Off-Day Transactions? (Predictions)

[Seth Stohs]

The Twins have been shutout two days in a row. They have had two (or less) bats available on the bench in each of those games. The starters have been horrible. The bullpen has been better than expected but not great. And the offense has not been good.

 

On Twitter during the game, at one point I said that I think that there will be two DFAs and two options for the Twins. That would mean that four new players would be on the Twins roster by Friday's game in Seattle.

 

Two DFAs - I think both Clete Thomas and Matt Maloney will be DFAd.

Two Options - I think that it's possible that Alex Burnett and Liam Hendriks get optioned to Rochester.

 

Who should be called up? In my opinion, I would NOT want to bring any big prospects up to witness what's going on with the Twins right now. These moves are not about trying to win in 2012. All moves at this point should be about what's best for the Twins to be winning and competing again in 2014.

 

In other words, I would like to see Brian Dozier, Rene Tosoni, Ben Revere, Liam Hendriks, Deolis Guerra, Scott Diamond, Joe Benson, etc., stay in Rochester at this time. I think that the Twins need to find out what they have in a few players that have options and are on the 40 man roster, and a couple of guys that are not on the 40 man roster. There is plenty of 40 man roster room.

 

I would call up PJ Walters, Darin Mastroianni, Anthony Slama and Jeff Manship. Walters has big league time and has been alright with the Red Wings. He was a prospect a couple of years ago, so it doesn't hurt to see what he can do. Mastroianni is the OF I picked because I'd rather Revere and Benson not come up until July and Rene Tosoni just came off the DL. Anthony Slama just needs a chance, and there's no way he's worse than Jeff Gray. And Jeff Manship had a solid spring and they need to see what he can do. These pitchers all need to get an extended look. In fact, I'd like to find a way to bring up Cole DeVries as well, and maybe DFAing Jeff Gray is a way to do that.

 

What do you think? Will the horrific series against the Angels prompt the TWins front office to make massive roster moves? Any roster moves? Or will they stand pat and tell us that they don't want to over-react?

[TwinsGuy55422]

Should they make some moves? Yes, absolutely. Will they? I hope so, but lately a lot of their decisions haven't made a lot of sense to me. We'll see what happens. It should be interesting. But given the front office's stubborness with admitting mistakes, I could see them standing pat for a while.

[Highabove]

Rearrange the Deck Chairs????

 

 

https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRNxSt998qulig4wtgBXKKQLN-_eev6P7F1cyM_r5KrItYi36E

[glunn]

The Twins have been shutout two days in a row. They have had two (or less) bats available on the bench in each of those games. The starters have been horrible. The bullpen has been better than expected but not great. And the offense has not been good.

 

On Twitter during the game, at one point I said that I think that there will be two DFAs and two options for the Twins. That would mean that four new players would be on the Twins roster by Friday's game in Seattle.

 

Two DFAs - I think both Clete Thomas and Matt Maloney will be DFAd.

Two Options - I think that it's possible that Alex Burnett and Liam Hendriks get optioned to Rochester.

 

Who should be called up? In my opinion, I would NOT want to bring any big prospects up to witness what's going on with the Twins right now. These moves are not about trying to win in 2012. All moves at this point should be about what's best for the Twins to be winning and competing again in 2014.

 

In other words, I would like to see Brian Dozier, Rene Tosoni, Ben Revere, Liam Hendriks, Deolis Guerra, Scott Diamond, Joe Benson, etc., stay in Rochester at this time. I think that the Twins need to find out what they have in a few players that have options and are on the 40 man roster, and a couple of guys that are not on the 40 man roster. There is plenty of 40 man roster room.

 

I would call up PJ Walters, Darin Mastroianni, Anthony Slama and Jeff Manship. Walters has big league time and has been alright with the Red Wings. He was a prospect a couple of years ago, so it doesn't hurt to see what he can do. Mastroianni is the OF I picked because I'd rather Revere and Benson not come up until July and Rene Tosoni just came off the DL. Anthony Slama just needs a chance, and there's no way he's worse than Jeff Gray. And Jeff Manship had a solid spring and they need to see what he can do. These pitchers all need to get an extended look. In fact, I'd like to find a way to bring up Cole DeVries as well, and maybe DFAing Jeff Gray is a way to do that.

 

What do you think? Will the horrific series against the Angels prompt the TWins front office to make massive roster moves? Any roster moves? Or will they stand pat and tell us that they don't want to over-react?

Seth, I think that you would be a better GM than Ryan. What you are saying makes a lot of sense. Let the top prospects develop some more and don't drop them into a losing environment. And see what you have with the older prospects.

 

If only half of what you suggest come true, I will be happy. It would be great if at least one of Walters, Mastroianni, Slama and Manship could catch on and be good in 2013 or 2014.

 

On the other hand, I suspect that Ryan will not be as aggressive as you are suggesting. That does not seem to be the "Twins Way."

[Adam]

I'll add another move to the discussion--they could option Parmelee and let him develop more at Rochester as well, either by being the everyday first baseman or by rotating between first and right. I don't know the Rochester roster all that well, but maybe they could give Aaron Bates and his .359 OBP a shot as well.

[Top Gun]

It won't happen, but I think it's time Gardy and his coaches go. The players are just not playing for him!

[Seth Stohs]

Seth, I think that you would be a better GM than Ryan.

Ha!! Thanks, but that's not at all true. IF there is on guy I'd want at the healm right now, it would be Terry Ryan. He's done it before, with a lot of the same people around him. It just won't happen over night and fans need to realize that.

[silverslugger]

I don't think it really matters if the Twins "top prospects" experience the current culture going on in the Twins clubhouse or avoid it by being in Rochester. The reality is, the crop of "top prospects" your talking about have experienced this exact culture the past three years in the form of putrid play both in Rochester and New Britain. That makes this crop of "top prospects" suspects until they prove themselves at the major league level. I don't have any faith that will happen with more than one or two of them. I fear Joe Mauer and his 23 mil per year contract is in for several long-cold winters over the next several baseball seasons in Minnesota.

 

I drank too much kool aid in spring training, I'm officially sugar depressed:(

[Kdj2002]

Clete Thomas. Please do something with him. Nice enough seeming kid but belongs in the Northern League.

[ossieO]

If changes like this are on the horizon, they'll wait until Gardy is back with the team. He is attending his daughter's college graduation and missing the Seattle series.

[mhanson93]

Rearrange the Deck Chairs????

 

 

https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRNxSt998qulig4wtgBXKKQLN-_eev6P7F1cyM_r5KrItYi36E

LOL!!! Well put!!

[luckylager]

It's always darkest before the dawn.

 

Sorry, that's all I got right now.

[glanzer]

If changes like this are on the horizon, they'll wait until Gardy is back with the team. He is attending his daughter's college graduation and missing the Seattle series.

Exactly. Maybe one roster move before the Seattle series, but if they're thinking 3-4 moves then it will be after the team returns home and Gardy is back at the helm to "properly" manage the group.

[nicksaviking]

It makes sense to people on this site not to bring up any higher ceiling prospects, but the organization may need to try to reel back in the average fan. I don't need to see any of the bigger names, but wins and attendance are going to be a big factor in who returns next year. Ryan, Gardenhire and the rest of the coaching staff can't feel too comfortable about thier future employment. They are going to care less about furture development if they aren't going to be a part of it.

[Boom Boom]

...I would like to see Brian Dozier, Rene Tosoni, Ben Revere, Liam Hendriks, Deolis Guerra, Scott Diamond, Joe Benson, etc., stay in Rochester at this time. I think that the Twins need to find out what they have in a few players that have options and are on the 40 man roster, and a couple of guys that are not on the 40 man roster. There is plenty of 40 man roster room.

I get most of your point here, Seth, but I don't see any harm in calling up Diamond.

[Thrylos]

I think that there might be a single change Hendricks option to Rochester and a position player recalled (Ray Chang?). They do have 13 pitchers still and do not need them all. And the reason I am saying that just one will be recalled is because Gardy is already in Minneapolis and they are not going to do much without him there... I think that Swarzak earned a good look for that last spot on the rotation and I do not see anyone better in Rochester (Diamond and Walters are not better)

 

As far as DFA's go, if you want to swap Gray and Maloney with Rochester pitchers, I am fine with that. Slama should given a change. The other pitcher who should have a change is Cole DeVries over Manship, because he has been pitching better. Arguably, DeVries has been the best P in Rochester this season (.2.89 ERA, 1.000 WHIP, 8.7 K/9, 4.5 K/BB) and he deserves a chance. Totally surprise that there was not a ST invite for him and Slama...

 

Now if you want to replace Clete with Mastroianni, whatever Nothing much gained or lost there.

[prairiejack]

What do you think? Will the horrific series against the Angels prompt the TWins front office to make massive roster moves? Any roster moves? Or will they stand pat and tell us that they don't want to over-react?

