Article: Report: Twins Recalling Jose Berrios

[Seth Stohs]

Rochester Democrat & Chronicle beat reporter Kevin Oklobzija reported first that Jose Berrios was summoned back to his manager Mike Quade's office late on Saturday night. Though there was no confirmation that Berrios was coming up, 1500ESPN's Darren Wolfson soon tweeted that he had heard that Berrios was coming up to the Twins. Soon after, the Star Tribune confirmed the Berrios will start for the Twins on Monday in Cleveland.So now the question remains, What will the other half of the transaction be? With the trade deadline set for Monday afternoon, the possibilities are endless.

 

The Twins don't need to add Berrios to their 25-man roster until Monday after the trade deadline (and obviously before the game), so it could be another 24+ hours before we know the other half of the transaction.

 

What are the possibilities?

 

The easiest, most straightforward move would be for the Twins to call up Berrios and option Tyler Duffey to AAA Rochester. Duffey has really struggled over the last several starts. The 25-year-old hasn't been able to capture the magic that he showed in his final nine starts last year when he was the Twins top starter.

 

Of course, the Twins could make a trade, and with that there are several more possibilities. If they are able to trade a starter, Berrios could take that pitchers spot in the rotation and the rest of the rotation would just adjust.

 

The Twins could, more likely, trade a reliever and then move a starter into the bullpen.

 

Tommy Milone gave up four runs in Saturday night's game and was unable to get out of the sixth inning. He has had a frustrating season, though he has been much better in July. He seems like a candidate for a trade in August.

 

Ricky Nolasco? Well, he's got that contract, but maybe a team liked what they saw on Friday night when he gave up just one run over eight innings. The Twins would obviously need to be creative to make a move on Nolasco.

 

Fernando Abad and Brandon Kintzler could be on the move in the next 36 hours. Duffey could move to the bullpen where many believe his future may put him anyway because he just has two pitches. Milone or Nolasco could be pushed to the bullpen.

 

In other words, the Twins needed to make sure they had a starter for Monday night. They don't have to announce this transaction until right before then, so the possibilities are fairly endless right now. Secondly, newly acquired Adalberto Mejia will likely take Berrios's spot in the Red Wings rotation early next week.

 

The key to this transaction, of course, if the return of JO Berrios. His first stint with the Twins was not good. We saw glimpses of what he could become in his four starts, but he posted an ERA over ten and a WHIP over two. He needed to return to Rochester. He has clearly made some adjustments and earned his way back to the big leagues.

 

The 22-year-old has been particularly great his last seven starts. In that time, he is 5-3 with a 1.46 ERA. In 55.2 innings, he has given up 31 hits, walked 15 and struck out 60 batters. Opponents have hit just .165/.229/.255 (.485) against him.

 

He's ready for this opportunity. Don't expect him to be perfect, but let's hope to see some of the adjustments he made in Rochester. We should see some improvements. The team needs to live with his ups and downs and let him work through things at the big league level the rest of the way, the same way they need to let Byron Buxton, Miguel Sano, Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler play and learn and adjust.

 

And those names and others should make Twins fans excited to watch the final two months of the season.

 

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[Jordan1212]

About time probably a reason Ryan is gone

[Otwins]

Very Good News.

[Seth Stohs]

 

About time probably a reason Ryan is gone

 

How so? 

 

We all kind of assumed he would be up as soon as the Trade Deadline passed. Ryan likely would have done the exact same thing. 

[jimbo92107]

Get ready for flashes of brilliance and frustrating inconsistency. Even great young pitchers rarely have it all right from the beginning. 

 

I kind of hope they send down Duffey. He needs to figure a few things out with less pressure. His 4-seam heater has no movement, so he needs to learn a cutter to bend left while his 2-seamer bends right. The 4-seam he can use for chin music, climbing the ladder, and pitch outs. I think Duffey has the physical talent to nick corners with fastballs, while his curves get whiffs and his change keeps 'em off balance. 

 

Meanwhile, bring on Jose!

[KirbyDome89]

I disagree, I would much rather see Nolasco sent to the pen or just DFA him. Duffy hasn't been good this year, but at least he has a future with the team and he has had some success in a Twins uniform. 

[zchrz]

Its time to let Berrios go for the rest of the season, full on audition don't mess around with him.  

 

next season rotation

 

Santana

Berrios

Gibson

May

Mejia

 

Santana - I doubt the asking price will be paid and I am not super upset by that.  Santana is a proven innings eater vet who can buoy a weak staff as a 2/3 or be a solid 4 on a real staff. 

