2024 Minnesota Twins Spring Training Position Battles: Relief Corps

[DocBauer]

5 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Weiss has two options remaining. 

Thank you. I thought that was the case but couldn't remember. Might make him less of a lock for the pen to open the season? 

[stringer bell]

26 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

I really like what I've seen of Funderburk and I still have some faith in Alcala after reports of full health, high velocity, and a good winter league performance. But both seem destined to begin the year in St Paul. But I can see both as a fixture later in the season, and for 2025 and beyond.

Funderburk will get some time with the Twins, I am confident. Whether it is because a lefty is injured or someone else washes out, Funderburk will get his chance. I think Alcalá needs to prove something and maybe that it is to be done at St. Paul. This is a big season for him.

[stringer bell]

2 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

Thank you. I thought that was the case but couldn't remember. Might make him less of a lock for the pen to open the season? 

I can't see him making the BP without a rash of injuries. He is first on the list for a DFA IMHO.

[DocBauer]

2 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

There's space for Canterino to be in the rotation sooner than the bullpen, I think. I can see him starting once a week for the Saints and then being recalled at mid-season. 

This is just me guessing, but I could see a couple of early starts in Wichita just to get back in a groove before moving to St Paul early May. I think his stuff is more than ready for AAA, I'm just thinking it makes sense to get in that groove at a lower level for a handful of starts. 

And you're right that he might have a better/earlier shot at the Twins staying in the rotation for now. I've been split on being in the rotation for now, or moving him immediately to the pen. Obviously, the Twins have their own opinion.

[DocBauer]

10 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Funderburk will get some time with the Twins, I am confident. Whether it is because a lefty is injured or someone else washes out, Funderburk will get his chance. I think Alcalá needs to prove something and maybe that it is to be done at St. Paul. This is a big season for him.

I don't believe in scholarships, but he was good in both 2020 and 2021, and particularly good at the end of '21 when he really got a handle on his change. He's been pretty much hurt since then. I'm just banking on that version of Alcala now that he's seemingly healthy and at full velocity again. But agree he also needs to prove he's all the way back and beginning the season in AAA seems to be in store for him, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.

[arby58]

3 hours ago, Road trip said:

For certain, the "non-optional" guys make movement somewhat less likely in terms of sending them down.  The flip side is that they are pretty old as a group, with most of them having a history of spending some time on the IL.  For example, I believe Thielbar has been on the IL 5 times since 2021.  At his age its simply to be expected he will make another trip or two to the IL at some point this year.  Stewart, Topa, Jackson, Alcala, and Staumont all have some histories of health problems.  I'd love to make it through a year with minimal injuries, but recent Twins history tells me to expect many of these guys to spend time on the IL.

There are very few MLB veteran players who have had no injury issues - 162 games is a grind, and pitching, in particular is really tough on a body.  So yeah, expect trips to the IL, but it isn't just the recent Twins history, it is baseball as a whole.

[arby58]

1 hour ago, DocBauer said:

This is just me guessing, but I could see a couple of early starts in Wichita just to get back in a groove before moving to St Paul early May. I think his stuff is more than ready for AAA, I'm just thinking it makes sense to get in that groove at a lower level for a handful of starts. 

And you're right that he might have a better/earlier shot at the Twins staying in the rotation for now. I've been split on being in the rotation for now, or moving him immediately to the pen. Obviously, the Twins have their own opinion.

Thinking beyond this year, if Canterino and Varland emerge, that could be a really nice, relatively young and not super expensive starting rotation in 2025.

[jorgenswest]

2 hours ago, stringer bell said:

There's space for Canterino to be in the rotation sooner than the bullpen, I think. I can see him starting once a week for the Saints and then being recalled at mid-season. 

It would be wise to make space if he shows in spring he is one of the top 6 in the pen. I would be rostering the names of those decline phase bullpen options in pencil.

They need to give Canterino, Funderburk and Alcala all a chance to win a job in the bullpen. We won’t be able to see it in games and certainly not the spring stats but the trained eyes of the staff needs to evaluate the bullpen options and bring to the season the best arms.

[TopGunn#22]

All this time I've been salivating for Canterino (and Varland)  to be unleashed in a bullpen role.  Now, I find, through an embarrassment of riches in the pen, he/they may actually get a longer look as a SP.  WHAT A COUNTRY !!!  

I still think each would be filthy in the pen, but we have OPTIONS!  Let Varland and Canterino strive for a starting role.

Stewart and Topa are actually good insurance for each other.  I agree with arby58 that it was almost unfair how Stewart dominated hitters before he went down.  If both can replicate what they did in 2023 this season the Twins are flush.  If not, they have tremendous depth to plug any holes.

I am disappointed that Funderburk isn't part of the bullpen to begin the season.  His stuff is impressive and I liked his "bulldog" attitude.  No worries there though, Thielbar will spend a good part of the season on the sidelines in my estimation.  He's getting long in the tooth and the injuries are predictable.  Funderburk will be the prime replacement for Caleb and between the two of them I see a lot of effective innings.

Staumont is the real deal.  If he's healthy he's got GOOD stuff.  He was a sneaky good signing.  Okert and Jackson give me a better feeling than Winder and Balazovic.  Maybe Alcala can finally stay healthy and show his "stuff."  

At this time last year, the Twins had done almost nothing to make the pen better and deeper, and then ended up releasing the two veteran arms they took a chance on as camp was breaking, only to see both pitchers have good years on another team.  Let's hope we don't repeat those mistakes this time.  

[stringer bell]

I don't think I'm being Debby Downer to point out that not everything will work out. Every season there are surprises and disappointments, 2024 figures to be no different. Having all of these options in the bullpen is pretty sound strategy given the volatility of pitching and relief pitching specifically. We can all pick out our favorites and we'll be right sometimes and wrong sometimes.

I think there will be opportunity for relief guys to move up the pecking order in the spring. Alcalá and Funderburk are currently below the line to make the club, but they can move closer and there will be injuries and there will be disappointments, maybe as soon as the spring. 

[Fatbat]

Varland and Canterino will be in AAA to start as starters. 100 %.  So many options on and off the 40 man to start the year that it wont really matter so much what happens in April.  It’s what happens when something goes wrong, who steps up?