We’ll track the day’s minor moves in this post:
- The Twins have placed first baseman/DH Kennys Vargas on waivers, according to Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press. The Minnesota organization had been trying to find a trade for the burly switch-hitter, but will instead see whether he can clear waivers and be outrighted. Vargas will learn his fate by the middle of the day on Thursday, says Berardino. The 27-year-old owns a .252/.311/.437 slash with 35 home runs in his 859 total MLB plate appearances over the past four seasons.
- Former MLB righties Manny Delcarmen and Zach Stewart have signed with the Atlantic League’s New Britain Bees, per a club announcement. Neither hurler has touched the majors in quite some time, but both are still plying their trade professional. Delcarmen spent parts of six seasons in the Red Sox bullpen (along with a brief stop with the Rockies) between 2005 and 2010, throwing a combined 292 2/3 innings of 3.97 ERA ball. He spent last year with the Bridgeport Bluefish, compiling a 4.40 ERA in 57 1/3 innings. Stewart, a former third-round draft pick, was knocked around in the 103 frames he threw in the majors in 2011-12. He briefly appeared with the Orioles’ top affiliate last year after a stint in 2016 with Korea’s NC Dinos, where he ran up 150 innings with a 4.56 ERA.
I doubt Vargas clears waivers. He has some potential.
He’s exactly the kind of guy that’ll bounce around and have some good moments in the MLB sun at some point. I doubt he’ll ever have an extended run of full time playing but someone’s going to have a roster spot for him.
Ortiz 2.0?
Or Wily Mo Pena 2.0.
Time will tell.
Vargas should probably drop switch hitting, as a guy who has gone up and down also switch hitting on top of that he seems to have been set up to fail. He normally crushes LHP for his career but last year his splits reversed. I don’t think switch hitting is for the guy. He is probably over thinking hitting at this point and not just performing. He should stay on one side of the plate so he can focus on pitchers adjustments to him better.
Phil, I don’t remember you switch hitting?
Joe doesn’t answer to Phil…
Korea in his future?
He’s the Costco brand David Ortiz. He should go overseas & he’d probably do well. Take the Eric Thames approach.
I think the cardinals should claim him and use him as a power bat off the bench!!!
Waste of a roster spot on the Cards!
Always liked Manny Delcarmen.. Have a baseball he signed at the Cooperstown HOF game in 2005. Wished he had made it further in his MLB career.
I always pegged Kennys for a tour of Japan.