Article: Tendering Casey Fien: Pros And Cons

[Nick Nelson]

We learned on Wednesday night that the Twins had elected to tender contracts to all six of their arbitration eligible players. Several members of that group were a given, namely: Eduardo Escobar, Tommy Milone, Trevor Plouffe and Kevin Jepsen. Eduardo Nunez was a little iffy but he did fine in his limited role last year and he'll probably cost the least of the bunch.

 

The most noteworthy decision, in my mind, was tendering Casey Fien.The bullpen has been a primary area of interest for me lately, one that I've written about a few times recently since I view that unit as one where the Twins can make very meaningful and impactful improvements during the offseason.

 

Is bringing Fien back a step in the right direction? He turned 32 last month and his strikeout rate has declined in each of the past two seasons. This year, his 5.8 K/9 rate ranked 125th out of 137 qualified relievers.

 

For a team that ought to have a clear focus on building a more powerful bullpen after finishing 2015 as the only team in the majors with a K/9 rate below 7.0 from its relief corps, bringing back a setup man who has struggled to miss bats like Fien is, on the surface, questionable at best.

 

In fairness, however, there are a few other factors to be taken into account.

 

For one thing, Fien's drop in strikeouts did not coincide with a dip in velocity, reducing concerns that his arm is running out of gas. Indeed, the heightened contact rates appeared to relate to his health, as the strikeouts mostly dried up in the middle of the summer, around the time he was dealing with a shoulder strain. By season's end, he had evidently put those those issues behind him, finishing with a 2.91 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 21 innings over his final 20 appearances.

 

And even with the lack of whiffs, Fien had a good season overall. His 117 ERA+ was his best in a full season. His 1.09 WHIP was undeniably excellent, and exactly what you want from a pitcher getting high-leverage chances. His ability to keep runners off the basepaths was driven in part by his elite control; among qualified relievers, only Oakland's Evan Scribner had a walk rate lower than Fien's 1.1 BB/9.

 

It was the third consecutive season in which Fien has ranked near the top of the league leaderboard in that category, and that is not something to be overlooked.

 

Ultimately, when you account for the righty's proclivity for pounding the strike zone, along with his enduring mid-90s velocity, his strong finish, and the relatively low cost of keeping him around (in the Offseason Handbook, we estimated that he'd make $2.5 million in 2016) the decision to tender him a contract is a very defensible one.

 

The downward strikeout trend is troubling, however, especially on a team that desperately needs to find more K's in the bullpen.

 

All things considered, if Fien is the No. 3 right-hander in the bullpen heading into next season, he's nice to have on board. If he's the second option, routinely being called on to pitch the eighth inning, then some of the concerns surrounding him become magnified. So much will depend on what happens with Trevor May and with the remaining offseason moves.

 

Click here to view the article

[Seth Stohs]

 

All things considered, if Fien is the No. 3 right-hander in the bullpen heading into next season, he's nice to have on board. If he's the second option, routinely being called on to pitch the eighth inning, then some of the concerns surrounding him become magnified. So much will depend on what happens with Trevor May and with the remaining offseason moves.

 

Completely agree with this. Fien was fine in the 8th innings for a couple of seasons. If he can pitch 6th and 7th innings, with May, Tonkin, maybe Meyer and Jepsen ahead of him on the depth chart, then not a problem. He can be a place holder while Chargois, Burdi, Reed, others get their final preparation in.

 

The other thing to note is that if he doesn't make it out of spring training and gets let go, the contract isn't guaranteed. So, at $2.5 million, which I think could be up to $0.5M too high, he would then only cost like $400,000. 

 

He might also be someone they can trade and get something like a C-level prospect for. 

 

 

[Brandon]

If he is the 2nd reliever that is not on Fien. That would be on TR for not upgrading the pen. His value is a middle reliever who is ultimately worth 3 to 4 million on the open market IMO. Fiend production is solid so he is easily worth th investment.

[sane09]

If a player declines a tender from team#1; becomes a FA and signs with team#2, does team#1 still get draft-day compensation from team#2?

