“Virtually every contender” has reached out to the Twins to inquire about the availability of reliever Ryan Pressly, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (via Twitter). The strong levels of interest have compelled the Twins to “at least listen” to offers on Pressly, who is controlled through the 2019 season.
Pressly, 29, is in the midst of his best season in the Majors to date. The former Rule 5 pick (out of the Red Sox organization in 2012) has seen his velocity trend upward in recent years, and he’s averaging 95.8 mph on his heater with a ridiculous 13.0 K/9 mark against 3.6 BB/9 through 47 2/3 innings this season. His 18 percent swinging-strike rate ranks fifth among qualified relievers. Pressly also has an above-average 47.9 percent ground-ball rate, and though his 3.40 ERA is plenty solid, fielding-independent metrics are even more bullish; FIP pegs Pressly at 2.95, while xFIP has him at 2.86 and his SIERA sits at 2.72.
Rosenthal notes that Pressly has the second-highest spin rate in the Majors — a nod to Pressly’s curveball, which does indeed check in second behind only Garrett Richards in terms of its spin, per Statcast (min. 100 curves thrown). It’s also worth noting that Pressly’s four-seamer has the seventh-highest spin rate, and his slider ranks 16th in that regard (again, min. 100 of each pitch type thrown).
Pressly is earning just $1.6MM in 2018 and would be controlled for one more season via the arbitration process. As Jake Kaplan of The Athletic points out (also on Twitter), Pressly fits the Astros’ preferred template of a high-spin four-seamer and curveball, though surely that skill set holds a fairly broad level of appeal throughout the Majors.
Robust as the interest in Pressly may be, it’s not yet clear whether the Twins have any intent to move pieces that are controlled beyond the 2018 season. The American League Central is still generally looks weak, and while the current season hasn’t played out as Minnesota had hoped, the team has a number of quality young pieces locked up into 2019 and beyond. The New York Post’s Joel Sherman recently reported with regard to Kyle Gibson, who is also controlled through ’19, that the Twins have “fielded inquiries” but are more open to moving impending free agents.
At present, the Twins are seven games back in the American League Central, though they’ve won four in a row. Their final four games before Tuesday’s deadline come against some of the best competition in the AL, with three games remaining in their current series in Boston plus a Monday tilt against the division-leading Indians. If Minnesota can pull within another game or two before Tuesday afternoon, perhaps it’ll hang onto most of its trade assets, though the team could choose to operate in a variety of ways. GM Thad Levine told 1500 ESPN’s Darren Wolfson earlier this month that his team could also look to add some pieces that are controlled into 2019 as a means of doing some offseason shopping in advance.
Twins should move some pieces, but Pressly would be hard if they do get into contention, selling off the bullpen is not a good idea for a playoff team.
7 games back with this much time to go, and the hell they caught last year for giving up, I have a hard time believing anyone is going anywhere anytime before Tuesday
I agree I think they are just on the fringe enough to sell of those pieces. I will be surprised if they become sellers but if they do wow what a performance by Kyle Gibson last night against the Red Sox. He is real solid pitcher that is controlled through 2019 that is someone to target. This weekend might tell the tale though they have three more in Boston see where they are after that. There is going to be some tough decisions in Twins land by the trade deadline.
“not to sell off those pieces”
Pressly and Gibson for Keibert Ruiz.
Lol. Twins fan?
Uhh yeh that’s not nearly enough for both pressly and Gibson lol. Try Ruiz, Dennis Santana and Marshall Kasowski
Ruiz isn’t going anywhere. He’s probably the only untouchable.
Buehler?
Well yes, but I was assuming we were discussing prospects. Buehler is no longer a prospect and after the gaining an extra year game, he’s sort of firmly entrenched now.
I don’t think the Twins make the playoffs, I’d be happy to be wrong, so if some team with a decent farm system wants to give the Twins one of their top five prospects I’d be all for it.
Seems like good relievers with some team control fetch a good return and I’m all for that.
They would be lucky to get a top 15 prospect for Pressly. Top 5? Come on
Have you see what good relievers are going for the last few years? It’s been ridiculous overpays (my opinion). You may be right, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I was.
Good relievers with team control have been expensive on the trade market for the most part. Plus look how cheap his contract is (it’ll go way up next year though). Pressly has been pretty good most years and this year he’s finally hitting the potential so many people saw in his stuff.
Well actually that trend has self corrected itself a bit. Elite relievers will always bring back something substantial, but I think we’re starting to realize that the overpaying is not necessarily going to happen unless relievers are one elite and two with a tremendous amount of control. Presley would probably bring back a decent package, but substantial haul most likely not.
Well I was wrong, I’d have to look further into this but I’m wondering if Escobar got a better return than Pressly which would be surprising to me.
Actually, Keibert Ruiz for Kyle Gibson and Ryan Pressly is probably a reasonably fair deal though the Dodgers might have to add a piece. Ruiz is a highly regarded AA prospect but Gibson and Pressly are well regarded, controllable pitchers.. If the Dodgers wanted both Gibson and Pressly they would have to part with Ruiz because the Twins are not going to settle for Dodger castoffs or marginal prospects.
Twins will basically have to win out (before the deadline) and come within at least 5 games back if they don’t sell. Very unlikely. It’s a near lock dozier, Escobar and duke are traded.
I would say Pressly and Gibson are unlikely to be traded. 30-70 if I had to give odds.
Can see Oakland matching up on a Santana/Pressley package with the Twins.