Opening Day Roster Becoming Clear With Thursday Transactions

So just wondering from a flexiblity standpoint, does Granit have any infield experience or taken any spring reps picking up ground balls?

I don't agree that Busenitz was great at mlb in 2017.

Lucky, yes. 4.20 FIP, unimpressive k rate, extremely lucky babip and strand rate.

I'm surprised they're keeping Granite and letting Aybar go.  What is Grossman's role going to be with Morrison locked in at DH (or Mauer) and Granite as the 4th OF and a pinch runner.  I wonder if the FO is looking at players released and seeing if they can upgrade on Aybar.  If they can, maybe then Granite gets sent out.

It would be really nice if MLB would announce on Sano before Opening Day.

I am usually not a fan of 2 utility IF'ers or at least the necessity of them on the roster but this is an instance where I want two of them. Sano has question marks (health) and probably won't play 3B every day. At that point you don't have a backup IF'er on the bench. Additionally they are going with a backup as starter at SS.

Grossman is really the odd man on the roster though. I like his specific skillset but that skillset doesn't work with Morrison as the defacto DH, Sano getting plenty of starts at DH and a backup catcher that might outhit Grossman. And Escobar is also a really good hitter on the bench although he won't be on the bench much to start the season. There just isn't a role that Grossman is needed for.

I disagree with your premise. I think it's far from certain that Granite has made the team.  I think they're waiting to see who hits the waiver wire that could be a better fit as the 25th man and I think that it's a good bet that LaMarre would stay as the RH hitter we need who has had a better spring instead of Granite. Also, I wouldn't be shocked if the Reds waive Vargas and the Twins grab him back. 

 

I would put Granite's chances of being on the Opening Day roster at less than 40%, more like a 2/3 chance he goes to AAA and a 1/3 chance he stays. I also think that's the right answer - he should be in AAA playing every day. He's just not good enough yet for the MLB level.

I doubt the Twins would claim Vargas, if waived.  That would require them to place him on the 40-man, which is the reason they lost him.  As much as I really like him and think he can/will be a solid hitter, if ever given consistent at bats, I think the Twins interest would be only if he cleared waivers and they could sign him to a minor league contract.  Should that happen, I think their interest level would be very high.

On a related note, does anyone know if there are minimum salary levels in the minors for players on the 40-man roster?

It would be really nice if MLB would announce on Sano before Opening Day.

So what's Duffey's role going to be then, if they're stretching him out? Is he going back to starter land?

The reason I ask is that his repertoire seems limited, and the upper minors' rotations seem very crowded already. Can he develop more pitches at this point, or should they attempt to maximize his bullpen effectiveness? 

I doubt the Twins would claim Vargas, if waived. That would require them to place him on the 40-man, which is the reason they lost him. As much as I really like him and think he can/will be a solid hitter, if ever given consistent at bats, I think the Twins interest would be only if he cleared waivers and they could sign him to a minor league contract. Should that happen, I think their interest level would be very high.

 

On a related note, does anyone know if there are minimum salary levels in the minors for players on the 40-man roster?

There is a set salary for guys on the 40 man. Not sure how accurate this site is, but I know there are multiple benefits and I know some of those like the benefits and marijuana testing are true so the rest probably are as well: http://athletewealth.com/mlb40man/

Amounts may be higher now since that was 2015 and it's 2018 now.

I doubt the Twins would claim Vargas, if waived.  That would require them to place him on the 40-man, which is the reason they lost him.  As much as I really like him and think he can/will be a solid hitter, if ever given consistent at bats, I think the Twins interest would be only if he cleared waivers and they could sign him to a minor league contract.  Should that happen, I think their interest level would be very high.

 

On a related note, does anyone know if there are minimum salary levels in the minors for players on the 40-man roster?

