It is not a secret that the Twins reached the 2017 post-season despite their awful pitching situation. Even though, I believe that there are not any suitable starting pitchers who are free agents that can help the Twins in 2018, there are three relievers that the Twins need to take a close look to supplement their staff. To fill a rotation competitive long in the post-season, the Twins will need at least 2 pitchers better than Berrios, and other than Darvish and Otani who are unapproachable for the Twins, nobody really fits the list. They are better off trading for those, and will discuss that matter in another post.
As far as the pen goes, the Twins glaring needs are for a dominant closer, a dominant opposite hand late inning reliever and a dominant 2-3 inning reliever. Dillon Gee could play that later role, but he does not miss many bats, which has been the issue with the whole of the Twins' pen last season. It ranked 23rd in FIP, 29% in K%, tied for 20th in K-BB%, and 19th with a -9.62 RE24, and 29th in SwStr%. Here are the players the Twins should have a look at:
Closer: RHP Brandon Morrow (29.4 K%, 24.1 K-BB%, 15.9 SwStr%, 1.55 FIP, 11.90 RE24) Morrow dominated as a set up man for a team that made it to the World Series. Finally healthy, he featured a 98 mph fastball, 89 mph slider, supplemented by a 92 mph cutter. These are closer stuff. The 33 year old will be popular this off-season and MLB Trade Rumors projects that he will go to the Rockies with a 3 year, $24 million contract. I think that the Twins could prevail offering him 2 years at $18 and a third optional year at $11 with a $2 million buy out, for a total of $20 million guaranteed.
Opposite hand late reliever: LHP Boone Logan (30.8 K%, 20.9 K-BB%, 18.5 SwStr%, 3.16 FIP, 11.31 RE24). The Indians bought out his $7M option for $1M, making him a free agent. Logan, who is also 33, had issues with a Lat muscle strain, so he posses somewhat of a risk. The Twins can reel him him in with a 1 yr $4M contract, with $2 more millions in incentives and a vesting option for 2017 for $8 million. So the risk will be 1 year and $4M and the upside a $2 yr, 14 million, which is fair if Logan continues his performance.
Quality workhorse: RHP Yusmeiro Petit (28.5K%, 23.4 K-BB%, 10.6 SwStr%, 2.85 FIP, 19.34 RE24). The 32 year old journeyman finally made the transition to the pen where he shined with the Angels last season pitching 91-1/3 innings of excellent ball. Petit never walks anyone but this season he started missing bats, making it an awesome combination for someone who can pitch 3-4 shutdown innings at a time. Petit never made much money in his professional career, and a 2 yr / $10 million, or 3 year / $12 million deal will appropriate to bring him to Minnesota.
This way the Twins will have a 2018 pen anchored by Morrow and Logan, supplemented by Petit and four of their young leftovers with high potential, who will have the opportunity, unlike in 2017, to pitch and develop in less stressful situations with some real mentors.
As far as the pen goes, the Twins glaring needs are for a dominant closer, a dominant opposite hand late inning reliever and a dominant 2-3 inning reliever. Dillon Gee could play that later role, but he does not miss many bats, which has been the issue with the whole of the Twins' pen last season. It ranked 23rd in FIP, 29% in K%, tied for 20th in K-BB%, and 19th with a -9.62 RE24, and 29th in SwStr%. Here are the players the Twins should have a look at:
Closer: RHP Brandon Morrow (29.4 K%, 24.1 K-BB%, 15.9 SwStr%, 1.55 FIP, 11.90 RE24) Morrow dominated as a set up man for a team that made it to the World Series. Finally healthy, he featured a 98 mph fastball, 89 mph slider, supplemented by a 92 mph cutter. These are closer stuff. The 33 year old will be popular this off-season and MLB Trade Rumors projects that he will go to the Rockies with a 3 year, $24 million contract. I think that the Twins could prevail offering him 2 years at $18 and a third optional year at $11 with a $2 million buy out, for a total of $20 million guaranteed.
Opposite hand late reliever: LHP Boone Logan (30.8 K%, 20.9 K-BB%, 18.5 SwStr%, 3.16 FIP, 11.31 RE24). The Indians bought out his $7M option for $1M, making him a free agent. Logan, who is also 33, had issues with a Lat muscle strain, so he posses somewhat of a risk. The Twins can reel him him in with a 1 yr $4M contract, with $2 more millions in incentives and a vesting option for 2017 for $8 million. So the risk will be 1 year and $4M and the upside a $2 yr, 14 million, which is fair if Logan continues his performance.
Quality workhorse: RHP Yusmeiro Petit (28.5K%, 23.4 K-BB%, 10.6 SwStr%, 2.85 FIP, 19.34 RE24). The 32 year old journeyman finally made the transition to the pen where he shined with the Angels last season pitching 91-1/3 innings of excellent ball. Petit never walks anyone but this season he started missing bats, making it an awesome combination for someone who can pitch 3-4 shutdown innings at a time. Petit never made much money in his professional career, and a 2 yr / $10 million, or 3 year / $12 million deal will appropriate to bring him to Minnesota.
This way the Twins will have a 2018 pen anchored by Morrow and Logan, supplemented by Petit and four of their young leftovers with high potential, who will have the opportunity, unlike in 2017, to pitch and develop in less stressful situations with some real mentors.
1 comment:
These guys look solid. Hopefully the Twins can sign a couple or all three of them.
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