Lessons from the Division Winners, Pt. 2: ABC, Always Be Churning (Relievers)

[Matt Braun]

Coffee may be for closers, but how in the world do you find one? (Not coffee. The other thing.)

Image courtesy of © Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

While watching Game 1 of the World Series, it struck me how many relievers on both teams were essentially robbed from other franchises. New York’s first choice out of the bullpen was Clay Holmes, acquired from the Pirates in 2021 (for Diego A. Castillo!) as a no-name 28-year-old with an ERA over 5; he became a multiple-time All-Star. The Dodgers countered with Anthony Banda, a man well-journeyed, finally breaking out in his eighth big-league season. Luke Weaver, Alex Vesia, Michael Kopech, all plucked from different teams, in trades that reflected either desperation or disinterest by the other side or on waivers. Nestor Cortes and Tommy Kahnle were the only relievers to pitch for the squad that initially drafted them, and even those guys trekked across the MLB landscape for years before returning home.

It’s now apparent that the Twins have a weird problem with acquiring relievers. They can develop them—Taylor Rogers, Griffin Jax, and now Cole Sands have all flourished under the Falvey regime—but identifying capable major-league bullpen arms remains as foreign as the Mariana Trench, leaving the bullpen much too shallow. Since 2017, most of the best relief seasons have come from players who have only pitched for the Twins. The biggest exception was 2023 Emilio Pagán. That’s pretty much it. Brock Stewart would count, if he could ever stay healthy. 

They have shown a decent propensity for trading for non-big leaguers, like Jorge Alcalá and Jhoan Durán, turning both hurlers into quality bullpen arms. These moves exist in a strange nether where you could ostensibly argue the team did successfully pilfer another franchise, but dealing in minor leaguers is a slightly different game than handling those who have already pitched in the big leagues for a few years. They were trading once-valued members of a losing team when they got both Alcalá and Durán, meaning that the opportunity cost of getting those two was not acquiring some other prospects whose ceilings might have been higher.

In the other realm, the one where the team looks over the major-league ranks for their next quality bullpen arm; the Twins have been dreadful. I’ve roughly counted 20 instances since 2017 in which the team—with the ethos of acquiring a buy-low reliever to potentially improve—dealt for, claimed off waivers, or selected such a player in the Rule 5 draft. These pitchers ranged from Justin Haley to Jhon Romero. Someone like Addison Reed—an established player—doesn't count. Out of all of them, the best result, yet again, was Pagán. The vast majority of cases flamed out terribly. I still have nightmares about Brandon Waddell. 

And maybe that’s just how the game works; you’ll never be perfect, after all. What makes it work for teams like the Yankees and Dodgers is that they’re constantly looking for the next breakout reliever. New York burned through seven or eight such players this year alone. If your pitching development is good enough, you will hit on at least a few pitchers each year. 

Ironically, two players excluded from my count—Jeff Hoffman and Dennis Santana—had great years in 2024: Hoffman as one of the many All-Stars in Philadelphia’s bullpen, and Santana as a middle-innings guy for the Pirates after they claimed him from the Yankees. Go figure.

And two players who did count on my arbitrary list—Trevor Megill and Ian Hamilton—improved tremendously after the Twins jettisoned them from the roster. Megill served as the damn closer for the Brewers in Devin Williams's absence. Go figure.

Look, dealing in relievers sucks. Consistency is an illusion in this realm. An adjustment or two—or just a few good or bad outings—can radically color perceptions of a player’s performance, turning them from a nobody into a star. I mean, the Yankees’ closer is Luke Weaver. Luke Weaver! On his 6th team! Entering the year with a career ERA over 5.00! How does anyone understand this sport?

I hate concluding by saying the Twins simply need to be better in this aspect. Yet, it’s true; the franchises in the World Series owe no small part of their runs this month to their ability to find elite play from players otherwise thought to be incapable of such performance. Minnesota, however, has failed to find the same success, and they may want to follow the extreme quantity example set forth by the teams still playing competitive baseball.

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[tony&rodney]

Identifying talent is huge for every team. The Yankees and Dodgers are good at it. 

