Twins stuff from around the Web (Fangraphs, Twitter, Athletic, non-local news sites, etc)

[Vanimal46]

This is probably worthy of its own thread. Marwin would add more talent and flexibility but there's not an open spot in the line up for him, and I imagine it would end any chance of Astudillo making the opening day roster.

That's the beauty of Marwin's flexibility. He can fill in anywhere on the field, minus premium SS and CF. Even without an obvious fit in the lineup he'll have no issue getting 100+ starts all over the diamond. I would be extremely comfortable him being the super utility guy over Adrianza and Austudillo.

[howieramone2]

 

This is probably worthy of its own thread.  Marwin would add more talent and flexibility but there's not an open spot in the line up for him, and I imagine it would end any chance of Astudillo making the opening day roster.

Astudillo is the flavor of the month but still good depth and valuable. Assuming both of our catchers are healthy, I can see us trading Castro if another team's regular catcher comes up injured. They will move Castro no later than the deadline.

[yarnivek1972]

Astudillo is the flavor of the month but still good depth and valuable. Assuming both of our catchers are healthy, I can see us trading Castro if another team's regular catcher comes up injured. They will move Castro no later than the deadline.

Yeah, because that’s what teams are looking for a the trade deadline: a .200 ish hitting catcher in his 30s coming off a knee injury.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Yeah, because that’s what teams are looking for a the trade deadline: a .200 ish hitting catcher in his 30s coming off a knee injury.

 

The dude was better than median his first year here. If he's healthy, he'll be valuable to either MN or someone else.

[Mike Sixel]

mike sixel
2:09 No longer prospects, but who do you like more for the next 4-6 years, Buxton or Sano? Thanks.....
Eric A Longenhagen
2:09 Buxton's floor is Billy Hamilton so I'll say him. I'm disappointed Sano let his body get to where it has.

 

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/eric-longenhagen-chat-2-21-19/

[amjgt]

Sam Miller on ESPN.com

 

 

Who is the biggest winner of Machado joining the Padres?

 

Miller: Cleveland. With the White Sox failing to sign Machado, Cleveland can now be pretty sure no other team in the division will win even 85 games this year. Terry Francona can start resting his players for the playoffs ... now.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Sam Miller on ESPN.com

 

 

Who is the biggest winner of Machado joining the Padres?

 

Miller: Cleveland. With the White Sox failing to sign Machado, Cleveland can now be pretty sure no other team in the division will win even 85 games this year. Terry Francona can start resting his players for the playoffs ... now.

 

ouch.

[USAFChief]

 

Astudillo is the flavor of the month but still good depth and valuable. Assuming both of our catchers are healthy, I can see us trading Castro if another team's regular catcher comes up injured. They will move Castro no later than the deadline.

You keep predicting the Twins will be out of contention by the deadline. 

 

Don't give up hope.

[nicksaviking]

 

Sam Miller on ESPN.com

 

 

Who is the biggest winner of Machado joining the Padres?

 

Miller: Cleveland. With the White Sox failing to sign Machado, Cleveland can now be pretty sure no other team in the division will win even 85 games this year. Terry Francona can start resting his players for the playoffs ... now.

 

He thought the White Sox would have been won 85 games with Machado this year? Was he going to be their #1, #2 and #3 starter as well?

[Mike Sixel]

I don't think there is another Marwin....

 

Nate in Seattle: Klaw, wondering your take on Marwin’s infield defense, which UZR doesn’t like. If he played 2b for a full season, would it rate as average or above average?
Keith Law: I’ll guess average but with the strong caveat that I can’t remember the last time I really watched him play 2b.
Keith Law: Or anywhere but the outfield, really.

 

http://meadowparty.com/blog/2019/02/28/klawchat-2-28-19/

 

[BK432]

I hope I didn't miss this posted elsewhere on Twins Daily. This is a really fun read for Twins fans. The esteemed Joe Sheehan declares the Twins as the sleeper of 2019 and predicts they will win the AL Central.

 

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/sheehan-the-twins-are-the-sleeper-of-2019/

[howieramone2]

 

I hope I didn't miss this posted elsewhere on Twins Daily. This is a really fun read for Twins fans. The esteemed Joe Sheehan declares the Twins as the sleeper of 2019 and predicts they will win the AL Central.

 

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/sheehan-the-twins-are-the-sleeper-of-2019/

Finally someone who get's it.

[cardsfan]

Finally someone who get's it.

I can see the optimism if Buxton and Sano would perform. Cruz hits 30 HRs. SP stays healthy. Cleveland’s SP will be hard to beat though. Optimism. Though getting passed a first round by Boston or New York would be a miracle.

[Vanimal46]

Granite traded to Rangers for RHP Xavier Moore and cash.

 

[Pitz]

Granite traded to Rangers for RHP Xavier Moore and cash.

 

https://twitter.com/MillerStrib/status/1102267898574319616?s=19

Looks like they then traded Moore to Baltimore for international pool money. Saw it on mlbtraderumors. Tweeted by Betsy Helfand. 750k. Too lazy to copy link.

[nicksaviking]

Flipping Granite for 750K in International Bonus cash? Cool, I figured they’d lose him for nothing anyway and had no qualms doing so.

 

I’d assume most of the current crop of players are gone, but maybe there’s someone specific they have their eye on.

[Mr. Brooks]

That's amazing to me that they netted 750k in international bonus pool space for Zach Granite.

Wow.

Well done FO.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

That's amazing to me that they netted 750k in international bonus pool space for Zach Granite.
Wow.
Well done FO.

