The Twins have shown interest in both Craig Kimbrel and Dallas Keuchel, reports La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The organization is “believed” to hold more interest in Kimbrel than in Keuchel at the moment, but the Twins have spoken with both players’ representatives about potential deals.
Once the clock struck midnight last night, the draft-pick compensation tied to both pitchers expired, meaning the Twins (or any other club) can now sign either pitcher without forfeiting any future draft selections or international spending allocations. As we noted late last week, Minnesota was one of the most logical landing spots for Kimbrel, and the fact that the Twins took the final three games of a four-game road set against the Rays should only serve to further embolden the front office.
Twins relievers rank 20th in the Majors with a 4.60 ERA in 2019, and while their 4.05 FIP (ninth-best) and 4.25 xFIP (11th) paint a more optimistic pitcher, the relief corps is top-heavy. Lefty Taylor Rogers has continued last year’s summer breakout with a brilliant start to the season, while Trevor May and 30-year-old rookie Ryne Harper have each been effective as well. Offseason signee Blake Parker has posted a strong 2.61 ERA, but his K/BB numbers and velocity have gone in the wrong direction while fielding-independent metrics forecast substantial regression. Righties Matt Magill, Tyler Duffey and Mike Morin have all been effective in smaller samples, with Magill and Duffey in particular posting encouraging strikeout numbers.
But the Twins have cycled through numerous options in the final couple spots of their ’pen, receiving poor results from Chase De Jong, Andrew Vasquez, Zack Littell, Austin Adams, Adalberto Mejia and Trevor Hildenberger. High hopes were held for former top prospect Fernando Romero as he moved from a starting role to the ’pen, but he’s struggled in both the Majors and in 19 2/3 innings of Triple-A ball. Adding Kimbrel would ideally help slow that revolving door for the final couple of bullpen spots and deepen the team’s relief mix for what looks like an increasingly likely ALDS run.
There’s certainly an argument to be made in favor of signing Keuchel, as well. The Twins have received terrific results from their top four starters, as each of Jake Odorizzi, Jose Berrios, Martin Perez and Kyle Gibson have posted ERAs and FIPs south of 4.00. Michael Pineda has struggled as the fifth starter in his return from Tommy John surgery and is currently on the injured list. He’ll need to have his innings limited anyhow, and moving him to the bullpen could net some interesting results. He’s held opponents to a .237/.283/.419 line the first time through the order and would likely see his 92.1 mph average fastball play up in shorter stints. Keuchel isn’t the ace he was when he won the AL Cy Young Award in 2015, but he’d be an upgrade over Pineda and, if Pineda takes to a bullpen role, could help to solidify both the starting pitching and relief pitching for the Twins.
It’s not a foregone conclusion that the Twins will actually sign either pitcher, but back in January, chief baseball officer Derek Falvey and GM Thad Levine spoke of supplementing the team’s core when its window was “wide open.” With an 11.5-game lead in the American League Central and a 94 percent chance to take the division, per the odds at both Fangraphs and Baseball Prospectus, that would certainly appear to describe the current situation in Minnesota.
From a payroll vantage point, the Twins opened the 2018 season with a payroll just under $129MM but trimmed close to $10MM off that sum to begin the 2019 season. Signing either Kimbrel or Keuchel would quite likely push the Twins into franchise-record payroll territory, though attendance at Target Field has unsurprisingly been on the rise as the Twins have widened their division lead over the past month. There’s no indication that the team is facing any payroll constrictions, and Levine said in recent MLB Network appearance with Chris Russo (video link) that owner Jim Pohlad is “completely supportive of augmenting this team” over the course of the summer.
Kimbrel is going back to the Braves.
He better or us fans will erupt. Only fan base in baseball chanting “we want Kimbrel” since day one. We want him bad and we need him ever more
Along with DK, Brian McCann will be a key player in discussions…
[As you rock back and forth petting your pretty, pretty bird].
Keep telling yourself that.
Why was he not signed at midnight? A deal should have already been in place. Not gonna lie I’m worried the Braves still won’t add him after all of this.
The longer this day goes on the worse it is for Atlanta.
The first round of the draft hasn’t finished. Until it’s over, the pick is still attached to him.
false.
It ended at midnight….
Wrongo
Samsonite they were way off
I’m not saying DK or CK is the missing link to a WS championship but if AA doesn’t sign either one I’m looking forward to see how he spins it.
