Melotakis Released

[Tom Froemming]

Per a press notification from the Rochester Red Wings, the Twins have released 26-year-old left-handed reliever Mason Melotakis. He had a 3.07 ERA in 14 2/3 innings this season.

[KirbyDome89]

So the Twins purged a lefty with good zip, and decent numbers at AAA, yet their bullpen continues to be an issue. 

 

What am I missing here?

[gunnarthor]

 

So the Twins purged a lefty with good zip, and decent numbers at AAA, yet their bullpen continues to be an issue. 

 

What am I missing here?

I wonder if there is something else going on. I'm a bit surprised since he wasn't on the 40 man so there was no (obvious) need to make this move.

[nicksaviking]

I hope someone explains this one. He wasn't on the 40-man and Rogers, Duke and Moya have been anything but consistent this year. They DFA'd him last year to our surprise but managed to get him back. It looked like it might be a shrewd gamble to clear a roster spot at the time, but out right releasing him when it wasn't necessary makes it look like they really don't care for him.

 

I'd have to think there's off field issues or personality clashes. Even if his stuff isn't what we were hoping it would be, his stuff and numbers aren't worse than Dietrich Enns.

[Brandon]

His numbers in AAA looked like he would be a solid depth piece. I hope he doesnt go all Chargois on us an become a great reliever for someone else. What bothers me is the timing. Why now?

[KirbyDome89]

 

I wonder if there is something else going on. I'm a bit surprised since he wasn't on the 40 man so there was no (obvious) need to make this move.

There almost has to be. Stay tuned I suppose. 

[beckmt]

Maybe the new FO has decided to move on from TR's boys, so they can't be compared.

[Rosterman]

Rochester currently has too many bodies, as does Chattanooga, and short of sending people back, the Twins are doing some early purging (earlier they sold Andrew McIver off from the Lookouts).

 

If not added to the 40-man roster, Melotakis would be a minor league free agent come season's end.

 

Of course, you can argue, would they be better served moving on from such folks as Enns, or perhaps Jaye (both starters in waiting). 

 

But it basically came down to having too many people for roster spots, no one truly on the disabled list, and having to make some decisions.

 

But always do question when you keep minor league free agents over players you are developing. Of course, Melotakis was removed from the 40-man last year, went unclaimed, and got another chance with the Twins. Of course, he is also left-handed.

 

 

[DocBauer]

What are we missing here? This is really disappointing considering what we thought his potential was, (thought I remembered him finishing strong last year), and a solid start to this season.

 

I just don't get this move at all.

[Thrylos]

 

I just don't get this move at all.

 

Easy. The new regime is against Greek lefties.  After they let Theophanopoulos go, they did the same with Melotakis.  About time to stock up on Polish righties.  Or something

 

/kidding

[bird]

 

Maybe the new FO has decided to move on from TR's boys, so they can't be compared.

 

Huh?

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Rochester currently has too many bodies, as does Chattanooga, and short of sending people back, the Twins are doing some early purging (earlier they sold Andrew McIver off from the Lookouts).

 

If not added to the 40-man roster, Melotakis would be a minor league free agent come season's end.

 

Of course, you can argue, would they be better served moving on from such folks as Enns, or perhaps Jaye (both starters in waiting).

 

But it basically came down to having too many people for roster spots, no one truly on the disabled list, and having to make some decisions.

 

But always do question when you keep minor league free agents over players you are developing. Of course, Melotakis was removed from the 40-man last year, went unclaimed, and got another chance with the Twins. Of course, he is also left-handed.

very plausible, but why Melotakis, and why release not trade? It could very well have been Sam Clay or Enns.

 

I’m not sure if I even really care.... just curious as Melo is a guy that I recognize

[mikelink45]

For a few years we had the Melotakis, Chagois, Burdi, Reed dreams of a great bullpen in waiting - now we have none of them.  What happened?  It is disappointing to see the whole class of BP arms fail.  It is also fuel for my personal belief that young arms should be up in the BP soon before they flame out.  But Melatokis is an different case and since I do not know him I start to think that there is a personality trait or something off the field that keeps pushing him away.

