Twins release Van Steensel

[Brandon]

  

 

I thought this guy may have a chance to at least make some appearances with the Twins at some point.  he does have a 3.07 ERA and a 10k per nine innings with 4.7 bb per 9 as well but apparantly he isn't enough of a prospect to keep around right now with all the new prospects from trades and all.

 

Surprised we couldnt trade this guy somewhere.  Even for cash or a negligent return.  

[Dman]

Yeah I was sad to hear this news as well.  He has been dominant at times.  Really close to making it, but I am not completely surprised.  He just doesn't seem to have all the tools this front office likes in their pitchers.  Wouldn't be surprised if he caught on somewhere else.  Wouldn't be surprised if he pitched in the majors.  I would be surprised if he ended up being a dominant reliever in the majors though.  I wish him the best and hopes he makes his dream happen.

[Winston Smith]

No room for him when we have Belisle.

[Rosterman]

The possible six year minor league free agents will start to tumble as the Twins advance players for the final couple of weeks.

 

Yet we don't have room for aging prospects (like Melotakis and Van Steesel) who are washed up at age 28 or 29 (see also Zack Jones and probably Luke Bard), yet we will go out and give innings to people like Drake and Belisle, who probably have no business fitting into any longterm plans.

 

Of course, minor league guys are usually missing something. And it often takes six years to figure this out.

 

Hope the Aussie picks up somewhere. 

[DuluthFan]

He appears to have been on the minor league DL. He would also appear to be eligible for minor league free agency after the season. This was his second full year at AA at age 27. Perhaps the injury was going to take him through the end of the season and the player and team decided to part ways now.

 

This is also around the time of year that the Twins promote players. He may have been squeezed out of playing time.

[70charger]

I hate this part. It's the ugly underside of the shiny new toys we get from drafts and trades.

 

I wish him well, wherever he goes.

[laloesch]

 

The possible six year minor league free agents will start to tumble as the Twins advance players for the final couple of weeks.

 

Yet we don't have room for aging prospects (like Melotakis and Van Steesel) who are washed up at age 28 or 29 (see also Zack Jones and probably Luke Bard), yet we will go out and give innings to people like Drake and Belisle, who probably have no business fitting into any longterm plans.

 

Of course, minor league guys are usually missing something. And it often takes six years to figure this out.

 

Hope the Aussie picks up somewhere. 

 

That will only end when Paul Molitor is no longer manager.  He prefers to use the veteran relievers over prospects.

[ashbury]

I took the liberty of editing the thread title to have the correct spelling of Todd Van Steensel, It seemed only proper to get it right on possibly the last thread we'll see about him.

[nicksaviking]

I think it's become pretty clear that as far as minor league relievers go, the front office has drawn a line in the sand with high walk rates or control issues - ERA, strikeouts and velocity be damned.

 

I've always been mesmerized by big arms and hope they can work around the other issues, but it's starting to look like there's a clear pattern with the releases, DFAs and non-promotions. Chargois, Bard, Burdi, Melotakis, Curtis, Reed, Wimmers and Zack Jones all have been lost or passed over with some degree of consternation. I guess I can accept that there's a method to the madness even if I'm not in complete lock-step with it.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I think it's become pretty clear that as far as minor league relievers go, the front office has drawn a line in the sand with high walk rates or control issues - ERA, strikeouts and velocity be damned.

 

I've always been mesmerized by big arms and hope they can work around the other issues, but it's starting to look like there's a clear pattern with the releases, DFAs and non-promotions. Chargois, Bard, Burdi, Melotakis, Curtis, Reed, Wimmers and Zack Jones all have been lost or passed over with some degree of consternation. I guess I can accept that there's a method to the madness even if I'm not in complete lock-step with it.

I think we have to re-calibrate. I'm not even sure it's worth looking at minor league numbers for relievers anymore.

 

My concern is that the new front office has done more passing up and cutting than they've done bringing in good relief talent. Finding guys that can make it is more valuable than identifying guys who can't.

[slash129]

 

Chargois, Bard, Burdi, Melotakis, Curtis, Reed, Wimmers and Zack Jones all have been lost or passed over with some degree of consternation. 

 

Speaking of Burdi .... Looks like he started his rehab assignment, but he hasn't pitched since July 31st .... Makes me wonder if he's injured again .... Otherwise, he should be back on the Pirates in a few days and will have to be hidden by a team that just traded for Archer to stay in the hunt

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Speaking of Burdi .... Looks like he started his rehab assignment, but he hasn't pitched since July 31st .... Makes me wonder if he's injured again .... Otherwise, he should be back on the Pirates in a few days and will have to be hidden by a team that just traded for Archer to stay in the hunt

From August 3rd: "Right-hander Nick Burdi, the Pirates' Rule 5 Draft pick working his way back from Tommy John surgery, had his rehab assignment stopped on Friday due to a left quadriceps strain."

