Article: Twins Add Seven To Their 40 Man Roster, Lose Achter, Pinto

[Seth Stohs]

Teams needed to add eligible players to their 40-man rosters before Friday's deadline in order to protect them from December's Rule 5 draft. The Twins announced today that they have added seven players from their system to their 40-man roster. They are LH SP Taylor Rogers, RH RP JT Chargois, OF Adam Brett Walker, LH SP Randy Rosario, RHP Yorman Landa, LH SP Pat Dean, LH RP Mason Melotakis.

 

Also, AJ Achter was claimed by the Philadelphia Phillies, and Josmil Pinto claimed by the San Diego Padres.

 

The Twins roster currently stands at 38 players. Remember the Twins have until December 8th to sign Korean Byung-Ho Park at which time he'll be added to the 40-man roster. They will be able to make a pick in the Rule 5 draft at baseball's Winter Meetings on December 10th, pending further transactions in the meantime.Rogers, Chargois and Walker have been deemed the "easy" choices by various accounts. There were a few surprises.

 

Taylor Rogers was the Twins 11th round pick in 2012 out of the University of Kentucky where he teamed with fellow 40-man roster mates Alex Meyer and Logan Darnell. Rogers was the Twins Daily Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year in 2013 when he made three starts in Cedar Rapids and the rest of the season in Ft. Myers with the Miracle. He pitched in New Britain in 2014. This year in Rochester, he went 11-12 with an ERA of 3.98 in 175 innings in Rochester. He has a 1.59 ERA in Arizona this fall in 25 innings. He has dominated left-handers and could find himself in a relief role as soon as 2016.

 

JT Chargois was the Twins second-round pick in 2012 out of Rice University where he was co-closer with Tyler Duffey (drafted in the fifth round of 2012). Chargois missed the 2013 and 2014 season due to Tommy John surgery but returned in 2015, flashing an upper-90s fastball. He split his season between Ft. Myers and Chattanooga. He should surface with the Twins in 2016.

 

Adam Brett Walker was the Twins third-round pick in 2012 out of Jacksonville University. He has as much power as anyone in the Twins organization, including Miguel Sano. He has led his league in home runs all three full seasons he has played. He posted an .807 OPS with 31 homers and 106 RBI for the Southern League champion Chattanooga Lookouts in 2016. He also led minor league baseball in strikeouts with 195. He was hitting well in the Arizona Fall League where he has five home runs. However, in his final four AFL games, he went 0-15 with 11 strikeouts. He has a ton of power but will need to continue working on that plate discipline and contact rate. He will likely play for Rochester in 2016 with a shot at a September call up.

 

Aside from those three, the Twins also added...

 

Randy Rosario is an interesting add. The left-hander missed most of the 2014 season after having Tommy John surgery in mid-April. He returned in early July to the Cedar Rapids Kernels. In his 11 games (10 starts) with the Kernels, he went 2-6 but posted a 3.52 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. He had some good starts, and as would be expected coming back from surgery, he had some clunkers. But there is no doubt Rosario is very talented. He is high-energy and very athletic. He throws hard (up to 96-97 mph) and is working on his offspeed pitches. But he can be nasty. Obviously Rosario isn't a guy that we'll see pitching at Target Field in 2016, but he does have a chance to be effective (either as a starter or in the bullpen) in a couple of years.

 

RHP Yorman Landa suffered from shoulder problems in 2014 and 2015, but he is another kid who approaches triple digits with his fastball. He is only a reliever, but he can miss bats. Another guy who won't be ready for the big leagues in 2016, but his potential is very high.

 

LHP Pat Dean had a breakout year in 2015 in Rochester. He led minor league baseball in innings pitched. He greatly improved his two breaking pitches in 2015 making him better against lefties. Dean is 26 years old and will likely pitch most of 2016 in Rochester.

 

Finally, LHP Mason Melotakis was added. He had Tommy John surgery late in 2014 and missed the 2015 season. However, he throws in the upper 90s out of the bullpen. He will be brought back slowly in 2016 but could surface by the end of the year.

 

Achter has been tremendous in the minor leagues and has had some good moments the last two years with the Twins. He joins a Phillies roster, likely as a relif pitcher.

 

Pinto's concussion concerns in 2015 made him a DFA candidate. Also, his inability behind the plate didn't help. Going to the National League, he will have to catch, or be confined to pinch-hitting duties.

 

Today's moves mean that several prospects will be eligible for the December 10th Rule 5 Draft. They include Corey Williams, Zack Jones, Luke Bard, Levi Michael, Felix Jorge and others.

 

Feel free to share your thoughts.

 

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[James Richter]

Head-scratching, as usual.

[amjgt]

Interesting that an NL team claimed Pinto

[Vanimal46]

I wish Pinto and Achter well in their future. From the Twins perspective, both are not going to be huge losses. 

[Cory Engelhardt]

Corey Williams and Felix Jorge, to me, seem like better adds than Pat Dean and either Rosario or Landa. But what do I know.

[gunnarthor]

 

Interesting that an NL team claimed Pinto

Yeah, me too.  

[gunnarthor]

I think Jorge is the "big" surprise and it's not that much of a surprise.  He'll be 22 next year and still hasn't pitched in high A ball.  If someone takes him they'd have to stash him in their pen all season.  Doesn't seem likely.    

[drjim]

 

Corey Williams and Felix Jorge, to me, seem like better adds than Pat Dean and either Rosario or Landa. But what do I know.

 

I imagine Jorge is not healthy. Rosario vs. Williams was probably the debate.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I think Jorge is the "big" surprise and it's not that much of a surprise.  He'll be 22 next year and still hasn't pitched in high A ball.  If someone takes him they'd have to stash him in their pen all season.  Doesn't seem likely.    

