Article: Twins Receive Bad News and Make a Minor Move

[Nick Nelson]

You can view the page at http://www.twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=2488-Twins-Receive-Bad-News-and-Make-a-Minor-Move

[Kwak]

Is Johnson one of "the fixes" of the rotation promised? I hope not! There are "options" and legitimate options and I am not convinced Kris Johnson is a legitimate option for the rotation.

 

Will the TD computer clock "fall back" an hour?

[zchrz]

I think hes just filler, they are thin on close to the majors left handed starters and he maybe profiles a little better than what they have, his line from last year is promising anyway. While the pen is much better stocked now and has reinforcements coming through the system already.

[Thrylos]

Perhaps the Twins were emboldened by the Andrew Albers surprise, since Johnson is similarly a late-20s journeyman who found his way back into affiliated baseball after spending time in an independent league a couple years ago, but it's tough to find much to like here. He looks like Triple-A filler.

 

Saying that Johnson is an independent league product and a journeyman is not fair. He pitched half season of independent ball after he was let go from the Boston organization in 2011. He pitched for the Kansas team where he went to College and several of his college teammates played. The next season he signed with the Pirates where he has been since. Two organizations a journeyman do not make. He is as much of a journeyman as Morneau

 

And his stuff is better than any LHSP the Twins have in AAAA/MLB right now. He can hit 94 miles with his fastball (I think the only other LHSP in the organization that can do this is Melotakis) and has a plus change and a curve. That is better than what Diamond and Albers have. So he is pretty much on the top of the depth chart of LHSP in the organization (not potential of course.)

 

Is he a game changer? Likely not. Is he better that what the Twins have? Yes.

 

That was a small but very good move.

[Nick Nelson]

Is he a game changer? Likely not. Is he better that what the Twins have? Yes.

I would beg to differ. He is basically the same as what they have. The last thing they need at this point is more of the same.

[Thrylos]

I would beg to differ. He is basically the same as what they have. The last thing they need at this point is more of the same.

 

How many LHSP on the MLB-ready level who throw 94 mph do the Twins have?

[ScottyB]

It seems to me that Kris Johnson is just a replacement for Pedro Hernandez. Ryan came out and said that the Twins have more of a need for starters than relievers, that's why he swapped Welker. Johnson is clearly just filler. A body we can throw out there if we have a double-header and can add a 26th body at this point. He's certainly not an upgrade to the rotation.

[nicksaviking]

I would beg to differ. He is basically the same as what they have. The last thing they need at this point is more of the same.

 

There has to be some reason the Twins want these clones. Diamond, Albers, Darnell, Dean and Johnson. Some kind of reality TV talent show? Perhaps they needed to replace Hernandez who played bass in their band "The Contact High Lefties"

[Rosterman]

Agree. Replacement for Hernandez. Welker was a Slama clone if we wish to go that route. Pitching depth is never a problem, although three of the same (Diamond, Johnson, Albers) and the maybe Duensing on the 40-man is too much protection We need a star lefty on the roster, not a group of maybes.

[Shane Wahl]

I don't understand why we would even want Welker in the first place. Another reliever is not a necessary addition. A possible fifth starter if "it" all hits the fan again with Diamond, Worley, and Hendriks? Not bad. It's very possible that Johnson is ok in that role. I fear that the Twins are not going to acquire more than one upper to mid rotation starter, so adding more at the backend isn't bad. I don't really get how anyone could think that Welker as more value for the Twins than Johnson.

[minn55441]

The fact of the matter is that this was "a player to be named later". You don't normally get a difference maker in this type of trade. there is a chance of striking lightening in a bottle. will Johnson provide that, probably not, but I wouldn't be upset if he gave us one season like Diamond gave us in 2012.

 

After the dust settled from the Morneau trade. We had Welker. The two sides continued to talk and TR (and probably his scouts) decided he would rather have Johnson. The Pirates decided they would rather have Welker back. This wasn't a major signing, just an attempt to alter a deal that was already complete.

[Nick Nelson]

How many LHSP on the MLB-ready level who throw 94 mph do the Twins have?

Why are we so focused on his velocity? He averaged 6.2 K/9 as a 28-year-old in Triple-A so obviously he's not blowing people away despite this purported 94 MPH fastball and "plus change." You can paint him with whatever shade you like, the bottom line is that he's another marginal AAAA-starter type and the Twins have plenty of guys like that.

[John Bonnes]

I'll say this for him - he put up a 2.53 ERA in 135 innings in AAA, and for the most part, his hit rate has been pretty low for the last two seasons. He's not a top half of the rotation guy, but it could be that the Twins scouts are seeing something here to make them think he's the 2012 Scott Diamond type.

 

He's still far from a real prospect, but I'll be interested to see what he does. I'm treating it as an early Rule 5 pick.