He already said he isnt happy giving a multi year commitment, so there you go. When the Twins offer him something like 2 years for $36 million, that will be why the Braves wont sign it. It blows but it is what it is. We know what kind of management we have, excuse after excuse.
Dude wants too much money for his declining talents…so you better need a closer real bad to take on this guy…His 9th inning is like watching one of the Walenda’s tightrope walking across the Grand Canyon in a high wind
Anyone but the Twins or another AL Central team.
Don’t worry….royals wouldn’t sign him (he doesn’t fit Dayton moore’s ‘Scrub’ pitcher profile like homer bailey does) & the Indians might be sellers….Detroit’s probably a year or more from contending. Royals are at least 3-4 minimum (that’s when big contracts come off payroll IF we don’t trade them….I doubt we’ll trade Kennedy for example)
What’s the problem with the AL Central, Southsider…?
It was good enough for Bill Veeck, Ernie Banks and quite a few other notable baseball people.
Naw…that dude is a tightrope walk through the 9th inning. The Twins might take a chance on him, but the better fit is Keuchel…he’ll give you innings, keep the ball in the yard. Of course neither guy is just a rental for the summer.
No other team needs Kimbrel than the Braves ,but I am afraid the poor management won’t sign him ,the Braves has got to have the worse management in baseball that I have seen in many,many ,many years ..
“Fill in the blank” team has had discussions with Dallas and Kimbrel. Please sign already. I thought Harper and Machado were annoying in the offseason, then these two said “hold my beer”
Honestly, Harper and Machado were a LOT more annoying than these two IMO
Everyday theres a new article about another team interested. Every team is lol besides like the Marlins and O’s
Simple, just don’t read them.
I wonder where the St Louis Cardinals are? They think they don’t need good pitchers? What a big big mistake, I think
Brewers could use at least one of these guys.
I agree but my concern is how ready these two are? They have been throwing in simulated games im assuming but going up against big league hitters is different and both have not pitched in a long time on a big league mound.
A long time? They’ve missed out on all of two months compared to every pitcher under contract.
And in Kimbrels defense he pitched through October, which is a bonus month of pitching on a mound most pitchers don’t get.
Some of these comments act like they’ve been MIA for years
You should be worried. Now the competition for him has increased exponentially. Draft pick compensation is the smoke-and-mirrors – teams do not want to come anywhere close to his asking price. I think he would sit out the season if he doesn’t get terms he’s interested in. Good for him.
Yeah, but his October “pitching” left a lot of questions about his ability to close out games…unless of course you like watching a train wreck on a tightrope every night
and so they should. MIN is arguably the best fit for both.
The same can be said for Atlanta
DK to Twins,
CK to Braves,
And let’s finally start the f season without same articles every day. For other fun we always have Mariners and what would Dipoto do next trivia.
You know you don’t have to read the article right?
Either one or both to the Twins…they see they can win, have the offense to do it just need to tighten up that pitching staff to get the job done. Oh, and I’m no Twin fan, but you gotta respect that lineup
Can’t wait till after the draft and both will be signed all the wailing, whining, and gnashing of teeth will be over with. Obviously no one wanted sign either guy for the big money that they were both demanding plus give up a draft pick for either guy or else they would have been signed long ago. I am sure the local talking heads in just about every city are like those in Pittsburgh in crying because the local team as not gone out and either signed one of these guys or made a trade for significant pitching. The talking heads all talk like pitchers have been moving around the league except in the local city. Funny thing is, no one has tried in earnest to sign either Kimbrel or Keuchel nor has any pitcher of note been moved since the season began. Tired of hearing the baseless whining.
If the Twins get both Keuchel and Kimbrel, game over for the rest of the AL…
then they meet the Yanks in the first round….yikes.
It’s not 2017 anymore bud.
Yes, and in 2019….losing will bite just as hard for those Twins!
The Twins have always rolled over against the Yankees. 0-7 since 2009 and 2-13 in the playoffs since 2002. They’ve won I think 1 series against the Yankees in 10 or 15 years (including already losing their series in NY this year).
Could be different as each years stands on its own, but the 2019 Yankees are showing to be of a little different resolve than teams of the past and certainly not afraid of anybody regardless of who’s on their opponents roster.
