With strong role players and minor-league reinforcements in almost every position on the team, the Twins boast a deep roster. This is particularly valid in regards to their bullpen image.
While Jhoan Durán and Griffin Jax are the group’s stars, a group of Triple-A veterans and up-and-coming streamers have also made significant contributions to the group’s success as a whole. Therefore, even though they might not be in a rush to add more arms to their bullpen’s low-leverage class, getting a left-handed arm with more leverage would be ideal. As the de facto top southpaw this season, Steven Okert has produced some good value with a 3.27 ERA in 25 appearances. However, Caleb Thielbar has had a terrible season (8.04 ERA in 23 games), and he has been pulled from high-leverage positions late in games.
To use in high-stakes situations late in games, the team needs a lefty to pair with Okert. These are a few southpaws who might appeal to Twins executives.
Moore’s name should be familiar to you because he has contributed to this list in one form or another for the past three years. As a seasoned left-hander, he has helped teams in contention by getting outs in crucial circumstances. In addition, he is currently a member of the Los Angeles Angels, who come late July will most likely be shopping their veterans whose contracts are about to expire.
In the competition between late-30s lefty relievers, Moore still has an advantage over Thielbar even though his recent success hasn’t been as good. After making 30 appearances for the Halos, the 35-year-old’s 4.88 ERA is inflated due to a disastrous May 13 outing in which he gave up four earned runs and only recorded one strikeout. In 14 appearances since then, he has a solid 2.84 ERA. Given his age and the approximately $5 million remaining on his contract for the remainder of this season, he could be had for a pretty reasonable return if the Twins still like his ability to induce weak contact in addition to his deadly four-seam fastball and knuckle-curve combo.
Cleavinger Garrett
The Twins only needed to check into the visiting team’s bullpen this week—and twice, out to the game mound—if they were searching for a trustworthy lefty to add to their bullpen. Over the past four years, Cleavinger has quietly been a major force for the Tampa Bay Rays, pitching to a combined 3.39 ERA with a solid 29.5% strikeout rate—albeit a concerning 12% walk rate—during that time.
His ability to induce soft contact and record strikeouts could pique the Twins’ interest, but they would likely prefer to pare down his repertoire, which currently consists of a cutter, slider, sweeper, and four-seam fastball. Nevertheless, Cleavinger would offer a strong veteran presence to the position even if they don’t do much retooling, and after the 2024 season, he will have three years of club control.
The Rays are rarely in the seller’s pool at the trade deadline, but that is currently the trend, and they might seize the chance to at last add some depth to their prospect pool. Trade with Tampa Bay can be unsettling because they nearly always win out in the end, but the Twins have defeated them in the past (thanks to Joe Ryan), so perhaps they will go back to the well this time.
T.J. McFarland
The Oakland Athletics are almost certainly headed for another sell-off after being run out of Target Field with their tails between their legs (sadly, not the kind many were hoping to see from their ownership). Come trade deadline, one of their greatest assets will be McFarland, 35, who has eight major-league seasons under his belt.
The seasoned southpaw is pitching well this season, despite not having the punch to strike out hitters that one would expect from a late-inning reliever. McFarland is outstanding in terms of average exit velocity (98th percentile), barrel percentage (99th percentile), and ground ball rate (99th percentile), with a 3.54 ERA through 35 games. This has been made possible by his combination of a potent sinker and a relatively young sweeper, who has only given up three extra-base hits this season—all doubles.
Since McFarland will be eligible for free agency at the end of this season, the Twins shouldn’t have to pay a fortune to sign him, especially since the A’s have no immediate plans to contend again.
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