Twins Add Gordon, Wade, Arraez To 40-Man Roster

It is often not real helpful to compare the total minor league numbers of a player signed out of high school with a player signed after graduating from college. In their age 23 seasons, both playing in AA, Navaretto and Turner had basically the same OPS. [.619]. Turner improved to .686 the following year, repeating AA, and was selected by Cincinnati. Turner had quite a few more strikeouts and walks than Navaretto, so I remain hopeful that Brian can have a Drew Butera type of career.

I don't think anyone else will be added for the final 2 spots but would like to see Jake Reed added. 

Arraez doesn't seem likely to be selected.

6th overall pick in 2015 is not worthwhile to stash on the 40 man... What a shame.

Coming on the heels of the prior year when a 4th overall pick wasn't worth stashing on the 40-man.  

I hope the open spots will not result in them taking a player in rule 5.

A pitcher nearly guarantees an extra man in the bullpen and a bat like Astudillo in AAA. The only pick might be a middle infielder on the bench who competes with Adrianza for the roster spot.

Coming on the heels of the prior year when a 4th overall pick wasn't worth stashing on the 40-man.  

I don't think of either of them as "not worth stashing".  I think of them as unlikely to be drafted or highly unlikely to succeed on another team if drafted (returned).

Its clear Jay isn't ready for MLB time and needs more time to develop.

IMO if the Twins don't add Nick Anderson to the roster they will have pooched it. He will go at the top of the Rule 5, he will stick, and he will perform like we wish our rookies or even veterans would. A reliever who has a K%-BB% = 28.4% and can go multi-innings should be prized.

6th overall pick in 2015 is not worthwhile to stash on the 40 man... What a shame.

Injuries are part of the game. He didn't throw 100 innings in his first 3 years in the minors. Someone will take him.

The actual shame is that the person who made all of those first round picks, including the other wasted ones is still in the Twins' organization...

That's because the organization sees the big picture. The draft is a lot more than just the first pick. What it does show, is taking starting pitching that high, is always a gamble.

Comment from JJ Cooper of Baseball America (who follows the Rule 5 as closely as anybody) on the possibility of Tyler Jay getting picked:

Not worthy of being taken isn't exactly high praise.......when other players drafted those years are starring in the majors.....

It would be interesting to see a full list of players from the 2015 draft that are in the majors let alone "starring."  3.5 years in the minors is not that long.  Tyler Jay was still below the average age for AA last year.  Considering that he only threw 11 innings in 2017, we shouldn't really be concerned about him being a bust yet.  He is just not ready to be on a 25 man roster so there isn't the need to protect him.

From the first round, 8 of the top 20 selections have MLB experience....Alex Bregman, Walker Buehler, Andrew Benintendi, and Dansby Swanson are actually contributing.

I hope the open spots will not result in them taking a player in rule 5.

A pitcher nearly guarantees an extra man in the bullpen and a bat like Astudillo in AAA. The only pick might be a middle infielder on the bench who competes with Adrianza for the roster spot.

For $100,000 it's foolish not to take a rule 5 player. I haven't looked lately, but at one time Haley was on the best team in baseball. With us he was on the DL twice and couldn't seem to stay healthy. Injuries are part of the game, but the pick was a good one.

I wonder if people would even notice the Rule V draft if it didn't take place during the lull before winter meetings.

For $100,000 it's foolish not to take a rule 5 player. I haven't looked lately, but at one time Haley was on the best team in baseball. With us he was on the DL twice and couldn't seem to stay healthy. Injuries are part of the game, but the pick was a good one.

The cost is roster flexibility.

Even if you do roster that player it would be years before you get a return. Ryan Pressly was taken in 2013 and was used in low leverage situations. The Twins in turn had to carry 13 pitchers much of the year. He was sent to AAA in 2014 and pitched less than 30 major league innings in both 2014-2015. In 2016-2017 he was at the back of the bullpen just above replacement level. Finally a pay off in 2018 and the Twins do get good prospects.

Likely best case is the guy we take this year pays off in 2024. The much greater likelihood is that the rule 5 addition will be stuck on the roster and increase the need for a 13th pitcher. This will really limit the opportunity for an extra bench bat like Astudillo. I would rather bet on Astudillo and roster those last spots in the pen to guys with options that can shuttled back and forth rather so that the staff can stay at 12 most of the year.

How many contenders are going to trade roster flexibility to stash a rule 5 guy in 2019? How many did it last year? If it was foolish not to take a rule 5 player wouldn’t every team take one?

Man, don't see the need for all the outfielders. Like the starters also on the 40-man (although I consider the ceiling higher on those guys than the second rung of outfielders...Cave, Reed, Granite, Grossman, Wade. Not sure the need for more than two at this moment, since you also have Tyler Austin in the mix.

I also don't see a big need for any Rile 5 guy who might still be a year away. The Twins have enough of those types of players in their system. Better to go after the minor league fee agent market for temporary fixes. The Twins need to do more of a 40-man housecleaning of guys they are already putting on contract, and make realistic decisions on what they do have in the system. You have to ask: why gamble on a castoff from another organization rather than someone of equal quality in your own system?

The cost is roster flexibility.

Even if you do roster that player it would be years before you get a return. Ryan Pressly was taken in 2013 and was used in low leverage situations. The Twins in turn had to carry 13 pitchers much of the year. He was sent to AAA in 2014 and pitched less than 30 major league innings in both 2014-2015. In 2016-2017 he was at the back of the bullpen just above replacement level. Finally a pay off in 2018 and the Twins do get good prospects.

Likely best case is the guy we take this year pays off in 2024. The much greater likelihood is that the rule 5 addition will be stuck on the roster and increase the need for a 13th pitcher. This will really limit the opportunity for an extra bench bat like Astudillo. I would rather bet on Astudillo and roster those last spots in the pen to guys with options that can shuttled back and forth rather so that the staff can stay at 12 most of the year.

How many contenders are going to trade roster flexibility to stash a rule 5 guy in 2019? How many did it last year? If it was foolish not to take a rule 5 player wouldn’t every team take one?

They got a MLB player for $100,000. I don't follow every other team and really don't care what they do. If the search committee had picked me, I would always take a rule 5 player. Always.

Man, don't see the need for all the outfielders. Like the starters also on the 40-man (although I consider the ceiling higher on those guys than the second rung of outfielders...Cave, Reed, Granite, Grossman, Wade. Not sure the need for more than two at this moment, since you also have Tyler Austin in the mix.

 

I also don't see a big need for any Rile 5 guy who might still be a year away. The Twins have enough of those types of players in their system. Better to go after the minor league fee agent market for temporary fixes. The Twins need to do more of a 40-man housecleaning of guys they are already putting on contract, and make realistic decisions on what they do have in the system. You have to ask: why gamble on a castoff from another organization rather than someone of equal quality in your own system?

I think Grossman and Granite will both be gone soon, and then I think the OF depth chart will look less filled up.

6th overall pick in 2015 is not worthwhile to stash on the 40 man... What a shame.

Our FO didn't draft him. It's simple for them to pass on most of these guys because of this. It will be interesting to see what happens when the players they drafted are needed to be protected.

They also have plenty of AAAA pitchers on the 40 man that could sent through waivers down the road.