Archer as Closer?

[LewFordLives]

Will they move back to a six man rotation when Gray comes off the IL? I don't see how that will work once the rosters shrink. Here's a thought, maybe move Archer to the bullpen with the hope he can eventually close some games. In his first two starts he was hitting mid nineties the first time through the order. Maybe he can add a tick or two if he only has to pitch one or two innings.  

It may also be a way to inject new life into his career. Smoltz and Eckersley successfully made the transition. 

[bighat]

That's just so crazy....it just might work. I love the idea!

What have we got to lose?

[CRF]

I'd give that a shot. 

[Blyleven2011]

I think you're on to something that makes sense ,, start immediately  with this strategy and if works out come MAY when rosters get reduced to 26 , 13 pitchers  ,,,  leave him there , 

Couple of problems  though , sonny Gray's injured and FO and manager like strategies that have no sense 

[tony&rodney]

Chris Archer has a contract written in a way that he is used as a starter.

The Twins are likely hoping he has worked himself back to being a strong starting pitcher worthy of the $10 million option for 2023. Archer could also have trade value in July.

• • may earn additional $9.5M in performance bonuses based on starts and appearances of 3 innings or more

[LewFordLives]

11 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Chris Archer has a contract written in a way that he is used as a starter.

The Twins are likely hoping he has worked himself back to being a strong starting pitcher worthy of the $10 million option for 2023. Archer could also have trade value in July.

• • may earn additional $9.5M in performance bonuses based on starts and appearances of 3 innings or more

That can be changed. He probably has a better chance of earning bonuses based on appearances.

[stringer bell]

9 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Chris Archer has a contract written in a way that he is used as a starter.

The Twins are likely hoping he has worked himself back to being a strong starting pitcher worthy of the $10 million option for 2023. Archer could also have trade value in July.

• • may earn additional $9.5M in performance bonuses based on starts and appearances of 3 innings or more

While there is currently an oversupply of starting pitchers, it is not likely to last. Archer and Biundy have significant injury histories. Three of the starters are over 30, and most recent performance for Bundy and Archer (going into this year) hasn’t been good enough to warrant a place in a major league rotation. 
 

Riding the current starters as long as they last is good strategy. Having a six-man bullpen is okay for awhile. I do hope they get some structure to who closes games. 

[Rosterman]

Interesting, is that true? I mean, what prevents the Twins from moving ANY of their rotation arms to the bullpen. You can still make good money as a closer, if effective.

 

Aguilera, we all remember him, don't we? Where when traded to the twins he was a starter in 1989, then switched to become an ace closer the next season, only to ask a return to the rotation after six years as a closer, to very mixed results, before returning to the bullpen for 107 more saves!

[tony&rodney]

3 hours ago, Rosterman said:

Interesting, is that true? I mean, what prevents the Twins from moving ANY of their rotation arms to the bullpen. You can still make good money as a closer, if effective.

 

Aguilera, we all remember him, don't we? Where when traded to the twins he was a starter in 1989, then switched to become an ace closer the next season, only to ask a return to the rotation after six years as a closer, to very mixed results, before returning to the bullpen for 107 more saves!

Nothing prevents using Archer as a relief pitcher, but he would not have signed the specific contract with those incentives if there was not very specific conversations about how he would be used as a Twin. Now if Archer really struggles as a starter over the course of (just for example) 4-8 weeks, then the Twins would have a conversation with Archer about turning to a different role as a Twin. Look to baseballprospectus.com for the rough details. There were several articles about the opportunities the Twins would provide Archer to return as a starter. The Twins would really have a difficult time signing anyone if they ignored all contract terms and conversations that occurred prior to a contract signing. Right now, the Archer signing looks very good for the Twins and hopefully he builds up to 100-110 pitches with sustained stuff and command.

[gman]

The way the bullpen looks, I think I may continue with the 6 man rotation and try to push the starters more into the 7 innings range. With that extra day between starts it wouldn't seem to be a problem.

