I hope the Stashak that opened the season is the guy who is being activated. He got knocked around a bit his last couple of outings. The Twins still have Littell and Poppen at St. Paul and I would expect one or both of them will be up in the final three weeks. Wow, only 18 games left.

Interesting question. Who is the pitcher that is sent to St. Paul when Odorizzi is activated this week? Can't see it being Thielbar or Wisler. So that leaves Alcala, or Stashak after a brief trip back.

 

Interesting question. Who is the pitcher that is sent to St. Paul when Odorizzi is activated this week? Can't see it being Thielbar or Wisler. So that leaves Alcala, or Stashak after a brief trip back.

It might be Wade, as we already have 5 other OFs on the roster.

 

Looks like Rooker will hit the 45 day IL and will allow another 40 man move. I would suggest Blankenhorn to play a bit of 2B and Marwin/Wade can play RF until Kepler is back.

 

Also, shouldn't Nick Gordon be re-added to the 40 man soon?

 

 

Looks like Rooker will hit the 45 day IL and will allow another 40 man move. I would suggest Blankenhorn to play a bit of 2B and Marwin/Wade can play RF until Kepler is back.

 

Also, shouldn't Nick Gordon be re-added to the 40 man soon?

 

I would assume it will be Kepler returning... I'd be very surprised if Blankenhorn came up. Without Rooker, they'll have Wade and Cave as the backups in the outfield (assuming Kepler's back, otherwise, one will start). Would be surprised to see another lefty at that point. 

Did Blankenhorn come up for Smeltzer?

Did Blankenhorn come up for Smeltzer?

Sielk reported Blankenhorn was with the team in the taxi squad. THOUGHT I saw him up for Smeltzer but may have jumped the gun on that.

Did Blankenhorn come up for Smeltzer?

Yes, correct. It is even up on the Twins official transactions page:

 

https://www.mlb.com/twins/roster/transactions

 

I would assume it will be Kepler returning... I'd be very surprised if Blankenhorn came up. Without Rooker, they'll have Wade and Cave as the backups in the outfield (assuming Kepler's back, otherwise, one will start). Would be surprised to see another lefty at that point. 

 

I'm surprised, but with Arraez out and being without Rosario, Sano and Gonzalez as a late scratch, I'm sure they just wanted a second bench option available.  Happy for Travis. He's been on Twins Daily often!

Alex Avila and Jake Odorizzi activated.

 

Travis Blankenhorn and Randy Dobnak optioned. 

Littell was outrighted off the 40 man and cleared waivers.

 

Littell was outrighted off the 40 man and cleared waivers.

Wow, interesting. I guess they will need a spot to active Bailey soon.

Littell, glad no one claimed him. Still young and has good stuff, especially in potential relief role.

 

Anyone know status of Romero?

 

Gordon missed his chance for getting any playing time this year. Do the Twins keep him on the 40-man for another season?

 

I see up to 10 roster openings on the 40-man going into the winter. Who NEEDS to be protected from any potential Rule 5?

 

Anyone know status of Romero?

Nothing specific about Romero, just that he's still on the restricted list due to visa/travel issues. He doesn't currently count against the 40-man, but he will again after the postseason and we'll have to decide what to do with him then.

 

Littell, glad no one claimed him. Still young and has good stuff, especially in potential relief role.

 

Anyone know status of Romero?

 

Gordon missed his chance for getting any playing time this year. Do the Twins keep him on the 40-man for another season?

 

I see up to 10 roster openings on the 40-man going into the winter. Who NEEDS to be protected from any potential Rule 5?

Dang, I didn't think they'd be able to sneak Littell through waivers. Hopefully we haven't seen the last of him.

 

I wonder if DFA'ing Littell was to get Gordon back on the 40 man roster? 

 

As for the prospects who should be protected: Kirilloff, Colina, and Balazovic. Borderline guys include Rortvedt, Severino, Miranda, Baddoo, Maciel, Ober.

 

Wow, interesting. I guess they will need a spot to active Bailey soon.

Or they could be making room for someone like Kirilloff. I'm really surprised the guy outrighted was Littell.