 

Berrios - has beaten AAA its time for him take on the MLB.  He has the stuff to be a legit 2 fringe 1, though he has some hurdles to overcome. 

 

May - its time to make a decision his fastball plays up in the pen and he can be a good 7th maybe 8th inning guy or his solid but not dominating four pitch mix makes him a good 4, fingers really crossed 3 in the rotation.  I side towards the starter because its easier to find back end pen.

 

Gibson - Has been inconsistent but I still think the sinker/ slider/ change mix he has is all plus, the potential for a solid 3 is there in my mind but he is a 4 now.

 

Mejia seems like a close to mlb starter ready, 3/4 lefty with a good fastball, and ok offspeed stuff that has room to improve.

 

I think Duffey is best suited as a reliever long term.  His curve is legit nasty, so nasty it allowed him to have a really nice run as a starter.  His other stuff unfortunately lacks in a big way.  Playing that curve up and letting the fastball go 100% in the pen seems wise. 

[mikelink45]

What about Hughes - not that it affects the decision to bring up Berrios - I did not think he should have been sent down, but that is over.  However when I see rotation projections for the future I do not see Hughes who will be back and starting a three year contract or Nolasco or Milone in the lists.  I know this is wishful thinking, but what will we do with those three?  And is May a starter anymore?  Have we failed to develop his arm so that he can go 6-7 innings?  Is he the perennial second string quarterback that everyone thinks should start until it happens and we figure out what the coaches already knew?  What  a puzzle!

[diehardtwinsfan]

Given Hughe's injury, I wouldn't count on him pitching at all in 2017, but if he does, I suspect he's brought along slowly and starts out in the pen.  He likely gets another shot when one of the kids falter (which will happen I'm sure).

[troyhobbs]

Would be nice to see the FO get creative like the Padres have been leading up to the deadline. Santana in the rotation next year with Berrios, Gibson, and whoever else does not equate to a playoff contending rotation IMO. Get value for him while you can and reallocate the $ for a slick ace in a couple years to compliment some of the internal options that get their lumps over the rest of this year and next. Its the worst staff in baseball, no reason to not blow it up.

[HitInAPinch]

 

About time probably a reason Ryan is gone

 

No

[Mr. Brooks]

What about Hughes - not that it affects the decision to bring up Berrios - I did not think he should have been sent down, but that is over. However when I see rotation projections for the future I do not see Hughes who will be back and starting a three year contract or Nolasco or Milone in the lists. I know this is wishful thinking, but what will we do with those three? And is May a starter anymore? Have we failed to develop his arm so that he can go 6-7 innings? Is he the perennial second string quarterback that everyone thinks should start until it happens and we figure out what the coaches already knew? What a puzzle!

Hughes' career is in doubt. The precedent of returning after the surgery he had is mixed at best.

That's not to say he can't be one of the guys who does make it back, but I think from a roster construction point of view, you assume he's never coming back, and adjust later if he does.

[terrydactyls]

I have a Duffy question. Living in New England, I seldom get the opportunity to see the Twins in action. Last year, when Duffy was going well, I thought I was hearing about his 12 to 6 curve ball. I've seen him throw a couple times this year and he seems to throw almost sidearm, which doesn't provide any downward movement on his curve. Has ue changed his arm angle? Or am I "mis-remembering" his curveball?

[jorgenswest]

He needs to be up for good no matter what he struggle. He has nothing to learn in AAA.

 

I really think Duffey is in the same position. He has 46 starts in AA and AAA. He was very successful. He doesn't need more time in the minors. He needs time to work it out in the majors. Viola and Radke were very up and down their first 50-60 major league starts. The Twins can afford to let Duffey and Berrios work out their struggles at the major league level.

[COtwin]

Duffy is an example of how the twins have screwed things up in the past. Nearly everyone struggles at some point even in their sophomore year. Guys need the long leash to be able to play without the hook over their shoulder. The Twins have had a tendency to not commit to a rebuild and give kids the quick ride down after a few rough games. This season is shot because several veterans played well below replacement level for a couple months and were allowed to keep their spots. The rest of this season should be for the kids. We say this every year, but we need to see what we have. The mlb coaching staff needs to show they are worth their paychecks and help the struggling youngsters turn it around.

[DocBauer]

Agree on Hughes. This is not some simple, minor procedure. He could be done, he could eventually come back strong as ever. But like perkins, (an even worse scenario), you simply can't and don't count on him for next season. At all. And as previously stated, he may come back in the pen to begin with.

