Cody Pirkl

In 2020 the Twins struggled in many facets of their game but still found themselves atop the AL Central on the final day of the season. In 2021 however, one overall improvement may just bring them their third consecutive title.Last year’s Twins looked far from the juggernaut we saw in 2019 but were certainly a capable team who won the division despite struggling at times. Plenty of articles have been written about the specific triumphs and struggles seen throughout the weirdest baseball season in Twins history. Rather than break down performances on the offensive, defensive and pitching side, I think it’s time to explore the greatest overall problem the 2020 Twins ran into. The shortened season and limited schedule gave the Twins an opportunity to go on some tremendous runs as they were confined to facing likely the two worst divisions in all of baseball in the AL and NL Central. The Twins, like their rivals in Cleveland and Chicago, would look to pad their record against three of baseball's worst teams in the Royals, Tigers and Pirates. Chicago was up to the task, dominating to the tune of a 21-3 record against this trio of teams competing for the #1 overall draft pick. 60% of the Sox total wins came against teams they were quite simply expected to beat. Cleveland had the added benefit of playing the lowly Pirates for an extra series and would finish with an overpowering record of 17-9 against this group. The Twins managed to come away with a record of 14-10 against the Royals, Tigers and Pirates. A .583 winning percentage in baseball is certainly respectable, but it was a bit disappointing against three teams that combined to finish with a .382 winning percentage. The 2020 Twins were a talented squad that at times appeared to play down to the level of their competition. While I admittedly try to separate the 2019 “Bomba Squad '' from any other version of the Minnesota Twins, that team knew how to take advantage of an opportunity, as 69 of their 101 wins came against teams with a losing record. While many used this as a knock on the legitimacy of the A.L. Central champions, it’s what allowed them to finish eight games above Cleveland despite some bad breaks against competitive teams. Any MLB team can beat another on any given day, but when you’re facing Shane Bieber or Lucas Giolito on Wednesday, that matchup against Matt Boyd on Tuesday really becomes a game you want to win (Sorry Matt). “Lucked out” may not be the right phrase to describe the Twins performance against Cleveland in 2020, but their 7-2 record against them paired with Chicago’s 2-8 mark was what drove them to another division title. It might be a safer bet in 2021 to take the expected wins from the teams that are willing to give them rather than counting on beating up on tough opponents as they did in 2020 against a Cleveland team sporting one of the best rotations in baseball. There isn’t much of a tangible fix to suggest moving forward other than to simply beat up on the bad teams in 2021. 2020 was a season of which much can be forgotten, and we can hope that the Twins' struggles against lesser competition was a result of small samples. Chicago still has a lineup that will feast on inferior pitching however and Cleveland’s rotation is built to mow through poor lineups. In what may be a dogfight for the A.L. Central crown, the Twins need to feed off of the teams they’re expected to beat. Will their struggles continue, or will they be able to rebound? — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email — Follow Cody Pirkl on Twitter here Click here to view the article

