The Red Wings announced today that they have signed four players:

 

OF Ryan LaMarre

Catchers Bobby Wilson and Willians Astudillo

RHP Myles Jaxe. 

 

 

Also, what we know so far, these players have been lost by the Twins organization as free agents.

 

Derek Rodriguez - Giants

Ryan O'Rourke - Orioles

Niko Goodrum - Tigers

Here is a little background on Astudillo. One blogger is very disappointed the Twins got him....

 

https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2017/11/30/16709008/willians-astudillo-free-agent-twins-please-i-dont-ask-for-much

The Twins pretty much allowed all of these guys to walk:

 

Minnesota Twins (19)
RHP: Henry Centeno (Hi A) | Chris Heston (AAA) | Kam Mickolio (AAA) | Yohan Pino (AAA) | Dereck Rodriguez (AA)
LHP: David Hurlbut (AAA) | Ryan O’Rourke (AAA) | Matt Tracy (AA)
C: Carlos Paulino (AAA)  | Davinson Pimentel (DSL)
1B: Matt Hague (AAA) | Jonathan Rodriguez (AA) | Andy Wilkins (AA)
2B: Tommy Field (AAA) | Niko Goodrum (AAA)
SS: Leonardo Reginatto (AAA)
OF: J.B. Shuck (AAA) | Ryan Strausborger (AA)

 

Plus Alex Wimmers, Anthony Recker  and Drew Rucinski.

Read more at https://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/minor-league-free-agents-2017/#CPPCfUXPi3fVUXls.99

JB Shuck and Drew Rucinski signed with the Marlins. 

 

Here is a little background on Astudillo. One blogger is very disappointed the Twins got him....

 

https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2017/11/30/16709008/willians-astudillo-free-agent-twins-please-i-dont-ask-for-much

 

The strikeout stuff is incredible...

 

Also he looks like Bartolo Colon's son.

Jeff Sullivan and Ben Lindbergh briefly discussed the Twins' signing of Willians Astudillo on their Effectively Wild podcast yesterday. If nothing else, he's a fascinating player.

I do think the catcher signings significantly increase the odds Garver breaks camp on the big league team.

 

I do think the catcher signings significantly increase the odds Garver breaks camp on the big league team.

 

I see your point but I'm just not sure it increases his odds, since I think he will have to earn his spot, either way. The catcher signings do serve as insurance to make sure Rochester has options at catcher, assuming Mitch does make the Twins out of ST. I expect that he will, but it's not like they'll say, "well we HAVE to keep Garver in Minn b/c we have these other guys at Rochester and don't have room for him down there."

 

I see your point but I'm just not sure it increases his odds, since I think he will have to earn his spot, either way. The catcher signings do serve as insurance to make sure Rochester has options at catcher, assuming Mitch does make the Twins out of ST. I expect that he will, but it's not like they'll say, "well we HAVE to keep Garver in Minn b/c we have these other guys at Rochester and don't have room for him down there."

 

Well, because he is on the 40-man, Garver would be the catcher of choice at the moment. The question is will he get enough playing time behind-the-plate. Garver will be given every chance to break camp, as a bench player. If he can produce with the bat, than the question comes do they use him as a bat and in the field more often than not, and a third catcher on the roster would then be a necessity.

 

The Twins have no catchers at Rochester. Look for them to sign at least one more backstop, as your Chattanooga choices include Brian Olson and Brian Navarreto. The Twins will want some depth to choose from (who remembers them signing Eddy Rodriguez last season) and they do need to break camp with at least a viable option at AAA that could hold a 40-man spot for the season and not risk loss everytime they send him up and down.

 

More names will happen. The Twins, by my calculation, signed around 36 minor league free agents alst season. Might be something of a record, especially considering how many of them did see 40-man roster time on the pitching staff.

I see your point but I'm just not sure it increases his odds, since I think he will have to earn his spot, either way. The catcher signings do serve as insurance to make sure Rochester has options at catcher, assuming Mitch does make the Twins out of ST. I expect that he will, but it's not like they'll say, "well we HAVE to keep Garver in Minn b/c we have these other guys at Rochester and don't have room for him down there."

It won't be handed to him, but I thought going into the offseason that the likeliest outcome was the Twins signing a backup and Garver starting at Rochester. Now with solid minor league options I don't see a catcher being signed. The path is clear for Garver.

I see your point but I'm just not sure it increases his odds, since I think he will have to earn his spot, either way. The catcher signings do serve as insurance to make sure Rochester has options at catcher, assuming Mitch does make the Twins out of ST. I expect that he will, but it's not like they'll say, "well we HAVE to keep Garver in Minn b/c we have these other guys at Rochester and don't have room for him down there."

I really hope the new FO isn't falling into the same trap as the old FO, by making ANY decision based on the tiny, and IMO meaningless SS of Spring Training.

Willians is now listed in the MLB Offseason Stats as a Twin. He is playing in Venezuala and with 133 AB has only 2 SO.

 

Is there a reason so few in the Twins organization are playing in offseason leagues this winter?

