Article: Twins Acquire Tommy Milone

[ScottyB]

Wait, Milone goes to AAA, and the AAA pitchers in MN stay up? What? Downgrade my grade to a B.

 

Yeah, I don't get why Milone goes to AAA while Pino and Darnell stay.  But maybe another move or 2 by the end of the day.  They can't go too long with only Santana for CF.  Maybe Correia goes today or Willingham with Vargas coming up.

[DaveW]

This guy seemed to think Milone was good enough for the Yankees to give up Sanchez and 3 other players for. Now, I disagree with him a bit, but it is interesting to note that there are others out there who think Milone can be a solid pitcher.

 

http://yanksgoyard.com/2014/07/30/trade-rumors-yankees-need-tommy-milone/#!br9J1C

[old nurse]

Milone has not exactly been dominate in AAA since being sent down. Maybe being in a new organization will enliven him

[RedBull34]

Does Vargas pretty much say no Pinto?

[ScottyB]

It's also nice having a decent lefty to go into the rotation.

[whydidnt]

It's a good deal, considering they got Fuld for nothing. Milone has been a decent major league pitcher. He's not anything special, though. It is a little concerning that the A's decided he wasn't good enough to be an #5 starter though. Hopefully this isn't all the Twins do today. Would like to see Correia moved to clear a spot for Milone, May or Meyer, and they really do need to find a Fuld like guy to help in CF. I think it's likely the 4 K's last night (and 9 over the last 4 games) are in indication that the league has started to figure out Santana. I don't mind them playing him to see how he adjusts and to get him some experience. However, it would be helpful to have another CF. 

[DaveW]

It's a good deal, considering they got Fuld for nothing. Milone has been a decent major league pitcher. He's not anything special, though. It is a little concerning that the A's decided he wasn't good enough to be an #5 starter though. Hopefully this isn't all the Twins do today. Would like to see Correia moved to clear a spot for Milone, May or Meyer, and they really do need to find a Fuld like guy to help in CF. I think it's likely the 4 K's last night (and 9 over the last 4 games) are in indication that the league has started to figure out Santana. I don't mind them playing him to see how he adjusts and to get him some experience. However, it would be helpful to have another CF. 

I mean, the A's rotation was already the best in baseball arguably and now it definitely is. He was sent down after they got Hammel (Who was having a career year) and Samardiza (Hammel is now the odd man out with Lester in Oakland)

[DaveW]

Yeah, I don't get why Milone goes to AAA while Pino and Darnell stay.  But maybe another move or 2 by the end of the day.  They can't go too long with only Santana for CF.  Maybe Correia goes today or Willingham with Vargas coming up.

I think the Twins are just waiting to see what happens the rest of the day before they start sending more guys down to the minors etc. Milone will be with the big league club by Saturday.

[Mike Sixel]

Ok, I'm calmer now about being in AAA.....move along, nothing to see here....

[Seth Stohs]

I think they need to let today play out. They could have Milone at Rochester because he was in AAA with the A's. Let's see if there are any further moves and how the roster gets jumbled by other trades before worrying about him not being up quite yet.

[jorgenswest]

Somehow Milone has been successful in spite of the metrics that point to a FIP and xFIP higher than his ERA. He throws high 80s. His best pitches are the change up and cutter. His fastball is about as poor as Nolasco's.

 

I was curious is he is another Correia or Worley. He does have some swing and miss. His rate over the last three years is 8.4%. Hughes is 8.6%. Nolasco is 9.3%. Worley is 5.0% and Correia is 5.6%.

 

Is he another pitch backwards type pitcher? Will the Twins want him to establish the fastball to batters first? 

[Seth Stohs]

Does Vargas pretty much say no Pinto?

This is a very good, interesting angle. That said, if the Twins are able to trade Suzuki today, then Pinto can be called up at that point. 

[tobi0040]

If Fuld is traded, Vargas is coming up to take his place which is why Milone is in AAA for now. Guessing he can be brought up just as soon as a guy like Willingham or KC are traded.

 

Good move for the Twins, no questions about it.  This guy has good career numbers, one of a #2-4 starter and we got him for free. He is under control for 3 years.

 

This kind of reminds me when the Tigers got Doug Fister for nothing.  His numbers were about the same.  He doesn't strike anyone out....but turned out to be a good pitcher on the cheap for them.

[jharaldson]

Danny Santana full time CF?  Welcome back Aaron Hicks?  What happens now?

 

I think getting anything we can at the trade deadline is great but I think this question needs to be answered.  I can't see Hicks being on this team again this year.  Is it Santana full time out of position?  Is Parmalee the backup?  Is there a warm body that we can pick up like Mastroianni?  Will CF just be a cluster-bleep for 2014?  I hope TR and Gardy provide some clarity here in the next couple of days.

[Mike Sixel]

Does Vargas pretty much say no Pinto?

 

that's how I read it, until/unless another change is made.

[twinsfan34]

Milone's pitch usage...

http://www.brooksbaseball.net/tabs.php?player=543548&p_hand=-1&ppos=-1&cn=200&gFilt=&time=month&minmax=ci&var=usage&s_type=2&startDate=03/30/2007&endDate=07/31/2014&balls=-1&strikes=-1&b_hand=-1

 

Milone's pitch velocities...

http://www.brooksbaseball.net/velo.php?player=543548&gFilt=&time=month&startDate=03/30/2007&endDate=07/31/2014&s_type=2

 

He's not the Twins stereotypical 100 MPH thrower.