[DaveW]

I don't mind the Fien tendering as he is a solid pitcher, however I think they need to bring in one more shut down type arm, whether through trade: storen, chapman or even papelbon (though Washington would have to eat almost every penny in this scenario)

 

I have a feeling though the twins are already penciling May into the bullpen, which is a shame.

[sane09]

 

If a player declines a tender from team#1; becomes a FA and signs with team#2, does team#1 still get draft-day compensation from team#2?

or from MLB?

[DaveW]

If a player declines a tender from team#1; becomes a FA and signs with team#2, does team#1 still get draft-day compensation from team#2?

Huh?

 

No. That is only if a player refuses a qualifying offer, which Pelfrey never came close to getting.

[sane09]

 

Huh?

No. That is only if a player refuses a qualifying offer, which Pelfrey never came close to getting.

Actually, I was talking about Fien, who WAS tendered.

[Thrylos]

Since he has been with the Twins' Fien has been consistent; here is his FIP:
2012: 3.24, 2013: 3.15, 2014: 3.43, 2015: 3.45.  
His "success" in 2012 (2.06 ERA, 0.97 WHIP) came from ridiculous: .229 BABIP, 84.4% LOB%, and 6.1% HR/FB.

 

My litmus test is whether or not one of the 4 teams that made the league championship games would have had Fien in their post season bullpen.  If the answer is no, which I am afraid it is, he should not be in the Twins' pen.  They should be into winning well into the post-season instead of into charity.   And, frankly, there are better internal options than Fien, including the 2  kids who closed games in Arizona this Fall...

Edited December 4, 2015 by Thrylos

[sane09]

 

Actually, I was talking about Fien, who WAS tendered.

Isn't this thread about tendering Casey Fien?

[Brock Beauchamp]

This is one of the areas where Ryan's conservative nature really hurts him, in my opinion.

 

The 6/7th inning guys shouldn't start with mediocrity. Fien is a mediocre reliever.

 

Guys like Nick Burdi or Alex Meyer aren't going to get the call to Minnesota and become the closer or 8th inning guy overnight. They're going to start in a lesser role and work their way forward in the pen. A guy like Fien blocks higher upside players from getting to the Majors quickly and testing their ability to compete.

 

I see virtually no upside here and marginal downside. Mostly, I think it's pointless.

 

Though if Ryan doesn't hesitate to release Fien or trade him the moment the Twins have a better option, Casey is a fine safety net.

[James]

 

If a player declines a tender from team#1; becomes a FA and signs with team#2, does team#1 still get draft-day compensation from team#2?

He was offered a contract.  If they can't reach an agreement, then it will go to arbitration, where the Twins and Fien will both submit an offer, and a neutral arbitrator will decide who's salary number is more accurate based on Fien's previous performance.  

 

Whatever number the arbitrator picks will be Fien's salary for the year, and he cannot reject it and become a free agent.  

[sane09]

 

He was offered a contract.  If they can't reach an agreement, then it will go to arbitration, where the Twins and Fien will both submit an offer, and a neutral arbitrator will decide who's salary number is more accurate based on Fien's previous performance.  

 

Whatever number the arbitrator picks will be Fien's salary for the year, and he cannot reject it and become a free agent.  

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/10/explaining-the-qualifying-offer-system.html

I don't believe it's the same as offering arbitration.

[sane09]

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/10/explaining-the-qualifying-offer-system.html

I don't believe it's the same as offering arbitration.

http://viewfromthebleachers.com/blog/2007/12/01/mlb-arbitration-explained/

 

[SweetOne69]

 

If a player declines a tender from team#1; becomes a FA and signs with team#2, does team#1 still get draft-day compensation from team#2?

 

A player cannot decline a tender.  He is under team control and his only option is to play for the team that owns his rights.

 

The only way he becomes a FA is if the team decides to not tender him.

[DaveW]

Actually, I was talking about Fien, who WAS tendered.

My bad! I'm just so excited about the pelf news!

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/10/explaining-the-qualifying-offer-system.html

I don't believe it's the same as offering arbitration.

