Article: 40-Man Roster Decisions: The Pitchers

[mikelink45]

I remember all our anxiety as we waited for Gibson to come up - a homegrown, drafted talent, but in all the years he has been up, including his highlight year, he has been a disappointment. I expect we will keep him, but like Santiago he should be shoved to the side when some younger prospect appears ready.  

 

For the most part I am in favor of keeping the younger players.  Hopefully we will have new leadership teach the team how to bring the young players up and succeed.  But I do not want to see more clog the system signings.  It seems like we are always waiting for a contract to run out so we can move on.

[dgwills]

It's important to remember that we are not going to be a contender next year. There's really no reason to let a guy like Lewis Thorpe go, so you can keep a mediocre reliever. I'd like to see another year from him to see what he has.

I could probably put Landa, Rosario, and maybe Wimmers in that boat as well. The main concern should be keeping guys who could really help this team in 2 to 3 years.

[Mike Sixel]

No one is claiming Landa and keeping him on their roster for the full year, are they? wouldn't they have to?

[Thrylos]

 

 

 

I don't see why he doesn't get released.

There is no baseball reason to keep him.  As far as baseball considerations go, he should be DFA'd.  However that way the Twins will be responsible for $7.2 M ($6.5 for 2017 & $0.7 buyout of 2018 option.)  If they keep him on the 40-man and move him to the 60-day DL next season, insurance will pay part.  Plus it is the perceived PR potential issue that fans would like to have a Minnesotan in the team despite his horrible play and that the Twins should be Minnesota nice to Minnesotan players regardless their capabilities,

 

Hope the new regime puts an end to this nonsense...

[ashbury]

I believe Hughes could elect free agency given his major league service time. 

I don't think that quite conforms to how guaranteed contracts work, and he'd be a fool to take free agency.

 

Basically, you have to carry a guaranteed contract on your 40-man. Barring a trade, you can get rid of the contract in a couple of ways - DFA him and if some other team takes him then your problem is solved, otherwise back onto the 40-man he goes - or, you simply cut him and eat the salary, if the roster spot is that important to you. In the latter case, a team that then signs him is on the hook only for a (pro-rated, if mid-season) major league minimum salary, and the cutting team continues to pay the rest.

 

There would be no reason for the player to void the guaranteed contract and elect free agency unless he felt he could get more money, which clearly would not be the case for Hughes, or I suppose if he felt so strongly about what team he wanted to play for that he would sacrifice the money.

 

Bottom line for the Twins, though, is that no roster shenanigans are going to save them from having to commit a 40-man spot to him.

[KGB]

No one is claiming Landa and keeping him on their roster for the full year, are they? wouldn't they have to?

 

Since he already on the 40 man roster,he would have to go through waiver and a team could just claim him a put him on their 40 man. Since he still has options they wouldn't have to keep him at the major league.

 

 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Actually (to my surprise) Boshers has been pretty good against lefties.

 

With Rodgers and O'Rourke, that makes three good lefty specialists, though I don't know if you can realistically carry three such guys for long stretches. I would rank Rodgers the best of the group (if having the worst numbers). O'Rourke seems like he potentially has a wipe out slider like Miller's but it's too bad his fastball isn't a tich higher than 90. I can see protecting all those three. 

[Mike Sixel]

 

Since he already on the 40 man roster,he would have to go through waiver and a team could just claim him a put him on their 40 man. Since he still has options they wouldn't have to keep him at the major league.

 

Ah, thanks. Still don't care all that much, but now I care a tiny bit...

[DocBauer]

Well, naturally this whole 40 man thing is premature as there could be a trade or two to come. But simply working with what we have now....

 

I'd probably keep Light. I haven't seen him pitch yet, and only the Twins, at this point, really know if they have something there or not. But they thought enough of him to trade for him.

 

I think you're forced to keep one of Boshers or O'Rourke, pending any trades or signings, but I don't think you have room for both. I'd lean toward Boshers, would really like to remove both and sign them to milb deals if I could.

 

I wouldn't keep Thorpe. I just don't see how he's a risk to be selected and kept by someone. Still not sure Tonkin has been used correctly, and not sure if we've seen enough of Wimmers to make an accurate decision. I'm all about keeping as many talented young arms as we can, and opening roster spots for them. It's the bubble guys that make this so difficult. You need guys for 2017 who can pitch for you...not just necessarily promote a bunch of rookies...and a couple of these guys could still really help/develop. But you just can't keep them all. Somehow, the Twins have to decide which couple they still see real room for improvement, keep a couple, let go the rest and maybe sign them to deals with an invite. Just no other way to juggle/handle 40 spots and hold on to the risers.

[Rosterman]

The Twins have a number of pitchers who could just walk away if not kept on the 40-man - Wimmers, Boshers, Light. With their performances last year, and the number of same/significant arms in the system, almost want to say so long. The only tough choice is Wheeler. Should you or not. Baxendale MIGHT be grabbed, but I would take the chance that he won't be. 

 

The truth is that the pitching staff is a shambles and can be rcreated with same bodies out of the 2th or 41st men that msot teams will elt walk in the off-season with hopes that SOMEONE from the minors will fill 2-3-4 of the holes sometime in 2017.

 

There is zilch trade value from all bodies except for Santana. Even Kintzler. there seemed to be no biters during the regular season.

 

Sad that you have to think about protecting these guys.

 

[Cornholio]

I would keep Thorpe. The last time he and Romero were both healthy at the same time, Thorpe was rated higher. And he is a year younger than Romero. I think Thorpe would definitely be taken in the rule V draft.

[Mr. Brooks]

I would keep Thorpe. The last time he and Romero were both healthy at the same time, Thorpe was rated higher. And he is a year younger than Romero. I think Thorpe would definitely be taken in the rule V draft.

I don't see how anyone can carry Thorpe for a full season. The guy hasn't pitched in 2 years, and never above A ball.

 

Then again, if we leave him unprotected and he gets picked, I'm going to be pretty bitter.

So, I don't envy that decision.

[Rosterman]

There is not enough upside for a team to grab a Thorpe, unless they think they can carry him for the season (they can't). Wait to see what happens to him and remember, because of high draft picks,the Twins may still have difficult roster decisions for 40-man adds for a couple more years!

[beckmt]

 

There is not enough upside for a team to grab a Thorpe, unless they think they can carry him for the season (they can't). Wait to see what happens to him and remember, because of high draft picks,the Twins may still have difficult roster decisions for 40-man adds for a couple more years!

Thorpe is a lottery ticket, same as Johan Santana,  would you like to be on the wrong side of that risk reward.