Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Twins Rumors

Twins To Sign Cody Allen

By | at

The Twins are expected to sign free-agent reliever Cody Allen to a minor league deal, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports. Allen became available when the Angels released him this past Tuesday.

Allen will now reunite with Twins chief baseball officer Derek Falvey, who was in the Indians’ front office for a large portion of Allen’s Tribe tenure. Now 30, Allen pitched to a sterling 2.98 ERA/3.17 FIP with 11.52 K/9 and 3.53 BB/9 in 440 2/3 innings as a member of the Indians from 2012-18. He also converted on 149 of 172 save opportunities in that span, though a down 2018 helped convince the Indians to move on from Allen last offseason.

Allen inked an $8.5MM guarantee with the Angels over the winter, but his decline continued with Anaheim. After Allen put up a disastrous 6.26 ERA/8.34 FIP with 11.35 K/9, 7.83 BB/9 and a 19.7 percent groundball rate in 23 innings with the Angels, they released him. There was great interest in Allen thereafter, but the Twins won the bidding for his services.

At 50-26, Minnesota boasts the American League’s leading record. However, there’s room for improvement in its bullpen. The Twins’ relief corps ranks 12th in the majors in FIP and K/BB ratio, and 16th in ERA. Perhaps Allen will be able to help the unit’s cause down the stretch.

Twins Sign Drew Hutchison

By | at

The Twins have signed right-hander Drew Hutchison to a minor league contract, according to Nate Rowan, director of communications for Triple-A Rochester. Hutchison will start for Rochester on Friday, per Rowan.

Hutchison opened 2019 as a member of the Yankees’ Triple-A club after signing a minors deal in the offseason. He struggled to a 5.14 ERA/4.86 FIP with 8.7 K/9, 4.0 BB/9 and a 42.8 percent groundball rate in that 63-inning span, though. Hutchison was far better as a member of the Dodgers’ top affiliate in 2018, however, and does own a solid 3.81 ERA with 8.2 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9 in 425 1/3 Triple-A frames.

Now 28, Hutchison is still best known for an occasionally effective run with the Blue Jays from 2012-16. Since then, though, the former Tommy John surgery patient hasn’t produced much in the majors with the Pirates, Phillies or Rangers. Despite useful strikeout and walk rates (8.11 K/9, 3.07 BB), Hutchison has managed an unappealing 5.10 ERA/4.45 FIP in 460 1/3 major league innings – mostly as a starter.

Twins Place Marwin Gonzalez On IL, Select Sean Poppen

By | at

The Twins have placed utilityman Marwin Gonzalez on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain, the team announced. They also sent reliever Blake Parker to the family medical emergency list. To replace Gonzalez and Parker, the Twins recalled utility player Willians Astudillo and selected righty Sean Poppen’s contract from Triple-A Rochester. The club also transferred lefty Adalberto Mejia to the 60-day IL.

Gonzalez was one of the Twins’ highest-profile acquisitions last winter, when they signed the ex-Astro to a two-year, $21MM guarantee. The 30-year-old didn’t make an ideal first impression with the Twins, as he owned a meager .579 OPS as recently as May 10. But the switch-hitting Gonzalez has come alive since then for the first-place club, evidenced by his .255/.323/.420 line (98 wRC+) with nine home runs across 254 plate appearances. Defensively, the versatile Gonzalez has primarily played third base this season, but he has also logged multiple appearances at first, second and in the corner outfield.

Poppen, 25, is in line to make his Twins debut three years after they chose him in the 19th round of the 2016 draft. Kiley McDaniel of FanGraphs wrote back in May 2018 that Poppen possesses “three pitches that flash above average and good control.” Poppen has gotten off to an outstanding start this year in his first Triple-A action, having posted a 1.55 ERA/3.61 FIP with 10.55 K/9 and 3.72 BB/9 over 29 innings.

Twins Sign Ian Krol

By | at

The Twins have signed left-hander Ian Krol to a minor league contract, according to Nate Rowan, Triple-A Rochester’s director of communications. Krol has already joined Rochester’s roster.

The 28-year-old Krol was previously with the Reds, who inked him to a minors deal over the winter. He threw 25 1/3 innings with their Triple-A affiliate in Louisville this season and managed a subpar 5.33 ERA/4.08 FIP with 9.95 K/9, 4.26 BB/9 and a 41.4 percent groundball rate. Krol has typically prevented runs at a much better clip in Triple-A ball, having combined for a 3.35 ERA with 10.1 K/9 and 4.0 BB/9 across 137 innings.

Of course, the hope for the Twins is that Krol will thrive in the minors and work his way to their bullpen. Krol was a viable major leaguer as recently as 2016, when he pitched to a 3.18 ERA/2.91 FIP with 9.88 K/9, 2.29 BB/9 and a 56 percent grounder rate in 51 innings as part of the Braves’ relief corps. But Krol otherwise hasn’t experienced a ton of big league success. Also a former National, Tiger and Angel, Krol has registered a 4.50 ERA/4.43 FIP with 8.43 K/9, 3.46 BB/9 and a 45.2 percent GB mark in 190 innings at the sport’s top level.

Twins Place Byron Buxton On 10-Day IL

By | at

The Twins have placed outfielder Byron Buxton on the 10-day injured list, per a club announcement. He is still recovering from a right wrist contusion that was suffered recently on a hit-by-pitch.

It had been hoped that the injury would not require a trip to the IL, but Buxton evidently needs a bit more time off. The placement is retroactive to June 15th, as he has not appeared since being struck. He’ll be eligible to return as soon as Tuesday the 25th.

While this seems unlikely to be more than a blip, it’s still unfortunate to see even a brief pause in the season for the 25-year-old Buxton. The long-hyped youngster has come into his own thus far in 2019, turning in a cumulative .266/.324/.527 slash with nine home runs and ten steals over 227 plate appearances.

Jake Cave will get another look at the majors in Buxton’s absence. He was demoted after a weak start to the season but has been on a tear at Triple-A (.321/.373/.552).

Twins Sign Supplemental First-Rounder Matt Wallner

By | at

The Twins have signed supplemental first-round pick Matt Wallner, Jim Callis of MLB.com tweets, adding the outfielder will receive $1.8MM. That checks in below slot, as Wallner’s selection (No. 39) came with a $1,906,800 value.

The Twins finally got their man in Wallner, a Minnesota native whom they first selected in the 32nd round of the 2016 draft. Wallner, then the state’s Mr. Baseball, chose not to sign. He instead elected to attend Southern Mississippi, where he wound up significantly boosting his stock.

This time, Minnesota grabbed Wallner higher than where most draft pundits ranked him. The 21-year-old didn’t make the top 50 of ESPN’s Keith Law entering the draft, while FanGraphs placed Wallner at No. 44, Baseball America had him 49th and MLB.com put him 60th. Kiley McDaniel and Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs note Wallner has “huge power” and suggest he profiles as a right fielder. Callis, meanwhile, points out Wallner also “intrigues” as a right-handed pitcher who can throw up to 97 mph.

With Wallner under wraps, the Twins have now locked up their first three draft choices. They previously signed 13th overall pick Keoni Cavaco for $4.05MM and 54th selection Matt Canterino for $1.10MM. The club went into this year’s draft with just under $9.91MM to spend on its picks.

Minor MLB Transactions: 6/15/19

By | at

Below we’ll track some of today’s signings from around the league…

  • The Twins have signed Cuban right-hander Yennier Cano with a signing bonus of $750K, per Francys Romero of Las Mayores (via Twitter). MLB.com’s Dan Hayes adds that the Twins do not figure Cano into their immediate plans, despite being slightly older for a development project at 25-years-old. Solid numbers in Cuba make him a worthwhile flyer, but low K-rates may give pause to his viability as a major league contributor. Cano slotted in at #2 on MLB.com’s 2018 list of top international prospects, which mark his top pitch as a 70-grade heater. “The right-hander has shown a fastball that hovers in the 94-96 mph range with some sink. He also features an above average slider, split fastball and changeup, a pitch he did not throw often in Cuba. He also throws an average curve.” Cano has been a reliever in Cuba and figures to target a similar role with the Twins.
  • The Rays signed Cuban outfielder Patrick Merino, per Romero (via Twitter). He receives $375K as a signing bonus. Romero played some catcher in Cuba, but he has a thick frame that suggests a future elsewhere. He has more than enough speed to cover ground in the outfield, and his arm should play in right if that’s where he eventually lands. Merino had been tied to a number of clubs, both Chicago clubs among them, though it’s hard to know the level of interest any of those clubs had in signing Merino.

Byron Buxton Dodges Serious Wrist Injury

By | at

  • Center fielder Byron Buxton exited the Twins’ game Friday after taking a pitch off the right wrist from Royals starter Brad Keller. Luckily for Buxton and the Twins, though, he avoided a serious injury, La Velle E. Neal III of the Star Tribune reports. “Byron’s doing fine. Wrist contusion,” said manager Rocco Baldelli, who added it’s “pretty positive news.” The 25-year-old Buxton looks to be on track for a career season, having hit .266/.324/.527 (120 wRC+) with nine home runs, 10 steals and 2.2 fWAR in 227 plate appearances.

Pineda Pleased With Recent Improvement On Slider

By | at

  • Twins righty Michael Pineda used his recent stint on the injured list to focus on the release point on his slider, he tells Dan Hayes of The Athletic (subscription required). “I’m focusing especially on my release point and finishing my pitches, especially my slider, because this is my pitch for swings and misses,” said Pineda. “I love my slider.” As Hayes observes, Pineda’s rediscovered confidence in the pitch was apparent. He threw just five sliders in his final start prior to landing on the injured list before uncorking 26 sliders in yesterday’s win over the Mariners. Manager Rocco Baldelli and pitching coach Wes Johnson both feel that Pineda looked more impressive yesterday, and Johnson spoke of his satisfaction with the incremental improvements in Pineda’s progression back from 2017 Tommy John surgery and 2018 knee surgery. Notably, the right-hander’s velocity was up a couple miles per hour yesterday as well. A revitalized Pineda would only add another weapon to an already strong Twins club. Pineda has a 5.04 ERA in 69 2/3 innings but yielded just one run in 5 2/3 frames on Thursday.

Twins Sign Second-Rounder Matt Canterino

By and | at

  • The Twins reached a deal with second-rounder Matt Canterino, Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News tweets.  Canterino’s $1.1MM bonus is less than the $1,338,500 slot price associated with the 54th overall draft position.  Canterino was ranked 34th on Baseball America’s list of draft prospects, described as “one of the funkier pitchers in this year’s draft class” due to an unusual delivery that has proven to be consistently repeatable.  A right-hander out of Rice University, Canterino has a plus slider and a fastball that can hit 95mph though is most often thrown in the 90-91mph range.

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top