The trade deadline is officially over, and the Twins are officially not contenders. That isn't really a surprise out here, but I have to say that by trading away Kintzler, Murphy, Ynoa, and some cash, the Twins netted 3 SP prospects (2 in the high minors) an RP prospect, and an extra 500k in bonus money that they could purchase a few more 16 year old lotter tickets with. Now that their status is confirmed, I have to wonder how much new blood they inject into the system. My thoughts:

 

DFA Bartolo Colon (or move to the pen if he's up for it) and promote Enns and Sleegers to MLB. Enns is already on the 40 man. I'm not expecting much in terms of results, but I have to say he should get a chance. Sleegers needs a shot too. I'd pretty much slate spots 1-3 to Santana, Berrios, and Mejia, but Enns and Sleegers get the first crack.

 

DFA Giminez and promote Mitch Garver - I think Garver has earned his chance and while he is already on the 40 man, this provides room for my next move:

 

Add Curtiss to the 40 man and call him up. 

 

That's 26 on a 25 man roster, so to complete this I send Pressley or Boshers to Rochester.

 

Promote Gonsalves to AAA. He's definitely not ready, to be clear. That walk rate is a bit scary, but at the same time, perhaps some tougher competition can help him see what he cannot get away with.

 

Assign Littell to AAA. That would fill the other vacancy, but I think he's probably the most ready of that group.

Both Slegers and Enns seem to profile as the unexciting career minor league starter who ends up in the pen due to lacking the skill set of guys with higher ceilings. 

 

Guys like Guerrier, Duensing and Swarzak probably had longer careers than most assumed they would.

 

Both Slegers and Enns seem to profile as the unexciting career minor league starter who ends up in the pen due to lacking the skill set of guys with higher ceilings. 

 

Guys like Guerrier, Duensing and Swarzak probably had longer careers than most assumed they would.

 

I agree with that, but I think you have to let them audition. It's a lost season at this point and none of the guys in AA are ready.

I think you're thinking of Gonsalves' 2016 walk rate of 4.5 per 9 in AA, but he's lowered that to a respectable 2.3 this year. A move to AAA should be happening soon.

I'd like Garver and Romero to get called up. 

Have Belisle close for two weeks and then flip him. Have Perkins close the following two weeks and then flip him. Ideally for players that are at least a year or two away from 40 man status.

What next?

Punt.

 

I think we'll see some minor league starting pitchers get a lot of starts later this season. It's almost inevitable. 

Edited July 31, 20179 yr by Hosken Bombo Disco

Matt B has the trade value of Fernando Abad. Maybe not even since he's not a lefty. 

The Twins have 3 spots open on their 40-man roster. One more thing that they did by throwing the towel is that the negated any necessity of wasting an option year ( = burning a year of control for nothing) on prospects such as Gordon, Gonsalves etc.

What I see them doing (not what I would do necessarily) :

 

Reinstate Perkins as soon as his FB gets to 91-92, and hopefully hope that he pitches well so someone might bite in August (that's one spot)

See if they can sell Colon, Santana, Dozier, Belisle in August

Monitor that waiver wire (lots of DFAs the last couple days) and sign a couple of arms.

Other than that, Pitchers on the 40-man (Enns, Gee, Gibson, Jorge, Romero, Rosario, Turley) will be it.  Maybe a non-prospect like Slegers, but, really he is nothing special.

Edited July 31, 20179 yr by Thrylos

Get Bartolo out of here, pronto. I mean yesterday. Get a new guy in there to start right away.

I highly doubt Santana, controllable for two more seasons and relatively inexpensive, clears waivers.

 

Get Bartolo out of here, pronto. I mean yesterday. Get a new guy in there to start right away.

 

Is it important that we win games from this point forward.  I'm all for getting guys experience but developing guys in the majors isn't the way to go if they're not ready.  So long as the draft order is based on who loses the most games the incentive is to lose once the playoff hopes are over.  Plus it would be nice if Molitor quiets on his own.

 

Is it important that we win games from this point forward.  I'm all for getting guys experience but developing guys in the majors isn't the way to go if they're not ready.  So long as the draft order is based on who loses the most games the incentive is to lose once the playoff hopes are over.  Plus it would be nice if Molitor quiets on his own.

Yes, now is the time to look at 2018 and beyond.

 

Of course, may want to take a looksee at Gee...though I'm not totally sure why.

 

Romero and Jorge will reach innings caps soon, sadly.

 

There is, sadly, no need to add people to the 40-man before their time.

 

So I guess we do see some waiver-wire pickups and such get Twins uniform time.

 

I'm saying it again, will be interesting to see who the Twins let walk in August? Is Vargas still in play? Do we want to see Park back? Do you add to the 40-man and take a rpeview shot at someone like Slegers to see if you truly do want to keep them on the 40-man?

 

The evils of adding people to the 40-man is that you have to open them up to other teams for claim if you don't keep them on the 40-man, which is often an easier way to pluck someone from a team than the Rule 5 (with its buyback rule) or waiting for the guy to negotiate their own minor league free agent contract.

 

I highly doubt Santana, controllable for two more seasons and relatively inexpensive, clears waivers.

