Darren Wolfson - Notes from speaking with Mike Radcliff 5/29

[InfraRen]

Darren Wolfson ‏@DarrenWolfson15h

Spoke w/ #MNTwins VP Mike Radcliff again. On pick #4: "We have enough guys we have no problem taking." Diabetes no concern w/ Kohl Stewart.

 

Darren Wolfson ‏@DarrenWolfson15h

(con.) Radcliff & scouting director Deron Johnson have seen Stewart many times. ... #MNTwins love this year's int'l FA market. Opens July 2.

 

Darren Wolfson ‏@DarrenWolfson15h

More Radcliff: #MNTwins board separates catchers from other position guys. Said star catchers are toughest to find. They're looking for one.

 

Also -

 

1. J
   ack Steal
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   FanaticJack
   17h
   
   
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   DarrenWolfson
   Have your heard pitcher Ryan Stanek's name mentioned as the possible #4 overall pick in MLB draft.
   
   
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Darren Wolfson

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DarrenWolfson

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FanaticJack

Not yet. Still hearing mostly Stewart & some McGuire. He does have an agent, Jason Wood, who the Twins could do business with.

 

His response to me about Stewart:

 

1. 

   Darren Wolfson
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   @
   DarrenWolfson
   16h
   
   
   Spoke w/
   #
   MNTwins
   VP Mike Radcliff again. On pick #4: "We have enough guys we have no problem taking." Diabetes no concern w/ Kohl Stewart.
   
   
   Expand
   
   
    
   
   

   
    
   

2. 

   Andrew Renny
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   InfraRen
   3m
   
   
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   DarrenWolfson
   good to hear on Stewart.
   
   
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Darren Wolfson

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DarrenWolfson

1m

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InfraRen

They've done a ton of homework on him - seen every pitch he's thrown for the last 2 years. His diabetes: definitely not a concern.

 

Darren Wolfson

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@

DarrenWolfson

1m

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MNTwins

scouting director Deron Johnson arrives into town today. Scouts arrive tomorrow. It'll be a busy nine days at Target Field.

 

 

[Badsmerf]

Interesting that other than Mauer and Pierzynski are the only regular catchers to spend time in the MLB the Twins have drafted in at least the last 20 years. If you want to count Herrmann and LeCroy, I guess you could. Point being, I'm not very sold on their ability to correctly draft catchers. Mauer was a can't miss guy. Please, do anything but draft a catcher with this pick.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Interesting that other than Mauer and Pierzynski are the only regular catchers to spend time in the MLB the Twins have drafted in at least the last 20 years. If you want to count Herrmann and LeCroy, I guess you could. Point being, I'm not very sold on their ability to correctly draft catchers. Mauer was a can't miss guy. Please, do anything but draft a catcher with this pick.

 

I'm not sure this is just the Twins. Catchers have a high bust rate. I tend to agree though to avoid a catcher at 4. I do think the Twins should take a look at a high ceiling HS guys that they can move slowly through the minors with one of their later picks. I expect them to take at least one if the first five rounds. Mauer won't be catching forever, and there's no heir apparent (no offense to Pinto, but he needs to keep up the offense for at least one more year).

[gunnarthor]

Interesting that other than Mauer and Pierzynski are the only regular catchers to spend time in the MLB the Twins have drafted in at least the last 20 years. If you want to count Herrmann and LeCroy, I guess you could. Point being, I'm not very sold on their ability to correctly draft catchers. Mauer was a can't miss guy. Please, do anything but draft a catcher with this pick.

 

They also signed Wilson Ramos and Jose Morales, a 3rd rd pick, looked like he could be a solid player until his injury.

 

And Morneau was originally drafted as a catcher and a few others as well, I suppose. But yeah, I hope our 1st pick isn't a catcher.

[TRex]

I also do not want a catcher at #4, but I disagree about the Twins being able to identify and sign good defensive catchers

 

Don't forget that Javier Valentine (10 year career) and Chad Moeller (11 year career) were solid backstops.

[InfraRen]

TONS of draft bits here from Doogie (more with Radcliff.) You can weed through some Timberwolves notes:

 

The Scoops: Twins scouting crew finalizing plans for upcoming draft | 1500 ESPN Twin Cities ? Minnesota Sports News & Opinion (Twins, Vikings, Wolves, Wild, Gophers) | Sportswire: Minnesota Twins

 

Also posted out below. (Didn't know if it'd fit or not.)

[InfraRen]

The most selfless job at Target Field isn't masquerading around in the TC the Bear costume or washing jocks. It has to be sorting through all the Twins scouts' expense reports.

From high school and college coaches to advisors and major league colleagues, the word this week from numerous individuals is that the Twins, led by vice president of player personnel Mike Radcliff and scouting director Deron Johnson, prep harder for the draft than anyone.

That tireless travel and work, at least involving this year's draft-eligible prospects, comes to a close next week. The draft runs June 6-8.

In a lengthy chat on Wednesday afternoon, Radcliff reiterated that the Twins' draft board for the No. 4 overall pick is down to four players.

"We have enough guys we have no problem taking," Radcliff said. "Dollars, risk, creativity, we can go many ways."

What he means by that is this: when draft meetings commence at Target Field Friday with the entire staff -- all area scouts, general manager Terry Ryan, assistant general manager Rob Antony, etc. -- one discussion will be to take a player who they can sign for below the recommended slot.

In this case, the No. 4 pick is worthy of a signing bonus of approximately $4.5 million. Doing so would allow them more financial flexibility with later picks -- mostly their second and third rounders.

According to sources, the player who would take less is Washington high school catcher Reese McGuire. His advisors, Matt Sosnick and Adam Karon, have a great relationship with the Twins. They represent Josh Willingham and Ryan Doumitand had no problem negotiating a deal for 2011 second round pick Madison Boer, who had the option to go back to Oregon for his senior year.

For what it's worth, the duo also has pending free agent pitcher Josh Johnson as a client -- a name to remember next winter when the Twins inevitably will be searching for starters.

Radcliff was noncommittal on that McGuire scenario, but did acknowledge that he's looking for a catcher.

"Well, we want a catcher every draft," he said. "Looking for a star catcher is the hardest thing to find."

Radcliff said they separate the catchers on their draft board from the rest of the positions.

If the Twins don't go the under-slot route at No. 4, the industry buzz from multiple angles is that Texas high school right-handed pitcher Kohl Stewart will be the pick.

Radcliff and Johnson have seen Stewart in-person many times, and the Twins have had a scout watch his every pitch over the last couple years.

"Well-scouted player," Radcliff said. "We value seeing each player throughout his timeline. The more looks you get, the better decision you'll make."

As for the elephant in the room -- Stewart is a Type 1 diabetic -- Radcliff dismissed it.

"It's manageable, controllable," he said. "It has been discussed. It's not nearly as big a deal as it used to be."

Darek Braunecker is advising Stewart. He's also the advisor for Indiana high school pitcher Trey Ball, a likely top-15 pick.

Other draft notes

• Sosnick and Karon are also advising Nevada junior right-handed pitcher Braden Shipley. The buzz seems to be that the Twins are focusing more on McGuire with the duo. But once everyone's voice is heard in the forthcoming draft gatherings, it's possible the stance could be swayed.

• The Twins held a workout for Atlanta area prospects two Saturdays ago. Consensus top-10 player, outfielder Austin Meadows (Grayson, Georgia), didn't attend.

• Jason Wood is advising Arkansas junior right-handed pitcher Ryne Stanek, another consensus top-10 pick. Word is Wood is open to a pre-draft deal, but is not nearly on-board as Sosnick/Karon. In fact, many in the game say nobody touches Sosnick/Karon when it comes to pre-draft negotiating. Johnson has seen Stanek numerous times, and the Twins have done the most work on him of any top-10 team. That includes seeing every medical record necessary.

• The Twins are bringing a few guys in for workouts/visits on Monday. The list includes Kentucky high school left-handed pitcher Hunter Green.

• Radcliff said the Twins would have a top-50 board. "We have to take the best players at four and 43. We really need everything." While telling the truth, it'll be shocking if the Twins don't take at least one pitcher who those picks.

• Red Wing high school outfielder Ryan Boldt, who underwent knee surgery in early May, will be off crutches in a week. He said he expects to be able to play again in mid-August.

As for whether he's thought about going in the second-round to the Twins, "I've definitely thought about getting drafted by the Twins," Boldt said Thursday afternoon. "It'd be a dream come true." The indication, according to sources, is that the Twins will likely go in a different direction at No. 43. That's if Boldt is still available. He very easily could go higher.

• SFX's John Courtright is advising gophers' left-handed pitcher Tom Windle, a possibility at No. 43. Ryan saw Windle in the Big Ten Tournament at Target Field last week.

• A possibility at No. 1 with the Astros, there's no buzz linking the Twins to North Carolina third baseman Colin Moran. However, a few advisors stated this week that the Twins keep their intentions quieter than most teams.

• Nobody believes that Stanford right-handed pitcher Mark Appel will fall to No. 4. But some are starting to hypothesize that Houston will take Moran No. 1. In that scenario, San Diego junior power hitter Kris Bryant or Oklahoma right-handed pitcher Jonathan Gray would fall to No. 4. Radcliff and the Twins love Bryant's bat and are convinced he can play a position, but it might not be third base, which he currently occupies.

The other problem is that Bryant is using Scott Boras as his advisor. Gray, like every pitcher, is someone the Twins have a book on. BBI Sports Group's Jay Franklin is his advisor.

Scoop Central

• Radcliff on the international free agent market, which opens July 2: "It has depth. There a lot of position players we like. There's enough pitching. We have the fourth-most money to spend. We are a major player." One player the Twins like is Dominican outfielder Lewin Diaz.

• The Twins did not have a scout in Japan earlier this week to watch starting pitchers Shohei Otani, 18, and Masahiro Tanaka, 24. Tanaka will be made available to major league teams first.

• When contacted by phone earlier in the week, Twins owner Jim Pohlad declined comment about the team's recent 10-game losing streak/the quarter point of the season.

• The Twins scouted St. Paul Saints pitcher Mark Hamburger for a second time earlier this week.

[cmb0252]

Wow, that's a ton of great info! Only 6 more days to go and the Twins will have several whiney new toys.