Twins' Bullpen Needs Some Fresh Faces

[Cody Pirkl]

The Twins bullpen is unforgivably bad, and it’s cost them dearly over the past week. As the starting rotation has mostly held up recently, it’s time to hit the panic button and start evaluating some of the starting depth in AAA for a bullpen role.

The stats are out there, the Twins bullpen is one of the worst in all of baseball as some of the worst teams in the league have lucked into better units for the back end of games. The waiver claims such as Tyler Thornburg and Jharel Cotton continue to churn with several similar tier pitchers waiting in Triple-A. Instead of continuing this seemingly endless attempt to get any kind of value out of these types of pitchers, it’s time the Twins try something new. With several younger arms in St. Paul’s rotation, it may be time to switch them over to the bullpen to help a big league club that has no help on the way for another month.

Josh Winder
Winder has become one of the Twins' better starting pitching prospects these last couple of years and was fantastic in his first start off of the IL in the doubleheader against Cleveland. His long-term outlook still looks very much like a middle-of-the-rotation starter. The Twins don’t need that right now.

Winder began the season in the bullpen as a long reliever, something the Twins could definitely use. They could keep him in that role, or perhaps shortening his outings could help him limit his innings after his recent trip to the IL for shoulder issues for the second year in a row. Winder’s 96 mph fastball we’ve seen occasionally in starts may play up to 97-98 in the pen, and paired with his slider and changeup, Winder could become a major weapon in a bullpen that desperately needs it. The Twins can always stretch him back out next season and return him to a starters role assuming they don’t take the same route they did with this year’s bullpen.

Cole Sands
Sands is seen as more of a fringy starting pitching prospect but has been pretty good in St. Paul recently. The righty has thrown 14 innings since he was demoted allowing only two runs and striking out 16 batters. While it would be nice to keep him as starting pitching depth for this year, perhaps it’s Winder who fills that role and Sands who makes the bullpen transition.

Sands has one pitch that could be an absolute weapon in a bullpen role in his 70-grade curveball. Pitches that grade out that high are the ones you can bump up to throwing over half the time in shorter stints and become absolutely dominant. While he only throws 92, it’d be safe to bet on seeing more 94s which doesn’t sound like much but would pair very well with a legitimate breaking ball. He’s also only halfway to his 2021 innings total and doesn’t have any injury concerns, making him a candidate to play an early-season Griffin Jax role pitching multiple innings when the team needs it.

Ronny Henriquez
Acquired in the Mitch Garver trade, the Twins were aggressive with Henriquez, sticking him in AAA as a 22-year-old and keeping him in the rotation despite many scouts believing he was a future reliever. To be quite honest, it’s hard to say why he’s still a starter at this point. The 5’10 right hander (who’s reportedly shorter than listed) has a near 7 ERA in 44 innings in the Saints rotation.

Henriquez has everything you’d want in a reliever, as his fastball has a very high spin and can already touch 98 mph. He has two usable secondary offerings in the slider and changeup which both can be plus pitches at times. Even as a starter he’s typically been around 10 K/9 in his minor league career, making his potential as a reliever easy to dream on. Perhaps it’s unfair to say that the likelihood of Henriquez sticking in the rotation is low, but it’s certainly lower than Winder or Sands. He’s also already on the 40-man roster, which may entice the Twins to switch him to a role that gets them value out of his roster spot sooner rather than later.

Perhaps Sands or Winder are able to come up in the next few days and fill a bulk role, but Henriquez may be the favorite to make the transition and just become a traditional dominant reliever for the rest of his career.

The Twins have a massive mess on their hands in a bullpen that’s solely responsible for a 10-game swing in the AL Central. In addition to relievers just not being effective, the coaching staff is also failing to effectively manage a 13-man pitching staff as we saw Thursday when they had to try to close out a win with Tyler Thornburg because there were no other options. Not only could one of these minor league starters add quality to one of baseball’s worst late-game units, but having already been stretched out they can make that 13-man pitching staff feel more like 14 by being able to provide bulk innings.

One thing is for certain, if they’re going to wait until the deadline to add, they need to start preparing these arms to be relievers immediately. We’ve tried the reclamation waiver wire route, and it’s safe to say that continuing down this road could take the Twins out of the running before it comes time to add at the deadline. For a front office that talks so much about a pitching pipeline and relied so heavily on it this season, it’s time to take a leap and turn to the youth movement. What we’re doing right now simply isn’t working.

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[1Hit the ball]

Not wearing the bullpen out could be a solution.  There's no reason starting pitchers can't go 7 innings and top 100 pitches (unless it's rehab or conditioning). 

