Article: BREAKING: Twins Trade Rodney To A's

[Seth Stohs]

The Minnesota Twins have announced that they have traded RHP Fernando Rodney to the Oakland A's in exchange for RHP Dakota Chalmers.The Twins have traded their closer, Fernando Rodney, to the A's. In return, the Twins receive 21-year-old RHP Dakota Chalmers.

 

Chalmers was the A's 3rd round pick in 2015 out of high school in Georgia. He received a seven-figure bonus, well over slot value, to keep him from a commitment to the University of Georgia.. He pitched a couple of games with Beloit this year, but according to Darren Wolfson, he had Tommy John surgery in April.

 

Here is another report on Chalmers from Jeff Johnson of The Gazette in Cedar Rapids:

 

 

Rodney was signed by the Twins before this season. He worked in 46 games for the Twins and went 3-2 with 25 saves and a 3.09 ERA.

 

According to Mike Berardino, the A's had claimed Rodney, which of course gave them less leverage in a trade.

 

 

The Twins will make a corresponding roster move tomorrow before their game.

 

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[KirbyDome89]

Late innings might be watchable now. 

 

Enjoy the FRE Oakland; I sure didn't. 

[mudcat14]

Pitching in Beloit for 5 whole innings this season.  Currently on the DL.  Not on A's Top 30 list.  6'3" & about 175#.  Anybody got a scouting report on him?  I hope he at least throws hard when healthy.

 

Now, let's find a taker for Morrison and see what Austin might provide going forward.

[Danchat]

Huh... I thought they'd hold on to him and use his option, but I'm fine that they'd didn't. I'm interested to see who'll get the opportunity to close games... Hildy and Reed would probably be the top options but I don't think they should at the moment. Let's get an arm from AAA and figure things out from there.

[Twinsoholic]

Look at his Ks last season. Something like 47 in about 29 innings.

[Homer Hanky]

I always thought May would be a good closer! 

[tvagle]

Only thing we can say is....

 

[Old Twins Cap]

Admire Rodney's career, his firm fast ball and light touch on the change-up.  At his age, it's like "Grampa got game".

 

But the arrows, the skewed hat, the non-chalance as the 9th inning got crowded with opponents on bases, sorry Fernando but, you lost more than a game with all that.

 

Good luck on the Coast, I do like the way A's play ball.

[djvang]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!

[Mike Sixel]

Wow. Unexpected. Not sure how I feel about the return.

 

Make McGill the closer please. Keep May for high leverage.

 

Or maybe move Reed to closer?

 

[jorgenswest]

He was as high as #8 on their pipeline http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2015?list=oak

 

He is 21 and has had some injuries and significant trouble with command. He is young enough to recover from both and approach his upside when drafted.

[yarnivek1972]

I always thought May would be a good closer!

May is probably better used putting fires out mid inning than 3 runs up with no one on. I also don’t know if he is up to the workload of a closer (sometimes 2-3 days in a row).

 

Does anyone really think it won’t be Matt Belisle in the 9th in 9 days? Until then, idk. Hildenberger I guess. Maybe matchups.

Edited August 10, 2018 by yarnivek1972

[PseudoSABR]

I say we run out multiple openers, and let the starting pitcher finish games.

[FormerMinnasotan]

I wonder who’s next? Personally I kinda hope it is Ervin Santana. Not that I have anything against him, but with this obvious rebuild going on now would be the time to trade Santana and then call up Stephen Gonsalves and roll with Gonsalves for the rest of the year and see what we got (that is unless we trade Jake Odorizzi) in Gonsalves.

[TheLeviathan]

Honestly, I thought we could get more for him than what this looks like on the surface.

 

Once again looks like high velocity, high upside gamble.

[Krusington]

 

Pitching in Beloit for 5 whole innings this season.  Currently on the DL.  Not on A's Top 30 list.  6'3" & about 175#.  Anybody got a scouting report on him?  I hope he at least throws hard when healthy.

 

Now, let's find a taker for Morrison and see what Austin might provide going forward.

 

Mid/High 90s fastball is what I've been seeing and reading most places. High risk/reward type pitcher it seems. Lots of Ks but lots of walks as well.

 

[Rosterman]

A million dollar bonus baby. A year away from returning to the minors. Still not a bad return ffor the future.

