Twins righty Ervin Santana will continue his rehab assignment with a start today at the High-A level, as Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press tweets, after throwing 45 pitches in his first outing.* Santana has spent the first two months of the season on the mend from finger surgery, but is now ramping up in earnest in advance of a return to the MLB mound. The 35-year-old has turned in two-straight excellent campaigns in Minnesota and will be looked to for a boost again this year. Santana’s ultimate return could create some interesting rotation questions for the Twins. Veteran Lance Lynn has lagged Kyle Gibson and eye-opening youngster Fernando Romero in output thus far, so it’s tough to guess how the club will create an opening when Santana is ready. Of course, there’s still time for the picture to change in the interim.
Here’s more from the American League:
- The Rangers still aren’t ready to promote veteran righty Tim Lincecum to the MLB roster, as Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweets. Though he’s now eligible to return from the DL, Lincecum will remain on his rehab assignment for at least a while longer. The thirty-day limit expires on June 5th, so a decision point is coming soon on a player who signed a $1MM contract during Spring Training. Through 9 2/3 minor-league frames, Lincecum has allowed eight earned runs with a 10:7 K/BB ratio.
- In a mailbag, MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan provides some answers to a variety of questions facing a disappointing Rangers ballclub. Of particular interest, he argues that “the odds seem high” that the club won’t deal away veteran third baseman Adrian Beltre. Though he’d surely be of interest to contenders, so long as he can get back to health and show well in advance of the deadline, Beltre is also still highly valued by the Texas organization despite the fact that he’s a pending free agent. Sullivan notes that, while Beltre’s future intentions aren’t yet known, it’s also quite possible that the future Hall-of-Famer will continue playing for at least one more season. It’s worth wondering whether the Rangers will attempt to keep the respected veteran around for 2019.
- Rustin Dodd of The Athletic examines the aftermath of a disappointing free agency for Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas in an interesting subscription piece. It certainly seems that the veteran has adopted a rather sunny outlook, focusing on the many positives in his life rather than dwelling on the fact he was unable to secure yet more money over a longer term. As Dodd explores, that strikes a bit of a different note for a player noted for his fire. Some teammates feel the 29-year-old Moustakas was “screwed” in a funky market this winter, but it seems he’s making the best of the situation. Certainly, with a .275/.329/.502 slash through 228 plate appearances, he has done all he can to this point to set himself for a second crack at free agency.
*An earlier version of this post mistakenly indicated that this would be Santana’s first rehab outing.
I’m not sure how Lynn is not the odd man out, but then he’s been better his last two starts. Not a bad problem to have. Minnesota’s bats need to wake up.
Romero certainly didn’t help with roster decision clarity. Which is excellent!
At least he’s pitched good enough to shift into a long reliever which they hoped Hughes could adapt into. He can step back in when needed.
I don’t think Romero to the pen is a good move for him. Play the hot hand and don’t mess with success. Although that doesn’t fix the problem at hand I don’t see shifting roles for this kid as a benefit to him or the team.
I could see the Twins dropping Romero back to AAA when Santana comes back. He is a starter not a bullpen pitcher. The Twins will probably make a trade mid-year. The better Lynn or Gibson is pitching, the more than trade value they will have. If Romero does get dropped down, he will likely be back in the starting rotation before the end of the season.
I look for Santana to be traded at the deadline if he is healthy.
The Twins are in a rebuild, they just haven’t made it public. No team serious about making the playoffs brings in Rodney as a closer. They want Dozier and his salary gone after the season. They only resign Mauer if he accepts a drastic cut in salary – it’s worth the PR as he’s a local. What’s that leave?
If he’s healthy, the Yankees would be a good trading partner regarding Santana – he could take over the #2-#3 slot that Sonny Gray cannot handle . Twins have lots of young middle infielders, OF’s, and a 3B in Sano. They need young pitching, C and 1B. Yankees could offer Tyler Austin to play 1B, along with a couple of minor league arms (not the top prospects).
Should add….
