Twins Shift Search for Closer in new Direction

General manager Terry Ryan said on Tuesday the Twins are "probably going to be looking outside" the organization to fill their closer role, as left-hander Glen Perkins is expected to remain in his current role as the club's top setup man.

"We're going to look via free agency or through trade," Ryan said. "There are quite a few good closers out there."

By Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com

6 months ago less cowbell, more 'neau 25 comments 0 recs |

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I'm ok with this

It means Capps will not be the closer…doesn’t it?

The beard abides.

by Jason Kubel's Beard on Nov 23, 2011 9:37 AM EST reply actions

depends

Capps is a free agent, so he could be grouped in that category. From what I’ve heard about the CBA though, capps might provide more benefit if he is signed by another team.

by domesticllama on Nov 23, 2011 10:03 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

I think it does

If Ryan is evaluating free agent closer options, Capps should be near the bottom of his list for two reasons:

He sucks
He is worth more to the Twins if he signs elsewhere in the new CBA deal

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Nov 23, 2011 12:19 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I am okay with this

Keep the best reliever available for more than the 9th inning!

by twinscrazy_german on Nov 23, 2011 10:07 AM EST reply actions

Well, Perkins isn't a Proven Closer, so naturally...

by tobynotjason on Nov 23, 2011 2:05 PM EST reply actions

This KILLS me

Terry Ryan was the GM when they installed Nathan and Guardado as closers, as well as at the tail end of Rick Aguilera’s career. Did he learn ABSOLUTELY NOTHING from what happened with those guys? The three best closers in team history, and none of them were Proven Closers® when they took on that role with the Twins.

This absolutely pisses me off, and it frankly makes me pessimistic about the entire future of the Twins. I am angrier about this (which I know logically is only an inference taken from offhand remarks in an interview, but my anger module is overriding my logic module at the moment) than I have been about any actual Twins personnel move other than the Hardy and Ramos trades.

"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein

by BeefMaster on Nov 23, 2011 3:16 PM EST up reply actions

Not to mention Aguilera

I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes after a guy who’s in that class: A very good young set-up guy or who he thinks would make a good closer. It doesn’t make sense to pay for saves a guy has already gathered.

Still, Perkins is not that guy. Perhaps if he hadn’t fallen apart late in the year, they would consider it. But he has never put together a full season of dominant pitching in any role. That seems to be a prerequisite.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Nov 23, 2011 3:39 PM EST up reply actions

Good point about Aguilera.

I remember when they installed him: I told my friends “This is stupid, why would an OK starting pitcher suddenly be great as a reliever?”

Hopefully they do exactly what you say. But it’s not like Ryan was totally out of the picture when Smith made the Ramos/Capps move. It’s not like Gardenhire’s not still Gardenhire asking for the sort of things he asks for, or like there was any other FO turn-over. So: Hopefully they get a young set-up guy with potential and convert him, but I’m leery.

by tobynotjason on Nov 23, 2011 4:02 PM EST up reply actions

I understand the frustration

But I don’t think it can hurt to look outside for now. If Perk starts absolutely dominating he’ll get his opportunity. (Say, on a night after the anointed closer had a 27-pitch inning.) I don’t think we have to worry about this team underusing its in-house talent as much as we do the team deciding to cut bait and just ride Target Field for free money until that gravy train slows down.

Steve Goodman lives.

by twinsbrewer on Nov 24, 2011 2:34 AM EST up reply actions

I think there's been a mistake...

The last line was cut-off. Ryan actually said, “There are quite a few good closers out there…for me to poop on!”

(Am I dating myself with that reference?)

by jianfu on Nov 23, 2011 2:07 PM EST reply actions

If that dates you, then you just made me feel a hell of a lot older...

Let loose the hogs of war!
Dogs of war..
Whatever farm animal of war, Lana...

by darren004 on Nov 23, 2011 2:58 PM EST up reply actions

I'm sorry, what does George Burns have to do with baseball?

Wait . . . I confused “Oh, God” with “Oh Heavenly Dog”

Steve Goodman lives.

by twinsbrewer on Nov 24, 2011 2:36 AM EST up reply actions

Bullpen

I think the bullpen will surprise in 2012. The Twins have a lot of options and I think some of them will click. I do hope that they keep Perkins in a setup role and add Duensing as a reliever. It is still important for the team to have a closer that they have confidence in. I don’t think that Capps is the answer, but it might be that he will come at an affordable price, better than any other option.

by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Nov 23, 2011 2:20 PM EST reply actions

Signing Matt Capps is a dreadful mistake at this point

He’s a free first round draft pick for the Twins. FREE. Signing him COSTS the Twins a first round pick. He’d have to sign for the MLB minimum to make sense.

by DJL44 on Nov 23, 2011 2:59 PM EST up reply actions

+1

Can’t disagree with you less.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Nov 23, 2011 3:40 PM EST up reply actions

agreed...

though it should be noted it’s not a 1st rd pick, but a supplemental pick. in the 60ish range probably.

Makes ZERO sense to bring Capps back. None.

by DJSkillz on Nov 23, 2011 5:09 PM EST up reply actions

Had me confused with the double negative for a second

Mission accomplished.

by twinscrazy_german on Nov 23, 2011 5:09 PM EST up reply actions

I hope it's they are realizing that leaving Perk in the role he is in is where he is best suited.

I.e., not being tied to the “closer” role, and instead being brought in for high leverage situations. Maybe we can find some high reward, high risk guys to try out on one year deals. Paging Jonathan Broxton…

FREE AIRWOLF!

ROHLFING!!!!!

by d-mac on Nov 23, 2011 2:53 PM EST via mobile reply actions

I don't know if this was the first time anyone in the F.O. has confirmed it...

But he also said they’ll be offering arbitration to both Cuddy and Kubes.

by Purpledork on Nov 23, 2011 5:17 PM EST reply actions

I'm alright with this.

Because the market for closers is glutted this offseason, so it’s likely we can get a decent one w/o overpaying ‘as much’ as usual for the most meaningless stat in baseball.

by Shawn Gillogly on Nov 23, 2011 6:20 PM EST reply actions

I disagree!

(Pitching) Wins are by far the most meaningless stat! :P

FREE AIRWOLF!

ROHLFING!!!!!

by d-mac on Nov 23, 2011 7:07 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Not really, because a win means you at least produced 5 innings of semi-decent work, usually. ;)

A guy can get a save and give up 3 runs and make a mess, and not even see his ERA go up if they were inherited. Success in high-leverage situations means far more than the save, even if that only gets a “hold.”

by Shawn Gillogly on Nov 24, 2011 5:55 PM EST up reply actions

And yes, I know you were at least partially kidding.

by Shawn Gillogly on Nov 24, 2011 5:55 PM EST up reply actions

It's worth noting that

in one game two years ago, Capps got a save while recording ZERO outs! It was the game where the final out was the tying run touching the third base coach. I get that, technically it was his out, but sheesh…

by z-squad on Nov 25, 2011 9:05 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

This isn't bad news

The Twins need to sign new relievers. If they don’t overpay, who cares if it is a closer? I don’t care if they sign Heath Bell to close and have Glen Perkins pitch the 8th or sign Heath Bell to pitch the 8th and have Glen Perkins close…

"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all."
~ Earl Weaver
"In God we trust. All others must provide evidence."
~ Billy Beane

by AdamOnFirst on Nov 25, 2011 4:11 AM EST reply actions