Yes, players on the 40-man roster get a decent paycheck, as long as they are on the 40-man roster. There is a sliding scale in the minors with higher pay at each level, and also higher pay according to experience. A 5-6 year player CAN make $50 grand on a minor league contract. And some players with major league experience (I imagine Duffey is an example) have a major/minor league split worked into their contract if they aren't arbitration eligible. At some point, though, a player CAN earn major league money while being in the minors (with their organization), which is why many are jettisoned before a decision of that sort needs to be made.Of course, there are always exceptions. A player and team can agree on any amount for that player to play on the minor league level. But, yes, the first couple of years of play, in the rookie/short season league, and even A-ball, can be hell for the pocketbook...but a blessing if you have great minor league park facilities and like to do nothing but playball all day, crash in a sleeping room in a host family house,  and can find entertainment on-line or with your computer games and such.

I feel bad about Tyler Duffey, but he does need to work on some things. Hitters seem to have learned to read his stuff too well, and he still hasn't developed a good third pitch. 

I wonder if Duffey has some of the same release point problems as Ryan Pressly. Having only two good pitches isn't cutting it for Bender, one of my favorite Twins. 

I don't care for Hughes in the rotation to start the season but I'll tolerate it if he has a *very* quick hook and they leverage the opening series' on/off silliness to make sure he barely pitches.

I can live with him being the 5th guy to start the season. One last chance to see if he can go as a starter, then he moves to the bullpen and if that doesn't fly he's done. (cut or retire, I suspect) Who knows? maybe he'll get enough back to be ok.

i don't think it'll happen either, but they needed/wanted that spot for Cave. Now they have an open spot again because of Polanco. So it could happen, but unlikely.


There is a set salary for guys on the 40 man. Not sure how accurate this site is, but I know there are multiple benefits and I know some of those like the benefits and marijuana testing are true so the rest probably are as well: http://athletewealth.com/mlb40man/

Amounts may be higher now since that was 2015 and it's 2018 now.

Thanks.  The most recent CBA was signed after 2015, right?  Would expect that these minimums may have gone up some in that agreement...or maybe not.

In any case, this is an area that seems likely to me that teams/union could improve some of these kids salaries.  As we know, the 40-man roster guys are the first replacements most teams have.  Seems to me they are worth a lot more than $41,400.  Hell, 20% of the league minimum would be over $100k!

""Nothing Falls But Raindrops" outfield..."

Except when Grossman is playing. He's a brutal outfielder.

It seems Hughes will be making the team as a reliever and playing the role of the mop-up man for any short starts. They're going to put him in the rotation as the 5th starter on April 11th (I believe that's the date when they need a 5th starter) for better or for worse.

You're right, I was just hinting at the notion that having two low leverage mop up guys in the same bullpen seems redundant. 

The Cubs are releasing Peter Bourjos. Does he make sense for the 4th OF role? Solid defender (used to be elite in CF) but not much of a bat - .231/.288/.366 over the last 4 years. Still, RH hitter, used to comng off the bench, good to very good fielder who can play CF. He's the pinch runner, 2 days a week for Kepler/Buxton in the OF guy while Grossman is the backup/RH DH who plays 2-3 days a week, once in the OF, once at DH when LoMo is at 1B and Mauer is sitting and once when LoMo sits against LH pitching. Grossman also is a late inning get on base guy in a close game. Allows Granite to develop in AAA a little more. Granite was overwhelmed a little at the plate last year - .237/.321/.290, and lets us keep Grossman.

Not sure what more “developing” is left for Granite. He’s 25, which is older than 2 of the 3 projected starters. Granite hasn’t had a substantial lefty/ righty split for the last two years and actually hit LHP better in his SSS at the MLB level last year.

I doubt the Twins would claim Vargas, if waived.  That would require them to place him on the 40-man, which is the reason they lost him.  As much as I really like him and think he can/will be a solid hitter, if ever given consistent at bats, I think the Twins interest would be only if he cleared waivers and they could sign him to a minor league contract.  Should that happen, I think their interest level would be very high.

 

On a related note, does anyone know if there are minimum salary levels in the minors for players on the 40-man roster?

The problem with Vargas is that he needs to be on the 25 man roster since he doesn't have any options. If they could option him then he would still be a Twin.