Two spots open up, but competition for bullpen remains strong

The Twins will have a revamped bullpen in 2012, but perhaps unlike what was expected going into camp. Flamethrower, Joel Zumaya, and Rule 5 pickup, Terry Doyle, were considered locks for jobs coming in. Zumaya blew his arm out after only about a dozen pitches to live hitters, never making it into an exhibition game. Doyle only saw action in three games, before getting sent back to the White Sox after showing a tendency for giving up big innings.

That opens the door for potential non-roster invites to make the trip North. Matt Capps, Glen Perkins and Brian Duensing are considered locks. Anthony Swarzak and Alex Burnett and considered probable. The average major league bullpen maintains six relievers, although seven isn’t uncommon. That means at least one opening, possibly two. After some shaky outings early on by Alex Burnett, manager Ron Gardenhire also hinted that the team wouldn’t shy away from dropping an incumbent if it made the team better.

So far, non-roster pitchers, Jared Burton, Casey Fien, Jeff Gray and Matt Maloney have been stellar, combining for 24.2 innings pitched, 10 hits, 25 strikeouts, and an eye-popping 0.73 ERA. Additionally, Jeff Manship, Liam Hendriks, Kyle Waldrop and Phil Dumatrait all have experience with the Twins, and have looked good this Spring.

Lets not forget, Lester Oliveros, Scott Diamond, Esmerling Vasquez and Jason Bulger all have major league experience, and were considered potentials for the bullpen before getting sent to minor league camp.

Based on his experience as an eighth inning setup man, is appears Jared Burton is all but a lock unless he struggles during the final weeks of camp. Terry Ryan has praised his stuff and track record, noting only that his history of injury problems allowed they Twins to bring him in on as as a non-roster invite.

Fien and Gray have both toiled as journeymen AAA relievers long enough to show that they are likely capable of handling middle relief duties, but both have very average stuff and are not thought of as go-to guys late in the game. It would appear Fien has the edge here, as he is more of a strikeout pitcher, while Gray relies on ground balls and contact.

Jeff Manship and Liam Hendriks are both intriguing younger options, but will likely begin the year at the top of the starting rotation in AAA. Hendriks has the most upside of all, but the Twins envision him as a starter who needs regular work. Both will likely spend time with the Twins as go-to guys if injuries occur in the starting rotation. Kyle Waldrop is another younger righthander with two solid but unspectacular years in AAA, and is unassumingly putting together a nice Spring Training.

With two set lefthanded relievers in Perkins and Duensing, it would seem that Matt Maloney and Phil Dumatrait could be odd men out. However, Ron Gardenhire hasn’t had a problem keeping three lefthanders in the bullpen, and it appears both are capable of getting righthanders out. Dumatrait had a nice 2011 for the Twins, with a 3.92 ERA and 41.1 innings pitched. He’s not an ideal late-inning man, however, and the Twins may prefer keeping a pitcher with more of an upside. Maloney has been drawing rave reviews, but may be very similar to Brian Duensing. He may wind up starting in AAA if the Twins need another look in the bullpen.

Projected Major League bullpen:

Closer: Matt Capps, R
Set-up: Glen Perkins, L
Set-up: Jared Burton, R
Middle: Brian Duensing, L
Middle: Alex Burnett, R // Matt Maloney, L // Casey Fien, R
Long: Anthony Swarzak, R


It appears the Twins will have plenty of experienced depth in AAA, with plenty of fill-in candidates that have major league experience. They’ll likely go with the hot-hand in regards to callups, and will have an interesting battle for closer at AAA, in a bullpen filled with solid but unspectacular relievers. The Twins like Oliveroes’ fastball in late innings, and a wealth of journeymen middle relievers will be ready if injury occurs or if Burnett struggles.

It appears the team may need to release at least a pair of pitchers out of Bulger, Dumatrait, Gray, Perdomo, Vasquez and either Thompson due to a glut of veterans in AAA. Maloney, Dumatrait and Aaron Thompson are more likely to stay, as the team lacks lacks lefthanded depth if injuries occur to Perkins or Duensing. Daryl Thompson was a nice offseason pickup with strikeout potential, and may be a sleeper in 2012.

Projected AAA pitching:

1.) Liam Hendriks, R
2.) Jeff Manship, R
3.) Matt Maloney, L
4.) Scott Diamond, L
5.) Daryl Thompson, R

Lester Oliveroes, R - setip/closer
Casey Fien, R - setup/closer
Luis Perdomo, R- setup/closer
Kyle Waldrop, R- setup
Jason Bulger, R - setup
Phil Dumatrait, L - middle
Jeff Gray, R - middle
Esmerling Vasquez, R - middle/long
Deolis Gurra, R - middle/long
Aaron Thompson, L - long

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d.anderson
2012