Twins Claim Jordan Schafer from Braves

The Twins had 39 players on their 40 man roster, so the roster is again full. The team will need to send someone down to Rochester to make room on the 25-man roster.

 

 

Darnell optioned to open spot on 25 man.  Will May take his next start?

Bringing Eric Farris up from AAA this late in the season would not make much sense unless you plan on keeping him on the major league team next year as well. He has already used up 2 of his option years while with Milwaukee (total of 10 PA over 14 games). If you wanted to keep Farris as a 4th outfielder next year, it would be nice to be able to option him if he struggles. It is also easier to trade a player like this if he can be stashed at AAA without taking a 40 man roster spot.

Isn't the option only used if they send him back down this year? Seems kind of late in the year for that to be necessary.

 

If Farris was added to the 40-man right now, he would only burn an option year if he was sent back to AAA for 20 days, which would be pretty unlikely since the AAA ends in about 30 days anyway.

Point taken. You also have to take into account whether he has been DFA'd before. Two DFA's allow the player to choose to become a free agent. Considering the Twins signed him as a minor league free agent, it is likely that he has already been DFA'd before. Why potentially expose a player to waivers who may not get looked at otherwise? He is a player that would most likely be taken off the 40 man roster after the season. He could be exposed twice this offseason. Once for the waiver and again for the rule 5 draft.

Darnell optioned to open spot on 25 man.  Will May take his next start?

I don't want to change the topic, but I do wonder whether it'll be May or Milone with the next start. Also, I wonder who will be sent down when they have to do that.

I don't want to change the topic, but I do wonder whether it'll be May or Milone with the next start. Also, I wonder who will be sent down when they have to do that.

I was thinking Milone will take Pino's spot and May will take Darnell's spot.  Don't know who comes off roster to make room for May.

Ryan wants to trade him back to the Braves for a useful piece.

Puke.

Seth, he debuted with the Atlanta Braves and came up through the Braves system.  He was part of the trade that brought Michael Bourn to Atlanta before Atlanta acquired him via waiver claim before the 2013 season.

He's a CF in speed only at this point as his instincts in the field are terrible and simply have not gotten better.  The only thing worse than his first step is his routes, so not exactly the guy you want to rely on for covering a spacious outfield.  His best defensive asset is his arm.  His speed does allow him to make up for his first step on quick shots, but on long runs, his poor routes often bite him, and he misses a ball most center fielders can make.

Schafer was once a tremendous offensive prospect with good patience, okay power, and blazing speed - the prototypical leadoff guy.  Then he got busted in the minors for PEDs.  He's never found that patience again since his suspension, though his MLB walk percentage was good, he's often been cited for going after way too many first pitches, but that is an issue of many Braves hitters, so that may be something he's done more with Greg Walker as his hitting coach.

Schafer has had an absurdly low BABIP this year, hovering around .215 last I checked, so there's some hope for improvement, but I know the Braves aren't hurt in letting him go after giving him two chances at the big league level and attempting to stand by his side during a suspension.

In the clubhouse, he rides that line between cocky and arrogant, and he really irked Chipper Jones and Tim Hudson when they were around.  Last season he publicly called for more playing time as BJ Upton struggled, which isn't the greatest "team guy" thing to do.  All that said, he's never been mentioned as one that was causing any upheaval in the clubhouse, and the Braves have had issues with that the last few years from Uggla, McCann, and others.

Not a bad chance pick up for a team like the Twins.  If his BABIP bounces back, he's a .230/.300/.350 sort of hitter that will steal a ton when on base if he has the green light. Not a long term piece, but worth the nothing given up for him.

Exactly, Brandon Moss was a flyer by the A's.  The Twins should try out more of these guys for lesser roles and hope for good things.  Especially when they aren't in the way of anyone.

Before the A's, he was a flyer by the Phillies.  These guys sometimes don't work out as well.  And Moss has flourished mostly because he doesn't play every day now. That's allowed his power to play up because his .255/.335 line wouldn't acceptable without slugging over .500.

What I'd like to know about Jordan Schafer is how he's getting himself out at the plate. What's he doing wrong - trying to pull everything, over-swinging, a big hole in his swing, etc. There might be something about him that Bruno can work on. Maybe he can borrow Danny Santana's bat and approach. Or Suzuki's.

He's breathing and has two legs, which I guess fits the bill at this point in time. There are probably more interesting AAAA guys around, but it's all about timing with these filler moves.

I suppose it is better than watching a bunch of SS play the outfield.

That the Twins, in year four of consecutive 90 loss seasons, are claiming Jordon Shafer in August, and he will most likely end up on the 25 man roster, does not say anything good about the status of the "rebuild."

 

In fact, it is a pretty damning indictment, IMO.

I don't think this move says a thing about the rebuild. Arcia, Gibson, Hughes, Santana, Polanco, Buxton, Meyer, May, Pinto, Hicks, Tonkin, Pressly...the list is much longer. Those are the names that say something about the rebuild, not some replacement for Fuld. And would you rather they not acquired Milone?

To me you just keep looking at the waiver wire everyday.  Schafer is one option, if a better option comes across the wire tomorrow, pick that guy up and DFA Schafer.  We just need a body to help fill CF the rest of the season. Just keep scouring the wire until you pick up a decent option like Fuld was. 

You know, like Jason Bartlett, Jason Pridie or Jason Tyner.

Schafer, Shafer, Schaefer, Schaffer, Schaeffer, Shaffer........... it is starting already.  At least he isn't another Pressly, or Presley, or ............

I have many more questions about Rosario at this point than I do Hicks.

That might be true for me too.... With that question being if he can hit RH pitching.

According to the Braves guy, he is not a good defensive CF. UZR and DRS confirm this in the season where he played significant innings. After 1251 PA, he has shown he can't hit. He has been released by the Astros and Braves. He is hitting .163 this year. Then there is the HGH suspension and felony drug arrest.

It's hard to see the downside.

Worst case, in a small sample he will hit a little and play the game the right way. The Twins respond by keeping him on the 40 without looking for a better solution.

He was a top prospect in 2008. That has to mean something. The Twins top prospects that year were Nick Blackburn and Joe Benson. Maybe they are available. More warm bodies. What's the downside?

Geez people, you have all watched the minors and MLB team this year. I have read 20 complaints about "shouldn't we try something better" without an in house suggestion of what is better. Rosario, in house suspension; Hicks, not ready (we tried that). Parmalee was in center, Parma freaking lee!! Quantify the harm or lay off please.