The Minnesota Twins made their first trade to help their pitching staff today and it was for their bullpen, which is where they need the most help. They acquired RHP Sergio Romo from the Miami Marlins for Double-A 1B Lewin Diaz but the Twins also acquired High-Single-A RHP Chris Vallimont and a Player To Be Named Later in the trade. It’s unusual to see a trade with prospects going both ways so kudos to the Twins for acquiring help and future assets in the same trade.
Sergio Romo is 36-years-old and a 12-year veteran in Major League Baseball that has won 3 World Series from his days with the San Francisco Giants (2008-2016 with World Series Championships in 2010, 2012 & 2014). He signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017 and was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays during that season then re-signed with Tampa Bay in 2018 before signing with the Miami Marlins this offseason. That means Twins Manager Rocco Baldelli knows him well from his days with the Rays.
Rocco when asked what he knows about Sergio Romo:
“I know he’s Ultra-Competitive. He wants the ball. He’s scared of nothing.”
“I think everyone knows him as a pitcher. He’s been around for a very long time. He’s had a very successful career. He’s pitched in some big, big spots and once you get a chance to know him, you can see how he’s had success in those spots.”
Is it also a plus that he can fill multiple roles in the bullpen?:
“Yeah…he’s a guy that has done different things over the course of his career. He has some history, obviously, at the end of games and we talk about those big moments that he’s not worried about pitching in those moments. I think he actually desires to pitch in those moments. He’s also a guy that also kind of gives you a little bit of a different look. I don’t know what you’d call his arm-angle but he’s pretty tough on right-handed hitters and always has been and that slider that he throws is a little bit different than maybe any other slider in the game so…we’re looking forward to having him here.”
On Romo adding a veteran presence to the bullpen:
“I think that could help a lot. I think Sergio definitely, you know, as you get a chance to watch him come into different games and how he responds and how he wants the ball and how I’ve seen him throw 3 or 4 days in a row and still want the ball again after that. You just see his desire to go out there and succeed for the team. It really stands out and I think, coming from a guy that has been in the biggest of moments already in his career gives something for all of the less experienced players something to look at.”
On trusting a new pitcher in some tight spots:
“Yeah, I think it takes time generally to get to know people’s personalities, not just their personalities in the clubhouse and as teammates and as just human beings but who they are out on the field and what they actually bring to your team. I’ve been around Sergio long enough to have a lot of confidence in him and to know what we’re getting and we’re getting a good one.”
We’ll get into his slider soon as that’s the pitch that has made him who he is.
Vallimont
First of all, that name is just awesome. It sounds like some kind of superhero or, even, He Who Must Not Be Named. Lord Vallimont! Am I right?
RHP Chris Vallimont is 23-years-old who was drafted out of Mercyhurst College in 2018 and he’s been working his way up the ladder and getting better as he’s doing that.
In 13 starts this season, he’s currently 4-4 with a 2.99 ERA & a WHIP of 1.067 in 69.1 innings and he’s allowed 48 hits, 23 earned runs, 4 home runs and 26 walks while striking out 80 batters. That comes out to per 9 innings rates of 6.2 hits, 0.5 HRs, 3.4 walks and 10.4 strikeouts with a strikeout per walk ratio of 3.08.
This is the big news of the day since the big club were shut down by Chicago White Sox RHP Ivan Nova in today’s game, losing 5-1 with just 3 total hits for the game, a double and a single from Byron Buxton and a single from Marwin Gonzalez.
3B Yoan Moncada was the difference maker for the Sox. After dropping a popup to 3rd that allowed the only Twins run, he was given a tongue-lashing on the bench and responded with a double (20) in the next half-inning then homered (20) in the 5th and doubled again (21) in the 7th to make it 4-1.
The Twins will look to win the series tomorrow afternoon when RHP Kyle Gibson (9-4, 4.24 ERA, 1.27 WHIP) takes the mound against White Sox RHP Dylan Cover (1-6, 6.04 ERA, 1.51 WHIP) at 1:10pm on FOX Sports North.
