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Minnesota Twins GM Simulation: Free agents to fill out the roster

By Nate Palmer

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 26: Matthew Boyd #48 of the Detroit Tigers reacts after Tyler Austin #31 of the Minnesota Twins hit a two-run home run during the first inning of the game on September 26, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 26: Matthew Boyd #48 of the Detroit Tigers reacts after Tyler Austin #31 of the Minnesota Twins hit a two-run home run during the first inning of the game on September 26, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 31: David Robertson #30 of the New York Yankees reacts after striking out the final batter to defeat the Detroit Tigers 7-5 in a game at Yankee Stadium on August 31, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

My actual first target of the free agency period was neither Iglesias or Lowrie even though my inability to grab the two of them did set the tone for how the rest of the process would go. My top target was super utility man Marwin Gonzalez. With all the love given to Gonzalez going into the offseason I was afraid he would be very popular amongst a bunch of nerdy bloggers and he certainly was.

I was willing to open up the bidding for Gonzalez at 3 years and $21 million. The Mariners, White Sox, and Giants all got in on the bidding for Gonzalez with the Giants eventually landing him on a 5 year and $90 million deal. I would be shocked if in the real world Gonzalez gets a deal that hits a similar combination of length and/or $18 million AAV.

Bullpen

While the infield bidding got off to a rocky start, the other area I was trying to land some players for was the bullpen. So with all the guys available two targets rose to the top for me, David Robertson and Jeurys Familia.

RHP David Robertson

The 33-year-old David Robertson has been one of the better relievers in the American League for quite some time now. It already netted him a free agent contract with the Chicago White Sox several seasons ago, but he is still best known for being part of the bridge to the closer with the New York Yankees.

Robertson boasts a good curveball around 84 mph and a cutter which sits around 93 mph and a 87 mph slider. That arsenal of pitches has helped Robertson strike out batters at a rate north of 11 batters per nine innings in 2018 and even higher than that in seasons past. Not to mention it would be nice to not have to watch him shut down Twins lineups any longer.

In the simulation he is a Twin with a 3 year, $33 million contract.

RHP Jeurys Familia

While some may pause at some of Jeurys Familia’s past injuries and his suspension due to Domestic Violence it is clear Familia is an effective bullpen arm when he is on the mound. He made a name for himself closing games with the New York Mets and hit the 51 save mark in 2016. He has gotten there by employing an upper 90s sinker and fastball as well as a 88 mph slider.

In the simulation Familia is also a Twin with a 3 year, $30 million deal.

Both Robertson and Familia had other suitors and I was worried for a moment that what happened with Iglesias and Lowrie may happen again. Thankfully, I was able to breathe a sigh of relief when they were both awarded to the Twins.

Now back to trying to fill out that bare Twins infield

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