Doubt that Dallas wants to be anybody’s 5th starter with the dollars and years he was asking for….If Minny is successful win signing either or both, then time will tell now all plays out! A bit philosophical don’t you think?
Dallas would love to be a # 5 starter. Means he gets to face other # 5 starters and rack up the wins as Twins continue to score 8 + runs a game.. Makes him worth more on the market if he signs a short term deal plus Twins should be in the playoffs
This is such a stupid comparison. Because you know, Derek Jeters OPS against the Twins really matters to the two teams involved.
Yankees without the injuries would have a better offense, that’s pretty good right now. But with Frasier playing outfield??? Dude is a sieve out there. Stanton was a bad buy for them…strikes out way too much and he is too streaky and injury prone. The NY pitching is suspect…Paxton’s always injured and really isn’t the answer. All they have is German…Sabathia can’t stay healthy and Tanaka is a rag arm that could go down at any moment…they need Keuchel and I’m sure they’ll take a run at him…gives you quality innings and he is pretty durable
Don’t think so say the teams in Houston, Boston, and the Bronx! Bring it on sucker!
Exactly.
And am I the only one who thinks there’s no way on Earth the twins sign either of these guys? Just don’t see it happening.
And let’s remember (a) the Phils have “stupid money” (i.e., money spent by stupid people), (b) the Cubs have NO money (the Ricketts are waiting on their EBT cards) and (c) the Red Sox care as much about the Luxury Tax as they do about what color dress Kaitlin Jennings is wearing to the prom….
I’ll go with CK to Braves, DK to Twins….unless the Marlins jump in……
Would much rather have Madison Bumgarner and Will Smith from the Giants…
Will Smith, yes. MadBum, only maybe.
Twins are more likely to sign Kimbrel. Can see them doing a 1-2 year pack but with higher AAV of 18-22 million a year. Really depends on who else is throwing money at him.
I’m a royals fan, but I think you’re right…it’ll be the twins or if it’s not them, it’ll be one of them to the brewers
What if no one signs them and they end up in Japan
Then it will be news worthy for a week. Then it won’t come back up again until the CBA negotiation coverage.
Ouch…..That would be Hysterical. Good one.
How good is the deer-hunting in Japan? Kimbrel wants to know.
Venison sushi…interesting
Kimbrel is going to Tampa Bay. The Mets need another starter, I just don’t know if Keuchel is a fit.
Thad Levine was already backtracking a couple weeks ago on his ‘boot on the throat’ comment when it came to making big moves once the Twins were already favored. It seems the Twins’ front office is pretty shrewd when it comes to showing their hand, though. They were seemingly tepid, at best, with Nelson Cruz up until the day it was announced they signed him.
It’s tough to figure out what they’re really thinking although it’s clear their bullpen needs help, the Twins have plenty of assets to acquire bullpen arms without spending money.
Guess I’ll throw in my prediction. CK to the Twins and DK back in Houston
Houston rescinded it’s offer for Kuechel once the season started. Why would they get into a bidding war with other teams? Houston didn’t have the draft comp to consider either. So you can rule out Houston entirely for a landing spot for Kuechel.
Yup, but I doubt you’ll see any bidding war…Dude is pretty much a summer rental and if he tanks he’ll be begging for a job next winter
I suspect the biggest disconnect is going to be the different way the owners value the pick and the agents do. The agents think the price just went up because of no loss of pick. The teams are going to make the argument they weren’t willing to pay the draft-pick price in the first place, so it was never on the table. The truth is somewhere in between. Both players demands were likely too high–and some of the owners who didn’t want to spend that much used the pick as an excuse
It might save the writers some time to do an article listing the teams who haven’t talked to Kimbrel or Keuchel.
So true
Only the St. Louis Browns and Montreal Expos, according to Jon Heyman…….
If only….. but I don’t see either signing with the Twins. I think a trade for Archer is far more likely.
I don’t think so, the twins are pretty set on starting pitching, a Frontline starter perhaps, but not another 3-4 starter. Playoff teams only need 3 starters and they will roll with Berrios,Odorizzi, and Gibson.
Reports have Kimbrel ready to sign with Twins, the rich get richer. Dbacks needed him
Not interested in either. Nice guys maybe, and successful in the past. But… nah, I’ll pass. I can’t stand Kimbrel’s antics.