

 

Yes I think so, just to prepare him in case Buxton and Rosario go down, and he needs to man CF between Arcia and Sano..... 

[USAFChief]

 

All three, at once?

Just more proof how cheap the Twins really are.  They man their AAA outfield with one paycheck.

[bluechipper]

Not that I dislike Ryan Sweeney or anything, but it's nice to know that there is no chance of him taking up a roster spot in favor of a younger guy.

[Mike Sixel]

Neither of those is much of a surprise. Hoping Kepler mashes and forces his way up, somehow.

 

Quentin....still on the roster....

[stringer bell]

 

Just more proof how cheap the Twins really are.  They man their AAA outfield with one paycheck.

They will probably pay him in devalued deutsch marks.

[stringer bell]

 

Neither of those is much of a surprise. Hoping Kepler mashes and forces his way up, somehow.

 

Quentin....still on the roster....

More accurately, Quentin is still in camp.

 

I had Sweeney as my pick to make the club in place of Buxton, but indications throughout camp have been that Buxton was going to start the season in center field. 

 

I'll add that if there isn't severe regression from the outfielders starting the season, there is no place for Kepler and I think there should be.

[Mike Sixel]

 

More accurately, Quentin is still in camp.

 

I had Sweeney as my pick to make the club in place of Buxton, but indications throughout camp have been that Buxton was going to start the season in center field. 

 

I'll add that if there isn't severe regression from the outfielders starting the season, there is no place for Kepler and I think there should be.

 

Fair, but I'm not sure what the distinction really is on Quentin, but fair.

 

And, I agree with your latter point.......I think Rosario and Buxton are going to be "good enough", and Kepler will sit in AAA because "we want him to play every day". Frankly, I want the best players up here. 

[zenser]

 

Not that I dislike Ryan Sweeney or anything, but it's nice to know that there is no chance of him taking up a roster spot in favor of a younger guy.

I agree.  I would have loved him manning CF a few years ago but now times have changed.

[alarp33]

 

Fair, but I'm not sure what the distinction really is on Quentin, but fair.

 

And, I agree with your latter point.......I think Rosario and Buxton are going to be "good enough", and Kepler will sit in AAA because "we want him to play every day". Frankly, I want the best players up here. 

 

Rosario was less of a prospect, but in a similar spot leaving camp last year.  He still managed 475 Major League plate appearances.  Kepler will be back for good by the end of May.  There's probably at least 5 spots in the starting lineup where a DL stint would have him up (LF, CF, RF, 1B, DH... maybe even 3b depending on how poor the Sano in RF experiment goes).  

 

Also a major regression candidate in LF

[Otto von Ballpark]

I agree. I would have loved him manning CF a few years ago but now times have changed.

Interesting that Sweeney was freely available the winter/spring we first gave the job to Hicks...

[Mike Sixel]

 

Rosario was less of a prospect, but in a similar spot leaving camp last year.  He still managed 475 Major League plate appearances.  Kepler will be back for good by the end of May.  There's probably at least 5 spots in the starting lineup where a DL stint would have him up (LF, CF, RF, 1B, DH... maybe even 3b depending on how poor the Sano in RF experiment goes).  

 

Also a major regression candidate in LF

 

Last year they didn't have Rosario and Sano in the OF, though. They also didn't have Park on the roster. There is just less room for a young player (outside the bullpen) to come up. Which is a good problem to have, as long as you are willing to move a mediocre player for a guy with more upside (which they largely, alas, have not shown a willingness to do).

[nicksaviking]

The Twins must have been doing Sweeney a favor letting him look for a new job without re-assigning him or keeping him in camp until the last cuts. He must not have been plan B in CF then, because why release Plan B with two weeks to go?

 

Plan B then must either be Mastroianni, OR Rosario/Santana. I'm guessing Rosario/Santana is Plan B, because otherwise wouldn't the Twins have done the same courtesy to Quentin that they did to Sweeney? Because I'd think the only way Quentin makes the team is if Rosario/Santana are in CF which leaves room for both Arcia and Quentin (I know, defense ick, that's a different topic).

[alarp33]

 

Last year they didn't have Rosario and Sano in the OF, though. They also didn't have Park on the roster. There is just less room for a young player (outside the bullpen) to come up. Which is a good problem to have, as long as you are willing to move a mediocre player for a guy with more upside (which they largely, alas, have not shown a willingness to do).

 

But they did have Arcia on the roster, who entering 2015 had more of an established offensive track record than Rosario does entering 2016.  And Hunter played most days.  Arcia will be on the roster this year as well, I know... but Kepler I think will be the fill in/ replacement for Rosario

 

 

[djvang]

Arcia is out of options so he'll either be on the roster or traded.   Kepler came up from AA at the end of last season so he could use some time at Rochester. He'll be up before long. Mastroianni is only around in case EVERYONE gets hurt.

[Halsey Hall]

Santana was told today he made the team.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Santana was told today he made the team.

Thanks for the news.  Not surprising at all, if his spot was really in jeopardy, I don't think they would have had him bouncing all over the field.

 

Personally, I think the competitions are down to Arcia vs Quentin, and then Tonkin vs. Kintzler vs. O'Rourke vs Runzler for the last spot in the pen.

[goulik]

Santana was told today he made the team.

I think everyone else was talking about DANNY not Ervin...

 

JK mate...

[stringer bell]

Maybe it is that the Twins are taking offers for Arcia? Quentin would get the last spot if Arcia was dealt, but I can't see that the Twins would keep Quentin (who almost certainly wouldn't make it through the season without being injured) and let Arcia go.

[jimmer]

 

The Twins must have been doing Sweeney a favor letting him look for a new job without re-assigning him or keeping him in camp until the last cuts. He must not have been plan B in CF then, because why release Plan B with two weeks to go?

 

Plan B then must either be Mastroianni, OR Rosario/Santana. I'm guessing Rosario/Santana is Plan B, because otherwise wouldn't the Twins have done the same courtesy to Quentin that they did to Sweeney? Because I'd think the only way Quentin makes the team is if Rosario/Santana are in CF which leaves room for both Arcia and Quentin (I know, defense ick, that's a different topic).

Well, with Sano's speed and athleticism, we could move him to CF in a pinch.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

They will probably pay him in devalued deutsch marks.

im not sure devalued is the word. Valueless?

[Rosterman]

We still got a week to get the outfield all sorted out. All those non-roster guys. If added, we have to 60-day someone, or remove them from the 40-man, and can really only think of a couple of names to remove from the 40-man (unless we cut out-of-options guys). 

 

So: Arcia or Quentin.

 

Buxton or Mastro.

 

Hicks or Murphy.

 

Tonkin or someone.

 

Tonkin and Dean are the likely candidates to not stay on the 40-man.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I pretty much guarantee they won't cut Dean from the 40-man before opening day. They only just added him a few months ago. I am not sure if the Twins have ever added a guy in November and turned around and dropped him from the 40-man before opening day.

 

The 40-man roster bubble spots are Arcia and Tonkin. That is all they really need.

[stringer bell]

They keep the 3 out of options guys and add Abad. Duffey gets optioned to start the season.