Two Relievers to Watch for the Twins

[Ted Schwerzler]

The Minnesota Twins are going to deal for talent in the next week. They are the best team in the AL Central, and they lead the division. They do need to supplement the roster as they look toward the postseason.

 

Image courtesy of Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Looking at the Twins roster, there are a couple of key areas they’ll need to add. The outfield has been entirely left-handed heavy, and the bullpen is very heavily-reliant on Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax. If there is a straightforward opportunity to add, it’s in both of those key areas.

Recently, Lou Hennessy brought up the St. Louis Cardinals Dylan Carlson. The bigger names are Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado, but it’s the switch-hitting outfielder that seems most reasonable. Under team control through 2026, Carlson would not come cheap, and pitching prospects Louie Varland and David Festa could both be a fit.

Beyond hitting though, it’s the bullpen where Rocco Baldelli needs help. Jhoan Duran can’t continually go multiple days in a row, and Jorge Lopez has been shaky behind Griffin Jax. Minnesota doesn’t need to add closer types, but pushing Cole Sands, Oliver Ortega, and even Jovani Moran down a bit is a good overall outcome.

So, where do the Twins look for arms when they didn’t spend money on the bullpen this off-season? They clearly weren’t interested in Royals Aroldis Chapman, and flipping for Matt Moore at this point seems unlikely. A couple of names make sense though, and individually they provide unique skill sets. 

Julian Merryweather
The Chicago Cubs are expected to be sellers. Marcus Stroman and Cody Bellinger are the peak of their assets, but other alternatives exist. Merryweather was a fifth-round pick by Cleveland back in 2014 which provides a connection to Derek Falvey. He didn’t debut in the big leagues until 2020 with the Toronto Blue Jays, and this is his first season with the Cubs.

Merryweather had previously never thrown more than 27 big-league innings in a season, but he has racked up nearly 50 innings in 2023. His ERA (4.01) is nothing to write home about, but all of the underlying numbers are better. As of July 24th, he had a 3.52 xERA, 3.33 FIP, and 3.82 xFIP. Pair that with an impressive 12.2 K/9 and there’s clearly something there.

The Cubs have seen Merryweather strand over 75% of base runners this year, and that comes despite an inflated .358 BABIP. He’s done a good job keeping the ball in the yard, and his 24.5% hard hit rate this season is impressive in and of itself. Merryweather is also throwing his fastball at a career-best 97.9 mph, and Minnesota would certainly hope to have opportunity to increase that.

Under team control through 2026, Merryweather presents a muted opportunity along the lines of Jorge Lopez a season ago. There is no reason a premium should need to be paid, and youth isn’t on the 31-year-old's side, but there is projectable talent for both the present and future here.

Brent Suter
Maybe you remember Suter from his days with the Milwaukee Brewers, or even his cameo playing as a cast member of Dumb and Dumber. Either way, he’s been a relief arm for eight years, and is someone the Twins could nab from the Colorado Rockies.

Suter is in his first season away for the Brewers, and he has posted a 2.62 ERA across 44 2/3 innings. He’s not a massive strikeout guy, and the 3.22 FIP suggests some room for regression, but allowing just two homers has been reflective of an ability to keep the ball in the yard. Suter is a lefty that could supplement a bullpen featuring only the injured Caleb Thielbar, and a still green Jovani Moran.

Looking under the hood, Suter owns a 2.58 xERA but pairs that with a 4.37 xFIP. This is one of the best seasons he’s had during his career, and it’s not shocking that it has come on a 20.2% career-low hard hit rate. He isn’t a velocity guy, and he really doesn’t even miss bats, but inducing medium and weak contact is something that sets him apart.

It would be surprising to see the Twins make massive splashes at the trade deadline, but they should add a reliever or two. Both of these names make sense, and either could help to make sure Rocco Baldelli isn’t praying for Duran on a nightly basis.

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[DJL44]

You want a rental with an ERA that is worse than his xFIP. Those are the cheapest guys and the best buys at the deadline.

