Neshek update, and other notes
Posted on November 17th, 2008 – 5:59 PMBy La Velle
Twins reliever Pat Neshek will have surgery tomorrow in the Twin Cities to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in this right elbow. Twins team physicians Dr. John Steubs and Dr. Dan Buss will conduct the surgery.
Neshek tore the ligament earlier this month while throwing at the Twins’ headquarters in Fort Myers. Fla., and is expected to miss the entire 2009 season.
Here are a bunch of other notes collected throughout the day….
RANTZ WINS AWARD
I just found out that Twins director of minor leagues Jim Rantz has won the inaugural Chief Bender Award for distinguished service in player development. Rantz, who has been with the Twins since Day One in 1961, will be honored next month during MLB’s winter meetings in Las Vegas.
I called Rantz earlier today to yak about minor leaguers and was unaware of the award until I clicked on the minor league baseball website and saw his picture on the homepage. I called back and pretended to be outraged that he didn’t say anything about it. Congrats, sir.
MANSHIP TO START TITLE GAME
Last year, Nick Blackburn was the starter and winning pitcher in the championship game of the Arizona Fall League. Jeff Manship will have a chance to follow Blackburn’s path. The Phoenix Desert Dogs have qualified for Saturday’s title game, and Manship has been named the starter in that game.
Manship is 2-1 with a 4,91 ERA in seven starts.
SOME GOOD, SOME BAD AT THE AFL
The Twins are generally pleased with how their lads are doing in the AFL - although some of them aren’t putting up great numbers.
Infielder Steven Tolleson, however, is among the league leaders with a .383 batting average and has added two homers and 20 RBI. “He’s had a good run,” Rantz said. “ but he’s missed a few games with some nagging injuries.”
As you can see, Danny Valencia has been terrible at the plate - but he’s committed just one error. “His defense has really tightened up,” Rantz said. “He’s worked hard at it and it is paying off.”
Dustin Martin? “He’s done O.K. He’s getting playing time against better competition.”
I don’t know what to make of Tim Lahey, Anthony Slama and Rob Delaney’s numbers. Someone told me last week that they were showing signs of wearing down but one bad outing by a reliever in a short season league can ruin numbers.
WINTER RETREAT WATCH
Winter ball has been going on for awhile now. Luke Hughes already has 79 at-bats for Tigres in the Venezuelan league and is making the most of them, batting .304 with three doubles, two triples, two homers and 13 RBI in 23 games. This is a big offseason for Hughes, who has been moved to third base and could debut sometime during 2009.
Jose Mijares has allowed one earned run in 11.1 innings for Tigres.
Carlos Gomez has played four games for Escogido of the Dominican league, going 4 for 15.
I can’t wait until spring training to see some of the younger players - which leads me to my next note.
40-MAN DECISIONS LOOM
Thursday is the deadline for teams to submit their 40-man rosters. The Twins current have 31 spaces filled on theirs. I guess players like Valencia, Hughes and Delaney - if required, see thrylos’ post below - would be added to the roster. And others should be invited to camp.
Can’t remember if Joe C. had this or not, but the Twins did re-sign infielder Alejandro Machado and lefthanders Jose Lugo and Ben Julianel to minor league deals. Julianel was the pitcher I ranted about last season because he was 27 and pitching at New Britain when Slama was stuck at Fort Myers with nothing left to prove. Julianel should be at Rochester next year now that Carmen Cali and Ricky Barrett are gone. So Slama, a fine relief prospect, should open the season at New Britain.
Was told that Machado, Lugo (who has a good fastball) and Julianel will be in the major league spring training camp.
WHAT ABOUT FREE AGENTS?
Don’t have any updates on the Casey Blake front. I still expect the Twins to present him a contract offer this week. It sounds like the sides have had a few discussions about a merger.
Some of you have wondered about righthander Juan Cruz drawing interest from the Twins. I have too, after eyeing his 71 strikeouts in 51 innings last season (lot of walks, however). I spoke with someone familliar with Cruz’s situation over the weekend.
Cruz is getting some nibbles from teams that don’t want to spend K-Rod money for a closer. If he’s not a closer, there’s a good chance his deal will include provisions for any games he saves. So it looks like Cruz will look for opportunities to close. Since Joe Nathan is the Twins’ closer, there might not be a match here. The situation could change if Cruz can’t find the right fit and is willing to sign as a set-up man. For now, I don’t see the Twins signing him.