Some bullpens are starting to informally appoint a “fireman” who can pitch at any point in the game, typically against the best part of the lineup whether they’re right or left handed. Who could be the Twins fireman in 2021?The Twins have some great options that they could use in a shutdown role rather than pitting them in the ninth inning. They now have an option in Alex Colomé for the back end of games who has closing experience and will likely be counted on fairly regularly to get the final three outs. This leaves them with some interesting candidates they can deploy at any point in the game. Taylor Rogers Rogers in 2019 is a perfect example of a successful fireman. He still notched plenty of saves, sometimes of the multi-inning variety depending on the score of the game and what part of the lineup was due up. Rogers has the typical dominant splits against lefties that you’d expect but also has no issues getting right handed hitters out which makes him a great candidate to reclaim this role. His struggles in 2020 looked to be more of a result of a weird season rather than a skills regression. His repertoire consisting of a sinker, four-seam, curveball, and slider as well as his prior experience in this role could find him right back in it. Hansel Robles Robles of course had a 10+ ERA in 2020 which made him available for the low price of $2 million. The impact he could make in the bullpen shouldn’t be overlooked however. Robles is far from just a flamethrower with his upper 90s fastball, as he has what many would consider a starting pitcher’s repertoire with a four-seam, sinker, slider and changeup. The Twins can likely put some work in on his slider which allowed a slugging % over .500 in 2020 to make him more effective against righties. Robles already uses his devastating changeup almost 40% of the time and can use it to equalize left handed hitters. If you mix those two effective pitches in with that power fastball, Robles could find himself stepping up against the heart of the order regularly this season. Jorge Alcala Alcala had a great 2020 and could be a sleeper for this role in 2021. His 28.7% K rate was fantastic and he got by with his 8.5% BB rate. The issue with Alcala lies in his splits. For as nasty as he was with his fastball/slider combo against righties, lefties posted an OPS north of 1.000 against Alcala in 2020. Where Alcala goes from here has a lot to do with his changeup which he periodically sprinkled in last season. His high octane stuff just isn’t enough to get lefties out as is, but one more pitch in his arsenal could make him the best arm in the Twins bullpen. He was also formerly a starter which means he’d slot into a multi inning role nicely as the opportunity arises. Keep an eye on Alcala’s changeup this spring and early in the season. While admittedly counting on some bouncebacks, the Twins have a bullpen full of arms that could contribute in big ways. Someone will likely settle in as the “fireman” this year, who do you think it could be? — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email — Follow Cody Pirkl on Twitter here Click here to view the article

The Twins may have a good problem on their hands as their farm system begins to mature. As more and more players reach the Major Leagues, it’s one slugger in particular that may struggle to cement themselves into a regular role.Brent Rooker debuted in exciting fashion for the Twins in 2020. He showed Twins territory a glimpse of the 2017 SEC Player of the Year by hitting .316 with 1 homerun and 5 RBI in 7 games before an errant fastball fractured his forearm to end his season. He got to show off why he got the call, but his season was cut short before he could force himself into the Twins future plans. It’s never been the bat holding Rooker back, but rather his defensive ability which kept him entrenched at first base and eventually just the corner outfield. Reports warned that Rooker struggled plenty with both. There wasn’t much opportunity for his shortcomings to show up in his 25 defensive innings, but it’s safe to say that Rooker won’t be making many highlight reel plays. The Twins outfield depth is impressive at this point, barely taking a hit even after trading away the versatile LaMonte Wade Jr. In Buxton and Kepler the Twins have two everyday starters. In Jake Cave the Twins have a capable left handed outfield option who can play all three spots. At this point star prospect Alex Kirilloff’s Opening Day designation is unknown, but it likely won’t be long until he’s handed the keys to left field. Even further complicating things is Luis Arraez taking reps and being a candidate to start in left field on Opening Day. All of this to say the Twins have a dilemma. At 26 years old, Brent Rooker is close to a finished product. With what could turn out to be an overpowering bat, Rooker deserves to play fairly regularly. With his defensive shortcomings however, it’s hard to find that playing time in a deep pool of outfielders who can perform offensively in their own right and can better defend their positions. With these considerations, the Twins are left with a few options. Start Him at AAA Rooker has little to prove at this point in the minor leagues but his 2020 injury could justify a short stay in AAA to give him the regular at bats he wouldn’t get in Minneapolis and make sure he’s fully back in his groove. The issue here is that Kirilloff will be at the Major League level in short order as well and the openings in the outfield (barring injury) will be even more sparse. Give Him an MLB Spot The Twins could simply give Rooker a 26 man spot on Opening Day and mix and match off days for players like Cruz and Kepler with an occasional start in left field. The issue with this opportunistic approach is that the Twins will be doing the same with Luis Arraez (who at least will reportedly get most of his work in the infield). There are only so many at bats to go around. It’s also worth noting that Rooker has the advantage of being right handed but lacks the traditional otherworldly splits against left handers in his minor league career. Make a Trade Brent Rooker’s trade value may be at a low point following injury in 2020 and being a slugger who can only play the corners isn’t the rarest skillset in 2021. Still, Rooker’s age and years of control should be valuable on the trade market for AL teams or NL teams who are willing to give him an everyday role for a year in anticipation of the NL DH in 2022. The Twins could also shop Jake Cave whose backup center field ability can be filled by Max Kepler and whose left handed bat won’t be nearly as valuable in a few months assuming Kirilloff and Larnach make their way to Target Field. In the near future it may become apparent that one of these players will offer more value on the trade market than they do playing a day or two per week. Brent Rooker has a bat that can change games, but his one dimensional skillset puts him in a difficult place on a team that has built itself around depth. 2021 will go a long way in determining Rooker’s career. Will he continue the breakout he showed in 2020? Will he do so wearing a Twins jersey? What do you think? — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email — Follow Cody Pirkl on Twitter here Click here to view the article

