Aaron Slegers, whose designation for assignment drew this mild dissent, was claimed on waivers Friday by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Good for him. I hope he stays healthy, gets the chance to pitch for the Buccos that the Twins were clearly reluctant to grant him, and succeeds.
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Brian Dozier has reportedly reached a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals.
The Nats had an opening at second base that they didn't want to plug with long-term signing, as they have a promising prospect in Carter Kieboom and expect to turn the position over to him by 2020.
The Nats's signing of Dozier apparently triggered a series of other signings of free agent second basemen, with Jed Lowrie going to the Mets and D.J. LeMehieu to the Yankees. I think the Nats were seen as the most desirable landing place, and once that got filled, it was get what you can.
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The Twins have not yet completed the signing of reliever Blake Parker. If and when that reported deal becomes official, somebody has to come off the roster.
Showing posts with label Aaron Slegers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aaron Slegers. Show all posts
Saturday, January 12, 2019
Friday, January 4, 2019
Contemplating Aaron Slegers
I interrupt my position-by-position preview of the Twins presumptive lineup to note that they opened the roster space to add Nelson Cruz by designating pitcher Aaron Slegers for assignment.
I'm not particularly entralled with lopping Slegers, which isn't to claim that he's destined for stardom. He was their minor league pitcher of the yer in 2017 but wasn't as effective -- or healthy -- in 2018. It's quite likely that I have a higher opinion of his abilities than the evidence will support.
Still, I think he's got more to offer than, say, Chase De Jong, who remains on the 40-man roster. The organization clearly doesn't agree.
Slegers was brought into the organization under the old regime; De Jong was added by the current regime. That is the kind of thing that can make a difference. The decision makers had no emotional investment in Slegers. They do in De Jong.
I'm not particularly entralled with lopping Slegers, which isn't to claim that he's destined for stardom. He was their minor league pitcher of the yer in 2017 but wasn't as effective -- or healthy -- in 2018. It's quite likely that I have a higher opinion of his abilities than the evidence will support.
Still, I think he's got more to offer than, say, Chase De Jong, who remains on the 40-man roster. The organization clearly doesn't agree.
Slegers was brought into the organization under the old regime; De Jong was added by the current regime. That is the kind of thing that can make a difference. The decision makers had no emotional investment in Slegers. They do in De Jong.
Friday, July 6, 2018
Notes, quotes and comment
It came down close to the deadline, but the Twins got all of their draft picks from the first 10 rounds signed. The last three, including College World Series hero Trevor Larnach, signed Thursday.
The wait on Larnach was because Oregon State's season went to the maximum; there was never any serious doubt that he would sign. A closer call, at least according to the people who cover the draft and prospects, was Charles Mack.
The wait on Larnach was because Oregon State's season went to the maximum; there was never any serious doubt that he would sign. A closer call, at least according to the people who cover the draft and prospects, was Charles Mack.
6th-rder Charles Mack signs w/@Twins for $500k (pick 184 value = $253,700). New York HS, lefty power & hitting ability too, defensive home might be 3B, 2B or C. Clemson recruit. @MLBDraft— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) July 6, 2018
The other Thursday signing was Cole Sands, who also got a hefty slice over slot:
5th-rder Cole Sands signs w/@Twins for $600k (pick 154 value = $330,400). Florida State RHP, low-90s sinker, solid slider. @MLBDraft— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) June 23, 2018
The Twins appear to have spent pretty much their entire draft allotment.
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Aaron Slegers had a solid start Thursday -- one run in six innings, just 72 pitches. I'm not a big fan of the decision to pull him after just 22 hitters, but Addison Reed only gave up one homer, and the Twins won for once.
I saw no indication that he was returned to Triple A immediately after the game, so perhaps the shuffling in the fifth slot of the rotation is over for now. He could be in line for two more starts before the All-Star break.
This was Sleger's fourth major league start, but they've all been spot starts; he's not gotten a true taste of a major league rotation. Might as well give him a shot.
Of course, if -- as I expect -- the Twins move a veteran starter this month (Lance Lynn, cough, cough), there will be more activity with the rotation.
Friday, August 18, 2017
One win, one loss, lots to talk about
Glen Perkins, in the first of Thursday's games, became the 32nd player to pitch for the Twins this year. Simply getting back onto a major league mound after essentially having his shoulder reconstructed is quite an accomplishment.
That said, his outing wasn't good. He hit two batters, walked another, threw more balls than strikes, got just one out.
He hit 93 at least once, but he didn't have command. He says he'll be better in future outings. We'll see. I'm pleased he's back; now I want to see him be effective enough to justify a role.
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Aaron Slegers, in the second game, became pitcher 33. He was pretty impressive in his big league debut: 6.1 innings, two hits, two walks, three strikeouts. Paul Molitor pulled him after just 82 pitches, which struck me as a prematurely quick hook.
Slegers is being sent back to Rochester, as he was the 26th man for the doubleheader, the Twins are in the midst of a staff-straining seven-games-in-five-days stretch and he can't help further with that, and, well, numbers, man. (Despite what Dick Bremer kept saying during the telecast, my understanding of the rules is that he could remain and somebody else removed from the 25-man roster, but all the somebodies who could be sent down in his stead might help in the next five days.)
But it's really difficult to concoct a baseball rationale for keeping Kyle Gibson in the rotation and Slegers in the minors. Plus there's an opening in the rotation with putative fifth starter Dietrich Enns going on the disabled list.
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Enns went on the disabled list to make room on the 25 man roster for Perkins. Enns missed considerable time earlier in the year with a shoulder issue, but he was quoted as saying that this is in a different area of the shoulder.
Buddy Boshers gave up another homer in the first game and was demoted to Rochester between games, with Nik Turley activated. Bet you forgot Turley was still on the 40-man roster. (I knew only because I've been trying to figure out how to open enough space on the 40 to add all the Rule 5 eligible players I want the Twins to protect this winter.) Turley at least gives them another long man in the bullpen (and a potential starter). If he's still around a week from now, something went very wrong.
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Robbie Grossman broke his left thumb bumping into Byron Buxton in the outfield. He's out probably three weeks or so; Molitor suggested he will be able to hit before he can throw again.
Mitch Garver, primary position catcher, was called up during the night to take his place on the 25-man roster. Garver has played a few innings in left field for Rochester, but I wouldn't advocate having him platoon in right field with Max Kepler, which was a significant portion of Grossman's playing time.
The move means the Twins don't have an true fourth outfielder. Presumably Zack Granite (left-handed hitter) will be back when rosters expand, if not sooner. Either way, with Grossman out, I'd just as soon see Kepler play even against lefties. He's too young and talented to condemn to a strict platoon role. He's not going to get better against southpaws facing them this infrequently.
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My commentary on the major league team will be muted at best the next few days; I'm headed to Cedar Rapids for my annual look-see at the Kernels.
That said, his outing wasn't good. He hit two batters, walked another, threw more balls than strikes, got just one out.
He hit 93 at least once, but he didn't have command. He says he'll be better in future outings. We'll see. I'm pleased he's back; now I want to see him be effective enough to justify a role.
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Aaron Slegers, in the second game, became pitcher 33. He was pretty impressive in his big league debut: 6.1 innings, two hits, two walks, three strikeouts. Paul Molitor pulled him after just 82 pitches, which struck me as a prematurely quick hook.
Slegers is being sent back to Rochester, as he was the 26th man for the doubleheader, the Twins are in the midst of a staff-straining seven-games-in-five-days stretch and he can't help further with that, and, well, numbers, man. (Despite what Dick Bremer kept saying during the telecast, my understanding of the rules is that he could remain and somebody else removed from the 25-man roster, but all the somebodies who could be sent down in his stead might help in the next five days.)
But it's really difficult to concoct a baseball rationale for keeping Kyle Gibson in the rotation and Slegers in the minors. Plus there's an opening in the rotation with putative fifth starter Dietrich Enns going on the disabled list.
