Article: BREAKING: Twins Trade Rodney To A's

[HrbieFan]

Another power arm that has already had TJ surgery, love the return! If we had a reliable closer this year, tack another 5+ wins on the board

[Doctor Wu]

 

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?

Hey, let's make Garver the closer!

[amjgt]

Hey folks, long time lurker, finally joining the party. Of all of the trades, this is probably the one that I'm most indifferent about. Rodney is not part of the future, so I don't mind cutting the cord.

 

I'm all for adding pitching depth. We're adding bodies and sooner or later, we're going to hit on a guy or two. That said... out of all of the moves being made, can somebody explain to me why we're not taking a flier on a catcher? It seems to me like that's the weakest position in the organization. If we're adding bodies and taking fliers, why aren't we doing it there? We're a Garver injury from a Wilson/Astudillo experience. Now that we're in full on lost season mode, I feel like I can say that last part out loud.

Takes two to tango.

[beckmt]

I believe the FO did not feel that Rodney could not be replaced for next year, so with the return this tantalizing pulled the trigger on the deal.  

For my money Twins have to evaluate the players that could have 40 man roster spots next year,  this will open another spot to help in the process. 

[HrbieFan]

Any chance Tyler Jay is brought up? Let's get this youth movement going

[ashbury]

I don't think the A's will be using him as closer.

Sure, sure, go ahead and step on a good joke.

[Doctor Wu]

 

Reed, Morrison, and Odorizzi better be next.

I'd rather see the team hang on to Odorizzi. I think we'll need another dependable arm in the starting rotation next year, and overall he's been fairly good this year.

 

As far as Rodney, I'm happy to see him go, "veteran presence" or not. Sure, he's a fun player to have around, one of the few that still seems to have a zest for the game, and at his advanced age he's still a relatively effective reliever. But as others have stated, he's not going to be part of the team's future, or even of much need next year, so might as well get something for 7 weeks of his services. Good move.

[ashbury]

If we had a reliable closer this year, tack another 5+ wins on the board

Do you consider Craig Kimbrel a reliable closer? He's blown 4 saves for the Red Sox this season, versus Rodney's 6. No pitcher is 100% perfect.

 

The Fernando Rodney Experience was never primarily about the blown saves and walk-offs, anyway.

[VATwinsFan]

May for closer.

 

At least until Belisle comes off the DL.

[Nine of twelve]

 

Hey folks, long time lurker, finally joining the party. Of all of the trades, this is probably the one that I'm most indifferent about. Rodney is not part of the future, so I don't mind cutting the cord. 

 

I'm all for adding pitching depth. We're adding bodies and sooner or later, we're going to hit on a guy or two. That said... out of all of the moves being made, can somebody explain to me why we're not taking a flier on a catcher? It seems to me like that's the weakest position in the organization. If we're adding bodies and taking fliers, why aren't we doing it there? We're a Garver injury from a Wilson/Astudillo experience. Now that we're in full on lost season mode, I feel like I can say that last part out loud. 

Catching is scarce and becoming scarcer, and that's true throughout baseball, not just in the Twins organization. Nobody wants to give up a catching prospect.

[Kendel]

Like the old saying.

GREAT TRADE!!!! Who'd we get?

[Number3]

Another meaningless move in a now meaningless season for, unfortunately, a meaningless franchise for the foreseeable future. Why did they make the off season moves they made if they were going to throw in the towel 2/3 of the way through this season? Did they expect Cleveland to roll over and play dead? I don't think the Twins ownership/FO/manager has a clue what they are trying to accomplish. Any evidence to the contrary please identify.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Hey, let's make Garver the closer!

That's a ridiculous suggestion.

 

Garver should be the "opener".

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Do you consider Craig Kimbrel a reliable closer? He's blown 4 saves for the Red Sox this season, versus Rodney's 6. No pitcher is 100% perfect.

 

The Fernando Rodney Experience was never primarily about the blown saves and walk-offs, anyway.

