Pitching help on the way for Minnesota Twins

For the most part, the Minnesota Twins position players are relatively set. That could change if they move Christian Vazquez or Willi Castro. Maybe they need some corner outfield help with Max Kepler leaving. Obviously a new first baseman has to take over for Carlos Santana. Still though, the most pressing need remains on the mound. A contingent of writers from The Athletic constructed a big board of the top 40 free agents, and both Kirby Yates and Matthew Boyd are seen as fits for Minnesota.

“In his 20s, Yates was a fringe Major League reliever who’d gone undrafted out of college. In his 30s, he’s been a closer and two-time All-Star, and at 37, he’s coming off one of the best seasons of his career. Pushed into ninth-inning duty after José Leclerc struggled out of the gate, Yates finished with 33 saves and a career-best 1.17 ERA with the Rangers. He was an All-Star and finished behind only Cleveland’s Emmanuel Clase in Win Probability Added. Walks come with the territory, but so do strikeouts as Yates generates plenty of swing and miss without extreme velocity. He turns 38 in March, so there will be some age concern, but when healthy, Yates has been a reliable late-inning arm with plenty of ninth-inning experience.”

Kirby Yates free agent profile (The Athletic)

Yates checks in at 32nd for The Athletic. He has previous closer experience and saved 33 games last year for the Rangers. His 1.17 ERA was dazzling, and he cemented it with a 2.50 FIP. There’s always a fear that an aging player could hit a wall, but at 37, it doesn’t seem to be coming yet for Yates.

Kirby Yates, K'ing the Side in the 9th. pic.twitter.com/zGYjfjm1eT

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 6, 2024

The Hawaii native has averaged 93 mph on his fastball for nearly a decade. His 33% chase rate last season was among the best marks of his career, and he hasn’t had a whiff rate lower than 12% since 2016. Yates would pair with Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax to give Minnesota a dominant stable of leverage arms.

Related: MLB Insider Floats Lefty Reliever as Great Fit for Minnesota Twins

At 36th, just behind departing Twins free agent Max Kepler (34th), Matthew Boyd checks in. For years he looked like a solid trade chip in Detroit. Ultimately the Tigers never moved him and his career sputtered. After working his way back on the farm with Cleveland, he finished the year making eight starts and pitching in the postseason.

“Matthew Boyd has a career 4.85 ERA and hasn’t started more than 15 games in a season since 2019, but his 11 late-season starts with the Guardians (including the playoffs) while returning from Tommy John surgery were awfully enticing. He had a 2.27 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 51 1/3 innings and was nearly all the way back to his peak fastball velocity at 91-93 mph. Boyd can miss bats with three pitches and, for two months at least, his previous homer issues weren’t a problem. He should be swimming in one-year offers and might be able to coax out a two-year deal.”

Matthew Boyd free agent profile (The Athletic)

The track record of recent success isn’t long here, so I’d bet Minnesota would prefer a one-year deal. That said, the lefty owned a 2.72 ERA down the stretch for the Guardians. His 10.4 K/9 was impressive, and he paired it with a 2.9 BB/9 and career-low 0.9 HR/9. Minnesota has to feel better positioned than Detroit in terms of pitching development, and seeing Cleveland make it work could tip the scales.

Matthew Boyd's 2Ks in the 1st. pic.twitter.com/Cm07GLBjzE

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 17, 2024

Boyd isn’t a flamethrower, but his 92.0 mph velocity was up from where it sat in 2023. He has a solid changeup and uses his slider plenty as well. That’s a combination that Minnesota typically leans into, and he would give them a southpaw in the roation.

Related: Minnesota Twins Sign New Flamethrowing Reliever

The Twins don’t necessarily need rotation help given the arms that cycled through last season. Boyd would represent a low-ceiling, high-floor option that could provide depth at the back end of the group, however.

If the Twins want to be competitive, though, this front office has to find a way to bulk up Rocco Baldelli’s bullpen. Last year, a handful of rookies established themselves as realistic big league options. Still, to bet on David Festa, Zebby Matthews and Simeon Woods Richardson would expose 2025 to the same lack of depth dangers as 2024.

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Anthony DeSclafani was a throw-in from the Jorge Polanco trade. Had he been healthy, the 34-year-old could have, at the least, provided veteran depth to the rotation. There are a lot of free agents, like Luis Severino, Sean Manaea and Andrew Heaney, who could offer different levels of intrigue, this offseason. But there are three names hitting the market who would offer more upside and a better fit.

It’s (finally) Yusei Kikuchi time for the Minnesota Twins

There is no pitcher that has been a hotter name when it comes to recent Twins interest than that of Yusei Kikuchi. The former Toronto Blue Jays starter was dealt to the Houston Astros for an absolute haul. Minnesota was interested in his services, but probably intelligently, didn’t pay that freight.

Now a free agent, Minnesota can simply pay Kikuchi. They were interested in doing so before he signed with the Blue Jays and could resume those intentions. Kikuchi is going to get something around $15 million per year, and it’s going to be a multi-year deal. That probably takes him out as a realistic possibility for the Twins, but maybe he’s the player they make an exception for.

Yusei Kikuchi's 5th and 6th Ks thru 4. pic.twitter.com/rAEZmHZBhU

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 20, 2024

Related: 4 Surprising Minnesota Twins Non-Tender Candidates

Kikuchi posted incredible numbers down the stretch with the Astros. That should have been expected given his advanced metrics. Minnesota could help to massage that same sort of production.

Twins could resurrect a healthy Walker Buehler

There was a time Walker Buehler was one of the best young prospects in baseball. He is now 30 years old and has pitched just 140 1/3 innings since 2021. Health has been a problem, and so too has effectiveness. He owns a 4.75 ERA across that stretch.

Walker Buehler visibly frustrated in the Dodgers dugout. pic.twitter.com/0HnEcIWH7a

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 9, 2024

Buehler dealt with hip issues in 2024 and was shelled against the San Diego Padres during the National League Division Series. The totality of his situation will certainly limit his earning potential this offseason. Paid just over $8 million this year, he is a perfect candidate for a pillow contract. A one-year deal to get right could help to get him paid on a long-term deal in 2026.

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If the Twins can get Buehler for something close to $10 million next season, he would be a near-perfect addition to the rotation. There’s a significant amount of risk, but he has the upside of a Cy Young candidate.

How about Matthew Boyd to Minnesota?

It’s weird to think that Matthew Boyd has legitimate value in the year 2025, but here we are. After being a realistic trade chip for years with the Detroit Tigers, Boyd was never moved and wound up being bad. He signed a minor league deal with Cleveland this year, and earned the starting nod in a decisive Game 5 ALDS matchup.

Boyd owned a 2.72 ERA across eight starts for the Guardians this season. He struck out batters at a high clip once again, and he has never allowed fewer home runs. The reality is that an eight-start sample is probably too small to earn a massive payday, but he’s going to get a shot somewhere. Boyd would give Minnesota a left-handed starting option, and he obviously knows the division well.

Matthew Boyd's 3Ks in the 1st…and Sword. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/P9xnJNOmP3

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 12, 2024

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Of the three names mentioned, Boyd represents the lowest ceiling and lowest floor. That makes him a risk, but his price tag shouldn’t be substantial either. Boyd has made more than $6.5 million in a season just once during his 10-year career.