The Twins surely need to put together a potentially stronger bullpen and keep their eyes open for possibilities for 2025. However, it is also fair to note that the Dodgers and Yankees routinely spend at least $20 million on their bullpens and often spend far more than that figure. Will the Twins commit to roughly $20 million for their relievers? I would say that is a fair expenditure considering the importance in today's game of bullpens, but Falvey may not agree.

[Blyleven2011]

Pagan of all the pitchers on your list who turned out one good season as mid level relief pitcher ...

I hope the front office  , manager and coaches are learning from the playoffs and world series ...

What have I seen in the playoffs and world series ...

Bunts , hitting to the opposite  field and behind the runners , good fundamentals lead to good things , rizzo chokes up on the bat ...

I have also seen ex twins players on the playoff and world series  teams that we gave up on  , most of them were just dfa'd  , except graterol and gils  ...

[gman]

Every team hits on and misses on players.  relievers by the nature of the label are usually down to their third strike. If they miss they are usually out. Some one else may pick them up or not or may 5 or 6 may pick them up. The Twins best relievers were failed starters with other teams as well as their own. A guy that is healthy enough and willing to keep going I think will wind up with a few good seasons somewhere. Sometimes after finally learning what they have to get batters out with of learning a new pitch or two.

The Twins need to keep trying players and hopefully have good luck.

[Doctor Gast]

18 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

Pagan of all the pitchers on your list who turned out one good season as mid level relief pitcher ...

I hope the front office  , manager and coaches are learning from the playoffs and world series ...

What have I seen in the playoffs and world series ...

Bunts , hitting to the opposite  field and behind the runners , good fundamentals lead to good things , rizzo chokes up on the bat ...

I have also seen ex twins players on the playoff and world series  teams that we gave up on  , most of them were just dfa'd  , except graterol and gils  ...

Pagan was absolutely terrible when FO wanted to showcase him as our next closer & kept characteristically doubling down on him. In '23 he was alright in low-leverage situations but overall he was a dud.

[Doctor Gast]

I had my eye on Clase' when he was with TX, he had a lot of potential. I applauded CLE for having the eye to pick him up & disappointed that we didn't.

[LambchoP]

I think we could have a solid pen in '25 IF we are healthy. 

Duran, Jax, Sands

Alcala, Stewart, Topa, Varland 

Henriquez, Paddack, and hopefully a lefty free agent 

Add in the possibility of a Canterino, Headrick, Moran or Prelipp and we could be ok. As we all know though, Injuries happen and we need quality arms ready to step up.

[chpettit19]

3 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

I had my eye on Clase' when he was with TX, he had a lot of potential. I applauded CLE for having the eye to pick him up & disappointed that we didn't.

The 21 year old with the 2.31 ERA had a lot of potential? Way to go out on a limb on that one. You applauded Cleveland for trading their Cy Young award winner for a reliever and were disappointed the Twins didn't have a Cy Young winner to trade? I think we're all in the same boat there.

[Doctor Gast]

4 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

The 21 year old with the 2.31 ERA had a lot of potential? Way to go out on a limb on that one. You applauded Cleveland for trading their Cy Young award winner for a reliever and were disappointed the Twins didn't have a Cy Young winner to trade? I think we're all in the same boat there.

You're right that maybe MN didn't have anyone that TX would be interested in. I guess that adds to the disappointment. I wasn't that crazy about Kluber & believe that Clase' was listed as a SP at the time. Excuse me, but I liked Clase's stuff back then. They knew where Kluber was at, they could see what Clase' could become & their budget pretty much dictated the finality of the trade.

[Doctor Gast]

8 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

You're right that maybe MN didn't have anyone that TX would be interested in. I guess that adds to the disappointment. I wasn't that crazy about Kluber & believe that Clase' was listed as a SP at the time. Excuse me, but I liked Clase's stuff back then. They knew where Kluber was at, they could see what Clase' could become & their budget pretty much dictated the finality of the trade.

Is the Corey Kluber/Emmanuel Clase Trade one of ...

Reddit · r/mlb

110+ comments · 3 months ago

 

 

 

 

Great trade, no doubt. They saw the reduced mph and spin rates and bailed on Klubeer.