Article: Twins Trade Lewin Diaz for RHP Sergio Romo, 2 Minor Leaguers

[Seth Stohs]

According to Jeff Passan of ESPN.com (And now many others), the Twins and Marlins are nearing a deal that would bring veteran relief pitcher Sergio Romo to the Minnesota Twins.

 

Twins first base prospect Lewin Diaz is heading to the Marlins in return. The Twins will also receive a minor league pitcher Chris Vallimont and a Player to be Named Later in return.The Twins and Marlins reached an agreement. The Twins will send 1B Lewin Diaz to the Miami Marlins in exchange for veteran Sergio Romo.

 

Per Passan: "The Minnesota Twins are deep into talks with the Miami Marlins on a deal that would send reliever Sergio Romo to Minnesota, sources with knowledge of the situation tell ESPN. The expectation is a trade will soon be finalized."

 

Moments later, Passan tweeted: "One Marlins source says the deal should be completed soon. It would add a much-needed bullpen piece to the Twins, who continue to be aggressive in pursuit of help to their pitching staff."

 

The 36-year-old Romo is in his 12th MLB season. He has 17 saves this season in 18 opportunities and a 3.58 ERA.

 

Want a Winner? Romo was part of three World Series championship teams with the San Francisco Giants.

 

Romo is excited to join a team that is making a pennant push.

 

 

Lewin Diaz had a tremendous 2019 season, returning to his prospect status. He began the year in Ft. Myers and has continued to mash since being promoted to the AA Pensacola Blue Wahoos.

 

 

Chris Vallimont is a 22-year-old right-handed pitcher who was 4-4 with a 2.99 ERA in 13 starts with the Clinton LumberKings. He has now made six starts for Jupiter, the Marlins High-A Florida State League affiliate, and is 2-3 with a 3.75 ERA. Combined, he has 122 strikeouts in 105+ innings this year. He is likely to join the Kernels in Cedar Rapids. He was the Marlins 5th round pick in 2018 out of Mercyhurst.

 

 

ANALYSIS... OK, Opinion

 

While I believe that Lewin Diaz can be a solid MLB 1B starting sometime in 2020, I don't have any problem with this trade.

 

Diaz has had a nice bounce-back season in 2019 after a disappointing 2018 ended early with an injury. However, he is behind CJ Cron, Miguel Sano, Brent Rooker, Zander Wiel and Alex Kirilloff in the Future 1B pecking order.

 

Sergio Romo isn't dominant, by any means, but he is a successful veteran who has won a lot of games and even three World Series championships (if you think that matters anymore). He's not a hard-thrower anymore, but he is crafty and gets the job done, especially lately.

 

Chris Villamont is an intriguing prospect. He can throw pretty hard, especially if he were to be moved to the bullpen at some point. He may be a similar prospect (Ranking-Wise) to Diaz, and yet he doesn't need to be added to the 40-man roster for two more years.

 

And hey, if he goes to the Miracle, it's possible that they could lose a starting pitcher or two over the next four days.

 

Finally, the Twins will also get a Player to be Named Later, a lottery pick, if you like.

 

So to summarize, for Diaz (who likely wouldn't have been added to the 40-man roster this coming offseason), the Twins will get 2+ months of a competent, quality veteran reliever, a hard-throwing pitcher currently starting in the Florida State League after being drafted just a year ago, and another minor leaguer.

 

Hard to argue with that.

 

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[Mill1634]

Don’t care for this move at all. Seems like what we already have in may, Duffey, and Harper which are fine 6th and 7th inning options. Has an xFIP of over 5, which means he is probably due for some negative regression. I guess it’s a fine move if he isn’t the only arm we are adding, which I’m guessing is the case. One thing I’ve learned so far is to trust their decision making with arms!

[Homer Hanky]

I like this add... lots of good WS experience... and better option then Parker

[Mike Sixel]

I don't understand this. He's not great, and, ummm.

[brvama]

Kind of so-so on Romo, but he is in near the top on hard hit rate and exit velocity against. Also another player, believe a MiLB pitcher, is coming from Miami according to Joel Sherman.

[jorgenswest]

He will pitch worse than at least one of the three the Twins have just DFA’d. This is not the playoff caliber reliever they need.

 

I would have preferred Belisle who would not cost Diaz.

[Danchat]

If the Twins consider themselves a team that can improve pitchers upon acquiring them, then I think this move can work out. What do I mean? Well, check out what the Rays did with Romo in 2017 after they got him in a trade after the Dodgers DFA'd him:

 

 

We were all mad when the Twins signed Anibal Sanchez, but then he went on to have a very good season elsewhere. I think our pitching staff could make Romo better than what he was in Miami.

 

Oh, and losing Lewin Diaz doesn't mean much, he was going to need a 40 man spot and the Twins likely weren't going to give him one.

 

Also: 

[brvama]

Second player is supposedly Chris Vallimont, big righty in FSL at Jupiter. Looks like good K numbers. Drafted last year in 5th round.

