Last spot on the team.

[stringer bell]

It appears that the Twins will go with 16 pitchers and there is a competition for the last position player between Brent Rooker and Kyle Garlick. With cuts coming from all of the other teams, I have been saying there should be someone who fills the bill better than Garlick or Rooker. IMHO, a good candidate came available today. Jake Marisnick was released by the Rangers. Marisnick is 31, has played on good teams (and with Carlos Correa) and is a good glove at all of the outfield positions. Marisnick is also a good base runner. If the price isn't too steep, I think he'd be an excellent fit for the Twins' needs.

[ToddlerHarmon]

Looks like he's a righty, yay. But also looks like he can't get on base, boo.

[KirbyHawk75]

When are they going to announce the 28 man roster?  Has to be quick.  Seems like they can't decide between Garlick or Rooker.  

[LA VIkes Fan]

Marisnick might be what they need short term as a good fielding RH OF,  except he is a lousy hitter - .216/.286.385 (.671) for his career.  I don't know if he has good splits against lefties to help platoon with Kepler in right. Still, he's a better fit for what this team needs than wither Garlick or Rooker. My guess is that he or someone like him will fill the last spot on the roster. 

[stringer bell]

51 minutes ago, KirbyHawk75 said:

When are they going to announce the 28 man roster?  Has to be quick.  Seems like they can't decide between Garlick or Rooker.  

I think they are trying to get a better option than Garlick/Rooker. Also, I'm guessing that they want to be sure that Nick Gordon will be able to go from the start. The only other injury concern that the Twins had would seem to be Kirilloff and he seemed to be running okay yesterday.

[Thegrin]

Dump Garlick, Play Rooker. Rooker could be the Twins future.  

[stringer bell]

2 minutes ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

Marisnick might be what they need short term as a good fielding RH OF,  except he is a lousy hitter - .216/.286.385 (.671) for his career.  I don't know if he has good splits against lefties to help platoon with Kepler in right. Still, he's a better fit for what this team needs than wither Garlick or Rooker. My guess is that he or someone like him will fill the last spot on the roster. 

He does hit lefties better than right handers. His lifetime OPS vs. LH pitching is far better than Kepler's. Marisnick last year had an .743 OPS versus left handed pitching and his career OPS vs. lefties is .715. Kepler"s career OPS vs. lefties is .632 and last year sank to .509.

[In My La Z boy]

Got to give it to Rooker. We have no room to breathe on the 40 man, and if we have a catcher go down we'll need to add another to the 40 man roster. Celestino is the right handed hitting 4th outfielder of the future. He is on the 40 man, and is just a short drive across town. Let go of the Garlick for heavens sake. He isn't irreplaceable or necessary, and we need to see what we've got in Rooker. This isn't that hard.

[baul0010]

8 hours ago, ToddlerHarmon said:

Looks like he's a righty, yay. But also looks like he can't get on base, boo.

Neither can Rooker.  And we are considering keeping him.

[GNess]

In a 162 game season games seemingly can be overlooked in the interest of down the line possibilities. But all 162 count, especially if the Twins hope to contend and the Twins should be patient as feasible looking at all options to best fill the 28 player roster even if it's only for a month or so. I think there is too much gnashing of teeth about the bottom of the 40 man roster.

[baul0010]

8 minutes ago, In My La Z boy said:

Got to give it to Rooker. We have no room to breathe on the 40 man, and if we have a catcher go down we'll need to add another to the 40 man roster. Celestino is the right handed hitting 4th outfielder of the future. He is on the 40 man, and is just a short drive across town. Let go of the Garlick for heavens sake. He isn't irreplaceable or necessary, and we need to see what we've got in Rooker. This isn't that hard.

Rooker and Garlik can go.  Give Celestino a chance to develop this year.  No need to screw him up like we did with Aaron Hicks.  Just get a dang person that can man centerfield.  It seems like we are incapable of just having that guy.  Marisnick would be at least capable at all outfield positions.  He can't hit....wait, hasn't our fourth outfielder been poo fielding Cave (can't hit and can barely field) and Rooker (can't hit, field, or stay healthy).  

[Rosterman]

Sadly when they make the final roster decisions it will be looking towards May when they have to cut two guys. 

 

A lot of players will be thrown into the system come that day.

 

Someone like Garlick would get to go thru waivers (as will Rooker, of course). Do you want to see what Rooker can do in a month, with Garlick in reserve, or jettison Rooker now.

 

Also looks like Stashak will open on the DL.

 

What two pitchers are on the bubble for a demotion come the end of April,. And do you thiunk the Twins will add a third catcher, with Sanchez doing msot of the DH work?

[Mike Sixel]

15 minutes ago, Rosterman said:

Sadly when they make the final roster decisions it will be looking towards May when they have to cut two guys. 

 

A lot of players will be thrown into the system come that day.

 

Someone like Garlick would get to go thru waivers (as will Rooker, of course). Do you want to see what Rooker can do in a month, with Garlick in reserve, or jettison Rooker now.

 

Also looks like Stashak will open on the DL.

 

What two pitchers are on the bubble for a demotion come the end of April,. And do you thiunk the Twins will add a third catcher, with Sanchez doing msot of the DH work?

If it was up to me......

I don't believe in Rooker, and I think they need D, so I'd rather have Garlick. Or, better......

I'd put Martin or Larncah in LF right now, Kiriloff at first, and Sano at DH. Sanchez would be the second catcher and pinch hitter. While I don't know if Larnach will ever justify his selection, or if he's ready, I'd 100% rather have AK at first than Sano and Sano at DH than Sanchez, so I'd roll the dice......As a true believer in Martin, I'd just roll with him, but I don't see them doing that.

The one thing that could really change that all is if Upton signs here once he gets thru the claiming timerame, and they don't have to pay him a billion dollars...and putting him in LF. 

[stringer bell]

13 minutes ago, Rosterman said:

Sadly when they make the final roster decisions it will be looking towards May when they have to cut two guys. 

 

A lot of players will be thrown into the system come that day.

 

Someone like Garlick would get to go thru waivers (as will Rooker, of course). Do you want to see what Rooker can do in a month, with Garlick in reserve, or jettison Rooker now.

 

Also looks like Stashak will open on the DL.

 

What two pitchers are on the bubble for a demotion come the end of April,. And do you thiunk the Twins will add a third catcher, with Sanchez doing msot of the DH work?

A lot of players are becoming available between now and Opening Day as the teams settle on their rosters. As for the cutdown on May 2, the Twins, as currently configured would have to drop three, not two, pitchers and add a position player. Perhaps they'll go with a third catcher, depending on how things go in April with DHing Sanchez and how Jeffers is playing. Barring injuries, adding a third catcher would require exposing someone to be claimed.

Rooker has options so if the Twins want to demote him, they can, with no risk of losing him. Garlick is on a minor league deal, so he also can be demoted with no risk of losing him. If they want to keep him on the active roster, someone would have to be placed on the 60-day IL or designated for assignment. 

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, stringer bell said:

A lot of players are becoming available between now and Opening Day as the teams settle on their rosters. As for the cutdown on May 2, the Twins, as currently configured would have to drop three, not two, pitchers and add a position player. Perhaps they'll go with a third catcher, depending on how things go in April with DHing Sanchez and how Jeffers is playing. Barring injuries, adding a third catcher would require exposing someone to be claimed.

Rooker has options so if the Twins want to demote him, they can, with no risk of losing him. Garlick is on a minor league deal, so he also can be demoted with no risk of losing him. If they want to keep him on the active roster, someone would have to be placed on the 60-day IL or designated for assignment. 

I'm betting it will be pretty clear which three pitchers can be DFA or demoted or whatever in a month....

[stringer bell]

8 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

If it was up to me......

I don't believe in Rooker, and I think they need D, so I'd rather have Garlick. Or, better......

I'd put Martin or Larncah in LF right now, Kiriloff at first, and Sano at DH. Sanchez would be the second catcher and pinch hitter. While I don't know if Larnach will ever justify his selection, or if he's ready, I'd 100% rather have AK at first than Sano and Sano at DH than Sanchez, so I'd roll the dice......As a true believer in Martin, I'd just roll with him, but I don't see them doing that.

The one thing that could really change that all is if Upton signs here once he gets thru the claiming timerame, and they don't have to pay him a billion dollars...and putting him in LF. 

I'm with you on Martin, Larnach, Sano, Kirilloff and Sanchez. I'm pretty sure the Twins don't quite see it that way just yet. As far as Upton, I think he's past his "use by" date except when it comes to hitting against the Twins. 

[Mike Sixel]

11 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

I'm with you on Martin, Larnach, Sano, Kirilloff and Sanchez. I'm pretty sure the Twins don't quite see it that way just yet. As far as Upton, I think he's past his "use by" date except when it comes to hitting against the Twins. 

I wouldn't sign Upton, and I don't think they will either....but, never say never....

[Riverbrian]

I won't bet on Rooker and I won't bet against him. 

He hit a home run every 11 AB's in AAA last year (20 dingers in 224 AB's).

He has had a grand total of 208 sporadic AB's in the Majors. 

If it was my call... I'm not just chucking that into the ditch if I don't have to and the Twins don't have to. 

In my world... He is given the opportunity to hit a home run every 11 AB's in the majors. 

In my world... I don't make that decision... Rooker makes that decision through actual performance. 

Suit him up... Let's go #50!  

EDIT: Let's go #12

 

[DJL44]

2 hours ago, Rosterman said:

Sadly when they make the final roster decisions it will be looking towards May when they have to cut two guys. 

Almost everyone in the league is going to have to cut two pitchers. The waiver wire will be busy.

[In My La Z boy]

Marisnick to the Pirates

[nicksaviking]

If people want to keep Garlick, I wouldn't put him on the 40-man now. The team will most likely have to DFA him May 1 when the rosters get cut back down. The last to roster spots should be guys with options.

[nicksaviking]

Thinking about a right handed OF, I don't suppose Urshela was given any OF reps this spring? I know he's an infielder, but seems like a utility guy like him could have handled it at least as well as Arraez has.

[baul0010]

2 hours ago, Rosterman said:

Do you want to see what Rooker can do in a month

Not really....Nope.   Don't want to see that at all.  

[stringer bell]

23 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

If people want to keep Garlick, I wouldn't put him on the 40-man now. The team will most likely have to DFA him May 1 when the rosters get cut back down. The last to roster spots should be guys with options.

Except that the Twins would actually have to add a position player after May 1, since they are going with 16 pitchers. BTW, at least two Twins teams in the 60s didn’t use 16 pitchers in the entire season. 

[tony&rodney]

Rooker is #12 this year. Maybe he sticks and hits. Nick gordon gets 4th OF.

[tony&rodney]

1 minute ago, stringer bell said:

the Twins would actually have to add a position player after May 1,

Hey, maybe someone in St. Paul is tearing the cover off the ball .... or at Wichita.

[DJL44]

46 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

If people want to keep Garlick, I wouldn't put him on the 40-man now. The team will most likely have to DFA him May 1 when the rosters get cut back down. The last to roster spots should be guys with options.

They're lean on position players. They're going to have to cut two pitchers in May.

[Doctor Gast]

Both Rooker & GarlicK can't field and neither haven't been hitting either. Gordon has my vote as 4th OF when he's cleared. We need much more a back up catcher than Rooker or Garlick because I consider Sanchez more of a DH than a capable catching back-up.

TB are loaded w/ OF gloves, Just at CF they have Kiermaier/ Lowe/ Margot/ Philips/ Brujan all capable CFers. Twins should've been faster and harder with TB to trade Margot he would have been our best trade target (in his last year of arbritration) but now he was just extended. There has been trade rumors on Kiermaier too, he could easily be available.

TB has a real need for power hitting especially now they've traded maybe their most proven power hitter Andrews (I'm still scratching my head over that one). Twins have an over-abundace of power bats. Let's say we trade Sano' that leaves 1B open for Kiriloff and we have better depth at CF with Kiermaier. After Celestino and Martin are established we can trade Kiermaier, There's always a need for CFers.

[Brandon]

I think Rooker could be the Twins DH this year once he gets over his shoulder issue and gets on a roll.  I say DL him if the shoulder is the issue and keep him when he comes off the DL and play him and see what happens.  There is nothing wrong with giving someone who can hit with power a chance to show he can hit regularly enough otherwise.  

[lecroy24fan]

I think the last spot hasn't been decided because they will make a trade.