Video: Possible Relief Targets for the Twins

[Matthew Lenz]

Despite having a mostly great bullpen, the Twins could benefit from adding at least one more reliever at the deadline. While the high leverage market is thin, there is value to be found in some lesser known names.

View full video

[JD-TWINS]

So Jordan H. sounds like a rental and potentially volatile due to his control issues. I’ve seen over 2 seasons Moran’s inability to find the zone in leverage situations. Can’t see obtaining a guy that we need in a key moment and he can’t throw strikes! He’s young but no longer in team control? If I were to get a reliever, experience is what I’d look for because so so much of success late in the game stems from what is between the ears.

Young guy with the A’s that may be a great long-term value …….he’s a winter acquisition. We don’t need somebody that may be good in the future……..we have that with Ortega & Moran & Balazovic now………we need stability & effectiveness! Experience.

Fulmer - Suter - Hand - Robertson……….these guys have different ways of getting hitters out but they don’t panic - they don’t toss the ball around the zone and not in the zone!

Spin rates - other stats, can be used to see trends or for delineating between guys with great stuff but I like “walk rate” & ERA as ways to evaluate at this time of year………ERA can cheat good relievers with low innings but we’re 4 months into the year…,,,40 innings plus under the belt.

Under 3.75 ERA and less than 1.8 walks per 9.0 innings and a guy’s worth looking at in the Pen. Obviously, 1.5 walks & under 3.00 ERA is much better. Velocity or wipe out slider or great change-up are of great value. Getting 2 strikes routinely without an out pitch is tough to get behind - get outs, whatever way works for you.

“Cost” & “value” were brought up in your message. IMO, if we signed Joey Gallo for an $11M experiment & we live with trading Encarnacion-Strand (he’s Miranda plus 80 points on the batting average & way better power), we can trade a number of guys in our organization for a rental reliever. No need to be careless! Either we think we can make a run in the playoffs with our squad and we acquire some Pen help or we live with Cole Sands & Co and do nothing.