2015 Bullpen

[Brandon]

I thought this might be a fun topic since we already have so many options with more on the way.  Here is who we have going into the offseason:

 

Perkins

Fien

Deunsing

Thielbar

Swarzak

Burton

Pressley

 

From this group Burton is most likely not coming back and its not because he's that bad of a pitcher but because he is slipping, costs 3.625 million and has a bunch of potential replacements ready to take his place.  Not only Burton but there are a few trade candidates as here is who is knocking on the door to the bigs and pitching in Minnesota in September

 

Oliveros

Achter

Tonkin

Darnell

Thompson

 

With Pelfry coming back from a second arm surgery and with his repertoire the bullpen may be a good fit for him  Pino could be stored there if he doesn't make the rotation

 

Pelfry

Pino

 

Here is a list of kids down on the farm with monster arms likely to jump through the system.  Could one of these arms start next season with the Twins.

 

Burdi

Zack Jones

Jake Reed

Dallas Gallant

Todd Van Steensel

Brandon Peterson

 

That's 14 options who have pitched in the majors this season plus several who are fast tracking their way up.  Plus there's going to be pitchers I missed or forgot to mention.  How will our bullpen shape up to start the season next year and who will return?  Who do you see as our top 7 or 8 relievers? 

[Danchat]

Here's what I'd like to see:
Perkins

Fien

Duensing

Thielbar

Pelfrey

Tonkin

Free Agent-I haven't taken a look at who'll be available but we should get a guy who could be a setup guy.

And when the time comes, Pressly can be the 8th guy in the bullpen. When somebody gets hurt, I'd like to see Pino, Oliveros, and Achter as the reserves. Maybe late in the season we could get a look at Burdi, too.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I'd like to see

Perkins

Fien

Thielbar

Pressley

Tonkin

Oliveros

Darnell

 

With Achter and Burdi to earn their spots in the pen as the season progresses.

[DocBauer]

There are 6 pretty interesting youngsters on the initial list. But despite great seasons, future potential and even promotions thought the season, I feel Burdi and the others are simply impractical to make the leap initially. Now, a couple of those listed could see AA to begin the year, or at least see an early promotion there. I think by the second half of the 2015 season 1 or 2 could be ready for the call.

 

One name left off is Melotakis who has already seen successful AA time, I believe is pitching in the AFL, and could fast track.

 

I've been a Duensing supporter in the past, and not sure he's done yet despite some slippage this season. Salary is not a concern, and I could see him back again, at least to begin the season. I think Thielbar has shown decently and has solid potential. I'm also very intrigued by Darnell as a lefty in the pen. He throws fairly hard, would probably pick up a little more velocity used as a reliever, and seems to be a decent SO pitcher. I'm not sold on Thompson, but he has a shot. Johnson in the pen? Also a possibility. Could the team go with 3 lefties? (Not counting Perkins who is the closer, regardless of handiness)

 

I'd like to see one quality RH setup signee to hold down the 8th most nights and give Perkins that occassional day off. It would be nice to just say we already have that guy in Pelfrey, and I like the idea of a look-see, but he's a real unknown at this point. Swarzak and Pino could both battle for the long spot, possibly Pelfrey or Pressley.

 

My best guesses/picks to begin 2015:

 

Perkins

FA

Fien

Duensing

Thielbar

Swarzak...with the previously mentioned contenders fighting him

1 of Oliveros, Tonkin, Achter and Pressley.

[stringer bell]

Swarzak is a long man only and out of options.  If someone wants him, trade him.  If not, non-tender.

 

I imagine a starting candidate will get a long relief role (Milone, Pelfrey).  I think one of Duensing and Thielbar will be let go or traded. 

 

There really should be a big turnover in the BP.  the time to do it is in the offseason, not retooling at midseason.

[Thegrin]

• Pino seems to be well suited to relief.  
• Swarzak has been an excellent long man, why not keep him and pay him.
• Right now Burton is our most reliable relief pitcher.  He is taking Perks place through the end of the season. 
• Duensing, Thielbar, Milone, Thompson & Darnell, we can only use 2 lefty's so 3 need to be dealt.
• Is Fien the Twins setup man for 2015 ?
• How soon will Burdi be ready to come up ?.

We can hope that Terry Ryan will make some trades this winter and that relief pitchers will be part of the trades.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

There are 6 pretty interesting youngsters on the initial list. But despite great seasons, future potential and even promotions thought the season, I feel Burdi and the others are simply impractical to make the leap initially. Now, a couple of those listed could see AA to begin the year, or at least see an early promotion there. I think by the second half of the 2015 season 1 or 2 could be ready for the call.

