Minnesota Twins Still Looking to Reinforce Bullpen

[Matthew Lenz]

 

The Minnesota Twins aren't done after adding veteran reliever A.J. Minter. The Twins have made it clear they’re approaching the deadline as buyers, with reinforcing the bullpen standing as their top priority after one of the league’s least effective relief units struggled throughout the season. Injuries have also tested the rotation, making additional starting pitching a sensible target if the right opportunity arises. With the front office committed to contending, Minnesota is expected to focus on adding pieces that can strengthen both its postseason push and its roster depth.

Dan Hayes of The Athletic is reporting that the Twins are still looking to reinforce the bullpen. In his most recent updates, he's quoted as saying, "[The Twins] can improve their bullpen simply by providing manager Derek Shelton with another trusted option.

While he didn't provide any specific targets, it seems guys like Mason Miller or Luke Weaver aren't in the picture.

So, who do you think the Twins should target? Join the conversation in the comments!

 

 

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[tlkriens]

At this point, I'm more concerned about adding a starting pitcher. Who knows what is wrong with Joe Ryan. Connor Prielipp is at 90 total innings. I "think" he should be fine the rest of the year. 100+ innings should be manageable. He threw 82 last year. Taj Bradley is their best SP right now. Ober and Zebby have been up and down. Kendry Rojas has looked good in the 3-4 innings they give him. One additional injury and things could get messy. Adding Robbie Ray would be my preferred choice. 

[mnfireman]

Twins July BP numbers:

#	Name	Team	W	L	ERA	G	GS	QS	CG	ShO	SV	HLD	BS	IP	TBF	H	R	ER	HR	BB	IBB	HBP	WP	BK	SO
1	Alex Jackson	MIN	0	0	0.00	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.0	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	Jack Anderson	MIN	1	0	0.00	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	4.1	16	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	6
3	Marco Raya	MIN	0	0	0.00	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2.0	8	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2
4	Andrew Morris	MIN	0	0	0.69	11	0	0	0	0	1	5	0	13.0	49	7	1	1	1	3	0	1	1	0	11
5	Kody Funderburk	MIN	0	0	0.87	9	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	10.1	39	5	1	1	0	3	0	0	0	0	9
6	Taylor Rogers	MIN	3	0	1.04	9	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	8.2	39	6	1	1	0	5	1	1	0	0	8
7	Travis Adams	MIN	1	0	1.69	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	10.2	43	8	2	2	0	4	0	0	0	0	8
8	Yoendrys Gómez	MIN	2	0	1.93	10	0	0	0	0	4	0	0	9.1	41	8	2	2	0	5	0	0	0	0	9
9	Tommy Nance	MIN	1	0	2.84	6	0	0	0	0	0	3	1	6.1	29	6	2	2	0	4	0	0	1	0	6
10	Kendry Rojas	MIN	0	1	4.50	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6.0	29	7	3	3	1	5	0	0	0	0	8
11	Mike Paredes	MIN	0	1	5.40	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5.0	26	9	3	3	0	2	0	1	0	0	4
12	Woo-Suk Go	MIN	0	0	9.00	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	4.0	22	8	4	4	2	2	0	0	0	0	5
13	Eric Orze	MIN	0	0	15.43	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2.1	12	2	4	4	0	3	0	0	0	0	1

[mnfireman]

Twins July SP numbers:

#	Name	Team	W	L	ERA	G	GS	QS	CG	ShO	SV	HLD	BS	IP	TBF	H	R	ER	HR	BB	IBB	HBP	WP	BK	SO
1	Kendry Rojas	MIN	0	0	2.84	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	6.1	24	2	2	2	0	3	0	0	0	0	7
2	Taj Bradley	MIN	3	1	2.92	6	6	4	0	0	0	0	0	37.0	146	25	12	12	5	14	0	0	1	0	48
3	Connor Prielipp	MIN	1	0	3.38	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	10.2	39	6	4	4	2	3	0	0	0	0	11
4	Bailey Ober	MIN	1	0	3.98	4	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	20.1	85	20	10	9	2	6	0	0	0	0	17
5	Joe Ryan	MIN	1	2	5.48	4	4	2	0	0	0	0	0	23.0	98	27	14	14	7	3	0	0	0	0	22
6	Mike Paredes	MIN	0	1	6.75	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	4.0	18	4	3	3	2	2	0	0	0	0	2
7	Zebby Matthews	MIN	0	3	8.24	4	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	19.2	90	24	20	18	4	12	0	0	2	1	13

[DJL44]

I think they can get Toronto to dump Hoffman’s salary 

[tony&rodney]

Conversations should be had on many fronts. Why limit the ask? For example, San Diego is quite unlikely to trade Mason Miller but there is nothing hurt by having a five minute chat about the possible. Houston might not be willing to move Jeremy Pena but, again, I would reach out and ask. Toronto may be reasonable about trading Gausman. He usually gives a team solid innings. There are a bunch of possibilities and it does seem like the Twins could be busy before the deadline gong.

[Greglw3]

2 hours ago, tlkriens said:

At this point, I'm more concerned about adding a starting pitcher. Who knows what is wrong with Joe Ryan. Connor Prielipp is at 90 total innings. I "think" he should be fine the rest of the year. 100+ innings should be manageable. He threw 82 last year. Taj Bradley is their best SP right now. Ober and Zebby have been up and down. Kendry Rojas has looked good in the 3-4 innings they give him. One additional injury and things could get messy. Adding Robbie Ray would be my preferred choice. 

I'm with you, Robbie Ray is my #1 choice for sure! If he likes it here, they could even extend him.

[IndianaTwin]

6 hours ago, mnfireman said:

Twins July BP numbers:

#	Name	Team	W	L	ERA	G	GS	QS	CG	ShO	SV	HLD	BS	IP	TBF	H	R	ER	HR	BB	IBB	HBP	WP	BK	SO
1	Alex Jackson	MIN	0	0	0.00	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.0	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	Jack Anderson	MIN	1	0	0.00	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	4.1	16	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	6
3	Marco Raya	MIN	0	0	0.00	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2.0	8	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2
4	Andrew Morris	MIN	0	0	0.69	11	0	0	0	0	1	5	0	13.0	49	7	1	1	1	3	0	1	1	0	11
5	Kody Funderburk	MIN	0	0	0.87	9	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	10.1	39	5	1	1	0	3	0	0	0	0	9
6	Taylor Rogers	MIN	3	0	1.04	9	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	8.2	39	6	1	1	0	5	1	1	0	0	8
7	Travis Adams	MIN	1	0	1.69	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	10.2	43	8	2	2	0	4	0	0	0	0	8
8	Yoendrys Gómez	MIN	2	0	1.93	10	0	0	0	0	4	0	0	9.1	41	8	2	2	0	5	0	0	0	0	9
9	Tommy Nance	MIN	1	0	2.84	6	0	0	0	0	0	3	1	6.1	29	6	2	2	0	4	0	0	1	0	6
10	Kendry Rojas	MIN	0	1	4.50	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6.0	29	7	3	3	1	5	0	0	0	0	8
11	Mike Paredes	MIN	0	1	5.40	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5.0	26	9	3	3	0	2	0	1	0	0	4
12	Woo-Suk Go	MIN	0	0	9.00	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	4.0	22	8	4	4	2	2	0	0	0	0	5
13	Eric Orze	MIN	0	0	15.43	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2.1	12	2	4	4	0	3	0	0	0	0	1

I didn't count Jackson, but otherwise I came up with a 2.52 ERA for the horrible Twins bullpen. /s

And 8 of the 23 earned runs are in the last two lines, but not in the current pen. 

Sustainable? Probably not. But the bullpen has clearly been a strength over the past few weeks. 

 

[IndianaTwin]

If I did the math right, the eight guys currently in the bullpen, plus Minter, have a combined 3.39 ERA and 1.31 WHIP on the year. 

[mnfireman]

16 minutes ago, IndianaTwin said:

I didn't count Jackson, but otherwise I came up with a 2.52 ERA for the horrible Twins bullpen. /s

And 8 of the 23 earned runs are in the last two lines, but not in the current pen. 

Sustainable? Probably not. But the bullpen has clearly been a strength over the past few weeks. 

 

11/23 if you include Paredes (60 day IL)...

[Permanent Twins Fan]

8 hours ago, mnfireman said:

Twins July BP numbers:

#	Name	Team	W	L	ERA	G	GS	QS	CG	ShO	SV	HLD	BS	IP	TBF	H	R	ER	HR	BB	IBB	HBP	WP	BK	SO
1	Alex Jackson	MIN	0	0	0.00	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.0	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	Jack Anderson	MIN	1	0	0.00	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	4.1	16	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	6
3	Marco Raya	MIN	0	0	0.00	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2.0	8	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2
4	Andrew Morris	MIN	0	0	0.69	11	0	0	0	0	1	5	0	13.0	49	7	1	1	1	3	0	1	1	0	11
5	Kody Funderburk	MIN	0	0	0.87	9	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	10.1	39	5	1	1	0	3	0	0	0	0	9
6	Taylor Rogers	MIN	3	0	1.04	9	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	8.2	39	6	1	1	0	5	1	1	0	0	8
7	Travis Adams	MIN	1	0	1.69	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	10.2	43	8	2	2	0	4	0	0	0	0	8
8	Yoendrys Gómez	MIN	2	0	1.93	10	0	0	0	0	4	0	0	9.1	41	8	2	2	0	5	0	0	0	0	9
9	Tommy Nance	MIN	1	0	2.84	6	0	0	0	0	0	3	1	6.1	29	6	2	2	0	4	0	0	1	0	6
10	Kendry Rojas	MIN	0	1	4.50	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6.0	29	7	3	3	1	5	0	0	0	0	8
11	Mike Paredes	MIN	0	1	5.40	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5.0	26	9	3	3	0	2	0	1	0	0	4
12	Woo-Suk Go	MIN	0	0	9.00	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	4.0	22	8	4	4	2	2	0	0	0	0	5
13	Eric Orze	MIN	0	0	15.43	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2.1	12	2	4	4	0	3	0	0	0	0	1

So, according to this, Alex Jackson should be the closer right now

[mnfireman]

2 minutes ago, Permanent Twins Fan said:

So, according to this, Alex Jackson should be the closer right now

[JD-TWINS]

22 hours ago, tlkriens said:

At this point, I'm more concerned about adding a starting pitcher. Who knows what is wrong with Joe Ryan. Connor Prielipp is at 90 total innings. I "think" he should be fine the rest of the year. 100+ innings should be manageable. He threw 82 last year. Taj Bradley is their best SP right now. Ober and Zebby have been up and down. Kendry Rojas has looked good in the 3-4 innings they give him. One additional injury and things could get messy. Adding Robbie Ray would be my preferred choice. 

How about Dean Kremer??

Robby Ray seems to make a bunch of sense……. there’s going to be HIGH demand with a 3.08 ERA……that will be a point of emphasis for SF.

Kremer, to me, was an emergency move to allow Ryan to retroactively go on 10 day IL ….., then, Kremer & Rojas picking up a near-term start replacing Prielipp (9 day break)…… gotta get better quality prior to end of business Monday…….I’m of the thinking that adding aStarter adds to the PEN, as somebody in rotation moves to PEN.

Kremer is essentially signing a Paredes type with more experience. Team does a decent job scouting and tweaking guys……doubt Kremer just got on their radar yesterday. 🙏🤞🙏🤞

[tlkriens]

Astros and Twins had agreed to a trade that would've sent Bryan Abreu to Twins for Trevor Larnach before Astros Owner Jim Crane "nixed" the trade,

[stringer bell]

20 minutes ago, tlkriens said:

Astros and Twins had agreed to a trade that would've sent Bryan Abreu to Twins for Trevor Larnach before Astros Owner Jim Crane "nixed" the trade,

If true, I’d keep asking Houston to consider the deal. The Astros just moved into first place with the same record as the Twins, so they have to be considered contenders and they need LH hitting.

 

[tlkriens]

Abreu has been really good for a while. 2.28 ERA in 71 innings last season with 105 K's. I'd pull the trigger.

He has a 1.45 ERA since June 4. 23 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings. I would really like that trade for the Twins.

[dxpavelka]

Typical.  Last year they sell off the bullpen.  This year they need bullpen.  Happens far too often. Moved Berrios earlier than we had to, within a year needed another Berrios.  Moved Duran earlier than we had too, now we need a closer.  Sure, you can tell me Gomez is the guy, and maybe he is.  But the fact that we have a dozen guys with saves tells me that might not be the case.  Moved Varland LONG before we might have needed to.  

[tlkriens]

I'd rather have Kendry Rojas and Alan Roden then Louie Varland. I'd rather have Eduardo Tait and Mick Abel than Jhoan Duran. They already have Andrew Morris, which quickly developed into a great bullpen arm. They got Gomez for nothing.

They have shown it's quite easy to restock a bullpen with quality arms. The Twins have a 2.74 bullepn ERA since June 30. That's a full month, 92 innings. Fifth best in baseball. The days/months of having the worst bullpen in baseball is over.