12:11pm: Backstop Juan Graterol and righty Ryan Garton are also heading to the Minnesota org, according to Triple-A communications director Nate Rowan.
Graterol, 30, spent some time with Minny in 2018 and has appeared briefly in each of the past four MLB campaigns. Garton, who is closing in on his own 30th birthday, has thrown 64 1/3 innings of 4.90 ERA ball in the bigs. Last year, he provided the Mariners’ top affiliate with a 3.99 ERA with 10.6 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9 in 65 1/3 innings of action.
10:41am: The Twins have agreed to a minor-league deal with southpaw Blaine Hardy, according to MLB.com’s Jason Beck (via Twitter). Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN had recently reported that the sides were nearing agreement (Twitter link).
This pact comes with an invitation to participate in the MLB side of spring camp for the Minnesota resident. But if an opportunity arises for him to pitch abroad — where he might have greater earning power — then the deal includes a provision requiring the Twins to grant him his release or put him on the MLB roster within 48 hours. Otherwise, there’s a standard opt-out date in June.
Hardy, 32, has been a consistent presence in the AL Central for quite some time now. He broke into the professional ranks with the Royals and reached the majors with the Tigers, ultimately throwing 289 2/3 innings of 3.73 ERA ball in Detroit.
It’ll be interesting to see if the Twins have some new tricks for Hardy to try out. The veteran managed to gut out a 4.47 earned run average last year but didn’t impress ERA estimators. He struggled in particular against same-handed hitters while generally succeeding against righties. Perhaps a few tweaks could unlock something for Hardy.
Why????
Have you looked at the lefty lack of depth in their pen?
You can always tell new baseball fans. Freaking out over minor league deals.
Revision:
“You can always tell idiot fans.”
Question: you are Twinsfan333 and he is Twinsfan368. Does this make him 35 more fan than you?
Or
Did you get your names from a deli counter machine and you were the early bird?
If it matters to you, 333 > 368.
Yawn…
Speaking of freaking out over minor things …
No, that is their weight.
You see the government in Minnesota is communist. So they assign us our user names. Who knew socialism was so stiffiling!
But if it were
dollars 368
would be
greater…..
LOL!
It’s a midwest
thing…..
They are probably intrigued by the fact that he is a lefty that can get out righties. If they can get him to figure out how to shut down lefties (like every other LHP seems to do with ease) then maybe he could pan out? I dunno though. It’s hard to trust a lefty that can’t get out lefties. That should be the easiest thing for him to do. Makes me wonder if he was just getting lucky with the righties.
StandUpGuy that is a solid
theory!
He had an inflamed flexor tendon that Dr. Andrews fixed!
that’s a steal for a swingman if his caliber.
Left-handed depth. These are the moves smart teams make because there’s no risk but plenty of upside. And hes a lefty who doesnt have bad splits, which will be important with the implementation of the three batter rule.
My cat has the same birthday as him!
Oh… That’s tight I guess.
That’s an odd provision, how many other players have signed contracts with similar provisions?
Always liked Blane Hardy. But he is pretty mediocre, so don’t expect miracles from him. Hopefully his flexor tendonitis is better because that limited him in Detroit. But certainly worth a minor league deal with a ST invite. But don’t be surprised if he goes overseas. He is exactly the type of guy that gets that opportunity, and the money will likely be better.
Pretty much agree all the way around. He used to be pretty good, but not so much in recent years. Going into his age 33 season, not sure it’s reasonably to expect improvement. But what the heck, it’s a minor-league deal with a spring invite. Every team signs a bunch of those.
Well this Garton guy sounds like he just purely sucks. Like purely. He’s a 30 year old that posted an ERA of almost 5 in the minors last season? Where’s the promise in that. He will be extremely lucky to even make it on the team as a mop up guy after spring training. Actually… I take that back. He’s just not going to make it through spring training at all. No matter what.
“It’ll be interesting to see if the Twins have some new tricks for Hardy to try out….Perhaps a few tweaks could unlock something for Hardy.”
Are the Twins well known for having some special ability to improve pitchers? If not, this part seems very out of place..
Wes Johnson
I think this is a pretty solid minor league pickup for the Twins. I mean the guy has had some pretty successful seasons in the not so distant past so who knows a tweak or two could restore him back to the sub 3.00 or low 3’s ERA type guy he has been for much of his career. He also has shown the ability to be effective as a spot starter if needed which only helps his potential value and he’s a LHP who’s effective against RH-batters. and whith the new rules about having to face a minimum of 3 batters next season the traditional LOOGY isn’t going to exist anymore so guys like Hardy who can get guys from both sides of the plate out (yeah he needs to fix whatever went wrong last year with Lefties but if he can…) he could be an effective piece at essentially no risk for the twins next season!
Just how bad is catching in the big leagues?
Are any of these boys good friends with Gerrit Cole or Stephen Strasburg? BFFs?
Reading this just makes you realize how truly desperate baseball is for pitching, not good, bad or average, just pitching, its at the point if your a male thats a human being and can hold a baseball and throw it forward, you will get a contract doing something. I havent heard of these guys before, but to see where the game is right now is pretty fascinating
I still think Graterol’s name sounds like a performance enhancing drug.
The Twins are over here stockpiling all the Graterols.
Blaine Hardy had an exceptional run in 2018 as a starter. This past year, Gardenhire said he wanted to use him as a starter, but Blaine was unable to pitch more than an inning or two due to his injury.
I couldn’t believe the Tigers let him go. If he’s healthy, he might have a couple or few seasons left in which he’d be a solid back of the rotation starter.
Nice pickup by the Twins, assuming he’s healthy.
Low risk lefty flyer, has MLB experience, but wish he was a few years younger. At this point the cement is hardened and he kinda is what he is. He could get some innings with the Twins though. Don’t think the other two are really that newsworthy..
Any relation to Brusdar Graterol…