Previewing 3 Club Options Facing the Twins

Drop Sano seems obvious,  Keep Gray is also obvious, but Bundy is rightfully your big question mark.  For me the rest of the season determines Bundy.  Would you choose Bundy over Archer?  Are either of them BP arms?  Does Winder and Ober pitch well the rest of the season.  

It is an interesting post but for your big question it will be decided in the next two months.

I think the key is Maeda.  Until we know if he is sound again, Bundy would be an insurance policy.  And I seem to remember Paddock might not be ready for spring training, but later in the season.  Again, how will he come back?  And Archer appears suited better for long relief than starting, averaging almost exactly 4 innings a start.  For that matter, Winder and Ober have spent their share of time on the IL, and maybe this won't be the last time.  

If the decision were today, I would pick him up.  We may or may not be as deep as we think we are when it comes to health.  

All three are easy calls.  Bundy would be a little harder if we did not have a lot of possible depth and he was more consistent.  Sano is out and so is Bundy.  Gray easy pick up.  

You can never have too much pitching.  Bundy is a close decision, much of it would depend on how to reallocate the money.  Probably would pay the buyout, but let's see how he pitches the rest of the year.  Youngsters may or may not be effective when they return, this would be an insurance policy.  Do not see any newbies banging down the door, so we would have to replace him, at what cost.  

Agree with you and the above comments, Sano should be gone and Gray MUST be signed to an extension.  What you do with Bundy will depend on who is managing the club in 2023.  If the current staff returns, Bundy's option should be exercised and the team should go to a four man rotation with three or more long relievers pitching 2-3 innings after the starters are limited to 4-5 innings.  

If the Twins change on field management and use their starters like the rest of baseball, then bringing Bundy back is less desirable.

I think it should be pretty easy to find the 2023 version of Dylan Bundy, and pay him less than $10M.  Given that, I don’t think it makes sense to pay $11M to actual Dylan Bundy.

Tell Sano and Bundy, "Thank you for being a Twin and for your work and good luck with your new team." Tell Gray: "Thank you for 2022 and welcome back for 2023".

28 minutes ago, roger said:

the team should go to a four man rotation with three or more long relievers pitching 2-3 innings after the starters are limited to 4-5 innings.  

I am on board with this. If starters are only throwing 75-80 pitches there is no reason they need 4 full days rest between starts.

Good article, Cody.  With respect to Bundy, to be a devil's advocate, I am not convinced that the Twins will have an abundance of starters next year.  Given the number of injuries hitting all pitching staffs, teams need to have at least 8 or 9 starters. The Twins used at least 11 this year I believe. It looks like the rotation will be Mahle, Gray, Ryan and Maeda as you suggest, but after that it is not so certain.  Plus, we have yet to see Maeda pitch this year and Ryan has not looked sharp since coming back from Covid.  Since June 1 he has given up 12 home runs over roughly 52 innings. The league may be adjusting to him as they see him more.  Paddack is coming off TJ and will at best have an innings limitation. Ober has been injured as well.  Winder and Dobnak have significant injury histories.  Canterino is out all year. Smeltzer might qualify as a spot starter.  Balazovic does not appear ready.   Still, there is no way I would pay Bundy 11 million given his erratic history.  Having said that, I am still concerned about our pitching depth next year.  But, let's try to right the ship this year and worry about next year this offseason.

I would call it lazy tweeting by Nash to say the last 10 games without mentioning it is only 52 innings, but it is not it must have taken some work to figure it with just 10 starts, because if you do his last 11 his ERA is 4.18 (56 innings) or his last 9 (44 innings) it is 4.29.

But I say no to Sano and sad to see him go, as for Bundy is less than 5 innings a start and a ERA of 4.76 really cost 11 million? I say no on him as well.

Gray has been a pretty big disappoint for me as well, He is also averaging less than 5 innings a start and if you told me before the season he will have less Quality starts then Smeltzer, pitch in the 7th inning twice and only have 3 games with over 87 pitches and a max of 97 I would have called you a damn liar. Maybe we trade him this off season and re-coup on the Petty trade?

I think the article is spot on.  Keep Gray, let the other leave.  Sano is obvious at his salary, and how hard is it to get a replacement for a very average Bundy?