But both Rosario and Landa will also be 22 next and still haven't pitched in high A ball...

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I imagine Jorge is not healthy. Rosario vs. Williams was probably the debate.

Did I miss something on Jorge?  He finished the season for Cedar Rapids, was unaware of an injury situation.

[Thrylos]

I think that the Twins might lose 3-4 players in this draft.  We shall see...

[diehardtwinsfan]

I have a tough time believing that whomever they will take in the Rule V draft next month will have the upside or be any more likely to stick than Pinto.  Achter isn't too much a loss (wish him well), but I'm a bit surprised about Pinto.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Interesting that Achter was chosen by the team with #1 waiver priority (Philadelphia).

 

Pinto was chosen by the team with #8 waiver priority (San Diego).

Edited November 20, 2015 by spycake

[drjim]

 

Did I miss something on Jorge?  He finished the season for Cedar Rapids, was unaware of an injury situation.

 

No, this is speculation on my part in comparison to Rosario and Landa.

[SwainZag]

 

I think that the Twins might lose 3-4 players in this draft.  We shall see...

 

Who's your predictions to be lost?

[drjim]

 

Interesting that Achter was chosen by the team with #1 waiver priority (Philadelphia).

 

Pinto was chosen by the team with #8 waiver priority (San Diego).

 

I found that interesting too, I just didn't see Achter as much of a long term asset. But I suppose if you have roster space.

 

Pinto is just unlucky, wouldn't be surprised if he carves out a little bit of a career, but will probably take another 3-4 orgs before he finally settles.

[roger]

 

Interesting that Achter was chosen by the team with #1 waiver priority (Philadelphia).

 

Pinto was chosen by the team with #8 waiver priority (San Diego).

Don't waivers first go thru the same league, ie, the AL?  Then move on to the National League? 

[Steve Lein]

This seems like an odd bunch aside from Walker, Chargois, and Rogers...

 

I think the Twins are gonna lose a few of the guys they didn't protect.

[Kwak]

Let's see:  4 LH pitchers, 2 RH pitchers and a power hitting OF.  It seems that there is little in organization near the majors that isn't already on the 40-man roster.  It also seems that there is much more emphasis on pitchers than before.  Also, I conclude there won't be a FA pitcher added soon.

[Nick Nelson]

 

I found that interesting too, I just didn't see Achter as much of a long term asset. But I suppose if you have roster space.

Gambling on those big numbers at AAA. It was pretty clear to me even from watching him a little bit that the stuff isn't MLB-caliber. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Did I miss something on Jorge?  He finished the season for Cedar Rapids, was unaware of an injury situation.

 

I haven't heard of one either.

[Seth Stohs]

My guess:

 

Felix Jorge tops out around 92, maybe 93.

 

Rosario tops out at 97. Landa tops out at 99. Melotakis, when healthy, tops out at 98. 

 

Now, of course, Jorge starts, so you could maybe add a couple of ticks to his FB in the bullpen... 

 

I'm guessing, but we always talk about velocity... the guys added (exception being Dean who is left-handed, breathing and did well in AAA) have velocity.

[jsteve96]

I'm really disappointed they protected Rosario and Dean over Michael... Michael will be picked up for sure. When healthy he hits good and plays solid D, perfect for a rule 5 guy. Rosario making it all season in a MLB bullpen seems unlikely along with Dean being 26, he's in the prime of his career already.. Landa throws 100 so I can understand a guy like him being picked up. Just so disappointed I was starting to like Michael. Have to think Jones is a risk as well.

[drjim]

 

I haven't heard of one either.

 

I understand Rosario, but don't really get Landa over Jorge otherwise.

 

I do think it is a pretty small chance that Jorge is ultimately lost.

 

They may lose others, but no one other than Jorge would bother me all that much.

 

EDIT: I saw your velocity explanation. Seems legit to me if they had to make a choice of one over the other. Much better than my baseless injury explanation.

Edited November 20, 2015 by drjim

[Seth Stohs]

 

This seems like an odd bunch aside from Walker, Chargois, and Rogers...

 

I think the Twins are gonna lose a few of the guys they didn't protect.

 

To be fair, they probably agree, but they feel there was a better chance they would lose the ones that they did protect. Of course, we'll never know what would have happened if they had all been left unprotected.

[nater79a]

So what's the financial upside for these 7 guys added? Guaranteed any coin?

[Mike Sixel]

Not concerned either way. Surprised a bit, but not concerned that they might lose some of these guys. 

[savvyspy]

 

I'm really disappointed they protected Rosario and Dean over Michael... Michael will be picked up for sure. When healthy he hits good and plays solid D, perfect for a rule 5 guy. Rosario making it all season in a MLB bullpen seems unlikely along with Dean being 26, he's in the prime of his career already.. Landa throws 100 so I can understand a guy like him being picked up. Just so disappointed I was starting to like Michael. Have to think Jones is a risk as well.

It is so much more difficult to stash a position player on a major league roster than a pitcher. I doubt Michael is far enough to stick on a MLB roster for an entire year. He likely gets taken but the Twins have a great shot at getting him back if they want to. If Michael does perform I think you tip your cap because he beat the odds.

[Monkeypaws]

I hope nobody picks Jorge. 

 

What are the rules for the AAA and AA rule 5?

[sane]

 

I think that the Twins might lose 3-4 players in this draft.  We shall see...

I think you are overrating the Twins kids.

The Astros losing three last year is the most lost in my memory.

Only 14 players were picked TOTAL from 30 teams last year.