One name left off is Melotakis who has already seen successful AA time, I believe is pitching in the AFL, and could fast track.

I've been a Duensing supporter in the past, and not sure he's done yet despite some slippage this season. Salary is not a concern, and I could see him back again, at least to begin the season. I think Thielbar has shown decently and has solid potential. I'm also very intrigued by Darnell as a lefty in the pen. He throws fairly hard, would probably pick up a little more velocity used as a reliever, and seems to be a decent SO pitcher. I'm not sold on Thompson, but he has a shot. Johnson in the pen?

I don't have a problem with Duensing, he's a fine reliever, he's out of options and I think the Twins have some talent that can be as good or better and still have options, so when the roster needs to be shuffled around, Gardy isn't handcuffed.

Agreed that Johnson could, and maybe should, be in the 2015 bullpen. I like him as the swingman which has been the most important role for the 2014 Twins. Swarzak has been good in this role, as TheGrin points out. I prefer to push the youth movement along a little faster, I don't think you want to give Swarzack a longer term contract than one or two years.

[DJL44]

I'd like to see

 

Perkins

FA/trade

FA/trade

Fien

Thielbar

One of Tonkin/Oliveros

One of Pelfrey/Milone

 

Duensing, Swarzak and Burton are all below average and will cost a collective $8M to bring back. I think they can find two other better veteran arms for the same cost.

[Brandon]

Here is my take:

 

Perkins

Fien

Deunsing  (could be good trade candidate not pressing for it)

Thielbar

Pressley

Pelfry or if he doesn't make the cut Tonkin

Swarzak or Pino for the long reliever/ emergency starter

 

Achter, Melotakis, Darnell for the 8th reliever.  I am not sold on Olivares at this point he could change my mind next spring we'll see. 

[oldguy10]

Of all of the options mentioned as far as veterans now on the roster coming back I am underwhelmed by ALL of them and if most of those mentioned return the team is looking for a string of five consecutive 90 loss seasons.   I would go the free agent route as damn near anyone out there is at least as capable of those currently on the active roster and finishing there at this season's end.   Plus I would promote many of the youngsters as well, especially Burdi which appears at first sight to be a great draftee.

 

Perkins should have been moved at the trade deadline to a contender, now his value has plummeted what with his recent arm trouble.  

[Riverbrian]

I'd like to see Pryor become what he was once promised to be.

 

I'd like to see the Twins get competitive after Andrew Miller... By competitive... I mean overpay.

 

I'd also like to see the Twins go after Hochevar.

[drjim]

I'd like to see Pryor become what he was once promised to be.

 

I'd like to see the Twins get competitive after Andrew Miller... By competitive... I mean overpay.

 

I'd also like to see the Twins go after Hochevar.

 

It would probably take 4 years to overpay Miller. Is that something you want to do?

[drjim]

I would turn over at least 4 guys from the current pen. Perkins, Fien, Pressly can stay. Let the other young guys battle it out. Move on from Burton, Duensing, Swarzak.

 

Don't understand the love for Thielbar.

[Rosterman]

The Twins have so many choices.

 

At this point, with the salary room they have, they will resign Duensing and Swarzak. They might also just resign Burton, for the veteran presence he is.

 

The sad part is that Duensing, Swarzak, Oliveros all have to make the team, as they are out of options, I believe.

 

There is a small amrket for middle relief, especially out of spring training, with only potential closer candidates getting something worthwhile in trade. In that way, Burton and Fien may be valuable trade chips. But who knows.

 

I could see Darnell and Pelfrey/Pressley being the new long-relief guys. I could see Aaron Thompson in the mix. I could see Deolis Guerra getting a shot if he stays in the organization. We also have Kris Johnson out there, and heaven knows what will happen to Tommy Milone, or, in all respects, Trevor May may be able to start the season in long relief.

 

It is nice to have too many arms, and none of them (except Pino) really taking up important roster space at the moment. 

 

I would like to see Oliveros be part of the team, but not sure if he is a necessary 40-man spot. He may be the best thing we have, or just another thrower that is AAA at best.

 

I don't see any of the non-roster rookies making an impact, as the Twins have no reason to advance them, period.

