What Reliever should the Twins target?

[jsteve96]

With Free agency opening and one of the biggest needs being back end of the bullpen help which relievers should the Twins check out? Here are 5 guys i would like them to look into.

 

1) Tyler Clippard:RHP 2.92 ERA in '15, 2.18ERA in '14. He has spent time as set up man and has experience closing as well and with Glen Perkins struggles in the second half it might be wise to pick up someone like Clippard. MLBTRADERUMORS predicts a contract to look like 3 years 18 million.

 

2) Joakim Soria:RHP coming off a solid 2.53 ERA campaign, Soria would be a solid set up man as well. Soria also has 202 career saves. He's projected 3/18 as well.

 

3) Tony Sipp: LHP with Brian Duensing leaving Minnesota and the Twins not really having a solid Lefty besides their closer Perkins, The twins could look to a slightly cheaper option in Free agency in Sipp. In 2015 Sipp pitched in 60 games posting a 1.99 ERA, the impressive part to this is that along with shutting left hand batters down he kept Righties to a .190/.245/.374 clip. He's Projected 3/15.

 

So who do you think they should go after?

 

 

[USAFChief]

Sipp might be worth adding. The other two don't interest me.

[Boom Boom]

I could see the Twins going after Sipp.

 

Best guess is that the Twins sign one or two mid-level relievers and a bunch of non-roster guys on ST invites. Return of Boyer may be in play.

[nicksaviking]

I want Mark Lowe.  There is absolutely no buzz going on around this guy despite having a fantastic season.  I think whoever gets him is getting a steal.

 

Also add Shawn Kelley, and the bullpen would be looking a lot stronger.

 

I'd also give a shot to Jon Broxton as at the end of the year it looked like he had finally regained his form.

 

Ryan Madson might be a good pickup as well.

[dbminn]

 

I want Mark Lowe.  There is absolutely no buzz going on around this guy despite having a fantastic season.  I think whoever gets him is getting a steal.

 

Also add Shawn Kelley, and the bullpen would be looking a lot stronger.

 

I'd also give a shot to Jon Broxton as at the end of the year it looked like he had finally regained his form.

 

Ryan Madson might be a good pickup as well.

 

I agree with all you listed except Broxton. Sipp would be fine too. My priority would be Kelley/Madson/Sipp. Problem is that there are a lot of teams looking for RP this offseason, so they will be expensive (Dodgers, Cubs, Astros, for example). Might be better to trade for a RP like Storen.

[DaveW]

Trade for Chapman

[gunnarthor]

I think the Twins trade for Storen and add someone like Darren O'Day or a cheaper option like Tommy Hunter.  

[wavedog]

I would go after Soria and Sipp.    I want no part of Clippard.  

[nicksaviking]

 

I agree with all you listed except Broxton. Sipp would be fine too. My priority would be Kelley/Madson/Sipp. Problem is that there are a lot of teams looking for RP this offseason, so they will be expensive (Dodgers, Cubs, Astros, for example). Might be better to trade for a RP like Storen.

 

I like Storen, but he'd only be a rental, and I'm not sure I want to give up a decent prospect for a rental.

 

While relievers may be more expensive than normal, that's all pretty relative; these are still largely the cheapest kinds of free agents.  You can still probably get three really nice relief arms for under $12M/year combined.

 

 

[dbminn]

 

I like Storen, but he'd only be a rental, and I'm not sure I want to give up a decent prospect for a rental.

 

While relievers may be more expensive than normal, that's all pretty relative; these are still largely the cheapest kinds of free agents.  You can still probably get three really nice relief arms for under $12M/year combined.

 

I'm not that far off from you. I think it would be $15M/yr, but that's just quibbling. I'm more concerned that we'd have to give FAs 3-yr deals. Anyway, here's what FanGraphs thinks, for what it's worth. It's a nice reference for conversation: 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2016-top-50-free-agent-predictions/

[nicksaviking]

I wouldn't be against Soria but that strikeout rate is starting to fall and he's only got a low 90's fastball.  I think this is the year the Twins finally get in on the strikeout bandwagon and they sign some guys with strong swing and miss stuff.

[Cap'n Piranha]

I'd like to see them get Andrew Miller.  Send Plouffe, Dozier, and Arcia to the Yankees for Miller and JR Murphy/Gary Sanchez.  Sano slots in at third, Park and Mauer split 1st and DH, Polanco takes over second.  Our bullpen becomes shutdown (May, Jepsen, and Miller into Perkins, Miller provides Perkins insurance), and we actually have a high upside catcher who could at the least platoon with Suzuki.

[beckmt]

Would love to see Sipp or Madison.  They may be others out there, but I feel some will be overpaid because of many teams looking this year.

[Shane Wahl]

Sipp, Soria, and Madson in that order. It would be nice to get one of them.