[John Kelsey]

 

For a few years we had the Melotakis, Chagois, Burdi, Reed dreams of a great bullpen in waiting - now we have none of them.  What happened?  It is disappointing to see the whole class of BP arms fail.  It is also fuel for my personal belief that young arms should be up in the BP soon before they flame out.  But Melatokis is an different case and since I do not know him I start to think that there is a personality trait or something off the field that keeps pushing him away.

 

We still have Reed. 

[Mr. Brooks]

very plausible, but why Melotakis, and why release not trade? It could very well have been Sam Clay or Enns.

 

I’m not sure if I even really care.... just curious as Melo is a guy that I recognize

I mean, he turns 27 next month, and has never had a walk rate below 3/9. He's almost certainly minor league filler at this point. I'm guessing they tried to trade him for cash, but didn't find any takers.

[mikelink45]

 

We still have Reed. 

Missed that one!  Although I have to say I do not read much about him any more.

[USAFChief]

For a few years we had the Melotakis, Chagois, Burdi, Reed dreams of a great bullpen in waiting - now we have none of them. What happened? It is disappointing to see the whole class of BP arms fail. It is also fuel for my personal belief that young arms should be up in the BP soon before they flame out. But Melatokis is an different case and since I do not know him I start to think that there is a personality trait or something off the field that keeps pushing him away.

It’s more fuel for MY personal belief that you never count on minor leaguers until they’re proven major leaguers.

 

I am almost never in favor of the “Don’t sign/trade for this or that veteran because we’ve got this or that minor leaguer coming” school of roster management.

 

Let them force someone off the roster. Don’t hold a spot open for them.

[drivlikejehu]

Relief prospects do not have a good track record of panning out in the Majors. The fact that a pitcher would be a reliever in college is always a red flag of some kind, whether it's the ability of the pitcher's arm to hold up, lack of command, etc. I'd never draft one in the top 100 picks.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I hope someone explains this one. He wasn't on the 40-man and Rogers, Duke and Moya have been anything but consistent this year. They DFA'd him last year to our surprise but managed to get him back. It looked like it might be a shrewd gamble to clear a roster spot at the time, but out right releasing him when it wasn't necessary makes it look like they really don't care for him.

 

I'd have to think there's off field issues or personality clashes. Even if his stuff isn't what we were hoping it would be, his stuff and numbers aren't worse than Dietrich Enns.

 

I mean... he's way behind Rogers, Duke and Moya... Casey Crosby and Tyler Jay and Andrew Vasquez are ahead of him. Left-handed starters could end up in the bullpen. 

 

The reality is when he was taken off of the 40-man last year, he was topping out at like 88, 89. His secondary stuff didn't come back. He wasn't throwing any harder this spring. 

 

I'm almost certain there was no off field situation or personality clash. Melo is a really good guy. 

It is possible that it's just about baseball and pitching. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Maybe the new FO has decided to move on from TR's boys, so they can't be compared.

 

I mean, that's a fun narrative, but there just can't be anything to it. They're not just going to drop really good players just because they were selected by Ryan or drafted by guys like Deron Johnson and Mike Radcliff (who are both still in the organization). 

[Seth Stohs]

 

For a few years we had the Melotakis, Chagois, Burdi, Reed dreams of a great bullpen in waiting - now we have none of them.  What happened?  It is disappointing to see the whole class of BP arms fail.  It is also fuel for my personal belief that young arms should be up in the BP soon before they flame out.  But Melatokis is an different case and since I do not know him I start to think that there is a personality trait or something off the field that keeps pushing him away.

 

Melotakis: Tommy John

Chargois: Tommy John (2 years), then missed most of 2017 (elbow)

Burdi: Tommy John

Reed: Oblique (2017), Shoulder (2018) though he is back now.

Zack Jones: A couple of shoulder surgeries, an aneurysm in his shoulder, etc. 

Luke Bard: shoulder injuries cost him 2+ years earlier in the year.

Alex Muren: Thoracic Outlet

 

Injuries are an unfortunate part of it. 

[mikelink45]

 

It’s more fuel for MY personal belief that you never count on minor leaguers until they’re proven major leaguers.

I am almost never in favor of the “Don’t sign/trade for this or that veteran because we’ve got this or that minor leaguer coming” school of roster management.

Let them force someone off the roster. Don’t hold a spot open for them.

