Givens for Twins 2019 Bullpen?

[Seth Stohs]

 

So, I just threw this question out on Twitter to get more thoughts, but thought this would be an interesting discussion here.

 

Which Twins bullpen arms from 2018 are GIVENS to be on the Twins 2019 Opening Day roster?

 

For me, Addison Reed, Taylor Rogers, Trevor May and Trevor Hildenberger are givens. Gabriel Moya is probably pretty close to a given, but with Adalberto Mejia out of options, he could take a 2nd bullpen lefty job. Or, they could both be solid "Opener" options.

 

What do you think?

[Vanimal46]

Reed, Rogers, May are the givens. Hildenberger has options and had quite a few peaks and valleys last season. So I wouldn't call him a given yet.

 

Needless to say, there are a lot of names and very few givens.

[tvagle]

I thought this was going to have information on Mychal???

[Mike Sixel]

Heh, when I saw the headline, I was trying to figure out who Givens was.......

[Thrylos]

-1.98 WPA (27th of 27 Twins' RPs in 2018,) 5.52 ERA (18th,) 4.53 FIP (14th,) 13.8 K-BB% (9th,) 1.38 WHIP (15th,) should not make someone a "given" for the Twins' bullpen for 2019. 

 

Do not understand the infatuation with Hildenberger.  He stunk up the joint last season.

[USAFChief]

Klobuchar for Senate! Johnson for Governer! Givens for Bullpen!

 

Blah Blah Blah. I'm so sick of these political ads, I can't wait until this election season is over!!

[Mr. Brooks]

Trevor Hildenberger was awful last year.

If he's a "given", then I don't think the FO will have added much competition for the bullpen.

[Danchat]

Hildy needs to prove he belongs, certainly not a given, especially with Molly gone (he seemed to trust Hildy a lot). I’d like a spot for Mejia in case he can’t crack the rotation, as I don’t want to lose him on waivers.

[USNMCPO]

 

Hildy needs to prove he belongs, certainly not a given, especially with Molly gone (he seemed to trust Hildy a lot). I’d like a spot for Mejia in case he can’t crack the rotation, as I don’t want to lose him on waivers.

I really believe that Mejia is a given. I can't see the Twins just throwing him away. He could, however, be a part of a trade. The front office got burned last year when they let D. Rodriguez and Chagois walk.

[nicksaviking]

There are so many good free agent relievers this year that the Twins will be tripping over agents begging to get their clients signed at the winter meetings. No one should be a given except for Rogers.

 

And right or wrong, I think the front office gives May a shot at winning a rotation spot this spring.

[Danchat]

 

I really believe that Mejia is a given. I can't see the Twins just throwing him away. He could, however, be a part of a trade. The front office got burned last year when they let D. Rodriguez and Chagois walk.

Letting Chargois and Randy Rosario go were bad decisions (though Chargois is in the same position as Mejia with no options and might not crack the Dodgers bullpen), but how in the world was the FO supposed to see Rodriguez emerging into a great rookie starter in 2018? He wasn't much of a prospect and his 2017 stats in AA were middling, so I understand why they let him go. 

 

On another note, I'm rather disappointed with the total inability to develop relievers the past 2-3 years. We've seen bullpen prospects like Michael Tonkin, Tyler Duffey, Alan Busenitz, and John Curtiss flounder, guys like Hildenberger and Moya struggle, and then gave up quickly on Chargois and Rosario. Not good.

[DocBauer]

I agree on Rodriguez. I just don't see how anyone could have predicted he'd jump straight to to MLB and have the success he had.

 

I understand the reasoning behind not protecting Chargois. I just didn't agree with it.

 

I also don't understand the lack of audition time late in the year for Reed and others.

 

But givens? Reed Rogers and May are the only 3 at this time. With his milb history, his 2017 season, and still pretty good first half of 2018, Hildenberger deserves a real shot. But he has to earn his way back. Moya shows promise, to be sure, but is not a given by any means. Especially if Mejia doesn't secure one of the 5 SP slots. He's not going anywhere, unless traded. He's got good stuff overall, and it may play up even better in the pen.

[70charger]

Without having looked at your response, I came up with a similar list.

 

Taylor Rogers deserves a spot.

 

Not big on scholarships, but Addison Reed is owed a lot of money that’s tough to throw away. His track record suggests that you give him another shot. This is his last year under contract, so his leash is finite.