Update: Cruz also is a Type A free agent, so the chances that the Twins would sign him and give up their first round draft choice is waaaaaaaaaay below zero.
95 Responses to "Neshek update, and other notes"
Good info, thanks La Velle. I am itching for some good trade info or signings, keep up the good work.
After doing a lot of debating with friends about the idea of Blake being signed I have to say it would probably be the ideal signing for the Twins, it won’t cost players and he will come pretty cheap. I do believe if they sign Blake they have to make a huge push for Hardy or Escobar. I would want Hardy more, but after speaking with my uncle who is a loyal Braves fan and makes his home in Atlanta, he said Escobar is the real deal. So I am really up in the air about this one.
As for relief help, I think all they need to do is find one decent relief signing, or trade for someone. With some of these good up and coming AAA pitchers, why not turn them into a relief guy.
All in all a pretty typically slow start to the offseason.
GO TWINS!
Re: Cruz: There are about 6 teams that are looking for closers. There are K-Rod, Fuentes, Hoffman and Wood as bona fide closers out there. As well as players that closed before and could be reclamation projects for a cash-minded team (Isringhausen, Julio, Flash Gordon, Guillermo Mota, Brandon Lyon). Also, Street might be available. I would be really surprised to see Cruz in a closer role next year (because the Mets of the world would look at the A list). I bet that pitchers like Cruz or Howry would end up accepting set up roles. As far as giving up a first round draft pick, depending on who you are talking to, the Twins will be picking either 23rd or 25th. That is not much higher than the 30something sandwich pick they will get for Reyes’ departure.
I doubt that Delaney or Valencia would be added to the 40 man roster because they are not yet eligible for the Rule V (minor league or major league) draft. Same with Slama. I would look for people like Swarzak, Lis, Hughes, Tolleson, Mullins, Duensing to be added.
Speaking of Fall/Winter leagues, you gotta mention the job that my man Randy (.286/.444/.476) and Kyle Asherton (1.17 ERA, 1.04 WHIP) are doing in Puerto Rico. Delaney and Slama will be ok. They bombed earlier in the season and were trying to climb up, but didn’t happen. Interesting to hear Rantz saying that Dustin Martin has done “ok”, since Cliburn has been raving about him and his record (.301/.387/.427) makes me think that if he is not traded he would probably start in Rochester next season (not a bad return for Castillo 
)
Looking over the teams that definetly need a 3b. I would have to say, it’s the Twins, Dodgers, Indians and Giants who would be bidding on Blake. But so far I have only heard the Twins as a team actually talking contract with him. That’s got to be good news for us.
Good catch on the 40-man eligibles. I kept getting phone calls all day and had other delays so I just posted without checking to see who doesn’t need to be added yet.
I figured you or Seth would straighten me out. 
I’ve read some things about the Indians wanting Blake back, but that’s it aside from the Twins.
I imagine you can add the White Sox, Rangers, and Brewers to that list as well, though the Rangers and Brewers are probably going to want to focus a bit more on pitching.
Why hasn’t Joe Crede been mentioned as a possible candidate for third base next year? He’s a free agent, and he’s 5 years younger than Blake. Obviously his injuries might cause a concern, but we’ve taken bigger risks on other players in the past.
Hughes’ offensive numbers didn’t start improving until he moved out to LF. Has been in LF for around the last 10 games.
Blake has been real, real durable. Crede, although super-talented, has been on the d.l. a ton that last couple of years.
[…] Twins Insider – […]
I would guess that Trevor Plouffe will also be added to the 40-man roster if for no other reason than #1 picks get more chances to fail than the normal minor leaguer.
I’m sure the Twins don’t want to prematurely admit to a failed #1 pick.
40 man roster adds -
The obvious additions are: Trevor Plouffe, Anthony Swarzak, Brian Duensing, Steve Tolleson, Luke Hughes and Wilson Ramos.
The question marks would be: Jay Rainville (I think he should/could be), Matt Fox, Loek Van Mil (the injury likely keeps him from being drafted), Ryan Mullins (I’m not high on him, but since they have so many spots, they could), Erik Lis (I think he could/should be), Tim Lahey (#1 pick in the Rule V draft last year could be taken again. Oh well.)
