The Twins have claimed LHP Mike Strong from the Marlins. To make room on the roster, they designated Logan Darnell for assignment. Strong, an Afton native, made it to AAA last year, after a good performance in AA, but struggled with a 7.16 ERA at Colorado Springs.

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/01/twins-claim-mike-strong-designate-logan-darnell.html

Edited January 22, 201610 yr by gmarais66

I think I see where this is headed. Let's see if we can limit our disappointment regarding the loss of Zach Jones to one exclamation point.

Slap a "mission accomplished" on this offseason baby!

What do we know about this guy? Hard thrower? Soft tosser?

He's one of us! Though why anyone cares about that, I have no idea.

Another fellow Stillwater grad, class of 2007. I was a 2003 graduate, wedged right between him and Glen Perkins.

Terry can go on vacation now, bullpen fixed!

 

He's one of us! Though why anyone cares about that, I have no idea.

Keeps mileage expenses down.

 

Another fellow Stillwater grad, class of 2007. I was a 2003 graduate, wedged right between him and Glen Perkins.

Was that the high school or the penitentiary?

Who just got demoted from AAA to AA in this deal? Who just moved to A+ in this deal?

Hmmmm... I think I'd rather have Darnell on the roster, but whatever. Strong probably shouldn't be on the 40 man roster once Opening Day begins - his number don't inspire me and he's already 27.

 

Slap a "mission accomplished" on this offseason baby!

The Twins also settled on a contract for Jepsen today. So as Brett Favre used to say, "The pieces are in place."

Great name, but he's actually slightly older than Logan Darnell, who himself was already pretty old for a "prospect".  27 years old, 12 career IP at AAA... hmmm.  8.9 K/9 at AA last year isn't bad, but he was a 26 year old at AA.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=strong001mic

 

Darnell had an 8.6 K/9 in his first taste of relief at AAA last season, although he was otherwise more effective as a starter.  I notice Darnell did manage a 9.4 K/9 and 3.27 ERA as a short reliever from April through June, before being switched back to long relief and starting in July.
 

And it's great that 2 of the only guys we called upon as pitching reinforcements in our pennant race late last season (Achter and Darnell) are also two of the first guys to get DFA'd this winter...

And like Abad, Strong is a lefty who has actually been worse against LHB in each of the past 3 seasons...

So, Souhan's article today shamed Ryan into acquiring a LOOGY.  Wow!  He sure caved fast.

For all those looking for more details about the trade ...

 

Based on the coverage Upton's signing with the Tigers got earlier in the week, I'm going to leave ESPN up on my computer and wait for all the columns breaking down this move and reevaluating the Twins postseasons chances.

 

Was that the high school or the penitentiary?

Haha well played my friend! I set myself up for that one 

Edited January 22, 201610 yr by redstorm

 

Haha well played my friend! I set myself up for that one 

 

Yet I noticed you never did answer the question...

Darnell has a 90 MPH fastball. I can't find any kind of scouting report for Mike Strong. I have no problem losing Darnell, but all things being equal, this guy still doesn't move ahead of Rogers or Melotakis in my mind so it seems pretty lateral.

 

But seriously, the Brewers DFA'd this guy to clear room for the Rule 5 in which they took Zach Jones. I'd rather still have Zach.

 

Darnell has a 90 MPH fastball. I can't find any kind of scouting report for Mike Strong. I have no problem losing Darnell, but all things being equal, this guy still doesn't move ahead of Rogers or Melotakis in my mind so it seems pretty lateral.

 

But seriously, the Brewers DFA'd this guy to clear room for the Rule 5 in which they took Zach Jones. I'd rather still have Zach.

 

From Fangraphs' prospect guy: "Mike Strong ...solid average fastball, slider and command isn’t flashy but gets results"

 

From Baseball America's 2014 profile (when he was ranked 24th in the Brewers' system): "Strong throws his fastball with confidence in the 88-92 mph range with good movement. His curveball is especially tough on lefthanders, and his changeup is average and sometimes a tick above. While improving his control, Strong still recorded strikeouts (9.2 per nine)."

 

Was that the high school or the penitentiary?

Yes

 

Terry can go on vacation now, bullpen fixed!

 

In case I missed something he has been on vacation...

WE GOT HIM!!!!!!!

 

 

The hot stove just heated up so much it canceled out the blizzard out here in the northeast!

 

And it's great that 2 of the only guys we called upon as pitching reinforcements in our pennant race late last season (Achter and Darnell) are also two of the first guys to get DFA'd this winter...

Ryan wanted to see if they could handle the pressure.

 

Or something.

 

What do we know about this guy? Hard thrower? Soft tosser?

Well, he's Strong.....    

 

Well, he's Strong.....    

 

He's-a not Abad!

Damn, thought the title read "Twins claim Strong LHP from the Marlins".....................carry on.

Ryan wanted to see if they could handle the pressure.

 

Or something.

I guess Ryan didn't agree, but I thought Darnell handled the pressure well, he gave up nary a hit nor a run, earned or otherwise, after his highly effective call up last year.

The question is does Logan Darnell get claimed? Are the twin banking on no one claims Darnell and they can go into ST with both. Gather up enough lottery tickets and hope you hit on one? I'm a Darnell fan but he struggled in the bullpen in AAA early and is a soft tosser without great lefty splits. I could see were he goes unclaimed.

I think Terry gets some sort of disgusting pleasure in pissing off his fan base (or at the very least making them roll their eyes).