Except that he did last year, which surprised me at that time. So who knows?

Still believe Belisle and Giminez will be August waiver trades, bringing back SOMETHING at least. Garver will be up soon. You will see more now of Hildenberger and Busentiz, which is a good thing going forward. August will bring some promotions and demotion, much like the balance of the season, to roll guys through for opportunity. This includes Curtiss, could include Slegers. September will include several promotions for the rotation and pen to get guys feet wet.

 

Really doubting Colon makes it to September. At this point, audition, audition, audition like a Broadway musical! Let's get guys experience to help build 2018!

Yes, now is the time to look at 2018 and beyond.

 

Of course, may want to take a looksee at Gee...though I'm not totally sure why.

 

Romero and Jorge will reach innings caps soon, sadly.

 

There is, sadly, no need to add people to the 40-man before their time.

 

So I guess we do see some waiver-wire pickups and such get Twins uniform time.

 

I'm saying it again, will be interesting to see who the Twins let walk in August? Is Vargas still in play? Do we want to see Park back? Do you add to the 40-man and take a rpeview shot at someone like Slegers to see if you truly do want to keep them on the 40-man?

 

The evils of adding people to the 40-man is that you have to open them up to other teams for claim if you don't keep them on the 40-man, which is often an easier way to pluck someone from a team than the Rule 5 (with its buyback rule) or waiting for the guy to negotiate their own minor league free agent contract.

Felix Jorge threw 167 innings last year.

That would mean he should be able throw up to 216 innings this year. (30% increase) He shouldn't

have any innings limits this year.

 

Felix Jorge threw 167 innings last year.
That would mean he should be able throw up to 216 innings this year. (30% increase) He shouldn't
have any innings limits this year.

 

Personally, I'd rather give guys like Sleegers and Enns a look. I'm just not a fan of Jorge. He's not ready now. Sleegers and Enns may be, and I think now is the time to give them an extended look. They could potentially force their way into a role as a starter or reliever.

 

Have Belisle close for two weeks and then flip him. Have Perkins close the following two weeks and then flip him. Ideally for players that are at least a year or two away from 40 man status.

 

You can't be serious about Perkins. 

http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/001/142/233/897.gif

I think August is a time to do a big purge.  I think Belisle, Gimenez are both put on waivers.  Colon will be DFA'd soon. 

What's next? Football season.

 

Same as any other August.

You can't be serious about Perkins.

Why not? If he does well, maybe you can get something for him. If not, does it really matter at this point?

 

I said a couple weeks ago that pitchers who are successful in the 9th have the superior mental makeup. The stuff is of secondary importance. At this point in their careers, Belisle and Perkins won't dwell on failure. Not sure that can be said about Hildenberger yet. He's also vulnerable to LHB.

 

Hildenberger has K'd 1 of every 3 RHB he faced so far, just 1 of 7 LHB. As they see him more, I suspect LHB will hit him better. BABIP data so far suggests that LHB have been slightly unlucky and RHB have been very lucky. As that normalizes, I suspect his splits will eventually show him to dominate RHB and be mediocre to bad against LHB.

Perkins blew a save in Ft Myers yesterday. Gave up a HR. ERA over 16 after 4 appearances.

 

Why not? If he does well, maybe you can get something for him. If not, does it really matter at this point?

I said a couple weeks ago that pitchers who are successful in the 9th have the superior mental makeup. The stuff is of secondary importance. At this point in their careers, Belisle and Perkins won't dwell on failure. Not sure that can be said about Hildenberger yet. He's also vulnerable to LHB.

Hildenberger has K'd 1 of every 3 RHB he faced so far, just 1 of 7 LHB. As they see him more, I suspect LHB will hit him better. BABIP data so far suggests that LHB have been slightly unlucky and RHB have been very lucky. As that normalizes, I suspect his splits will eventually show him to dominate RHB and be mediocre to bad against LHB.

 

because he can't get MILB out, that's why not....

 

because he can't get MILB out, that's why not....

ouchie...

Perkins isn't a guy who can get people out with guile and an 89 mph fastball.

I think it's great he is getting to throw in an organized game again before he hangs it up. I'm guessing that was important to him.

But I don't think pitching in the majors again is in his cards.

because he can't get MILB out, that's why not....

Well, obviously he has to get over that hurdle first.

Personally, I'd rather give guys like Sleegers and Enns a look. I'm just not a fan of Jorge. He's not ready now. Sleegers and Enns may be, and I think now is the time to give them an extended look. They could potentially force their way into a role as a starter or reliever.

As the Adopt-a-Prospect "owner" of Aaron Slegers, can I make a humble request to not spell the poor guy's name with the double-E? His name isn't pronounced like that anyway - it's SLAY-gers - in case that helps. The misspelling is starting to gain traction here for some reason.

Let's be honest, Sleegers probably isn't mlb quality. If Sleggers is added to the 40 man, he'd get dfa'ed in the offseason. Best to keep Slegers at AAA where he performs well and will remain through the offseason.

Let's be honest, Sleegers probably isn't mlb quality. If Sleggers is added to the 40 man, he'd get dfa'ed in the offseason. Best to keep Slegers at AAA where he performs well and will remain through the offseason.