The bullpen has been a sore spot for the Minnesota Twins this year. Entering Wednesday’s series finale with the Cleveland Indians, the Twins ranked 24th in MLB with an ERA of 4.72, and their 26 losses ranked third behind the Chicago Cubs and Miami Marlins.
If the Twins have had a lead, the bullpen has found a way to lose it. However, they seem to have turned a corner lately. Since Aug. 1, Minnesota’s bullpen has compiled a 3.07 ERA in 61.2 innings and could be establishing a foundation next year.
It starts with some of the acquisitions the Twins have made at the trade deadline. They received John Gant from the St. Louis Cardinals as part of the J.A. Happ trade, and the right-hander has made a positive impression.
In 7.2 innings, Gant has allowed four earned runs, but three of those came in a loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Aug. 13. Take out that outing, and Gant has allowed one run in 5.2 innings with the Twins.
The same goes for veteran right-hander Juan Minaya. In 13 games with the Twins this season, Minaya has allowed more than one earned run once (July 28 vs. the Detroit Tigers) and has thrown 6.2 shutout innings since Aug. 1.
Both Gant and Minaya are veterans who are past the point of arbitration but can be brought back on cheap, short-term deals for next year. That would fit Minnesota’s strategy of finding relievers.
However, their efforts in filling out the bullpen go beyond just acquiring journeymen relievers.
The incumbents have also rebounded after a tough start. Tyler Duffey had control issues throughout the early part of the season but has allowed just 15 free passes in his past 29.1 innings. Over his last 30 games, Duffey has compiled a 2.45 ERA while holding opposing hitters to a .226 average.
The same turnaround applies to Caleb Thielbar. The left-hander had a 5.28 ERA in his first 14 outings but cut that number to 2.97 over his last 28 appearances. During that time frame, hitters have hit .175, and Thielbar has allowed just nine walks.
With Taylor Rogers likely to also return, the Twins have a steady veteran presence. But they also have enough youth that could give the bullpen some upside.
Jorge Alcalá has struggled lately but has shown the upside of a potential high-leverage arm. Griffin Jax and Bailey Ober have shined in the rotation, but the Twins could use either as mid-to-long relievers if they decide to upgrade their starting pitching.
The Twins could also tap into their farm system to add depth to the bullpen. Top prospect Jhoan Duran and his triple-digit fastball could be an option, as could several other arms that could break out over the course of next season.
That leaves the rest to free agency, where the Twins have struggled. Last year’s top bullpen acquisition, Alexander Colomé, was a disaster. But he has pitched better lately. After starting the year with an 8.31 ERA in April, Colomé has logged a 2.92 ERA over his last 39 outings. While inevitably Twins fans will express consternation, a $5 million option seems like a decent bet that Colomé can return to the form next season.
The Twins could also find several other arms on the free-agent or trade market that could provide value and shore up one of their biggest weaknesses in 2021.
If the Twins’ recent play is any indication, they might not be as far away from fixing the bullpen as we think. If that’s the case, they could be a much better team next year once the starter is removed.
