2021/22 Minor League Signings

[Seth Stohs]

Wanted to set up a forum thread to discuss Twins minor league signings, both players the Twins sign and Twins players that sign elsewhere... if you see them in the transactions, share it here. 

 

 

[Seth Stohs]

According to Darren Wolfson, OF Aaron Whitefield has signed a minor league deal with the Angels. 

I sent Aaron a couple of messages and he confirmed it. He's currently playing in Puerto Rico, on a team with another Twins minor league OF, Mark Contreras. 

 

[Seth Stohs]

Trey Cabbage heading to the Angels... 

 

[Seth Stohs]

Beau Burrows to the Dodgers. 

 

[Squirrel]

49 minutes ago, Seth Stohs said:

Trey Cabbage heading to the Dodgers... 

 

You said Dodgers, he said Angels ... 

[nicksaviking]

42 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

You said Dodgers, he said Angels ... 

The Dodgers sure ain't angels.

[Squirrel]

20 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

The Dodgers sure ain't angels.

tomato, tomato ... let's call the whole thing off  

[Rosterman]

The Twins cut ties with Tomas Telis during this off-season. He is one of those unique guys who will be remembered as being on the 26-man roster, but never getting a playdate (he was a COVID replacement). Former Twin Juan Graterol has landed with the Diamondbacks, after providing veteran catcher depth for the Blue Jays this season. 

 

It's always good to have a veteran presence at AAA who can step up to the big leagues if need be. Right now the Twins do seem pretty set with catching at their upper levels, though. One of Rortvedt or Jeffers will start regularly for the Saints, depending on Garver's status. 

 

David Banuelos and Caleb Hamilton are currently listed on the Saints roster. Both have paid their dues in the minors and could have a breakout season. But both could also start at the lower level Wind Surge.

Roy Morales (came from Miami) and Steve Berman (came from Dodgers) are actually older than Hamilton and Banuelos. Morales showed some style, to say the least, at Wichita. He is far from a regular behind the plate, but could be the vet bat who can also DH and play some 1B, so a chance to start at St. Paul may be a given. Wherever Berman starts it would be good if he had shared duties to egt the most games behind the plate.

 

Jair Camago is a darkhorse. Played regularly at Cedar Rapids. Still very young at 22 and will be starting his sixth season of fulltime pro-ball, so he will be a free agent come the end of 2022. He can also DH and play 1B, and has a pretty good percentage for shutting down base stealers.

 

Be inetresting to see who the Twins do pickup to add catching depth. You can never have too many real catchers on a team, and all minor league teams can comfortably use a catcher who can also play the field or offer a DH bat.

 

 

 

 

[Rosterman]

The Twins have signed right-handed bullpen arm Argenis Angulo who was drafted by Cleveland in 2014. He received an invite to the Indians in spring training of 2020. He became a free agent and signed with Oakland, getting an invite to spring training last season.

 

His stats aren't overall impressive, except he can strikeout batters. But still fills the bases with too many runners.

https://www.gosanangelo.com/story/entertainment/people/2016/11/12/how-amy-adams-got-her-start/93737204/

 

 

 

[Seth Stohs]

The Legend, Rob Refsnyder has signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox. 

 

[Seth Stohs]

The Twins have signed 1B/DH Curtis Terry to a minor league contract. He played 13 games in 2021 for the Rangers and went 4-for-45 (.089) with two doubles. 

 The 25-year-old hit .275/.349/.533 (.882) with 24 doubles and 22 homers for Triple-A Round Rock... 

[Rosterman]

Trevor Megill joins the Twins from the Cubs. Why? Maybe so the Twins could send Jake Cave outright to St. Paul, as no team claimed the $800,000 contract.

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/megiltr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-

[Rosterman]

Well goodbye to the recently one day claim/signing of Megill. Also, goodbye to Coulombe and Minaya, both pleasant surprises in the last half of the season out of the pen. Thought they would be worthy of some consideration, but also there is no need to give a million bucks to someone who might get bumped by a free agent signing and having no options. Let them play the amrekt and see if they might care to return, again, as minor league free agents.

 

Andrew Vasquez cut loose by the Dodgers. Great K numbers, still only 28. Would he come abck to Minnesota and be St. Paul depth again?

 

John Curtiss also cut lose by the Brewers. Tough break for the guy last year. He'll be on some watch lists as he recovers from his arm injury.

 

 

[Rosterman]

Trevor Hildenberger, remember him, will be back in the minors with the Giants, trying to gat back to the majors.

[Shaitan]

2 hours ago, Rosterman said:

Trevor Hildenberger, remember him, will be back in the minors with the Giants, trying to gat back to the majors.

I remember when he was the Twins best reliever.

 

While admittedly at his peak, I guess the pitching last year wasn't so bad...

