As expected, Minnesota Twins right-handed pitcher Randy Dobnak has passed through waivers unclaimed and has accepted his assignment to Triple-A. Dobnak was able to reject an outright assignment and elect free agency having accumulated over three years of MLB service time, but he lacks the five years of service time necessary to do so without forfeiting any salary — $800k for the 2022 season, increasing to $1.5MM next year, $2.25MM in 2024, and $3M in 2025, with team options and buyouts for the 2026-28 seasons.
Dobnak made his Major League debut in 2019, pitching 28 1/3 innings with a 1.59 ERA. He followed that up with a more modest 4.05 ERA in 46 2/3 innings in 2020 before signing a five-year, $9.25MM extension, which could increase to $29.75MM, with the Twins prior to the 2021 season.
Unfortunately, Dobnak then missed the majority of the 2021 season with injuries, pitching only 50 2/3 innings to a poor 7.82 ERA before being shut down with a right middle finger strain that lingered into Spring Training this year. Dobnak’s struggles continued into the 2022 season during his rehab process, giving up nine earned runs in 8 2/3 innings in Triple-A St. Paul, leading to his DFA.
With the Twins’ current core of Bailey Ober, Josh Winder, Joe Ryan, Sonny Gray, and Chris Archer (when healthy) there was no space for Dobnak. Even with a roughly average bullpen, 3.85 ERA and 24.7% strikeout rate, the front office decided that Dobnak would not be an addition to the team’s playoff push. Rather than reinstall him onto the 40-man roster after his time on the injured list was up, they moved to pass him through waivers. He’ll try to work his back onto the roster in Triple-A.
So, what happens when the season ends? Does Dobnak become a minor league free agent, or can he even become one?
It’s explained in the article. Read the part about the money and the years.
It does mention that he passed on the opportunity to reject the opt-out assignment. However, sometimes players can still opt-out at the end of the season if they passed on doing it within the regular season.
The Twins have him under contract. If he opts to leave, then he loses $8M. He’s not going anywhere.
What? He stays with Twins and receives the salaries listed in article.
Twins really jumped the gun on this extension. It’s not like it’s a big deal vs ML minimum, but still a premature.
However, he seems like a cool dude so good for him for getting paid. Hopefully, he figures out how to not give up homeruns again.
The former uber driver. I remember seeing him for the first time pitching against the Yankees in the playoffs. He looked like a 32 year old journeyman with that stache but he was only like 24. He got lit up that game and seems like he hasn’t found his form since. Good for him for locking up the extension though. I have a feeling he’ll be back.
I’ll save my snarky comments for a team that isn’t a pile of crap.
Stan, you sly cat
Let him concentrate on his rehab from now thru Spring Training next year. He wan’t have to be protected using a 40 man roster spot in the off-season, yet the Twins will be able to take him to Spring Training next season with hopefully a fully healed throwing arm all the way to his fingertips. He keeps his money. The Twins keep him, unless some team grabs him in the Rule 5 draft, though that team would be taking on the rest of the money owed him, which is unlikely. I think it is a Win-Win for both. I doubt he’ll be missing any playoff money in 2022.
Dobnak earned a good living and gets to keep earning for a few more years even without playing one game in MLB. Although his motivation will be to get 2 more years to earn the 5 year vesting mark.