Twins sign Craig Breslow

[nicksaviking]

https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/829370981064069125

 

Another minor league deal. I guess O'Rourke and Boshers will have some competition for the 2nd lefty gig out of the pen.

 

I've already put Rogers name down in ink. No backsies.

 

 

[drjim]

Really good interview with him on the latest The Ringer MLB podcast. Highly recommend it for another perspective on this signing.

[mikelink45]

After being a disaster for the Twins with a 6.28 ERA he went on to have a really good career for seven years ending up in Boston.   Then his last three years he reverted to Twins style http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/breslcr01.shtml with high 4 and 5 ERAs.  Did we sign him because he was once one of us?

[Mike Sixel]

I, uh, wut?

[darin617]

Kind of shocking that Breslow could not secure a major league deal. Danny Santana has got to be happy with that fact.

[Pardon My Dinger]

I am so confused these days. Just so very confused. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

Normally, this would be a forgettable depth signing, but it sounds like an interesting project.  Here's a good article on Breslow from the Boston Herald that details his new arm slot:

 

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox/2017/01/ex_red_sox_reliever_craig_breslow_crunches_data_emerges_with_new_pitch

 

Should produce some interesting analysis on Twins Daily, if nothing else!

[drjim]

I thought this was a really good target for a minor league signing. He's trying a new arm angle, has maintained his velo. Absolutely worth a flier to see if anything is there.

[Thrylos]

I don't mind this signing at all.  Really smart guy who got a bad deal from Gardy and Andy (who did not like smart guys)... 

 

If anything he has the makings of a great pitching coach/mentor and I hope that he does this with the young Twins.

 

Here is Breslow talking to Rosenthal regarding the reasons he signed with the Twins

[drjim]

 

I don't mind this signing at all.  Really smart guy who got a bad deal from Gardy and Andy (who did not like smart guys)... 

 

If anything he has the makings of a great pitching coach/mentor and I hope that he does this with the young Twins.

 

Falvey might be thinking the same thing. Per Rosenthal https://www.facebook.com/kenrosenthalsports/posts/1281802635218798:

 

 

 

Here is more from Craig Breslow on signing a minor-league deal with the #MNTwins:
“The thing that resonated the most with me was the idea that I could impact the culture and impact the direction of the organization for longer than potentially my stay there might be.
“I think (Twins chief baseball officer) Derek (Falvey) is a really engaging and bright guy with a great vision for the organization. I’ve got no doubt that he’ll be able to be able to bring sustained success. The opportunity to be part of that at this stage of my career is one that is really compelling.”
Did Breslow know Falvey previously?
“It sounds like we had crossed paths. I think he was in Cleveland when I was there back in ’08. I don’t know that I had ever met him. As I’m sure he did some background and digging on me, I kind of did the same with some people who have crossed paths with him.
“He comes incredibly highly recommended, not just for his intuition and innovation, but also for being a standup and honest guy. When you’re looking at a future employer, honesty and transparency are pretty significant traits that you’d like to find.”
What does he expect his role to be?
“I would imagine with the changes I’ve made to my delivery, I’ll probably be utilized in getting left-handed hitters out, at least primarily. (Breslow has lowered his arm slot).
“I also think that the movement and deception that I’ve added should make me very capable of handling right-handed hitters. But when I went into this experiment early in the off-season, it was with the intention of being able to consistently get left-handed hitters out.
Did he turn down higher offers?
“Yes. But this wasn’t just about dollars. It was about finding the right fit, given where I am in my career and where I am in the progression of this reinvention of self. Derek used the term, ‘partnership,’ which I think perfectly captures what I want this to be.
“I’m in the middle of a progression as I ramp up for spring training. It’s likely I won’t be a finished product on Feb. 14. But as we go through spring training and I get regular work and hone what I’m doing, with the assistance and guidance of the front office and coaching staff, we can work toward making it a finished product.”

 

[Seth Stohs]

I like the deal. I have to assume he'll have an opt-out sometime around March 28th or something, meaning if he isn't on the Opening Day roster, he' can become a free agent. 

[Oldgoat_MN]

 

Normally, this would be a forgettable depth signing, but it sounds like an interesting project.  Here's a good article on Breslow from the Boston Herald that details his new arm slot:

 

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox/2017/01/ex_red_sox_reliever_craig_breslow_crunches_data_emerges_with_new_pitch

 

Should produce some interesting analysis on Twins Daily, if nothing else!

 

No question he's a smart guy. He may bring something good to the young guys on the pitching staff. I like it that he and his wife studied up on what might make a difference for him.

 

I'm more intrigued than I was when I read the headline and looked at his recent stats.

This could be interesting.

[Doomtints]

 

 Did we sign him because he was once one of us?

 

Probably. 

[Aaron Cross]

After being a disaster for the Twins with a 6.28 ERA he went on to have a really good career for seven years ending up in Boston.   Then his last three years he reverted to Twins style http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/breslcr01.shtml with high 4 and 5 ERAs.  Did we sign him because he was once one of us?

He was outstanding in 2008. He struggled in 2009, but we gave up on him too early. I completely disagreed with releasing him. Then he went to Oakland and immediately became really good.

 

2009 was also the RA Dickey season. Gardy had no clue how to use him. Should have had a place in the rotation. Or the long man in the bullpen. But Gardy loved to use everybody an inning at a time then complain about his bullpen being decimated. Dickey needed innings. And of course, once he escaped Gardy he became very good just like Breslow.

[Mill1634]

I like it. Minor league deal. If it doesn't work nothing happens. However, if he doesn't make ML team out of ST, I say cut him. We don't need a 36 year old on the AAA roster.

[Nick Nelson]

Given Falvey's reputation for obsessing over delivery and mechanics, this signing definitely piques my interest. MiLB signing so if he's clearly inferior to the rest of the Roger/Boshers/O'Rourke group in camp, nothing lost. 

[USAFChief]

This minor league signing I like. Effective LH relief is always in demand. If you hit on 15 and catch a 6 here, you actually have a valuable asset.

[Doomtints]

 

He was outstanding in 2008. He struggled in 2009, but we gave up on him too early. I completely disagreed with releasing him. Then he went to Oakland and immediately became really good.

2009 was also the RA Dickey season. Gardy had no clue how to use him. Should have had a place in the rotation. Or the long man in the bullpen. But Gardy loved to use everybody an inning at a time then complain about his bullpen being decimated. Dickey needed innings. And of course, once he escaped Gardy he became very good just like Breslow.

 

I would not have released Breslow either. I suspect the Twins thought they could sneak him through waivers.

 

The Twins were not the first team that didn't know what to do with RA Dickey. I think his story has little to do with the Twins. The Mets turned him back into a starter and he surprised everybody while he was there. 

[Mike Sixel]

 

This minor league signing I like. Effective LH relief is always in demand. If you hit on 15 and catch a 6 here, you actually have a valuable asset.

 

As long as it doesn't prevent you from playing the other hand that is an 11.....as long as the young players get a shot, and aren't kept from even pitching much in ST.

 

I like it from a communications/culture/change perspective, assuming he's the kind of guy that can help the new regime improve communications and buy in of the new way of doing things. I have very strong doubts about his being a really good pitcher at this point.

[GP830]

Something that's interesting to me is the amount of public philosophizing about this signing from both Breslow and the Twins. I can get behind a veteran reliever on an Minors deal, no problem. Just interesting to see the amount of public discussion about it as if it's more than that.

[USAFChief]

As long as it doesn't prevent you from playing the other hand that is an 11.....as long as the young players get a shot, and aren't kept from even pitching much in ST.

 

I like it from a communications/culture/change perspective, assuming he's the kind of guy that can help the new regime improve communications and buy in of the new way of doing things. I have very strong doubts about his being a really good pitcher at this point.

I don't see any 11 hands the Twins would be prevented from playing. Buddy Boshers?

[drjim]

 

Something that's interesting to me is the amount of public philosophizing about this signing from both Breslow and the Twins. I can get behind a veteran reliever on an Minors deal, no problem. Just interesting to see the amount of public discussion about it as if it's more than that.

 

I suspect that whether it works out or not, he's in line to get a job in the front office.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I don't see any 11 hands the Twins would be prevented from playing. Buddy Boshers?

 

Ok, fine.....how about playing a 13 .....pick your analogy, This isn't hitting on a 16, this is hitting on a 19 or 20. He's been bad for three year now, right?

[drjim]

 

I don't see any 11 hands the Twins would be prevented from playing. Buddy Boshers?

 

Exactly. Especially a LH. Melotakis is a nice prospect, perhaps ready by mid-season, but not a factor on opening day.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I suspect that whether it works out or not, he's in line to get a job in the front office.

 

As do I.

[USAFChief]

Ok, fine.....how about playing a 13 .....pick your analogy, This isn't hitting on a 16, this is hitting on a 19 or 20. He's been bad for three year now, right?

It's a minor league deal. If its apparent in ST the arm slot change is hoo-hah--and it likely is--nothing lost. If he takes Boshers spot in the pen opening day and doesn't work out, little if anything lost.

 

They need to fix the pitching staff. This looks to me like a no downside long shot. Worth a try.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I would not have released Breslow either. I suspect the Twins thought they could sneak him through waivers.

Which was odd, because two teams failed to sneak Breslow through waivers the previous season (2008).  Although I probably wouldn't have been opposed to that gamble if the other end of the deal had been more promising -- but instead the Twins called up Sean Henn, who had a career MLB ERA of 7.56 at the time, and was not meaningfully different than Breslow in terms of age/service time either. It wasn't worth the risk of losing Breslow just to take a MLB look at Henn.

[Doomtints]

 

Something that's interesting to me is the amount of public philosophizing about this signing

 

This is what we do. Sad, no?

[LimestoneBaggy]

 

Which was odd, because two teams failed to sneak Breslow through waivers the previous season (2008).  Although I probably wouldn't have been opposed to that gamble if the other end of the deal had been more promising -- but instead the Twins called up Sean Henn, who had a career MLB ERA of 7.56 at the time, and was not meaningfully different than Breslow in terms of age/service time either. It wasn't worth the risk of losing Breslow just to take a MLB look at Henn.

 

I'm going to be blissfully, optimistic and believe that new management can handle a 40/25-man roster better than the previous management. I'm pretty sure we all can count a number of players that were exposed to waivers for reasons that continue to confound the majority of posters to this site. 

[LimestoneBaggy]

 

This is what we do. Sad, no?

Welcome to the dearth of MLB news between February and March......I forgot, who's in the best shape of their life this year?