 

Again, the Twins have salary dollars. They can resign everyone they pretty much have for the modest raises (Plouffe, Duensing, Swarzak, Schafer)/ They still have enough money to get a $20 million starter and a $10 million hitter. Plus, they will go the minor free agent route as a good portion of both Rochester and AA rosters were made up of such guys.

 

What I want to see:

Perkins

May/Darnell

Thielbar/Fien

Achter/Thompson

Pressley

 

I expect Pelfrey and Milone to start at AAA. I see Duensing and Swarzak signed and traded. I see Burton not signed. I see Tonkin in the wings. 

 

And we also have Pryor and Oliveros, hard throwers especially.

[Riverbrian]

It would probably take 4 years to overpay Miller. Is that something you want to do?

Sure... It's not my money.

 

I have no problem spending other peoples money at all... Especially when I'm free from consequence.

 

I'm in a great position. So... Yeah... Go get me Miller!!!

[Trautmann13]

Long shot here but this is what I feel would be the best possible bullpen

 

Perkins

Fien

Pressly

Thielbar

Pelfrey

Tonkin

Darnell/Burdi (If Nick has a good spring, why not?)

 

Would rather not have Pelfrey here, but they still owe him a good chunk of cash.

[oldguy10]

Regarding the last post and the pitchers mentioned - To me bringing back damn near all of them as has been mentioned is a sure recipe for disaster.   None of them collectively constitute a decent bullpen as compared to what the other American League teams will roster, I simply do not get the enthusiasm for any of them with the exception of Perkins if his arm is okay and Burdi.   Check the numbers of many of them in the last month, very poor especially Fien.   Surely dipping into free agency would be a better way to go, wouldn't it?

[beckmt]

If you want an FA bullpen,  look at Detroit if you guess wrong. Twins need to turnover some pen, but my guess is, it will the AAA guys coming up, not FA signings.  Expect only one of Thielbar or Duensing to return, and Swarzak may be gone(too much money and too many other options).  With Burton also gone that would leave 3 openings in the pen, so it is a guess as to who will be up.  Would rather have the pitchers with stuff up here, but we are probably a year away from them, so I am guessing that the loser of the starter battle will be the long reliever and 2 of Thompson, Tonkin, Olivares, and Achter will be here.  Pryor would have to have a lights out spring to make it, rest are long shots until about midseason.  Expect bullpen to be a work in progress in 2015.

[stringer bell]

Regarding the last post and the pitchers mentioned - To me bringing back damn near all of them as has been mentioned is a sure recipe for disaster.   None of them collectively constitute a decent bullpen as compared to what the other American League teams will roster, I simply do not get the enthusiasm for any of them with the exception of Perkins if his arm is okay and Burdi.   Check the numbers of many of them in the last month, very poor especially Fien.   Surely dipping into free agency would be a better way to go, wouldn't it?

No. Don't go the free agent route. Signing free agent pitchers is hit-and-miss at best and signing free agent relief pitchers is worse than that IMHO. I, along with the majority of posters in this thread, don't trust many of the Twins' 2014 bullpen arms. There will be some turnover coming out of spring training (Burton gone, Swarzak and one of Duensing/Thielbar also) and the transition likely will continue as the season moves on. By mid-season, I'd like to see Burdi, Oliveros, Pressly, and maybe Melotakis get a look. I'm probably missing somebody in that list. On top of that, I think there will be at least one and maybe two guys that lost out for starting spots going north as long relievers.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'm a no on the FA route here as well. Too many guys coming up. That said, I also think it's would be unwise to turn over the entire pen. The Twins do need to start turning things over as some guys are already blocked. What I expect:

 

Burton will not have his option picked up. Duensing and Swarzack will be traded or non-tendered. Pelfrey will not earn a spot to start and Millone will be the 5th starter.

 

Perkins

Fien

Thielbar

Pressley

Pelfrey

Tonkin

Oliveros/Guerrero/Achter/O'rourke/Thompson

 

I don't see any of the hard throwers taking the job out of spring. They aren't on the 40 man, and there are too many very good options sitting in AAA. Pino, Darnell, and Meyer get to be the AAA 6th starter. I expect Meyer to force his way on to the roster at some point, most likely relacing Millone if no one gets hurt.

[drjim]

I'm on the minimal free agent plan. Don't guarantee multiple years to any of them, mostly because so few are worth that, and they can get similar production from one year flyers.

 

Returning most of a mediocre bullpen would uninspiring to say the least.

 

There are finally some live arms in the system, give them some run.

