Who Can Fill the Bottom of the Bullpen?

[Cody Pirkl]

Since the Minnesota Twins' winning streak started, the only hole in their roster has been the low-leverage relievers. When asked to get outs of any significance, the lesser lights in the bullpen have scuffled. What options do the Twins have in-house to address that issue?

Image courtesy of Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

We’re nearing the point of the season when struggling players are likely running low on time to get back on track. As their low-leverage relievers have cost them games in ugly fashion several times in the last few weeks, it may be time to take inventory of the Twins organization and see who could get some fresh looks.

Jorge Alcalá
We’ve seen plenty of Alcalá this season, though some argue it hasn’t been enough. The 28-year-old has a 3.27 ERA in eight appearances, though it’s worth noting that all of the runs he’s allowed came in one outing in which he threw nearly 50 pitches. He was demoted to Triple-A shortly after that, and is waiting in St. Paul for his next shot.

Promoting Alcalá when he’s eligible and dropping him into the lowest-leverage spot would be an upgrade. Alcalá has been asked to pitch multiple innings repeatedly, while some veteran relievers on the roster can’t be trusted to find three outs before they allow three runs. We’re reaching a point where even the Twins, who clearly don’t think much of him, may have to admit that his raw stuff alone makes him a better option for low to mid-leverage innings than what they’ve been getting recently.

Josh Winder
Winder is on the comeback trail from yet another shoulder injury, but should become available to be called up relatively soon after pitching twice for the Saints. He may not have an enticing track record, but Winder looked like a different pitcher at the end of 2023.

Winder’s starting career partially flamed out because of injury, but his four-seam fastball was another limiting factor. The pitch was one of the worst in all of baseball, and by season’s end, Winder scrapped it for a sinker. The new pitch allowed a -1-degree launch angle in a limited sample, as opposing hitters couldn’t do anything but spike batted balls into the ground. Paired with what was still a dominant slider/changeup combo, Winder could surprise fans who have given up on him with his new repertoire.

Diego Castillo
Castillo has been a high-leverage reliever at points of his career, but fell on hard times in 2023 as his velocity fell to a career-low 94.2 miles per hour on the fastball. The walk rate exploded, as did the home-run rate (in a small sample), allowing the Twins to bring him in on a minor-league deal.

In 15 innings with St. Paul, Castillo has struck out over 28% of the hitters he’s faced. He’s still walked over 10% of opposing hitters, but he’s back to limiting homers in hitter-friendly CHS field and currently sports a 1.20 ERA. Another critical factor is Castillo's two remaining options, meaning that if he were added to the 40-man roster and brought up to the parent club, he could still go back to St. Paul as needed throughout the season.

His fastball has reached as high as 96.5 MPH in the early going, and there’s a chance, even at 30 years old, that Castillo has something valuable left in the tank.

Honorable Mentions
Jordan Balazovic: Near 35% K rate, 11.4% BB rate, and has yet to allow a homer in 16 innings. The Twins could regain some trust in their former top prospect at some point this season, but he’ll have to stick on the MLB roster or be put on waivers if promoted, as he’s out of options.

Ryan Jensen: The Twins claimed him, hoping to harness the raw stuff and cut down the walks. They’re 1 for 2, as he’s struck out over 35% of opposing hitters while walking over 16%. He also has two options remaining. Is the ceiling enticing enough to give him a look at the MLB level, understanding that it might be a temporary arrangement that requires backfilling within a week or two?

Ronny Henriquez: Home run problems have popped back up, but Henriquez has posted solid strikeout and walk numbers. Formerly a legitimate pitching prospect, Henriquez is already on the 40-man and can be optioned, as we saw once earlier this season.

The Twins may lack robust options to fill the struggling parts of the bullpen, but they have many contenders who aren’t without upside. Do any of these names stand out as deserving of the first shot? Is there someone else in the system who should be given an opportunity? Let us know below!

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[Rod Carews Birthday]

I’m not sure this is a huge issue that needs to be solved right now.  Almost every club has so-so arms at the back of the pen, so that’s not a unique situation.  Given some additional time, I think that some of this will sort itself out.  The answer may indeed be Alcala, Winder, et al.  Part of the issue at this point is that the roles haven’t really solidified and time will change that.  Until then, I expect they will keep running through arms to better gauge what they have, so that the end of the season bullpen will be much better than the current one.  Plus, come playoff time, there will be some converted starters in the bullpen, and that worked out very nicely last year. 

 

[DJL44]

In September you could add Varland to the list.

[Doctor Gast]

IMO Alcala should be used better. IMO Varland & Alcala up in the pen on a steady basis makes us a better team. RPs that have options are worth keeping around but for those who do not, have to be dependable otherwise traded or DFAed, Balazovik has no room for error. IMO Canterino needs to start out in the pen, with his stuff should rise to MLB quickly once healthy.

[farmerguychris]

I think Alcala has earned a higher role than the last bullpen spot - but I'd be OK giving any and all of the others mentioned a shot in live MLB action.  Won't know how they do till they try.  If they fail, demote them again (or dfa), if they succeed, good problem to have.

[Guest]

You might want to consider Scott Blewett (terrible name for a reliever).  The Twins converted him from a starter and he's done well thus far in that role.  Don't know whether he has options left.  The fact Castillo does have an option makes him a prime candidate for call-up

[bean5302]

Insert warm body. The bottom of the bullpen is to eat up innings in games that are probable lost causes or blowouts. It's just not a concern, really.

[Karbo]

This is what happens when they sign a pitcher that had 1 good season. At this point they have only Jax that is reliable to set up Duran. Thielbar has been OK most days, Okert and Funderburk have been hit and miss, Jackson has looked bad more than good, Sands has been overused and put in positions he wasn't ready for, and Staumont hasn't pitched enough yet for me to decide on. This was supposed to be one of the best pens in the league, but so far hasn't been. Of course part of the problem IMO is poor management of the pen. IMO that is Rocco's biggest area that needs improvement.

[Kenny Powers]

The bullpen has actually been a very nice surprise.  We've made it through some injuries already and continue to rank towards the top of MLB in several noteworthy categories including:

#3 (tied) in saves with 14

#2 in K/9 with 10.38

#2 in Holds with 33

#4 in LOB % with 76.0

#12 in ERA with 3.64

#10 in FIP with 3.68

#5 in xFIP with 3.66

#10 (tied) in WHIP with 1.24

 

And really, much of that was put together by not even their best options.  Duran has missed time, Brock Stewart has been out...they lost Duarte who was looking solid - etc. 

Sands has really stepped up and filled the Pagan role.  They seem to have a lot of options at AAA to rotate as needed.  I think we might possibly have more complaints about how the bullpen is used this year vs. the actual players themselves.  Lots of good arms in the system.

 

[Riverbrian]

As long as anyone thinks of it as the bottom of the pen.

It doesn't matter who you put in there because it isn't going to work anyway. 

There is nowhere to hide in the bullpen. 

 

[LambchoP]

I think Sands should be the long man or multiple inning guy. Alcala and Varland should be used as one inning, middle relief guys. Alcala has looked great this year but has been mis managed. Varland has had a real rough go as a starter but looked great for us in the bullpen last year. Adding those two plus a healthy Stewart and our pen starts to look a whole lot better imo.

[saviking]

Varland ..

[JD-TWINS]

On 5/15/2024 at 1:25 PM, Doctor Gast said:

IMO Alcala should be used better. IMO Varland & Alcala up in the pen on a steady basis makes us a better team. RPs that have options are worth keeping around but for those who do not, have to be dependable otherwise traded or DFAed, Balazovik has no room for error. IMO Canterino needs to start out in the pen, with his stuff should rise to MLB quickly once healthy.

Canterino has never been healthy more than 2 weeks at a time. I see him as a stretch to ever pitch in the Show…….Varland is (has to be) starter depth until at least mid-August if not longer. He’ll be in the Pen by September 10th.

Alcala will be back as needed for innings relief in the short-term…….don’t get the “sympathy” push for Alcala, due to his mistreatment? He gave up runs in one outing……..how badly mismanaged could have been? The long outing, where he did get knocked around, he got a bad missed strike call - he made some poor pitches - they were out of arms in the Pen and needed him to finish. 

If they bring Balazovic back, he’s got to be awfully good or he gets replaced and DFA’d……maybe in June if there’s a spot, a need.

Jensen & Winder (if healthy) are both reasonable options as well!!

[USAFChief]

4 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

As long as anyone thinks of it as the bottom of the pen.

It doesn't matter who you put in there because it isn't going to work anyway. 

There is nowhere to hide in the bullpen. 

 

Thank you.

There is no such animal as a "low-leverage reliever."

I don't understand how anyone still thinks that. Or ever thought that.

We lost two games last week with "low-leverage relievers."