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One day after re-inking Nelson Cruz to a deal, the Twins have added a notable name to their relief corps:
BREAKING: Twins have agreed to a deal with former All-Star reliever Alex Colomé, sources tell @TheAthletic.@DanHayesMLB reports Colomé will make $5 million in 2021, and the Twins will have a $5.5 million team option or $1.25 million buyout for 2022.
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) February 3, 2021
While Alex Colomé spent the last two years as a White Sok*, he spent the first five-plus seasons of his career in Tampa Bay. In 2016, his first year as a full-time closer, Colomé made the All-Star team, posting a 1.91 ERA with 37 saves. A year later, he led the majors with 47 saves.
After a season split between Tampa and Seattle, Colomé signed with the White Sox and served as the team’s closer for the past two seasons, recording 30 saves in a full 2019 and 12 in last year’s abbrevated schedule, in which he posted a 0.81 ERA.
Colomé immediately provides stability to the bullpen, a reliable veteran arm who can close out games or get the team out of a tight late-inning situation. Whether Minnesota will use him as their ninth-inning man or utilize multiple players in that role, including Taylor Rogers and Tyler Duffey, is yet to be seen.
The Twins have Colomé under contract for 2021, with a mutual option for 2022, according to multiple reports. Whether or not he returns next season, we all have 2021 to look forward to. Here’s to an improved bullpen to go along with a bolstered lineup, and another solid veteran in the clubhouse.
* this is the correct spelling of the singular, according to me; I encourage its widespread use