Notebook: Colomé Announced, Hamilton DFA'd

[Allen Post]

With the start of Spring Training now just a week away, key waiver situations are affecting who will make the trip to Hammond Stadium, and more details were announced regarding minor league realignment and Spring Training scheduling.The Forty-Man Roster Move Heard ‘Round Twins Territory

 

The Twins officially announced their signing of righty reliever Alex Colomé this afternoon. The move has been confirmed for over a week and the Twins have had a full 40-man roster for much of that time, so we’ve known a move was coming. There’s been ample speculation over who would give way to Colomé, and today we learned it was Ian Hamilton.

 

Hamilton, who has been on four teams in the past year, finds himself on a waivers whirlwind again after being claimed by the Twins just one week ago. The Twins will be hoping Hamilton can pass through waivers this time because, with his high-velocity fastball, effective slider, and wild injury history, he’s just the type of cheap asset that can gain tremendous value with the Twins’ help. Twins fans should also hope he stays with the club because, after a car accident and a liner to the face pushed back Hamilton’s development, there’s no easier guy to root for.

 

Brandon Waddell Clears Waivers

 

With Thursday’s addition of outfielder Kyle Garlick to the 40-man roster, left-handed reliever Brandon Waddell saw his 40-man spot evaporate from under him. Today, Waddell cleared waivers and accepted his invitation to Spring Training.

 

Despite their willingness to risk losing him, the Twins ought to be pleased to keep Waddell in the organization as he’s one of only a few lefty relievers with big league experience on the team. If things go sideways with Lewis Thorpe or Devin Smeltzer (as they have before), Waddell may become more necessary than he is now.

 

MiLB Leagues and Divisions Announced

 

Minor League Baseball has finalized its restructured leagues and divisions. There are now four levels (Low A, High A, AA, AAA) and 11 directionally-name leagues (two for AAA and three for the other levels). From there, each league has two or three also directionally-named divisions. For example, the St. Paul Saints will be playing in the Midwest division of the AAA East league.

 

It’s worth noting that the Saints are in the same division as the affiliates of three of the four other AL Central clubs, so the Twins’ prospects will be familiar with their divisional rivals at multiple levels. And, they’ll face former Twins affiliate Rochester Red Wings as an opponent in the AAA East league.

 

As far as the Twins’ other affiliates are concerned, the Wichita Wind Surge will be playing in the North division of AA Central, the Cedar Rapids Kernels are in the West division of High A Central, and the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels find themselves in the West division Low A Southeast. Confusing enough for you?

 

Twins Announce Spring Training Schedule

 

With the anticipation of spring baseball ramping up, we now have a Grapefruit League schedule to anxiously anticipate. The Twins are scheduled for 29 games in 31 days starting Feb. 28 and ending March 30.

 

With the schedule regionalized to mitigate COVID-19 exposure, the Twins’ Spring Training invitees will see a lot of the Braves, Red Sox, and Rays squads. For more info on Spring Training including ticket information, the check out the Twins website.

 

2021 Hall of Fame Induction Moved to TV

 

Due to COVID-19, the Baseball Hall of Fame will not be welcoming fans to Cooperstown for the second year in a row. Derek Jeter, Larry Walker, Marvin Miller, and Ted Simmons will be inducted through a television broadcast on July 25.

 

 

Arrieta to Return to Cubs

 

Jake Arrieta, a free-agent starter who seemed like a possible Twins addition at times this offseason, is headed back to Cubs. Arrieta won a Cy Young and a World Series in Chicago before taking big money in Philadelphia. He has since declined rapidly and will be hoping to rebound at the organization for whom he pitched his best.

 

 

Today’s Other Free Agent Signings

Angels sign Jon Jay to MiLB deal with Spring Training invite

Blue Jays sign David Phelps

Blue Jays sign Joe Panik to MiLB deal with Spring Training Invite

Diamondbacks sign Asdrubal Cabrera

Padres sign Mark Melancon

Phillies sign Brad Miller

Rockies sign Greg Bird to MiLB deal with Spring Training invite

 

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[ashbury]

https://twitter.com/DWolfsonKSTP/status/1360313094812139529

[Dman]

I hope we can hang onto Hamilton.  He seems like a guy with decent stuff.  I think the Twins might be able to help him be successful but you never know.

 

Given the way things have gone the Twins seem to think Gibaut has the most upside as he is the only reliever waiver wire they have kept on the 40 to this point.

[Monkeypaws]

Interesting to see Fort Myers and Cedar Rapids flip-flop.

 

Happy to see Quad-Cities made the cut. Thought they were done. One of my favorite minor league parks.

[twinfan]

I haven't seen the minor league setup but am now hoping that St Paul will get to play in Durham so I can see some future Twins. I'm not sure what the Twins are doing by signing players like Garlick. He doesn't seem to be of major league caliber and should not have taken a player's spot in the first place. As for Hamilton, he has stuff but hasn't had success with it. Maybe he'll get through though teams have wanted him in the recent past. Bird made a splash at first then faded fast. Maybe he can find his swing again. Meloncin is a great signing for the Pods but they still may not have enough to catch LA.

[mikelink45]

I really enjoy these update posts.  News with minimum speculation.  The off season team that surprises me the most is the CA Angels.  With Rendon and Trout still at their peak, they have done nothing to create a quality rotation.  

[PDX Twin]

Could they possibly find league names that are more boring and generic than this? Wow. Not only are they gutting the economics of the teams, but now they're working on the personality. What's next? Naming the Saints as MN AAA?

[Joey P]

I am honestly surprised that Hamilton was waivered. I really think there is some potential there. There must be something we don't know. I would hate to lose him and have Thorpe turn out to be a dud

[Allen Post]

 

I am honestly surprised that Hamilton was waivered. I really think there is some potential there. There must be something we don't know. I would hate to lose him and have Thorpe turn out to be a dud

I think the Twins have reason to believe he will clear waivers this time and, given that Colome was signed before they claimed Hamilton, they might have known this was coming too

[Joey P]

Here's Hoping. Thorpe needs to put it all together again. We can't keep hanging on to him, Romero style

[DocBauer]

Hamilton has had a tremendous run of bad luck the past few years between a car accident and a line drive to the face that required several reconstructive surgeries. But the arm talent at least was there, which is why he's been picked up so many times before being waived again due to 40 man crunches. The kid deserves a break and I really hope, this close to ST starting, he clears waivers and remains with the Twins. A chance to stay put for a year and work with Johnson and company might re-vitalize his career.

[bighat]

I consider Thorpe and Smeltzer sunk costs at this point. Hope I'm wrong.

[denarded]

These Notebooks are good