Not content after adding Andrelton Simmons and bringing back Nelson Cruz in the same week, the Minnesota Twins continued to make moves to fill holes on the roster, signing former White Sox Closer Alex Colomé to a one year deal.
The deal, reported to be worth $5 million in 2021, has a mutual option for 2022 worth $5.5 million and comes with a $1.25 million buyout, making the deal $6.25 million in total. If the Twins don’t exercise the option, it will be $1.25 million for the buyout, but if Colomé doesn’t exercise his option, it costs the Twins nothing.
While $6.25 million is a decent amount for a reliever, it’s less than the Twins paid for Addison Reed in 2018, and the team is getting a better pitcher. Colomé, who ranks in the Top 100 All-Time in saves, was one of the ten best relievers on the market this year, with a strong argument to be made as one of the five best.
With all this in mind, it seems like adding a top reliever like Alex Colomé is a huge win for the Minnesota Twins.
Colomé had the second-best ERA by a reliever, the fourth-most saves, and his underlying stats were good too. There is almost no indication that Colomé won’t have another good season in Minnesota.
Over his career, he has never had a season with an ERA over 3.94, and his ERA has been under 3.00 in five of his eight seasons in the league. While Colomé is now 32, he still should be considered a really solid bullpen addition.
While it’s unlikely that he matches his numbers from 2020, his strikeout rate should improve and he could even steal some save opportunities away from Taylor Rogers. While he’s not Brad Hand or Kirby Yates, he’s a very solid addition to the team. Once again, I have to give the Twins a really good grade.