There were a few disappointing performances in 2020 but perhaps none more worrisome than that of the Twins right fielder Max Kepler. After a step back from his 2019 breakout campaign, 2021 may be the most pivotal season of his career.Max Kepler has become much more than just the entertaining story of a rare German born baseball player reaching the Major Leagues. After his first taste of action in 2015, Kepler has become a mainstay in the Twins lineup and outfield. His middling offense exploded in a 2019 season in which he was 21% above league average according to wRC+. His agility and athleticism made him a gold glove contender in right field. Kepler comes to mind for many when they think of the “core” of this Minnesota Twins team. 2021 however may determine whether that continues to be the case. Offensive Issues Left handed hitters often struggle against same handed pitching and Kepler showed just how ugly this historical trend could get in 2020. In 47 at bats, Kepler mustered just 6 hits and posted a .128/.208/.170 line against southpaws after actually hitting them better than righties in 2019 with a .293/.356/.524 line. Plenty of players struggled to find their rhythm in the shortened season, but looking at Kepler’s career triple slash of .219/.288/.368 against left handed pitching suggests that his 2019 may have been a mirage. His pull the ball in the air approach at the plate sets him up to hit the ball over the fence but really limits his batting average ceiling in the age of the shift. His career 10% walk rate isn’t awful, but it doesn’t offer much of a saving grace in the on base department either. Adding 6% to his K rate against lefties as his career shows gives Kepler little room to be a well rounded and truly consistent hitter. All of this to say, throughout Kepler’s entire career besides 2019, he’s been a deeply flawed hitter. Despite being on the strong side of the platoon splits, continued struggles against left handed pitching would be hard to ignore if another player shows that they can produce regardless of their opponents handedness. Up And Coming Competition Alex Kirilloff needs no introduction at this point, but reports are also beginning to suggest that former 1st round pick Trevor Larnach might not be all that far behind him. Larnach is known for his balanced approach of controlling the strike zone and using all fields. He’s a highly touted hitter who to this point hasn’t shown a weakness to left handed pitching in his minor league career. His offensive profile is one that suggests he could avoid the massive cut in production that Kepler has shown as he matures in the MLB. Defensively, Larnach is far from a gold glove defender in the corners. The former OSU first baseman stands at 6’4 and over 220 lb, lacking the raw athleticism of Max Kepler. That being said, the Twins used positioning to hide Jorge Polanco at shortstop and we saw the Oakland A’s turn Robbie Grossman into a Gold Glove finalist a few years ago. Defensive positioning has come a long way in baseball and having a center fielder like Byron Buxton can hide a lot of blemishes. Larnach’s defense should be adequate enough at the corners for at least the near future. Max Kepler has been valuable to the Twins and will surely continue to be. Top prospects are approaching however, and if Kepler’s offensive output continues with his career trends outside of 2019, the bar for those prospects to clear may not be all that high. Max could rebound in 2021, but what if he doesn’t? Kepler still has his incredibly team friendly contract attached which pays out only a bit over $20m over the next four years. On one hand, using him in a strong platoon/backup center field role wouldn’t be all that much of a waste of money. On the other, it’s a contract that other corner outfield needy teams would be very interested in. If the future of the outfield truly does consist of Kirilloff and Larnach, is Kepler’s left handed bat more valuable as a trade chip? I still expect Max to bounce back from his 2020 performance, but I’m unsure to what degree. I expect Trevor Larnach to debut in 2021 and be a great hitter, but a performance strong enough to dethrone Kepler in right field is a long shot for any prospect. That being said, the Twins strong farm system has opened up a lot of possibilities for what the future of this team looks like. Do you think Max Kepler can continue being a cornerstone of this Twins core? Do you think Trevor Larnach could throw a wrench into those plans? Let us know below. — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email — Follow Cody Pirkl on Twitter here Click here to view the article

