The Minnesota Twins are Major League Baseball’s first 20 game losers in 2016 and it looks like a roster shakeup is on the way.
Two sources with direct knowledge told the Pioneer Press’ Mike Berardino the Twins have placed pitchers Tommy Milone and Casey Fien on waivers.
Breaking: #MNTwins place Tommy Milone, Casey Fien on waivers, per 2 sources w/direct knowledge. https://t.co/SUQr4q9jDE
— Mike BerardinoNDI (@MikeBerardino) May 5, 2016
The Twins were off Thursday after falling to the Houston Astros 16-4 Wednesday night.
Hardball Talk notes that Milone had been dependable for the Twins last season, but the lefty posted a 5.79 ERA with a 19/7 K/BB ratio over four starts and one relief appearance after he was yanked from the Twins rotation.
Fien has been worse. The righty has given up 12 runs on 21 hits in just 13 2/3 innings. While Fien can refuse the assignment to the minors if he clears waivers, Milone cannot.
But those don’t appear to be the only moves the Twins are making. According to Berardino, it looks like more are on the way.
Source with direct knowledge confirms: Catcher Juan Centeno will join #MNTwins in Chicago. Being added to 40-man. Murphy likely demoted.
— Mike BerardinoNDI (@MikeBerardino) May 6, 2016
Wednesday night’s loss appeared to have exhausted Twins GM Terry Ryan’s patience. In an interview with the Star Tribune on Thursday Ryan said with the team’s awful start, the Twins don’t have time to wait around to try and save the season.
“We’re not playing too well,” Ryan said. “Consequently, we are going to have to start making some difficult decisions for our players, whether it is their near future or distant. It is not going good enough for us to wait. We are going to have to make some decisions.”