Yeah... I can't believe he brought that back in return.

[ashbury]

Yeah... I can't believe he brought that back in return.

They're just getting started. Remember that guy who traded a paper clip for (eventually) a house?

[Twins33]

They're just getting started. Remember that guy who traded a paper clip for (eventually) a house?

We're going to turn it into Mike Trout!

[Mike Sixel]

Are there any 15 year olds not signed? Because that expires June 30. Of course, getting anything for Granite amazes me. But then, I didn't recently compare him to Buxton....

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Are there any 15 year olds not signed? Because that expires June 30. Of course, getting anything for Granite amazes me. But then, I didn't recently compare him to Buxton....

There are always guys available if you're willing to overpay or disperse the money amongst a bunch of intriguing guys with flaws. Either way, the money is a good thing, provided they spend it (which I'm sure they will, you don't trade someone and then sit on the return until it evaporates).

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

It would be interesting to know what they would have gotten for Granite last off-season. At least to me.

[Mr. Brooks]

Are there any 15 year olds not signed? Because that expires June 30. Of course, getting anything for Granite amazes me. But then, I didn't recently compare him to Buxton....

I'm not sure why they'd trade for IFA space if there were no available players to sign.

They may not be high demand players, but you get enough of these 50k to 100k guys and one might become something.

[jkcarew]

 

It would be interesting to know what they would have gotten for Granite last off-season. At least to me.

A 14th round draft pick with zero power. Career minor league OPS barely over 700. His value as a prospect was predicated on one year where nothing in his profile really changed except his BABiP spiked dramatically. Still, probably would have gotten more...but I doubt much more.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Y'all know there's a thread about the Granite deal, right?

[Thrylos]

 

Are there any 15 year olds not signed? Because that expires June 30. Of course, getting anything for Granite amazes me. But then, I didn't recently compare him to Buxton....

 

Plenty of Cubans who may be available for that $...

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I'm not sure why they'd trade for IFA space if there were no available players to sign.
They may not be high demand players, but you get enough of these 50k to 100k guys and one might become something.

At this late point in the signing period, I'm not sure if there's even many of the usual 50k to 100k guys left.

 

My completely uninformed guess would be that it could come in useful if, as we're scouting prospects this spring to sign in July, we find anyone intriguing that may have gotten overlooked last year. Maybe a guy after a growth spurt, or maybe a shortstop hopeful who looks stronger on the mound, etc. Then we could offer them 2018-2019 cash and conserve our 2019-2020 allotment.

 

I'm not sure how much that flexibility is worth, but possibly more than Granite to us, given our current outfield and roster. Possibly more than Xavier Moore to us too, judging by his limited record.

[Mr. Brooks]

At this late point in the signing period, I'm not sure if there's even many of the usual 50k to 100k guys left.

 

My completely uninformed guess would be that it could come in useful if, as we're scouting prospects this spring to sign in July, we find anyone intriguing that may have gotten overlooked last year. Maybe a guy after a growth spurt, or maybe a shortstop hopeful who looks stronger on the mound, etc. Then we could offer them 2018-2019 cash and conserve our 2019-2020 allotment.

 

I'm not sure how much that flexibility is worth, but possibly more than Granite to us, given our current outfield and roster. Possibly more than Xavier Moore to us too, judging by his limited record.

I may be lower on Granite than some, but my opinion of him has never wavered from an absolute ceiling of AAAA player. So, it's absolutely worth more than Granite, IMO.

[AlwaysinModeration]

There is a new piece in the Athletic by Dan Hayes about the new pitching coaches and approaches. Good read. It’s behind a paywall, but worth the price. Here are a few interesting parts of the lengthy piece:

 

“The entire pitching staff has thrown daily bullpen sessions with Rapsodo pitch tracking and Edgertronic cameras recording velocity, spin rate and capturing release points and other vital data.”

 

....

 

“This year, they’re just open,” Hildenberger said. “’We’re analytics, forward-thinking and this is how we’re going to do it.’ It’s not like it’s, ‘We’re trying to implement this idea.’ It’s like, ‘This is our plan. This is how we’re going to go attack hitters. Let’s do it in spring training and let’s find ways to get guys out. And if it doesn’t work, we’ll find a new plan.’”

 

...

 

“The Twins don’t want to overload their players’ heads with too much data. They also want players to know why they’re making an adjustment.

 

”From the first time he met with the team’s pitchers last month, [Wes] Johnson has made clarity a focal point. He doesn’t want his players wondering why a change was being made. Johnson also wants pitchers to speak up if they have an issue with the plan being implemented.

 

“I’m always going to tell them why we’re doing something, and it’s going to be objective,” Johnson said.... “It’s going to be backed up with data and backed up with when you’ve had success.

 

“I’ve challenged each and every one of those guys that when we’ve given them something to come to me and challenge me on why they’re doing it if they don’t believe it.”

 

...

 

“Those guys are really good at aggregating a bunch of data and information, condensing it, putting it into a statement or a couple of statements and then telling you,” Hildenberger said. “They’re not afraid. If they think they have a piece of news that will help you get better, they’re going to tell you. They’re not going to withhold any information.”

 

...

 

“Martin Pérez lit up the radar gun Sunday and looked outstanding in his second appearance of the spring. The left-hander’s fastball sat between 95-97 mph as he struck out four batters in three scoreless innings. The velocity is a sharp increase from last season when Pérez’s four-seam fastball averaged 92.8 mph, according to Statcast. It stems partly from a mechanical adjustment Pérez made with Johnson.”