The Twins are bringing in reliever Julian Merryweather on a minor league contract, reports Dan Hayes of The Athletic. The client of Warner Sports Management will be in camp as a non-roster invitee. Minnesota also agreed to a minor league deal with Liam Hendriks this evening.
Merryweather made 21 appearances for the Cubs last season. He was hit hard, surrendering 13 runs (12 earned) across 18 2/3 innings. Merryweather struck out 15 while issuing 11 walks. Chicago released him at the end of May. Merryweather finished the season on successive minor league contracts with the Mets and Brewers. He didn’t find much more success in Triple-A, where he was tagged for a 5.87 ERA across 23 innings.
The 34-year-old righty has pitched parts of six MLB seasons between the Blue Jays and Cubs. He had one above-average season, firing 72 frames of 3.38 ERA ball in 2023. The past two years have been a struggle, and he holds a 4.72 mark over 158 1/3 career innings. Merryweather has a 96 mph fastball with a good slider but has never had strong command. He’s also battled various injuries, including 2018 Tommy John surgery and oblique/abdominal issues in 2020 and ’22, respectively.
As was the case for Hendriks, it’s easy to see the appeal for Merryweather in signing with Minnesota. There’s a strong opportunity for non-roster bullpen arms. Minnesota has a patchwork bullpen that probably only has four locks: Taylor Rogers, Justin Topa, Cole Sands and Kody Funderburk. Trade pickup Eric Orze should enter camp with a good chance to win a job. Jackson Kowar is out of options and needs to make the team or be designated for assignment. Kowar has a career 8.21 ERA, while everyone else aside from Rogers and Topa have a minor league option remaining. Dan Altavilla, Matt Bowman and Grant Hartwig are also in camp as non-roster invitees.
All these minor league deals make me want to go watch some St Paul Saints games this year. Another nice depth piece although I still think we need more for the pen so hopefully we go for someone like Jalen Beeks next.
This bullpen really looking like some preschool macaroni art
Merryweather and Liam Hrlendriks. 35 and 37 year olds who haven’t gotten anyone out in years
The perfect counter to the Tigers signing Valdez and Verlander.
But I had people arguing with me on youtube pages that they are contenders and that big moves are coming. Their bullpen is held together by duct tape.
Dollar store duct tape.
Only need Scotch tape to hold this bullpen together.
Yeah when you wait this close to ST it really is like buying lottery tickets when you have 20,000 bucks worth of credit card debt. You know it’s probably not gonna work but you give it a chance anyway. Or you really want something that you know has been in your fridge for awhile so you have to check the sell by date before you eat it. Then decide you don’t care and eat it anyway.
Did this exact signing in my twins sim in out of the park baseball and he ended up having a career year despite being in his mid thirties and was an all star
Well, we’ve got that going for us then!
Pulling for you Jerry. I hope you make the team.
With those stats, it’s a classic Twins signing.
Was really good with Cubs for a bit and has some good velocity
The Twins just keep bringing in these hired guns. How will the rest of baseball ever compete with these guys???