I'm really surprised the guy outrighted was Littell.

Particularly because (if my information is correct) he still had a remaining option this year, which was used but I think applies to the full season even if acquired. So, a bottom feeder team could snag him at the cost of only a 40-man spot, but not necessarily an active roster spot if they so chose. Weighing against that, probably the word is that he's not 100% this year, so why pitch him, and next year he is out of options which means going on waivers again. I'm still surprised he didn't get taken.

 

 

Particularly because (if my information is correct) he still had a remaining option this year, which was used but I think applies to the full season even if acquired. So, a bottom feeder team could snag him at the cost of only a 40-man spot, but not necessarily an active roster spot if they so chose. Weighing against that, probably the word is that he's not 100% this year, so why pitch him, and next year he is out of options which means going on waivers again. I'm still surprised he didn't get taken.
 

Actually Littell didn't burn an option this year -- by my count, he only spent 11 days on optional assignment, and you need to spend 20 to lose the option year (and I haven't read anything about that number being reduced for 2020).

 

So he'll actually still be option-able if and when the Twins or someone else adds him back to a 40-man roster.

Actually Littell didn't burn an option this year -- by my count, he only spent 11 days on optional assignment, and you need to spend 20 to lose the option year (and I haven't read anything about that number being reduced for 2020).

 

So he'll actually still be option-able if and when the Twins or someone else adds him back to a 40-man roster.

Good clarification. It only increases my surprise.

 

 

Wow, interesting. I guess they will need a spot to active Bailey soon.

Why? He's their #7 starter. Why do you even want him on the play-off roster? I'd just release him once he's healthy. 

 

Why? He's their #7 starter. Why do you even want him on the play-off roster? I'd just release him once he's healthy. 

Well, Odorizzi might be hurt and they apparently don't trust Dobnak all that much, so Bailey could be #5. Or help in the pen? Piggyback with Hill?

 

I'm sure they won't just hand him a playoff spot, but I suspect they'll give him an opportunity to return yet this season if he can get ready in time. He's been active in St. Paul, from what I understand. Bailey was pretty good vs the Yankees down the stretch for Oakland last year.

I think Bailey is a sneaky pick to start a game if the Twins reach the second round. It would depend on his health and the lack of health for Odorizzi, but I do believe they'd rather have Bailey than Dobnak if both are healthy. 

 

I think Bailey is a sneaky pick to start a game if the Twins reach the second round. It would depend on his health and the lack of health for Odorizzi, but I do believe they'd rather have Bailey than Dobnak if both are healthy. 

Are they really playing all 5 games back-to-back or are there off days? I can't imagine that will work for TV.

 

I don't see how you send Baily out there in a play-off game with (at most) one start in the last two months under his belt. Give me Dobnak easily. But if there are any off days at all, you only need 4 starters, and Hill would be #4.

 

Are they really playing all 5 games back-to-back or are there off days? I can't imagine that will work for TV.

Zero off days in this postseason, except between series and in the World Series. You can see the schedule under the article here:

 

https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-2020-postseason-schedule-announced

 

I don't see how you send Baily out there in a play-off game with (at most) one start in the last two months under his belt. Give me Dobnak easily. But if there are any off days at all, you only need 4 starters, and Hill would be #4.

It's not unprecedented. The Dodgers started Rich Hill in the postseason last year after he threw just 5.2 innings in the entire second half of the season, and no more than 49 pitches in any game. Didn't work out all that well, but Hill was still pitching through an injury that required offseason surgery too.

 

They won't force Bailey out there, but if he's truly healthy and can come back for a successful tune-up start, he'll be an option.

Garver is back and will start today's game.

 

Astudillo has been optioned to make room for him.

The Sauce is Back!!

Odorizzi to the IL, and Sean Poppen recalled too.

 

Odorizzi will be eligible to return on the season's final day, Sep. 27.

Bailey activated, will start tonight vs Detroit.

 

The 40-man roster is full again.

 

Poppen optioned to make room on the 28-man active roster.

Anticipating an Arraez move today as well. That will be interesting...would the Twins option Wade again and if so is he eligible for the postseason without anyone getting injured?