2/14/14

Weekly summary of the Twins moves and targets: 2/14/2014

Here is the summary of the moves the Minnesota Twins did and the players they expressed interest in this week (the links will take you to reports).  As far as "targets" go, I am listing players that the Twins reportedly expressed interest in and not players who baseball writers and other thought that they would be a good fit or may fill a need.  The targets identified past weeks are still in the list unless they signed elsewhere.  Not any transactions this Holiday week, but some additional interesting targets.

As a reminder, you can see all the Twins' weekly transactions and targets in reverse chronological order here.


Moves:

Selected LHP Brooks Raley in waivers from the Cubs organization.  He takes the last 40 man roster spot. (2/12)

Trades:

In:

No trades last week

Out:

No trades last week

The current Twins' 40-man roster is here and contains 21 pitchers and 19 position players for a total of 40 spots.


Targets:



Trade:
 
Free Agent:
RHP Odrisamer Despaigne (Cuban defector) 
LHP Misael Siverio (Cuban defector)
RHP Raisel Iglesias (Cuban Defector)
SS Erisbel Arruebarruena (Cuban defector)

2/12/14

Who is the Newest Twins' pitcher Brooks Raley?

Multiple reports today, including a formal announcement by the Twins' twitter, indicate that the Twins selected LHP Brooks Raley off waivers from the Cubs' organization.

Who is Brooks Raley?

Brooks Raley was drafted by the Cubs in the 6th Round of the 2009 draft from Texas A&M, 8 picks after the Twins selected C Chris Herrmann from Miami, and there is a good possibility that the pair will form part of the Rochester Redwings battery in 2014.  Raley has had September call ups to the majors both of the last seasons, starting 5 games with the Cubs in 2012 (1-2, 24.3 IP, 8.14 ERA, 6.88 FIP, 11 BB, 16 K, 1.81 WHIP) and relieving in 9 games in 2013 (14 IP, 5.14 ERA, 5.05 FIP, 8 BB, 14 K, 1.46 WHIP).   His career minor league numbers are 107 G, 102 GS, 555.3 IP, 3.92 ERA, 1.401 WHIP, 6.1 K/9, 2.13 K/BB; which are not stellar.  

Raley has four pitches:  A high 80s fastball, a high 70s slider, a high 70s change up (his best pitch) and a low 70s curveball.  He is not a control artist but he flashes good command.

At first place, the presence of lefties Kris Johnson, Sean Gilmartin, Pat Dean & Logan Darnell in the organization and potentially slated for a spot in the Rochester rotation, makes this acquisition somewhat of a head scratcher.  A quick look at his MLB career splits shows that LHB hit a collective .194/.293/.306 off Raley, which indicates that there might be a future as a LHRP, for someone who makes every MLB lefty he faces look like Drew Butera at the plate.  This makes this acquisition look like it might make sense in the big schema of things...   After the Gilmartin acquisition, I indicated that Gilmartin would have probably been in the high 20s on my off-season top 40 prospect list, if he was a Twin when I made it.  Raley would have not made the cut.  As a 40-man roster member he will be in the big club Spring Training starting this weekend.


2/9/14

Twins Spring Training is almost here!





This is a great video to watch and get the feeling of Twins' Spring Training if you have never been there.