Astros' Resurgence Ruins a Reliever Reuinion

Of course the greatest Minnesota Twins Rule 5 Draft selection in franchise history will forever be Johan Santana. However, selecting Ryan Pressly and watching him turn into one of the best relievers in the big leagues has to rank up there. Having won a World Series with the Houston Astros, and getting a $30 million deal prior to the 2023 season, the 2024 trade deadline would have been a good time to bring him home.

There are arguably fewer places on the roster where the Twins need help than in their bullpen. By adding high-quality relievers, everyone else gets pushed back a notch, and the overall water level rises. It would have been easier to suggest that an underwhelming Houston team was going to sell a few weeks ago, but their winning ways have them more focused on catching the Seattle Mariners.

Pressly is a native Texan, and Houston couldn’t embody where he finds comfort more, but returning to Minnesota would have bolstered a bullpen that needs his presence. He is making $14 million this season and will trigger a $14 million option next year. That's a bit rich for the Twins' blood, but an exception could have been made.

This season, Pressly has a 4.01 ERA for the underachieving Houston Astros. However, his 2.45 FIP is beyond solid, and he is still striking out more than ten batters per nine innings. He has never allowed fewer home runs throughout his career, and an inflated number of hits is throwing his WHIP out of whack.

There are some reasons to be cautious, of course. Pressly is now 35 years old and will play at 36 years old next season. His average fastball velocity is the lowest it has been since 2014, and he’s still using the pitch a good amount. He is generating fewer chases and isn’t causing opposing hitters to whiff as much.

On the flip side, the Twins organization he would be joining substantially differs from the one he left. Having been dealt during the 2018 season, Pressly has never played for Rocco Baldelli. Paul Molitor and his coaching staff seemed to struggle with communication with their bullpen in particular. Derek Falvey and Thad Levine have installed Baldelli, along with a plethora of coaches who are capable of disseminating information and generating buy-in.

What Pressly has grown familiar with in Houston is now much more closely aligned with how the Twins handle business. He was teammates with both Carlos Correa and Christian Vazquez. Each can speak to the quality of their current employer, and it would be fun to see a full circle moment pairing the departed leverage arm with Jorge Alcala, one of two players the Twins received in the Pressly trade.

There’s almost no question about whether the Twins will add pitching help at the deadline. A starter could certainly be a consideration, but relief help makes a good amount of sense as well. Prioritizing a southpaw to supplement Steven Okert, Kody Funderburk, and Caleb Thielbar may be the goal, but adding a postseason-tested arm with familiarity has appeal.

Ryan Pressly isn’t a Minnesotan, and the Twins are hardly to be considered his home, but the franchise took a shot on him and sparked his career. Allowing him to impact them this season and next would have been something of a storybook ending.