This week, MLB came right out and said that they’re attempting to deaden the baseball in 2021. It’s fair to expect that the Twins could feel the effects of this change, but which hitters could be punished the most?We all know that in 2019 several home run records were shattered across baseball. It turns out that MLB had made several changes to the ball that reduced it’s “drag”. Long story short, the makeup of the ball offered less resistance when traveling through the air, thus adding distance onto batted balls. We don’t know what tactics MLB will use to reverse the offensive surge in recent years, but reducing the drag on the ball may be easiest which can presumably be accomplished by altering the surface of the ball to make it less smooth for example. The result is that players who often sneak homers into the bleachers may not get that extra push to get their batted balls over the wall. Making this assumption, let’s see who may be at the top of the list for Twins players that could be affected most. Jorge Polanco Polanco had an average home run distance of 393 feet in 2019 and hit 23 home runs. Statcast uses a measurement called “no doubters” that tracks home runs that would have made it out of every MLB stadium. No doubters are a good way to get a feel for whether a player’s raw ability to drive baseballs out of the park is legit. For context, 47.6% of Nelson Cruz’s home runs were no doubters, while 39.1% of Polanco’s would have left any MLB ballpark. To be fair, Polanco has never been highly touted for his homerun power, and we likely saw a career high in 2019 from the Twins newly converted second baseman. A few feet off of some of his fly balls may hurt him in 2021, but assuming he’s healthy he should still be able to pick up some extra base hits. Mitch Garver Garver suffered a brutal 2020 but it had more to do with swing and miss than anything wrong with the ball. Still, assuming Garv Sauce is back to his normal fastball punishing self in 2021, it may surprise you that while his average home run distance of 400 feet was better than Polanco’s in 2019, his no doubter rate of 38.7% was worse. Looking back, it’s easy to remember plenty of Garver’s homers in 2019 just barely making it out, and it’s evidenced by his 25.1 expected home runs in that stellar season as compared to the 31 he actually hit. While the return of 2019 Garv Sauce is likely out of the question, his elite plate skills and exit velocity should still make him a formidable hitter, even if the 30 home run threshold will be difficult to reach again. Max Kepler Kepler is perhaps the most worrisome when it comes to deadening the baseball. In 2019 Kepler’s average of 392 feet per home run was less than Polanco’s as was his no doubter percentage of 38.9%. The one thing Kepler has going for him is that basically all of his home runs are pulled and therefore don’t have as far to travel to reach the seats. Take a look at his 2020 spray chart. Download attachment: Kepler Spray Chart.PNG Kepler’s pull tendencies may help him avoid completely cratering in his home run production, but taking a few feet off of some of his fly balls would certainly cost him as evidenced by his low average home run distance. Furthermore, Kepler is a low batting average, moderate on base hitter who hasn’t hit left handed pitching for most of his career. Kepler may stand to lose the most if the new ball doesn’t allow him to provide 30 home run power, as aside from defense, the gap between him and an MLB ready Trevor Larnach could quickly close. Bonus: Eddie Rosario Eddie is no longer a Twin but with an average HR distance of 392 feet in 2019 with only one third of his 33 being no doubters, Eddie in particular could feel the pain of the new baseball. With the ball possibly inhibiting the fly balls Eddie creates out of pitches nobody should be swinging at, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a drop off to a 20-25 HR hitter rather than a 30+ bat. He’s not exactly a star on the exit velocity leaderboards and a lot of his batted balls over the fence aren’t well struck. It turned out to be a great year to build around defense and avoid the “Bomba Squad” label, as the Twins should have a well rounded team that doesn’t rely on fly balls leaving the park to be successful. That being said, a few players lacking prominent raw power may not put up the stats we’ve come to expect. Do you think any other Twins may be feeling the pain of the new ball? Let us know below! — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email — Follow Cody Pirkl on Twitter here Click here to view the article

