MLB Trade Rumors: Sergio Romo, Minor League Pitcher Traded from Marlins to Twins
Jul 27, 2019
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 24: Sergio Romo #54 of the Miami Marlins throws to first base for the out against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on July 24, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
Needing to fortify their pitching staff for the stretch run, the Minnesota Twins reportedly struck a deal with the Miami Marlins for Sergio Romo on Saturday.
Per Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Twins are getting Romo and a minor league pitcher from the Marlins.
Per Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press, Miami will receive minor league first baseman Lewin Diaz.
Per MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, right-handed pitcher Chris Vallimont is the other piece going back to Minnesota. The 22-year-old is currently in High-A and has a 3.16 ERA with 122 strikeouts in 105.1 innings this season.
Diaz is 22 years old and was promoted to Double-A on June 19. MLB.com ranked him as the No. 30 prospect in the Twins' system. The Dominican Republic native has a .297/.339/.558 slash line with 19 homers and 61 RBI in 89 games.
The Twins are locked in a battle with the Cleveland Indians in the American League Central. Their bullpen has been a source of frustration, making it likely the team would focus on upgrading that area prior to the July 31 trade deadline.
Minnesota's relief corps entered Saturday ranked 14th in MLB with a 4.41 ERA and 22nd in opponent batting average (.260).
Romo isn't an overpowering pitcher who will shut down an opposing lineup, but the former All-Star remains an effective arm who excels at getting out right-handed hitters. The 36-year-old has a 3.58 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 37.2 innings.
Robbie Ray Trade Rumors: Twins Among Teams Inquiring About D-Backs Starter
Jul 27, 2019
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray (38) throws against the Baltimore Orioles during the third inning of a baseball game, Monday, July 22, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported the news Saturday.
Ray, 27, is 9-6 with a 3.95 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP through 22 starts. He's considered one of the top pitching targets on the trade market as the Diamondbacks prepare to sell at the deadline.
Morosireportedevery major name on the Arizona roster is available, with the team looking to build around its farm system.
Ray is one of the best power arms in baseball, striking out 162 batters in 123 innings this season. His 11.85 strikeouts per nine innings ranks sixth among qualifying pitchers with at least 100 innings.
"No, I mean, I'm taking it five days at a time," Raytold reporters of the trade rumors after his last start Monday. "I'm preparing for every start like we're making a push. Whatever happens is going to happen but I'm going to keep preparing for that fifth day."
Ray has spent the last five seasons in Arizona after beginning his big league career in Detroit. He earned All-Star honors in 2017 and has been healthy this season after an injury-plagued 2018.
Video: Watch Twins' Nelson Cruz Crush 3 HR in 5 Innings vs. White Sox
Jul 25, 2019
Minnesota Twins' Nelson Cruz watches his two run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game as Chicago White Sox catcher James McCann (33) and home plate umpire Ed Hickox (15) look on Thursday, July 25, 2019, in Chicago. It was Cruz's third home run of the game. (AP Photo/Jeff Haynes)
Another day, another three-homer game in Major League Baseball.
Minnesota Twins designated hitter Nelson Cruz smacked three dingers in the first five innings against Lucas Giolito of the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, continuing his team's torrid season-long home run pace:
The Elias Sports Bureau (via ESPN Stats & Info) relayed the significance of the three-homer night in relation to the New York Mets' Robinson Cano and St. Louis Cardinals' Paul DeJong doing the same over the past two days:
According to @EliasSports this is the first time in MLB history where there's been a 3-HR game in 3 straight days July 23, July 24 & July 25.
However, the last time there were three 3-HR games in a 3-day span was April 30-May 2, 2018 where multiple 3 HR games were on the say day pic.twitter.com/1Kpc8plWUu
The Twins entered their tilt with the White Sox on pace for 311 home runs, which would crush the 2018 New York Yankees' record of 267. Cruz's outburst certainly helps the record-breaking cause.
The performance was impressive enough on its own, but Cruz doing so against a 2019 All-Star in Giolito makes it even more noteworthy. Giolito entered the game with an 11-4 record, a 3.12 ERA and 134 strikeouts in 112.2 innings. He only allowed 10 home runs this season prior to Thursday.
The Twins and White Sox are in the midst of a four-game set through Sunday at Chicago's Guaranteed Rate Field.