Yup. As you previously alluded to, the Twins are 39-7 in Rodney's appearances this year, and 2 of those losses he entered when we were trailing already. He's blown 6 saves/leads, but we won 2 of those anyway. So even if he was 100% perfect in save opportunities, it would only net us 4 wins. He's only lost 1 game he entered as a tie too (and preserved 3 ties that became wins vs Cleveland).

 

Interestingly, the only pitcher who is 100% perfect in save opportunities this year, with more than 3 opportunities, is Ken Giles -- who has a 6.29 ERA on the season in MLB (and 8.44 during a minor league assignment too). Every pitcher with more than 12 opportunities has at least 2 blown saves with the exception of Doolittle and Kela who each have 1.

Edited August 10, 2018 by spycake

[Steve Lein]

My reaction to this trade is...not good.

 

Chalmers has good stuff but not even out of low-A ball after four seasons because he can't throw it for strikes.  Also won't be ready to pitch again until the season has already started next year. 

 

I would have pulled Rodney back and kept him. 

 

Hope Chalmers turns out awesome but we've seen his type before and its worked out...never?

[jmlease1]

 

Reed, Morrison, and Odorizzi better be next.

 

Reed? No way. He's signed at a reasonable price for next season and is a good reliever, despite occasional struggles this season. He's a keeper in a good bullpen. Odorizzi is under team control for another season and is a solid mid-rotation starter who can gobble up some innings and be a veteran presence on a young staff. Morrison? Fine, but don't expect to get much.

 

I'm fine with this deal. It's one of the reasons I was ok with the Rodney signing in the first place: I figured he'd be moveable if things didn't go well with the team and a 1 year deal is fungible. Looks like they got a lottery ticket on this prospect: great stuff with control problems and some mechanical issues. He's worth taking a shot on if you have confidence in your minor league staff.

 

Let's get Curtiss up here and pitching high leverage situations. Let's give May a run at a closer's role and see how he reacts. How about seeing what Luke Bard has got going?

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

How about seeing what Luke Bard has got going?

FWIW, Bard has had a pretty poor season at AAA. His K rate is way down.

 

I have no idea what his "spin rate" is, though.

 

Probably better off looking at Duffey or Busenitz again -- they're both basically the same age as Bard anyway, and have accomplished more this season (and through the pro careers).

[jmlease1]

 

Another meaningless move in a now meaningless season for, unfortunately, a meaningless franchise for the foreseeable future. Why did they make the off season moves they made if they were going to throw in the towel 2/3 of the way through this season? Did they expect Cleveland to roll over and play dead? I don't think the Twins ownership/FO/manager has a clue what they are trying to accomplish. Any evidence to the contrary please identify.

 

They're throwing in the towel because the team underperformed and injuries/suspensions to key people made it worse. They're not in contention for the division (they were what...9 games back at the deadline?), they haven't been in contention for a wild card either, being even further back than for the division. They loaded up for a run at the division this year, adding veteran pieces to try to stabilize the rotation and the bullpen, and started the season with what should have been a solid lineup. It didn't work. So they're moving on from the people who are mostly going to be free agents next year. The only guy who wasn't is Pressly, and it seems like they got a good return for him.

 

It's not the results we were hoping for, but it's not a sign that they don't have a clue or don't have a plan. I'd rather have cold-eyed realism about what this team is and what it is not than pie in the sky idealism about "maybe they can win 14 straight and get back in it!" (which still probably leaves them 4-5 back, but whatever)

[ashbury]

Another meaningless move in a now meaningless season for, unfortunately, a meaningless franchise for the foreseeable future. Why did they make the off season moves they made if they were going to throw in the towel 2/3 of the way through this season? Did they expect Cleveland to roll over and play dead? I don't think the Twins ownership/FO/manager has a clue what they are trying to accomplish. Any evidence to the contrary please identify.

