Thursday was supposed to be about the Rule 5 draft to signal the conclusion of the General Manager’s Winter Meetings.
The Minnesota Twins continued to shake up its roster when it sent centerfielder Ben Revere to the Philadelphia Phillies for pitchers Vance Worley and Trevor May.
This came just seven days after sending fellow centerfielder Denard Span to the Washington Nationals for Alex Meyer.
Twins General Manager Terry Ryan turned its two most valuable trade assets into three high-ceiling pitchers.
Worley will provide the most immediate impact. He has posted an 18-13 record with a 3.50 ERA in 53 major league appearances (46 starts). He primarily throws a fastball/slider combo and will mix in the curve and change. He projects as a future back-of-rotation starter.
The other acquired pitchers have higher ceilings, but have one combined season at the double-A level or higher.
May is a big power pitcher with a mid-90s fastball combined with a curve and change. He is now rated as the fifth best prospect in the Twins organization by mlb.com, but needs to improve his control.
Meyer is now the tallest player in the Twins organization at 6-feet-9-inches tall. He is a power pitcher with a high-90s fastball and high-80s slider. He also has a change, but it is clearly his third best pitch.
Pressly and Sobolewski selected in Rule 5 draft
The Twins selected right-handed pitcher Ryan Pressly with the fourth selection in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 draft. He struggled as a starter before pitching very well in relief for the Boston Red Sox double-A affiliate in Portland. He has a low-90s fastball, but throws a mid-to-high-80s cutter more often. He also has a curveball and changeup. He is expected to compete and pitch out of the Twins bullpen.
The Twins also added Mark Sobolewski from the Toronto Blue Jays organization. He has been called an underachiever for the hype he generated after getting selected in the fourth round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft. He is a power hitter and very good defender at the hot corner.
The Twins lost one player in the draft. The Baltimore Orioles selected Tom Boleska in the triple-A phase of the draft. The Twins purchased his contract from the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks of the American Association of Independent Baseball two months ago.
Lane signed to minor league deal
Left-handed pitcher Jason Lane signed a minor league contract with the Twins Thursday.
The 35-year-old was an outfielder for the Houston Astros and San Diego Padres for six seasons from 2002-07. He converted to pitching in 2009 and has compiled a 2-0 record and 5.93 ERA in 27 relief appearances at the triple-A level.
Ryan said on 1500ESPN radio Thursday that Lane was signed to a minor league contract without the invitation to big league camp.
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