The thing about Kuhl is he has more of an MLB career to draw projections from than Smeltzer or Thorpe and has more swing and miss than Dobnak. I love Randy and think he'll be around for awhile but I think its about rotation depth at this point. Smeltzer has looked like a AAAA guy so far who makes spot starts for 3 innings/mops up in relief and Thorpe could be cut loose in just a few weeks here since he's out of options. I don't think Kuhl is for sure the answer in the rotation, but he'd be cheap in trade and payroll and controlled for 2 years. I'm not saying pay up for him, I just think he's a nice cheap pickup that can add depth to a rotation that needs it and has signs of more in the tank than he's shown so far.

Bad teams have good players too and are more open to getting rid of them unlike teams in contention. The Twins could get two players to help them now for a few minor leaguers who very well could never even make the MLB.

Wade could have been a piece although I don't think he's thought of as even a possible everyday starter for the future. We've still got plenty of MLB depth to deal from. For Kuhl, its not a matter of eliminating the fastball completely, its reducing the usage and sequencing it better. Maeda had the same issue when he was brought over. They had him cut down on the usage and he picked his spots to use it while also throwing his best pitches more often.

The Twins offseason is coming together as little room on the payroll likely remains. They’ve admirably compiled most of their team without parting with a single prospect this winter. As the numbers add up, perhaps it’s time that changes.The Twins still may benefit from another starting pitcher and reliever following the Cruz and Colomé signings. Things like former Twin Kohl Stewart getting a Major League deal and Chris Archer signing for $6.5m have muddied the waters on price points. Paired with the depth of their farm system and the fact that they haven’t parted with any of it, the real value pick ups could lie on the trade market where payroll hits are already determined. This would be especially valuable for a team with a seemingly small window to fit in. The Pirates have parted with tons of talent this winter including Josh Bell, Joe Musgrove and Jameson Taillon as they continue to sink into irrelevancy. Despite all of this, they’re still reportedly open to discussing what players are left. At first glance it doesn’t look like a whole lot, but there’s some definite help that the Twins could acquire. There’s one pairing in particular that the Twins could explore to possibly make a big improvement in the rotation and bullpen. Chad Kuhl Kuhl has a history that makes you wonder why the Twins would be interested with his 4.36 ERA and 4.45 FIP. At 28 years old, Kuhl has a 5 pitch mix including a sinker he uses over 42% of the time. The issue is that in 2020 the pitch was clubbed for a .667 slugging % and has had similar results his entire career. Some pitchers have no choice but to continue trying to induce groundballs, but Kuhl has two other pitches in a slider and curve that have multiple seasons of much higher overall success and >30% whiff rates. He may not be the second coming of Kenta Maeda, but a change of scenery and pitch mix change could make him a valuable piece of a team’s rotation. Kuhl has two seasons of arbitration left and is due a bit over $2m in 2021.Furthermore, he’s been reported as one of their top candidates to still be traded. With all of that in mind, he’s a cheap option both payroll and prospect wise to come in and compete for the 5th rotation spot with a few indicators saying his ceiling could be higher. Richard Rodriguez Tom Froemming turned me onto Richard Rodriguez a few weeks ago as a possible bullpen target. Rodriguez uses a high spin fastball and slider combo to dominate hitters. In fact, he fell in the 96th percentile in K% and 92nd in Whiff% in 2020. His slider posted a hilarious 63.6% whiff rate. It’s likely Rodriguez would be able to come in and play a big role in a Twins bullpen that has lost so much this winter after posting a very believable 2.70 ERA last season. It’s a role the Twins may not have confidently filled yet after last season’s departures from the bullpen. While Rodriguez may be the closer in Pittsburgh, he’s already 30 years old. Even with his 3 remaining years of control, he likely won’t be playing a big role the next time the Pirates are ready to compete. If they can cash in on him by getting a younger player that better fits their timeline, they would certainly be willing to move the right hander. What Would It Cost? Controllable pitchers are never cheap. The Twins however are in a great situation to make an acquisition. As previously mentioned, they haven’t parted with a single prospect this winter and would likely be willing to do so for the right return. Second, the Twins have some cheap controllable players on their roster who may be best utilized in a trade. Lewis Thorpe may not be perceived as a valuable piece by Twins fans, but he still has plenty of cheap control attached. Pittsburgh would be a perfect place to plug him into the rotation and see if he can capture that former prospect pedigree. Brent Rooker also has a roster crunch on the horizon with Kirilloff and Larnach on their way. The Pirates could give him the everyday opportunity he deserves and likely won’t get in Minnesota. Maybe Jake Cave would even interest them. In any case, it would likely take some prospects attached to one of these current big leaguers to get a deal done, but the Twins need to offset the 40 man roster impact anyways after the flurry of pickups they’ve made in the last week. I’ve expected the Twins to dabble in the trade market all winter and I continue to believe they should do so as the payroll adds up. It’s not Sonny Gray or Luis Castillo but a Chad Kuhl/Richard Rodriguez combo would address the rotation and bullpen in a big way for $4m. The Pirate ship is sinking. The Twins should take advantage and rescue some crew members. — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email — Follow Cody Pirkl on Twitter here Click here to view the article