Santana is signed for this year with a team option for 2019. He’s 35 years old. He’s a win-now pitcher. The Twins are 5 games under .500 playing in the worst division in MLB. Short of signing Harper, Kershaw, and Machado this coming off-season, the Twins will not be serious contenders in 2019. They have 2 so-so corner OF’s – I like Rozerio, but sometimes is mind is simply not on the game, and Kepler’s greatest asset is that he’s 23 years-old so he needs a few years. I thought Buxton would be a 5-tool star. Then I thought he’d be a Devon White type. Now he appears to be a cross between Peter Bourjos and Billy Hamilton. Sano needs to lose a lot of weight for 2019 if he is to be anything other then another post-2015 Sandoval. Barrios is a wonderful top of the rotation starter. Romero shows promise. But Lynn, Gibson, and Odorizzi are basically overpaid #4-5 pitchers that good teams would prefer to give those innings to developing youngsters. The bullpen is well below average, with Reed and a possibly a developing Pressly as the only bright spots. And it appears that they don’t have much in the catching department.
I had a lot of hope for the Twins 3-4 years ago. It appears to me that the new front office working with Molitor has not developed much of anyone (Rosario is about it), and in cases like this a FO falls back to their job security by telling the owner that they need a rebuild and 2-3 years to right the ship.
Twins absolutely did not go into this season in rebuild mode, that’s a ridiculous notion.
Obviously you don’t pay attention to the farm the Twins have at least 5 pitching prospects that could come up to MLB and see how they do, Rochester is full and Chattanooga has a few.
I take back not paying attention to the farm, don’t think you pay attention to MLB roster either. You spelt every name wrong. Smh
This Rangers front office is embarrassing. why in the world would you not try and deal Adrian? Or at least approach him to ask? he may want to win another World Series and if he’s a free agent what is the harm in trying to recoup a prospect who may one day turn Into something. The Yankees did this with Chapman (of course level of impact is different) but it seems to be working out for them and worked out for Chapman.
Chapman was way younger, arguably the best reliever in the game, and was the piece to a WS title. Finally Chapman was hitting the market ripe for his age and ability, 3B aren’t in demand..ask Moose.
There’s a big difference between Moustakas and Beltre.
Yea, age, health, price tag, LH vs RH, and likely availability. So what’s your point?
If they would have been free agents together Beltre wouldn’t have been unsigned in February. Beltre is a much better player than Moustakas and a team who wouldn’t want to make a change at third for Moose night for Beltre
Yea cause teams would be climbing over themselves to sign a 39 yo player with injury issues. Not in 2018…
Beltre has never won a WS ring…
Hey downvoter show me where I’m wrong!!!
So, the Rangers don’t want to deal away the heart of their team and that bothers you?
Good.
The heart of a Team going nowhere, in an organization lacking talent. Beltre will help replenish the stocks.
Maybe to QO offer him so they get what they expect to be his last season without paying him a 2-3 year deal in free agency.
If the Rangers don’t trade Beltre they deserve to go on a 20 year losing streak.
100!
They’ll never beat your streak as a loser though…
Booooom
Wow that was very clever
Moustakas is sure to be traded. He may have an opportunity to work out a deal with his new club. The Cardinals or Mets are possibilities. Frazier has a one year deal and can play first.
I see the Braves as much more likely. 3rd base is lacking to say the least at the major league level, and last I checked Riley wasn’t doing enough at 3A to force himself into the major league picture
Very disappointing to read that Lincecum has struggled in the minors, and a call up is not imminent. This could very well be his last hurrah. I really hoped he would have an Eckersley-like renaissance as a closer to setup guy, but that doesn’t seem to be in the cards.
Um, Santana started and pitched two innings on Wednesday..
Lincecum will be a giant before the year is out and as a starter. That’s how awful the Giants staff is. Not one pitcher sub 5.5 era
You know it’s coming, and the fans won’t even care if he’s a one-man dumpster fire. All that will matter is that Big Time Timmy Jim is on the mound, Posey is catching, Belt at 1B, Panik at 2B, Crawford at SS, Sandoval at 3B, Pence and Blanco in the OF, and (coming soon) Kontos in the pen. Nostalgia City Love Fest for the wine & cheese crowd.
JD would have to be a moron to not trade Beltre. I love Beltre but this team is going nowhere and he’s probably our most valuable trade asset.