Sunday Morning Breakfast & Baseball: Glen Perkins' Grievance, September Callups, Garrett Jones

by Jesse on Sep 6, 2009 8:18 AM EDT in News

A few tidbits as we head into day two of a three-day weekend...

In spite of the arm injury, which granted wasn't his fault, and in spite of his curious timing of medical requests, Glen Perkins (according to "people familiar with the situation") is actually considering filing a grievance with the players' union. On pace to qualify as a Super 2 in service time, if he's shut down for the rest of the season he'll have to wait for arbitration after 2010 instead of this season. It's the difference of a couple million dollars for next year, but provided he stayed healthy he'd be on track to cash in for a major payday in free agency that much sooner as well. Maybe if Glen were a bit more straight-forward in regards to how his arm feels, and maybe if he didn't request second opinions at inopportune and questionable times, then it's likely this wouldn't be an issue right now. Or at least there wouldn't be as much tension between between him and the Twins.
Another callup is on his way: Justin Huber should be ready to play by Tuesday when the Twins head to Canada to take on the Blue Jays. We'll meet him later, but here are the essentials: he's 27 (in his age-26 season) hitting .271/.350/.483 in 435 at-bats for the Red Wings this season, with 22 homers, 22 doubles, 84 strikeouts and 48 walks.
Francisco Liriano could return to the Twins by Thursday if his simulated game goes well, and he'll be utilized out of the bullpen. I'm interested to see how he responds in this role, a role he hasn't played since a pair of relief appearances for the Twins in late 2005. If he succeeds, does it change how the Twins see him contributing the team going forward, or is it irrelevant and we'll see him back in the rotation in 2010 no matter what happens?
Chuck Finder of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a nice piece on former Twins and AAAA-hitter Garrett Jones. In 56 games for the Pirates, Jones is hitting .297/.364/.616 with 18 home runs and 14 doubles, 52 strikeouts and 23 walks. All that in just 242 plate appearances. His walk rates have gone from pedestrian to good, a career-best 10.1%. His isolated power is coming in at .316, which is outstanding for anybody. Can he keep it up? It doesn't seem likely, but it's good to see him get a shot to play everyday. Maybe he can make something of himself with the Pirates that he wasn't able to do with the Twins.

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Jesse, now we understand what I reported yesterday as being odd.

…There was a valid reason why the Twins elected to send Perkins out on “options” rather than a rehab assignment. It is called dollars!

Expect Perkins is attempting to gather proof that his arm is injured, thus, they would need to keep him on the DL and he would continue to compile major league service time and be eligible for arbitration. I think what we are seeing is the end of Perkins career as a Twin. Once a relationship gets to this point, it is kinda like a bad marriage…it is over.

by roger13 on Sep 6, 2009 10:02 AM EDT reply actions

No doubt.

It’s sad to think of it that way, but you might be right. We’ll see. My question is this: why would Perkins need additional proof that he’s injured? I can’t believe the Twins doctors would OK him and send him out to pitch if he was unfit to do so.

by Jesse on Sep 6, 2009 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions

A couple of million dollars is a big deal for a guy like Perkins...

At this point in his career, big paydays down the line are seriously in doubt. As a baseball fan, he most certainly is being a whiner, but as a businessman I can see why he’s doing this. I mean, the rosters have expanded and the team has trotted out Gabino and Manship. Its not a slam-dunk case against him. Hopefully, he can keep this between his agent, the union and Bill Smith and away from the coaching staff.

That said, there’s something seriously wrong with our arbitration system if Perkins is warranted a couple of million dollars based on what he’s done this season.

by DavidRF on Sep 6, 2009 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions

It's all kind of illogical from Perkins and he really screwed himself

Perkins gets hurt and goes on the DL.
Goes and does a rehab inning in the minors and says he’s good to go.
Activated from DL, but sent to AAA.
And then he wants to see another specialist.

Either he was good to go or he was still hurt. He said he was OK, Twins say fine, go make a start in AAA. Then he says, oops, didn’t expect that. Maybe I should still be on the DL so I can be a super two and make an extra million or two.

He’s got no case now. He doesn’t have any performance based issues that say he belongs in MLB. And the Twins did the right thing. There’s a system of rules in place in dealing with players and they used it to their advantage and I don’t blame them one bit for doing so.

by ajmargarine on Sep 6, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Perkins seems to have turned into a “whiner” this 2nd half. Pitch ok-no arm issues, get hammered-arm hurts. Don’t think the Twins can get anything for him so possibly a non-tender? Whatever happens, I have to agree with roger13-Perkins career with the Twins is over.

by coltzfan on Sep 6, 2009 10:43 AM EDT reply actions

Huber

So many things you can do as far as a nickname for this guy, most of them related to Mary Jo.

My favorite: Justin “Smokin’” Huber.

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

by cmathewson on Sep 6, 2009 11:37 AM EDT reply actions

My take ...

.. was that, after the misdiagnosis’ of some of the other young Twins pitchers, he was getting a second opinion to make sure he was really ready to go and that he would have any setbacks when he came back. A player concerned with potential long term problems rather than trying to jump right back into things.

I was unaware that he said he was ready to go. If that’s true it sheds a whole new light on the matter.

by sploorp on Sep 7, 2009 4:39 AM EDT reply actions

This hurts Perkins more than most

As DavidRF notes, a big payday is probably not in Glen’s future. Is this a dick move from the player’s point of view? Yes. But Perkins and his agent had to be smart enough to see a play like this coming. If he pushed to be called up after pitching one inning in the minors, a logical scenario considering any competitor’s desire to contribute to a potential playoff run, oh well. If he is truly still hurt and the Twins are pushing to “activate” only so they can option him, he might have a grievance.

Then again, solely from a non-financial perspective you could make a case that given the way he had pitched, he should be in the minors anyway, perhaps even on the DL down there. Not a slam dunk argument, but one that should be able to fight off any grievance.

At this point, I think Perkins’ career as a Minnesota Twin is pretty much over. Which is fine by me. I’d rather we spend the couple million on a piece of 2010 that is more useful than someone who is basically a long reliever and spot starter. It’s a harsh reality, but I guarantee you he and his agent would be playing hardball come arbitration time next year…

by Adam Peterson on Sep 7, 2009 7:35 AM EDT reply actions

Huber

Remind me again, was Huber on the 40 man this year? I imagine so, since I’m not hearing of any roster move to call him up. I still want to see Valencia, though it’s probably not happening until next year…

by Adam Peterson on Sep 7, 2009 7:38 AM EDT reply actions

Liriano

Throwing him out of the bullpen is the right thing to do at this point of the year. Get him some confidence back throwing gas for 1-2 innings at a time. It also limits his innings, which helps. I still think he ends up in the rotation next year regardless.

Or, is there any chance he’s traded? If I’m Milwaukee, would I be willing to trade Hardy for Liriano? Would it make sense for us? What about including Perkins as well, perhaps him and a prospect for Weeks as well. That could solve the middle infield problem.

by Adam Peterson on Sep 7, 2009 7:44 AM EDT reply actions

Would hate to see Liriano traded. Aside from being left handed,he’s still only 25-almost 26. I think he still has major league stuff, I’m just not sure that he thinks the same. When I’ve watched this year he doesn’t seem to challange hitters. That being said, Hardy would sure be an upgrade at short and he might be available after the down year he’s had.

by coltzfan on Sep 7, 2009 8:30 AM EDT up reply actions

If we got value for him

I’d be fine trading Liriano. And I consider a long term solution at shortstop to be value. Maybe I’m overreacting to this season, but I simply don’t think Liriano will be a #1 guy, much less an ace for a number of years. If he straightens out his mechanical and mental issues, I think he’ll be an above average starter, a #2/#3 type, but there’s still a pretty big injury risk even if that happens.

Of course, I realize I may be overreacting to Liriano’s poor season while discounting Hardy’s struggles at the plate this year (.225/.298/.358). He’s still well above average defensively (+8.8 UZR), and part of his offensive struggles are luck (.255 BABIP), but the BABIP can also be explained by his LD% dropping down to 13.1%, Joe Crede territory.

by Adam Peterson on Sep 7, 2009 9:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Nice post. You may not agree with me on this point but I would take Liriano as a 2. Scott Baker pitched like a # 1 last yr, and has done the same since the break this yr. To me, Liriano would be perfect sitting between Baker and Slowey. My concern about Twins pitching is this: except for Liriano they all throw basically the same pitches at around the same speed. I would like to see one more consistently hard thrower to break up the rotation a little more, like the Astros used to do with Joe Niekro and his knuckleball between Nolan Ryan and J.R. Richard.

by coltzfan on Sep 7, 2009 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions

If Liriano is a #2

I’d be happy. The problem is, he’s got two pretty good sized hurdles in order to reach his potential. First he’s got to turn it around and actually pitch like a #2. To do this, as I noted, he’s got to overcome both physical and mental issues. Second, there’s the injury risk. I’d guess that combined, there is a less than 50% chance of him pitching like a true #2 for, say, 5+ years. If we can trade on his potential, I’d do it. Just not for more potential, a la Delmon for Garza.

You’re right, having a power #2 arm between Baker and Slowey would be nice. We don’t have him in the organization unless Liriano finds another 4-5 MPH on his fastball.

by Adam Peterson on Sep 7, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions