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  • Twins Claim RHP Chris Heston; Add Him To 25-Man Roster

    John Bonnes

    By John Bonnes

    The Twins claimed right-handed starting pitcher Chris Heston from the Dodgers this afternoon, making room on the 40-man roster by releasing pitcher Nick Tepesch. Heston will be placed on the major league roster and join the team in Seattle. Update: The Twins announced they have placed Hector Santiago on the disabled list to make room for Heston on the 25-man roster.

    Image courtesy of © Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

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    Heston is not really a prospect. He’s 29 years old and this will be his fourth organization since the end of last year. The good news is that he started 31 games in the big leagues with the Giants in 2015, sporting a 3.95 ERA and threw a no-hitter. The bad news is that AT&T ballpark is pretty forgiving and the Giants didn’t feel compelled to leave room in their rotation for him the following year. He spend 2016 in AAA for the Giants, where he was initially not particularly effective (4.25 ERA) and then succumbed to an oblique injury in July before returning in mid-August.

    He started this year in Seattle, was designated for assignment and picked up by the Dodgers and now is with the Twins. He has spent most of the year in AAA, mostly starting, and has a 3.89 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 34.2 IP. I don’t see anything in his minor league game log that suggests he has turned any corner.

    He was drafted by the Twins back in 2007, albeit in the 47th round, and didn’t sign, but it is not uncommon that the Twins are a little extra interested in guys they have followed for a long time. There also isn’t anything in Heston’s AAA work this year that suggests he should be promoted to the majors, but with catcher Chris Gimenez already making his fourth appearance on the mound this year, this could be just another attempt to add a live (in the literal, not figurative sense of the word) arm.

    John cofounded Twins Daily and co-hosts the Gleeman and the Geek podcast. 
    Follow John Bonnes on Twitter: @TwinsGeek

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    Seth Stohs

    Seth Stohs 23,732

  • Owner

    • Posted

     

    I'm sure people are upset about this, but meh. It's a dart throw on a guy who doesn't throw hard, but has pretty good offspeed stuff. Was really good as recently as two years ago. Whatever. I don't hate it. 

     

    Yeah, I mean it was clear that Santiago needed a DL stint (either due to performance or maybe something is actually wrong since his velo was down a bit in his last start). It's not like top guys are available right now, so you try to catch some lightning in a bottle on the fringes. I have no problem with this. 

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    Penthang

    Penthang 210

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    Not a bad move, filled a short term hole without haveing to give up any type of prospect with someone who could be serviceable. If he isn't there is no cost to pulling the plug as someone might pick him up when he's on waivers.

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    Seth Stohs

    Seth Stohs 23,732

  • Owner

    • Posted

     

    He may be a short term filler but why? Give Gonsalves a look. Do something interesting.

     

    Gonsalves has made 4 starts since missing two months with a shoulder thing... How about let's let him get a few more AA starts and hopefully in July send him to AAA, and then in August, see where the team and Gonsalves are... Same with Romero (though he wasn't injured, he's been very up and down through the first two months).

     

    I think they believe Slegers could be solid, but he's been up and down too. Let him keep working in AAA. They already lost Wheeler, so the other AAA options to call up are Yohan Pino, David Hurlbut, Adam Wilk and Nik Turley types. 

     

    I don't have any problem with claiming guys for the back end of the 40-man and 25-man roster. For years we talked about how the Twins should be doing more of that. The Twins probably need a Sunday starter. Heston can fill that, and if/when Santiago or Hughes come back, or they deem someone from AAA or AA ready, you DFA and hope he sticks so you've got more arms in the system. 

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    Seth Stohs

    Seth Stohs 23,732

  • Owner

    • Posted

     

    I guess Heston is better than trotting Wilk out there again...

     

    Maybe... I mean, both were acquired in the same way, are about the same age, one's left-handed and the other is right-handed, but they're pretty similar in profile. Again, I'm good with the move because they need to accumulate some arms and hope one hits, but my expectations are not very high here.

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    drjim

    drjim 7,100

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted

     

    I have a problem with this, not in the short term perspective that they obviously had to do something now, but from the perspective that they allowed themselves to be in this position at all.

     

    I'm not sure there is a ton they could have done in the offseason to prevent these specific problems.

     

    They clearly should have aimed higher than Belisle, Breslow, and Haley as their additions, but that would have improved the active bullpen. There is not much that can be done to add quality depth to the minors in an offseason, especially when basically the entire stock of quality depth gets injured.

     

    They could (and should) have had a better bullpen, but the scramble to fill it out would still be ongoing. There's a reason the Twins only won 59 games last year.

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    Otto von Ballpark

    Otto von Ballpark 20,320

  • Community Leader

    • Posted

     

    What happens if Heston pitches well in Santiago's absence? If he's kept on the 25-man, who goes down when Santiago returns? He can't be optioned, so do we DFA him after a good game or even two? I can't imagine Heston being a long term answer, but even a AAAA guy can surprise you in the short term, and the optics of then discarding him would be bad. This roster is still a nightmare.

    Actually Heston still has an option remaining.  In fact, he has been optioned this year by both Seattle and the Dodgers already.

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    Kwak

    Kwak 1,440

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    It appears the new FO has a low opinion of "in-house prospects".  Said FO had better be very good in Monday's draft--or this will be a never-ending rebuild.

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    Thrylos

    Thrylos 8,325

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

     

    There should be a Starting Pitcher Subway Sandwich promotion. Once we punch off 12 for this season, we should all get a free 12” sandwich.

    Run with this TD!

     

    The Twins used 7 different starters this season.  The league leading Astros used 8.

     

    just sayin'...

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    old nurse

    old nurse 2,366

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    It appears the new FO has a low opinion of "in-house prospects".  Said FO had better be very good in Monday's draft--or this will be a never-ending rebuild.

    What in house prospects? Guys with an ERA over 4 in AAA?  AA starters with little  time at that level?

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    Twodogs

    Twodogs 1,311

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    Heston was previously claimed off waivers by the Dodgers on May 26.  Assuming waiver priority was granted based on the standings through May 25th, 24 MLB teams passed on him at that time, including the Twins:

     

    http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/?year=2017&month=05&day=25

    Well Rodon is on rehab for the White Sox now, so probably in about 3 weeks Pelfrey will be available.   :banghead:  :)

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    gman

    gman 894

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    If this looks weak now, fast forward 6 months. Do they go to arb with Santiago or Gibson? Seeing Berrios start, do we expect Romero or Gonsalves to start quicker? I personally don't expect either before the middle of 2018 on a semi-regular basis. Following the expected trade of Santana, 2018 doesn't have much in the way of starting pitching in the picture. It doesn't look like the rotation picture begins to clear up much before 2019.

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    yarnivek1972

    yarnivek1972 6,290

  • Verified Member

    • Posted (edited)

    If this looks weak now, fast forward 6 months. Do they go to arb with Santiago or Gibson? Seeing Berrios start, do we expect Romero or Gonsalves to start quicker? I personally don't expect either before the middle of 2018 on a semi-regular basis. Following the expected trade of Santana, 2018 doesn't have much in the way of starting pitching in the picture. It doesn't look like the rotation picture begins to clear up much before 2019.

    Santiago is a FA. Gibson would be arb eligible. I would assume he'll be non-tendered if he is still even under team control at season's end.

     

    Gonsalves (assuming he remains healthy the rest of the season) figures to be in the mix for a rotation spot at the beginning of next season. Romero, most likely not until mid 2018.

    Edited by yarnivek1972
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    D.C Twins

    D.C Twins 2,233

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    The Twins used 7 different starters this season.  The league leading Astros used 8.

     

    just sayin'...

     

    Agreed….but we’ve got a looooong season left with only 1-2 slots in the rotation really a lock.

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    howeda7

    howeda7 2,817

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    If this looks weak now, fast forward 6 months. Do they go to arb with Santiago or Gibson? Seeing Berrios start, do we expect Romero or Gonsalves to start quicker? I personally don't expect either before the middle of 2018 on a semi-regular basis. Following the expected trade of Santana, 2018 doesn't have much in the way of starting pitching in the picture. It doesn't look like the rotation picture begins to clear up much before 2019.

    If we're desperate for starting pitching, why are we trading Santana? He can be under control through 2019, and despite his nice start, no one is giving us a massive haul for him. 

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