 

But who closes?

 

Hildenberger has been overused.

 

We still have Curtiss and his stuff in the minors.

 

But I'm voting that we make TREVOR MAY the closer for the remainder of the season and see if he can handle it, assuming we do have games to close.

 

Still to move: Morrison and Santana, and maybe Addison Reed.

[Twinsoholic]

I like the trade. Rolling the dice on for a high upside starter makes sense to me. The comments from the Beloit pitching coach are glowing.

[Danchat]

 

I wonder who’s next? Personally I kinda hope it is Ervin Santana. Not that I have anything against him, but with this obvious rebuild going on now would be the time to trade Santana and then call up Stephen Gonsalves and roll with Gonsalves for the rest of the year and see what we got (that is unless we trade Jake Odorizzi) in Gonsalves.

The problem is that nobody's going to trade for Santana when he's struggling to throw 90 and is rather ineffective. Maybe you could flip him as a long reliever, but I have a feeling they might need to shut him down on the DL for the rest of the year.

[notoriousgod71]

 

Huh... I thought they'd hold on to him and use his option, but I'm fine that they'd didn't. I'm interested to see who'll get the opportunity to close games... Hildy and Reed would probably be the top options but I don't think they should at the moment. Let's get an arm from AAA and figure things out from there.

 

They won't need a closer most nights.

[mikelink45]

Interesting event.  I am in MI and saw it announced in the Astros Mariners game.  Good news.  Please do not pick up any more loose arms - go with what is in the minors.

[mlhouse]

 

Honestly, I thought we could get more for him than what this looks like on the surface.

 

Once again looks like high velocity, high upside gamble.

 

When the risk is zero, it isn't a gamble.   

[Brandon]

Its like we traded for Burdi...

[bighat]

If Belisle is closing next week we will all feel very sad. Time for new blood. I don't mind the return arm. Here's hoping the new kid recovers.

[Dman]

Rodney just wasn't going to be a part of the future for this team.  While I did enjoy the FRE I just didn't see him being a fit for this team next year.  I think this team needs better options. The return feels a bit underwhelming but considering the type of pitcher he is I guess this is about what he was worth.  Would have been nice if they could have gotten some DSL or GCL lotto ticket as well but I guess Chalmers was it.  I guess it is nice to get something for him.  Thanks for the memories Rodney.  Have fun being on a playoff team and entertaining the A's fans.

[mngopherguy]

Interesting trade, I guess it makes sense moving Rodney when he doesn't fit.  The Twins will probably need to sign a closer in the off season.  

[Brandon]

I like this return better than Watson and 500k international cap space for our closer last year.

[Borealis]

Admire Rodney's career, his firm fast ball and light touch on the change-up.  At his age, it's like "Grampa got game".

 

But the arrows, the skewed hat, the non-chalance as the 9th inning got crowded with opponents on bases, sorry Fernando but, you lost more than a game with all that.

 

Good luck on the Coast, I do like the way A's play ball.

 

Both the arrows and the tilted cap are tributes to his late father. I find it rather admirable that he does the tributes regardless of what anyone else thinks. But yeah, on the surface it can seem unsportsman like and I get why many find it irritating lol.

 

Agreed on A’s! They often times become competitive seemingly out of nowhere, playing fundamentally sound baseball. Kinda like the “Twins Way” pipe dream we hear about, but actually living it in real life lol.

[sftwinsfan]

They were only going to move him "for a very nice offer" this month I read not too long ago.  I'm thrilled he's moved on, but kind of seems like a sad return. Sounds like a kid with talent, but had to step away from baseball in 2017 and now Tommy John in 2018.  More to add to thier rule 5 log jam in a couple years.  You don't win the lotto if you don't play I guess, but those seem like some long odds to get for a guy you allegedly wanted to keep around next season.  

[Borealis]

Interesting event. I am in MI and saw it announced in the Astros Mariners game. Good news. Please do not pick up any more loose arms - go with what is in the minors.

Agreed on the statement of not picking up anymore loose arms. I can’t describe how frustrated I was the other night watching Dereck Rodriguez pitch for the Giants. We’ve already had to let go of too many high upside arms recently and really feel like we’ve been blowing it on that front.