Twins make a long overdue roster move to shakeup bullpen amid struggles

It's no secret that the Minnesota Twins bullpen has left a lot to be desired lately.

There are a number of different factors playing into this, but perhaps worst of all is the fact that the unit was supposed to be one of the strongest for Minnesota this season. Coming into the year FanGraphs had the Twins' bullpen ranked near the top of the league, and it's true that the team has a solid core of relief arms to go to.

It's what lies beyond that which has caused some challenges.

Outside of Griffin Jax, Jhoan Duran, Jorge Alcala and Cole Sands, the Twins bullpen feels like a house of cards that is finally collapsing under the weight of the pennant chase. Most of this points back to the team's unwillingness to meainginfully invest in the roster, and the other shoe is dropping at the worst possible time.

Minnesota is just 2.5 games out of first place in the AL Central and fewer than 35 games away from clinching a playoff berth, and changes are finally being made.

Twins shakeup the bullpen and DFA Steven Okert

On Saturday the Twins designated reliever Steven Okert for assignment, calling up Scott Blewett to join the team as his replacement. It ends what was a challenging season for Okert, one that has some flashes but not enough consistency to have a meaningful impact.

It's been a tough season for Okert both on and off the field. He was recently reactivated from the bereavement list after spending some time away from the team. His return was brutal, as he gave up a late lead in San Diego that led to a loss the Twins couldn't really afford with things so tight in the division race. On the season he has a -0.3 WAR and a 5.09 ERA in 35.1 innings of work, which is what led to the decision to move on.

Okert's release ties a bow around two different things. He was acquired in Spring Training swap with the Miami Marlins in exchange for Nick Gordon, with both players being out of options. Gordon was DFA'd earlier this year by Miami, which means both sides of that trade have now been rendered moot moves.

It also severs one of the last remaining moves the team made in the offseason.

Minnesota signed Josh Staumont in December and added Okert to try and beef up the bullpen, but now both players are gone. Justin Topa was acquired from Seattle but is unlikely to play at all this year after suffering another injury setback, and now all the Twins have to show for their pitiful efforts to improve the roster is Trevor Richards -- who has looked abysmal since being acquired at the trade deadline.

The Twins are reaping what they sowed in trying to slash the payroll and use wishing for the best as the strategy to improve the roster. That hasn't worked, and while the team remains competitive enough to be in the race for the AL Cenral crown, it's worth wondering if the tank will run empty before the finish line.

Entering the home stretch of the season just 2.5 games back but scrapping the minor league barrell is both an awful spot, but a classic Twins position to be in.

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