Saturday Morning Breakfast & Baseball: Adios Yohan Pino, Joe Crede to the DL, Jose Morales Recalled, Armando Gabino to Rochester

by Jesse on Aug 29, 2009 6:41 AM EDT in News

Twins send Yohan Pino to Indians, completing swap for Carl Pavano.

Usually, "PTBNL" translates to "rubbish". In this case Cleveland actually managed to pry a player of use from a deal that basically translated to a salary dump.

Pino, an undrafted right-hander from Venezuela, was on his first stint at triple-A at age 25. He started six games for the Red Wings, the first time he was exclusively starting since his rookie-league season with Elizabethton in 2005. In spite of posting very solid numbers (1.11 WHIP, 8.0 K/9, 3.86 ERA), he managed just a 1-2 record. Of course that has less to do with his performance than other factors. His FIP was an impressive 3.39.

In spite of being a bit of a fly-ball pitcher, Pino's done a solid job of avoiding the gopher ball, and in general has been outstanding with the opposition posting a meager .235 BABIP.

Brad Weiss at Twin Cities Dugout did an excellent scouting report on Pino back in March. The highlights:

Mid to upper-80's fastball
Great breaking stuff, his strikeout pitch(es)
Breaking ball(s) and off-speed pitch make the fastball better
He's worked every role from starter to closer, and has succeeded with them all
In spite of not having that sexy fastball, he can be a strong contributor with a good arm, and he can ring up some strikeouts

Joe Crede hits the DL, Jose Morales called up

Retroactive to August 22, the Twins have finally placed the oft-bruised and battered Crede on the disabled list. According to this report from Kelly Theiser, it would have been another few days before he would have been loose/healthy/alive enough to play, and with Crede about to get his second epidural it was decided he needed the extra rest and the Twins needed the extra bat.

Morales' return means he'll be with the Twins for the first time since mid-July. He'd been hitting .329/.409/.425 in Rochester, and improves the Minnesota bench immediately.

One final move...

Armando Gabino has been optioned to Rochester to make room on the roster for Ron Mahay. Both Mahay and Rauch are expected to join the Twins tonight, and Gabino's stay lasted six days and one start. We'll likely see him again, but I doubt it will be in 2009.

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At this point, I’m comfortable with Jose Morales never seeing the minor leagues again.

by RandBall's Stu on Aug 29, 2009 7:43 AM EDT reply actions

The next thirtysome odd games are definitely Red’s farewell tour.

by SteadyDietOfCheese on Aug 29, 2009 8:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Pino

Add another name to the Bill Smith Fleece watch.

I have no understanding of how the “Player to be Named Later” works. But losing a guy like Pino who at the least had a chance to help the club if injuries arise in 2010 seems like a big deal. – especially for a guy like Pavano.

All Pino did was get outs….damn.

by clutterheart on Aug 29, 2009 8:42 AM EDT reply actions

wtf?

The Indians desperate to dump salary as quick as they can. Get pino, he had done well at every level before being called up to AAA. I was interested in seeing him given a chance with the Twins down the road. But that will never be, Billy has made a lot of horrible trades and he continues that trend. It’s kind of scary to see what the PTBNL are for the other recent trades.

by MagikLair on Aug 29, 2009 9:00 AM EDT reply actions

I was looking forward to seeing Pino too,

but this isn’t anything close to a horrible trade. It’s unexpected, but a proven MLB contributor for a guy like Pino isn’t bad. Pino wasn’t exactly a top-line prospect.

by Jesse on Aug 29, 2009 9:13 AM EDT up reply actions

i don't know

Pino:
A good K/BB
Kept the ball in the park
Good W/L
Good ERA
Good FIPx
Good agianst AA & AAA hitters
His numbers are good except his fastball.

He has the makings of being at least a good releiver.
Now he is in our division and if he is halfway decent next year it could bite us in the ass.

by clutterheart on Aug 29, 2009 9:23 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree, mostly.

He could be a good reliever. He’s had a solid minor league career. But it’s a long way between that and a fleecing. I’d rather not have given him up, but if the choice was between him and someone like Burnett or McCardell, I’d rather it have been Pino.

by Jesse on Aug 29, 2009 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions

maybe

my outrage is based on a complete lack of understanding of the Player to be Named Later process.
I would have rather seen a Winfree/Pride/Martin type of player go away.

by clutterheart on Aug 29, 2009 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions

PTBNLs

As I understand it, the 2 teams agree on a list of several players. The PTBNL must switch leagues (so if two AL clubs make a trade, PTBNL has to be a minor leaguer. AL/NL, could be a guy on the DL instead.) From there, they have 6 months to complete the deal. The team acquiring the PTBNL has the final say on who they get from the list.

by GACTwinFan on Aug 29, 2009 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Gabino

why will we most likely not see Gabino again in 09? He will be back with the club once rosters expand on Sep. 1.

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any of us." - Kirby Puckett

by BCTwins on Aug 29, 2009 10:05 AM EDT reply actions

Because there will be other guys to take spots.

Liriano will hopefully be back, maybe Perkins, Swarzak…I’d even rather see Boof coming out of the ‘pen than see Gabino. There are a lot of young pitchers who deserve a shot, but I’m not convinced that Gabino is at the top of that list.

by Jesse on Aug 29, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Pino is a AAAA pitcher

I’m not bothered by this move. Guys with mid-80s fastballs tend to struggle in the majors. He might take advantage of overanxious AAA hitters. But patient major league hitters will get to him.

Plus, someone would have taken him in the Rule 5 draft and squirreled him away on a 12-man staff for a year. But the Twins have five guys who are better than him and maybe four spots on the 40-man to protect them.

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

by cmathewson on Aug 29, 2009 11:09 AM EDT reply actions

+1

If we regret this trade, I think it would be because Pino is a serviceable relief guy for the Indians. Considering the flotsam and jetsam that Pavano is replacing, as well as the many similar upside guys, I’m ok with us giving up Pino. I’m just surprised Cleveland got as much as Pino. Perhaps they played the “trade within the division” card.

by Adam Peterson on Aug 29, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions