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  • 3 Realistic Trade Targets for the Minnesota Twins' Bullpen

    Matthew Taylor

    By Matthew Taylor

    On Monday, we identified three realistic free agent targets for the Minnesota Twins’ bullpen. Today, we’ll focus on three realistic reliever trade targets.

    Image courtesy of Darren Yamash ita, USA TODAY Sports

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    Trades are a good route for baseball teams to acquire talent in that they can bring back quality players at a cost-controlled rate that free agency can’t offer. While there is a good argument for why the Minnesota Twins should avoid making a trade this offseason, the three relievers below figure to bring value to the Minnesota Twins without costing much prospect capital to be acquired.

    Target #1: Chris Stratton, Pittsburgh Pirates

    After struggling in a starting pitcher role over the first few years of his career, Stratton moved into a reliever role full time after being acquired by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2019. Since that time, Stratton owns a 3.69 ERA and 9.9 K/9 in 156 innings. Stratton is a ground ball pitcher who has found success with high spin rates on his fastball and curveball, landing in the 99th and 98th percentile on those respective pitches, the type of reliever who can come into jams with runners on and get out of them with double plays. The right hander still boasts two more years of team control via arbitration.

    Target #2: Cole Sulser, Baltimore Orioles

    Hiding on the lowly Orioles, Cole Sulser was quietly one of the better relievers in the American League in 2021. In 63 innings last season, Sulser posted a 3.71 ERA with a K/9 of 9.3 while walking just over three batters per nine innings. The righty boasts an impressive changeup, which allowed him to neutralize left handed hitters last season, allowing them to hit just .186 on the year. Sulser is still pre-arbitration, which means he will come with an affordable price tag over the next handful of seasons.

    Target #3: Lou Trivino, Oakland Athletics

    The Oakland Athletics are reportedly open for business as they look to shed salary and right handed reliever Lou Trivino is one of their more intriguing names. In 72 1/3 innings last season, Trivino posted a 3.18 ERA and showed that he has the chops to close ball games, earning 22 saves. While Trivino doesn’t have big time strikeout numbers (9.0 career K/9), he does throw a fastball in the mid-to-upper 90s and specializes in limiting contact, with an opponent exit velocity of just 87.4 MPH. Trivino is set to earn about $3M in 2022 and still has two more years of arbitration after that, making him an intriguing trade target for the Twins.

    Which of the above names would you be most interested in seeing the Twins go after in a trade? Are there any other potential trade targets not listed? Leave a comment below and start the conversation!

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    Matthew Taylor has been a writer with Twins Daily since 2020. If you can't find him at Target Field you'll most likely find him at the movie theater.
    Follow Matthew Taylor on Twitter: MatthewTaylorMN

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    Doctor Gast

    Doctor Gast 4,328

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    I like all three. I've always been intrigued by Stratton's spin rate and why he hadn't had more success. Last year he was pretty good, so maybe w/ better coaching his future is looking up. But I like a trade with either Sulser (BAL) or Trivino (OAK) because we could also add a SP to the trade Means (BAL) Bassitt or Montas (OAK)

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    DocBauer

    DocBauer 14,431

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    All 3 make sense. But are any of these better than the FA options still available that cost $ but zero prospects? I am fully in for someone to help anchor the back end of the bullpen. I simply question the cost/return of a traded for RP vs a contract only for a FA RP that's still out there.

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    TopGunn#22

    TopGunn#22 1,815

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    Interesting piece.  While I do not think the Twins bullpen is "settled" I guess I'd only be interested in Trivino as he could be included in a trade for a SP (Montas, Bassitt or Manaea).  The Twins need a RH compliment to Rogers provided Rocco does the "usual" Rocco and goes by a sort of BP by committee.  Trivino has closer experience.  My focus on Twins pitching is primarily starters.  I wouldn't be averse to adding someone like Trivino but I think the BP is a place the Twins could use a lot of their young arms in very specific roles, limiting innings and protecting health while also finding out who can compete at the major league level.   

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    rv78

    rv78 1,600

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    I think the bullpen additions to the Twins have already been made..... Jharrel Cotton and Trevor Magill. There's also Derek Rodriguez and Dylan Bundy if they don't pan out as starters. 

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    chpettit19

    chpettit19 8,662

  • Community Leader

    • Posted

    I'm not a fan of trading for relievers during the offseason. Midseason is a different story as you can see who's having a good year and who isn't. Relievers are so volatile that giving up any sort of prospect capital for them during the offseason doesn't make much sense to me (see Wade for Anderson). And with a number of relievers on the open market as good or better than the trio listed here I'd much rather the Twins sign some guys if they're intent on bringing in outside arms for the pen still.

    They're running awfully low on 40-man spots, too (and we still need a SS). I'm guessing we'll see a whole bunch of young arms in 2022 as somebody would be getting fired if they move more young guys for vets and the young guys outperform on their new teams. Time to see what's been developed.

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