Ranking the Top-5 Negative WAR Careers in Twins History: Pitchers

On a recent episode of Gleeman and the Geek, a listener wrote in for their mailbag segment about Luis Rivas having a negative WAR for his career with the Twins. This topic brought up the idea of which Twins players have provided the most negative value for the club. Sometimes, the team can realize their mistake and cut bait after a poor performance. For other players, it takes longer for the club to realize their error. Rivas posted a -0.9 WAR for his career, the 38th-worst total in club history, and all the pitchers below combined for more than double his negative WAR. So, which pitchers compiled the most negative WAR for the Twins?

Honorable Mentions: Scott Klingenbeck (-1.6 WAR, 1995-96), Jerry Fosnow (-1.6 WAR, 1964-65), Sean Bergman (-1.5 WAR, 2000), Joe Niekro (-1.4 WAR, 1987-88), Steve Carlton (-1.4 WAR, 1987-88)

5. J.A. Happ
WAR: -1.8
Season: 2021
The Twins needed depth in their 2021 rotation after winning the division in 2020 and losing veteran starters like Rich Hill and Jake Odorizzi. Minnesota brought in Happ on a one-year deal, and he struggled mightily on the mound. In 98 1/3 innings, he posted a 6.77 ERA with a 1.59 WHIP and a 77-to-31 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The club had no other rotation options, so they were forced to keep using him every fifth day. Minnesota sent Happ to St. Louis for Evan Sisk and John Gant at the trade deadline. He combined for a 4.00 ERA in his final 11 starts with the Cardinals before retiring following that season.  

4. John Pacella
WAR: -1.8
Season: 1982
For younger fans, Pacella may be an unfamiliar name, but he pitched parts of six seasons for five organizations. The Twins acquired him on May 12, 1982, in a five-player trade with the Yankees. Minnesota received Pete Filson, Larry Milbourne, and Pacella for Roger Erickson and Butch Wynegar. He made 21 appearances (51 2/3 innings) for the Twins with a 7.32 ERA and a 1.90 WHIP and allowed multiple runs in nine appearances. Pacella was a mop-up man as the club lost all but three games where he pitched. Following the season, the Twins sent Pacella to the Rangers for Len Whitehouse. 

3. Matt Shoemaker
WAR: -1.8
Season: 2021
Like Happ, Shoemaker was brought in to add depth to the team’s starting rotation for the 2021 season. In 60 1/3 innings, he allowed 54 earned runs (8.06 ERA) with a 40-to-27 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Minnesota sent him to Triple-A to get back on track, and he blamed the Twins for trying to fix him during spring training. He was released at the beginning of August and quickly signed with the Giants, but he hasn’t made another big-league appearance since leaving Minnesota.  

2. Terry Felton
WAR: -1.9
Seasons: 1979-1982
Minnesota used a second-round draft pick to select Felton from high school in the 1976 MLB Draft. He quickly moved through the team’s farm system and debuted as a 21-year-old in 1979. In his first three seasons, he was limited to seven appearances as the Twins only brought him up for brief looks. In 1982, the Twins gave him a chance in the bullpen, and he ended up with a 0-13 record due to a 4.99 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP across 48 appearances. He had a 78 OPS+ for his Twins tenure with a 7.0 K/9 and a 5.7 BB/9. Felton struggled to find the strike zone, and batters took advantage. He played the entire 1983 season in the minors for the Twins and ended his career with a brief stint in the Dodgers organization. 

1. Liam Hendriks
WAR: -2.0
Seasons: 2011-2013
Hendriks ranked as one of Minnesota’s top pitching prospects throughout his professional career, but he could not find consistency at the big-league level. In parts of three seasons, he posted a 6.06 ERA with a 1.59 WHIP. However, the Twins never gave him a shot as a reliever, and that might be one of the club’s biggest regrets. The Twins placed him on waivers following the 2013 season, and he bounced around to the Cubs, Orioles, Blue Jays, and Royals organizations before finding himself in Oakland. Hendriks has become an All-Star closer with the A’s and White Sox, including being a two-time Rivera Reliever of the Year. Last season, he was named the AL Comeback Player of the Year following his battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. 

In case you missed it, here are the rankings of the top five negative WAR careers for hitters in Twins history. Do you agree with the above rankings? Who would rank at the top if you combined the hitter and pitcher list? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.