The Twins announced Thursday that they’ve designated right-hander Aaron Slegers for assignment in order to open a spot on the roster for newly signed designated hitter Nelson Cruz.
Slegers, a towering righty, stands at 6’10” and has pitched 29 innings for the Twins across the past two seasons but struggled to a 5.90 ERA in that time. Although Slegers hasn’t had much experience at the MLB level, he’s had quite a bit of success in Triple-A, where he’s pitched to a 3.54 ERA in 233 2/3 innings with 6.8 K/9, 1.8 BB/9 and average or better ground-ball tendencies. As a starting pitcher who has had some success in the upper minors and has a pair of minor league options remaining, Slegers could hold some appeal to clubs in need of some depth and options at the back of the rotation. If he clears waivers, he’ll presumably head the Twins’ top affiliate on an outright assignment.
The Tall Man (6’10” and I think his dad is over 7 ft tall) — Slegers has decently mediocre stuff. Some team will give him a try at the back end of a rotation. I am a little surprised by this move. The Twins acted like they had high hopes for Slegers as a back of the rotation guy.
They have high hopes for about 6 guys as “back of the rotation” guys
Yeah, but I bet none of them are as good at basketball as him.
This is a good option for a bad team looking for arms, like the Blue Jays, Royals, Marlins or Orioles.
Another piece for the Dodgers. They will need as many as they can get after tear town.
? Do tell…
He’s said that on several posts. You can just ignore it and move on.
Mariners will claim or trade for him…book it.
He had legit buzz in minors.
Slegers got his short stint in the big show, and that’s probably the only shot he’ll get. That’s pretty good for a guy who’s been looked at with 5th starter ceiling for a while.
Slegers may have a career 3.54 ERA at AAA, but last year his ERA was was 3.80 with a 4.63 FIP in Rochester. Its’ not impossible a team decides they want him, but they’ll immediately try to pass him back through waivers as well. I doubt any team in baseball is interested in putting Slegers on the 25 man.
Overall, Slegers is an emergency spot start or mop up depth guy with no options left. He sports a soft fastball he throws at 90mph and offspeed pitches which don’t have a big differential in velocity from his fastball at around 85mph. This makes him pretty hittable and while he has good control, it’s not enough to earn him a full time 25 man spot.
I heard he used to throw upper 90’s so maybe he can as a reliever but not as a starter?!!
Pretty sure you’ve got Aaron Slegers confused with Alex Meyer somehow.
Detroit Tigers could slide him in the rotation or as a reliever. We love mediocre pitchers that throw upper 90’s! He’s definitely going to get claimed by someone. Baltimore or White Sox are ahead of Detroit in claims so we shall see.
He doesn’t throw in the upper 90s. Fake news.