Twins protect pitching depth at roster deadline
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MINNEAPOLIS -- Considering the Twins¡¯ history, it¡¯s almost strange to think they aren¡¯t in huge need of starting pitching this offseason -- either in the Majors or as depth. That¡¯s because their pitching pipeline continues to produce intriguing arms.
Two more are now on the cusp of the Majors.
The Twins added right-handed pitchers Marco Raya and Travis Adams to their 40-man roster on Tuesday ahead of the deadline to protect eligible prospects from the Rule 5 Draft, which will take place on Dec. 11 as part of the MLB Winter Meetings in Dallas. The additions brought the Twins¡¯ 40-man roster to 37 players.
Two of the organization¡¯s Top 30 prospects were left off the 40-man -- and, thus, are eligible to be selected in the Rule 5 Draft: catcher/outfielder Ricardo Olivar, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 15 prospect in the organization, and outfielder Kala¡¯i Rosario, ranked No. 19. A team claiming either player would have to keep him on the active MLB roster for the entire season or offer him back to the Twins.
The decision to add Raya, the Twins¡¯ No. 5 prospect, was a no-brainer. He has been one of the organization¡¯s top pitching prospects since he was selected in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft. Though he has dealt with right shoulder issues and severe workload limitations as a result -- never having reached triple-digit innings in a season -- his strong and polished arsenal pushed him to Triple-A St. Paul for one start by the end of ¡¯24.
Raya¡¯s command took a step back in ¡¯24, and he still has to show that he can handle a starter¡¯s workload. But he certainly has the diverse arsenal for the role.
There¡¯s no rush for Raya to enter the Major League picture. He posted a 4.05 ERA, 103 strikeouts and 44 walks in 97 2/3 innings across 25 starts last season, including 24 with Double-A Wichita.
Drafted as a younger high school prospect out of Laredo, Texas, Raya won¡¯t turn 23 until August. Considering the wealth of Twins starting depth that has already impacted the Majors -- Pablo L¨®pez, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Simeon Woods Richardson, Chris Paddack, David Festa and Zebby Matthews -- Raya should get some time to develop.
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Adams isn¡¯t on the Twins¡¯ Top 30 prospects list, but the 2021 sixth-round Draft pick did everything the organization likes for pitchers to do as he pitched alongside Raya in the Wichita rotation last season and finished the year with St. Paul.
Throwing six types of pitches and featuring a wipeout slider that generated a 40.6% whiff rate in Triple-A, Adams limited his walks (118 strikeouts and 35 walks in 127 innings), didn¡¯t allow a ton of home runs (13) and held opponents to a 1.16 WHIP as he pitched to a 3.90 ERA.
Olivar appeared to be a candidate for the roster after he posted a slash line of .275/.381/.441 across High-A and Double-A last season, with 12 homers, 19 doubles and a strong eye at the plate. His limited track record in the high Minors (a .624 OPS in 19 Double-A games) will likely make it very difficult for a team to pick him and carry him for an entire MLB season.
Similarly, Rosario likely doesn¡¯t have the track record for a team to consider him for a full-season roster spot following a selection in the Rule 5 Draft. But he has plenty of power in his right-handed swing. The 22-year-old posted a .726 OPS in 67 Double-A games last season.