Article: Minnesota Twins Roster Projection 3.0

[mikelink45]

 

Uninspiring.
I still can't believe we are actually going into the season with Sano in the OF. I didn't want to believe it, but here we are.

Nolasco needs to be nowhere near the rotation and the Twins really have screwed Trevor May, which is unfortunate because he can be a solid #2/#3 in this league, the twins are basically robbing him of 60+ million additional in lifetime earnings.

As the team looks now it looks to be a 70-76 win team, will 76 wins be enough to keep/save Ryan's and ST peters job? I hope not.

TR does not have a limit or a leash - he is our guy and he will remain our guy, despite our frustrations.

 

[Rezzy]

The last 2 open bench spots are becoming a little more interesting.

 

It would be hard to let Santana or Arcia go to waivers. They would surely be picked up by someone. O. The other hand, I like what I've seen from Sweeney and Quentin.

 

Would Sweeney and Quentin go to Rochester if they don't make the roster?

[stringer bell]

I heard Reusse discussing Quentin with Rob Antony--he has an opt-out but it isn't until something like June. Quentin can be assigned to Rochester. I believe the opt-out for Sweeney is earlier, perhaps as early as April 1, meaning he couldn't be sent to AAA without agreeing to go. I don't think it is out of the realm to suggest that Sweeney might see a chance for a recall fairly quickly if a) Buxton starts slow or Santana can't handle a utility role. I still expect the Twins to keep their out-of-options position players, but it would help them if they started to hit a little bit.

[DaveW]

Keeping Quentin over Arcia would be an absolute disaster.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I heard Reusse discussing Quentin with Rob Antony--he has an opt-out but it isn't until something like June. Quentin can be assigned to Rochester. I believe the opt-out for Sweeney is earlier, perhaps as early as April 1, meaning he couldn't be sent to AAA without agreeing to go.

That opt out date has not been reported anywhere for Sweeney. June 1st is actually the standard opt out date for 6+ year MLB veterans on minor league deals, so I would guess it applies to both him and Quentin. It would be rather silly to give an April 1 opt out to a player who sat out the previous season, but never say never (Bartlett).

 

Either player could threaten to retire, of course, then if the team really wanted to keep the player, they'd have to add them to the MLB roster. I'd probably just call their bluff, though, seeing as how you would still own their rights for 2016 (meaning, they couldn't retire and go play elsewhere).

[Guest]

 

That opt out date has not been reported anywhere for Sweeney. June 1st is actually the standard opt out date for 6+ year MLB veterans on minor league deals, so I would guess it applies to both him and Quentin. It would be rather silly to give an April 1 opt out to a player who sat out the previous season, but never say never (Bartlett).

Either player could threaten to retire, of course, then if the team really wanted to keep the player, they'd have to add them to the MLB roster. I'd probably just call their bluff, though, seeing as how you would still own their rights for 2016 (meaning, they couldn't retire and go play elsewhere).

I interviewed Sweeney last week for my final article at MetroSportsReport.com and you can read that by clicking here. He clearly doesn't see himself as a AAA ballplayer (and based on his performance so far this spring, he has a case). He elected not to play at all last year, rather than accept AAA offers, though continuing to get paid by the Cubs made that decision a lot easier than it might this season.

 

You don't want to base too many roster decisions on spring training performances, but when it comes down to those last couple of roster spots, performance certainly is more of a factor. I would think that a guy who has shown he can hit .270 with a little pop and play all 3 outfield spots probably would be of interest to someone else if the Twins decide they don't have room for him. His problem the past couple of years has been staying healthy. Still, if your goal is to put the most competitive team possible on the field in 2016, right now it would be difficult for me to understand the Twins keeping Arcia or Santana over Sweeney.

 

Quentin is a different thing because of his limited usefulness defensively. I can't see how the Twins keep another guy who's limited to 1B and DH. He looks like he still has something left in the tank, however, so maybe there's some trade value there, too.

Edited March 21, 2016 by SD Buhr

[alarp33]

 

 

 

You don't want to base too many roster decisions on spring training performances, but when it comes down to those last couple of roster spots, performance certainly is more of a factor. I would think that a guy who has shown he can hit .270 with a little pop and play all 3 outfield spots probably would be of interest to someone else if the Twins decide they don't have room for him. His problem the past couple of years has been staying healthy. Still, if your goal is to put the most competitive team possible on the field in 2016, right now it would be difficult for me to understand the Twins keeping Arcia or Santana over Sweeney.

