Minnesota's New Bullpen Hierarchy: Where Do Trade Deadline Pieces Fit?

[Whammy]

1 hour ago, strumdatjag said:

Anthony Banda will be healthy in 2027, but is only on a one year deal for this year.  He was looking good before his injury. 
Cole Sands would be back in 2027.   

Banda is still under arbitration control next year

[Whammy]

I'll say this about the 2026 Twins bullpen...

They actually haven't truly blown that many games. With how horrific their numbers have been for most of the season (flirting with dead last in several counting stat categories for most of the year), you would expect to have more memorably blown games and a much worse WPA, but the Twins bullpen is actually 18th in WPA. And would actually be 12th if you remove Mick Abel's early piggyback start that was technically as a RP.

Not some beacon of greatness, but honestly, not that bad for how bad their raw numbers have been. 

[MapleGroveTwinsFan]

44 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

Well, considering the stink that was made about Harrison Bader and Ty France before the 2025 season, which had real expectations going in, I don't agree that that's the case. 

It's more from this misconceived notion that the Twins could simply refuse to hire any of these lower tier veterans and instead just pool all that money together and get a $100+ million free agent. 

Well that team did go on to win 70 games and was loaded already with average major league players, had 7 starters start 140 of 162 games, and had what some thought was one of the better bullpens in the game, so maybe the stink was well placed?

In 2024 they had 6 starters start 144 games, brought in Margot  Santana and went on to finish 4th in the Division (they did finish 82-80) 

The Twins have been crazy lucky for the most part with starting pitching injuries the last few years and haven't supplemented it with an offense to go with it, but sure they have brought in some pretty good platoon players to be a .500 team. There never seems to be an opening to fill on this team because the roster construction has been built on hope that the guys the developed turn into something than average (and most haven't been good on defense, double killer)

 

[Whammy]

3 minutes ago, MapleGroveTwinsFan said:

In 2024 they had 6 starters start 144 games, brought in Margot  Santana and went on to finish 4th in the Division (they did finish 82-80) 
.... 

The Twins have been crazy lucky for the most part with starting pitching injuries the last few years

Looking at it this way misses pitchers that miss entire seasons (or most of entire seasons). With this same analysis you might conclude that the Twins have been lucky with pitcher health in 2026, but the reality is they got zero starts out of Pablo, four appearances out of Abel, who was in their opening day rotation, and nothing from Festa who would probably been in line to be one of the first guys called up to make starts.

[Colbeh]

2 hours ago, offensive_loons_fan said:

I mean, hopefully upgrading the Roden, Larnach, Wallner, Keaschall, and Martin of it all.

What would you upgrade from Keaschall?

160 GP with a .270 average and .364 OBP as a 23 y/o is not a liability by any means.

Sure his defense isnt great but he had tommy john 2 years ago and has been learning outfield on the fly

[MapleGroveTwinsFan]

25 minutes ago, Whammy said:

Looking at it this way misses pitchers that miss entire seasons (or most of entire seasons). With this same analysis you might conclude that the Twins have been lucky with pitcher health in 2026, but the reality is they got zero starts out of Pablo, four appearances out of Abel, who was in their opening day rotation, and nothing from Festa who would probably been in line to be one of the first guys called up to make starts.

 

Did miss the starters that missed the whole year prior to this year? The guys they were counting on prior to this year pretty much pitched the whole year, I didn't mention this year, because they have not been as lucky, but counting on Festa was never really an option. 

[weitz41]

5 hours ago, IndianaTwin said:

With only Minter and Rogers not under control for next year, right?

And Ryan, Lopez, Bradley, Ober, Prielipp, Matthews, Rojas, Abel, et al., in the rotation. 

And only losing Bell and likely Jeffers from the offense, adding Jenkins and others. 

And an owner saying he’s ready to increase payroll. 

Me likey. 

I noticed that as well. Maybe trade say Larnach, Ober or Martin in the offseason to make room for upgrades? Adding Gausman to the starting rotation or Morejon to the BP or Taylor Ward to the OF mix. Could be an interesting offseason.

5 hours ago, IndianaTwin said:

Something Bell, Solano and Santana have in common is that they were each generally disparaged on TD when signed and by midseason people were often liking the signing. 

It’s almost like the front office knows something and has access to information we don’t. 

Not chance they could possibly know more than me and Lazy Boy! I mean...I do their job for free all season and offseason. I'm just that good at it. 😜

[weitz41]

The BP improvement over the course of season has been remarkable. Kudos to LaTroy and the rest of the coaches and players. It's probably too soon but...Maki seems to be working his magic with Kremer as well. I really like what the FO did in the BP at the trade deadline. I hated to see Hill moved but Hoffman can step in as our closer if Gomez falters. That has some uncounted value.

Someone mentioned how so many of the guys we had at one point or another doing well elsewhere. Duran, Jax, Varland, even Sands and Steward, when they were healthy, played a part in that. I believe they were all waiver wire pick up that we tried to get through waives as well, with no luck.

One last thing. There isn't a lot to do this offseason for holes to fill. Plus, not much to protect from the rule 5 draft. Could be a fun offseason if Tom and the FO decide to upgrade the team. Something like trade player A for some AA or AAA player(s) and bring in a free agent that will be an upgrade to the team. random example..trade Ober for X player/players and bring in Gausman or Mize. Keep in mind Ryan, Lopez, Ober and Kremer will all be free agents after 2027 season. 

[NYCTK]

1 hour ago, MapleGroveTwinsFan said:

...maybe the stink was well placed?

No. It very obviously was not well placed. It was very obviously misplaced from day one. They ended up paying about $5 million for about 3 WAR production, one of the few "victories" of the 2025 season. 

[miller761]

What a difference 4 months have made and the bullpen we left Fort Myers with. Congrats to the front office and Derek Shelton and his staff. The pen has truly come a long ways!