I know there are those  that say hitters do better facing a pitcher a third time.  I say adapt as a pitcher.  I say is it better to have the bullpen blow the lead than it is letting a starter have more control in earning the victory or loss? 

If coming back after five days is difficult because a pitcher the 110 pitches, go to a six-man rotationto give an extra day rest. It's time to at least try, otherwise you'll be seeing the Twins need bullpen help articles like this on a weekly basis. 

[Otaknam]

You make a valid point. Late inning relief has been a dumpster fire and the trade with San Diego has been a disaster, weakening the BP with a Ron Davis version in Pagan the only thing left. Scrap heap BP pitchers is not working so why not give Henriquez a shot at short relief. Winder has shown that he can succeed as a starter Sands has struggled similar to Jax did so a transition to BP makes some sense for this year. 

[Cornholio]

I feel that Winder is one of the 13 best pitchers in the organization. He should be up. I would like to see him and Ober at the back end of the bullpen, with Duran and Jax. Instead of long relief, let’s see some three-inning saves.

[old nurse]

Winder 6 starts, Sands 3. It is not if they will be needed as starters but when. So what the proposal is would be called rob Peter to pay Paul. Good for the moment but maybe not the short term

[TopGunn#22]

AMEN Cody !!  I don't move Winder to a BP role.  He's starting for me when Bundy eventually flames out.  BUT...Henriquez and Sands I'm all for.  I see Henriquez as kind of a Jorge Lopez type of pitcher.  A guy who struggled as a SP but blossomed when moved to the BP.  The Twins have gotten to Lopez in two consecutive games, but check out the guys stats.  He's been outstanding and I've been advocating for a trade to bring him to Minnesota.

Henriquez should just be transitioned to the BP and brought in to replace Duffey.  Sands should also be brought up immediately to replace Cotton.  I still think adding an arm like Lopez at the deadline is wise, but it's clear the BP as it's currently constituted is untenable.  Start tapping into the talent you have in the minors.  

Now I hear Canterino is hurt...again...I would love this guy to eventually be a SP but maybe it's just never going to happen.  Maybe this season, since he's already going to have an innings limit, once he's healthy, he should be promoted to St. Paul and handed the closer role for a month.  See how it goes and if it goes well promote him to the big club and put him in the BP.   This guys arm is just too electric, his stuff too good to be wasting it in the minor leagues. 

I don't want Canterino to be one of those guys who never sees a major league mound because he could never stay healthy.  The great Johann Santana began his Twins career as a RP.  Canterino should be in a Twins uniform before the end of the season.  Henriquez, Canterino and Sands.  Three guys who could help the BP immediately or at least eventually.  Think of the difference those three guys could make.  

[GopherJeff]

I think your points are right on target. Since starters now typically go 4-6 innings, having at least 2 long relievers (LRs?) is crucial. Time for the Twins decision makers to be creative. 

I remember when the Orioles - 51 years ago - had FOUR starters that each won 20 games. 
https://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/pitching.php?y=1971&t=BAL

Pitchers/pitching strategy is 180° different now. 

[MGM4706]

Should have made changes for the Cleveland series. New young arms that nobody has seen are usually good for 1-2 starts anyway.  But with no Ace and no Closer July and August and September will be lucky to be at .500!

[Karbo]

I think we add Ober to the pen when he is back. Help ease him in and i've always felt he would make a better reliever anyways. If Archer can't start going longer it may be time to look at him in the pen and put Winder in the rotation, or if Bundy flames out (as many of us fear he will) let Winder take his place. Winder for sure is a better pitcher than half the guys in the pen now. I too see no reason not to try some of the young starters on the farm in relief roles. Can they really do much worse than what we are seeing now?

[GNess]

Good article. Of course, the Twins need to try something different in terms of the sources of BP arms. Clearly, they will attempt to trade based on Falvey's recent comments. I understand the impulse to turn to young arms for BP roles, and it might help short term.

However, SP is more valuable to the Twins and in terms of potential future earnings for the pitchers. Turning the best arms in the organization into RP can delay their development paths as SP. Just asking, but is that delay/detour worth the possible few games in the standings the Twins might gain while they are pursuing trades?

[mikelink45]

Winder needs to be a starter. If Archer can only go four innings he is perfect for long relief. Not sure about the other two, but why not?

[strumdatjag]

Remember, Kenta Maeda and Dobber are going to be ready maybe even later this month.   

