Article: Examining Pre-Arbitration Players

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Jeremy, you wrote your 40-man additions post at the beginning of July, when Zach Jones had just been returned to the Twins.  Is his performance since then worth revising your earlier judgment?  I feel like he wouldn't get claimed again, but it's also hard to ignore his improved numbers down there...

 

I think he would certainly be considered. Two trains of thought: 1) There was a reason the team didn't add him last year, even though everyone was certain he'd be lost. They must not have valued him that much. But 2) They valued him enough to take him back instead of work out a trade. So I'd put him in the 50/50 category, but I don't value RPs nearly as much as others. (If you're a legit relief-only guy, you should be knocking on the door well before your 40-man clock starts ticking.)

[Jeremy Nygaard]

At any rate, if I was Vargas, I would be filing a grievance or doing something in order to not play overseas at this point.  He may not have any huge trade value, but he could play everyday for SOMEBODY.  Or at least get a chance to.

 

To my understanding no one gets sold overseas without their permission. Vargas wouldn't sign off on it last year, so it didn't happen.

[Rosterman]

Twins have to make a hard decision on Park at some point.

[Rosterman]

The toughest call is always on guys like Landa, Rosario, Walker and such. We have ahd Kepler and Polanco in similar situations (as well as Wheeler in the season past). They weren't ready for the majors and you know you may have to carry them on the 40-man for one, two or even three years before getting them up and seeing any results. But if you cut them loose, another team COULD grab them (not a Rule 5 situation) and stash them at the back of their 40-man roster, having one less year to worry about their development. That is the situation I see with Walker and Melotakis. I doubt either will make an impact in 2017. Landa and Rosario are even further out, and could see cutting ties with Rosario for now. But, we'll see. How important is that extra spot.

 

The kicker is that the Twins may be adding still more guys like the above to the 40-man, who won't make a call-up or impact in 2017 and possibly not see much action until 2018. Suddenly, you have 6-7 "prospects" on your 40-man roster doing little for your team. The evils of being a loser and getting high draftpicks, or having a farm system that is developing players in the low minors and getting a stack-up on talent depth.