Starter or Reliever Series: Cole Sands

Yes. I think of all the candidates that Sands makes the most sense to transition to the bullpen. I just don't think his "stuff" is good enough to navigate through a lineup 2 to 3 times a game over the course of the season. He is already 26 and I just don't see him improving enough to be an MLB starter. On the other hand, I think Winder, Varland, SWR, Headrick, and even Dobnak have enough that they can become at least decent mid- rotation starters, maybe Dobnak as a backend guy. I even like to see Henriquez get a little more play in the AAA starting rotation, although I think he winds up in the bullpen eventually.

My plan would be to start this season with Aaron Sanchez in the bullpen as a long man/multi-inning guy with Megill in the AAA bullpen as a late inning short man. I would have Sands filling a long man/multi-inning role in AAA to start the season to get him ready to fill that role at the MLB level when the inevitable need arises. This would be more of a transition year with the long-term goal to make Sands a regular bullpen fixture in a multi-inning role.

Agree with you Cody in that Sands makes the most sense to move to the bullpen now.  It'd be interesting to see how much velo he could gain and how he'd fair as a 2-pitch, or maybe 3-pitch bullpen guy.

I've seen him pitch several times and i've never seen his fastball come anywhere near the upper 90's.  If he really has that in him, make him a reliever and let him go with that in shorter stints.  I do like his curveball.

Sands has no future as a SP. He could fill in as long relief if needed mainly in mop up. I couldn't tell you if he'll ever be that good.

He's got an interesting pitch mix, and had a really good 2019 and 2021 as a SP, so it's hard for me to say he should be converted to the pen after an inconsistent 2022.

However, sometimes you just watch a guy and look at his offerings and something just tells you he'd be better off in the pen. And I think I see that when I watch Sands. While inconsistent, I've seen really good flashes from his breaking stuff. And his fastball has looked average at best.

I'd like to believe his FB would gain velocity and effectiveness throwing 1-3 IP and facing batters a single time. And the breaking stuff could be that much more effective doing so as well. Whether he can make the conversion quick enough now to take one of the final bullpen spots, or go to St Paul and help later on, I think he should be moved now. 

12 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

This one isn’t even close. Reliever is his only chance sticking on a major league team. 

Agreed!……I do think, because of experience, a healthy Dobnak may be more effective to start in long roll at beginning of the year. He can get 6-7 outs……Sands is probably our 2nd best option for long relief. If our starters are healthy later this summer maybe SWR goes to a long roll with Big Club?

I do not see him making it as a SP, but based on what we have seen, I am not sure he is a quality reliever either.  With all the names at St Paul, he is in danger of being on another team before the year is over.

Agree strongly with @mikelink45. RP may be his better stuff, and there have been some flashes, but I'm not convinced Sands is MLB-quality at all, or maybe he is on a lower level team than I'd like the Twins to be. If Sands has a great spring, I'd totally be working the trade circuit for him.

If players start going on the short-term IL list in any quantity more than 1, the Twins will have to rely on starting arms to pitch in relief to fill out the major league roster.

That is not necessarily a bad thing, if the mindset is there. If a guy pitches long relief, he will still build on innings going forth, and could transition back into a rotational role in the future.

It is figuring out what a pitcher may bring to the team in that role. Henriquez showed sparks of being a bullpen arm as St. Paul winded down their season, and in his brief Target Field showcase. Winder and Sands would be high on the list, if you want to keep Woods Richardson and Varland strictly as rotation arms. But, in a pinch, the major league exposure would do them good in any capacity.

Interesting that the Twins basically list 15 pitchers as mainly rotation arms on their 40-man roster, and only eight as bullpen arms.