Not yet necessary to put on the list: Jeff Manship, Kevin Mulvey, Dustin Martin, Anthony Slama and Danny Valencia were all drafted out of college in 2006. Rob Delaney signed as a free agent out of college in 2006. They would need to be added next year. That should better explain for people why Kevin Mulvey and Delaney were not called up in September.
Thanks LaVelle
Other POSSIBLE additions to the 40-man roster could be Kyle Waldrop, Jay Rainville (high draft picks); or Yohan Pino and Oswaldo Sosa (once highly rated prospects).
Those roster additions are dependent on the Twins’ CURRENT evaluations of their individual chances for future MLB success.
Seth,
What is the status of Deirobinson Romero who was signed in 2004?
Do the Twins have to protect him on the 40-man roster, or risk losing him in Rule V?
Sosa was removed from the 40 man roster and there were no takers. D. Romero has one more year to go since he was signed before he was 19
sane - they just took Sosa off the 40 man roster… would they put him back on?
My thought on Waldrop is that he is just coming off of missing the whole year. Do you think he would stick on a big league roster all year? Maybe on a losing team.
Pino could be taken, but he was eligible last year and wasn’t taken, and this year, he missed time with two different injuries and didn’t pitch as well. I would probably protect Rainville, since there are so many openings.
as for DJ Romero, he too missed time with two separate injuries. he had knee surgery and he broke his fibula. He also didn’t play well early and then injury meant he could never get into a groove. Again, I can’t imagine him being able to stay on a team’s roster all season. But again, he is very skilled, so if someone like Pittsburgh (bad example because they have both Andy Laroche and now Pedro Alvarez as future 3B types) who has no chance of winning in 2009 wants to hide him on their big league roster and basically play one man short, they could.
Seth,
Romero is not eligible… he signed when he was 19 and just had 3 pro years in the majors. He needs another one to be eligible.
thrylos,
Romero’s clock started ticking in 2004 when he signed, so he has had the five years required for a 19-and-under signee.
Seth,
I did qualify Pino, Sosa, Rainville and Waldrop as additions (to the 40-man roster) ONLY if their CURRENT evaluations by the Twins warrant it.
None of their 2008 performances would make them worthy of inclusion, but sometimes “potential” over-rides performance in the scouts’ evaluations.
gee… make that in the minors
sane…
one more year. 2004+ 5 = 2009. It’s 2008.
John Manuel reported in my Q&A over at TwinkieTown that Hughes was moved to the outfield for Aragua because of his defense, though the Twins want him to play third.
I hope the Twins do not go after Juan Cruz because he’s a Type A free agent and would cost us our first-round draft choice in 2009. There are several Type B free agents who could temporarily fill the void left from Neshek’s elbow injury. I’m partial to another Arizona reliever–Brandon Lyon–who had a Guerrier-like year last year as Arizona’s closer but should bounce back as a set-up guy for a team with a good pitching coach.
sometimes “potential” over-rides performance in the scouts’ evaluations.
Rarely is that the case when it comes to the major league Rule 5. None of those guys would last a year in the majors right now, and in a couple of cases, it might just ruin their careers. So I doubt any of them would get drafted, unless they are eligible for the minor league phase.
My additions: Casey Blake, JJ Hardy, and Brandon Lyon. That would still leave room for a Rule 5 pick of our own.
thrylos,
You may be right, but:
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
is five years.
Romero signed the same year as Plouffe, Waldrop, Rainville, etc. (2004) and as I understand it, the clock starts ticking when you sign, not when you start playing.
CMath,
I like your (C) math.
We get JJ Hardy without giving up a player from our roster.
Crede playing on turf would probably be a nightmare. His career OBP is a big concern too.
“For purposes of calculating years as a pro, the counting begins the day a player signs his first pro contract, not the season he begins to play.”
From Cot’s Baseball Contracts paragraph on Rule V Draft.
well,
not sure about that, but I don’t think that Plouffe is eligible for the rule V draft as well. (the year one signed is year 0 not year 1)
And if he were, he would be eligible for the ML part of the draft. I just don’t see any major league team would draft him at this point.
How about bringing in Farnsworth? He’ll be cheaper than Cruz and can still bring the heat!
Plouffe and Romero were signed in 2004.
Tim Lahey was also signed in 2004 and was lost in Rule V draft LAST YEAR because he signed after his 19th birthday, so he could be drafted after 4 years. (not 5 years for the younger signees Plouffe and Romero)
I think that bringing in Blake is a bad idea.
Thrylos98, sane, seth or anyone else who’s seen Luke Hughes play/develop,
What are his honest chances of making the club or being called up later this year? I think he’s generally surprised people with his progress and maybe hasnt hit that wall as expected? Has he started playing against guys his own age yet? thanks!
Sane: Say the Brewers would be content with Swarzak, Manship and Plouffe. I know it’s a long shot, but that would not take any players currently on the roster. Still, I suppose you were already counting on Swarzak and Plouffe being added, so it technically would leave three spots open on the 40-man, using Seth’s list as a starting place.
As far as WHETHER some of the AA and lower-level players would be drafted, I agree, probably not.
As for potential NOT over-riding performance, Josh Hamilton DID NOT PLAY for 4 years before being taken by the Reds in the 2007 Rule V draft.
But maybe his performance in rehab was a bigger factor than his potential.
(From last blog entry).
danimals says:
“Walter Johnson,
My gripe with the Blake talk is that it is going to be our centerpiece offseason move (unless we also get JJ Hardy) and all our other moves are going to cascade from that move.”
I totally agree with this. If we sign Blake, but we don’t get Hardy, then the Blake signing, well not completely worthless/meaningless, is significantly nullified. He’ll be a solid 3Bman, but without that extra guy in the lineup to put it out of the park, his numbers will take a hit. (I guess I don’t know how to convey what I’m thinking properly, but getting Blake without Hardy would be a good, but not great, improvement).
danimals,
IMO Gardy would not play Luke Hughes in the infield at his current level of defensive skill.
Gardy prioritizes defense over offense, possibly more than necessary.
Hamilton was a freak. None of Rainville, Waldrop, Sosa or Pino were number one overall draft choices. You are arguing that an extreme outlier is a paradigm case. That’s a singularly bad argument.
cmath,
I agree - Hamilton is an anomaly.
But potential is a large factor in Rule V draft.
None of the draftees have a MLB track record, so potential has to be a factor.
Check out Hughes’ FP at 3rd. Yikes:
the big question is whether the drafting team is willing to play with a 24 man roster instead of a 25 man roster. Would a 2009 World Series caliber team draft Wilson Ramos knowing he wouldn’t play much for them in 2009? Maybe. Would a 2009 Rebuilding team draft Wilson Ramos based on potential? Absolutely.
Contending types of teams take guys like utility infielders, fourth outfielders, bullpen arms, guys to fill a role.
GCOkemos,
Wow!
That FP at 3B won’t cut it for Gardy!
i saw Hughes play live in AA early in the year, a couple games he was offensively the best player on the field…. if he could ever play a defensive position he could be a solid player
His FP in Fort Myers and Rochester wasn’t much better at third. .911 is a bad FP, and it has a bad ring to it.
This is an excerpt from my Q&A with John Manuel:
Q: The Twins have two third base prospects in the high minors who could
make an impact in a couple of years–Luke Hughes and Danny Valencia. What are your thoughts on these players? Which one do you think is the third
baseman of the future?
A: If Hughes was good enough defensively at 3b, he would have been in Minnesota. Even now, he’s just been moved from 3b to LF in the Venezuelan Winter League. (The Twins want him there playing 3b.) I just don’t think he’s cut out to be a regular in the infield, but it sounds like his power is real. He’s a rhythm hitter who stayed healthy, got in a rhythm and crushed the ball in the first half as all his physical maturity, experience and playing time came together. He’s just not quite there defensively. Valencia ranks ahead of him for me, he put some things together offensively this year and defensively from a consistency and maturity standpoint. It would be better if he weren’t the best prospect in an organization at the upper levels, but that is what he is right now for Minnesota.
This could be just a mistake but if you go to the Twins’ website and look at the roster’s depth chart, Punto and Cuddyer are nowhere to be found.
I can understand not listing Punto since he is a free agent but not listing Cuddyer is a little weird. Maybe something is up.
Perry,
Those MLB depth charts are often poorly maintained.
I’ll bet your mistake theory is correct.
Blake is a good pickup, He can play RF,3B and rest Morneau.
Escobar from ATL is on the Twins radar, Braves need OF and SP. Good match.
Braves,Furcal rumours are circulating.
Could Cuddy bring a decent setup man in a trade or a triple A shortstop with some potential?
[…] LaVelle E Neal informs us that Pat Neshek will be having his Tommy John surgery on Tuesday in the Twin Cities with the team’s doctor, Doctor Buss. Obviously we hope that it goes perfectly, that Pat is able to work through the process to recovery and be back and raring to go for the 2010 season. […]
Could Cuddy bring a decent setup man in a trade or a triple A shortstop with some potential?
Not too many teams have a need for an outfielder and from those even fewer would be willing to take Cuddy’s contact combine with his last off year. I think that he can bring Aaron Heilman or abad contract, but that’s about it.
Re: Hughes’ defense: He is at the Buscher level at third and at the Harris level at second. Not much to say there but the Twins moves this offseason would probably determine whether he (and Buscher) make the club. Valencia has good hands, but he really needs work with the stick… Realistically, most of the Twins’ quasi-household name infield prospects need mucho work defensively.
Would signing Blake cost the Twin’s a draft pick. It might be a good deal 4 the Twin’s, especially if then we R able to get the young Brave’s SS (**) or Hardy from the Brewer’s if the cost is right….I do like the possibility of moving Casilla to SS for the long term if the above cost (**) is too steep. Thank you, for this comment line. Go Twin’s!!!!!
Would signing Blake cost the Twin’s a draft pick. It might be a good deal 4 the Twin’s, especially if then we R able to get the young Brave’s SS (**) or Hardy from the Brewer’s if the cost is right….I do like the possibility of moving Casilla to SS for the long term if the above cost (**) is too steep. Thank you, for this comment line. Go Twin’s!!!!!
Tis post, deespite its’ greatmatitical errers, manajes 2 maake cents.
Anyway, Blake I believe is a Type B FA. This means that the Dodgers (in this case) would receive a supplimental ’sandwich pick’. That is, a pick in between the first and second round. This only happens if the Dodgers offer him arbitration and he declines. The Twins do not actually lose a pick, but another team will, in the long run, get to pick ahead of them in the draft.
PLEASE tell me if I’m wrong here, because I might be. I’ve always had trouble understanding this stuff, but I think I might get the jist of it now. Do I?
Finally, nothing new, but sign Blake, get Hardy. That’s my Christmas wish list right there.
TK2:
No, they make sense. Hookt on Fonix werks fer me. Blake and Hardy would be a solid left side. But I am sure the Brewers want a C.C. Sabathia type in a trade. They can forget it.
You don’t normally consider the compensation for Type B free agents as affecting the signing team, it’s more of a league-wide sharing of wealth. Two years ago, the Twins did not sign any Type B free agents. Nonetheless, they still suffered to wait 60 picks between their choice at the end of the first round (Ben Revere) and the end of the second (Danny Rams). That was the first year every team losing a Type B free agent got sandwich pick compensation, so there were something like 28 sandwich picks doled out. Even though they did not sign a Type B free agent, it did affect the Twins perhaps more than any other team because it made them less confident that Revere would be there when their turn came around.
Prior to that year, compensation was the first available pick from the signing team after the first round. When the Cubs signed Jacque Jones, that pick was a fourth rounder (Whit Robbins) because the Cubs had signed three free agents who ranked higher than Jones, according to Elias. The rule change is sometimes called the Jacque Jones rule because it corrects the compensation for cases like Jones.
can somebody explain to me how you determine when/who/why to put someone on the 40-man roster?
Thanks
It’s a little complicated, but basically, you need to protect a player from the Rule 5 draft if he was signed four or five years prior to the draft, depending on his age at signing. Players in the 19-years-old-and-below, or high-school class who signed in 2004 or earlier are eligible for the 2009 Rule 5 draft (which is this one, even though it occurs in December, 2008). Players in the 20-year-and-above, or college class who signed in 2005 or earlier need to be protected in the 2009 draft.
La Velle,
Any chance Carlos Gutierrez gets a look this spring as a set-up guy. I know the Twins were looking at converting him back to a starter, but it seems like he would be on the fast track to the majors if he stayed as a reliever (2.10 era in 25 innings at Fort Myers - word is he also would need to really work on another pitch or two if he really is being converted back to a starter).
matt,
As you said, the plan was to convert him back to a sinkerball starter by refining his other pitches.
I don’t think the Twins are concerned about the fast track.
Even if they change their mind and leave him in the bullpen, this year’s spring training would be premature.
Even September would be very optimistic.
Guetierrez is still adjusting in the Twins’ system of pitching. You can see his transition from College to Ft. Myers a couple of different ways: His strikeouts went down by half but so did his BB. The Twins’ philosophy is strikes first and no walks (this also reduces Ks). I think that it will take him at least a year to regain his arm strength and stamina and at least another to perfect his pitching before he is ready for the bigs. Delaney and Slama are closer and the Twins will probably have a look at them during spring training depending how the offseason goes. On the other, this is a team that got Bass up north last year because he was out of options; I fully expect that Humber, unless traded, gets a position in the pen next year just because of this very reason.
Why rush Gutierrez when we have Delaney and Slama?
LEN-
BORING POST!!! Can’t you make up something new about free agency to make my day go by faster? You said it yourself a couple of days ago, if it’s just a rumor, it’s blog material. Here you go, take it and run. Rumor has it, the Twins have engaged the Florida Marlins in talks for Dan Uggla, and an undisclosed person with knowledge of the situation says that a deal could be made as early as this weekend. Stay tuned…
Anybody been on ESPN.com and commented on the MVP race? Holy crap! The Boston fans are ruthless. They have become the younger brother to the Yankees and I hate them all. No respect for Morneau, and WAY too much love for Dustin “I hit in an All-Star lineup, and play in the most hitter friendly park in the majors” Pedroia.
A little birdie says the twins front office has also been in contact with the executor of Ted Williams’ estate. A deal for his cryogenically frozen head may be in the mix. Stay tuned…
I feel much safer and more loved on this page. I want to go back and look at the responses to my post on ESPN but I’m too scared. The words will burn me…help me!!!
YES! Now that’s what I’m talking about. LEN, you can write about any of these “rumors” and you don’t have to site us as your sources.
Just remember: They would never say it to you in person. The anonymity makes people feel invincible. Perhaps because they pretty much are.
Well, it’s official. I am the following things: Idiot, moron, stupid, correct!!! (woohoo on that one), good post (I’m not a good post…you get it), crazy, and “don’t know what you’re talking about.” All in all, just the responses I was looking for! You have to figure you’re going to get 2 bad responses for every good once since they are the big market.
Oh, this was all regarding the ESPN spot on who should be MVP, it’s all Boston vs everyone else right now (mostly people for the Twins, and more for Mauer than I would have expected)
Pedroia is OVERRATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It could be a historic moment for the United States.
After 150 years, Dustin Pedroia will become the first of his species to be elected MVP.
I believe he is a chipmunk.
Jake are you wind chill if so you make great cases. The Bostonians are babbling baboons and make no sense.
Matt,
I doubt that Gutierrez gets a look this spring.
But…
I remember the spring training before the inaugural World Baseball Classic. A few pitchers - Johan Santana and Carlos Silva, for instance - left camp to play in the WBC. The Twins ran low on pitchers in camp and decided to bring in another arm.
A young, eager pitcher arrived in Florida early to work out on his own before minor league camp opened. The Twins decided to award him for showing up early.
His name: Matt Garza
His talent was obvious. By the time camp ended, he was hanginig out with Joe Nathan, Kyle Lohse and Nick Punto and the Twins were thinking: “This kid will move through the system quickly.”
As for Gutierrez, I was told by people who saw him during instructional league that his sinker is major league ready but he needs other pitches. If he takes off as a starter, refines a slider and comes up with a change up, the Twins could have a Derek Lowe-type. If not, he can always go back to being a reliever.
That’s not a bad thing. Making him a starter now allows him to face more hitters than he would as a reliever. It doesn’t hurt to face more hitters.
I didn’t know that Eddie Gaedel’ son (Pedroia) might win the MVP. Wow! You never would have thunk it.
