Can they build a bullpen?

[USAFChief]

No chance they build a pen. None. 

But even if they do, the rest of the team isn't good enough to contend. We already know this. 

Sorry @jorgenswest

I wish 'twere otherwise. 

 

[Chembry]

I just calculated some stats since the trade deadline, mainly focusing on the bullpen.

Record since trade deadline: 11-21

Bullpen since trade deadline: 131 1/3 IP, 84R, 76ER, ERA 5.28

Bullpen first 22 games after deadline: 95 1/3 IP, 41R, 36ER, 3.40 ERA

Bullpen Last 10 games: 35IP, 44R, 41ER, ERA 10.54 (really shows how bad the bullpen has been lately)

What may surprise many is that the Twins have lost leads or ties in the 6th inning or later 12 times since the trade deadline.  Those types of games are going to happen from time to time, but not 12 times in 32 games (38% of games).  If those blown games were cut in half, our record would be 17-15 since the deadline.  The bullpen initially after the deadline wasn't awful.  However, the last 10 games has been absolutely dreadful. 

The point of this post is yes, the bullpen needs to be addressed.  The vast majority of the bullpen more than likely won't have roles with the organization in 2026, or they shouldn't have roles. Below are my thoughts.

Current Bullpen/2026 role:

Travis Adams: Only should be used in 1-2 inning stints

Genesis Cabrera: UFA not resigned

Kody Funderburk: Pre-arb...This one is tough, but I don't think he has the stuff.  Non-tendered.

Thomas Hatch: I think he has done enough to stay on a 1 year deal at league minimum, but assume the Twins non-tender  

Brooks Kriske: non-tendered

Cole Sands: offered arbitration

Michael Tonkin: non-tendered

Justin Topa: I don't like it, but I think the twins will pick up his option

Pierson Ohl (I know not on current active roster): Only should be used in 1-2 inning stints

The way the current roster sits, our 2026 bullpen looks like: Adams, Ohl, Sands, and Topa.  That leaves 4 spots open for internal candidates and FA signings.  I can see the Twins signing 2 FA on 1 year deals of the Tommy Kahnle/Tim Mayza/Caleb Ferguson types.  

The bigger question is who internally from AAA will take the last few roster spots in the bullpen.  In my opinion, there are two internal candidates that make sense.  Festa and Raya.  Both have had shoulder issues that could limit their use as a starter, which a bullpen role makes sense to maximize their value to the organization. Raya has been pitching out of the bullpen recently in 1-3 inning stretches. 

Giving what is going on with Festa, we can draw parallels to Duran.  Duran started having shoulder fatigue in spring training of 2021.  He only pitched 16 innings that year and was transitioned to full time closer by 2022.  Festa started having shoulder fatigue in spring training this year and pitched 84 2/3 innings this year before being shut down for the year.  The Twins may very well have him try starting again next year, but recurring shoulder issues tend to lead to bullpen roles.  

There are two other internal candidates that are less likely in Morris and Prielipp.  The Twins will probably want to see what they have as starters first before they move them to the pen.  Prielipp could be interesting because we don't know if he can stay healthy enough to be a reliable starter.  This year is by far the most he has pitched in a season and that's only 67 2/3 IP.  Depending on how he responds in spring training, we may see him in the pen in 2026.

Can the Twins build a bullpen, yes they can, but this is a long way to say that it's not going to happen overnight.  There will probably be significant experimentation next year with several younger guys to see who sticks and who doesn't.    

[DJL44]

5 minutes ago, Chembry said:

Current Bullpen/2026 role:

Travis Adams: Only should be used in 1-2 inning stints

Genesis Cabrera: UFA not resigned

Kody Funderburk: Pre-arb...This one is tough, but I don't think he has the stuff.  Non-tendered.

Thomas Hatch: I think he has done enough to stay on a 1 year deal at league minimum, but assume the Twins non-tender  

Brooks Kriske: non-tendered

Cole Sands: offered arbitration

Michael Tonkin: non-tendered

Justin Topa: I don't like it, but I think the twins will pick up his option

Pierson Ohl (I know not on current active roster): Only should be used in 1-2 inning stints

I think it's basically Sands and Topa returning. Funderburk, Adams and Ohl should be AAA depth and not on the 26-man roster to start the season. I would put Festa and Prielipp in the bullpen. That leaves 4 more spots.

[Chembry]

2 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

I think it's basically Sands and Topa returning. Funderburk, Adams and Ohl should be AAA depth and not on the 26-man roster to start the season. I would put Festa and Prielipp in the bullpen. That leaves 4 more spots.

Personally I would put both Festa and Prielipp in the pen as well and I think both will thrive there.  I don't disagree with Funderburk, Adams, and Ohl at all.  I was just saying they are the most likely of the current roster to stay in the pen.  I don't want them up here if we start trying to use them for more than 1-2 innings.  I was trying to limit the number of FA signings.

I do think Raya also has a good chance of being in the pen next year.  Time will tell.  It's a fun conversation because there are many possibilities. 

[Chembry]

I read today, on another social media site, that some think Canterino should be given a chance to make the bullpen next year.  I responded by saying he hasn't pitched in a professional game since 2022 and that was a AA game.  There is no way he competes for a spot next year.  If he gets healthy and stays healthy, maybe in a few years, but no way will that happen next year.

Not saying it can't be done...Cam Boozer did it, but it also took him 4 years to work his way up to the MLB after not pitching in professional baseball for 4 years.

[jorgenswest]

5 hours ago, USAFChief said:

No chance they build a pen. None. 

But even if they do, the rest of the team isn't good enough to contend. We already know this. 

Sorry @jorgenswest

I wish 'twere otherwise. 

 

In my space up I will take 75 wins over 60 wins next year so then fight for 75. I guess I will at least have to hope for watchable over unwatchable. I have stopped following the games after the starter is removed.

[USAFChief]

9 minutes ago, jorgenswest said:

In my space up I will take 75 wins over 60 wins next year so then fight for 75. I guess I will at least have to hope for watchable over unwatchable. I have stopped following the games after the starter is removed.

Concur 

[DocBauer]

OK, I'm also obsessed at this point with the future and not the rest of this icky season. (Other than watching Buxton, Keaschall, Bradley, and hopefully strong end of year production/improvement from a few others).

And I DESPISE repeating myself yet again with the same mantra, are they, or do they need to trade Lopez and Ryan? I'm sorry, but with Roden just acquired, Rodriguez and Jenkins so very close, Gonzalez and maybe even Fedko close, they just aren't going to pay Larnach $5M. He's either traded...possibly with a decent lower level prospect...or non-tendered. I'm betting he has SOME value to a team starved for a LH bat with a career .765 OPS against RHP. That puts the payroll at $90M. That's $40M+ less than this season, with previous debt now eliminated.

I ONLY bring this up as it does affect HOW the pen is re-built.

Prielipp is learning a 2 seamer. So he's out of any immediate conversion to the pen. He's staying a SP for now.

Rojas was just acquired, has a lot of talent, should probably be at AA, but isn't going to the pen any time soon either.

IF the Twins keep even ONE of Ryan or Lopez...please tell me they aren't stupid/greedy enough to move both and destroy what's left of the fanbase...it still "helps" the rotation. Matthews is developing and turning a corner. He's a lock as the #3 or #4 in the rotation. I think we forget how young SWR still is, and how weird his career has been thus far. I don't believe he's a top of the rotation arm, but he's in the mix for one of the last spots. So is Bradley, who is almost the same age. I believe the Twins see him as a viable SP with some tweaks to his repertoire. That's your 5 or 6, probably. Abel is not moving to the pen at this point, and neither is Morris. That puts you another 2 deep along with the still developing Rojas. And let's not forget the often overlooked Klein that is looking more and more like a complete steal.

Sands is finishing this season looking more like his 2024 version. Can he get back there?

Topa is cheap, has a year of control, and doesn't completely stink as a middle man option.

Ohl and Adams are former starters on the new trial plan of 3-4 IP every 4 days. They've had good AAA seasons with mixed results debuting as rookies. Surprise! But either, or both, could be part of the 2026 pen as 1 or 2 IP options. And I'd like to see BOTH getting that opportunity in September. 

Funderburk has flashed, and stunk. He's been mostly good so far since the deadline getting regular work. He might be an option.

Cory Lewis has gone from MILB pitcher of the year to an injury that affected part of his 2024 season to a guy who has struggled in his 1st season at AAA as the Twins are changing up his pitch mix and asking him to throw his crazy Knuckleball more. Imagine what he might do with max velocity and then tossing that pitch up on 0-2 and 1-2 counts? He should be converted tomorrow.

The Twins have been super cautious and deliberate with Raya as he's got some good stuff. He's been throwing out of the pen as of late. Are they watching his IP? Or are they seeing a potentially dominate arm out of the pen?

Christian MacLeod is a LH arm who's career was slowed by injury. His AA numbers were very good before recently moving to AAA in the pen. (Not a good start so far).

Festa is a tantalizing arm I WANT in the rotation. And maybe his shoulder issues this season are just a blip. But maybe he's on the same trajectory as Duran was previously.

I think a lot of people have forgotten how good CJ Culpepper has performed when healthy. But he's a 6 pitch pitcher with a solid FB that reportedly tails off some once he gets a couple IP under his belt. Doesn't mean he can't be a ML SP, but doesn't he sound a bit like a young Jax?

There's a few more potential internal arms to consider, but they're probably midseason at best to consider.

It's WAY too early yet to name exact targets, but why not Coulombe back for a 1yr deal at the same $3M? 

Thielbar had a really solid season for Detroit in their MILB system but let him go and the Twins brought him back in to the fold for 3 really good years.

Stewart was a former top prospect who was always injured who gave the Twins some outstanding work when healthy.

Burns my butt to this day, but the Twins had a rebounding Jeff Hoffman in camp the same year and didn't hold on to him.

My goodness, they even got a solid 1yr from Parker and Wisler a few years ago. Same with Clippard.

So you START with Sands. You probably keep Topa as a cheap middle man. You probably hold on to Funderburk and hope he can finally translate his stuff. ONE of Adams and/or Ohl should help on the front end of the pen. A healthy Festa converted could potentially give you a nice 1-2 punch with Sands on the back end. MAYBE Larnach and a decent lower level prospect brings back someone's 4th pen arm. Not counting on it, but it's a possibility. 

THEN, after you bring back Coulombe, or maybe Chafin on a 1yr deal, you're looking for arms coming off a poor season at the wrong time. Maybe someone coming back from surgery that wasn't all the way back in 2025? Maybe a 28-29yo SP that just hasn't been able to reach their potential and have been cut loose? 

The FO has been creative and smart before. Can they be again? They just aren't going to spend a ton of $, so they HAVE to be creative and smart.

I KNOW this is an extreme example, but when Walker Buehler was recently released, I thought it would be awesome for the 31yo...who hasn't been good for 4 years...might sign with someone for the pen. Of course, SOMEONE will probably bet on his SP rebound potential and give him another shot. But what if that DOESN'T happen?

Would Taylor Rogers want to come "home" for 1 more year?

My whole point is they just aren't going to convert a bunch of 24-25yo SP arms overnight to build a pen.

But other than Twins fans, who knew who Thielbar was? I'd bet the average fan had no idea who Stewart, Wisler, and Parker were.

You START with Festa moving to the pen, similar to Duran, where he can crank it up for 1 IP. You have Sands as a possible #2. You probably have Topa to at least begin the season. You audition Ohl and Adams. Considering they have options, maybe they're the 8th man rotation man. You bring in an inexpensive LH option like Coulombe for 1yr as a veteran. You're open and honest with guys like Morris, MacLeod, Lewis, and Raya about being in the ML and opportunity to debut, earn more initially, and more in the future. 

And then you target 3-4 arms on ML or MILB deals that HAVE ARMS of quality, and NEED opportunity. Again, it's just way too early to list targets. 

And I really didn't want to get so long winded here, but it's a really complex issue. Trading Lopez or Ryan, or both changes everything. Trading one has a serious affect. Trading neither gives the 2026 team a fighting chance IF they can re-build the pen on the fly.

Festa, Sands, Topa, Funderburk, Coulombe or like, Adams, Ohl, Lewis, MacLeod, possibly Raya and/or CJ Culpepper, and then 3 to 4 rebound candidates either looking for an opportunity or looking to earn a better deal in 2017 is how you CAN build a "decent" bullpen for 2026.