[Mike Sixel]

Are either of those difference makers? If not, no idea why you'd deal for them. Are they any better than Balazovic? 

[CRF]

I'd just stick with what we've got, rather than trade for either one of those two guys. 

[SotaSports in NM]

Let's please not go after a guy that's having his first good season of his career - a la Jorge Lopez.

[USAFChief]

Trading for either of these two would be...wait for it...

 

Dumb and dumber

[Brandon]

What about Robertson.  I hear he is available again.

[IndianaTwin]

38 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Trading for either of these two would be...wait for it...

 

Dumb and dumber

I changed my mind after seeing this. I'm interested in Sutter, just for the entertainment value...

 

[Ted Schwerzler]

1 hour ago, IndianaTwin said:

I changed my mind after seeing this. I'm interested in Sutter, just for the entertainment value...

 

I mean, it's literally in the article...

[Fatbat]

🤦‍♂️

[Guest]

8 minutes ago, Fatbat said:

🤦‍♂️

I could not have said it better!

[jkcarew]

I hate the idea of buying…especially this year…just for the sake of showing everyone “you did something”. Make a splash or don’t do anything. 

[IndianaTwin]

3 hours ago, Ted Schwerzler said:

I mean, it's literally in the article...

Sorry, I didn't/couldn't see it -- I read the article on my work computer, which blocks anything that comes from Twitter. 

[ashbury]

4 hours ago, Ted Schwerzler said:

I mean, it's literally in the article...

Wanna read the most annoying comment in the world?

[JoeCool]

No thanks to either of these arms. Aaron Judge would feast off of these two in the playoffs.  

Arenado would be fantastic for both the lineup and defense. A clear 3rd base upgrade. Correa is heating up as I thought he might. 

I also dream of us going after another ace in Justin Verlander who has gotten back into vintage form and is perfect for our playoff aspirations.  We need Jack Morris 2.0 in Verlander and pushing Pablo Lopez into a Kevin Tapani #2 role with Ober and Ryan at 3 and 4 and Gray at 5.  Wicked rotation for a playoff run.  Maeda in the bullpen would be an upgrade right there. Jordan B is turning into a high leverage reliever and should push a few of the others down. 

It would be expensive for our salary situation but sending Kepler out when he is hot and Gallo if anybody will take him helps that cause.  Putting a healthy Royce Lewis in the outfield with his speed needs to happen as well.  He would be an instant upgrade in CF and no need to overpay for Dylan Carlson. We need quality and not quantity.  Lewis inspires much greater confidence than Carlson. 

[Mike Sixel]

On 7/25/2023 at 9:32 AM, Mike Sixel said:

Are either of those difference makers? If not, no idea why you'd deal for them. Are they any better than Balazovic? 

This aged well.....

[JD-TWINS]

On 7/25/2023 at 12:32 PM, Mike Sixel said:

Are either of those difference makers? If not, no idea why you'd deal for them. Are they any better than Balazovic? 

Experience & guts on the mound are key late in games. Suter has been there. We cleaned up the Jorge Lopez situation last night. If we get Suter and Thielbar back we could skirt having a jittery Moran on our staff the remainder of this year - or we have more latitude on picking spots for him. He’s a 75% of the time success guy & we need 85-90%. Nobody’s perfect - understood.

Twins are, IMO, trying to displace Moran, Ortega, & Sands from our current Pen for the remaining two months. Adding depth where there might be AAA options left with current guys on staff.

Pagan is our #8 guy. Balazovic is 7th. Floro could be our 6th guy. Stewart could be 5th guy. Suter could be 4th. Thielbar could be 3rd. Jax & Duran are 2 & 1 respectively.

Stewart could be a month or more away - possibly not at all!

We need somebody else, ideally, so we have depth for injury back-up……..Suter (or like) helps us move Ortega & Moran into depth roles. Youth call-ups are nice when they work out & everyone looks smart - can blow-up in key spots as well. I like Michael Fulmer or Suter or Brad Hand & their experience & intestinal fortitude!