[Doctor Gast]

1 hour ago, Karbo said:

I think we add Ober to the pen when he is back. Help ease him in and i've always felt he would make a better reliever anyways. If Archer can't start going longer it may be time to look at him in the pen and put Winder in the rotation, or if Bundy flames out (as many of us fear he will) let Winder take his place. Winder for sure is a better pitcher than half the guys in the pen now. I too see no reason not to try some of the young starters on the farm in relief roles. Can they really do much worse than what we are seeing now?

Ober in the pen, excelllent idea Karbo. But Winder in the rotation and still try to max him out is not a good idea. Winder has shoulder problems so I'd put him in the same boat as Ober, scheduled long relief at around 3 innings.

Archer and Bundy are old veterans, so transitioning them to the pen will not be benificial, Leave them at SP but have them pitch 5 innings and once in a while 6 but not consecutively. Archer was pitching out of head (I believe of trying too hard to impress Wes) last outing and had command problems, I don't see any further problems moving forward.

[chpettit19]

Winder looks like a legit starter and I'm ok with keeping him in St Paul until a starter is needed in Minneapolis, or having the Twins get more creative with bulk work. I'd like to keep Winder as a starter and not bulk reliever so he can continue to perfect his routine for starting as I think he can be a big part of the top of the rotation with Ryan for the next half decade.

Sands feels like a bulk reliever to me. Once through the order kind of guy. Use him for 2 or 3 innings 2 or 3 times a week. I'd give him a shot in the majors if they're feeling he's ready for that. He's been pretty inconsistent this year (if I'm remembering correctly) so maybe he needs a little more work in AAA still. But he feels like a guy they'll use as a once through the order type.

I don't know much about Henriquez, but upper 90s as a starter while struggling to get guys out consistently certainly feels like a guy worth trying in the pen. Maybe he's a 1 inning shutdown guy, or maybe he's a once through the order guy. I haven't looked at his stats to see if there's a clear line there, but anyone throwing that hard would get a look in the pen if I were running things and they were struggling as a starter. Doesn't hurt to say "let it fly for an inning and see how it goes." Makes complete sense to try him as a starter to see what you have, but when the situation around him changes and he's struggling in that role there's nothing wrong with adjusting and seeing if he can fill a different role you have a clear need for.

Others have mentioned Canterino and he certainly feels like Duran 2.0. Would love him and his stuff as a starter, but his arm may just not be up for it. Maybe they have medical people telling them a move to the pen wouldn't keep his arm healthy anyways, but unless that's the case I'd probably make that move. He's 24 now so he's not young, but not old. He's got the stuff to pitch in the majors right now, but can't stay healthy long enough to work on things. If you can turn him into a late inning arm to pair with Duran for the next half decade that's not the worst outcome ever compared to a constantly injured starter. I'm sure they're having those discussions already.

[Doctor Gast]

Riverbrian relayed an article https://www.draysbay.com/2021/10/7/22703079/tampa-bay-rays-story-of-modern-baseball-power-starters-middle-relief-aces-collin-mchugh. 

I'd love to have 5 studs in the rotation who can complete games on a regular basis. One of the few teams who resemble this (LAD) limits their SPs bring in middle relief then their closer,to maximize their their results. The only stud we had, we traded away. The Twins have instead focused their attention on RPs wannabe SPs, reclamation projects and rookies. And try to maximize them to relieve the burden on the heavily reliant short relief corp and ignore long relief. How has this worked out? As predicted extending our rotation has resulted in injuries and ineffective arms.

[2wins87]

I think they could definitely use Winder as a long reliever.  They need somebody to be a long reliever to keep the rest of the bullpen more fresh right now.

There was some weird maneuvering with Winder optioning him to AAA after his last rehab start in order to use him as a 27th man on Tuesday.  He also has to remain in AAA for 10 days from his option date (ignoring the 27th man appearance) before being called back up.  He hasn't been scheduled for another AAA start yet, and I think he could be added back to the 26 man roster either today or tomorrow.  It would be Bundy and Archer's turns through in the rotation coming up Monday and Tuesday, either of which might be ideal times to have a solid long reliever available.  I think we could see a move replacing Minaya or Cotton with Winder.

He probably ought to be penciled into the rotation next year but I see the long relief role as the most valuable spot he can be in right now.

[old nurse]

3 hours ago, GopherJeff said:

I think your points are right on target. Since starters now typically go 4-6 innings, having at least 2 long relievers (LRs?) is crucial. Time for the Twins decision makers to be creative. 

