The Twins Need a Middle Reliever

You kind of contradict yourself in the article.  You say we need a middle relief guy because Pagan and Moran have struggled in that roll, but then make comment we can use a lot of different people because only going to pitch in blow outs.  Other than his last outing of terrible work, Pagan has been fine in that roll.  Moran has been an issue giving up runs in most of his outings.  

If it does not matter who we throw out there because they are only to eat up innings in blowouts, why do we need someone that will do it better?  I am mainly pointing out the contradicting statements the writer posed. 

I wonder if Jordan Balazavic could be an option as well?

I'm beginning to think Balazovic may end up in the same category as Winder and a possible middle reliever as well. His walks/Whip are a bit higher than I'd like to see but if he can stay healthy..Maybe he's an option as well.

This has been said before by a few of us: Kenta Maeda. Move him to the pen and insert Ober or Varland into the rotation.

Take Pagan on a road trip to North Dakota and leave him in the middle of no where.   Guys only on the roster because management wont admit they totally blew it on that trade.  Some town out there must need a terrible long reliever option on their townball team.

In full agreement on Balazovic converting to middle relief. It seems the team might already have that in mind, since he's only pitched 7.2 innings in 5 appearances so far this year. I'd give him a look and send Moran down to AAA for a mental reset and to work on his command. 

I'll take any warm body over Pagan, dude has absolutely zero confidence 

If they are determined to keep Pagan, they should use him only in mop up innings only & see how far he can go. Maran needs more time in AAA. Low leverage middle RPs, you could rotate Stewart, Sands, Winder & maybe Balazovik, see who sticks. Winder IMO we can stretch out back into a long RP/ spot starter and who knows eventually a SP.

Even with the rotation & BP we have, we could use long relief IMO at least 2X/ wk. not counting blow outs. SP who gets hurt, fatigued or just a bad day who can't go 5, long relief makes more sense.

This is where the FO has struggled.  It’s already cost the team a couple of of games.  They have this pompousity that they can turn guys Pagan and Megill into good pitchers where nobody else could.

You’re better off paying a little money and signing somebody.  If they’re so smart in regard to pitching, why can’t they go identify someone like Chapman on a 1 year $3M deal?  He’s got 17 strikeouts in 10 appearances and a WHIP under 1.00.  I know that’s hit or miss also, but a lot more likely to succeed vs. just throwing Pagan out there over and over for like 5 years.

5 hours ago, Nine of twelve said:

This has been said before by a few of us: Kenta Maeda. Move him to the pen and insert Ober or Varland into the rotation.

That is the move I'm looking for.

Count me along with the others that support moving Maeda to the pen and Ober into the rotation.  Add Winder to the BP as well and the whole thing looks a lot better IMO.  The pen would be Duran / Lopez / Jax / Thielbar / Maeda / Winder and two of Alcala / Sands / Henriquez and Stewart.  Hopefully Alcala and Henriquez bounce back.  That would give them a lot of flexibility with guys that could go 2 or even 3 innings.   

Late to join the conversation, but after the strong performance today by Headrick (5 IP/ 83 pitches....allowing only 2 ER on 3 hits and 2 BB to go with 8K's, imo, he's the man for the job.  

I have zero faith in Sands. Winder, though, merits strong consideration if Headrick moves higher in the pecking order as #2 LH RP behind Thielbar.  This could be happening very soon as Moran needs to be demoted to SP.

Moving Maeda into a long relief role is a pretty much a moot point now after getting lit up trying to pitch hurt.  I expect a long absence is coming.

10 hours ago, Nine of twelve said:

This has been said before by a few of us: Kenta Maeda. Move him to the pen and insert Ober or Varland into the rotation.

After today's game I have changed my mind. Maeda needs to go on the IL with a rehab assignment and it needs to be stretched out long. If after his rehab assignment he clearly shows that he can get major league hitters out then he goes into the bullpen. Otherwise DFA.

Looks like Headrick did a pretty good job today. I'm not too worried about the relief pitching right now. All of Sands, Stewart, Winder, and Headrick along with a couple of others maybe can handle reduced roles as a 7th or 8th pitcher in the bullpen. More concerned with the bats and inconsistent defense. Still, things are going fairly well thus far.

They don’t need a middle reliever. They need another effective reliever and probably two. Four reliable relievers isn’t enough. Someone needs to join that group. 

Twins starters have averaged almost 6 IP per start (124.1 over 21 starts), not including Maeda's 16 IP over 4 starts (very Archeresque). 4 stud relievers to cover 3 innings should do it.

Headrick is locked into the long reliever role (for now), and Pagan, Alcala & Moran, while not completely reliable, are serviceable. Not to be trusted in close games, but serviceable. Look at most teams, the BP's pretty much look the same.

They need a 5th starter before they need a middle-reliever, and Ober and Varland are available, amongst other potential options.

Im seeing a lot of comments about Balazovic and Winder turning into quality middle-relievers, and while I think it could work, I wouldn’t push it. Let’s see these guys pitch some starts for a couple of months, there’s no point in turning a quality starter into a reliever unless he’s struggling, you can turn a good starter prospect into 2 good relievers if you’re smart. I think Sands and Moran are contenders, but trading for a reliever or 2 wouldn’t be hard. Let’s be patient.