The Dodgers decided they needed another pitcher this week and inked Trevor Bauer to an expensive deal. The result is that several starting caliber pitchers no longer have a role in the Dodgers rotation. A few teams should be giving LA a call about their glut of starting rotation options, and the Twins should be one of them.David Price Price was traded from the Red Sox with Mookie Betts as a salary dump last offseason before opting out of the 2020 season. Despite the stigma of what many consider a bad contract, Price has thrown about 275 innings the last 3 years to the tune of a 3.94 ERA. The raw numbers say Price would still be a valuable addition to a contending team. The downside of Price is obviously the salary hit by acquiring him with 2 years $64m attached. The Dodgers don’t seem too concerned about saving money these days, but he’d likely be their preferred pitcher to trade and could likely be had for free. Price also has a bit of unknown attached to him given his lack of a 2020 season and number of injuries starting to pile up in recent years. Dustin May May was actually speculated to possibly be the pitcher the Twins were receiving last winter when we got Maeda instead. Dubbed “Gingergaard”, May has a high octane fastball that regularly appears to bend the laws of physics. Despite the wow factor, May hasn’t even managed a 21% K rate in the MLB thus far. His ceiling is still high and he’s a valuable pitcher even in his current form with a 2.98 ERA through about 90 innings. May has always been a hyped Dodgers prospect they love, and any price to acquire him would be a hit to the Twins farm system if not the immediate Major League roster depending on what they want. An investment in a pitcher like May would likely require the Twins to be confident they could turn him into the face of their pitching rotation for the next 4-5 years. Tony Gonsolin Gonsolin was an unheralded star of the Dodgers rotation in 2020 pitching to a 2.31 ERA in 46 innings. Also a former top prospect of the Dodgers, he figures to be the last in line for a rotation spot in 2021.The Dodgers appeared to show their hand in the playoffs in 2021 that Gonsolin appears to be at the bottom of the totem pole for Dodgers starting pitchers. The Dodgers just never seemed like they planned on using Gonsolin in the playoffs in 2021. For that reason, it’s fair to say Gonsolin is a tier below May in the Dodgers minds. That being said, Gonsolin is a young controllable starting pitcher and won’t be cheap. The Dodgers still haven’t re-signed Justin Turner for their infield, and it’s possible they’d come asking for Polanco or Arraez as a starting piece with plenty else included in the deal. Similar to May, The Twins would have to be confident in what they’re getting in Gonsolin to pull the trigger on this one. He’s nasty though. Unlike some trade options available these days, the Dodger options will all cost a fair bit in one way or another. That being said, it would likely be worth the Twins at least checking in. Which Dodgers starter do you think would be the best fit in Minnesota? — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email — Follow Cody Pirkl on Twitter here Click here to view the article

FWIW, Cruz had that knee issue that he missed time with. I'd have assumed that it'd affect his exit velo but maybe not? Could certainly see a knee affecting launch angle though. Especially the ability to load back and get balls in the air.

