Twins Claim RHP Jhon Romero, Dobnak to 60-Day IL

[Seth Stohs]

The Minnesota Twins announced that they have claimed right-handed pitcher Jhon Romero from the Washington Nationals. To make room, righty Randy Dobnak has been placed on the 60-Day Injured List. 

Over the weekend, we learned that Randy Dobnak has continued to experience pain in his finger this spring. The injury cut his 2021 season in half. The right-middle finger has been an issue for him since last season. 

Jhon Romero is 27-years-old from Colombia. A late-bloomer, he debuted with the Nationals on September 24, 2021, and posted a 4.50 ERA in five games, four innings. He split the 2021 season between Double-A Harrisburg (33 G) and the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings (5 G). He went 2-4 with a 2.62 ERA in 38 games out of the bullpen. In 55 innings, he walked 11 and struck out 69 batters. 

Romero had originally signed in May of 2015 with the Cubs. He was already 20-years-old. He joined the Nationals organization during the 2018 season. 

Romero has a good fastball that averaged 94.5 mph in his big-league stint. He has a mid-80s slider and a changeup that can be a plus pitch. 

He also can do these things really well.

 

View full article

[MMMordabito]

MiLB track record looks pretty good on Romero.  Hopefully, he was a victim of numbers and can add some value in the pen. 

As far as Dobber goes ....

[Dman]

Very nice MiLB stats last year but I fail to see how they are going to manage to keep him on the 40 man unless they remove Stashak or Thorpe.  If they are signing Cueto and they trade for a pitcher or get any other relief help it seems like Jhon would be the first to go and I doubt he clears waivers with those numbers.

[RJA]

He does look like a good prospect.  IF they are close on a trade for pitching, it is possible that a couple spots on the 40 man will open up as it would likely be 3 or 4 prospects traded for Montas, or Means, or whomever they target.  What is Enlow's status?  

[Otto von Ballpark]

Romero has all 3 of his option years remaining, as his call-up in September 2021 was the first time he had been placed on a 40-man roster. (September 2021 was also the first time he even reached AAA.)

[Otto von Ballpark]

5 minutes ago, RJA said:

He does look like a good prospect.

FWIW, I don't think Romero has ever ranked on a Cubs or Nationals top ~30 list. He signed at an older age, has always been exclusively a reliever, and didn't move up the ladder much.

He may be better now than that lack of ranking would suggest, but if he has any chance at being good, seems a little strange that rebuilding Washington would waive him with options remaining.

[RJA]

5 minutes ago, Otto von Ballpark said:

FWIW, I don't think Romero has ever ranked on a Cubs or Nationals top ~30 list. He signed at an older age, has always been exclusively a reliever, and didn't move up the ladder much.

He may be better now than that lack of ranking would suggest, but if he has any chance at being good, seems a little strange that rebuilding Washington would waive him with options remaining.

Great comments, thanks.  Yes, it does appear strange given where the Nationals are right now, but his numbers last year were impressive.  It might be they see something they can improve upon with his slider.  It will be interesting to follow.

[Doctor Gast]

Whenever we need to add further to the 40 man and Romero is dropped. If he passes waivers will he be place on our farm system or National's? He could develop into a very good reliver.

[Otto von Ballpark]

1 minute ago, Doctor Gast said:

Whenever we need to add further to the 40 man and Romero is dropped. If he passes waivers will he be place on our farm system or National's?

Ours.

[ashbury]

(obligatory)

He put up good numbers last year at age 26, but mainly in double-A ball, and as a reliever.  Having 3 minor league options preserves some value, but conversely means no one ever thought to put him on a 40-man roster until age 27.  All this together paints a picture for me.  Any slight perturbation to the roster, such as signing a legit major leaguer, means he's off it, either to another team who claims him next or else to sit in St Paul with Chi Chi and the others waiting for good luck and good timing.

Speaking of timing, this claim occurred in sync with putting Dobnak on the 60-day IL.  So in effect it's a free shot at claiming then waiving a player of some minor value for use at AAA, using an empty roster spot that might otherwise go unused until something more productive presents itself in a day or three.  If he's claimed when another player is added to the roster so be it - nothing ventured nothing gained.

[Doctor Gast]

48 minutes ago, Otto von Ballpark said:

Ours.

Thanks Otto , that's what I thought. So it makes sense, something to gain nothing to lose

[DocBauer]

I am fully aware RP don't usually rank high on prospect lists. I understand he's now 27yo, maybe a late bloomer. I get he doesn't have then ideal frame. But he throws mid-90's with a milb WHIP of just over 1.00 and has averaged a K of 10 per 9 and has a couple options left and was just dumped? Wow. 

I'm not predicting anything for the guy, but his numbers and options make him seem like someone you'd like to hold on to. Must be something we can't see from the numbers that makes him questionable

 

 

[LewFordLives]

Something is gonna have to give soon so they can add Correa to the 40 man.  

[jmlease1]

37 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

I am fully aware RP don't usually rank high on prospect lists. I understand he's now 27yo, maybe a late bloomer. I get he doesn't have then ideal frame. But he throws mid-90's with a milb WHIP of just over 1.00 and has averaged a K of 10 per 9 and has a couple options left and was just dumped? Wow. 

I'm not predicting anything for the guy, but his numbers and options make him seem like someone you'd like to hold on to. Must be something we can't see from the numbers that makes him questionable

 

 

seems like a good fit to be part of the reliever churn as they fill out the back of the bullpen...and maybe he can be something more? Fits with my theory of bullpen building, so I'm good with it. We have guys on the back end of the 40-man that can be dropped, but more importantly, maybe a few guys on it go away as part of a deal for a starting pitcher?

[stringer bell]

There is Enlow's spot, but if the Twins sign Cueto, then they'll have to let someone go and Romero does figure to be the one. 

[mikelink45]

Blah- I cannot get excited, I do not anticipate anything from him.  Fillers are just not that interesting. 

[DocBauer]

Just looked up the 40 man and believe it's current. Maeda and Dobber to the 60 day IL. One more signing with Enlow's spot available still. 

Anything more than that, someone has to be dropped. O

If there is a trade, also have to make room. But I think it's a fairly safe assumption that any trade would include at least 1, if not 2, players currently on the 40 man. Never know, but I doubt there's another Odorizzi like move available that only includes someone/various someone's not yet on the 40.

[Seth Stohs]

2 hours ago, LewFordLives said:

Something is gonna have to give soon so they can add Correa to the 40 man.  

I'd guess there's a pretty good chance that they DFA Romero when the Correa signing becomes official. Would be nice to get him through waivers. Always nice to do that. 

[Trov]

This is not some major move.  He may never actually pitch for us because we may remove him from 40 man and he gets claimed.  If he does stay he may be a pen guy in and out throughout the year and maybe into next year.  He is a flier move that may help us for a couple years that is all.  

[High heat]

19 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

I'd guess there's a pretty good chance that they DFA Romero when the Correa signing becomes official. Would be nice to get him through waivers. Always nice to do that. 

Nope Garza jr removed from 40.  They must like Romero, Atleast enough to get a look at him. I wasn’t impressed with Garza. He may ho unclaimed anyways

[Adam Krueger]

Man, that Randy Dobnak extension has got to be one that the FO wishes they had back. I get the logic of why they did it at the time, and thankfully there a team options when the money gets real serious - but since he signed that deal, its been only downhill for him. Cautionary tale for why you don't extend guys who really don't have much of a track record. Hope he can get healthy and find his groove again.