The Twins have tendered a contract to reliever Emilio Pagán, per Dan Hayes and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
The news comes as at least a mild surprise, given Pagán’s struggles in recent years. The righty had a strong season with Tampa in 2019, posting a 2.31 ERA in 70 innings with a 36% strikeout rate and 4.9% walk rate. Unfortunately, the three subsequent seasons have been much less impressive for him. He went to the Padres prior to 2020 as part of the Manuel Margot trade but posted a 4.50 ERA that year while his strikeout rate dropped to 26.4% and his walk rate jumped to 10.3%. That might have been written off as an aberration from the bizarre circumstances of the pandemic year, but he posted a 4.83 ERA in 2021 despite dropping his walk rate to 6.8%.
He came to the Twins prior to 2022 in the Chris Paddack and Taylor Rogers trade. However, the change of scenery didn’t do him much good. He put up a 4.43 ERA on the year with his walk rate jumping back up to 9.5%. If the Twins saw reasons to be encouraged, it might have been with his strikeout rate jumping to 30.7% and his ground ball rate getting to 40.4%, that latter number being a career high. He was projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz for a salary of $3.7MM in his final year before reaching free agency. He and the club have until January 13 to exchange figures in advance of a hearing, though they could agree to terms prior to that date.
Oofta
There’s upside, but the results have never matched that upside outside short flashes.
The twins fans favorite excuse is “hE MisSeS bAtS” because his k/9 rate is high. The problem is it’s high because when people make contact they obliterate the ball, so if he doesn’t strike them out, more often than not they’re not getting out
No excuse from this Twins fan. I can’t believe the FO tendered a contract…
Worst front office in the league.
The Royals are in that conversation, perhaps even lead that conversation.
The Twins apparently have selective amnesia after watching his outings against the Guardians last year.
Oil Beef Hooked. All he should get is his BFH. Bus Fare Home. He was a disaster last year, cost us many, many games.
MLB Network is saying he was non tendered. Odd.
Can make fun of the Mets blundering over the years, as well as kicking around other teams.
But between designated (by the family) owner James Pohlad and the FO of Derek Falvey and Thad Levine, I can’t make out from one season to the next what it is they’re trying to do – rebuild? compete? punt?
Now the media can’t figure out if a failing relief pitcher has been offered a contract or not.
THEY don’t have any direction, or know how to make a plan of direction. That was clear when Correa fell into their lap into what was obviously a one year deal and then they dumpster dove the entire pitching staff
I can only assume that Pagán has already agreed, in principle at least, to a salary lower than projected. If so… yikes. Hopefully, the FO has insight that isn’t obvious to the rest of us.
They don’t have any extra insight. They openly talk about how much they love his k/9. Cherry picked one stat that is high because he can’t get outs unless they’re strikeouts and they’re pretending like it’s a good sign
He single-handedly gave the Guardians about three wins last year. So, for me, this is great news lol