We know all about the defense Andrelton Simmons brings the Twins at this point as well as the effects it will have on the layout of the rest of the infield. It may however be worth digging deeper on why it’s just so perfect for both sides that Simmons fell in the Twins lap.The Twins found themselves in a sort of middle ground this winter after an injury hobbled season from Jorge Polanco was topped off by a crippling error in the first round of the playoffs. Their former second base prospect turned Major League shortstop was pencilled in to undergo his second ankle surgery in as many years and had a particularly loud question mark attached to his future throughout the fanbase. So much so in fact that some have called for former number 1 overall pick Royce Lewis to get the call to start the 2021 season. The problem is Lewis hasn’t seen official competition in over a year, and didn’t look ready when he had. The Twins hit what appears to be a jackpot when Andrelton Simmons was willing to sign for only a single year to fill in this gap. While I believe there's no such thing as a bad one year deal, Simmons was brought in for $7.5m less than his fellow shortstop Marcus Semien. The Twins got their “Hired Gun”, a free agent role often occupied by talented yet often unexciting options. Andrelton Simmons is different. After the Twins brought in plenty of contributors on one year deals recently such as C.J. Cron or Jonathan Schoop, Simmons brings the type of talent that could make him our most valuable player in 2021 and it wouldn’t be a complete surprise. In addition to the level of talent Simmons brings, he may be particularly inclined to reach that ceiling. Andrelton Simmons is a man on a mission in 2021. Next offseason at 32, he’s set to re-enter free agency and compete for what he would likely prefer to be a long term contract. His competitors at shortstop include the likes of Trevor Story, Carlos Correa and Francisco Lindor. In 2021. Effort isn’t something I question a whole lot at the MLB level unless we’re talking about Lance Lynn, but Simmons in particular has a lot to work for. He’s playing for a sizable contract in one of the most incredible shortstop markets in years. At 31, he’s also fighting to show that his all world talent at shortstop can defy the aging curve often seen at the position. The main point goes beyond “Andrelton Simmons will play hard for the Twins”. Both sides are in very particular situations that make this a win-win. On the Twins side, they bring in a bridge to Royce Lewis which would often be occupied by a player much less talented than Andrelton Simmons. On Simmons’ side, he can pair up with a contender in the Twins for one year and use them as a springboard to his next contract. Both sides always want a one year deal to work out, but in this case, it can’t get much better. If there’s one positive to come from this suppressed free agent market, it’s that Twins Territory will get to watch what one of the best defensive shortstops in history can do first hand. I expect Simmons will be everything we expect and then some. If this one year pact goes south, it won’t be for lack of effort from either side. — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email — Follow Cody Pirkl on Twitter here Click here to view the article

The Twins still have some high leverage innings to fill in the bullpen and the obvious options are dwindling. There are a few under the radar arms still out there however that may be just the Twins style.Trevor Rosenthal, Brad Hand, Alex Colomé, all fun names, all on the top end of what’s left of free agency. It may make us feel better to pick up more of a surefire option, but the Twins take a lot of pride in manufacturing their bullpen. For that reason, a few options are still out there that may fit their mould for one reason or another and at a cheaper price. Darren O’Day At 38, he’s coming off a season with a 1.10 ERA/2.76 FIP. O’Day had a strong 7 year career in Baltimore before moving to Atlanta where he’s had his fair share of injuries. He won’t wow you with even a 90 mph fastball, but what he will do is absolutely mow down right handed hitters. In fact, he’s allowed a triple slash of .193/.262/.287 against same handed hitters in his 13 year career. O’Day likely won’t fill the part time closer role left by Sergio Romo, but in terms of matching up against righties, O’Day would surely have that role taken care of. Specialists in the bullpen aren’t worth much these days, but O’Day would shine against right handed slugging teams such as the White Sox and Yankees for a modest pay day. Perhaps an extra roster spot would make O’Day a worthwhile luxury. Cam Bedrosian Son of Steve “Bedrock” Bedrosian, Cam has had a valuable 7 year career with the Angels with a 3.70 ERA/3.60 FIP before being non tendered this offseason. He throws mostly a low to mid 90s fastball and slider as well as conservatively mixing in a splitter. The reason the Twins may be in on Bedrosian is that he loves to use his 2300 rpm fastball up in the zone while pairing it with a slider that had a 34% whiff rate in 2019. He saw that whiff rate and his overall K% drop in 2020, but his 2019 Statcast measures are what may really pique the front office’s interest. Download attachment: Bedrosian.PNG At only 29 years old, Bedrosian could definitely have a few years left as an effective reliever and recreating his 2019 breakout may not be all that unrealistic. He’s regularly factored into the holds in LA, though not so much for saves. That being said, he has at least some history of high leverage work and could serve as a setup man. David Robertson I wanted the Twins to sign Robertson two offseasons ago and it turns out they know more than me. Robertson suffered through part of 2019 before undergoing Tommy John surgery. Up to that point, Robertson was one of the premier relievers in baseball with a career 2.90 ERA/2.84 FIP as the Twins know all too well. At 35, Robertson may be a bit sketchy, but he has what is essentially a starter’s pitch mix with a cutter, four seam, curve and slider which could help stave off father time. Tommy John has also become a procedure where recovery is almost assumed, and a healthy Robertson is one you could certainly factor into high leverage innings. The Twins were linked to John Brebbia who was similarly on the mend earlier this winter which means recovering pitchers aren’t out of the question. Robertson could command a bit more than the $800k Brebbia wound up with, but if they attend a showcase and like what they see, Robertson could become an impact addition. The free agent reliever market is admittedly thinning, but it’s far from time to panic. You can dig pretty far down the remaining list and find redeeming factors that the Twins could snag up and capitalize upon. At this point in the offseason it’s fair to say the 2021 Opening Day bullpen isn’t one that will blow you away, but it'll likely be one Twins fans should have faith in. — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email — Follow Cody Pirkl on Twitter here Click here to view the article

Aw yeah!

Cody Stashak has settled into a middle relief role since his 2019 debut and has done a great job with it. After so many departures from 2020 however, 2021 may be a chance to see if there’s another rung in Stashak’s ladder.The Twins effectively used a rotation of relievers in high leverage spots in 2020. Of the six regular “high leverage guys”, Trevor May, Matt Wisler, Sergio Romo, and Tyler Clippard have all departed (although the latter two are still free agents). The Twins currently sit with Taylor Rogers and Tyler Duffey atop the bullpen pecking order. Young fireballer Jorge Alcala could slot into that tier of reliever, as could a rebound from newly signed Hansel Robles or another late addition to the bullpen. The bullpen however has its fair share of question marks. Cody Stashak has not been a question mark since his debut. While admittedly not overly battle tested so far due to the bullpen depth, Stashak has largely done whatever job that’s been asked of him. In his two seasons he’s compiled a 3.15 ERA and 3.11 FIP. His fastball which hovers around 92 MPH doesn’t catch a lot of eyes, which may be why he’s had such an underrated first two seasons in the MLB. His 9.45 K/9 is impressive, but it’s also worth noting he already took a step forward from his rookie season and upped this rate to 10.20/9 in 2020. Where Stashak really excels is preventing walks however. His 0.90 BB/9 in his career so far is downright outrageous, and something he’s always taken great pride in. Aside from a few homers in the playoffs these last few years, Stashak has mostly avoided the long ball so far in his career. A 1.13 HR/9 mark is more than acceptable for a reliever with such good command. Stashak made some kind of improvement between 2019 and 2020 to up that strikeout rate and it’s fair to say that the Twins pitching coaches will look to continue to make some tweaks. He has the great floor because of his command when it comes to his fastball and slider, but maybe adding another pitch is next on his to do list. He’s peppered in a changeup periodically that hasn’t gotten hit hard but also hasn’t induced a single swing and miss in 2020. In any case, Stashak has been making forward progress as an effective reliever at the MLB level since his debut. I’d expect it to continue. The obvious request in Twins territory is to sign a high end reliever to help soften the blow the bullpen has taken this winter. While I share that sentiment, Stashak taking another step forward helps the Twins regardless of how the rest of the winter shakes out. The Twins love using guys in multiple roles and Stashak could find himself in some more high leverage ones in 2021. He’s earned a shot. — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email — Follow Cody Pirkl on Twitter here Click here to view the article