[roger]

On 11/30/2021 at 2:43 PM, Seth Stohs said:

The Twins have signed 1B/DH Curtis Terry to a minor league contract. He played 13 games in 2021 for the Rangers and went 4-for-45 (.089) with two doubles. 

 The 25-year-old hit .275/.349/.533 (.882) with 24 doubles and 22 homers for Triple-A Round Rock... 

Appears to be a solid bat.  And at only 25 years old, could have some more upside.  

On the other hand, if the Saints are the only team playing in the Twins Cities next spring it makes sense to get them some good players not on the 40-man.  

[Rosterman]

Danny Coulombe returns to the Twins on a minor league contract. Plus they signed Jacob Faria, past Tampa Bay prospect who could be a starter in reserve at St. Paul.

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fariaja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Welcome back Trevor Megill!

[Rosterman]

Stephen Gonsalves, after playing in the Red Sox system this past season, signed as a minor league free agent with the Cubs. Once a promising lefty rotation arm in the Twins system.

[Rosterman]

Twins lose Gabriel Maciel in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 daft to the A's. He was part of the haul the Twins got for Eduardo Escobar back in 2018.

[Rosterman]

Moises Gomez signs with the Brewers after a couple of seasons in the Mariners system. He played for the Twins 2014-2019, only reaching High-A ball briefly. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=gomez-002moi

[Rosterman]

John Gant goes where the money is: Japan! https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/12/john-gant-signs-japan-npb-nippon-ham-fighters-cardinals-twins.html

[nicksaviking]

So aside from getting the stink eye from the other owners at the next MLB owners' social function, is there anything stopping a team from signing a big name free agent, who only plans on taking a one year deal anyway, to a uniquely large MiLB contract with an Non Roster Invitation and an opt out clause that coincides with the Opening Day? Is the only thing stopping this the risk to the player, who'd have to trust the organization (that just backstabbed the other 29 organizations), or is there another mechanism from stopping this from happening?

I mean, not only would you get the player, but he'd have an extra roster spot until Opening Day.

 

[Rosterman]

Twins signed two guys who will be in FSL camp come spring - C Javier Roman and INF Isaac Pena, both recent high school grads.

[Seth Stohs]

On 12/10/2021 at 8:24 PM, Rosterman said:

Twins signed two guys who will be in FSL camp come spring - C Javier Roman and INF Isaac Pena, both recent high school grads.

They're international signings. They'll be spending the next year or two in the Dominican. 

[Rosterman]

Twins signed leftfielder Derek Fisher who was with the Brewers orgzanization, and before that the Jays and Astros. He has been assigned to the Saints. 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fishede01.shtml

 

Looks like a tad better fielding Brent Rooker clone. So if Rooker goes down, we have a replacement.

 

They also resigned Zaquiel Puentes who pitched for Ft. Myers, Leobaldo Cabalera who they waivered claimed last year from the Yankees and who played at three levels, finally at Wichita, and pitcher Samuel Perez, who was in the Angels system before joining the Twins last year at their instructional complex.

 

[MMMordabito]

4 hours ago, Rosterman said:

Twins signed leftfielder Derek Fisher who was with the Brewers orgzanization, and before that the Jays and Astros. He has been assigned to the Saints. 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fishede01.shtml

 

Well, that checks the box for World Series game-winning run-scoring experience.  Hopefully, that can be passed on to the youngins.

[Linus]

18 hours ago, Rosterman said:

Twins signed leftfielder Derek Fisher who was with the Brewers orgzanization, and before that the Jays and Astros. He has been assigned to the Saints. 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fishede01.shtml

 

Looks like a tad better fielding Brent Rooker clone. So if Rooker goes down, we have a replacement.

 

They also resigned Zaquiel Puentes who pitched for Ft. Myers, Leobaldo Cabalera who they waivered claimed last year from the Yankees and who played at three levels, finally at Wichita, and pitcher Samuel Perez, who was in the Angels system before joining the Twins last year at their instructional complex.

 

This FO seems just can’t pass up a left handed outfielder that can’t make contact. 

[Rosterman]

I noticed that Cotton was released by the Twins at the end of Novembe. A prior waiver claim by the team which placed him on the 40-man. He then resigned as a free agent this month. So, is he really still on the 40-man roster, and if so, why did it play out this way? Or is he just another minor league arm with a spring training invite?

[stringer bell]

9 hours ago, Rosterman said:

I noticed that Cotton was released by the Twins at the end of Novembe. A prior waiver claim by the team which placed him on the 40-man. He then resigned as a free agent this month. So, is he really still on the 40-man roster, and if so, why did it play out this way? Or is he just another minor league arm with a spring training invite?

Cotton is listed on the 40-man roster, so I don't know if this is anything.