Minor League Report...December 13, 2008

by roger13 on Dec 13, 2008 10:00 AM EST Comment 25 comments

Although playing baseball is now limited to primarily the caribbean leagues, there was lots of activity the past few weeks. Seth reported that Carmen Cali signed with the Dodgers and Darnell McDonald signed with the Reds. The Twins had previously released Howie Clark and Randy Ruiz.

The Twins lost three minor league players in this weeks Rule V draft, Ft. Myers pitcher Jose Lugo in the major league draft to Kansas City and Ft. Myers pitcher David Shinskie and GCL Twin shortstop Juan Sanchez in the minor league portion of the draft.

The Twins selected 26 year old right handed pitcher Jason Jones from the Yankees organization in the major league segment of the draft. Jones had a 0-1 record with a 2.38ERA, 11K/1BB in 2 starts (11.1ip) in the International League (AAA). He had a 13-7 record with a 3.33ERA, 91K/49BB in 25 starts (148.2ip) in the Eastern League (AA). Jones isn't a hard thrower who just may benefit from a move to a team with a pitching philosophy like the Twins and pitching coach Rick Anderson. The Twins also selected 24 year old right handed pitcher Henry Arias in the minor league segment of the draft. Arias pitched in the Class A Midwest League last summer, finishing with a 3-4 record, 4.76ERA, 59K/39BB in 39 games (64.1 innings).

The Aragua Tigres are in third place with a 23-21 record, 7.0 games out of first. Luke Hughes was scheduled to return to Australia at this time. After a very slow start, Luke hit .298/.348/.423 in 104 at bats with 3 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs and 14 rbi. Luke walked only 5 times while striking out 27 times. Wilson Ramos continues his solid play, hitting .284/.304/.373 in 67 at bats. Matt Tolbert is now with the Tigres, hitting .250/.280/.417 in 24 at bats.

The Twins have six pitchers with Aragua, including Jose Mijares who has a 2-1 record, 9 saves and 0.49ERA in 21 games (18.1ip) with 19K/8BB. Frank Mata has pitched very well with a 0-0 record and 3.93ERA in 14 games (18.1ip) with 13K/11BB. Bobby Korecky has a 1-1 record and 6.00ERA in 11 games (15.0ip) with 11K/6BB. Yohan Pino is off to an excellent start with a 2.70ERA in 5 games (6.2ip) with 6K/4BB. Oswaldo Sosa has a 0-1 record with a 10.13ERA in 5 games (5.1ip) with 4K/1BB. Prospect Edgar Ibarra has a 0-0 record with a 0.00ERA in 2 games (1.0ip) and 1K/2BB.

Danny Rondon is pitching well for Margarita, with a 1-0 record, 4.32ERA and 12K/8BB in 16 games (25.0ip). Infielder Alejandro Machado is hitting .279/.367/.326 in 43 at bats for Caracas. Machado has also stolen 5 bases in 7 attempts.

Gigantes is in first place in the Dominican Winter League. Julio DePaula has a 3-1 record in 24 games (27.2ip) with a 4.55ERA and 19K/13BB. Alexi Casilla is hitting .320/.424/.480 in 50 at bats and infielder Estarlin De Los Santos is hitting .083/.083/.083 in 12 at bats. Escogido is in fifth place in the six team league with a 20-22 record, 4.0 games behind Gigantes. Francisco Liriano is now pitching for Escogido, having started 2 games (4.1ip) with a 0-1 record, 2.08ERA and 3K/1BB. Carlos Gomez is hitting .235/.350/.353 in 68 at bats with 7 stolen bases in 10 attempts.

All indications are that the Twins have changed their thinking about the makeup of the Rochester Red Wings. Whereas they signed many veteran minor league players for the Rochester roster last year, it appears they may be going with more of their own prospects in 2009 as Randy Ruiz, Howie Clark, Carmen Cali and Darnell McDonald have all been released or have signed with other teams.

The starting rotation should include returning starters Brian Duensing, Kevin Mulvey and Anthony Swarzak with Ryan Mullins and perhaps Jeff Manship moving up from New Britain. The bullpen will include Tim Lahey and Bobby Korecky with several pitchers moving up from New Britain including Ben Julianel, Rob Delaney, Zach Ward, Armando Gabino and possibly Kyle Aselton or Jay Sawatski.

