Article: Minnesota Twins Sign Reliever Tim Stauffer

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

All together now : "It's just one year!"

 

Jared Burton Version 2.0 would be nice - I would settle for Anthony Swarzak 1.5.

 

Burdi and Achter and friends will be knocking down the door in the not too distant future, using a guy like Stauffer to be a bridge is a nice move. 

[Dantes929]

  in Perkins, Fien, Duensing, Pelfrey and Stauffer. Perkins is the only one of the 5 that would make any roster.

Reasonably sure you would be one of those that claimed Punto and Butera could not make any other roster much less contending ones.    I can pretty much guarantee Fien, Duensing and Stauffer could make a lot of rosters.    Few if any teams have staffs loaded with sub 3.3 ERA guys.

[whydidnt]

Reasonably sure you would be one of those that claimed Punto and Butera could not make any other roster much less contending ones.    I can pretty much guarantee Fien, Duensing and Stauffer could make a lot of rosters.    Few if any teams have staffs loaded with sub 3.3 ERA guys.

 

In 2014, 13 teams had bullpens with a team ERA of 3.33 or less. Almost have the teams had a combined ERA out of the pen at 3.33, so yes, there a lot of teams that have staffs loaded with sub 3.3 ERA guys. I agree that Fien and Stauffer would have roles on other teams, not sure about Duensing, but since he's a lefty, he'd probably have a situational one. Where I disagree is that I don't think too many teams would be looking at those 3 as their top high leverage guys behind the closer. Fien perhaps in a setup role, but neither Stauffer or Duensing has the track record to suggest they are a good late inning fit. 

 

My point isn't that the world will end because of Stauffer's signing, rather it doesn't seem to fill any real need the Twins have right now, and could potentially block needed development of younger players for very little marginal gain. 

[James]

In 2014, 13 teams had bullpens with a team ERA of 3.33 or less. Almost have the teams had a combined ERA out of the pen at 3.33, so yes, there a lot of teams that have staffs loaded with sub 3.3 ERA guys. I agree that Fien and Stauffer would have roles on other teams, not sure about Duensing, but since he's a lefty, he'd probably have a situational one. Where I disagree is that I don't think too many teams would be looking at those 3 as their top high leverage guys behind the closer. Fien perhaps in a setup role, but neither Stauffer or Duensing has the track record to suggest they are a good late inning fit. 

 

My point isn't that the world will end because of Stauffer's signing, rather it doesn't seem to fill any real need the Twins have right now, and could potentially block needed development of younger players for very little marginal gain. 

I don't think anyone should be too concerned over this move.  Stauffer seems to have some decent numbers.  I haven't seen him pitch, so I can't tell anyone how good or bad he is. 

 

If the young guys are really ready to the big league club, they'll show it in spring training or shortly after.  I guarantee that someone in the bullpen will be struggling at that time and there will be a spot open. 

 

Personally, I don't think Stauffer will make it past the first half of the season.  I see one of two things happening:

1. Stauffer has a really good first half and proves he's a back end reliever.  He is traded to a contending team and replaced with a AAA guy that is dominant.

 

2. Stauffer has an ok or bad season, and he is released or outrighted and claimed and replaced with a AAA guy that is dominant.  

 

Basically, $2.2M isn't a whole lot of money for this team.  So, they're not going to be too upset if he doesn't work out and they have to eat half of that.  It's also not a lot of money for any other team either, so he would end up being a fairly attractive trade candidate if he's pitching really well. 

 

I just don't see a lot of downside to this signing.  Sure, not the highest upside either, but you never know.  No one thought much of Burton or Fien when they were first signed to minor league deals and Fien worked out and Burton actually had a good first season with the Twins.  It's just hard for me to get to hung up on a one year deal, especially when some of the names people are throwing out there as alternatives have hardly pitched above AA, and the others have little to no experience in the big leagues.  

[The Wise One]

Count me in on Tonkin.  Is there any real reason to not give the young guys in the minors a shot?

Tonkin 25 games

Pressly 25 games

Logan Darnell 24 IP

Bang

[DocBauer]

The kind of move I fully expected and have mentioned repeatedly since last season ended. Just not a guy I had thought about.

 

I know he's a NL pitcher, but if he can keep his K rate even close it could be a smart move. It's only 1 year. And the investment is small enough a demotion to AAA or outright release would remain an option.