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Enns went on the disabled list to make room on the 25 man roster for Perkins. Enns missed considerable time earlier in the year with a shoulder issue, but he was quoted as saying that this is in a different area of the shoulder.
Buddy Boshers gave up another homer in the first game and was demoted to Rochester between games, with Nik Turley activated. Bet you forgot Turley was still on the 40-man roster. (I knew only because I've been trying to figure out how to open enough space on the 40 to add all the Rule 5 eligible players I want the Twins to protect this winter.) Turley at least gives them another long man in the bullpen (and a potential starter). If he's still around a week from now, something went very wrong.
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Robbie Grossman broke his left thumb bumping into Byron Buxton in the outfield. He's out probably three weeks or so; Molitor suggested he will be able to hit before he can throw again.
Mitch Garver, primary position catcher, was called up during the night to take his place on the 25-man roster. Garver has played a few innings in left field for Rochester, but I wouldn't advocate having him platoon in right field with Max Kepler, which was a significant portion of Grossman's playing time.
The move means the Twins don't have an true fourth outfielder. Presumably Zack Granite (left-handed hitter) will be back when rosters expand, if not sooner. Either way, with Grossman out, I'd just as soon see Kepler play even against lefties. He's too young and talented to condemn to a strict platoon role. He's not going to get better against southpaws facing them this infrequently.
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My commentary on the major league team will be muted at best the next few days; I'm headed to Cedar Rapids for my annual look-see at the Kernels.
Thursday, August 17, 2017
The tall tale of Aaron Slegers
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| Aaron Slegers will, weather permitting, be the 32nd pitcher for the Twins this season. |
The Twins had intended to work Kyle Gibson on Wednesday night and Jose Berrios for today's nooner. But now it's a split doubleheader vs. Cleveland today, and Gibson will start the early game and Aaron Slegers will get the late one. Berrios will pitch Friday against Arizona, with Ervin Santana pushed back to Saturday and Dietrich Enns bounced from that scheduled start.
An extra day off probably won't hurt either Berrios or Santana.
Slegers has an obvious "hook" to his story -- he's 6-feet-10. He won't be the tallest pitcher in team history (Jon Rauch was 6-11), but he'll be the tallest to start a game.
He's a righty, fifth round pick in 2013 out of Indiana University, turns 25 in a couple of weeks, has moved steadily up the ladder and has had a fine season at Triple A (13-4, 3.18 ERA, 130.1 innings with 97 strikeouts and 27 walks.)
The walk and strikeout numbers would appear to support his reputation as a man of modest velocity but top-notch control. His K/9 rate this year -- 6.7 -- is his best since he pitched in Cedar Rapids. The light velocity and low strikeout rate depresses his prospect status (he's never been on a Top 30 list), but the control has kept him a viable prospect nevertheless.
He'll be the 26th man for the doubleheader, so the likelihood is that he'll be returned to Rochester immediately after the game and come back up in September.
A short-notice spot start against a good team in a meaninful game probably isn't the ideal setup for his major league debut, but that's what he gets to work with. Regardless of how he fares tonight, Slegers figures to be a factor to fill out future rotations.
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
The first cuts
The Twins on Monday shipped out half a pitching staff -- all them prospects who had no realistic chance at theopening day roster.
Optioned out: Felix Jose, Mason Melotakis, Fernando Romero and Randy Rosario.
Reassigned to minor league camp: Stephen Gonsalves and Aaron Slegers.
The difference being that the first four are on the 40-man roster, and the latter two were non-roster invitees.
Before the news of Trevor May's elbow injury led me to change plans, I had figured to write the Monday print column (which didn't see print on Monday after all) on "the pitchers who aren't there" -- two starting pitcher prospects who were taken above Gonsalves and Slegers in the same draft but clearly at this point aren't regarded well enough to merit big league camp time.