[AceWrigley]

It's hard to see Sergio Romo of the soft toss at age 36 really adding anything to the relief arsenal for the Twins. Maybe it extends your bullpen and adds some veteran presence, but I hope the additional minor league pitcher we're supposedly getting from the Marlins is a prospect of some hope. Lewin Diaz can hit and will be a major league player. If this is the cost for Romo now, I'm not keen to find out what it costs to really improve the squad at this time.

 

Welcome to the Twins Mr. Romo and may all your pitches be swanky and elusive.

[Homer Hanky]

This was a fantastic trade... GREAT JOB! 

[operation mindcrime]

I feel like we won this trade! Good luck to Lewin Diaz!

[Dman]

 

Marlins fleece us again. Nice job FO.

 

OK didn't see they got the pitcher in the deal earlier.  That makes this look better.  Guy has a really nice WHIP so he definitely goes after guys and doesn't walk a lot of guys.  That definitely evens this up some.  Also he was 2018 pick so no worries about rule V for the next three years. 

 

It llooks like he is number 23 in the Marlins top 30 so not just a throw in but a guy with decent potential.  Pen looks like his floor. MLB says he has had control problems but has been better this year.

 

I think the Marlins will be very happy with Diaz and we have no place for him on the 40 next year and too many guys in front of him.  He is also too good to hide now. I am OK with this deal and actually think I like it now.

Edited July 28, 2019 by Dman

[Mike Sixel]

People like Romo to help this team?

 

Because they need to help this team, not just the future.

Edited July 28, 2019 by Mike Sixel

[highlander]

Meh

[PseudoSABR]

Hate giving up Diaz after his resurgence, but the Twins are facing a 40 man roster crunch and with Rooker and Lanarch, I suppose he was expendable.  

 

That said, Romo better not be the only addition to the pen, because that is a meh acquisition.

[James]

As long as this isn't the only move they make, I'm fine with it.  Give up a guy that you'd probably end up parting with anyway for help now, and it sound like they will also get a PTBNL.  It's hard to be too unhappy with this.

[Mr. Brooks]

People like Romo to help this team?

 

Because they need to help this team, not just the future.

As the third or fourth best deadline pickup? Yes.

He improves our bullpen.

He does so more by lifting the floor rather than the ceiling, but there is still plenty of time to get a couple of better pitchers.

[USAFChief]

"the Twins, who continue to be aggressive"

 

HUH??

[alarp33]

People like Romo to help this team?

 

Because they need to help this team, not just the future.

Yes. He is still a good pitcher. You’re disappointed because he’s not a Giles type, but he’s better than what they currently have in the pen

[VATwinsFan]

Romo’s last 15 games—14.2 IP, 12 H, 1 ER, 1 W, 12 Ks, 0.89 WHIP

[HawksNest]

Vallimont is my favorite piece in the deal.  Romo does little for me

[Mr. Brooks]

"the Twins, who continue to be aggressive"

 

HUH??

Any reason you left off the rest of the sentence? The part that gives it it's context?

 

How plugged in are you to dispute whether or not they've been aggressive "in their pursuit of upgrades"?

Edited July 28, 2019 by Mr. Brooks

[MABB1959]

Isn’t 17 of 18 saves good?

[Richie the Rally Goat]

As mentioned in the rumors thread, if this is the only bp move, I’m pissed.

 

If this was the third best reliever acquired, I’m happy

[AceWrigley]

 

Second player is supposedly Chris Vallimont, big righty in FSL at Jupiter. Looks like good K numbers. Drafted last year in 5th round.

The single-season strikeout king at Mercyhurst University, 6-5, 220 lb. righty from Erie, PA. Was the opening day starter this season for the Clinton Lumberjacks. Fastball reaching up to 97 MPH and resting between 93-95. Throws an 11-6 curve which is possibly as effective as his fastball. Rounds out with a change and frisbee slider. Seems like a smart young man that understands the need to be able to make adjustments. Prospect of the month of May for the Marlins. I'm feeling better about the Romo acquisition.

[Twins33]

Fine for me as a second or third add. Need to get at least one BP guy better.

 

[MABB1959]

Does anyone remember about 5 years ago, maybe more when the Twins wanted Cruz but the other team wanted Hicks.

[Seth Stohs]

Whats' not to like with this deal?

 

I've added updated as we have learned more throughout the night.

[Mr. Brooks]

Isn’t 17 of 18 saves good?

It might be, it might not be.

Those numbers alone don't give enough context.

Theoretically a pitcher could have an 18.00 ERA and be perfect in save opportunities.

[Tom Froemming]

This seems like a really good trade to me in terms of improvement to the org. You get a piece to boost the bullpen now and an intriguing starting pitching prospect for later. Diaz is having a great year, but the position player depth in the org right now is crazy deep.

 

I wouldn't have hated Diaz for Vallimont straight up.

 

As for Romo, he doesn't throw hard, but his 14.2 swinging strike rate suggests he still manages just fine. That's better than anybody currently in the Twins bullpen. For reference, Taylor Rogers is at 10.5%