The Twins have signed eight players to minor league pacts with invites to Major League Spring Training, tweets Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. In addition to their previously reported deals with righty Derek Law and second baseman Tzu-Wei Lin, the Twins have re-signed left-hander Danny Coulombe, righty Juan Minaya and catcher Tomas Telis. They’ve also brought infielder/outfielder Rob Refsnyder and right-handers Glenn Sparkman and Luke Farrell into the fold.
Coulombe, 31, tossed 2 2/3 shutout innings with the Twins in 2020 but spent most of the year at their alternate training site in St. Paul. The former A’s and Dodgers lefty has a career 4.19 ERA and 4.10 FIP in 146 innings out of a big league bullpen. He’s averaged about 8.5 K/9 in that time, but Coulombe’s strikeout numbers exploded at the Triple-A level in 2019, when he punched out 61 hitters in just 36 1/3 innings while maintaining a ground-ball rate north of 50 percent. Suffice it to say, he’s an intriguing depth piece.
Minaya, 30, was selected to the Twins’ big league roster in 2020 but designated for assignment before getting into a game. Minnesota got a long look at him not only at their alternate site in St. Paul this past season but from parts of four seasons spent in the division-rival White Sox’ bullpen. Minaya has a 3.93 ERA, a 4.18 FIP and 10 strikeouts per nine innings in 128 1/3 frames at the MLB level, all coming with the South Siders.
The 29-year-old Telis hasn’t appeared in the big leagues since 2018 but spent the past two seasons in the Twins organization, including a terrific 2019 showing with their Triple-A club: .330/.364/.490 in 327 plate appearances. Telis, a career .230/.267/.298 hitter in 267 MLB plate appearances, will be behind both Mitch Garver and Ryan Jeffers on the Twins’ depth chart but gives them an experienced depth option.
New to the organization is the 29-year-old Refsnyder, who has seen big league time with the Yankees, Blue Jays, Rays and Rangers. In 457 trips to the dish, he’s a .217/.305/.297 hitter. While he was never regarded as a top prospect, Refsnyder excited Yankee fans with a promising debut effort back in 2015, but he’s never replicated that small-sample success. Refsnyder does carry a career .296 average and .372 OBP in parts of six Triple-A seasons, and he has experience at second base, both infield corners and both outfield corners.
Both Sparkman and Farrell have recent MLB experience — Sparkman in Kansas City and Farrell in Texas. Sparkman, 28, has a 5.99 ERA in 180 1/3 big league innings but a strong track record in both Double-A and Triple-A, giving the Twins some upper-level depth. Farrell, the son of former big league skipper John Farrell, has a 5.00 ERA in 63 MLB frames but, like Sparkman, has a stronger track record in the upper minors.
I predicted Refsnyder to the Twins. What do I win?
@darkside –
Not having him on the Phillies?
I will take that prize.
A Rob Refsnyder signed jersey?
Second place is two signed Refsnyder jerseys!
You really want to talk about predicting this?
You get nothing; you were Robbed.
A free trip to AAA
When I clicked I was like… Just watch Refsnyder be one of them… Low and behold lol.
Watch, Sweihart is next…
on a side note, appreciate ya for putting Rob in the thumbnail, Steve
Sparkman, 28, has a 5.99 ERA in 180 1/3 big league innings.
All he needs is 179 2/3 straight scoreless innings and he’s down to a 3.00 ERA.
We all can rest easier tonight knowing Rob Refsnyder won’t be greeting customers at Wal Mart this spring.
It’s coming though
There’s still a chance for that. He’ll get cut.
Refsnyder should try to go for the KBO draft as he’d probably get paid more. He was born in South Korea after all, and probably would be elligible to sign up for the draft.
The obsession with Refsnyder and Peter O’Brien on this site will always be funny to me
You’re talking about the most valuable trade asset and a player with rave reviews. Of course they are popular.
please tell me this is a joke @LandCrabs
You don’t get rave reviews and not be an MVP caliber player. Duh, its not a joke.
The fact that “rave reviews” comments still happen is one of the biggest reasons I still follow this site.
I thought he didn’t get rave reviews for his defense at catcher and in the outfield. Or did I miss something?
@sky you are correct, he did not get rave reviews
Wish I could remember the guys name who posted that
Landcrab, how can you omit Swiehart ? That’s anti Red Sox bias = (
I knew I was forgetting someone…Swihart is elite too
Every one of the red sox haters showing how little they know about the system and kids they have had.. Just stuck with swihart on the brain syndrome..
Tzu wei lin.. Just signed by the twinkies, was given 2m bonus back in 2012.. Swihart “only” got 500k more the year before.
grow up.
Your comment does not get rave reviews
Yeah, we all just got educated by this comment; very stupid
Are the “Indians” even going to field a team in 2021? The only signings I have seen are the left and right field ball boys/girls.
Indianfan: For the most part, I believe the future “Cleveland Baseball Club” will be returning most of the same core. Yes, they need to shore up their bullpen. They’ll probably let the OF situation sort itself out, unless the get a MLB ready OF’er when/if they trade Lindor.
The ball boys/girls are your starting corner OFers on Opening Day.
Any guesses on which hat Refsnyder wears for his HOF bust?
cmon, its gotta be Yankees. no one passes up a chance to wear a Yanks cap in the Hall.
Hawks, as in Laguna Hills High School Hawks. He might make his HS HOF!
Everyone out there all over old Rob. He has 4 HR to his credit in MLB. How many do you have?
5
What team and years
my career WAR is greater then his.
0, Darkside?
Refsnyder is -.6. Im almost a whole win better!
There is no e in Swihart. There are two e’s in legend.
I just came here for the Refsnyder comments.
EVERYONE did!
Refsnyder? Was that the next great yankee hall of famer,slong with kevin maas, brien taylor and jorge posada?
Rob Refsnyder. Kevin Mass. Brien Taylor. &…Jorge Posada?
Are we playing “one of these things is not like the others”?
Posada should be in the Hall for real.
Hey Steve I demand an edit on this article! Thats FUTURE HALL OF FAMER REFSNYDER!
AND yes he got all the rave reviews.
Every time Minor League deals are announced, someone says that they’re plotting their spot on the parade route.
Seems that nobody has yet…
So, let me be the first to say that I have plotted my spot.
thank you Mr. Vice President