The Minnesota Twins continue to be at the center of rumors as they look to improve their pitching staff. Here are five more pitchers that could help.
Everyone knows the Minnesota Twins need to add pitching this offseason to keep up the winning ways they found in 2017. There are some needs in both the starting rotation and the bullpen, and there is money to spend on free agents to fill those needs.
What wasn’t known until recently, was just how much money and the level of willingness to spend that money there might be. It was about a week ago we released our initial list of free agent pitchers for the Twins to make offers on. Since I personally put that list together I will go ahead and say, I didn’t think there was any chance the Twins would actually go after some of the top-tier pitching free agents. Well, it now seems that they are.
The reality is setting in that the Twins front office is ready to give their best run at some of the best pitchers available as news like this comes out:
The twins, on the market for top pitching, like jake arrieta, but it's yu darvish who tops their wish list. https://t.co/FlxzbJB8fD
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 14, 2017
It isn’t only on the free agent market that the front office appears to be ready to be aggressive when acquiring pitching. It has also been rumored that Derek Falvey and Thad Levine are exploring how to acquire some quality relief arms via trade.
The first big trade rumor reported was that the Twins have reportedly called to gauge the asking price for Raisel Iglesias of the Cincinnati Reds. Iglesias has served as the Reds closer and this past season saved 28 games with a 2.49 ERA. He also struck out 92 batters, good for 10.9 strikeouts per nine. Iglesias will demand a high price tag due to both his performance and the years of team control left as he isn’t arbitration eligible until 2021.
Darren Wolfson has also reported the Twins have been checking in on another closer:
Another of many teams the #MNTwins have planted trade seeds with is Tampa, I hear. Opinion moving that info. forward: Closer Alex Colome is certainly intriguing. Price tag, for obvious reasons, is high. pic.twitter.com/q3e7rE0tuU
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) November 13, 2017
Alex Colome is the 28-year old closer for the Tampa Bay Rays. This past season Colome lead the American League in saves with 47. He also recorded a 3.24 ERA but his strikeout numbers were down to 7.9 strikeouts per nine from his 11.3 strikeouts per nine in his 2016 All-Star season.
This has all forced the realization that the Twins are legitimately looking to make a big addition to their pitching staff. Bigger than was anticipated by many. And that brings on the second installment of free agent pitchers the Twins can pursue and how they may fit within the Twins pitching staff.