Minnesota Twins Minor League Weekly Transactions: 7/27-8/3

Unfortunately there is not a single place that lists all the transactions in a particular teams' organization in a timely format. Baseball America has a week or two delay in reporting those, so I felt like I should start one, since I am doing it in twitter anyways and on the Tuesday posts. I will be doing it on a weekly basis, Friday to Friday and post them on Saturdays. Promotions and demotions will be listed under the team where the player currently plays (this means promotions to the Minnesota Twins will not be listed here.) 

This week featured 4 new members of the Twins' organization making their debuts:  Pedro Hernandez and Eduardo Escobar with Rochester, Luke Bard with Elizabethton and Randol Rogers in the DSL.  Also, Garrett Jewell was released from the organization.

Here are the transactions in all levels in the Twins organization from July 27 until yesterday August 3:

Rochester Redwings (International League, AAA):


8/3 - Rochester Red Wings placed RHP Lester Oliveros on the 7-Day disabled list.
7/29 - Minnesota Twins optioned LHP Pedro Hernandez to Rochester Red Wings.
7/29 - Minnesota Twins optioned Eduardo Escobar to Rochester Red Wings.
7/27 - RHP Daniel Turpen assigned to Rochester Red Wings from New Britain Rock Cats.


New Britain Rock Cats (Eastern League, AA):


7/27 - RHP Matthew Hauser assigned to New Britain Rock Cats from Fort Myers Miracle


Fort Myers Miracle (Florida State League, A+):


7/28 - LHP Ryan O'Rourke assigned to Fort Myers Miracle from Beloit Snappers.


Beloit Snappers (Midwest League, A):


7/31 - LHP Corey Kimes assigned to Beloit Snappers from Elizabethton Twins.
7/31 - Beloit Snappers activated 2B/OF Eddie Rosario from the 7-Day disabled list.
7/31 - Beloit Snappers placed RHP Cole Johnson on the 7-Day disabled list.


Elizabethton Twins (Appalachian League, Rk+):


7/29 - RHP Luke Bard assigned to Elizabethton Twins from GCL Twins.
7/29 - Elizabethton Twins released RHP Garrett Jewell.


GCL Twins (Gulf Coast League, Rk):


7/31 LHP Andrew Albers assigned to GCL Twins. (Rehab)


DSL Twins (Dominican Summer League, Foreign Rk):


8/3 - RHP Randol Rogers assigned to DSL Twins.

Bert Blyleven and Samuel Deduno's name

Listening to Bert Blyleven trying to pronounce Samuel Deduno's last name reminds me of this:

Twins Trade Talk 2012: July 31: Deadline Edition

This continues the dialy trade talk updates for the Twins and of action around the league that influences the Twins trade moves, up until the deadline. You can find all the older updates here, in reverse chronological order. This is the last of the talk. Potential trade action will happen up till 3:00 PM today. I will post a Twins Trade Deadline Retrospect after the dust settles tonight or tomorrow (probably tomorrow because I want to look at potential reactions) and will pubish August waiver trade talk as it comes. Here is the Twins Trade Talk the past 24 hours or so:

• Jon Heyman indicates that the Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Fransisco Giants are interested in Justin Morneau.
• Meanwhile, Ken Rosenthal suggests that the Los Angeles Dodgers are out on Justin Monreau. because they have nothing suitable. He also suggests that the Twins are looking for a team to take his salary and want a young MLB-ready starting pitcher in return.
• Heyman also suggests that Jamey Carroll may be traded, without linking him to particular teams.
• Darren Wolfson tweets that the Toronto Blue Jays had plenty of scouts at the Twins' game last night.
• Jerry Crasnick reports that Glen Perkins is in "high demand".

Random Tuesday Twins Thoughts and Tidbits

Here is this week's installment, heavily influenced by today's trade deadline:

