Albers won't be moved, but his best chance to make the Twins roster is as a long reliever. Which makes some sense. There might not be any left handed starters, Swarzak might get more meaningful innings, Pressey could start the year in AAA, so there might be an opening for a left handed long reliever who could swing to starter in an emergency. A lot depends on how many relievers the Twins decide to carry in 2014, and whether any get traded this winter.

Nice article. I think the Twins did ok with this trade.

The shakedown as I would do it:

Duensing might bring Doumitesque value back, so I would look to trade him. Logan Darnell could be a perfect add-in to such a trade.

The Twins, for some reason, through money at Pelfrey. He is not good. It's an abomination. Anyway, the options really seem to hinge around Gibson, Diamond, Worley, and Deduno for the fifth starter and hopefully the long relief role (move Swarzak to middle relief, please). I would bet that Gibson starts in AAA, Diamond is the fifth starter, and Worley begins in long relief, with Deduno placed on the DL somehow. I think all four are likely better than Pelfrey in 2014, but oh well. If the Twins can try to trade from the bullpen, Diamond or Worley might find MR spots (trade Duensing, Fien, and Burton).

The rotation could be:

Nolasco

Correia

Hughes

Pelfrey

Gibson

and the bullpen:

Diamond

Worley

Swarzak

Thielbar

Tonkin

Fien/Burton (whichever one doesn't get traded)

Perkins

Thanks for this.

What sets him apart (or at least gives me more hope for him) in my mind is his age. The kid is 23. Let's say he recovers from the injury responsible for his poor performance last year-- to me, they could have a very effective back end of the rotation option. Unfortunately we have several of those. Still, nice to get ANY kind of return on a trade where the Braves ate the contract of maybe the worst pitch framer in MLB history

The shakedown as I would do it:

 

Duensing might bring Doumitesque value back' date=' so I would look to trade him. Logan Darnell could be a perfect add-in to such a trade.

 

The Twins, for some reason, through money at Pelfrey. He is not good. It's an abomination. Anyway, the options really seem to hinge around Gibson, Diamond, Worley, and Deduno for the fifth starter and hopefully the long relief role (move Swarzak to middle relief, please). I would bet that Gibson starts in AAA, Diamond is the fifth starter, and Worley begins in long relief, with Deduno placed on the DL somehow. I think all four are likely better than Pelfrey in 2014, but oh well. If the Twins can try to trade from the bullpen, Diamond or Worley might find MR spots (trade Duensing, Fien, and Burton).

 

The rotation could be:

 

Nolasco

Correia

Hughes

Pelfrey

Gibson

 

and the bullpen:

 

Diamond

Worley

Swarzak

Thielbar

Tonkin

Fien/Burton (whichever one doesn't get traded)

Perkins[/quote']

 

 

Lots of things can happen, but I will keep Duensing over Thielbar (and Diamond - who cannot get lefties out) every day (and night). If they can trade Thielbar and his .175 BABIP for something, it would be wonderful.