 

I think you have it mixed up.  A qualifying offer is something a player can decline as they are free agents otherwise.  Fein still has control left on his contract.  Once he completed his 3 years of serfdom (for lack of a better word), the Twins have the option to tender him a contract or let him become a free agent.  If the Twins tender him (which they did) the only option Fein has is to either accept the tender as offered or go to arbitration and have a neutral arbitrator decide whose number is more accurate.  I suppose Fein could reject it, but it would mean he's staying home and not playing anywhere (and the Twins would still retain control due to his service time).

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/10/explaining-the-qualifying-offer-system.html

I don't believe it's the same as offering arbitration.

Yes, it is.

 

http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2015/12/01/wait-what-is-the-non-tender-deadline-again/

 

 

 

By midnight on Wednesday teams have to decide whether to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players. If they do, the team retains control over the player. Now, to be clear, the team is not simply “tendering” the player the actual contract specifying what he’ll be paid. Think of it as more of a token gesture — a placeholder contract — at that point the team and the player can negotiate salary for 2016 and, if they can’t come to an agreement over that (i.e. an agreement avoiding arbitration) they will proceed to submit proposed salaries to one another and have a salary arbitration early in the spring.

If the team non-tenders a player, however, that player immediately becomes a free agent, eligible to sign anywhere with no strings attached.

 

Fien is still under team control (less than 6 years service time).  He can't elect free agency unless we outright him off the 40-man roster at this point.

[James]

 

http://viewfromthebleachers.com/blog/2007/12/01/mlb-arbitration-explained/

This doesn't have anything to do with the qualifying offer.  That is only for players that are pending free agents (minimum of 6 years of service time).

 

Tendering a contract just means that the player will receive a contract from the team that owns his rights (under 6 years of service time).  There does not need to be an actual dollar amount at that time.  The team and the player can negotiate a salary.  This will lead to the beginning of the arbitration process.  They can negotiate up until an arbitrator makes a salary ruling, which would be binding.

 

So, tendering a contract is the start of the process. 

[DuluthFan]

 

If a player declines a tender from team#1; becomes a FA and signs with team#2, does team#1 still get draft-day compensation from team#2?

 

I believe you are confusing free agents declining a qualifying offer and players under team control being tendered a contract for arbitration. Two separate things. Fien is not a free agent yet. At this point he only becomes a free agent if the Twins do not tender him a contract offer (which they did). Had the Twins not offered him a contract, then yes he becomes a free agent.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Completely agree with this. Fien was fine in the 8th innings for a couple of seasons.

He was?  Huh, I could have sworn we had a pretty lousy bullpen the past 5 years, but I guess if we had a good closer and Fien was "fine" in the 8th inning....

 

If he can pitch 6th and 7th innings, with May, Tonkin, maybe Meyer and Jepsen ahead of him on the depth chart, then not a problem. He can be a place holder while Chargois, Burdi, Reed, others get their final preparation in.

And if May is needed to start, and Tonkin, Meyer, Chargois, Burdi, Reed, and others fail to advance, as they did in 2015, what then?

 

I think the Twins should be trying to improve the bullpen today, not putting it off again.  I guess I don't care if Fien is part of the back end bullpen mix right now, but we need help at the top.  We need to sign or acquire someone better than Fien this winter.

[James]

 

I believe you are confusing free agents declining a qualifying offer and players under team control being tendered a contract for arbitration. Two separate things. Fien is not a free agent yet. At this point he only becomes a free agent if the Twins do not tender him a contract offer (which they did). Had the Twins not offered him a contract, then yes he becomes a free agent.

Or confusing the qualifying offer system to the old system with type A and type B free agents.  

 

Under that system, players could decline arbitration offers, and the team would get draft compensation, but this system has been replaced with the qualifying offer.

 

That system still wouldn't have applied to Fien though, as the service time requirements did not change.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

The other thing to note is that if he doesn't make it out of spring training and gets let go, the contract isn't guaranteed. So, at $2.5 million, which I think could be up to $0.5M too high, he would then only cost like $400,000. 

 

He might also be someone they can trade and get something like a C-level prospect for. 

Same arguments could have (and probably were) made about Duensing in recent seasons.  Yet there he was, locked into a roster spot while our bullpen of placeholders helped sink our 2015 season...