Moderator's note: If you want to go full-tilt for a referendum on the front office's competence, or a retrospective on the 2018 season, please start a new thread, and keep to the topic (broadly construed) of this particular trade here.

[jokin]

 

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?

 

Sources say: the leading Dark Horse candidate is Belisle...

Edited August 10, 2018 by jokin

[jokin]

 

FWIW, Bard has had a pretty poor season at AAA. His K rate is way down.

 

I have no idea what his "spin rate" is, though.

 

Probably better off looking at Duffey or Busenitz again -- they're both basically the same age as Bard anyway, and have accomplished more this season (and through the pro careers).

 

I'd give both of them another fair shot, but it sounds like Duffey has burned all remaining bridges.

[Brock Beauchamp]

A pretty underwhelming return on paper but whatever, I don't even care that much. Let's just hope Falvey sees something in this guy worth the effort.

[jokin]

 

I'm a little surprised. 

 

I thought they would pick up the option and Rodney would be back. 

 

We are going to need a big quantity of players next year. 

 

I was surprised there wasn't a better bidder for Rodney before the deadline. Did Oakland pick up the remaining salary? The Twins need to recoup as much of this years' payroll excess as possible to sign "a big quantity of players next year..." (Although I prefer quality over quantity)

[jokin]

 

A pretty underwhelming return on paper but whatever, I don't even care that much. Let's just hope Falvey sees something in this guy worth the effort.

 

Yep. I thought Rodney would merit a more near-major league ready arm in return.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I was surprised there wasn't a better bidder for Rodney before the deadline.

I'm actually wondering if the Twins front office simply ran out of time at the deadline. They were crazy-active and moved loads of players over a short period of time.

 

And Rodney was probably at the bottom of that list, as he's not worth much and the team was probably floating whether to keep him for next season.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Did Oakland pick up the remaining salary?

 

Yes, Oakland is paying the full remaining salary, per Beradino:

 

Edited August 10, 2018 by spycake

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Also saw the Austin is heading up to the Twins. I haven't seen an announcement on a corresponding move. Has anyone heard any thing?

 

The corresponding move for Austin hasn't been announced yet, but this guy was spotted entering Logan Morrison's suite at the team hotel:

 

[ThejacKmp]

 

They're throwing in the towel because the team underperformed and injuries/suspensions to key people made it worse. They're not in contention for the division (they were what...9 games back at the deadline?), they haven't been in contention for a wild card either, being even further back than for the division. They loaded up for a run at the division this year, adding veteran pieces to try to stabilize the rotation and the bullpen, and started the season with what should have been a solid lineup. It didn't work. So they're moving on from the people who are mostly going to be free agents next year. The only guy who wasn't is Pressly, and it seems like they got a good return for him.

 

It's not the results we were hoping for, but it's not a sign that they don't have a clue or don't have a plan. I'd rather have cold-eyed realism about what this team is and what it is not than pie in the sky idealism about "maybe they can win 14 straight and get back in it!" (which still probably leaves them 4-5 back, but whatever)

 

I think we should add that the down year has highlighted how well the FO prepared for all possible outcomes. They didn't mortgage the Twins future with a bunch of Ricky Nolasco contracts. They knew that if things didn't work out they could pivot and take advantage of the expanded market two wild cards often brings to sellers. They took a shot at making a run this year but didn't mortgage the future. Love it.

[ashbury]

The Twins need to recoup as much of this years' payroll excess as possible to sign "a big quantity of players next year..."

I won't bother to search for a link but my recollection is that the Twins have stated explicitly that this isn't how they budget.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I think we should add that the down year has highlighted how well the FO prepared for all possible outcomes.

I get your thinking -- I generally liked the moves last winter, and the trade returns at the deadline -- but I think that glosses over the intervening 4 months. Would have liked to see more of an attempt to shake up the 2018 team, maybe in May/June, before resigning themselves to seller status. Belisle was an underwhelming attempt, to say the least.