The Minnesota Twins have made some smart, low key, signings this winter including Michael Pineda, Zach Duke, and Fernando Rodney. Now Minnesota has added another pitcher to add to their bullpen in the form of Addison Reed. Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic was the first to report the news.
Free-agent reliever Addison Reed in agreement with #MNTwins on two-year deal for slightly under $17M, sources tell The Athletic. Pending a physical.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 13, 2018
The official deal will land the reliever a $16.75 million deal across two years. Reed, 29, will head to his fifth team during his MLB career. He finished the 2017 season with the Red Sox after being traded from the Mets. Reed has closer experience with the Mets, Diamondbacks, and White Sox, but had great success in an 8th inning role with Boston. Reed has saved 125 games since 2011.
The Twins were able to win 85 games but may have overachieved with an extremely young team. The Twins bullpen was a bottom tier team in regards to the pen ranking 22nd in ERA (4.40). Reed has a lifetime mark of 3.40 which should help this young team finish off games. Reed also strikes out 9.5 batters per nine innings which should take some burden off of the rest of the defenders in Minnesota playing in a fairly big ballpark. Reed is coming off a career-year having tossed a 2.84 ERA across 76 innings. Reed’s success comes in part because he limits walks to just 1.78 per nine while executing a swing and miss percentage of 13.7.
Minnesota may not be done adding as they have been rumored to be in the Yu Darvish market. Minnesota gm Thad Levine has ties to Darvish having spent time in Texas with the right-handed starter. The Twins may be able to land Darvish on a lower deal than expected after a rough World Series outing with the Dodgers. The Twins may have a bright future ahead with young talent in the form of Jose Berrios, Miguel Sano, Byron Buxton, and others.
