3 Relief Pitchers Twins Could Target to Fix Their Bullpen

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

26 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

“……gotten by pretty cheaply” Agreed - understatement.

$106M total player spend in ‘26 ($22M to Lopez & $10M to Correa) and $76M for players on the field.

Relative to being able to trade & spend on guys owed money for balance of ‘26 …….. the amount should be $15M at a minimum, IMO. Trying to be “competitive” or not??? I’m not saying throwing money at guys with minimal value or upside for the stretch run makes sense. I’m all for moving prospect types to acquire an arm or two.

Jeffers and a prospect should get something of decent value back! I just want to see them try with a move or two………., in addition to what’s been done in the PEN periphery the past few weeks.

This is the investment in the bullpen so far -

Gomez (closer) -  traded cash  max outlay of 250k

Morris  (fireman) - prospect for 4th round pick

Nance  (middle innings 7th) - traded Sprock and received 250k international money back

Rogers - $2 million signing

Banda - traded 500k international money

Sands - already rostered

Orze - traded Kisting     

Go - Cash considerations

Acton - traded Whitaker

 

So for the current bullpen we have invested $2 million,  traded max of 500k cash,  we are net 250k down in international money and we have traded away Sprock, Kisting and Whitaker.   The Twins have found 2 high leverage relievers, they will see if Sands can become a high leverage reliever with his increased velocity and I am cautiously optimistic on Nance.   I would have zero concerns on trading Tait, Gonzalez, Mendez, Rojas, Debarge Winokur or Young.  Rojas is the only pitching prospect I would consider and that would have to be for a great return.   If the Twins can play good baseball and bring fans to the stands down the stretch that should pay for any players coming to the Twins.   This was the year where they could have thrown money at reliever free agents and they have shown yet again relief pitching can be found and developed through relatively cheap methods.  I am fine if a reliever comes with a contract, but I just don't see them spending money on a reliever.  

The Twins current method of constructing a team is draft your hitters, trade for your starting pitchers, and develop the bullpen.   Its been working.  4 of the top 5 pitchers have been traded for since 2020 (Gray, Lopez, Ryan, and Bradley).   

Right now I am 90% confident that Jeffers is not traded,  nor any other significant piece of the team.   

 

 

[Sjoski]

17 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

The Twins always do this, and it never works out.

Grand Slam Comment

👍 👍 👍 👍 

[Historyking88]

Winn would be a good option but I would also look at Viktor Vodnik, Spencer Miles, or Brent Headrick. All still have years of team control and would setup the bullpen for the future 

[JD-TWINS]

I would pursue trading Bell & prospect sooner than later while his value is at absolute high ….. maybe tough on Clubhouse?

I would pursue trading Jeffers & prospect sooner than later so the trade partner gets Jeffers for longer period in ‘26 ……. maybe tough on Clubhouse?

Target a reliever in both of the trades above……if one guy coming Team’s way works out, it’s all good!

Put together some attractive package (Roden - Winokur - young arm) for Luis Arraez. He’s going to be sought after!! He slots at 2B. Playing very good defense this year, hitting .330 with a 136 OPS+ …….. 3.1 WAR at the Break!  He can hit behind and force better pitches for either Buxton or Lewis. DH spot shifts to Larnach - Keaschall - Caratini. Clemens floats and starts essentially every day at LF/RF/1B & rests Arraez at 2B a handful of times in 2nd half. Be aggressive, if we want to compete.

Consistency day to day would be a big benefit. ……. Arraez, worst case, might hit .290 for the rest of the year …….. Bell might hit .215.

I think Arraez into the Clubhouse would be a big plus!

IF a floor for spending comes into play with new CBA, there’s a chance they sign Arraez in off season. He can always shift to 1B occasionally as well as DH regularly if Houston & Culpepper need a spot.

[Danchat]

45 minutes ago, Historyking88 said:

Winn would be a good option but I would also look at Viktor Vodnik, Spencer Miles, or Brent Headrick. All still have years of team control and would setup the bullpen for the future 

Why on earth would the Yankees move Headrick while he's got an 1.55 ERA with the most innings pitched in their pen in the midst of a playoff run?

36 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Put together some attractive package (Roden - Winokur - young arm) for Luis Arraez. He’s going to be sought after!!

All that for 2 months of Arraez? The Giants would be getting away with a crime with a return like that, not too dissimilar to the Nelson Cruz to the Rays trade.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

2 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Tough to place faith in Acton based on his mediocre/poor results in AAA through age 27 and his whopping 13.1 innings pitched in MLB.

Sands should be a solid relief pitcher when he returns, fingers crossed his velo looks okay.

He has been pushing 95 mph in his relieve outings.  2 mph higher than this spring.  I am still not quite sure what the issue was.  

[c24]

I would rather have Eric Orze than Kenley Jansen

[Sam Caulder]

9 minutes ago, c24 said:

I would rather have Eric Orze than Kenley Jansen

That's a bold statement my friend

[jaimedude]

Get Louise Varland back! 

[Twins GFP]

Three guys mentioned, zero talk of their salary or what it would take to get them. You could be talking about anybody.

[Road trip]

4 hours ago, Danchat said:

 

All that for 2 months of Arraez? The Giants would be getting away with a crime with a return like that, not too dissimilar to the Nelson Cruz to the Rays trade.

IDK... Arraez is on a pace for a 5-6 WAR season and is owed less than 6 million for the rest of the year.  That contract is a bargain.  Getting out of PETCO seemingly resurrected his career.  He will bring a decent haul from some contender that needs a 2nd basemen and some offensive help (which, at the moment, isn't really the Twins).