[DJL44]

Not a Pressly fan at all. He's shown nothing over 100 innings to suggest he's anything more than the last guy in the bullpen.

 

Free Agent doesn't necessarily mean expensive. Burton was a free agent and a good acquisition. Fien was a free agent. They need to bring in some talent because what they have at AAA is not much more than filler. Burdi will be at AA and move quickly but I don't see Reed or Melotakis making it until much later.

[oldguy10]

Certainly concur that the pitchers at AAA are filler to the max and thus I argue for free agent acquisitions which do not have to be expensive if done wisely and well.   Perhaps the organization should take a good look at how the bullpens of the 2014 playoffs teams were assembled and go from there.  

 

A side note - who is this Worley guy that pitched a gem for Pittsburgh on Sunday?   Sounds intriguing to me, in fact a trade for him might be something Ryan should pursue.

[Siehbiscuit]

I am in the minority it sounds like but I AM in favor of going the FA route to help bolster the bullpen. There are not a lot of FA starters that the Twins will be pursuing, so why not help the bullpen? Here is my plan:

 

Long man - Pino - replaces Swarzak

RP - Darnell (LH) - replaces Duensing

RP - Fien

RP - Tonkin 

RP - Pelfrey - replaces Burton

RP - Andrew Miller (FA signing)

CL - Perkins

 

Reasoning for Miller: The Twins can let Duensing, Swarzak, and Burton go and have capable replacements for them (Darnell unknown). The savings is more than enough to invest into a LIGHTS OUT type of relief pitcher. Since switching to a relief role in 2012, he has had ERA+ marks of 127, 158, & 202! His K/9 keeps getting better too. 2012 - 11.4; 2013 - 14.1; 2014 - 14.8! While this mark climbs, his WHIP and BB/9 keeps dropping. He is basically the present version of the Nick Burdi we are hoping to get someday.

[Mike Sixel]

My goal is to have at LEAST 2 guys with options, so they can move guys up and down to AAA as needed. If they keep a bunch of veterans, they constrain their ability to move guys around.

[drjim]

Not a Pressly fan at all. He's shown nothing over 100 innings to suggest he's anything more than the last guy in the bullpen.

 

Free Agent doesn't necessarily mean expensive. Burton was a free agent and a good acquisition. Fien was a free agent. They need to bring in some talent because what they have at AAA is not much more than filler. Burdi will be at AA and move quickly but I don't see Reed or Melotakis making it until much later.

 

Yes, last guy in the bullpen. But making the minimum and still has options.

[Siehbiscuit]

My goal is to have at LEAST 2 guys with options, so they can move guys up and down to AAA as needed. If they keep a bunch of veterans, they constrain their ability to move guys around.

I am a little surprised to hear this from "mike wants wins" as I would think getting the best players on the field is the primary goal, regardless of options the player(s) has left. To sacrifice a more proven reliever so we can have Tonkin and Darnell for example is not, IMO, the best way to build a bullpen. If this were 2016 and we had Reed and Burdi ready to go then signing  veteran in the 2015 offseason may not be necessary. Right now, our bullpen isn't very good and the guys coming up are unproven.

[Rosterman]

I still haven't figured out that, say, Duensing and Swarzak don't/may fit into future plans, why weren't they marketed during the summer for something, anything. Also, feel Fien may be next year';s Burton. I would be positioning him bigtime thru spring training as potential closer tradebait (and letting him close for the remainder of this year rather than Burton). I have this sneaking suspicion that the Twins will bring Burton back, as well as everyone else. Because they can. And, basically, no one else probably DOES NOT want these guys anyways. And let's see if Pittsburgh will take Hicks for Worley and Deke Weller!

[drjim]

I still haven't figured out that, say, Duensing and Swarzak don't/may fit into future plans, why weren't they marketed during the summer for something, anything. Also, feel Fien may be next year';s Burton. I would be positioning him bigtime thru spring training as potential closer tradebait (and letting him close for the remainder of this year rather than Burton). I have this sneaking suspicion that the Twins will bring Burton back, as well as everyone else. Because they can. And, basically, no one else probably DOES NOT want these guys anyways. And let's see if Pittsburgh will take Hicks for Worley and Deke Weller!

 

Because Duensing and Swarzak had, and still have, no trade value?

[Mike Sixel]

Don't agree.....because it is a 162 game season, a team needs flexibility. A 16 game season? Put the best players on the roster.....though I am not convinced there is a big delta between some of the younger guys and a veteran.