As the Minnesota Twins gear up for the season opener, the bullpen remains a hot topic in Fort Myers, Florida. Manager Derek Shelton is still piecing together the puzzle of who will take on the critical roles in the back end of the bullpen. With the surprising releases of veterans Liam Hendriks and Andrew Chafin, the team is in a state of flux, trying to finalize their bullpen lineup and assign roles.
The offseason saw the Twins trade away five relievers and make minimal moves in free agency, leaving them with some big decisions to make. Journeymen Zak Kent, Dan Altavilla, and Matt Bowman are in the mix for the final two spots, joining a crew that includes Taylor Rogers, Anthony Banda, Cole Sands, Justin Topa, Kody Funderburk, and Eric Orze. With Rogers being the only one with closing experience, Hendriks’ release was a curveball many didn’t see coming.
Anthony Banda shared his thoughts on the situation, emphasizing the importance of focusing on matchups rather than playing the role of general manager. “We kind of try typically to stay away from playing GM. It’s something that a lot of guys will do early in their career, but it kind of drives you crazy,” Banda explained.
Shelton, in his first season managing the Twins, is seeking clarity but acknowledges it won’t come easily. Hendriks’ lack of velocity and command led to his release, while Chafin’s struggles with velocity left the team opting not to carry a fourth lefty. This leaves them with decisions to make between Kent, who’s been effective with his slider, Altavilla, and Bowman, who’s been impressive in spring outings.
Bowman, who’s allowed just one unearned run in 10 1/3 innings, is pushing for a spot. His agent has informed the Twins of his intention to opt out of his minor-league deal, giving them a tight window to make a decision. “The results were good, but I felt comfortable and I thought I worked on a few things,” Bowman noted, highlighting his desire to offer flexibility by pitching multiple innings.
Veterans like Banda and Topa have expressed disappointment over the departures of Hendriks and Chafin, but they’re staying focused on their roles. “It’s going to fall how it’s going to fall,” Topa said. “One day at a time, one pitch at a time, and go out and do what we can.”
In other roster moves, Alan Roden, despite an impressive spring training, has been optioned to Triple-A St. Paul.
Roden, who hit .302/.362/.395, was edged out by James Outman and Trevor Larnach for the Opening Day roster. Outman, with no minor-league options left, and Larnach, who’s under arbitration, have secured their spots despite less impressive stats.
On the offensive side, Shelton plans to have Byron Buxton bat second this season. Buxton, who drove in 83 runs last year with 35 home runs, is expected to bolster the lineup’s run production. “We’re going to try to create as many runs as possible,” Shelton stated, aiming to maximize Buxton’s impact in the lineup.
As the season looms, the Twins are working tirelessly to solidify their roster and strategies, setting the stage for an intriguing start to the year.