[drivlikejehu]

Milone's peripherals are down this year, along with his already-marginal velocity. That's why he was available practically for nothing. The very fact the A's made this deal tells us that Milone isn't a real asset.

[twinsfan34]

FYI...perhaps why we got Milone as 'cheap' as we did...

 

He's wanted out of Oakland since the Cubs-A's trade.

 

http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/following-demotion-tommy-milone-wants-a-s-to-trade-him-072114

[nicksaviking]

If Fuld is traded, Vargas is coming up to take his place which is why Milone is in AAA for now. Guessing he can be brought up just as soon as a guy like Willingham or KC are traded.

 

I can't wait to see Vargas play CF!

[twinsfan34]

Does anyone know about Pitcher Spray charts? (e.g. where their BABIP end up)

 

If Milone induces mostly contact to RF...would be advantageous.

 

Also, looking for FB/HR rates by park (e.g. Oakland Coliseum vs Target Field) - to see if Oakland, in terms of FBs is a better/worse pitchers park. To me, the advantage in Oakland is for pitchers who induce popups with the tremendous amount of foul ground.

[jorgenswest]

Since I can't figure out how to do tables any more, here is a link to one from Fangraphs comparing different rate stats among Milone, Hughes, Nolasco, Correia and Worley.

[Brandon]

Does this fleecing mean Terry Ryan can stay?  (directed a those who are calling for him to be fired.) 

 

We definitely need a faster OF with these fly ball pitcher we are brining up  I guess that means our starting OF for next season will be Hicks in LF, Buxton in CF and Santana in RF so they can track down all of the fly-balls given up by Malone, Hughes, and Meyer (isn't Meyer a fly-ball pitcher or was it May)

 

Yes I know Santana should be the SS.  but having a fast OF is nice on a fly-ball staff and Escobar can hold down SS as he has shown. 

[Danchat]

Wow, this is an amazing trade for the Twins. It's not that Milone is anything great, but an actual MLB starting pitcher for a 4th OF who was waived by the same team? That's nuts!
Milone is an instant upgrade to Pino, Johnson, and Darnell. Unfortunately it does make the rotation a bit more crowded. I expect to see Trevor May very soon. Also remember that Nolasco is throwing bullpen sessions, so he may start a rehab assignment and be back in roughly 2 weeks. (roughly) I would not be surprised at all if Meyer doesn't see any time with the Twins.

 

I posted in the 'A's have interest in Fuld' topic that the notion was stupid and not going to happen. Frankly, I am happy to be wrong because the Twins just pulled off an impressive trade. Good job TR.

 

Also... I am very happy to see Vargas coming. I expected him to be a September call-up, but yaaaaay prospects! Unfortunately this means our OF defense will continue to be awful. You can pencil in Willingham/Nunez for LF (yuck), Santana/Parmelee for CF (neither should be there), and Arcia and a little Colabello in RF.

[jsimssd72]

So they DFA'd Fuld in April and then Trade Milone to get him back.   Thanks Oakland we will take a guy like Milone for a 4th OF you gave up and we picked up.

[Giles Ferrell]

So they DFA'd Fuld in April and then Trade Milone to get him back.   Thanks Oakland we will take a guy like Milone for a 4th OF you gave up and we picked up.

 

Moneyball!

[ScottyB]

It wouldn't shock me to see Cowbell traded today.

[nicksaviking]

Does this fleecing mean Terry Ryan can stay?  (directed a those who are calling for him to be fired.) 

 

 

Well he's also currently seriously discussing extending Suzuki instead of trading him or negotiating with him in the off season after he comes back to earth, so I'd say it's a push at best.  

[Brock Beauchamp]

Well he's also currently seriously discussing extending Suzuki instead of trading him or negotiating with him in the off season after he comes back to earth, so I'd say it's a push at best.  

 

Given that the free agent catching options look miserable this offseason and that the Twins have no viable options at the position, discussing an extension with Suzuki right now isn't the worst idea in the world.

 

But if he can't be extended, ship him off somewhere if possible. No point in keeping him.

[twinsfan34]

This guy seemed to think Milone was good enough for the Yankees to give up Sanchez and 3 other players for. Now, I disagree with him a bit, but it is interesting to note that there are others out there who think Milone can be a solid pitcher.

 

http://yanksgoyard.com/2014/07/30/trade-rumors-yankees-need-tommy-milone/#!br9J1C

 

Get Captain Jack Sparrow Goins on the line - tell him to have Terry call up the Yankees right now and offer Milone for any resemblance of this package. Tell him we'll toss in a bag of balls (Duensing and Correia) too.

[StormJH1]

I love, love, love this trade.  I don't even fully understand it. I've heard hours of Suzuki, Willingham, etc. trade speculation, and to think that a guy we got back for SAM FULD is represents more established value than anybody reasonably discussed for those guys?!

 

Milone fits the Twins' mold, for sure.  He doesn't really miss bats, but has exception control.  His numbers were probably helped by playing in a great pitcher's park.  But at that age and contract situation, he's a great left-handed pitching asset - basically for free.  

 

He may have an ERA in the low 4's on this team, but if the K rate returns more to the mid-6's, that would still be significantly better than several other starters on this staff.