Wednesday, March 19, 2014

What to do with Vance Worley?

Vance Worley's spring
ERA: 13.50.
Vance Worley didn't make it out of the third inning Tuesday night against Tampa Bay. Eight outs, 11 hits allowed, seven runs and not a single swing-and-miss. He was, sorry to say, in midseason 2013 form, which is to say he was awful.

There were four major candidates for the fifth starter job when camp opened, and all four are still around: Sam Deduno, Scott Diamond, Kyle Gibson and Worley. Deduno, Diamond and Worley are out of options and would have to clear waivers for the Twins to send him to the minors.

There's a pretty good chance right now that Worley would clear waivers. Indeed, Worley's dismal outing hadn't yet ended when the always optimistic Seth Stohs tweeted:




The problem is: If they keep him, what will they do with him?

Assume that the Twins do get Worley through waivers. Further assume that they option out Gibson and either keep both Deduno and Diamond or lose the loser of the fifth starter competition on waivers.

The Triple A rotation would figure to start with Alex Meyer, Gibson and Trevor May. Also on hand would be lefties Sean Gilmartin (a 2011 first round pick by Atlanta, acquired in the Ryan Doumit trade); Kris Johnson (who arrived in a followup adjustment to the Justin Morneau trade); Logan Darnell (6th round pick in 2010, spent a good chunk of 2013 in the Triple A rotation); and Brooks Raley (picked up from the Cubs just before camp, spent 2013 starting in Triple A  or relieving in the majors).

I would rather work any two of the lefties in the Triple A rotation than Worley. I just don't see much upside to the "Vanimal."

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