 

https://www.mlb.com/pirates/news/jung-ho-kang-has-left-wrist-surgery/c-288706054

 

 

He's already been shut down for a week, so he's eligible to reset his 30 days rehab. That's what the Twins did with Ervin Santana earlier this season.

 

Also, guys coming back from Tommy John surgery are also eligible to apply for rehab extensions, up to 30 days in 10 day increments.

 

https://www.thecubreporter.com/book/export/html/3539

 

So there was no real danger of the Pirates needing to roster Burdi before Sep. 1st this year.

 

[Brandon]

The thing about Van Steensel is I feel vested since i've been reading Seth's articles and comments for so long I would like to see him get that Tommy Watkins cup of coffee in the bigs....

[h2oface]

 

Yeah I was sad to hear this news as well.  He has been dominant at times.  Really close to making it, but I am not completely surprised.  He just doesn't seem to have all the tools this front office likes in their pitchers.  Wouldn't be surprised if he caught on somewhere else.  Wouldn't be surprised if he pitched in the majors.  I would be surprised if he ended up being a dominant reliever in the majors though.  I wish him the best and hopes he makes his dream happen.

 

Hey.... this brain trust also cut Dereck Rodriguez and JT Chargois. Van Steensel probably has a bright future ahead of him in a different system.

[yarnivek1972]

From August 3rd: "Right-hander Nick Burdi, the Pirates' Rule 5 Draft pick working his way back from Tommy John surgery, had his rehab assignment stopped on Friday due to a left quadriceps strain."

 

https://www.mlb.com/pirates/news/jung-ho-kang-has-left-wrist-surgery/c-288706054

 

 

He's already been shut down for a week, so he's eligible to reset his 30 days rehab. That's what the Twins did with Ervin Santana earlier this season.

 

Also, guys coming back from Tommy John surgery are also eligible to apply for rehab extensions, up to 30 days in 10 day increments.

 

https://www.thecubreporter.com/book/export/html/3539

 

So there was no real danger of the Pirates needing to roster Burdi before Sep. 1st this year.

They still had to pay him MLB salary and allow him to acrue MLB service time without finding out anything about his ability to pitch at the MLB level. I really wouldn’t consider that a wise strategy.

[Otto von Ballpark]

They still had to pay him MLB salary and allow him to acrue MLB service time without finding out anything about his ability to pitch at the MLB level. I really wouldn’t consider that a wise strategy.

Well, I was just laying out the facts there, not really commenting on the wisdom.

 

Although MLB minimum salary on the 60 day DL is pretty minimal risk. Service time is irrelevant at this point. They're going to get 30+ days to work with him in the minors, and they can easily get 30 days in MLB after rosters expand if they want. Re-evaluate at that point. The biggest cost to them so far was the roster spot from December into February last winter.

 

I am not terribly confident that Burdi will pan out, but it hasn't cost them much to find out. Considering he's been stashed on the 60-day DL, the real costs are probably not that different from the Twins and, say, John Curtiss.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Hey.... this brain trust also cut Dereck Rodriguez and JT Chargois. Van Steensel probably has a bright future ahead of him in a different system.

agreed that cutting those two were mistakes, esp Rodriguez. how many guys have they cut that we never hear of?

[70charger]

Dereck Rodriguez was never cut by the Twins. Why does this myth keep getting spread?

[Otto von Ballpark]

Dereck Rodriguez was never cut by the Twins. Why does this myth keep getting spread?

Well, the Twins declined to give him a 40-man spot, so I think "cut" is a fair shorthand. We had his exclusive rights, and he didn't make the cut. Functionally it is pretty much the same as a non-tender, which we commonly call a cut.

[70charger]

 

Well, the Twins declined to give him a 40-man spot, so I think "cut" is a fair shorthand. We had his exclusive rights, and he didn't make the cut. Functionally it is pretty much the same as a non-tender, which we commonly call a cut.

 

So the Twins "cut" Kohl Stewart last year and that's why he's pitching for the Twins this year? You're seriously going to tell me that you don't see any difference?

 

This isn't even to mention the fact that last year, when we all thought we'd be contending, Rodriguez was about 47 on our list of 40 to protect, and only now people are freaking out, largely because we suck and, hey, who knew so many rookies would get a chance?

 

Either way, the rhetoric doesn't match the facts.

[Otto von Ballpark]

So the Twins "cut" Kohl Stewart last year and that's why he's pitching for the Twins this year? You're seriously going to tell me that you don't see any difference?

 

Kohl Stewart wasn't eligible for minor league free agency. I think that is a big difference.