I am the opposite - put them in let them prove they do not belong.  The FA you sign is sure to cost more than the value you receive. 

 

[mikelink45]

 

Melotakis: Tommy John

Chargois: Tommy John (2 years), then missed most of 2017 (elbow)

Burdi: Tommy John

Reed: Oblique (2017), Shoulder (2018) though he is back now.

Zack Jones: A couple of shoulder surgeries, an aneurysm in his shoulder, etc. 

Luke Bard: shoulder injuries cost him 2+ years earlier in the year.

Alex Muren: Thoracic Outlet

 

Injuries are an unfortunate part of it. 

Thanks Sett - you are my source for my minor league feelings.

[h2oface]

 

His numbers in AAA looked like he would be a solid depth piece. I hope he doesnt go all Chargois on us an become a great reliever for someone else. What bothers me is the timing. Why now?

 

Chargois was going to be a fine reliever for us, too. It was all ready to be the year. The "pitching expert" front office truly don't seem like such pitching experts. I hope Melotakis does great. I hope they all succeed. We can't help the roster decisions that are made.

[nicksaviking]

I mean... he's way behind Rogers, Duke and Moya... Casey Crosby and Tyler Jay and Andrew Vasquez are ahead of him. Left-handed starters could end up in the bullpen. 

 

The reality is when he was taken off of the 40-man last year, he was topping out at like 88, 89. His secondary stuff didn't come back. He wasn't throwing any harder this spring.

 

He's still only throwing 89? I thought he regained his velocity after last year's DFA. If not, sadly I change my vote: time to say goodbye.

[beckmt]

 

I mean, that's a fun narrative, but there just can't be anything to it. They're not just going to drop really good players just because they were selected by Ryan or drafted by guys like Deron Johnson and Mike Radcliff (who are both still in the organization). 

Let's see, Chargois, Burdi, Bard(returned by a club in the same boat as the Twins(though he could have been claimed by kept on the 25 man roster of a bad club). These are all pitchers taken in the last year.  Jury is still out, but this could still go very bad.

[mlhouse]

Look at it this way, this gives him a couple of years to be waived by a couple of teams, get to that 29 year old age level and then become another waiver wire pitching pickup by this squad.  

 

I get it, the odds of Melotakis making the major leagues was long and this is probably what needed to be done in the organization, and could perhaps be what is needed for his career.  I also do not think that the Twins served Mason well in his professional baseball career. 

 

First, there was what was called a disaster of trying to convert him into a starter, although looking at the statistics it really wasn't that bad.  

Second, there was the Twins minor league promotions strategy that kept him in AA for parts of 2014, all of 2016, and part of 2017.  Add in the arm injury that forced him to miss all of 2015, that meant he did not reach AAA level until he was 26 years old DESPITE having relatively good numbers in the minor leagues at all levels.  (I have never seen Mlotakis pitch so I can only look at the stats).  

 

 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Let's see, Chargois, Burdi, Bard(returned by a club in the same boat as the Twins(though he could have been claimed by kept on the 25 man roster of a bad club). These are all pitchers taken in the last year.  Jury is still out, but this could still go very bad.

 

I mean, there are three guys they chose to not add to the 40-man roster (or take off of it), but they chose to add Hildenberger and Busenitz and Curtiss (and Gonsalves, Thorpe)... all of which were drafted by Deron Johnson. 

[beckmt]

 

I mean, there are three guys they chose to not add to the 40-man roster (or take off of it), but they chose to add Hildenberger and Busenitz and Curtiss (and Gonsalves, Thorpe)... all of which were drafted by Deron Johnson. 

I guess we will have to agree to disagree.  Chargois and Bard both seem to be as good if not better than Curtiss.  Burdi could be the lottery ticket.  

At the current time, do not see Curtiss having the necessary control of his slider to be effective at the major league level.  Will keep an eye on this and could be wrong, but am worried about the trend.

[beckmt]

This sort of feels like some of my experiences where a new manager is hired over a department, and in about 6 months to a year you see some of their people coming from their old company, and people the new manager does not like leaving. This was the point I was making.  

It could be entirely baseball judgement, but the fact that Chargois is already on a major league roster, Burdi is on the DL, and Bard was just returned seems to tell me that other GM's have different valuations of this players.