Sano has seen the last of his time as a twin.

Gray is still not a sure thing.

Bundy is a No.

This team will need to find at least one starter that is left handed. And that is not Smeltzer,it is a nice story but not major league starter. Also may need changes in FO and Management.

No to Sano.

Yes to Gray [seek and extension past '23].

No to Bundy.

Twins Daily community unite!!  What binds us? Our shared opinion on these club options and our current state of misery. 

I know I am kind of old school but I really like how Bundy comes out and challenges hitters. I think given his results he could command 10M on the market.  That being said he is a 5th starter at best so if they went a different direction I would be OK with that too.  It will be interesting to see if SWR and Varland will look like legit MLB starting options for next year along with Winder and Ober and maybe Smeltzer and Paddack coming back it would seem they have sufficient depth without Bundy but like I said I could go either way given how volatile pitchers arms are.

Sano just never quite put things together with much consistency.  I still think his best days might be a head of him but his time in Minnesota is at an end.  Wouldn't want to pay 14M for the production he brings so he will get the buyout and certainly another chance with another team.

Gray is a keeper for next year hands down not much to argue there.

The option on Bundy should be declined. 

I'm not opposed to bringing him back, but I'd rather decline the option and sign him back for $5, which is what his caliber of pitcher gets.

Depending on the health of Maeda and Dobnak going into the offseason, we may need a fringe veteran 5th starter that we can cut if he fails. I just prefer more upside than Bundy. 

Yes, keep Grey. He's  the closest thing we have to an Ace. I enjoy watching him pitch. Our young arms can learn a lot from him. 

Sano no

Bundy not so much 

3 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Chris Archer also has a mutual option for $10 million next season. I’m sure he’d love to get paid that much to “start” for 3-4 innings, but he’ll likely be out too. With minimal progression from the pitching prospects, we’ll be in the market for 2 or 3 starters again this winter. 

Yes, I'd noticed he was missed.

Same net cost as Bundy, when you consider Bundy's buyout. Slightly better results for Archer, but in slightly fewer innings. Say what we will about the tendency toward short outings, but they each lead the team in starts, and each has more than Paddack, Ober and Winder combined.

I can't see them doing both, but I could see them doing one or the other if one finishes strong. Of course, if he finishes strong, Archer might take it out of their hands by declining his side of the option and trying his luck on the market.

I know this article is about team options, but the Twins will also have to make a tender decision on Gio Urshela. He could get $8-$9 million if they take him through the arbitration process. I noticed Miranda has been getting more playing time at third. 

25 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

They have two healthy, likely good, pitchers next year.

What's wrong with Joe Ryan?

1 hour ago, LewFordLives said:

I know this article is about team options, but the Twins will also have to make a tender decision on Gio Urshela. He could get $8-$9 million if they take him through the arbitration process. I noticed Miranda has been getting more playing time at third. 

If this is true, it is a more difficult decision as to whether to tender arbitration to Gio. I, for one, would want to keep Gio. I have read he is a good clubhouse influence and he is hitting well and can hit to the opposite field and can play an adequate 3B. Keep in mid, if C-4 does not stay, and if Lewis does not immediately hit the ground running (pun intended) or needs periodic rest periods, then Gio could play SS too.

2 hours ago, IndianaTwin said:

Yes, I'd noticed he was missed.

Same net cost as Bundy, when you consider Bundy's buyout. Slightly better results for Archer, but in slightly fewer innings. Say what we will about the tendency toward short outings, but they each lead the team in starts, and each has more than Paddack, Ober and Winder combined.

I can't see them doing both, but I could see them doing one or the other if one finishes strong. Of course, if he finishes strong, Archer might take it out of their hands by declining his side of the option and trying his luck on the market.

Would you pay Archer $10 million to be a long reliever (2-3 innings)? I believe I would.  The Twins need a good long reliever. 

With Bundy, if the Twins want to keep him they could offer a 2 year 16 million or say hey we are gonna decline  his option, how bout a 1 year 8-9 million to be more inline with what he should be paid.  I think he will stay next season.  

Also Bundy has been better than his overall line.  Take out his two bad starts from late April/ early May and his ERA is probably closer to 4.00 I mean 2 innings and 9 earned runs in a start is gonna skew your numbers.