3 Realistic Free Agent Targets for the Minnesota Twins' Bullpen

I agree all three could be fits with the Twins.  I like McHugh the best but all three look like reasonable options to me.

With as much money that the Twins haven't spent this offseason, why not sign all three?

M. Givens,  H. Strickland are two who could be added to the list. Their stats are reasonable. Givens has some closing experience. Bradley is another reliever that could be added to the list but may end up to expensive.

1 hour ago, terrydactyls said:

With as much money that the Twins haven't spent this offseason, why not sign all three?

Might as well!  We are going to need a lot of relievers with the starting rotation the way it currently sits.

Sign all three plus Joe Kelly. I think trying to do what the Royals had with HDH during their World Series years is a good approach.

When I built my Twins roster had Twins picking up 2 mid tier starters and 2 mid tier relievers-McHugh and Tepera. At this point, Twins definitely have the payroll space to pick these up but expecting Pineda with Bundy for starters and maybe one of those 2 relievers.

Rodney 9 million, Romo 5 million Colonel 6.25, Reed 16 million. The FO has spent money on relievers 

There is value when the back half of the bullpen has options. All teams run into a stretch where they need to call up arms and option out others. With the Twins rotation they may face more of these stretches.

I think they need to add to the bullpen but I would be hesitant to add anyone without options that is not a late inning option. Are these the best high leverage relievers remaining? If so, sign the best of the three. If not I want to sign the better reliever and leave the the back half to players with options.

It's important to consider contract values for these proposals and whether or not they fit within the Twins plans. I have a tendency to agree with the idea the Twins could use some bullpen help, but a lot depends on Taylor Rogers and whether or not he's recovered from nasty middle finger knuckle sprain/tear. The damage to Rogers' pulley tendon was pretty severe. I expect he'd know by now if the surgery was inevitable so I'm assuming he recovered because we've heard nothing about a surgery. Then again, with the lockout, not sure how that works.

• Colin McHugh 2 years $14MM
• Ryan Tepara (does not really throw sliders) is probably 1yr $3MM
• Brad Boxberger 1 year 3MM (similar to Duffey)

Fangraphs bullpen projection with theoretical 40 man roster if the CBA was intact in bold.

1. Rogers
2. Duffey
3. Alcala
4. Thielbar
5. Garza, Jr.
6. Stashak
7. Moran
8. Cotton

 It's not a bullpen which would be expected to excel, and we're certainly weak for depth, but it would probably be adequate for a mediocre team. I'd think picking up Tepera is the best option to give a little more stability without over-spending. McHugh will be too expensive to justify unless Rogers was out for the season. Boxberger generated 0.8 fWAR last season... but over his past 7 seasons it looks like this: 0.0, (0.3), 0.3, (0.4), 0.0, 0.0, 0.8. The track record is too long to ignore the likelihood he's just not going to add value and there will probably be waiver claims and trade targets better.

Good list, Matthew.  I agree with virtually everyone else--all would be good options.  If the FO is going with young rotation, they better have good depth in the bullpen.

These are 3 good options.  I do expect us to sign at least 1 reliever.  possibly 2 or getting the 2nd one in a trade with options....  If the pattern this year is any indication, they may want to be able to send a few relievers down when they burn through their relievers and need fresh arms.  

6 hours ago, bean5302 said:

It's important to consider contract values for these proposals and whether or not they fit within the Twins plans. I have a tendency to agree with the idea the Twins could use some bullpen help, but a lot depends on Taylor Rogers and whether or not he's recovered from nasty middle finger knuckle sprain/tear. The damage to Rogers' pulley tendon was pretty severe. I expect he'd know by now if the surgery was inevitable so I'm assuming he recovered because we've heard nothing about a surgery. Then again, with the lockout, not sure how that works.

• Colin McHugh 2 years $14MM
• Ryan Tepara (does not really throw sliders) is probably 1yr $3MM
• Brad Boxberger 1 year 3MM (similar to Duffey)

Fangraphs bullpen projection with theoretical 40 man roster if the CBA was intact in bold.

1. Rogers
2. Duffey
3. Alcala
4. Thielbar
5. Garza, Jr.
6. Stashak
7. Moran
8. Cotton

 It's not a bullpen which would be expected to excel, and we're certainly weak for depth, but it would probably be adequate for a mediocre team. I'd think picking up Tepera is the best option to give a little more stability without over-spending. McHugh will be too expensive to justify unless Rogers was out for the season. Boxberger generated 0.8 fWAR last season... but over his past 7 seasons it looks like this: 0.0, (0.3), 0.3, (0.4), 0.0, 0.0, 0.8. The track record is too long to ignore the likelihood he's just not going to add value and there will probably be waiver claims and trade targets better.

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/player-scroll?player_id=572193#pitchTypes

They say he does.

Twins need a 15-man bullpen.  Every contract they sign with a 40-man guarantee is one less spot to rotate or test young starters in short stints.  They need to pick a path (and as much as we are skeptical I think they are).  No way to sign these guys plus run 5-7 arms up and down.

I like the selections here but deny that we can maximize our burgeoning corps and any hope for the future with every “win now” roster-block we add.