 

 

Re: your "little pop" comment.  Arcia hit 11 more Home runs in his age 22+23 seasons than 31 year old Sweeney has in his 9 year MLB career.  

[Loosey]

My gut tells me Nolasco makes the rotation if he can not be awful the rest of the way. 

 

As with last year, if he can just be OK he may become tradeable to an NL team once one of them has an injury.  The Twins probably won't even ask for anything in return except for them to take him and his salary.

 

 

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I interviewed Sweeney last week for my final article at MetroSportsReport.com and you can read that by clicking here. He clearly doesn't see himself as a AAA ballplayer (and based on his performance so far this spring, he has a case). He elected not to play at all last year, rather than accept AAA offers, though continuing to get paid by the Cubs made that decision a lot easier than it might this season.

Thanks for sharing.  I doubt many guys see themselves as AAA ballplayers, particularly one who has only played one month of AAA ball in the past 8 years.

 

But it appears Sweeney didn't secure anything more than the standard June 1st opt out.  He actually had a March 28th opt out back in his 2013 minor league deal with Boston.  His bargaining power was apparently less this year.  (And even after he exercised that opt out in 2013, he still had to settle for another minor league deal, resulting in the aforementioned month at AAA with the Cubs.)

 

The Twins might do him a solid and release him at the end of camp, but otherwise, if he doesn't make the Twins roster, his choices will be to become a AAA ballplayer for up to 3 months at our discretion, or retire and sit out another season.

[AKTwins]

My few amateur observations:

 

- Any word on Milone being traded? He still has team control, solid back-end rotation arm.  He has some value, maybe a B level prospect for a team with some starting pitching injuries.  However, I like his LH arm in the rotation.  He will give us atlas 150 innings and an ERA around 4.00-4.15.

- I think Buxton makes the opening day lineup solely based on his defense.  I would like to see him get a month or 2 in triple A to refine his batting approach.  However, we need his defense with Sano in RF and our SPs are not K guys.  It would be interesting to start the year with Rosario in CF, Arcia in LF and Sano in RF, but I think that would lead to too many runs with our SPs.

- If Abad makes the roster who is taken off the 40 man?  Tonkin seems like a likely prospect at this point.  Maybe Strong?  If they move Dean off the 40 man, my head would explode, since we have lost Zach Jones with that move.

- I think Presley has earned a opening day spot with his performance last year and his spring.  In fact, I could see him over taking Fien in late inning leverage positions.

- I think O'Rourke would be an above-average LOOGY.  However, I think Molitor does not want a pitcher that can only pitch 1/3 of an innings.  Maybe a few months at Rochester to determine if O'Rourke new splitter (or was it a change up) can get some righties out.

- I really like our infield defense.  The infield will save us some runs this year.  I would like to see the outfield employ more a shift.  I think that will protect Sano.

[Guest]

 

Re: your "little pop" comment.  Arcia hit 11 more Home runs in his age 22+23 seasons than 31 year old Sweeney has in his 9 year MLB career.  

 

When I talk about a "little pop" I'm not just talking about HRs, but XBHs in general, but that's just me.  When you factor in his defensive abilities, I'd probably still take him over Arcia at this point.

[DaveW]

I wouldn't.

[jimbo92107]

I would very much doubt that TR would allow a 12 million dollar pitcher pout in the bullpen.  Duffey will start in AAA.  And we love showing off our reclamation projects, so Kintzler will be on the team.  I'm fine for both options, for April, as long as they pull the trigger faster than they did for Stauffer.

On the other hand, the Twins now have the opportunity to stash two perfectly good young starters in the bullpen, thus pissing off both May and Duffey, while overpaid, mediocre veterans win at best half their starts with ERA's over 5. 

[alarp33]

 

When I talk about a "little pop" I'm not just talking about HRs, but XBHs in general, but that's just me.  When you factor in his defensive abilities, I'd probably still take him over Arcia at this point.

 

His career Isolated slg% is .104

 

These are some other Twins career IsoSlg%

 

Danny Santana - .123

Kurt Suzuki - .114

Eduardo Escobar - .136

[DaveW]

Sweeny has no business anywhere near the 25 man roster to start the season. If he makes the team over Arcia or Santana I may have to just boycott the season.