Front Page: Should the Twins Look to Add to the Bullpen?

[Cooper Carlson]

At this time last season all of the offseason talk was about about adding to the bullpen. The only addition, Blake Parker, is no longer on the team but the Twins suddenly have a good bullpen due to some key breakouts. Should the Twins still look to add an impact arm to the bullpen this offseason?The Braves got out to a fast start on the relievers market this season, adding Will Smith and bringing back Chris Martin. That is along the lines of what fans wanted the Twins to do last season, but the Twins decided to stick with their same bullpen and it ultimately paid off until the playoffs.

If the season started today, the bullpen would consist of Taylor Rogers, Tyler Duffey, Trevor May, Zack Littell (unless the Twins want him to start), and Cody Stashak as locks. The remaining options would consist of Fernando Romero, Devin Smeltzer, Brusdar Graterol, and Jorge Alcala among others.

 

We saw last season that this group could be very effective. In the second half the Twins had the highest bullpen WAR at 4.8 along with a 4.03 ERA, 3.56 FIP, and 10.09 K/9. It’s a solid group, but we also saw that in order to make a true postseason push, bullpen depth seems necessary.

 

Sergio Romo is someone who seems destined to return and it has been rumored that both sides have interest in a reunion. He quickly became a fan favorite after being acquired at the deadline, and he is still an effective pitcher. In 22 ⅔ innings for the Twins, Romo had a 3.18 ERA, 10.72 K/9, 1.59 BB/9, and 0.93 WHIP.

 

Some of the big names out there are Dellin Betancis, Daniel Hudson, and Drew Pomeranz. Betances is coming off a season where he only recorded two outs between injuries that kept him sidelined. He has been effective in the past, but I don’t expect the Twins to spend money on someone as risky as Betances. Hudson is coming off a World Series championship with a solid 2.47 ERA. He also had a 3.97 FIP and a scary 5.08 xFIP. There were some rumors about him and the Twins around the trade deadline.

 

Drew Pomeranz is someone I expect the Twins and many other teams will be intrigued by the most. In 28 ⅔ innings as a reliever last season he has a K/9 of 15.2 or a K% of 47.2%. He had been a starter for most of his career, but something about coming out of the bullpen just seemed to click. He will likely be one of the most sought after relievers.

 

Another reliever who is coming off a solid season is right hander Will Harris. In 2019 he had a 2.36 ERA, 9.5 K.9, and 0.99 WHIP. He is 35 years old but he can still be effective out of the back end of the bullpen.

 

If the Twins look to add to their bullpen I would expect them to add someone who would be in the top half of their current bullpen. They have never seemed too inclined to sign a bullpen arm when they feel there is someone in the organization who could be as effective at some point during the season.

 

What do you hope they do? The focus will obviously be on starting pitching, but once that is figured out should they add a reliever? Leave a comment below.

 

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[adorduan]

The Braves got out to a fast start on the relievers market this season, adding Will Smith and bringing back Chris Martin. That is along the lines of what fans wanted the Twins to do last season, but the Twins decided to stick with their same bullpen and it ultimately paid off until the games meant something.

 

FIFY.

[Danchat]

I wouldn't assume everyone in the bullpen will pitch as well as they did last year... but I do think we have enough right handers, though I'd be fine with a Romo reunion. They should look to add another lefty so that Rogers isn't the only primary lefty in the pen.

[ChrisKnutson]

Twins should seriously consider bringing Perez back as a reliever, even if it means slightly overpaying because he’s definitely got the potential to put up similar numbers that Pomeranz did for the Brewers. And given how Hildenberger and Busenitz turned out, I still don’t really see Littell or Stashak as legitimate RHP bullpen options for a team with WS aspirations. Meaning I wouldn’t even want to bring in Pomeranz on a 2yr/$16M (MLBTR prediction), but I’d rather bring in consistent veteran contributors like Romo and Rondon (in addition to LHP Perez) on really cheap deals for extra security for our decent, but fragile bullpen.

 

 

[h2oface]

 

We saw last season that this group could be very effective. In the second half the Twins had the highest bullpen WAR at 4.8 along with a 4.03 ERA, 3.56 FIP, and 10.09 K/9. It’s a solid group, but we also saw that in order to make a true postseason push, bullpen depth seems necessary.

 

Why am I not enamored with the pen yet?

[The Wise One]

One can never have enough good relievers. The relievers they have are all fairly cheap in price. I hope they have better luck than the last 2 year contract they handed out to a reliever 

[The Wise One]

 

Twins should seriously consider bringing Perez back as a reliever, even if it means slightly overpaying because he’s definitely got the potential to put up similar numbers that Pomeranz did for the Brewers. And given how Hildenberger and Busenitz turned out, I still don’t really see Littell or Stashak as legitimate RHP bullpen options for a team with WS aspirations. Meaning I wouldn’t even want to bring in Pomeranz on a 2yr/$16M (MLBTR prediction), but I’d rather bring in consistent veteran contributors like Romo and Rondon (in addition to LHP Perez) on really cheap deals for extra security for our decent, but fragile bullpen.

could be, would be, but Perez has not been for a whole season anything to write home about. He was great for a month. The analytics savants can likely tell you what went wrong.