MLB Trade Rumors: Twins Interested in Madison Bumgarner, Noah Syndergaard, More
Jul 19, 2019
San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner throws to a Colorado Rockies batter during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, June 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
The Minnesota Twins are reportedly looking to make a play for a big-time starting pitcher ahead of the trade deadline.
Morosi noted that the Twins also have interest in some of the Giants' relievers.
Minnesota owns the third-best record in the American League at 59-36, and it holds a four-game lead over the Cleveland Indians for first place in the AL Central.
The top of Minnesota's starting rotation is strong, as it is anchored by a pair of 2019 All-Stars in Jose Berrios (3.10 ERA) and Jake Odorizzi (3.06 ERA). The Twins' other three starters are solid as well, although Kyle Gibson (4.03 ERA), Martin Perez (4.10 ERA) and Michael Pineda (4.38 ERA) are all somewhat inconsistent.
Adding another big-time starter would arguably give the Twins the best top-three starting pitchers of any team in the AL since the Houston Astros have questions around Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole, and the New York Yankees are still searching for an ace amid Luis Severino's season-long injury.
The 29-year-old Bumgarner would quite possibly be a rental for Minnesota since his contract expires at the end of the 2019 season.
There is a lot to like about him, though, as he is a four-time All-Star, three-time World Series champion and one-time World Series MVP with the Giants.
He entered this season having posted an ERA of 3.37 or better in each of his 10 MLB campaigns. Thus far in 2019, Bumgarner is 5-7 with a 3.86 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 121 strikeouts in 116.2 innings. His strikeout rate is his highest since 2016.
The Mets may not be as eager to part with the 26-year-old Syndergaard as the Giants are with Bumgarner, and it would likely cost Minnesota significantly more to land Syndergaard.
He is under team control through 2021 but has struggled this season, which could give teams some pause. In 18 starts, Syndergaard is 7-4 with a 4.55 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 110 strikeouts over 112.2 innings, although his 3.81 FIP suggests he has been somewhat unlucky.
Still, his drop-off is concerning since he had never posted an ERA worse than 3.24 over his first four seasons. Syndergaard was an All-Star in 2016, and in 25 starts last season, he went 13-4 with a 3.03 ERA for a Mets team that struggled offensively.
If Syndergaard can recapture his form in new surroundings, he has the type of dominant stuff needed to be a go-to starter come playoff time.
Minnesota is a contender regardless of whether it makes any big moves, but if it truly wants to pose a threat to the Yankees or Astros, bringing in another quality starter is likely the best way to do so.
Report: Ex-Angels, Indians RP Cody Allen Expected to Sign Contract with Twins
Jun 22, 2019
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Cody Allen throws against the Minnesota Twins in a baseball game Wednesday, May 15, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
The Minnesota Twins are "expected to sign" free-agent reliever Cody Allen to a minor league contract, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman.
Allen was released by the Los Angeles Angels on June 18 after being designated for assignment earlier in the month.
He started his career with the Cleveland Indians and recorded a 2.98 ERA during his seven-year run with the Tribe. And while he posted a career-worst 4.70 ERA last season, the Angelssignedhim to a one-year, $8.5 million deal in January, with an additional $2 million in incentives available.
His time in L.A. came to an abrupt end following a tough start to the 2019 campaign.
The 30-year-old was 0-2 with four saves in 23 innings, registering a 6.26 ERA while allowing a .255 average against. His strikeouts per nine rate (11.3) was right in line with his career average (11.5), but his WHIP (1.913), walks per nine (7.8) and home runs per nine (3.5) had all skyrocketed.
Allen's splits were not favorable from any standpoint this season, either:
Right-handers hit .264 average with four home runs
Left-handers hit .244 with five home runs
Home ERA of 6.08 in 15 appearances
Road ERA of 6.52 in 10 appearances
Signed to get hitters out late in games, the right-handed reliever was ineffective through the first two months. Ultimately, the Angels decided to pull the plug.
Although Minnesota (50-26) has a commanding nine-game lead in the American League Central, its bullpen has room for improvement. According toESPN.com, Twins relievers rank 16th in the majors with a 4.47 ERA despite tossing the fourth-fewest innings.
Adjusting to life with the Twins should go smoothly for Allen, as the veteran has no shortage of experience pitching inside of the AL Central. He has a 3.16 career ERA at the five AL Central ballparks, including a 1.33 ERA in 29 appearances at Target Field in Minnesota.