 

Trevor May definitely deserves some run.

 

And Alberto Mejia can’t just be waived; there’s too much upside there, especially if the team is going to try interesting combinations like openers or stackers.

 

I was on the fence about Hildenberger. I think he’s good enough to stick, but I don’t think he’s a given this year with his results in the latter half of last year. Also, he’s got options, so he can ride the shuttle.

 

I’d be happy to see the Twins pick up two bullpen pieces projected to outperform most to all of these four, and the other chips will fall where they may.

[rdehring]

Agree with what you have Seth. 

 

But none of us will know how the bullpen will be structured until we see what they are doing late in spring training.  Who knows, they may stack 8 starters with 2 pitching every fourth game.  Add a long reliever and 3 short guys and you have a bullpen of 4.  Yes, I know that doesn't make any sense, or does it?  But we are living in a new world!   

[diehardtwinsfan]

yeah, I have to think Hildy is there unless he's terrible this spring. Will be interesting to watch. He's got options, so that helps a bit. I think they have to add one RP as well, and I agree that Mejia should be somewhere (though he may start). 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I really believe that Mejia is a given. I can't see the Twins just throwing him away. He could, however, be a part of a trade. The front office got burned last year when they let D. Rodriguez and Chagois walk.

I think Mejia is a given to have a pitching role with the Twins. I’m not sure what that role is or if it has been defined in the organization yet

 

Agreed with others, May, Reed, Rogers are given. Hildenberger needs to impress to not have his option exercised

[notoriousgod71]

None should be givens. All of them have been awful in either of the past two years. We don't have Mariano Rivera out there, folks.

[beckmt]

I think that May, Rodgers and A Reed are the givens, unless Reed is so bad in spring training he is released. Hildenberger will have to earn a spot, and I hope Twins find a better lefty than Moya.

Mejia and others should be packaged to bring back a better asset (either bullpen or starter). There are better relievers wasting away on rebuilding clubs that twins should be able to make an offer on.  Otherwise buy them on the FA market and rotate the rest(if possible).

[ashbury]

None should be givens. All of them have been awful in either of the past two years. We don't have Mariano Rivera out there, folks.

So a feasible plan would be to flush them all and go to Opening Day with 8 new guys?

 

If not, then whom would you hang on to? Those would seem like the givens.

[jorgenswest]

The Twins need 5 good reliable options in the pen.

 

I would only count on May and Rogers in my top 5 arms. Hildenberger should be AAA depth and options shuttle. Reed needs to show something in spring or be released. They shouldn’t count on either. They need to sign 3 relievers.

[gunnarthor]

 

I agree on Rodriguez. I just don't see how anyone could have predicted he'd jump straight to to MLB and have the success he had.

.

Rodriquez had a pretty solid 2017 - 150ip with a 3.12 era across all minors and AFL. That was a nice improvement over 2016, where he had also thrown 150 innings. He started pitching late so I think his age suggested no more improvement when we really should have seen more potential there.

 

The Twins let a lot of players go for nothing last year and brought some others back but it was pretty clear that the talent we let go was superior to the talent they brought in. If that happens again this offseason, it's probably a good indication that the FO isn't evaluating talent effectively.

[notoriousgod71]

 

So a feasible plan would be to flush them all and go to Opening Day with 8 new guys?

 

If not, then whom would you hang on to? Those would seem like the givens.

 

No, you see how they do in spring training. But I wouldn't say any of them have a track record that would cause me to ignore them being lit up in spring training.

[ashbury]

No, you see how they do in spring training. But I wouldn't say any of them have a track record that would cause me to ignore them being lit up in spring training.

So we don't make acquisitions during the off-season? And then we make decisions on small sample sizes?

 

I think choices have to be made now, and not deferred like that. "Givens" need to be identified.

[USAFChief]

No, you see how they do in spring training. But I wouldn't say any of them have a track record that would cause me to ignore them being lit up in spring training.

Unless there’s an injury, they shouldn’t care what May and Rogers, at the least, do in spring tng. They will not have 8 better relievers to start the season.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

No, you see how they do in spring training. But I wouldn't say any of them have a track record that would cause me to ignore them being lit up in spring training.

so what is your plan? How would you approach the off-season.