Roster changes imminent

[TheLeviathan]

I would be curious to know why some are willing to keep Diamond in the rotation. With the exception of one good start on June 2, he has been pretty awful since early May - 6.89 ERA since May 10th.

 

I'm not saying jettison him - but give him some AAA time to work out whatever has gone wrong.

 

Lack of better alternatives is the best way to summarize it.

[TheLeviathan]

At this point, the Twins should be asking for more than a little value from Correia. He's having a very nice season. As for Pelfrey, don't care. Hand him a one way bus ticket to Albuquerque for all I care. Same goes for Walters.

 

Yeah, didn't want to lump those guys based on value, more on situation. I think Correia could fetch something interesting and I'm hoping we pull that trigger.

[jokin]

Yeah, didn't want to lump those guys based on value, more on situation. I think Correia could fetch something interesting and I'm hoping we pull that trigger.

 

I've been wishing for this outcome, and hoping that was the intention in the back of TR's mind, from day one of this signing. I just don't think Ryan sees it that way. If anything, he's probably wondering what KC would take in an extension.

[LewFordLives]

I've always liked Walters, but he hasn't done himself any favors lately. If they don't see him as being part of the long-term solution to the rotation, then it's probably time to set him free and see if anyone else is willing to give him a shot. The Twins have too many career minor leaguers hanging around just on the cusp (Deduno, DeVries, Albers, Hendriks....etc.). It's time to start making decisions on some of these guys.

[drjim]

Pelfrey is a seven year vet. Worley is under team control and does not need to be "resigned". Just wanted to clarify two bizarre comments there.

 

The 5 men that should be hurling for this team post deadline should be Diamond, Gibson, Worley, Albers, and it doesn't really matter. So if the Twins can get a little value for Correia or Pelfrey...do it. You can easily flush 10M to get similar talents again this next offseason.

 

No love for Deduno? There is a legit chance he can be a viable option for next year. At the very least it is worth the rest of year to attempt to figure it out.

[jokin]

I've always liked Walters, but he hasn't done himself any favors lately. If they don't see him as being part of the long-term solution to the rotation, then it's probably time to set him free and see if anyone else is willing to give him a shot. The Twins have too many career minor leaguers hanging around just on the cusp (Deduno, DeVries, Albers, Hendriks....etc.). It's time to start making decisions on some of these guys.

 

Pretty much spot on, with the exception of Deduno, I think the decision has been made on him. As of right now, anyway, he's their best SP. I gotta think that as of taday, he and Gibson are at the top of their 2014 SP chart.

[jokin]

No love for Deduno? There is a legit chance he can be a viable option for next year. At the very least it is worth the rest of year to attempt to figure it out.

 

Deduno appears to have turned the corner in Gardy's mind. Nothing but praise and now he calls him "Sammy".... He'll probably always be considered a ticking time bomb to some degree, but I think he sticks for 2014.

[jimbo92107]

At least the options are starting to look more positive now. My one minor fear is that some of the guys we're looking at displacing will then go to other teams and play great, like Marquis from last year, Hardy, Gomez, etc. Pelfrey could do something like that, get fully recovered, pitch 200 innings and win about fifteen games for somebody. Escobar I don't think has that much upside as a hitter, but his fielding is excellent.

 

I actually like the idea of stashing Hicks in AAA for a little longer. He was putting too much pressure on himself, needs to work on his batting against slightly easier competition for awhile. Same with his fielding, it looks like he needs reps on his footwork on his throws, get more accurate. An extra month in AAA might just give him a bit more polish.

[JB_Iowa]

My one minor fear is that some of the guys we're looking at displacing will then go to other teams and play great, like Marquis from last year, Hardy, Gomez, etc. Pelfrey could do something like that, get fully recovered, pitch 200 innings and win about fifteen games for somebody.

 

But Pelfrey is only signed for 2013 anyway so I guess that isn't a concern for me. I would expect him to be better in 2014 (and I think a lot of people were a bit puzzled by the 1 year contract w/o an option).

[IdahoPilgrim]

But Pelfrey is only signed for 2013 anyway so I guess that isn't a concern for me. I would expect him to be better in 2014 (and I think a lot of people were a bit puzzled by the 1 year contract w/o an option).

 

I can't remember - do we know why there wasn't an option clause? Was it because the Twins didn't offer it, or because Pelfrey wouldn't accept it?

[JB_Iowa]

I don't know why there wasn't an option -- but Boras is his agent so that may explain alot.

[TheLeviathan]

No love for Deduno? There is a legit chance he can be a viable option for next year. At the very least it is worth the rest of year to attempt to figure it out.