Does anyone think we will be seeing Humber or Mulvey next year at the major league level? Also at what level in the minors will Guerra be at by the end of 09 season. I can’t wait to see what he will be like in the future
That’s alot of name being thrown around. I’ll leave that to some people more in tune about the minor leagues than myself but I’d say Hughes for sure and a few pitchers. It sure sounds like we have enough arms in the mix to shore up our bullpen without going the FA route but you never know. As far as 3B/SS if we can swing a deal for Hardy then I don’t mind Blake, otherwise I would love to see Beltre, he is the best available 3B easily since he’s a gold glove. The thing is he would have to be signed long term and that could be a problem.
jimmy bee,
I guarantee you that Humber will be in the majors next year (he is out of options). Whether he will be with the Twins, is another question.
I actually looked up Mulvey’s 2008 (AAA) numbers and they werent too shabby - I think his ERA was in the high 3’s. I bet he would at least get a chance at a spot if we trade away some pitching.
And I think Humber is out of options, yes? So perhaps a spot in the pen?
thrylos98 I would just love to see the other pieces of the Santana trade perform at the major league level. I am like a kid waiting to open Christmas presents in the morning waiting.
Just for a good laugh - I thought I would bring up the deal the mariners gave Silva. HAHAHA. OH man. Thats a good one. What was is ERA last year - above 6?
GCOkemos Maybe they would trade Beltre for Reyes and try to make a starter out of him
haha…Isiah, is that you?
Humber is out of options. So is Boof. I want to see how the Twins handle that situation.
Anyone know the story behind Dallas McPherson (other than he had back surgery in 2007). I know he’s 28, but he still hit 42 HRs in AAA - Casey Blake didn’t start playing everyday until he was 30. Why not take a chance with him at 3B?
La Velle,
the numbers add up: 7 Pitchers in the pen
6 without options:
Joe Nathan
Matt Guerrier
Jesse Crain
Boof Bonser
Craig Breslow
Philip Humber
1 with options:
Jose Mijares
From the starters Slowey and Blackburn, still have a year each of options left, if it were to go that way
They add up in a bad way, but they add up.
My gut feeling is that a starter and maybe one of Bonser/Humber will be traded, so the situation will right itself.
The thing is, what if Boof or Humber - or both - have a bad spring? Then you’re keeping players who don’t deserve jobs. And the Twins would be nuts to not bring in relief help this offseason.
My feeling is Humber or Bonser have to be part of any package. But I’d prefer to hold onto Bonser, who has better velocity.
LaVelle,
If Humber has a bad spring, IMO he will be put on waivers.
If he clears, he goes back to Rochester.
If not, another organization gets their shot with him and life goes on.
La Velle, I agree (but this is the team who went North with Bassie in the pen -and kept him way too long, even though Humber outpitched him last spring).
I agree that Boof is the one who should stay (not only because of the velocity) but because his K/9 and K/BB are excellent, because he has a plus plus secondary pitch (curve) and because he was ultra unlucky last season (.328 BABIP). I think that talent and performance-wise, the out order should be something like:
Humber
Perkins
Blackburn
Bonser
if the twins get serious about getting escobar they will have to give up a starter and blackburn or perkins may not be enough.
last summer there was talk of the braves looking at boof for lillibridge, not sure if his stock hasn’t fallen, or what kind of defensive ss he is. a guess is they won’t trade both ss unless they sign furcal.
GCOkemos says:
November 18th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
haha…Isiah, is that you?
No, it’s me Matt Mill- ooooops no it’s me jimmy bee
Pedroia wins AL MVP wonderfull they gave it to a midget
Morneau here is a Phillips cause u just got screwed
What a joke how could 5 players draw first place votes.
Sorry Justin we know you had more HR’s and rbi’s and didn’t have nearly the lineup around you but Pedroia is way more valuable.
Good job East coast media and Bud “I’m a Crook” Selig for screwing the public out of a propper MVP. What a joke of a selection. Even Youk was better then Pedroia. Even A Rod was better. Even Mauer was better. Way to screw this one up crook Selig and East coast media. Way to go.
LaVelle-
Is it true that Humber, Bonser and Delmon young are the three pieces being talked about in the Uggla trade? That seems like a lot, but, it will upgrade our team.