[DaveW]

This is one of the areas where Ryan's conservative nature really hurts him, in my opinion.

 

The 6/7th inning guys shouldn't start with mediocrity. Fien is a mediocre reliever.

 

Guys like Nick Burdi or Alex Meyer aren't going to get the call to Minnesota and become the closer or 8th inning guy overnight. They're going to start in a lesser role and work their way forward in the pen. A guy like Fien blocks higher upside players from getting to the Majors quickly and testing their ability to compete.

 

I see virtually no upside here and marginal downside. Mostly, I think it's pointless.

 

Though if Ryan doesn't hesitate to release Fien or trade him the moment the Twins have a better option, Casey is a fine safety net.

I hate mediocrity as much as anyone else...but as long as Fien is the 5th option in the pen (including closer) I don't mind this move. I'd much rather have Fien in that role then Boyer. If Burdi or someone presses the issue you can always let Fien walk at some point Stauffer style.

 

However if Fien is the 3rd option behind perkins and Jepsen.... Uh oh

[sane09]

 

Or confusing the qualifying offer system to the old system with type A and type B free agents.  

 

Under that system, players could decline arbitration offers, and the team would get draft compensation, but this system has been replaced with the qualifying offer.

 

That system still wouldn't have applied to Fien though, as the service time requirements did not change.

•Once a team makes a qualifying offer, the player has two choices: he can accept the one-year deal or decline in search of other offers. If he declines the offer and signs elsewhere, his new team will have to surrender a top draft pick ...October, 2015 explanation from:

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/10/explaining-the-qualifying-offer-system.html

[Brock Beauchamp]

I hate mediocrity as much as anyone else...but as long as Fien is the 5th option in the pen (including closer) I don't mind this move. I'd much rather have Fien in that role then Boyer. If Burdi or someone presses the issue you can always let Fien walk at some point Stauffer style.

 

However if Fien is the 3rd option behind perkins and Jepsen.... Uh oh

If he's the fifth option and the Twins don't allow him to block younger, better players, it's an acceptable move. Don't really care for it but I won't get too upset, either.

[sane09]

 

•Once a team makes a qualifying offer, the player has two choices: he can accept the one-year deal or decline in search of other offers. If he declines the offer and signs elsewhere, his new team will have to surrender a top draft pick ...October, 2015 explanation from:

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/10/explaining-the-qualifying-offer-system.html

On the other hand, regarding ARBITRATION:

At the end of the season, if a player is eligible for arbitration, the team has a certain window with which to offer arbitration to that player. Offering arbitration doesn’t necessarily mean the two sides will go before the arbitrator. It simply means the team is interested in retaining the player’s services. A good amount of times, the team and player continue to negotiate before the hearing and settle on a contract....from http://viewfromthebleachers.com/blog/2007/12/01/mlb-arbitration-explained/

[TRex]

The thing I like about Fien is that he can go back to back to back games, or give you multiple innings. Those reliever are hard to find, and every bullpen needs at least 1.

 

And when he is on a roll, he is just fine in the 8th inning. Just don't write his name down in ink!

[DocBauer]

I have stated before, I really think Ryan took a more conservative approach than he should have...possibly more than he really wanted...last year in regard to the pen because he just KNEW that Tonkin and Pressly and Burdi and Reed and Jones and others were going to be ready at some point.

 

You simply can't afford to make a mistake like that again, not with a team that actually appears to have a winners chance!

 

Fien provides, healthy again, a solid 6th and 7th inning option behind your top 4-ish relievers. He is insurance, and a stop-gap, for when the younger kids are up and ready. It may seem like a "meh" signing, but it's a relatively inexpensive and solid option.

 

As long as they don't stop with him,

[DaveW]

If he's the fifth option and the Twins don't allow him to block younger, better players, it's an acceptable move. Don't really care for it but I won't get too upset, either.

I'm not super worried about that, if there has been one thing the twins have been worse then their ability to develop good young starting pitching (strike outs) over the past decade, it's developing power bullpen arms.

 

Other than Perkins, and now May (who should be a starter anyways) they haven't had a whole lot of feather in their caps so to speak.