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Liam Hendriks will be the Twins Minor League pitcher of the year. He has been terrific in AA New Britain and pitched well his last few starts in Rochester. On Monday, he will make his Major League debut for the Twins. The 22 year old Australian went 8-2 with a 2.70 ERA in 16 appearanced with the Rock Cats. He has made nine starts in AAA and gone 4-4 with a 4.56 ERA. In his last four starts, he has gone 22.2 innings and given up just four runs on 15 hits, 0 walks and 17 strikeouts.
He will be joined on the Twins roster by Reliever Kyle Waldrop and IF/OF Brian Dinkelman. Dinkelman spent a few weeks with the Twins earlier in the season. He went 4-14. With the Red Wings, he is hitting .243/.316/.324 with 27 doubles, a triple and three home runs.
Kyle Waldrop is a terrific story. He has been terrific with the Twins the past two spring trainings. He could have been a 6-year minor league free agent after last season, but he made the decision to stay with the Twins. He had a rough first half, but he has been terrific in the second half. He has a great sinker ball and induces a ton of ground balls. He was the Twins third, first-round pick in 2004 out of high school in Tennessee where he was a great hitter as well as a dominant pitcher. He was a good prospect, but then he missed the entire 2008 season due to shoulder surgery. He was unable to achieve full range-of-motion. Since he came back, he has been in the bullpen and done a very nice job. He is still just 25 years old.
None of the three are currently on the 40-man roster, so additional moves will be made. Remember, the Twins are at 39 players on their 40 man roster since the Jim Thome trade. I’ve been speculating for two weeks that Hendriks would get Thome’s spot. But the Twins will need to make two additional roster moves to make room for Waldrop and Dinkelman. I would guess that Denard Span would be moved to the 60 Day DL. Would anyone be surprised if Joe Mauer was put on the 60-Day DL with a cold? I would doubt it, but who knows? (Update – As others have said, it’s possible the Twins could put Francisco Liriano, Nick Blackburn or even Scott Baker on the 60 Day DL to make roster room)
Will the Twins reach down to New Britain to grab a few more players when the Rock Cats season ends? The Rock Cats tonight split a double header with Trenton while Reading won their game. That means that New Britain is one game back with two games to go. It is possible that the Twins could promote 40 man roster players Joe Benson, Chris Parmelee and Deolis Guerra. Yangervis Solarte is another option, as he would need to be protected following the season anyway. Brian Dozier does not need to be added to the 40 man yet this offseason, so it makes no sense to call him up.
Anyway, a HUGE Congratulations to Liam Hendriks, Kyle Waldrop and Brian Dinkelman!
Any thoughts?
Wouldn’t it make sense to put Liriano and/or Blackburn in the 60 day DL? I don’t think either of them are going to be back this year, according to what they are saying.
Thank you for the note. You’re right, both of them could also be put on the 60 Day DL.
Yes, both should go. Even if blackburn comes back, throw him in bullpen roles and see what he does..Win Twins!
If he’s put on the 60 Day DL, he wouldn’t be able to come back this season.
What is going to be more interesting Seth, is how many roster spots can they create after the season. They will need at least seven or eight for several free-agent signings (bullpen and ace) and additional minor leaguers that need protection.
Interesting group this year as there is a large number players that should get consideration, but few that are definite. Players like Gutierrez, Stuifbergen, Hirschfeld, Jacobson, Robertson, Pugh, Pedro Guerra, Soliman, Lehman, Rams, Solarte, Hidalgo, Morales and Jairo Perez all will get some consideration. Who do you think needs to be added in November? The flip side is who will be discarded from those currently on the 40-man?
The following players could all NOT be on the Twins 40 man roster when next season starts, but some no doubt will be:
Burnette (likely will be on team)
Capps — a goner
Dumatrait — another goner, I hope
Hoey — (likely will be at AAA)
James — a goner
Manship (likely will be at AAA)
Mijares — I don’t know what to think about him
Nathan — likely resigned at lower salary
Slama — could be squeezed out by talent rising at AAA
Slowey — could be traded during spring training
Rivera — (likely will be at AAA)
Butera — I hope he is traded and another back up catcher is signed
Tolbert — a goner
Cuddyer — may sign elsewhere as FA
Kubel — likely will sign elsewhere as FA if he is a type B FA
Repko — released and resigned as AAA player not on 40 man roster
Dinkleman — if added to 40 man roster, he will likely be released and the Twins will try to resign him
Waldrop — if added to 40 man roster, then he gets a tryout here at the end of the season to make the club out of the pen for next season
So, my guess is that 10 of the above named will not be on the Twin’s 40 man roster at the start of next season.
Who to add to the 40 man roster? How about Gutierrez, Stufibergen, Robertson, Soiiman, Lehman, Solarte, Morales and Jairo Perez.