 

Hard to know what to hope for anymore. It's not just a manager problem, but it doesn't seem like there's any plan here. Plouffe's been all over the place, and that can't help his hitting. How do you keep sending Thomas up to the plate when he strikes out 75% of the time. As much as I can't stand to pay $60/seat to watch veteran minor leaguers fill the roster, it might be a good idea to let these young guys you list develop in Rochester, and leave the scraps at Target Field. Either way it's a 100 loss season.

[Boom Boom]

What do you think? Will the horrific series against the Angels prompt the TWins front office to make massive roster moves? Any roster moves? Or will they stand pat and tell us that they don't want to over-react?

 

Hard to know what to hope for anymore. It's not just a manager problem, but it doesn't seem like there's any plan here. Plouffe's been all over the place, and that can't help his hitting. How do you keep sending Thomas up to the plate when he strikes out 75% of the time. As much as I can't stand to pay $60/seat to watch veteran minor leaguers fill the roster, it might be a good idea to let these young guys you list develop in Rochester, and leave the scraps at Target Field. Either way it's a 100 loss season.

You could be right, but if they're going to lose anyway, the Twins will sell more tickets if they play the guys who have a future.

[SirLoin]

Not that I'm biased, because he's my adopt-a-prospect, but Cole DeVries absolutely deserves a chance to be called up. He has been solid all season. I'm not 100% sure about putting him in the rotation, as I think his make-up is better suited for the bullpen. Darin Mastroianni, Anthony Slama and Jeff Manship make a lot of sense as well. Mastroianni is already on the 40-man and has played some first base as well. In his place I would actually consider sending Parmalee down so he can play every day. Since you pretty much have to DFA Clete Thomas at this point, I would look at adding someone like Ray Chang to the 40-man and give him a chance at the major league level (Blyleven!). So essentially, my moves would look like this....

 

DFA Jeff Gray - Call up Anthony Slama

DFA Matt Maloney - Call up Cole DeVries

DFA Clete Thomas - Call up Ray Chang

Demote Chris Parmalee - Call up Darin Mastroianni

Demote Liam Hendriks - Call up Jeff Manship

 

After the trade deadline, I would bring up as many of the top prospects as possible.

[Shane Wahl]

Ha!! Thanks, but that's not at all true. IF there is on guy I'd want at the healm right now, it would be Terry Ryan. He's done it before, with a lot of the same people around him. It just won't happen over night and fans need to realize that.

I don't know if I agree. I wonder how much Rantz has to do with this kind of decision-making. Your humility maybe shouldn't extend to his job . . .

[DAM DC Twins Fans]

I was at the Nats/DBacks game last night--made me change my perspective. This season is lost--if we didnt know it after the Os series, we know it now. The Twins need to follow the Nats plan--draft a couple of superstars like Harper and Strasberg, find a sucker to trade them a major league player for Craps, and build around that. The game was frustrating to watch for a Twins fan--Kubel looked good on offense and horrid on defense (but better than Willingham), Ramos is a good MLB catcher. But the important thing to see was Bryce Harper. He is the real deal and a leader (more so than Mauer). He reminded me of a young Torii. The most important task for Terry Ryan is to find this year's Harper in the draft and groom him to be starting in 2014. Everything else is rearranging the deck chairs as somebody else said.

[Shane Wahl]

Not that I'm biased, because he's my adopt-a-prospect, but Cole DeVries absolutely deserves a chance to be called up. He has been solid all season. I'm not 100% sure about putting him in the rotation, as I think his make-up is better suited for the bullpen. Darin Mastroianni, Anthony Slama and Jeff Manship make a lot of sense as well. Mastroianni is already on the 40-man and has played some first base as well. In his place I would actually consider sending Parmalee down so he can play every day. Since you pretty much have to DFA Clete Thomas at this point, I would look at adding someone like Ray Chang to the 40-man and give him a chance at the major league level (Blyleven!). So essentially, my moves would look like this....

 

DFA Jeff Gray - Call up Anthony Slama

DFA Matt Maloney - Call up Cole DeVries

DFA Clete Thomas - Call up Ray Chang

Demote Chris Parmalee - Call up Darin Mastroianni

Demote Liam Hendriks - Call up Jeff Manship

 

After the trade deadline, I would bring up as many of the top prospects as possible.

I agree exactly with those five moves.

[Shane Wahl]

Oops, except I would just flat-out release Clete Thomas.

[CDog]

But the important thing to see was Bryce Harper. He is the real deal and a leader (more so than Mauer).

Wow! You sat in the stands and could spot him leading away?!? Color me super impressed. Or maybe it's skeptical.

[ScottyB]

 

DFA Jeff Gray - Call up Anthony Slama

DFA Matt Maloney - Call up Cole DeVries

DFA Clete Thomas - Call up Ray Chang

Demote Chris Parmalee - Call up Darin Mastroianni

Demote Liam Hendriks - Call up Jeff Manship

I'm in - each are good calls

[2003freak2003]

"draft a couple of superstars like Harper and Strasberg"

"The most important task for Terry Ryan is to find this year's Harper in the draft and groom him to be starting in 2014".

 

Totally agree but easier said than done and is there a Harper and/or Strasberg in the draft?

[ashbury]

I would call up PJ Walters, Darin Mastroianni, Anthony Slama and Jeff Manship. ... Mastroianni is the OF I picked because I'd rather Revere and Benson not come up until July and Rene Tosoni just came off the DL.

As a process-of-elimination callup, Mastro does make sense, but (as I just got done typing into another thread) if he will be used as often as Clete has been, it means a lineup like yesterday's will become weighted with four pure table-setters on a team lacking enough guys demonstrated to drive them in. Mastro also is best suited as a leadoff man, so his strength will be wasted batting second or eighth or ninth. If Doumit/Plouffe or some other combination can emerge to handle RF, Mastro is fine as the utility outfielder, along the lines Revere could contribute. Otherwise, he doesn't happen to be a good fit for this team, as currently constituted.

[James]

"draft a couple of superstars like Harper and Strasberg"

"The most important task for Terry Ryan is to find this year's Harper in the draft and groom him to be starting in 2014".

 

Totally agree but easier said than done and is there a Harper and/or Strasberg in the draft?

Exactly. Also, one of the reasons the Nationals were able to draft so many good players is because since the year of their creation (2005, and yes, I am excluding the years in Montreal), they have yet to have a winning season. That has given them great draft positions for years, and it looks like it is just now starting to come together. The Twins and the Nats are in different situations. As far as draft strategy goes, if there were someone like Strassburg, or Harper available to the Twins at the #2 pick, I have enough faith in the FO that they would pick them up. I haven't seen reports of anyone like that in this years draft.

[Rosterman]

Okay, we need something in the outfield. Please, please shift Willingham to right field. Put Span in left and have Revere play cernter fulltime. I'm all for Ben developing mroe at Rochester, but the Twins right now could use his smile and spark, and I keep thinking how many balls might be caught in that big gap if those two were out there. Willingham can do just fine in right. I would keep Clete Thomas for now just because he's better than losing him to someone else.

 

I would keep the rotation of Doumit/Morneau/Mauer between C/1B/DH.

 

Sadly, that means I would send Parmelee down to play everyday and focus what he has to do a bit better to hit for some power. RIght now, he seems to be under pressure to perform. Put him under pressure to improve and grow at Rochester.

 

I would bring up Dozier. Play him at short. For now have Jamie Carroll and Trevor Plouffe as the backups. I would cycle Carroll into the 2B/SS/3B mix as the Twins have done with such notables as Punto, Hocking and Reboulet in the past.

 

I guess I would keep Butera for the moment as the third catcher.

 

The pitching is a mess. Pavano/Blackburn./Marquis are here to stay.

 

Hendricks is out and down to Rochester. Liriano should be put in the bullpen after one more start. I guess bring up Diamond/DeVries and or P.J. and give them a looksee.

 

Schwarzk and Duening are the long guys. Perkins in the setup.

 

Capps is around and wilkl be around until someone badly needs a closer, and I would jump at the first opportunity to be rid of him.

 

Brunett has options, send him down if he screws up one-more-time.

 

Gray/Maloney/Burton on a short leash. One ahs to go to make room for Dozier. If Malooney goes, we then have 3 40-man spots open. Stay away from the waiver wire. Give anyone/everyone a chance from Rochester. Add back Slama at the worst. Let Manship come up. Maybe look at Fein or Wise. Guerra will be in the mix at sometime.

 

I would like to see this weekend, before the next homestand -- gone Hendricks, Maloney, Parmelee maybe Brunett.

 

Up Dozier, Revere, Diamond, DeVries (as relief).

 

I do think Carroll is professional enough to be a bench guy as long as he gets some playing time.

 

On the bubble: Gray, Burton, Thomas, Plouffe, Liriano.

 

Tradebait: Pavano, Capps, Doumit.

 

Oh, and pass Toshi thru waivers and see if anyone will pick up his $2.5 remaining for this year and $3 for next year. Eat the fee you paid to sign him. Move on.

[SweetOne69]

I am okay with the Thomas - Mastroianni swap as well as the Hendricks - Walters.

 

I like Thrylos' suggesting of Ray Chang as we do need a backup infielder and he can play 2B, 3B and SS. A pitcher can be DFA'ed or optioned to make it happen.