Kohl Stewart was the fourth overall pick in the 2013 draft. Gonsalves -- like Stewart a high schooler, unlike Stewart a left-hander -- went in the fourth round. He almost certainly would have gone higher but for a suspension that wiped out his senior season. Stewart's ERAs last year (split between High A and Double A) aren't bad, but his strikeout rates have been unimpressive, and particularly so in his 16 starts for Chattanooga.
Ryan Eades was the Twins' second round pick in 2013, a right hander out of LSU. Slegers, another college righty (Indiana) went in the fifth round. Last year Eades racked up a 4.61 ERA in Chattanooga. Slegers, at the same level, had a 3.41 ERA and more than 30 more innings.
Four pitchers taken in the first five rounds that year by the Twins, and the latter pair are looking better than the first two.
Optioned out: Felix Jose, Mason Melotakis, Fernando Romero and Randy Rosario.
Reassigned to minor league camp: Stephen Gonsalves and Aaron Slegers.
The difference being that the first four are on the 40-man roster, and the latter two were non-roster invitees.
Before the news of Trevor May's elbow injury led me to change plans, I had figured to write the Monday print column (which didn't see print on Monday after all) on "the pitchers who aren't there" -- two starting pitcher prospects who were taken above Gonsalves and Slegers in the same draft but clearly at this point aren't regarded well enough to merit big league camp time.
Kohl Stewart was the fourth overall pick in the 2013 draft. Gonsalves -- like Stewart a high schooler, unlike Stewart a left-hander -- went in the fourth round. He almost certainly would have gone higher but for a suspension that wiped out his senior season. Stewart's ERAs last year (split between High A and Double A) aren't bad, but his strikeout rates have been unimpressive, and particularly so in his 16 starts for Chattanooga.
Ryan Eades was the Twins' second round pick in 2013, a right hander out of LSU. Slegers, another college righty (Indiana) went in the fifth round. Last year Eades racked up a 4.61 ERA in Chattanooga. Slegers, at the same level, had a 3.41 ERA and more than 30 more innings.
Four pitchers taken in the first five rounds that year by the Twins, and the latter pair are looking better than the first two.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Notes, quotes and comment
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| Aaron Slegers pitches in the College World Series. The Twins fifth-round pick is 6-foot-10. |
Pitchers Ryan Eades (LSU, second round) and Aaron Slegers (Indiana, fifth round) signed shortly after their teams were eliminated in Omaha. Two other Indiana players drafted by the Twins, third baseman Dustin DeMuth (eighth round) and pitcher Ryan Halstead (26th round) have declared their intention to stay in school, but that may be a negotiating ploy.
The signing deadline is July 12.
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What an ugly doubleheader Friday between the Tribe and the White Sox. The first game was 19-10 Cleveland, with the two teams combing for more than 400 pitches total — 112 just to get the first nine outs. The White Sox alone threw 230 pitches in that game, the highest team total for nine innings in the pitch count era.
In the two games, the Indians had 28 runs and 33 hits, the Sox 18 runs and 26 hits. Cleveland pitcher Trevor Bauer, a prime prospect disposed of by Arizona during the offseason largely because the D-backs had tried of dealing with him, was so bizarre in his awful start (he pitched from the stretch throughout, even with no one on, and still paid no attention to the baserunners) that it was seriously suggested that the Tribe would send him back to A ball rather than Triple A.
Of course, things were already hideous on the South Side. I'll talk more in Sunday's Pic of the Week post about the incredible dropped popup of Tuesday. In Hawk Harrelson's words: "You have got to be bleeping me."
On a different level of "you have got to be bleeping me," White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko reportedly had SIX pain-killer injections in his back the other day. Six. I'm no medico, but that sort of thing scares me.
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Miguel Sano hit a pair of home runs Friday night for New Britain; that gives him six since he moved up to Double A.
He started off slow when he hit Double A less than three weeks ago, and his batting average there is still only .236, but six dingers in 67 plate appearances (plus a double and two triples) ain't bad. It adds up to a .655 slugging percentage after 17 games.
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