[diehardtwinsfan]

The time to do that was when Will Smith was a FA... 

 

Yes, I think another arm in the pen would be smart, but I want an elite shut down arm. 

[USAFChief]

Yes, please.

 

I don't really want Romo back, but they absolutely should add quality and depth to the bullpen.

[rdehring]

Expect Smeltzer, Thorpe, Graterol and Dobnak will continue to be the 8th man in the pen via the Rochester shuttle.  That is unless one of them becomes the 5th starter, which would be good as that would reduce the number of roster spots they need to find.

 

The one need I see is for a good lefty as long as Rogers remains the go to man at the end of games.  Should be a good vet out there who can fill this role without breaking the bank.  Assuming they find him, adding Romo would mean someone else would need to be jettisoned from the 40-man.  

[Shaitan]

 

Twins should seriously consider bringing Perez back as a reliever, even if it means slightly overpaying because he’s definitely got the potential to put up similar numbers that Pomeranz did for the Brewers. And given how Hildenberger and Busenitz turned out, I still don’t really see Littell or Stashak as legitimate RHP bullpen options for a team with WS aspirations. Meaning I wouldn’t even want to bring in Pomeranz on a 2yr/$16M (MLBTR prediction), but I’d rather bring in consistent veteran contributors like Romo and Rondon (in addition to LHP Perez) on really cheap deals for extra security for our decent, but fragile bullpen.

This is smell test, not based on data, but I don't think Perez has the control to be effective in the pen. I suppose the day of the LOOGY is over, but I still don't want to make a BP call with 2-runners on and have the next batter draw a walk.

[Number3]

The unlimited quantities of GMs on these boards is truly amazing. The only question that matters is what are Falvey/Levine thinking, hopefully with Rocco's input. It is very doubtful that any major budget busting moves will be made, in my opinion. It is very easy to say how much money other people have to spend. That doesn't mean that it doesn't need to be spent wisely. The only team that won't be trying to improve for 2020 is the Washington Nationals and they will have to make moves just to try to repeat. So far suggestions have to trade Cruz, trade Rosario, sign Rendon, sign Cole/Strasburg, and now upgrade bull pen (for the hundredth time). I say do something unique for major league sports in this day and time. Take the field on opening day 2020 with as close to the 2019 roster as possible that resulted in 101 wins and manager of the year award.

[gil4]

 

The unlimited quantities of GMs on these boards is truly amazing. The only question that matters is what are Falvey/Levine thinking, hopefully with Rocco's input. 

Unfortuantely, Falvey/Levine aren't posting here (unless they are using pseudonyms), so the site would be lacking in content or purpose without us GM-wannabe's

 

[jorgenswest]

Early in the season Perez was hitting 97.

 

I wonder if his 97 then was effective or made other pitches more effective. I wonder if his velocity declined as the season progressed. I wonder if the relief workload would enable him to maintain the velocity in one inning outings.

 

That is too many wonders for a 100 win team short of signing him to a minor league deal.

[Thrylos]

Bit on interesting trivia:  The Twins' pen lead the majors in 2019 in FIP-.  Who would have thunk it?  Once they got rid of Hildenberger, Parker, Magill & Co, things started to gel.  They need one lefty badly, other than that they are pretty much set.

[ChrisKnutson]

This is smell test, not based on data, but I don't think Perez has the control to be effective in the pen. I suppose the day of the LOOGY is over, but I still don't want to make a BP call with 2-runners on and have the next batter draw a walk.

You may be right, but what other options do we really have besides Pomeranz? Diekman?? Cingrani??? I’m at least intrigued by the idea of Perez in the bullpen.

 

If only Tony Watson remained a FA, he would’ve been an ideal fit...

[mbrake]

High quality, dependable options are very skinny/sketchy at best.  Considerations:

• Sergio Romo
• Drew Pomeranz
• Daniel Hudson
• Craig Stammen
• Steve Chisek
• Dellin Betances (high risk/reward)

We really need one more power LHRP for critical match-ups in innings 6-8 without burning up Taylor Rogers.  Perez is an option (only at a deep team friendly discount)  if they don't dare bring him back as a starter or expose him to too many RHBs.

[Darius]

Yes they should add to the bullpen. They have some nice pieces, and they looked good as a unit at times. But, they blew way too many winnable game.(Yankees at home, Brewers game, and a few others come to mind right off the top of the head).

 

I know bullpens are shoddy around the league, but one or two more services me pieces and the Twins could’ve easily had home field advantage in the playoffs and things look much differently as they sit today.

 

It happens every year back to old regime. They are hamstrung I’m spending and are forced to throw things at the wall and hope they stick (Blake Parker, really?). Games are flushed down the toilet “seeing what we got.” It was a two game difference between the Yankees and the Twins for home field.