The Padres have claimed lefty Caleb Thielbar from the Twins, Darren Wolfson of 1500ESPN tweets. The Twins designated Thielbar for assignment when they acquired Kevin Jepsen at last month’s trade deadline.
Thielbar, 28, had allowed three runs in five innings with the Twins this year, spending most of the season at Triple-A Rochester. He had a 2.81 ERA in 32 innings there, but with 19 strikeouts and 18 walks. Before the 2015 season, though, he had two good seasons in the Twins bullpen, and he still has a 2.74 ERA, 7.2 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 in his big-league career.
Thielbar’s immediate role with the Padres isn’t yet known. He can be optioned to the minors, although the Padres also don’t currently have much lefty pitching in their bullpen, with the newly acquired Marc Rzepczynski as the only southpaw.
Can he play shortstop and hit more than his wife’s weight? Otherwise, he can’t help the Padres.
He’s 28, has had success in the majors, and is controllable till 2020.He’s a year younger than Rzepczynski who’s only controllable till 2017.
Theilbar also has shown he can hold righties given his .220 average against him career wise. Rzepczynski has a .275 righty average career wise- both with about the same sample size. Always need lefty pitching whether its starting or bullpen him. I’m sure Rzepczynski and Theilbar look better than Garces and Rearick.
We need lefty relievers who can actually get lefties out. Torres and Garces both couldn’t get lefties out.