 

Right now, Nolasco and Milone out of the picture one way or another, you look at 2017 with Santana, Gibson and Berrios as your "givens" to build your rotation. Someone new in charge who is not short-sighted would see the value in May back in the rotation: multi-pitch mix, young, Bullish workhorse on the mound previously, milb success in that role, and with flashes and improvement in 2015 before the pen move.

 

That leaves Duffey, Wheeler and Mejia as your remaining probables. Meyer can still be in that mix as well if he gets back on the mound in August. The new GM would probably take a low risk flyer on a FA/waiver for AAAA depth.

[Rosterman]

May needs to be stretched out nd that ain't happening this year. Not sure how it will work in the off-season. He should've stayed longer at Rochester and worked into becoming a starter again. You could always cut him back to relief, but the Twins blew that one.

 

Combined with the other guys THAT MAY not be moved, the Twins will be carrying Hughes and Perkins on the 40-man and it is doubtful that either will come out of the chute and be ready once spring training ends. The joy is that their positions can be taken with a couple of minor league free agents, if need be. The bad thing is that you have two guys on the 40-man that you need to protect.

 

I ws imagining that the acquisition from the Giants would be next in line for a call-up (after Berrios). That leaves Dean as the other starter in play (and Duffey). ;;I do wonder if any of Jay, Gonsalves or Stewart will get a move up to AAA.

 

Next...when does Chargolis return!

 

 

[Comrade Bork]

 

The bad thing is that you have two guys on the 40-man that you need to protect.

 

 

 

 

"Need" lol You think other teams would take a flyer on those guys??

[HitInAPinch]

 

I have a Duffy question. Living in New England, I seldom get the opportunity to see the Twins in action. Last year, when Duffy was going well, I thought I was hearing about his 12 to 6 curve ball. I've seen him throw a couple times this year and he seems to throw almost sidearm, which doesn't provide any downward movement on his curve. Has ue changed his arm angle? Or am I "mis-remembering" his curveball?

Duffey has changed his arm angle on everything he's throwing. Allen and other coaches have tried to fix that.  Don't know why Duffey changed his arm slot.   But I remember Twins had him working on something in Spring Training.  Seemed to mess him up, more than anything.

[Vanimal46]

This is great news to wake up to. Can't wait to see him in action tomorrow!

[tobi0040]

Ideally. Duffey to pen and May to AAA to stretch out. Getting a little late for that but it would show they have semblance of what they are doing

[Jordan1212]

I believe Terry Ryan played a part in not getting players up when they should be up many players over the years not just berrios, but Garza, bartlett, Morneau, the list continues. He would sign bottom of cellar "stop gap" players instead of just playing them they let Gibson play berrios is way better than him he should of been up along time ago.

[Jordan1212]

Or best example having Johan santana pitch in bullpen for to long

[laloesch]

 

I believe Terry Ryan played a part in not getting players up when they should be up many players over the years not just berrios, but Garza, bartlett, Morneau, the list continues. He would sign bottom of cellar "stop gap" players instead of just playing them they let Gibson play berrios is way better than him he should of been up along time ago.

 

And Molitor is definitely a Ryan hire.  He appears to have zero patience with the younger players.  I still think he was the wrong guy for manager at this stage.  Should have been Dougie.

[jimmer]

 

I believe Terry Ryan played a part in not getting players up when they should be up many players over the years not just berrios, but Garza, bartlett, Morneau, the list continues. He would sign bottom of cellar "stop gap" players instead of just playing them they let Gibson play berrios is way better than him he should of been up along time ago.

Terry Ryan was the GM.  He's the one who make those decisions, so he didn't just play a part, it was his ultimate call.

Edited July 31, 2016 by jimmer

[darin617]

So who will be the first to get their thread consumed if they figure out the Twins roster move?

[Jordan1212]

100% agree dougie fresh should of been manager he acted and looked like a manager when he played he understands building a young team Molitor does not like it and you can see it in his remarks.

[Jordan1212]

I would like to see us shop Gibson and sell high and get 3-4 players in return look at the Yankees there getting lots of return and heck if 1 or 2 players pan out hey that's pretty good

[Seth Stohs]

 

I would like to see us shop Gibson and sell high and get 3-4 players in return look at the Yankees there getting lots of return and heck if 1 or 2 players pan out hey that's pretty good

 

Not sure they'd be selling high on Gibson right now... But they can have the conversation...

[Mike Sixel]

Great news. Good luck to him.