[Alex]

I don't understand why we would even want Welker in the first place. Another reliever is not a necessary addition. A possible fifth starter if "it" all hits the fan again with Diamond, Worley, and Hendriks? Not bad. It's very possible that Johnson is ok in that role. I fear that the Twins are not going to acquire more than one upper to mid rotation starter, so adding more at the backend isn't bad. I don't really get how anyone could think that Welker as more value for the Twins than Johnson.

 

Totally agree and I really don't get the frustration for this move. If we'd traded any other 27 year old minor league reliever for a minor league starter wouldn't we consider it a good move? Not earth shattering, of course, but a decent move. Obviously they need to make bigger ones through FA, but that doesn't mean that this was a bad trade(back?)

[Otto von Ballpark]

I'll say this for him - he put up a 2.53 ERA in 135 innings in AAA, and for the most part, his hit rate has been pretty low for the last two seasons. He's not a top half of the rotation guy, but it could be that the Twins scouts are seeing something here to make them think he's the 2012 Scott Diamond type.

 

He's still far from a real prospect, but I'll be interested to see what he does. I'm treating it as an early Rule 5 pick.

 

To be fair, there isn't really a "2012 Scott Diamond type" unless you mean "guy who has a fluke good season."

 

Johnson's 2013 AAA success was his 5th go-around in AAA (all 5 in the International League, actually).

 

Twins scouts have apparently been looking at nothing but marginal AAA pitchers the last few years, judging by our roster and playing time over that span.

[Shane Wahl]

I am not *excited* about Johnson (if I were, I should just jump off a cliff to end it). But, given the possibility of trading back Welker for him, it was a smart move.

[clutterheart]

Has a trade like this ever happened before? After racking my brain, I can't remember a team trading a guy Back to an organization for another guy.

Did the MLB ownership group work out some kind Returns/Exchange Counter at the winter mmeetings?

[Jim H]

My guess is that Johnson has no real chance to make the team out of spring training, but that Ryan thought one more near ready starter at AAA might be useful. Given history over the last couple years, he could be right. Still, I expect Albers to be given a chance to make the team as a long reliever. That would make Diamond as first in line(likely competing with righties, Worley, Deduno, and Gibson for maybe 2 spots that could be available). That would leave 2 lefty starters at AAA, Johnson and Darnell. That's not so many. Any could be candidates, eventually for long relief as well.

[ScottyB]

He's still far from a real prospect, but I'll be interested to see what he does. I'm treating it as an early Rule 5 pick.

 

Ah! But the best kind of Rule 5 pick - we don't have to waste a space on the 25-man roster all season!

[diamondlars]

OMG!! Twins organization, i hope something well goes planned this offseason!

 

why did we need to give back talent with duke welker for another aint gonna get no better kris johnson. sad! I think I'd rather see Liam Hendricks back on the mound.

 

Swarzak or Duensing can do better than most of our starters! too bad they are too useful to us in the bullpen!

 

Pelfrey did show signs in the 2nd half of a .500 starter thank goodness.

 

Corriea is good, Deduno will hopefully be healthy, Albers we have no clue what he's going to do, hopefully be around .500 for us. so we still need 2 or at least 1 great starter. Will take a lot to coax a good starter to come to Minnesota, or maybe try and get someone to come back!?

 

tons of holes to fill for position players also. Catcher? Pinto, Hermmann? 1st is Mauer, will he ever get a shot at All-Star again? Brian Dozier will be All-star this year, Deduno ss? he does have descent defense but he needs to learn how to swing a bat, maybe Molitor or Mauer can show him.

 

Plouffe, would be nice to get his power back. Willingham, needs to stay healthy, need him! Center, Alex Pressly? hopfully hicks can hit .250+ he has everything else a centerfielder needs, just needs to hit consistantly Also, and i guess Arcia and Doumit are good enough for right field at the moment.

 

Good Luck Twins, please find us better starting pitching! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!! lets aim for 82 wins next year and have a winning year! Gosh that would be nice!

[diamondlars]

Totally agree and I really don't get the frustration for this move. If we'd traded any other 27 year old minor league reliever for a minor league starter wouldn't we consider it a good move? Not earth shattering, of course, but a decent move. Obviously they need to make bigger ones through FA, but that doesn't mean that this was a bad trade(back?)

 

Seriously people? why not get a good middle reliever, this welker is due for the big show! another middle reliever to bring up swarzak/duensing as a starter, they've started before and we know they can pitch! yes worley needs to go, cant we just waive him? diamond, who knows he was good in 2012, but could not put it together after surgery, hopefully he just needs a nice well rested offseason! As of right now the Twins Depth chart for starting Pitching is Correia, Deduno, Albers, Hendriks, and Diamond, all i can say is EEKS!!

 

Last years were Worley, Corriea, Pelfry, Hendriks, De Vries. I remember I felt ok with this rotation until the 3rd-4th week in the season when i think we only had 4 wins from the starters and 9 wins from the releivers!