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Articles by Jake Depue
Wes Johnson on Twins’ pitching prospects – SKOR North
Mar 10, 2021; Port Charlotte, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Joe Ryan (67) throws a pitch during the fourth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Charlotte Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports BOSTON–Prior to Thursday’s game against the Red Sox, Twins pitching coach Wes Johnson discussed the progress of Twins prospects Joe Ryan, Jordan Balazovic, and Drew Strotman, along with current starter Bailey Ober.
Deception, not velocity, key to Joe Ryan’s dominant fastball – SKOR North
Mar 10, 2021; Port Charlotte, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Joe Ryan (67) throws a pitch during the fourth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Charlotte Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports BOSTON—Joe Ryan did not disappoint Friday night in his Saint Paul Saints debut. Ryan, the main piece acquired from the Rays in the Nelson Cruz trade, struck out nine Iowa Cubs hitters over four innings, surrendering only a solo home run.
Pregame notes: Michael Pineda on the hill; Nick Gordon sits again – SKOR North
Minnesota Twins pitcher Michael Pineda throws to a Chicago White Sox batter during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 1 2020, in Minneapolis. Pineda returned after serving a 60-game suspension for testing positive for a weight-loss drug on baseball’s banned substances list. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) BALTIMORE—Michael Pineda makes the start tonight against an Orioles team that’s lost 16 straight to the Twins.
Projecting the Twins’ first round playoff roster and Game 1 lineup
The Twins have to set their postseason roster for their first round series against the Astros by 10 a.m. Tuesday. Here’s a best guess at what they’ll do.
20 thoughts on the Twins with 20 percent of the season complete
PITTSBURGH—With Wednesday’s win over the Pirates, the Twins improved to 10-2. It doesn’t seem possible, but they’ve now played 20 percent of their schedule. With that in mind, here are 20 thoughts on the 2020 Twins. 1. The bullpen has been incredible Everyone thought the Twins would have a good bullpen this year, but I’m not sure many thought they’d be *this* good. The bullpen might be the best in the league.
Dobnak dazzles in return to Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH–Randy Dobnak’s homecoming couldn’t have gone much better. Dobnak, who was raised in the Pittsburgh suburb of South Park, grew up a Pirates fan. He returned to PNC Park as a visiting player and put on a show, even if it wasn’t in front of the many friends and family who would otherwise have been in attendance. In six scoreless innings, Dobnak allowed just three hits, while recording 11 groundouts and one strikeout in the Twins’ 5-2 win.
30-man roster projection (version 2.0)
With the season starting Friday against the White Sox, the opening day 30-man roster is beginning to come into focus. We know two presumed members of the 30-man will not be on it. Starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi was placed on the IL following Wednesday’s exhibition game against the Cubs with back soreness. He’s not expected to be out long, and could make his season debut during Minnesota’s series against Cleveland at the end of the month.
Why the Twins need Byron Buxton back sooner than Miguel Sano
Before the long-awaited season gets underway Friday in Chicago, the Twins will have difficult decisions to make on whether to bring back Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano, after both players spent much of Summer Camp on the sidelines. Buxton and Sano are very different players, but each has had stretches of stardom in the big leagues while also struggling to consistently stay on the field.
Twins notes: Good signs from Byron Buxton; talent vs depth in a 60-game sprint
How much can you take away from one plate appearance in an intrasquad scrimmage? No matter how small the sample size or the stakes, Byron Buxton’s 13-pitch plate appearance against Jake Odorizzi in Thursday night’s scrimmage at Target Field was impressive. Odorizzi was in his fourth inning of work and appeared to be airing it out against the Twins’ center fielder, who’d already doubled off the wall earlier that night.
Projecting the Twins’ 30-man opening day roster (version 1.0)
With MLB rosters expanding to 30 players for the season’s first two weeks, the Twins will be tasked with assembling a larger-than-normal roster heading into opening day on July 24. Although there’s still a huge amount of uncertainty surrounding the season, which players will opt-out of playing, and whether some players will be healthy come opening day, here’s a first guess at what the 30-man roster might look like.
What needs to happen for baseball to start in Florida and Arizona?
Five weeks ago, on a cool early morning, the shutters of the press box at the Twins’ spring training facility in Fort Myers slowly opened. The sights, sounds, and smells of spring training baseball brought the deserted room to life. On the field, two players played a light game of catch in the outfield. The grounds crew raked dirt behind home plate. Palm trees blew in the distance, the wind sending untethered papers flying around the room.
Ten Twins prospects who could debut in 2020
With a deep farm system and abundance of talent that’s matriculated to the highest levels of the minor leagues, the Twins are well-positioned to dip into their system when the inevitable need for reinforcements arises. Last season, Luiz Arraez, Randy Dobnak, and Devin Smeltzer were among the players to debut and make a significant impact on the big league team. This season, a crop of uber-talented prospects looks primed to graduate to the big leagues.
Twins notes: Littell on pitch-tracking technology; Wade’s patience; Gordon update
FORT MYERS, Fla–Assuming everyone stays healthy, the Twins have very few open roster spots this spring. On the position player side, the starting nine is set as long as Byron Buxton can return before opening day, and only one bench spot remains unclaimed. On the pitching staff, only the fifth starter and last two bullpen spots are up for grabs. Zack Littell and LaMonte Wade Jr. are among the players fighting for those spots.
Twins notes: Opening day roster; Buxton’s health; Sano’s glove
FORT MYERS, Fla—A few late-February notes from Fort Myers… One of the primary goals of spring training is to come through it healthy, and with a month to go until opening day, the Twins haven’t been bitten by the injury bug yet. A couple of non-injury related absences on the pitching staff, however, help bring the potential opening day pitching staff into focus.
Grading the Twins’ offseason
The offseason officially ended today as Twins pitchers and catchers reported to spring training in Fort Myers. After a relatively slow start, it ended up being the most eventful offseason in years for Minnesota. The Josh Donaldson signing and Kenta Maeda trade were both filled with plenty of drama. Conflicting reports seemed to surface daily, and in both cases, the Twins appeared to be out shortly before sealing the deal.
Twins notes: Donaldson signing suggests Twins “all-in” on 2020
A few late-January thoughts on the Twins… There’s no question the tenor of the offseason completely changed with the Josh Donaldson signing. Acquiring a player of Donaldson’s caliber is always going to reshape an offseason narrative, of course, but getting Donaldson allows all of the smaller moves the Twins made to be viewed in proper perspective.
Twins reportedly sign Miguel Sano to three-year extension
The Twins have signed infielder Miguel Sano to a three-year contract extension, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Third baseman Miguel Sano is in agreement with the Minnesota Twins on a three-year contract extension, a source familiar with the deal tells ESPN. It includes a club option for the 2023 season and will buy out two year sof free agency. — Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 11, 2020 The deal keeps Sano in Minnesota through the 2022 season, and includes a club option for 2023.
Homer Bailey & Rich Hill? Is this it?
Judd Zulgad and Jake Depue react to the Twins signings of veteran pitchers Homer Bailey and Rich Hill. Depue thinks one was a savvy signing and the other … well, you’ll have to listen. Are the Twins done making pitching moves for the offseason or is there a big-trade coming? Zulgad and Depue discuss this and much more, including why the Twins window might close for 2022.
Twins notes: Evaluating the trades and free agent signings made during Derek Falvey’s tenure
A few late-December thoughts on the Twins… The Twins are waiting on Josh Donaldson to choose his team. Minnesota, it seems, is a real player for Donaldson. Piecing together various reports, it appears the Twins and Nationals have offered Donaldson a four-year deal in the neighborhood of $100 million.
Twins sign Tyler Clippard
The Twins announced Friday they’ve signed veteran reliever Tyler Clippard to a one-year contract. Clippard will reportedly earn $2.75 million in 2020. The team also officially announced the signing of Sergio Romo to a one-year deal, with a club option for 2021. Clippard, once considered one of the best relievers in baseball, had a very strong 2019 season in Cleveland. In his age-34 season, he had a 2.90 ERA, 0.855 WHIP, 26.6% strikeout rate, and 6.2% walk rate.
State of the Wild w/Declan, Doogie w/Vikes & Twins scoops, Jake Depue with Twins trade ideas
*Judd & Danny are joined by Declan Goff to start the show with a check in on the Minnesota Wild. Are the Wild & Wolves both headed in the right direction? *Jake Depue joins with 5 different trade ideas for the Twins. Could David Price be an option? *Doogie joins with Scoops on the Vikings & Twins *The Wolves have dropped 8 in a row: Is it time for the perspective of this team to change?
Who says no? Five trades that could bring back impact pitching
The Twins returned from the Winter Meetings in San Diego last week without the impact starter they’re seeking. Although they’ve reportedly engaged in talks with the camps of Zack Wheeler, Madison Bumgarner, and Hyun-Jin Ryu this offseason, they haven’t landed any of them, and only Ryu remains on the market. In competing with teams like the Dodgers, Nationals, Yankees, and Phillies for these players, the Twins are in a difficult spot.
Twins notes: Rotation options, defensive problems, roster decisions
A few late-November thoughts on the Twins… The Twins added five players to the 40-man roster to protect them from being selected in the Rule 5 Draft—Jhoan Duran, Dakota Chalmers, Travis Blankenhorn, Gilberto Celestino, and Luke Raley. One notable name not added was Wander Javier, the No. 7 prospect in the organization according to MLB.com.
Twins notes: Arbitration decisions, Rosario’s trade value, Lewis’ AFL run
A few late-October thoughts on the Twins: Losing James Rowson hurts the organization, though it’s inevitable that a 101-win team will have some of its coaching talent poached by other clubs. That’s particularly true when said team sets the all-time single-season home run record. Even if you view that record as a product of juiced balls, the Twins still led the majors in home runs, and Rowson helped oversee a complete overhaul of the team’s offensive approach that yielded big results.
2019 season recap: six months of bombas, three nights of misery
Way back in late-March, on a cold but sunny early spring day, Jose Berrios and Corey Kluber had perhaps the best pitchers’ duel of the Twins’ season. Berrios was brilliant for 7 2/3 innings, striking out ten Cleveland hitters and allowing just two hits. Kluber was just as good, taking a no-hitter into the 6th, before Byron Buxton roped a one-out double over Jake Bauers’ head in left. In the 7th, the Twins’ offense finally struck, thanks to three new additions.
Projecting the Twins’ Game 1 lineup
The ALDS roster is now out. Importantly, all of the players dealing with injuries to end the season (not including Byron Buxton and Sam Dyson) are active for Minnesota. That list includes Max Kepler, Marwin Gonzalez, C.J. Cron, Luis Arraez and Ehire Adrianza.
10 Twins questions: Kepler’s return; the hidden risk of a bullpen game; Wade Jr. vs Cave
Did you hear the news? The Twins and Yankees are facing off in the ALDS beginning Friday in New York. There are a lot of storylines, obviously, with this one. Here’s a look at 10 questions facing the Twins as they prepare to take on the Bronx Bombers. What’s the latest on Max Kepler and Marwin Gonzalez? The Twins have a ton of question marks regarding dinged up players.
What are the Twins’ options if Luis Arraez is out for the ALDS?
Twins infielder Luis Arraez left Saturday’s game against the Royals with a right ankle sprain, after colliding with Willians Astudillo while attempting to catch a pop fly. Arraez will undergo further testing in the coming days, and there is currently no timeline for his return. If the Twins are without their rookie sensation for the ALDS, it would be a significant blow.
10 Twins questions: Crazy playoff scenarios; bullpen games; ALDS opponents
The Twins open a three-game series in Detroit tonight with a magic number of three to clinch the division. With the final week of the season upon us, here are ten questions on the local nine as they close in on a playoff berth and begin making postseason plans. 1. Can Cleveland make it interesting? The Twins are obviously in great shape, but they still need to take care of business this week, because they’re unlikely to get much help. Cleveland has a realistic shot to go 6-0 to end the season.
Twins’ ‘build from within’ approach to the bullpen is paying off in September
Saturday’s doubleheader sweep of Cleveland was impressive for a lot of reasons. Although Miguel Sano’s eighth inning grand slam will rightly be remembered as the signature moment of the day, it was the bullpen who shouldered the heaviest load. In 18 innings of work, all of which could be considered high-leverage, the ‘pen gave up just five earned runs. While that’s noteworthy on its own, what’s perhaps more interesting is who carried the Twins through the day.
Mapping out what Saturday’s two bullpen games might look like
The Twins’ bullpen has to cover 18 innings in Saturday’s critical doubleheader against Cleveland. It’s not an ideal scenario for the Twins, who already had a ‘pen game planned for Saturday, and now have to do it twice after burning starter Jake Odorizzi Friday. Still, they have the personnel to get it done, and with prospect Jorge Alcala reportedly coming up to help, they’ll have a lot of fresh arms to work with.
Twins Tidbits: Does a Kirilloff call-up make sense? Is Falvey a candidate in Boston?
With Byron Buxton, Max Kepler, and Marwin Gonzalez nursing injuries of varying severity, the Twins have had to give significant playing time to players who spent most of the season in the minor leagues. LaMonte Wade Jr., Ian Miller, and Ryan LaMarre all saw action in Minnesota’s critical series against Cleveland last weekend. While they’re capable players—Wade Jr. in particular has played well—it’s obviously not an ideal situation for the Twins.
Monster moment: Eddie Rosario’s throw caps off thrilling Twins win
BOSTON–Once again, Eddie Rosario showed how much he loves the big stage. With Fenway Park on its feet in the bottom of the ninth, Rosario fielded a J.D. Martinez smash off the Green Monster and fired a perfect one hop throw to gun down Rafael Devers at the plate, preserving a nail-biting 2-1 Twins win.
Twins Tidbits: Berrios struggles again in loss to Red Sox
BOSTON–It appears Jose Berrios’ struggles are continuing into September. After an August in which he had a 7.57 ERA and allowed opponents to hit .333/.395/.556 against him, Berrios’ first September start didn’t go any better. After allowing a home run to Mookie Betts on the first pitch of the game that just snuck over the Green Monster in the first, he allowed a three-run home run to Betts that went way over the Monster and out of Fenway Park in the second.
Twins Tidbits: Bullpenning; Hildenberger back; Sano’s huge home run
BOSTON–The Twins used an opener for the first time all season Tuesday, then pitched five more relievers in a nail-biting 6-5 win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park. With 19 active pitchers (20 once Kyle Gibson returns), the Twins will likely continue to use openers and rely heavily on the bullpen throughout September, particularly with Gibson on the IL and the starting staff struggling at times to get deep in games. Tuesday, the strategy was highly effective.
Derek Falvey talks Graterol, Alcala, Gonsalves and September roster strategy
BOSTON — Prior to Tuesday’s game against the Red Sox, Derek Falvey discussed the decision to bring up top prospect Brusdar Graterol, but not fellow prospect Jorge Alcala. Graterol and Alcala appeared to be on a similar path over the past month and a half. Both started the season as starters at Double-A Pensacola, before transitioning to the bullpen and pitching well there. Both were also promoted to Triple-A on the same date.
Pitching prospect Jorge Alcala not among September call-ups
BOSTON–It appears pitching prospect Jorge Alcala will not be joining the Twins in September. On Tuesday, the Twins added three more pitchers—Trevor Hildenberger, Ryne Harper, and Fernando Romero—but opted not to call up Alcala. With Triple-A Rochester’s season over, that likely means Alcala won’t be joining the big league club this season. Alcala, acquired in last year’s trade deadline deal that sent Ryan Pressly to the Astros, has an electric fastball that touches 100 MPH.
Five under-the-radar players who could join the Twins in September
With September callups imminent, there are a number of players who should be locks to get added to the big league club. With the exception of Brusdar Graterol, the players most assume will get a call have already contributed on some level to the Twins this season. Outside of those known commodities, though, are several players currently in Triple-A who haven’t appeared with the Twins this year, but could provide value down the stretch.
Twins notes: The Buxton Effect; Cave heating up; is ‘bullpenning’ on the way?
Byron Buxton’s return is getting close. Nothing is confirmed, but it’s possible he’ll be in uniform in Chicago on Tuesday if all goes well in his brief rehab stint in Cedar Rapids. After a successful day as the DH Sunday, he’s slated to play center field Monday. Then, perhaps, a flight to Chicago.
A number of talented arms may soon be joining the Twins’ bullpen
The Twins’ bullpen has been a work in progress through the season’s first five months, but significant help appears on the way. On September 1, rosters expand from 25 to 40 players. Most teams don’t use the full 40–and the Twins likely won’t either–but they have a cavalcade of arms at Triple-A Rochester who should be with the big club in ten days. The exciting part for Twins fans is these arms aren’t just Triple-A players who can pitch in blowouts and keep the top ‘pen arms fresh.
Twins Tidbits: Intense games; defensive miscues; Graterol coming?
The two-game split in Milwaukee was a continuation of the type of baseball the Twins have seemed to play nonstop since the All-Star break: intense, competitive games with late-inning swings. Over the last month, the Twins have played seven tight games against Cleveland, an incredibly close four-game series against Oakland, and an epic three-gamer with the Yankees, which included what may have been the game of the year in the majors so far.
Twins players skeptical of prospect of robot umps
With the technology for electronic strike zones in place, Major League Baseball is beginning to explore the idea of “robot umps.” In reality, the umps would still be human. The idea is that they’d have an ear piece in, and receive the ball/strike call just after the ball crossed home plate, after which they’d make the call. MLB is currently testing the technology in the Atlantic League, where umpires have the ability to override calls. It’s easy to understand why many fans want this in place.
Twins Tidbits: Marwin Gonzalez’s heroics vault Twins back into first place
MILWAUKEE — The Twins won a crazy game Tuesday, beating the Brewers 7-5 at Miller Park. Combined with an Indians loss to Boston, the Twins are back in first place in the Central. After Ryne Harper blew a three-run lead in the seventh, Marwin Gonzalez answered with a three-run home run off Milwaukee relief ace Josh Hader in the eighth. Sam Dyson, fresh of the IL, pitched a 1-2-3 eighth, and Sergio Romo finished with a scoreless ninth.
With defending Central champs in town, Twins’ playoff push begins tonight
This is going to be fun. Twins fans have been yearning for meaningful baseball for a long time, and they’re going to get plenty of it over the next four days at Target Field. Yes, 2017 had it, and to a lesser extent, 2015. Both those years, though, were pop-up years, and both had the Twins fighting for the second wild card spot, not the division title. The 2015 Twins finished 83-79.
Randy Dobnak the next Twins pitcher to get call to the big leagues
The Twins are calling on minor league pitcher Randy Dobnak, SKOR North has confirmed, to help bolster a pitching staff in need of a boost before a 4-game series with the Cleveland Indians. The Twins host their division rivals for 4 games at Target Field this weekend, and Dobnak will be the latest reinforcement to join the cause. The roster move to clear space for Dobnak on the 25-man roster is not yet known.
Bryon Buxton and Michael Pineda land on IL; C.J. Cron is back
The Twins announced Saturday that outfielder Byron Buxton and starting pitcher Michael Pineda are going on the IL. Buxton is back on the IL for the third time in six weeks, this time with a left shoulder subluxation (partially dislocated shoulder). Buxton sustained the injury after crashing into the wall in Miami on Thursday. Buxton previously missed time in June with a wrist injury after getting hit by a pitch, and in July with concussion-like symptoms after a diving catch in Cleveland.
Could Brusdar Graterol be an impact arm for the Twins in September?
The trade deadline has come and gone, with the Twins acquiring Sergio Romo and Sam Dyson to supplement their bullpen. Romo and Dyson are both quality relievers that will help the ‘pen, which has struggled at times to produce reliable options beyond Taylor Rogers. Dyson, despite his uninspiring first two appearances, should eventually slot in as the second or third best reliever in the ‘pen, along with Sergio Romo.
What does the Stroman trade suggest about who the Twins might have to give up to land a top starter?
The Mets made an interesting—and somewhat perplexing—trade Sunday, acquiring Marcus Stroman from Toronto for pitching prospects Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods-Richardson. The trade in itself is bizarre given the Mets’ current place in the standings, but let’s ignore that for now. What’s more interesting, from the Twins’ perspective, is the return, and what it suggests about the current market. Kay and Woods-Richardson were the top two pitching prospects in the Mets’ organization.
Derek Falvey and Thad Levine were key figures in front offices that traded top prospects at the deadline
While serving as Assistant General Managers in Cleveland and Texas, Derek Falvey’s Indians and Thad Levine’s Rangers both showed a strong willingness to trade away top prospects during winning seasons. Though neither was the top man, Falvey and Levine were in key roles with the Indians and Rangers prior to coming to the Twins.
Twins prospect trade value rankings (Part 2)
With the trade deadline fast approaching and the Twins in need of pitching help, it’s highly likely several prospects will get dealt. Part 2 of this series examines the top ten prospects in the Twins’ system, in terms of their potential trade value, and provides an example of what each could fetch, in my view, in a trade. 10. Wander Javier, SS The Twins signed Javier as an international free agent in July 2015 for $4 million.
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