JUNE 17: The Twins have released Stauffer, reports MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger (Twitter link).
JUNE 10: The Twins have designated right-hander Tim Stauffer for assignment, tweets MLB.com’s Betsy Helfand. Right-handed reliever Michael Tonkin will be recalled from Triple-A Rochester to take Stauffer’s spot in the bullpen for Thursday’s contest.
After a long stint of relatively successful but injury-marred seasons with the Padres, Stauffer became a free agent for the first time this past winter. He signed a one-year, $2.2MM contract with the Twins and was said to have a shot at a rotation slot in Spring Training, but the expectation was that he’d slot into the team’s bullpen, which he indeed wound up doing.
However, the 33-year-old Stauffer has not been able to replicate the success he found with the Padres. In 15 innings with the Twins, Stauffer has surrendered an alarming 13 runs (11 earned), issuing seven walks against just six strikeouts. Stauffer missed time this season with an intercostal strain, which may or may not have something to do with the fact that his average fastball velocity declined from 90.6 mph in 2014 to 88.7 mph in 2015.
Tonkin, 25, has been up and down with the Twins over the past three seasons. The 6’7″ hurler has ranked among the Twins’ Top 30 prospects in three offseasons, per Baseball America, but he’s yet to receive an extended look as a member of the bullpen. It would seem that this may be that opportunity for him, however. Tonkin has averaged 93.9 mph on his fastball and pitched to a 3.76 ERA with 7.7 K/9, 2.8 BB/9 and a 45 percent ground-ball rate in 38 1/3 big league innings dating back to 2013. His Triple-A numbers are markedly better, as he’s posted a 3.22 ERA with 9.9 K/9 against 2.2 BB/9 in 89 1/3 innings there.
I keep waiting to see if/when Cinci will release Burke Badenhop and pay the remaining 3m on his contract after he has been really bad for them. He was a really solid reliever the previous 6 seasons, though his velocity did start to decrease last year nevertheless. Maybe Cinci didn’t agree with him for some reason? Who knows.. I’d like to see the ground ball machine back in Boston in the 6-7th inning over Breslow/Ross any day of the week.
I don’t know what it is about pitching in Cincy.. You are either a stud there and no where else or a stud somewhere else then suck when moving there.. Look at Latos.. He has fallen apart since leaving.. Badenhop should return to Boston.. He will probably find his old form again..
Glad they decided to move on from Stauffer, hopefully Duensing will not be far behind. He was a disaster that wasn’t very effective even in mop up duty.
It’s about time.