Byron Buxton Placed on 10-Day IL by Twins with Wrist Injury
Jun 18, 2019
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 14: Byron Buxton #25 of the Minnesota Twins reacts to being hit by a pitch as trainer Tony Leo checks on him during the sixth inning of the game against the Kansas City Royals on June 14, 2019 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Royals 2-0. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
The injuries have returned for Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton, who is dealing with a right wrist injury.
Buxton was placed on the injured list on Tuesday retroactive to June 15, according to Derek Wetmore of SKOR North. He suffered the injury after being hit by a pitch last Friday.
Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli made it clear that the team was taking the cautious approach.
"Like we have talked about, Byron is a pretty competitive guy," Baldelli said, per the Star Tribune's LaVelle E. Neal III. "If we give him an inch he is going to try to fight his way in there even if he probably shouldn't be out there yet. I think he's doing better. I think he's doing better every day. I think it's noticeable that he’s going better. But we are going to keep an eye on him and make sure he is not trying to do too much, too fast."
The 25-year-old has had problems staying on the field dating back to his time in the minors. He has only reached the 120-game mark three times in five full seasons dating back to 2013.
Injuries played a part in essentially costing Buxton the entire 2018 season. He has had two different stints on the disabled list due to a fractured left toe and played just 28 games at the MLB level.
This season has been an excellent comeback for Buxton, who is hitting .266/.324/.527 with 33 extra-base hits.
Buxton, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 MLB draft, appeared to be on the verge of a breakout after posting a career-high .728 OPS with 16 homers to help the Twins make the playoffs in 2017.
With Buxton's latest injury, Baldelli will likely slide Max Kepler over to center from right field and Jake Cave will handle right-field duties.
The Twins are off to a fantastic start, leading the AL Central, but losing Buxton for any length of time leaves a huge hole in their lineup and defense.
MLB's Team of Unknowns Could Obliterate All-Time Home Run Record
Jun 18, 2019
Minnesota Twins' Nelson Cruz (23) and Eddie Rosario celebrate after scoring on C.J. Cron's RBI-double during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Monday, April 22, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
The team that was supposed to break Major League Baseball's single-season home run record in 2019 has big-name sluggers from top to bottom.
In addition to an outstanding 47-24 record, the Twins have racked up 137 home runs thus far in 2019. That leads MLB, and their average of 1.93 homers per game works out to a full-season pace of 313. That would be 46 more than the record-setting 267 that the New York Yankees hit last season.
The Twins aren't slowing down, either. In fact, their home runs per game are going up by the month:
March/April: 1.85
May: 1.93
June: 2.07
This is impressive stuff for an offense that has only one player in line for a starting gig in next month's All-Star Game. For that matter, Minnesota's offense has only four hitters who've previously been All-Stars. Veteran slugger Nelson Cruz is the only one who's been to the Midsummer Classic more than once.
Hence an obligatory question: How the heck is a team that has nary a Giancarlo Stanton nor an Aaron Judge doing this?
Eddie Rosario has done his part by hitting a team-high 19 home runs.
The Twins didn't exactly plant a seed for this season's home run outburst in 2018. They hit only 166 home runs last year, which ranked 12th in the American League.
Still, Eddie Rosario and Max Kepler hit a respectable 44 homers combined last season. Looking ahead to 2019, the Twins could hope for more from Byron Buxton, Miguel Sano, Jorge Polanco, Jason Castro and even Mitch Garver, who had been a power-hitting catcher in the minors as recently as 2017.
However, power was a big item on the Twins' winter shopping list, as evidenced by their signing of Cruz, Marwin Gonzalez, Jonathan Schoop and C.J. Cron as free agents. The four of them combined to hit 104 home runs in 2018, and they're living up to that standard with 49 homers thus far in 2019.
But perhaps just as much as their new players, the Twins' new manager is also driving their assault on the single-season home run record.
The Twins made a bold choice when they hired Rocco Baldelli in October 2018. He was their first manager from outside the organization since 1985, and he had previously never managed either in the minors or the majors. At 37 years old, he instantly became MLB's youngest manager.
Yet Baldelli has needed no time at all to find a groove as Minnesota's skipper. At least as far as his team's ongoing home run binge is concerned, his biggest influence is in not demanding too much from his guys.
As hitting coach James Rowson told ESPN's Marly Rivera:
"Rocco believes in the importance of being yourself, getting your rest, and coming to the field and doing what you need to get yourself ready to play the game. He has done a great job getting that through to the guys. For example, our batting practice is optional every day. We don't have mandatory batting practice. We leave the choice up to them. ... If guys aren't taking batting practice, they go down into the tunnels and get their work in. They find a routine that they feel like their body is well-rested."
Further, Twins general manager Thad Levine noted to Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post that Baldelli is keeping players fresh by "literally rotating 12 guys through the lineup."
That's hyperbolic, but Baldelli has used his depth while filling out 59 different lineups this season. The Twins haven't used a single lineup more than seven times.
Minnesota's rising home run rate isn't the only evidence that this approach is working. The Twins are the only team in MLB with 11 different players who've hit at least seven homers.
Rowson's own influence is not to be underestimated. Although he insisted to Jim Souhan of the Star Tribune that hitting home runs isn't the ultimate goal, he does preach an approach of "get good pitches and hit them hard."
That should be more difficult for Twins hitters to do than it is for Rowson to say. But in actuality, it hasn't been.
Max Kepler has 17 homers of his own.
Twins hitters do like to swing their bats, yet they're more selectively aggressive than free-swinging. They rank fifth in MLB in swing percentage against fastballs, and they're tied for third in swing percentage against all pitches in the "heart" of the strike zone.
It's only fair to wonder in 2019 if these numbers are being inflated just as much by juiced balls or by a slugger-friendly home ballpark as they are by anything Twins hitters are doing.
But if anything, ESPN's park factors suggest Target Field has actually suppressed home runs. And while the ball is obviously juiced, Twins hitters have put plenty of their own juice into it.
Modern hitting is all about keeping the ball off the ground and putting a charge into it. The Twins excel at both, as they've posted both the majors' lowest ground-ball percentage and highest average exit velocity on fly balls and line drives.
What the Twins lack in star power, they're more than making up for with actual power. And if they can keep it up, Rosario, Kepler, Polanco, Buxton, Sano, Castro, Garver, Gonzalez, Schoop and Cron may steadily catch up to Cruz in notoriety.
If not, the 2019 Twins may be all too happy to settle for being known as the team that out-bombed the Bronx Bombers.
MLB Rumors: Dallas Keuchel, Craig Kimbrel Drawing Interest from Twins
Jun 3, 2019
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 26: Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after retiring the side in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Three of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 26, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
Baseball's best team is interested in signing two of baseball's best pitchers.
"The market dried up for both pitchers because teams would have to forfeit a pick if they signed before draft day. Teams also would lose the slot money from their pool of bonus money that's attached to each pick. But those concerns ended late Sunday night, and the Twins have been in discussions with agents for both pitchers."
The 2019 MLB draft begins Monday at 7 p.m. ET, freeing the Twins or any other franchise to pursue the likes of Keuchel and Kimbrel without losing a pick.
Both pitchers have remained free agents through the first two-plus months of the 2019 season in part because of their lofty contract demands.
However, interest in Keuchel specifically has been picking up as of late due to the MLB draft's arrival. ESPN's Buster Olney also reported on May 28 that Keuchel and his camp are open to a one-year deal:
As reported during the winter: Initial ask to teams for Dallas Keuchel was 6 or 7 years, $25m to $30m annually. In spring HOU offered choice: 1 year at $15m or 2/$24m. More recently, his camp said to be open to 1-year deal, for prorated annual $ at qualifying offer range. ($18m)
Neal noted that Keuchel's willingness to sign a one-year deal is tied to the expectation that the compensation will be no less than the $17.9 million qualifying offer he declined from the Houston Astros.
Outside of the Twins, Keuchel has been strongly linked to the New York Yankees. On Sunday, MLB Network'sJon Heymanreported that the 31-year-old 2015 Cy Young Award winner has said he would be willing to shave his signature beard should the Yankees sign him.
Heyman added that, while the Yankees are favorites to add Keuchel to their rotation alongside either Atlanta or St. Louis, the two sides were "apart' on money as of early Monday.
The draft pick attachment goes away first minute Monday, at 12:01 am. So look for Keuchel/Kimbrel to sign after that, maybe not too long after. Hear Yankees/Braves strongly in on DK; Twins, Brewers, Cards, Rays among others. CK market also active. ATL, PHI, MINN, TB, many more.
As for Kimbrel, who at 31 years old has built a resume that makes him arguably the best closer in baseball, Olney gave insight into why teams have been hesitant to bank on the 31-year-old who has built a resume that makes him arguably the best closer in baseball:
"But just about all of the club evaluators who make personnel decisions these days are guilty of recency bias—they don't care how many career saves Kimbrel has or that he led the NL in saves in four straight seasons, ... Instead, just about all of the evaluators who matter will focus on this question: How much can the 2019 versions of Kimbrel and Keuchel help their team's chances for success?
[...]
And many teams simply do not look at either pitcher, as accomplished as they are, as being a rock-solid solution with performance success all but guaranteed. Rather, they ... they remember how Kimbrel struggled to throw strikes in the postseason last year. They remember that when the Red Sox had a chance to close out the Dodgers in the World Series, Boston manager Alex Cora went withChris Sale, rather than Kimbrel, and they wonder what that really meant."
The Twins, however, according to Neal, are thought to be more interested in Kimbrel than Keuchel.
"The best moves are made not when you're trying to open the window to contend but when the window is wide open," Twins general manager Thad Levine said in January, according to the Star Tribune'sMichael Rand. "We're very eagerly waiting for this window to be opened, and when it is, we plan on striking."
As of Monday, the Twins hold the league'ssixth-best ERA(3.88) and second-bestsave percentage(84.21). But to Levine's point, now is the time for the franchise to bet on themselves and widen the gap between them and other contenders heading into the second half of the season.
"Both of them are gonna pitch this year and logically, you have to think, both of them are gonna get signed within the next couple of weeks," ESPN's Tim Kurkjian said in part on Monday evening's edition of SportsCenter.
If the Twins don't strike, other teams certainly will.
Watch Twins Tie Franchise Record with 8 Home Runs in 16-7 Win over Angels
May 24, 2019
The Minnesota Twins tied a franchise record by mashing eight home runs in a 16-7 victory over the Baltimore Orioles back on April 20. Just more than one month later, they matched the feat.
In Thursday night's 16-7 victory over the Los Angeles Angels, six Twins players combined for eight round-trippers: Miguel Sano (two), Jonathan Schoop (two), Max Kepler, Eddie Rosario, C.J. Cron and Jorge Polanco.
The New York Post's Ted Holmlund noted Minnesota, prior to this season, had not accomplished the feat since 1963. Now it has done so twice in the span of 34 days. According to ESPN, the Twins join the 2005 Texas Rangers as the only teams in MLB history to have multiple games with eight-plus home runs in a single season.
"It's all just kind of clicked and hopefully there's no stopping," Cron said after the game. "When you are hitting like this it is contagious. If you look at this lineup you are going to see a lot of power. We have the ability to do that and it is nice to show it."
The Twins lead the majors with 98 home runs through 49 games and are on pace for 324 home runs, which would shatter the 2018 New York Yankees' single-season record of 267.
Surging Twins Dealt Blow as Power-Hitting Nelson Cruz Put on IL for Wrist Injury
May 17, 2019
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 12: Nelson Cruz #23 of the Minnesota Twins reacts to striking out against the Detroit Tigers in the fourth inning on May 12, 2019 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Tigers defeated the Twins 5-3. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
Minnesota Twins designated hitter Nelson Cruz has landed on the 10-day injured list due to a wrist injury.
The team announced the move retroactive to May 14, and that infielder Luis Arraez has been recalled from Triple-A to take Cruz's spot on the 25-man roster.
Cruz has missed Minnesota's last four games after being removed from a 5-3 loss against the Detroit Tigers on May 12 after feeling pain following a swing. HisMRI resultscame back negative, but he was unable to avoid a trip to the injury list.
Losing Cruz would normally leave a significant void in the Twins' lineup. The 38-year-old is hitting .270/.354/.508 with seven home runs and 22 RBI in 35 games.
Fortunately, Minnesota is in a great position to stay strong without Cruz available. The team ranks third in MLB with 80 homers and fifth with 233 runs scored entering Friday. Their offense has catapulted them to the top of the American League Central with a 28-15 record.
The Twins have eight players with at least six homers already this season. They finished 2018 with 166 home runs en route to a disappointing 78-84 mark.
