3/9/14

The Twins make their first cuts of Spring Training and there are just a few surprises

Yesterday I speculated about the first cuts of the Spring Training for the Minnesota Twins.  This morning the Twins announced these cuts and there were only a couple names I have not mentioned yesterday.   After these 16 cuts, the Twins now have 48 players in the major league camp. Here is the full list of the cuts:

40-man roster:

Optioned to AAA Rochester Red Wings:

LHP Logan Darnell
LHP Edgar Ibarra
LHP Brooks Raley
RHP Trevor May

Optioned to AA New Britain Rock Cats:

1B Kennys Vargas

Optioned to A+ Fort Myers Miracle:

OF Max Kepler
SS Jorge Polanco

Non-roster invitees:

Re-assigned to the Minor League Camp:

OF Byron Buxton
C Kyle Knudson
C Matt Koch
RHP Alex Meyer
RHP Lester Oliveros
RHP Yohan Pino
OF Chris Rahl
3B Miguel Sano
C Stuart Turner

The only surprises that I did not see yesterday, were Oliveros, Pino, Raley and Buxton.  I thought that the Twins might want a longer look at the first 3, and even-though Buxton looked over-matched, I thought that they might want him to hang around a bit longer.  It made sense to cut another catcher, since they re-assigned more pitchers than I thought.

Even more importantly is who did not get cut, especially among players who never played in the majors and are on the 40-man roster.  It was not a surprise, but a confirmation that the Twins will not hang the starting SS job to Pedro Florimon, without taking a long look at Danny Santana (and Eduardo Escobar,) both of whom are having a great Spring.  Also not a surprise that the Twins let the two Jasons (Bartlett and Kubel) be around a little longer, even though they are definitely not performing.


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