The catchers should be Jose Morales and Drew Butera. Leading candidates for the infield include Brock Peterson, Alejandro Machado, Trevor Plouffe, Steve Tolleson and Matt Macri. The outfield should be manned by Luke Hughes, Jason Pridie and Dustin Martin with David Winfree also moving up from New Britain.

The Twins will likely return several other players from last year's squad and may sign a few minor league free agents, however, the Red Wing roster in 2009 should include many more of the prospects we have become familiar with.

Many were speculating that the Twins were interested in acquiring Phillie prospect Jason Donald. Before we all annoint him as the next middle infield superstar, lets take a look at how he compares to our own Steve Tolleson. Donald (24) played in the Eastern League in 2008 where he hit .307/.391/.497 in 362 at bats with 19 doubles, 4 triples, 14 home runs and 54 rbi in 362 at bats. He walked 47 times with 86 strikeouts while stealing 11 bases in 13 attempts. He moved up to AAA where he hit .407/.476/.747 in 91 at bats with 12 doubles, 2 triples, 5 home runs and 17 rbi with 11 walks, 25 strikeouts and 1 stolen base in 4 attempts. Tolleson (24) spent some time on the DL, however, put up the following numbers in the same Eastern League, hitting .300/.382/.466 in 343 at bats with 28 doubles, 1 triple, 9 home runs and 50 rbi with 44 walks, 74 strikeouts and 12 stolen bases in 18 attempts.

Donald was the talk of the Arizona Fall League, where he hit .407/.476/.747 in 91 at bats with 12 doubles, 2 triples, 5 home runs and 17 rbi with 11 walks, 25 strikeouts and 1 stolen base in 4 attempts. Tolleson hit .383/.449/.543 in 94 at bats with 7 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs and 21 rbi with 11 walks, 16 strikeouts and 7 stolen bases in 10 attempts.

Although Donald looks like a very good player, the Twins already have Steve Tolleson who appears to be a very similar talent!

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Rochester

Was thinking that the Twins might go light on minor league free agent guys this year, too. Can basically see entire A-High-A-AA rosters moving up a notch.

Regarding Rochester…is Tommy Watkins still in the Twins mix? And Matt Moses. Would he move up as a DH/OF in his last harrah with the system before becoming a minor league free agent?

Is Pridie out of options this year?

Glad to see McDonald and Cali pick-up elsewhere. Jorgenson signed elsewhere, too. Now, where will Barrett, Garrett Jones, mariano Gomez end up?

Of course, the Rochester mix could also change if Buscher and/or Tolbert get sent down. And the Twins now have Humber/Boof/Jones fighting for that odd bullpen spot, not to mention Mijares getting a majors shot right out of the chute or starting at AAA.

And the whopper…the World Baseball Classic. It can mean gold for guys who don’t get enough time in spring training to shine.

But if the Twins start the Rochester season with lots of prospects, will we hear “boo-hoos” out of the New York wonderland if the team doesn’t compete bigtime, like last year, when the roster had a bunch of ex-prime-time AAAA guys as well as some real prospects doing time?

And somewhere I saw a list of stats of Twins in the winter league, and Andres Torres was on the list. Is he coming back as a MLFA (again). Still see Bobby Kielty on the Rochester roster. Doubt that will remain!

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by rosterman on Dec 13, 2008 3:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Last year they tried...

…a lot of the AAAA veterans and it didn’t go well. Maybe this year they will try to see how their kids do. I also saw that Torres was listed as part of the Twins organization while playing winter ball. Maybe they have resigned him, but I have not seen it. Also, have not seen anything about Tommy Watkins…maybe Seth or CMath know something about him. I believe Pridie is not out of options and also will be interested in seeing what hapens to Barrett, Gomez and Jones. Jones would be a great add to the team as a first baseman/outfielder, but with our outfield depth and Morneau I have to believe that he will sign elsewhere where he has some chance of making the big club.

As is always the case, Rochester will do well if their starting pitching is solid. Unless they do something with one of their current starters, Duensing, Mulvey and Swarzak are almost guaranteed to be in Rochester. I like that trio to anchor their rotation and they could be expected to give the Wings a shot at getting some wins right out of spring training.

by roger13 on Dec 13, 2008 4:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

a few things...

Pridie was only added to the Rays 40 man roster a year ago, so he’s got two years of options left. No concern there.

Haven’t heard anything on Barrett or Jones, but I was told that Mariano Gomez signed with another team (not sure which).

by SethSpeaks on Dec 13, 2008 8:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't see Hughes in the OF

The Twins are keen on having him learn third base, and they see him as their future at third.

by Twins Territory on Dec 13, 2008 4:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Am basing this on what...

…he did in Venezuela this fall/winter. He began as the Tigres third baseman then moved to left field exclusively for about the last three weeks he was down there. I have to believe the Twins would have been consulted on that move. Plus, with Macri, Tolleson, Plouffe and Machado on the team…their need will be corner outfielders. No question, he had been playing third and I had heard that the Twins wanted him to play a lot of third base in Venezuela. That is why the move to left field seems to be somewhat telling.

by roger13 on Dec 13, 2008 4:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

La Velle

and Joe C. have mentioned that the Twins see him as their future at third. He needs to work on his D, so if they really feel that way, I just don’t see them putting him out in the outfield.

by Twins Territory on Dec 13, 2008 5:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

They will not get their wish

He’s brutal in the infield. They can try him there, but the Red Wings also have to win. And Valncia will take over there by midyear anyway. Hughes has no business being in the infield.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Dec 13, 2008 10:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That was my point above...

…The most depth the Wings will have this spring will be middle infield/third base. They will have Matt Macri, Trevor Plouffe, Steve Tolleson and Alejandro Machado. All four of those players should be in their lineup every day alternating between second, short and third. It just seems logical that we will see Hughes in left field with Jason Pridie in center and Dustin Martin moving up and playing right…although Martin certainly could also be in left field. Now if we do see Hughes playing a lot of third when the season opens, that certainly will tell us a lot about what Twins management is thinking.

by roger13 on Dec 14, 2008 10:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hughes, Barrett and Tolleson

A couple of updates. I listened to an interview, (can’t remember with whom now) but the Twins said they were disappointed that Aragua moved Hughes to LF…and that he will definitely play 3b in AAA. (I personally wish they would keep him in LF, as I think that is the only place he will ever play at the MLB level…and he has a strong arm..so if he could learn that position well enough, maybe his bat could be valuable some day)

Secondly, I believe Barrett signed to play overseas …Japan?? Anyway, he won’t be back in Rochester.

Finally, Tolleson…unfortunately his AFL team did not have a true Shortstop..so he was forced to play there. He is better suited for 2b. I hope he has another solid season in ‘09. He has always had a high OBP. His power seems to be emerging ..at least gap power…he could be a better fielding version of Brendan Harris who can get on base at a higher rate. May even replace Casilla if Alexi can’t decide whether he is Jekyll (the Casilla during the middle of the season) or Hyde (Casilla over the last two months)

by NorthDakotaTwinsFan on Dec 13, 2008 5:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

That is good news...

…regarding Hughes, yet his defense at third has been a question mark…although maybe unjustified considering how little he has played third. I think Casilla is a fixture as several Twins related sources have hinted at how they believed his injury hindered his play the last part of the season. I like your comparison to Harris for Tolleson, however, I am hopeful that he will be one step above Harris.

by roger13 on Dec 13, 2008 5:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Tolleson

is also 24 he better start in AAA next year. I’m not big on ARL so I think he’s got a shot but in the real world he has to play good next year or his age is going to get him written off as a AAAA player.

1941 .406

by FrozenTed9 on Dec 13, 2008 6:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I’d be surprised if Manship started at AAA. He only spent half of last year in AA and wasn’t impressive at that level until the very end of the year. Given the Twins conservative philosophy, Manship is more likely to start 2009 back at New Britain.

I’m going to throw out Jason Jones name as a potential AAA starter. The Twins drafting him as a potential reliever just does not make any sense. He has limited experience in the bullpen, none at the major league level, and he would be competing for a position against two players who are out of options.

I think the Twins drafted him believing they can work out a deal with the Yankees, allowing them to put him in the AAA rotation. Given New York’s recent spending spree, they now have a backlog of talented starting pitching at AAA, leaving little room for the 25 year old Jones. In fact, the Trenton beat writer suggested as much in a recent column.

Given that Terry Ryan had a very positive scouting report on Jones and the fact that the Twins have openings in the AAA rotation, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Twins and New York work out a trade.

by East Coast Twin on Dec 14, 2008 10:19 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

How does the Rule 5 work

with Jones being sent back to AAA. I thought we couldn’t option him for a year. Or is it a matter of having to offer Jones back to NY for them to accept / reject.

by Adam Peterson on Dec 14, 2008 10:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

How does the Rule 5 work

We couldn’t option him as a Rule Five draftee. If we in effect "trade" for Jones, we could then option him. Given the Yankees backlog of talent, they are probably willing to listen to a trade offer.

by East Coast Twin on Dec 14, 2008 11:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It could just be that the Yankees say keep him too.

by Twins Territory on Dec 14, 2008 3:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not likely

The Twins have to keep him all year or send him back. ANd the Yankees will have him back, or demand a 0layer as compensation to keep him.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Dec 14, 2008 7:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Very Possible

My argument is that the Twins drafted Jones in part calculating that he doesn’t have a future with the Yankees and that New York is willing to strike a deal where the Twins can keep Jones and put him in the AAA rotation. Obviously the Twins may be wrong, but given the Yankees current glut of pitching prospects, its worth the gamble.

The Yankees’ just signed Sabathia and Burnett, are negotiating with Pettite, have Wang coming back and are committed to Chamberlain as a starter. The result is that Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy may be back at AAA where top prospects Alfredo Aceves and Phil Coke (#7 and 8 prospect according to Baseball America) will also likely be. Add Kei Agawa (and his contract) to the rotation and that doesn’t leave room for Jones to move up.

Also consider what other minor league starters the Yankees protected instead of Jones. Both Jeffrey Marquez and Chase Wright are younger than Jones and saw more action at AAA than him last year. Eric Hacker was a AA starter last year. Michael Dunn was at High A Tampa all year, so a promotion to AA is possible. Christian Garcia also spent considerable time as a High A starter last year. Even 31 year old Dan Giese was protected. All these players were protected instead of Jason Jones.

In addition, the Yankees have other prospects who are not yet required to be protected. George Kontos spent last year in the Trenton rotation. Ryan Pope and Zach McCallister (#6 prospect according to Baseball America) were in High A last year and are potential AA pitchers this year.

So do you think the Yankees might be willing to listen if the Twins offer them a prospect for the right to keep Jason Jones? Seems to me like they would be more than willing to turn the Rule 5 draft into a trade.

As I said before, drafting Jason Jones so he can compete for a long relief position when they already have two players competing who are out of option does not make sense. Drafting him as a potential set up man doesn’t make any more sense. Drafting him thinking you might be able to work a trade so you can add him to the AAA rotation does make some sense.

by East Coast Twin on Dec 14, 2008 10:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

How does the Rule 5 work

That’s actually what happened with several Rule 5 draftees last year. The new team liked the player they drafted but were unwilling to keep them on the 25 man roster. Instead of offering the player back, the new team agreed to send another player as compensation, in effect making the transaction a trade.

That how the Twins obtained Jair Fernandez last year.

by East Coast Twin on Dec 14, 2008 11:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Valencia's the future at 3B

Agree, we’ll probably see him in Rochester at some point in 2009. I’m not sure where Hughes has a future, he’s brutal at 3B and the OF is pretty crowded for a few years. If Hughes tears up AAA, we can find a spot on the roster and have him play DH, OF, 3B, wherever.

by Adam Peterson on Dec 14, 2008 10:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Small sample size

but I’d sure like to see Carlos Gomez hitting better than .235/.350/.353 in DWL.

by Adam Peterson on Dec 14, 2008 11:00 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Jones

We couldn’t option him as a Rule Five draftee. If we in effect “trade” for Jones, we could then option him. Given the Yankees backlog of talent, they are probably willing to listen to a trade offer.

by East Coast Twin on Dec 14, 2008 11:24 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Jones option

If the Twins wanted to send Jones down, wouldn’t he have to go thru a few remaining teams and be unclaimed before going down to the minors? Similar to what happened last year with Tim Lahey, and ocne before when the Twins drafted Jose Morban, who ended up with the Orioles for the season?

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by rosterman on Dec 15, 2008 11:46 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

yes

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Dec 15, 2008 12:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Jones Option

If the Yankees accept alternative compensation in order to give up the rights to Jones, he then becomes the property of the Minnesota Twins. He is no longer considered a Rule 5 draftee.

Once he is the property of the Twins, Minnesota can option him to AAA just like they would option another player on the 40 man roster.

by East Coast Twin on Dec 18, 2008 9:37 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes

That is what Washington did with Speigner, trading Darnell McDonald for exclusive rights to Speigner. But I think they had to offer him to all the other clubs under the terms of the Rule 5 (the team that accepts would need to pay a prorated portion of the $50K plus keep him on the major league roster all year.) Only after every other club declined to take Speigner could the deal be struck.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Dec 18, 2008 10:19 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs