8/10/18

Dakota Chalmers is a lottery ticket for the Twins

The Minnesota Twins have traded closer Fernando Rodney to the Oakland Athletics for 21 year old RHP Dakota Chalmers.  Chalmers who underwent Tommy John surgery early this Spring and will miss the rest of the season was assigned to single A Cedar Rapids Kernals.

Looking at this numbers and progression in his professional career, it would appear that the 97th overall pick in the 2015 draft, who signed way over slot to prevent going to college, has been regressing on an annual basis; this is also reflected in his BA position in the Athletics' prospect list, falling from 10th in 2015, to 16th in 2016 and 2017, and 30th in 2018.  Chalmers pitched only 121-1/3 innings, mostly as a starter in 4 seasons from Rookie ball to short season A to single A with a 4.08 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP, hardly the numbers of a potential top of the rotation pitcher. 

However, Chalmers has that potential if one looks at his raw stuff:  Three above average pitches.  A Fastball that sits in the mid 90s and occasionally hits 97-98, a hammer curve with late break, and a change up that flashes plus, and is his best pitch.  The problem is that his delivery is horrible inconsistent resulting in lack of command and control of his pitches.  His career 1.48 WHIP in 121-1/3 innings, is driven by the 91 walks he allowed.  He held his opponents to a .198 batting average, allowing fewer hits than walks, and struck out 137 (10.2 K/9).

Last season he took a leave of absence from baseball for personal reasons in May, after just 10 games.  There is hope that whatever he was dealing with is done now and he can focus 100% on baseball.  That fact, his Tommy John surgery and his mechanical issues pose major questions about Chalmers's likelihood of success in the majors.  However, a potential fix in his mechanics, supplemented with dedication in his craft might turn him to the next Jose Berrios instead of the next Shooter Hunt.

I believe that the Twins traded someone that they did not need (a 41-year old closer) and who was about to leave for nothing as a free agent this off-season, for a lottery ticket.  Time only will show how charming the return from Chalmers will be for the Twins, but it looks good from this point of view.

8/9/18

1000 words: There has to be something wrong with Twins' reliever Addison Reed



This much drop in velocity usually indicates an elbow or shoulder issue, and will explain his ineffectiveness this season.

8/8/18

Twins Trade Activity and Rumors: 8/8

The non-waiver deadline passed .  Since waiver trades can also happen in August I will add to this on a as-needed basis, when news appear.   Hypothetical trades and "good fits" are not in the list, only reports of actual interest by a particular team for a particular player.

Rumors:

1B Joe Mauer and Logan Morrison have cleared waivers according to Mike Berardino (8/6)

John Morosi thinks that  Kyle Gibson might be a target of Brewers, in addition to infielders (7/25) and Ken Rosenthal indicates that the Twins have had talks with several teams about him but the price is high (7/27)

The Yankees spoke to the Twins about Ervin Santana and other pitchers, per Jon Heyman (7/26)


Activity: 



 The Twins placed RHP Matt Belisle on the 10-day disabled list with right knee chondromalacia. (8/7)

The Twins activated RHP Matt Magill from the paternity list. (8/7)

The Twins have released RHP Todd Van Steensel (8/7)

The Twins placed RF Robbie Grossman on the 10-day disabled list. Right hamstring strain. (8/6)

The Twins recalled RF Johnny Field from AAA Rochester Red Wings.(8/6)

The Twins sent RHP Michael Pineda on a rehab assignment to Rookie GCL Twins.(8/6)

The Twins placed RHP Matt Magill on the paternity list. (8/4)

The Twins sent RHP Aaron Slegers on a rehab assignment to AAA Rochester (8/4)

The Twins have acquired off waivers: RHP Oliver Drake from the Blue Jays and OF Johnny Field from the Rays.  They optioned Field to AAA Rochester (8/3)

8/6/18

Twins Trade Activity and Rumors: 8/6

The non-waiver deadline passed .  Since waiver trades can also happen in August I will add to this on a as-needed basis, when news appear.   Hypothetical trades and "good fits" are not in the list, only reports of actual interest by a particular team for a particular player.

Rumors:


John Morosi thinks that  Kyle Gibson might be a target of Brewers, in addition to infielders (7/25) and Ken Rosenthal indicates that the Twins have had talks with several teams about him but the price is high (7/27)

The Yankees spoke to the Twins about Ervin Santana and other pitchers, per Jon Heyman (7/26)


Activity: 

The Twins placed RF Robbie Grossman on the 10-day disabled list. Right hamstring strain. (8/6)

The Twins recalled RF Johnny Field from AAA Rochester Red Wings.(8/6)

The Twins sent RHP Michael Pineda on a rehab assignment to Rookie GCL Twins.(8/6)


The Twins placed RHP Matt Magill on the paternity list. (8/4)

The Twins sent RHP Aaron Slegers on a rehab assignment to AAA Rochester (8/4)

The Twins have acquired off waivers: RHP Oliver Drake from the Blue Jays and OF Johnny Field from the Rays.  They optioned Field to AAA Rochester (8/3)

The Twins have traded 2B Brian Dozier to the Dodgers for IF Logan Forsythe, LHP Devin Smeltzer, and OF Luke Raley. (7/31)

The Twins have recalled RHP Trevor May from AAA Rochester (7/31)

The Twins activated RHP Addison Reed from the 10 day DL. (7/30)

The Twins traded RHP Lance Lynn to the Yankees for 1B  Tyler Austin and RHP Louis Rijo (7/30)


The Twins traded LHP Zack Duke to the Mariners for RHP Chase De Jong and 1B/3B Ryan Costello.  (7/30)


The Twins have traded RHP Ryan Pressly to the Astros for RHP Jorge Alcala and CF Gilberto Celestino  (7/27)

The Twins have traded IF Eduardo Escobar to the Diamondbacks for RHP Jhoan Duran and OFs Ernie De La Trinidad and Gabriel Maciel (7/27)

The Twins have recalled 3B Miguel Sano from AAA Rochester (7/27)

The Twins have recalled LHP Gabriel Moya from AAA Rochester (7/28)

UT Taylor Motter has cleared waivers and will be reporting to AAA Rochester (7/27)