• Fransisco Liriano to the White Sox is old news. Here are profiles of the players the Twins received in return. And this is a very sad sight.
• Luis Perdomo is the newest Twins' member. He was called up from Rochester (where he was a swing man who started a few games) to take Anthony Swarzak's spot who went to the 15 day DL with soulder issues that were called "mild rotator cuff strain", which is not too good.
• Apparently replay in MLB will be expanded to include trapped ball calls and balls hit down the line. When and how and other details remain to be worked out.
• On the organizational movement front: Danny Turpen promoted to AAA Rochester, Jose Gonzalez and Matt Hauser promoted to AA New Britain. Steve Liddle and Ryan O'Rourke promoted to high A Fort Myers. DJ Baxendale and Taylor Rogers promoted to A Beloit. Chris Mazza and Luke Bard promoted to Rk+ Elizabethton. Pedro Hernandez and Eduardo Escobar, whom the Twins received from the White Sox in the Liriano trade were optioned to AAA Rochester. Brian Compton was assigned to the Rk GCL Twins. LHP Steven Evans (A Beloit Snappers) and RHP Garrett Jewell (Rk+ Elizabethton Twins, but did not pitch in 2012) were released from the organization. 
• The Twins have signed free agent SP Eric Hurley (released by the Angels) and assigned him to AAA Rochester Redwings.
• Eddie Rosario is back from reconstructive face surgery after hit on the face with a ball and playing with the GCL Twins since last Wedensday, joining Alex Wimmers who was also rehabing there until he had a set-back the other day; he may require Tommy John surgery.
• Yesterday was Scott Diamond's 26th birthday
• This did not apparently deserve air time in any of the "major" press outlets, but there are a lot of hints that MLB team contraction might again be upon us
• Buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks? Not in a particular section of Target Field in particular games.
• Interesting to see few of the first articles in the local Twin Cities area correctly pointing fingers at the interim General Manager for the Twins' pitching issues. Previously, Terry Ryan and Ron Gardenhire and company have had teflon. Very refreshing to see a change in the local Minnesota press' attitudes. And as soon as I wrote that, here comes another this morning
• Interesting article about Rick Anderson's relationship with Fransisco Liriano.
• Also the "interim" tag remains for Terry Ryan, based on his words to Phil Mackey. Ryan realizes that he might lose his job and does not deserve to have the tag removed after this awful season
• If you were wondering what the Twins do in "all staff" meetings, here is your answer.
• If anything, this twitter profile picture change by a Twins' player (happened a while ago) speaks tons about how he feels about the organization and the way he has been treated, and I cannot say that I disagree much.
• Can anyone rationalize why something like this belongs to the official site of the Twins' AAA team and is anyone wondering why the Twins need to get the hey out of Rochester?
• Pelotero, the movie featuring Twins #1 prospect Miguel Sano and other Dominican players, was produced by current Boston Red Sox' skipper Bobby Valentine.
• Twins' tweet of the week is this one by Jake Proctor
• For the Kevin Slowey fans: His dad now is on twitter.
• Not Twins' related, but my home team, the Lehigh Valley IronPics wore this atrocity last week. Makes the blue custodian uniforms the Twins wore in Kansas City look "nice".
• The Twins' product of the week is the Minnesota Twins 1965 Cooperstown Legendary Victory Short Sleeve Tee Shirt, which is actually a killer deal at $14 at L and $13 at XL

The parting shot today is of the newest member of the Minnesota Twins Luis Perdomo who made his MLB Twins' debut last Saturday.

Twins Trade Talk 2012: July 30

This continues the dialy trade talk updates for the Twins and of action around the league that influences the Twins trade moves, up until the deadline. You can find all the older updates here, in reverse chronological order. Here is the Twins Trade Talk the past 24 hours or so:

• Fransisco Liriano to the Chicago White Sox is old news. Here are profiles of the players the Twins received in return. Apparently the Twins did not even talk about an extension at this point. and the Boston Red Sox were finalists up to the trade time. I wonder what their offer was to make the Twins' interim GM, Terry Ryan, trade within the division...
• The last trade between the Twins and the White Sox was on September 3, 1986 when the Minnesota Twins traded Pete Filson to the Chicago White Sox for Kurt Walker. The last trade between the two teams that involved a decent player was on February 19, 1985 when the Twins traded Roch Scheer and Randy Johnson (Not THAT Randy Jonhson) to the White Sox for current TV analyst Roy Smalley. And both of those times, the White Sox were in a different division (AL East vs AL West.) The first ever trade between the two franchises was in June 13, 1903 when Ducky Holmes was traded by the Senators to the White Sox for a player to be named later and became Davey DUnkle a week afterwards.
• Meanwhile, Twins' players were disappointed by the Liriano trade and White Sox GM Kenny Williams apparently thinks that they see some flaws they can fix to improve Liriano. Here are some additional reactions of Twins' players and coaches. Liriano himself was surprised by the trade.
• On the Ron Gardenhire show on ESPN 1500 yesterday morning, Gardenhire said that there have been discussion about Justin Morneau and he really does not want Josh Willingham to leave the Twins.
• Bob Nightengale indicates that the Twins are talking to other teams about Denard Span, but unlike what Terry Ryan said (ie. that he is after single A prospects,) he is looking for an MLB-ready pitcher in return.
• This is a strange one (but very true) : The Seattle Mariners are interested in Josh Willingham. A package of Héctor Noesí and/or Erasmo Ramírez and maybe even Taijuan Walker could be in the works
• Justin Morneau, Matt Capps, Carl Pavano and Nick Blackburn all make Jon Heyman's list of players who can get traded via waiver trades after tomorrow's deadline. Nick Blackburn? That is hopeful.

Twins Trade Talk 2012: July 29: What did the Twins Receive in The Frankie Trade

This continues the dialy trade talk updates for the Twins and of action around the league that influences the Twins trade moves, up until the deadline. You can find all the older updates here, in reverse chronological order.

Yesterday there was more action that talk, because the Twins have traded their ace Fransisco Liriano to the hated Chicago White Sox for SS Eduardo Escobar and LHP Pedro Hernandez. At first thought, The Frankie Trade has the potential to be seen as bad as The Garza Trade by Twins' fans everywhere. Furthermore trading him to the most hated by the Twins' fans team within the division means that somebody or something possessed Terry Ryan, a feeling that is accentuated by a look at Eduardo Escobar's career minor league OPS: .666.   Both players are on the 40-man roster.  The Twins would need to make a related move to open one more spot. (EDIT: PJ Walters was moved to the 60-day DL to make room) Both players are heading to Rochester and are assigned to the Red Wings. This definitely has to be the work of the devil or something.  On the other hand, let's see who the Twins received in this trade and see whether there is a silver lining:

Pedro Hernandez

Pedro Hernandez, a LHP, is a 23 year old Venezuelan, born on April 12, 1989 in Barquisimeto, who was one of the two pitchers the White Sox received by the Padres in the Carlos Quentin trade.   He is listed at 5'10" 200 lbs.  Hernandez was rushed (to AAA) by the Padres in 2011 and (to the majors for one start) by the White Sox this season.  He has dominated AA in 2011 and was doing a fine job this year. He had 3.40 ERA, 1.185 WHIP, 9.4 K/9, 4.30 K/BB in AA San Antonio in 2011 in 8 starts and 2.75 ERA, 1.252 WHIP, 4.8 K/9 and 2.06 BB in AA Birmingham earlier this season in 12 starts.  In 2 stars (3 games) in AAA  Charlotte this season he was 3.71 ERA, 1.235 WHIP, 9.0 K/9 and 5.67 K/BB.  His AAA numbers are better than any of any Twins' AAA pitchers (including Scott Diamond) this season.

He has four pitches: Fastball, Cutter, Curve and Change.  Good command of all 4 of his pitches His best pitch is his change up and it is a plus pitch and definitely an out pitch.  His fastball has above average movement and the velocity is at low 90s with occasional mid-90s spurs.  He has developed a cutter recently, which projects as a plus pitch once he gets a better feel for it.  It sits in the mid-high 80s.  His curveball is an average pitch, its a slow curve in the 70s and he is using it as a change of pace type of pitch.  He has been projected as a back of the rotation starter or a bullpen piece, but does have potential.  A lot of it depends on the development of his cutter and fastball.  He will probably spend a while in Rochester, might get up to the majors in September and fight for a rotation spot for 2013.  He is what the Twins were looking for: an MLB-ready young pitcher who can help the 2013 rotation.  And he is a Lefty.

Eduardo Escobar 

Eduardo Escobar is also a 23 year old Venezuelan, born on January 5, 1989 in Villa de Cura, and also is 5"10", but that is where the similarities with Hernandez end.  He is generous listed at 165 lbs, is a Switch Hitting ShortStop and has incredible skills with the glove.  Baseball America has listed him as the best fielding infield prospect with the White Sox the last 4 seasons.  And defense and speed are his main weapons.  Another player rushed through the system (in AAA last season and all season in the majors this season), his bat has not matured as fast as his glove.  

His career minor league line is .270/.315/.351, which is discouraging.  He spent this season with the big club and he hit .207/.281/.276 in 98 plate appearances, which is Drew Butera-like at first sight.  On the other hand, hitting as a RHB against LHP, he career MLB line is .333/.357/.481, which is very encouraging (but this is just 28 plate appearances). Also his MiLB career splits indicated that he is at least an average hitter as a RHB against LHPs. Maybe if he abandons switch hitting he might improve with most consistent repetitions.  He is headed to Rochester to work with Tom Brunansky.  All in all, he projects as a defensive replacement, utility hitter, unless he can turn the corner with the bat.  He might return to the majors in September but expect him to be in a fight for a 25-man roster position in 2013 if one or both of Alexi Casilla and Jamey Carroll are not with the team.

All in all, it is hard to know how the Twins did in this trade.  They received two 23 year olds for Liriano, including a MLB-ready pitcher (who could be a mid of the rotation pitcher or could be like PJ Walters) and a sleek fielding SS.  Both have the potential, whether they realize it, it is to be seen.