 

I knew I was forgetting someone! Yeah, he would be the fifth guy in that scenario.

[stringer bell]

I give Diamond a little slack for 2012. Also he has more efficient innings than some of the other suspects. He has not been able to avoid the big inning and he hasn't made the big pitch when he has needed it. Hendriks is a bit different from those dubbed "career minor leaguer". Until this year, he advanced quickly through the system with a lot of success in the minors. Now, he is apparently dealing with an arm issue, but he is still young. Albers, like Diamond and Hernandez, is left handed. Somehow, some way, that makes him a more attractive option for the rotation now and in the future.

[fairweather]

Diamond, Pelfrey, and Walters should ALL be replaced in the rotation. These guys could be replaced by pitching machines and no one would notice. The league is hitting over .320 against these 3 guys! I challenge you to find ANY other MLB team with 3 guys giving up this many hits in their starting rotation. Worley isn't any better. Let us see Albers. Heck if he can put together a few good starts in AAA let us see Darnell. We don't want to see anymore Worley or Hendriks or any other RHP that throw 80% of their pitches the same speed and to the same location. PLEASE

[diehardtwinsfan]

With Pelfrey, I think they should trade him for whatever they can get. He's not a long term option, and his level of play hasn't indicated that he's going to get much. Even a future futility infielder would be a nice take for him. For KC, I think he would fetch something decent given the season he's had thus far. I'd sell high. Not expecting a top 100 prospect or anything, but he should bring in something of value. I do think he should be traded as well and tend to agree with Levi that Gibson, Worley, Deduno, Diamond, and Albers should be the starting 5 for the remainder of the year. Sans Gibson, the Twins need to figure out if any of these guys are worth keeping around long term.

[drjim]

I give Diamond a little slack for 2012. Also he has more efficient innings than some of the other suspects. He has not been able to avoid the big inning and he hasn't made the big pitch when he has needed it. Hendriks is a bit different from those dubbed "career minor leaguer". Until this year, he advanced quickly through the system with a lot of success in the minors. Now, he is apparently dealing with an arm issue, but he is still young. Albers, like Diamond and Hernandez, is left handed. Somehow, some way, that makes him a more attractive option for the rotation now and in the future.

 

Diamond has a very obvious problem. Someone posted earlier that it is the 75 pitch mark, but the more accurate problem is he can't turn a lineup over three times. Hard to be a starter if you can't do that. I am willing to give a little slack because of the elbow injury and how that might impact his command, but there comes a time to be realistic about his stuff.

[snepp]

I can't remember - do we know why there wasn't an option clause? Was it because the Twins didn't offer it, or because Pelfrey wouldn't accept it?

 

If it was ever reported, I don't recall reading it.

[drjim]

Remember that Baker signed first and established the market. One year with no option.

 

I would imagine if the Twins want Pelfrey back they will be able to sign him. Pelfrey had family reasons for wanting to come here and I can't imagine a big bidding war will break out for his services.

[stringer bell]

It looks like there are plenty of candidates to go on the Disabled List all of a sudden. In the bullpen, both Pressly and Burton have not been effective since they were nicked and I'm sure either one could be disabled. Willingham looks almost certain to be DL bound. Doumit and Mauer apparently aren't 100% either. If Willingham is disabled (near certainty) the simplest move would be to activate Hicks. Since both catchers aren't 100%, it might make sense to recall Herrmann instead, especially since he could fill in at an outfield corner, in addition to catching.

[Red Holstein]

Either carroll or escobar have to go. Keeping them both is senseless. And why Theilbar is even included in this conversation is a mystery to me.

[Craig Arko]

It looks like there are plenty of candidates to go on the Disabled List all of a sudden. In the bullpen, both Pressly and Burton have not been effective since they were nicked and I'm sure either one could be disabled. Willingham looks almost certain to be DL bound. Doumit and Mauer apparently aren't 100% either. If Willingham is disabled (near certainty) the simplest move would be to activate Hicks. Since both catchers aren't 100%, it might make sense to recall Herrmann instead, especially since he could fill in at an outfield corner, in addition to catching.

 

I'd expect to see Herrmann, or possibly Colabello if they want a right handed bat, if Willingham goes to the DL.

[LaBombo]

I'd expect to see Herrmann, or possibly Colabello if they want a right handed bat, if Willingham goes to the DL.

Hicks instead. Looks like the 'Free Aaron Hicks' campaign spurred on by his buck ninety/one walk/one xbh AAA blitzkrieg has finally paid off...

 

You were essentially correct about the 'right-handed bat' part, though.