November 22, 2010
Twins Notes: 40 men, help for Rochester, decisions, and Webb
• Friday night was the deadline for teams to set their 40-man roster in preparation for the Rule 5 draft on December 9 and the Twins added four prospects: Joe Benson, Rene Tosoni, David Bromberg, and Chris Parmelee. No surprises among the additions, as all four rank among the Twins' top 20 prospects, but the one name that stands out among the various Rule 5-eligible players they chose not to protect is right-hander Kyle Waldrop.
Waldrop was a first-round pick in 2004 who looked less and less impressive as he moved up the minor-league ladder and then missed all of 2008 following shoulder surgery, but he shifted to the bullpen full time after returning in 2009 and has had back-to-back strong seasons as a reliever. This year Waldrop had a 2.59 ERA and 60-to-20 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 87.2 innings at Triple-A, allowing just five homers while inducing 64 percent ground balls.
His lack of top-notch velocity and mediocre strikeout rates make it unlikely that Waldrop will be a strong late-inning reliever, but as a 24-year-old who certainly looks capable of being a useful middle reliever he's someone worth protecting given the Twins' current bullpen questions. He struggled down the stretch at Triple-A and got knocked around in the Arizona Fall League, so the Twins have either soured on him or believe that will keep other teams from selecting him.
• In the past the Twins have generally had successful minor-league teams, but this year their four full-season affiliates combined for an abysmal 228-332 record (.407) that includes 49-95 at Triple-A and 44-98 at Double-A. Winning percentages in the minors are far from an accurate gauge of an organization's prospects, but keeping the affiliates in Rochester, New Britain, Fort Myers, and Beloit happy is still important.
In an effort to avoid another horrendous year at Triple-A the Twins have signed some veteran reinforcements to pair with whichever prospects are assigned to Rochester in 2011, inking Jeff Bailey, Phil Dumatrait, Yorman Bazardo, Chase Lambin, Jake Stevens, and Justin Huber to minor-league deals. Eric Hacker, who was confusingly signed to a major-league contract and given a spot on the 40-man roster last week, may also end up at Rochester.
Bailey, Dumatrait, Bazardo, and Huber have all played in the majors and Stevens once ranked among Baseball America's top 100 prospects, but aside from Hacker they were all brought in as Triple-A filler with long odds of playing their way into the Twins' plans. Those types of guys are never in short supply and signing them to ensure a more competitive Rochester team is smart, which is why giving the equally replaceable Hacker a 40-man roster spot seems to strange.
UPDATE: There's no official word yet, but I'm told the Twins have also inked right-hander Andy Baldwin to a minor-league deal. Baldwin is a Minnesota native and former fifth-round pick who spent the past three seasons pitching at Triple-A for the Mariners.
• I wrote last week about why keeping J.J. Hardy around for at least one more season should be a no-brainer move, but clearly the Twins don't feel the same way. Ron Gardenhire and Bill Smith have both spoken publicly about wanting to add more speed to the lineup, specifically at shortstop, and reportedly at least one team has talked to the Twins about possibly trading for Hardy. December 2 is the deadline to tender Hardy a contract for 2011.
• Based on the amount of reported interest in Carl Pavano it sounds like he's a goner unless the Twins want to give him a three-year contract. And they shouldn't. Depending on the price bringing Pavano back for one or maybe even two years could make sense, but a three-season commitment to a 35-year-old pitcher with his extensive injury history is just asking for trouble. Be happy with how well he pitched for 1.5 seasons and take the draft picks when he walks.
• According to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick the Twins are among the teams interested in former Cy Young winner Brandon Webb, who hasn't pitched since Opening Day of 2009 thanks to an assortment of shoulder problems. Before the injuries he was an elite starter and ground-ball machine, winning one Cy Young award and finishing runner-up twice, but he hasn't been right since the second half of 2008. Intriguing if the price is right, but it probably won't be.
I find it very bizarre that the 40 has to be set before the free agent arbitration deadline, but the actual draft happens after the deadline for free agents to accept or decline arbitration. It seems like an artificial scheduling trick to make roster management more difficult than it has to be. Is there some actual reasoning behind it?
It would be kind of amusing if the Twins moved Hardy and traded for Jason Bartlett, who seems to be the only decent option available.
Comment by Tim — November 22, 2010 @ 1:18 am
Any word if we are resigning Thome? And if we do are we trading an outfielder?
Comment by Adam S. — November 22, 2010 @ 2:09 am
My last PA in high school was against Stevens..weird to see him pop up with the Twins..
Comment by Pat M — November 22, 2010 @ 8:11 am
Waldrop doesn’t have veteran presence, and we all know that Gardy doesn’t play rookies unless he HAS TO (Cuddeyer over Valencia at 3rd, anyone?). It doesn’t matter how good these RP prospects are, they don’t have MLB experience, and that trumps talent any day of the year for this staff.
Speed is irrlevant if you can’t get on base (I’m looking at you Alexi Casilla).
Comment by mike wants WINS — November 22, 2010 @ 8:57 am
I they nontender hardy i hope mauer has a career ending knee injury and the team loses 130 games. The organization is incompetent. And why exactly is SS an obvious place to add speed? Wouldnt replacing one of their 2 slow footed terrible defensive corner outfielder make 100x more sense than replacing a good defensive SS?
Comment by steve — November 22, 2010 @ 12:43 pm
I must say, I was very disappointed with LaVelle’s article about adding speed. He didn’t point out that the OF has 5 players already. He didn’t really address any details at all, just pushed the Twins’ lines out there with no analysis.
Comment by mike wants WINS — November 22, 2010 @ 1:07 pm
Steve –
I’ve never seen such a stupid statement (your first sentence) combined with such an intelligent one (your last sentence).
Bracvo.
Comment by Steven Ellingson — November 22, 2010 @ 3:06 pm
I am all for adding speed, but I would prefer not to do it at SS. I think a heathly Hardy (if he can stay healthy in 2011) is a great asset. His defense is superb and his hitting is above average at the SS position. The place that speed should be added is in the outfield. Span is more of a corner outfielder to me, I just don’t know if you can take Cuddyer and Youngs bat out of the lineup as the Twins are pretty short on right handed power hitters. I am all for a little more speed in the lineup, I just don’t think the Twins are looking in the right places to insert it.
Comment by Twins Focus Blog — November 22, 2010 @ 8:32 pm
@Twins Focus Blog: That’s what she said.
Comment by Owen — November 22, 2010 @ 10:20 pm
We need more speed at shortstop because scrappy, baserunning-saavy infielders win World Championships. Any time the Twins instead have had a Shortstop with good range, arm, fielding instincts, and a little pop in his bat, the Twins went exactly nowhere.
….oh, wait.
Comment by Steve Johnson — November 23, 2010 @ 4:46 am
The Guerrier decisions will be interesting. He’s a type A. I think the Twins will offer, and I think Guerrier will be crazy to turn it down, but he will. Then he’ll find that the market for a marginally good middle reliever with a type A designation really ISN’T very good, and re-sign with the Twins for 2 years and $6-$7M.
Comment by Brian — November 23, 2010 @ 10:00 am
Silly Tigers, signing a slow catcher that can really hit. don’t they know that speed wins, not getting on base and hitting with some power?
Comment by mike wants WINS — November 23, 2010 @ 10:21 am
The stage has been properly set by Gardy and Smith to re-sign Nick Punto for 3 years at $3.25 million per season to be our starting shortstop. I am not joking. It’s all part of the master plan.
Comment by Matt #3 — November 23, 2010 @ 1:54 pm
Well they offered Hudson arbitration (along with Crain and Pavano). Apparently, they do want to keep him.
Comment by ML — November 24, 2010 @ 12:55 am
If Hudson accepts, they probably lose Hardy. He better not accept, as Hardy is 10x the player.
Comment by mike wants WINS — November 24, 2010 @ 8:36 am