Minnesota Twins: 5 Free Agents you might not be thinking about
The Minnesota Twins have done some major work already this offseason, but these free agents you might be thinking about could still help the team.
The Minnesota Twins have done some decent work by bringing in three significant additions to their roster in advance of the 2019 season. First baseman C.J. Cron, second baseman Jonathan Schoop, and now designated hitter Nelson Cruz will all add additional power to the roster.
While the 2019 roster is beginning to take shape, there are a few more question marks that could be addressed by free agent signings. While some bigger names are still weighing the offers that have been presented to them. There are some names you may be less familiar with that could help the Twins overtake the Cleveland Indians next season.
Here we will take a look at some of those players. They may not bring some of the same fanfare as Cruz has, but they could be the difference between the division championship and an early offseason. Advanced warning, there will be lots of pitching in this post because I think we all would like to see that pitching staff beefed up a bit.
LHP Tony Sipp
Tony Sipp has somewhat quietly put together some very good seasons as a MLB reliever. Sipp began his MLB career with the Cleveland Indians and he has now spent the past five seasons as a member of the Houston Astros.
Last season Sipp appeared in 54 games and finished with a 1.86 ERA and a 42/13 K/BB. He also held left-handers to a .191 batting average while holding right-handers to a .209 batting average. Proving last season that he has the ability to be a bit more than a pure lefty-specialist.
In seasons when Sipp has struggled one thing that has happened is an increased frequency of home runs. Something that Sipp has been able to keep under control at points in the past and might keep under control again in 2019.
The Twins aren’t in desperate need of a left-handed reliever with Taylor Rogers and Gabriel Moya in the bullpen mix. Sipp could prove still to be valuable as a bit of an upgrade over Moya or could even be a third lefty if the Twins would choose to use Moya again in an opener role more regularly.
RHP Shawn Kelley
Shawn Kelley is coming off of a season in which he saw himself pitch well enough that the Oakland Athletics acquired him in the waiver trade period just after the non-waiver trade deadline. Kelley became part of a loaded Athletics bullpen that also included the likes of Blake Treinen, Jeurys Familia, and Fernando Rodney down the stretch.
In 2018 between the Washington Nationals and A’s, Kelley logged 49.0 innings a 2.94 ERA, and a 50/9 K/9. He only got better after his move west as he logged 16.2 of his 49 innings and recorded a 2.16 ERA, 2.08 FIP, 18/6 K/BB, and 9.7 K/9.
Kelley primarily uses a two pitch mix of a fastball around 92 mph and a slider that drops in velocity to 82 mph. He can also tend to be a flyball pitcher which can always be scary since fly balls can result in home runs. If Kelley can keep the ball in the park again like last season, the Twins outfielders will have a group of strong defenders that should chase down just about anything else.
RHP Hunter Strickland
Hunter Strickland is a name that I had passed over earlier this offseason in some of my baseball ponderings when he was still on the San Francisco Giants roster. At that point, he was clearly a player that the Giants may look to move but I wasn’t very interested in the Twins trading for the right-handed reliever.
Since then he has been non-tendered and now becomes a much more interesting addition as a free agent. Strickland does have experience working as a closer but that would hopefully not be his role if the Twins were to sign him.
He has a good mix of pitches with a 96 mph fourseam fastball, a slider, and also throws the occasional changeup according to Brooks Baseball. 2018 was a bit rough for Stickland as he turned in a 3.97 ERA over 45.1 innnings. Strickland’s experience, ability to hold a K-rate above 20%, and over 10% swinging strike rate makes him at least an interesting signing as he would provide added depth for the Twins bullpen.
RHP Greg Holland
Greg Holland isn’t too far removed from being an All-Star closer. The long time Kansas City Royal cashed in on free agency and has since bounced around the National League. Last season he started out with the St. Louis Cardinals and had half a season to forget.
In 25.0 innings with the Cardinals, Holland had a 7.92 ERA and an even 22/22 K/BB ratio. That caused his WHIP to soar to 2.240. The Washington Nationals still saw something to salvage from that start and chose to take a chance on Holland and were rewarded with 21.1 innings of 0.84 ERA and a 25/10 K/BB.
At 32-years-old Holland should still have something left in the tank and could turn into a very good signing if the three-time All-Star has regained that All-Star form. He really could be anything from bullpen depth to shut down closer on the 2019 Twins depending on how he performs.
OF Jon Jay
So this doesn’t become the relief pitcher show here we add outfielder Jon Jay to the mix. It is harder now to see another hitter fitting with the Twins outside of someone who is a true upgrade over what they currently have like a Bryce Harper or Manny Machado after the signing of Nelson Cruz.
There is always a chance that the Twins could still trade away one of their young outfielders which would make the union of Jay and the Twins work much better than it currently does. Jay will be turning 34 soon which isn’t a really great milestone for a center fielder but he has continued to be productive but did hit a rough spot with Arizona in 2018.
Jay could help provide leadership to the Twins young outfielders as he has plenty of experience in the playoffs and a World Series title from his time with the Cardinals. He also adds back into the Twins mix some lacking on-base ability with his career .352 OBP. Even in a season that looked like a struggle for Jay last season he still turned in a .347 OBP.
Next. Potential Partners in a Tyler Austin trade. dark
There is our list. Any other under-the-radar signings few are talking about that you would like the Twins to consider?