[Doctor Gast]

Interesting idea but after having a work horse mentality for so long, it'd be such a drastic change for him to adjust. I'm sure right now his goal is to build up to 6+ innings/ game although I don't know how long that'd take. It'd take a lot to convince him to make that change and I think it'd be unproductive to try to do it this year. 

Just with a little patiences Archer will pay hugh dividends for the Twins and  once again as a work horse

[PatPfund]

Man, I hope not. For the first time in years, Archer looks healthy, and his velocity is up to old standards when he was one of the top starters in the American League. He also looks a bit rusty from not pitching much in a couple years, and he needs some build up. But he could also be the pitcher to give this team an actual #1 pitcher in the rotation (maybe Ryan too, but let's let him get more than three months in the majors). And they have Duran to eventually close supported by Pagán and Minaya and maybe Yennier Cano (27 y.o. Cuban signee seen here tossing an immaculate inning for the Wind Surge last year, and is currently striking out more than one per inning in St Paul). 

 

[Old fox]

The maybe turning the corner to a very good season. Tomorrow is the 10% mark of the 2022 season. Let’s be a little patient yet. This Twin’s team is built so differently than the past years teams in a younger age, higher potential skill levels.  The roster will still change so this year, injuries will happen, momentum swings will occur. The 2021 roster had too many elder statesmen on it with falling off skill sets. When a team brings young 25-30 year old players bring about greater progress than as compared to 35-40 year players.  
The bullpen is going thru changes but appears to be making progress.  I believe the Twins will finish the 22 season with a record of 92–70 or better. 

[Linus]

Don’t worry about it. History tells us that we will be scraping for starters in a month. Archer isn’t going anywhere. 

[Major League Ready]

8 hours ago, Linus said:

Don’t worry about it. History tells us that we will be scraping for starters in a month. Archer isn’t going anywhere. 

Let's hope they can stay away from the 60 day IL.  They are 6 deep with Gray / Bundy / Ryan / Archer / Ober / Paddack.  Plus, Winder / Smeltzer and hopefully Balazovic at some point his season for depth.  Maybe Sands too.  We should be in good shape as long as we don't have guys go down for the year.

[Major League Ready]

22 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Chris Archer has a contract written in a way that he is used as a starter.

The Twins are likely hoping he has worked himself back to being a strong starting pitcher worthy of the $10 million option for 2023. Archer could also have trade value in July.

• • may earn additional $9.5M in performance bonuses based on starts and appearances of 3 innings or more

This is a good point.  It would not go over well to eliminate his opportunity for those bonuses especially given the bonuses are far more than the guaranteed salary.  That would not be a good look when recruiting free agents in the future.  Also, It's a mutual option for 2023 according to Spotrac.  Those don't work out all that often given either party can opt out.  I see them trading him at the deadline if he has been good.  They have a $11M team option on Bundy for 2023.  I would think they prefer to keep the guy with a team option but that could make him a great chip.  I would bet one of Archer / Bundy / Gray gets traded at the deadline.

[baul0010]

Someone will be injured.  It always seems to work like that.  It wouldn't be a bad idea as long as Archer is in agreement.  He's been a starter his whole life, has had some success this year, it wouldn't be surprising if he didn't want to.  

[PopRiveter]

He's got the stuff and the makeup to do the job if he wants to. I'm sure the FO would be happy to change the incentive structure in the contract if it were appealing to both sides. LewFordLives is thinking ahead of the curve on this, but if he has trouble getting stretched out to pitch deep in games, or gets hit too much 2nd/3rd times through the lineup, this could be a nice option later this season.

I don't like seeing high-upside starters shifted to the pen until they clearly demonstrate that they aren't starters (anymore.)

For what it's worth, I'm not loving the fact that at just 24, Jhoan Duran and his 4-pitch arsenal has already been relegated to bullpen-or-bust. He's not a 2-pitch pitcher.

Don't get me wrong, I love his arm in the bullpen, but I don't understand how you could ever develop an ace if you move all your hard-throwers to the bullpen early.