[DocBauer]

I have a little difficulty in adding an "age 32 SP" to the roster as a bad thing. His contract is not only fair, it's borderline outstanding when you look at the Peavey contract and others like it. It's not only fair, but 4 years, and you can probably figure he's in top form at least 2 if not 3 of those seasons. No he's not an ACE, buts he's good and a known, proven quantity. But spending $25M per for 7 years on another 32 yo would be OK? Because you'd have your ACE for a couple years on a still rebuilding team, (getting closer I admit) only to see him begin to decline while still owed a heft sum for several more years just as the team is rounding in to form? Naw...I'm more than OK with THIS 32 yo signing and making my team better. And I don't dislike Santana, or the move, just because he isn't 26.

[Brandon]

what's the scouting report on Stauffer?  I know nothing about his stuff.

[Thrylos]

what's the scouting report on Stauffer?  I know nothing about his stuff.

Fastball (low 90s), Cutter, Curve, Change.  Average FB with the 2-seamer better than the 4-seamer, plus Change, below average Cutter and Curve.  Ground ball pitcher, misses some bats (25% K rate) on occasion. Above average control.

[h2oface]

Twas the draft (2003) that Ryan picked Matt Moses, so...

 

That was a normal average draft:  Markakis, Danks, Billingsly, A. Hill, Adam Jones, Ethier, Bourn, Papelbon, Matt Kemp,  Ian Kinsler, Kris Medlen  all drafted then.   Maybe even one Hall of Famer in the bunch (Kinsler), if he continues playing for 5-6 years at a high level...

 

Matt Moses. Now there was a hope and a dream. 

[Paul Pleiss]

I can't wait to see Stauffer pitching in Kasota gold to start 2015 instead of Alex Meyer. This deal may make the Twins a better club on opening day, but I don't think it makes them better by the All-Star game.

[ChadJacobsen]

I'm okay with the signing, 1 year for $2.2 m is nothing. Very low risk. Would still like to see them go grab one more arm for the bullpen. 

[Mike Sixel]

Very much what I thought TR would do next. The pitching was terrible last year, and he's clearly not going with the prospects.....so this was obvious. I'd bet there is 1 more to come.

[Paul Pleiss]

WHY IS THE FRONT OFFICE SO AFRAID OF LETTING THE GUYS IN THE HIGH MINORS COME UP AND TAKE A SHOT AT GETTING OUTS?

 

I think the present of Ervin Santana Claus and Stocking Stauffer make this team better, but I'm not sure that Stauffer is enough of an upgrade over guys already in the system to make it a good deal. I know there's no such thing as a bad one year deal... (except maybe Torii Hunter for 10.5 million.. yowzers!)

 

Stauffer misses bats from the pen, and that's something the Twins need. Until last week I mentally thought the Twins pen was around league average for K rate... but they aren't even close to league average.

 

You can never have enough arms... right?

[Dantes929]

In 2014, 13 teams had bullpens with a team ERA of 3.33 or less. Almost have the teams had a combined ERA out of the pen at 3.33, so yes, there a lot of teams that have staffs loaded with sub 3.3 ERA guys. I agree that Fien and Stauffer would have roles on other teams, not sure about Duensing, but since he's a lefty, he'd probably have a situational one. Where I disagree is that I don't think too many teams would be looking at those 3 as their top high leverage guys behind the closer. Fien perhaps in a setup role, but neither Stauffer or Duensing has the track record to suggest they are a good late inning fit. 

 

My point isn't that the world will end because of Stauffer's signing, rather it doesn't seem to fill any real need the Twins have right now, and could potentially block needed development of younger players for very little marginal gain. 

My only point was in responding to the post about these guys not finding spots on any other roster.  Even the 13 pens that averaged 3.33 ERA or less probably had at least one and probably more guys with ERA's higher than that.   Perhaps I should have said staffs full of guys with sub 3.33 ERA's.    Plus comment was still about these guys finding spots on any other roster, not just the top 13.    All but maybe Pelfrey would find a roster spot somewhere if not with the Twins.  I never said or intimated that their roles should be as top high leverage guys.   I thought the Twins pen was pretty good last year until the last month or so when they really tanked.   IMO, the tanking part kept the Twins from being a 75 win team.

[Dr. Evil]

I see the pen as maybe being like this to start.

 

Perkins

Theilbar

Fein

Duensing

Stauffer

Myer

Graham

 

Meyer starts in the pen due to the innings limit on his repaired arm. Plus, a few spot starts might be good for him too. I think they will want to see a little more than spring training out of Graham before they make a decision on him staying or going back to Atlanta. I hope they convert Pelfrey to a reliever but do so in AAA to see if he shows he can do it. May becomes the 5th starter behind Nolasco and Milone goes to AAA until he can hopefully return to form. But again, in AAA not with the big club.

 

When they finally see enough of Nolasco to conclude that he is indeed a bust, slide Meyer in to the rotation and bring up Tonkin if he is doing well(or Pelfrey).

 

It would be interesting to watch anyway.