Twins’ Bullpen Trusts Internal Options, Roster Additions Not a Priority: Derek Falvey

The Minnesota Twins have been busy this offseason, making several moves to improve their roster. The team re-signed shortstop Carlos Correa and brought in new players such as Pablo López, Joey Gallo, Christian Vázquez, Michael A. Taylor, and Kyle Farmer. These additions will add depth and talent to the Twins’ lineup.

Relatively Quiet in the Bullpen

While the Twins have been active in terms of adding players, they have been relatively quiet in terms of the bullpen. The club’s president of baseball operations, Derek Falvey, has stated that adding a significant reliever is not a priority for the team at this time. Instead, the team is focusing on adding depth in the middle innings. Falvey says that if the team were to make a move, it would likely be to add depth in the middle innings.

Bullpen Performance in 2022

Last year, the Twins’ relief corps was in the middle of the pack in terms of performance. Their 3.84 ERA was tied for 15th among the 30 teams in the league, while their 3.85 FIP was 14th, their 3.79 xFIP 10th, and their 3.50 SIERA ninth. The team took a hit when deadline acquisition Michael Fulmer reached free agency, though he remains unsigned.

Internal Options and Faith in Jorge Lopez

The Twins have faith in their internal options, including Jorge Lopez. Lopez was acquired from the Orioles at the deadline last year and still has two years of club control. After many years of mediocre performance as a starter, Lopez converted to a full-time relief role in 2022 to great success. In 44 appearances for the Orioles, he posted a 1.68 ERA while getting grounders at a 60% clip, striking out 27.6% of batters faced and walking 8.7%. While Lopez’s performance was not as strong after the trade to the Twins, the team is confident he will bounce back in 2023.

Other Intriguing Names in the Mix

In addition to Lopez, the Twins have other intriguing names in the mix that could step up. Jhoan Durán was primarily a starter in the minors but successfully transitioned to a relief role in the majors last year. He had a 1.86 ERA in 67 2/3 innings over 57 appearances, getting grounders at a 61% clip while striking out 33.5% of opponents and walking just 6% of them. Falvey says that Durán adapted to the new role faster than the team could have hoped.

Griffin Jax and Jovani Moran are also players that the Twins are encouraged by. Jax also made the transition from a starter to a reliever in 2022, finishing the year with a 3.36 ERA, 47.3% ground ball rate, 26.9% strikeout rate, and 6.9% walk rate. Moran had a 2.21 ERA in 40 2/3 innings, keeping the ball on the ground at a 48.9% pace while striking out 32.9% of batters faced, though he did walk 11% of them.

Eighth and Ninth Innings Covered

Despite the possibility of making a small addition, Falvey feels that the Twins already have the high-leverage arms they need. He says that the team feels they have the eighth and ninth innings covered. Other likely relievers in the club’s bullpen include Caleb Thielbar, Emilio Pagán, Jorge Alcalá, and Trevor Megill.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Minnesota Twins are confident in their internal options for the bullpen and do not see adding a significant reliever as a priority. With several intriguing names in the mix, the club focuses on adding depth to the middle innings and building on the promising performances of their existing relievers.

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