I remember when the Orioles - 51 years ago - had FOUR starters that each won 20 games. 
https://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/pitching.php?y=1971&t=BAL

Pitchers/pitching strategy is 180° different now. 

A 90 mph fastball was considered fas back then. Things change

[PatPfund]

A lot of the OP is right on, but some I couldn't disagree with more. The Twins starting rotation is a MAJOR factor in our bullpen issues.

Every one of them has missed games pitched on the IL except Archer. Archer has a built-in limitation of 5 innings/70-80 pitches, which I agree with given his potential, but which also guarantees the 'pen is covering half of his games. Dylan Bundy is pretty much pitching on guts more than talent, and any time we face a good team, the bullpen probably has to cover about half of his games as well (more in a blowout).

One of Bundy/Archer can be carried; not two. One of them needs to get a shot at relieving (Archer's potential as a late-season difference maker means I'd pick Bundy). Remove one, and add Winder now; he is easily their 3rd or 4th (if you want to argue Smeltzer) best starter, has had dominant performances against top AL teams, and like Gray, Ryan, and Smeltzer is fully capable of throwing 7 innings a start. That just leaves Archer's starts with built-in long relief roles, and Ober is probably the best one to piggy-back on those. Your other six pitchers are then primarily covering 2-3 innings a game instead of 3-5, so there is less overuse.

Finally, sure tinker with some starters if you feel the need, but Schulfer and Sisk are already relievers, and already blowing people away in St Paul. Give them auditions NOW, so you don't end up trading draft capital for an issue where there is an in-house solution (and if they don't work out NOW, you still have time to work the trade market. And seriously make some decisions; Caleb Thielbar hasn't had an ERA under 5 since early in the season, and it isn't 'one or two bad outings.

(My partner complaint is usually "DFA Duffey", but he might actually have figured something out; think he's working on 6-7 straight scoreless outings, and has peeled two runs off his ERA. Use him for real to find out if there is a real change.)

[RJA]

I would certainly be willing to look at all options, but I think the Twins need to add one or two lockdown relievers on expiring contracts—Robertson, Bard, etc—to add to Duran and Jax to compete in the playoffs.  I wouldn’t rely on young players with limited experience and no playoff experience to face the Yankees and Astros in the 6th-9th innings. And, needless to say, it would help us get to the playoffs. 

[blindeke]

Amen! should have done this yesterday.

[Minfidel]

2 hours ago, strumdatjag said:

Remember, Kenta Maeda and Dobber are going to be ready maybe even later this month.   

That would be nice, but I'm not counting on it - and neither should the team.

[Danchat]

I think Sands could transition well to the bullpen, a la Jax and Littell. I don't know as much about Henriquez, but with the way he's struggling as a starter, it may be inevitable that they have to move him to the pen. 

As for Winder, I want him in the Twins rotation right now. He's proven up to this point that he can handle starting in the majors, and I'd rather have him starting every 5th game then relegating him to long relief. How about we remove Bundy from the rotation before he implodes like we all expect him to?

[KirbyDome89]

11 minutes ago, Danchat said:

I think Sands could transition well to the bullpen, a la Jax and Littell. I don't know as much about Henriquez, but with the way he's struggling as a starter, it may be inevitable that they have to move him to the pen. 

As for Winder, I want him in the Twins rotation right now. He's proven up to this point that he can handle starting in the majors, and I'd rather have him starting every 5th game then relegating him to long relief. How about we remove Bundy from the rotation before he implodes like we all expect him to?

Concur on being proactive rather than reactive. Winder looks more than capable of giving the Twins what Bundy has to this point, plus Bundy to the pen might be an improvement on two fronts. 

[Rosterman]

Henriquez was overmatched in AAA. And, yes, maybe he would be BEST suited as a bullpen arm. Start doing it at St. Paul, and elevate Varland and maybe even Canterino to AAA as starters.

The Twins also have to make a hard decision on Balazovic. Another guy who MIGHT be a good guy to try as a middle relief (mop up arm) arm, even at the major league level similar to what the twins did with Santana. He has just been so...inconsistent.

I do wish the Twins would give Strotman a shot in the majors. He can't be any worse than the arms they keep shuffling thru. See if he can adjust...fast, if he wants a major league run.

Someone made a comment above about how being a starter means a bigger paycheck. I remember when the Twins demoted Frankie Ropdriguez to the bullpen and he threw a fit just for that reason. Two things: (1) a top flight reliever can make decent dollars and even have a long career (2) you don't get paid anything if you can't stay in the majors.

Back to topic. No one mentioned Cano and his light's out at AAA. I guess he might be the next Anthony Slama? We will see.