 

 

Read more at https://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/minor-league-free-agents-2017/#CPPCfUXPi3fVUXls.99

Thanks for the link.  I hope the Rays have fired whoever is responsible for their 2011 draft.  Just released 1st rounder, 2 supplemental 1st and a 2nd round pick.....but then I looked up their draft from that year.  Holy cow, that's just 4 of their top 11 picks.  They had 3 first rounders, and 7 supplemental first round picks. And 2 2nd rounders.  Pretty horrible results 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?team_ID=TBD&year_ID=2011&query_type=franch_year&from_type_jc=0&from_type_hs=0&from_type_4y=0&from_type_unk=0

 

Willians is now listed in the MLB Offseason Stats as a Twin. He is playing in Venezuala and with 133 AB has only 2 SO.

 

Is there a reason so few in the Twins organization are playing in offseason leagues this winter?

 

Well, the pitchers are generally told not to pitch in the winter leagues. Maybe some of the short-season types. 

 

The guys that aren't free agents usually prefer to rest than play. Even those that do play tend to spend 2-3 weeks there tops. 

Per Matt Eddy, the Twins have signed 17-year-old RHP Donny Breek from The Netherlands.

 

From the 2-minutes of research I did, he actually signed in early October, shortly after the World Cup. He throws 145 kph (or 90 mph, if you prefer). 

 

Per Matt Eddy, the Twins have signed 17-year-old RHP Donny Breek from The Netherlands.

 

From the 2-minutes of research I did, he actually signed in early October, shortly after the World Cup. He throws 145 kph (or 90 mph, if you prefer). 

Couldn't fins a pitcher that could throw for in kph what they  weighed in pounds?

https://vimeo.com/204427861

Last month, Breek, who started his career with Almere '90, participated with the Netherlands Under-18 Team in the Under-18 World Championship in Canada. There, he struckout 18 hitters in 16 2/3 inning, while giving up only two earned runs. It was there, that Breek caught the attention of professional scouts.

 

 

from another article

https://nos.nl/artikel/2195276-honkbaltalent-breek-tekent-bij-major-league-club-twins.html

 

You can guess why research for longer than 2 minutes is difficult

 

Edited December 7, 20178 yr by old nurse

 

The Twins have signed infielders Leonardo Reginnato and Gregorio Petit, and catcher Brock Stassi to minor league deals. 

 

Per Matt Eddy, the Twins have signed 17-year-old RHP Donny Breek from The Netherlands.

 

From the 2-minutes of research I did, he actually signed in early October, shortly after the World Cup. He throws 145 kph (or 90 mph, if you prefer). 

 

During my 2 minutes, I found the Twins also signed a German pitcher at about the same time, named Niklas Rimmel. 

 

 

 

The Twins have signed infielders Leonardo Reginnato and Gregorio Petit, and catcher Brock Stassi to minor league deals. 

 

I did a double take here because Stassi has been in the Phillies organization and playing in my home town team for the last 2 seasons.  He is a first baseman and had to look and see if he was a catcher (he is not).  He throws left so that would had been fun to see... 

 

Per Red Wings PR man, Nate Rowan, the Twins have added three more players on minor league deals.

 

"The #MNTwins have signed INF Taylor Featherston, OF James Ramsey and C Wynston Sawyer to @MiLB deals."

James Ramsey was a Twins draft pick in 2011 but chose to go back to Florida State for his senior year.

 

 

Ramsey appeared in the futures game when hosted in Minnesota.

 

https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-prospect-james-ramsey-comes-full-circle-in-futures-game-start/c-84600036

Per Matt Eddy, the Twins have signed 17-year-old RHP Donny Breek from The Netherlands.

 

From the 2-minutes of research I did, he actually signed in early October, shortly after the World Cup. He throws 145 kph (or 90 mph, if you prefer).

I'd prefer 145 mph, but 90 will do! \m/

 

I really hope the new FO isn't falling into the same trap as the old FO, by making ANY decision based on the tiny, and IMO meaningless SS of Spring Training.

The old FO never fell into that trap though. 

The old FO never fell into that trap though.

I wouldn't say never, but it was quite rare, and a lame narrative.

 

And generally if they did fall into the trap, such as it was, it was to push a young player quicker than they should, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

I really hope the new FO isn't falling into the same trap as the old FO, by making ANY decision based on the tiny, and IMO meaningless SS of Spring Training.

The old FO never fell into that trap though.

Mod note: Please don't turn this thread on "minor league transactions" into another debate on the old front office. The comment that triggered this was from 2+ weeks ago - at some point, things need to be left to rest.

 

I did a double take here because Stassi has been in the Phillies organization and playing in my home town team for the last 2 seasons.  He is a first baseman and had to look and see if he was a catcher (he is not).  He throws left so that would had been fun to see... 

Okay, I'm confused. Which Stassi did we sign? There are actually two of them and they are brothers. Brock is the first baseman who made his debut with the Phillies last year. His brother Max is a catcher and played in the Astros organization last year, including a cup of coffee with the major league team.

Okay, I'm confused. Which Stassi did we sign? There are actually two of them and they are brothers. Brock is the first baseman who made his debut with the Phillies last year. His brother Max is a catcher and played in the Astros organization last year, including a cup of coffee with the major league team.

Looks like we signed Brock from the Phillies...