 

And Schulfer and Sisk may be the frewsh arms the Twins bullpen will finally call upon once then jettisoned aged veterans (Thielbar, Smith) or run thru more of the AAAA arms that they have stocked in the St. Paul bullpen.

 

[Danchat]

3 hours ago, Rosterman said:

The Twins also have to make a hard decision on Balazovic. Another guy who MIGHT be a good guy to try as a middle relief (mop up arm) arm, even at the major league level similar to what the twins did with Santana. He has just been so...inconsistent.

I think he needs to get IL'd or possibly demoted to AA. I'm not convinced moving to the pen would help, he's struggling in short appearances as well.

3 hours ago, Rosterman said:

I do wish the Twins would give Strotman a shot in the majors. He can't be any worse than the arms they keep shuffling thru. See if he can adjust...fast, if he wants a major league run.

Disagree, it could get worse. Strotman can't throw strikes and is very hittable to even AAA hitters, he'd probably have similarly terrible numbers in the majors. If he can't show an ounce of promise in AAA, I have no interest in seeing him flounder in the majors.

3 hours ago, Rosterman said:

And Schulfer and Sisk may be the frewsh arms the Twins bullpen will finally call upon once then jettisoned aged veterans (Thielbar, Smith) or run thru more of the AAAA arms that they have stocked in the St. Paul bullpen.

Agreed, I want to see Schulfer and/or Sisk soon. Much more interested to see them than the two mentioned above.

[stringer bell]

I think it is a stretch to believe that any and every starter can be converted to the bullpen. Some guys are wired to pitch every 5-6 days, some are not. Some have their stuff “play up”, others don’t. Some relish the challenge of coming into close games late. 
 

I think the best course for the remainder of the season is a) get as many healthy as possible and b) trade for two proven bullpen arms. 

[Linus]

Winder and Canterino are likely on an innings limit due to injury history so I see no downside to letting them get their 80 innings in the pen as long relievers they still can prepare for starting going in to next spring. 

[miller761]

The FO needs to get better in the bullpen. Start by adding Winder. He can piggyback Archer or Bundy abd take a lot of stress off the bullpen those days. Maybe Ober can help bullpen also. If they keep the same 5 starters our bullpen just got a lot better with those 2 additions.

 

[RaoulDuke]

They have some interesting arms that could prove to be good pen pieces, I think this is why they were comfortable trading Rodgers and not signing much.  However Pagan/ Duffey sucking has really accelerated the time frame.

Maeda is going to be back at some point this year, and probably doesn't have the time to stretch out.  He was an awesome reliever with the Dodgers in the playoffs/ stretch runs.

Winder/ Ober are going to face innings issues and could use the decreased workload.

Archer is getting an early hook to keep his innings down he could be a pen piece.

Bundy could be a long guy.

Prospects like Henriquez/ Sands/ Canterino could all get their feet wet in the pen and then we will see who they want to develop as starters next year.

All those possibilities and they are still short 2 late inning arms.  They need Alcala back in the worst way but hes hard to bet on at this point.  Duran has been awesome but has already pitched double the innings he has in 3 years?  Is he really going to be there later in the year at this pace?

They must trade for 2 setup caliber guys period.

 

[TopGunn#22]

The argument could be made that with all the guys on innings limits the Twins have, that those guys (Winder, Ober, Canterino, Henriquez and even Archer) could eventually be moved to the pen if a proven #1, innings eater, was added to the top of the rotation.  (Castillo/Montas), Gray, Ryan, Smetlzer and then Winder/Archer as the #5.  Then Ober,  Canterino, Henriquez (and hopefully Alcala) in front of Duran.

I'd keep Pagan around for the 7th inning and be done with Duffey & Theilbar.  Maybe either could be included in a deal to get one more bullpen arm like a Lopez from Baltimore (giving the Orioles a BP arm to replace what the lost to finish the season). 

They absolutely need BP help.  But they may have a LOT of guys who could transition to the BP in the interest of limiting innings and protecting arms.  I like Winder as a SP.  I'd rather have him as my #5 than Archer.  But I don't know what the Twins short term-long term plan for Winder is.  I would be O.K. if they started Archer and then used Winder right after him him as a piggyback.  That would be good for 7 innings consistently.  

With Montas experiencing some shoulder tightness and being removed after just one inning yesterday, that really muddies the water for a LOT of teams.  But I'm just offering a counter-argument that a #1, top of the rotation, consistent innings eater could still get the Twins to a better BP as well.