The Twins are expected to sign free-agent reliever Cody Allen to a minor league deal, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports. Allen became available when the Angels released him this past Tuesday.
Allen will now reunite with Twins chief baseball officer Derek Falvey, who was in the Indians’ front office for a large portion of Allen’s Tribe tenure. Now 30, Allen pitched to a sterling 2.98 ERA/3.17 FIP with 11.52 K/9 and 3.53 BB/9 in 440 2/3 innings as a member of the Indians from 2012-18. He also converted on 149 of 172 save opportunities in that span, though a down 2018 helped convince the Indians to move on from Allen last offseason.
Allen inked an $8.5MM guarantee with the Angels over the winter, but his decline continued with Anaheim. After Allen put up a disastrous 6.26 ERA/8.34 FIP with 11.35 K/9, 7.83 BB/9 and a 19.7 percent groundball rate in 23 innings with the Angels, they released him. There was great interest in Allen thereafter, but the Twins won the bidding for his services.
At 50-26, Minnesota boasts the American League’s leading record. However, there’s room for improvement in its bullpen. The Twins’ relief corps ranks 12th in the majors in FIP and K/BB ratio, and 16th in ERA. Perhaps Allen will be able to help the unit’s cause down the stretch.
Yup, of course they are
…and the Twins never lost a game again.
W
Why are Twins fans downing this move? it’s a minor league deal and if he doesn’t do well in the minors he doesn’t come up … if he does he could help … it’s not like this move prevents them from acquiring a closer
Because it’s the third such signing in a week, and we want to see something that will help the team now?
they’re minor league deals … low risk medium to high reward … and none of them preclude the Twins from trading for a closer … as a Twins fan you’d be happier if they made a bad trade for a closer and overpaid for a Colome type?
Yeah it’s not a bad signing per se, we are just eager something more substantial
The Twins need legitimate bullpen help, not Derek Falvey sponsored nepotism.
Because there is nothing more insecure as a minnesotan….the metrodome used to have a sign that said “we like it here.”….nuff said (56 yr old native rube)
And we have many reason for that insecurity. Ron Davis, Herschel Walker trade, 1998 Vikings, 4 Superbowl losses, … (59 year old fan)
???? This is the Twins not the Vikes, we won our last 2 ‘87/‘91, the trade we got Ron Davis in netted us Greg Gagne who was seriously instrumental in our WS win, while losing Roy Smalley. I’m not saying he was good RP for us but the trade was no Hershall, still got WS win and while he struggled on the mound the guy was an ACTUAL HERO, dude saved lives during a walkway collapse, so this comment is truly pointless and sad…
The Twins have choked in the playoffs an awful lot since. Actually, Minnesota teams frequently choke in the playoffs. They don’t seem to have a killer instinct.
I forget… Remind me. When was the LAST TIME the Vikings won a Super Bowl?.
Twinkie fan is always afraid good times r too good so plenty overreact even when we r still in 1st in AL… so we missed out on a possibility of a bad long term deal with Kimbrel that may or may not have not helped us a ton this yr anyway. We just hit 50 in mid June, have faith our front office knows what they could b getting paid millions to do. They r doing the right things, we r having some struggles in the pen so they r making numerous low$ hopefuls signings with time still prior to trd deadline Incase the signings now don’t work, which most won’t, but if some do that leaves more time to then worry about trading assets and have more $ left cuz we all know the Twins aren’t big spenders. On top of that Allen has been good, not great for a while just had bad time for end of last yr and with angels early this yr, still avg almost 12k/9, his big rise has been his almost 2x bb/9 rate but our pitching coaches can hope to help with his control… if not we pay little for these guys and still have time before the deadline to make those blockbusters everyone (including me) r waiting for, I’m just saying it isn’t even time to lift the glass casing let alone hit the panic button yet…. Timber it up Bomba Squad!!!
Solid pick up!
Just go and get Felipe Vazquez please Falvey
sure … just go get Vazquez like it’s that easy … I’m sure Pittsburgh will just hand him over …. sheesh … I’m a Braves fan and I don’t think AA should “just go out and get” anyone … There are closers I’d like the Braves to try to get but I understand they would cost … they wont “just get” them lol
Teams have apparently asked about Vazquez, and Neal Huntington was reportedly asking for an insanely high return for him… as he should. Vazquez is not going anywhere.
angels fan here. he got banged up so look bad in Cali we had to cut tirs
solid like jello
Could be a good signing if he can get his sh!t together.
smart move
if he does well he bumps what? Hildenberger off the 40 man?
low risk for a possible set up guy
I was wondering if they might do this.
No risk, and big upside if he remembers how to pitch. I like it.
He knows how to pitch, he needs somebody to cure his back ailment ASAP…
I think it’s his neck, it’s been over worked turning around quickly to see where the straight 91 mph heater has been deposited.
Love it. Cody Allen will bounceback. Their are signs in his stars that prove it.
Yes! Exploding stars!
Get Hunter Strickland
Injured
disabled
Ha ha, no.
So how much did the Twinkies pay to win this “bidding?”
Inquiring minds want to know…..
Stop complaining man … if Allen does well in AAA and becomes at worst a solid 7th-8th inning guy for Minnesota will you be bytching and moaning then?
I am actually genuinely curious: it’s not like the signing team has to pay real money–Angels will be on the hook for that. What could the teams be offering to compete for services of released players?
the signing team is on the hook for league minimum. the angels pick up the rest.
They are offering the help and coaching to get back to majors. This is a great low-risk move. Falvey has a reputation and has built an organization around working with and improving pitchers. Allen came to MN bc he knows Falvey and his staff can help him. Love the move, love the organizational philosophy and commitment of talent towards pitching improvement.
I guess the word masoch*st flags comments. That’s strange.
hk27,
Twenty teams may have said that if Allen performs well in AAA, they would give him a long look at the majors. Of those twenty, maybe ten had honest playoff ambitions, and probably only one had 50 wins this season. Along with his previous relationship with Twins management, if I was pitcher, and was asked if I wanted to join the party in Minnesota, I’d sign on the line.
The chance to play on a winning team and possibly in a role he likes is about it. He’s already under contract so that number doesn’t change. Twins will pay a pro-rated portion of the league minimum. Angels pay the rest.
The Twins are biding their time. They will make some trades after the all-star game. Twins fans should calm down. I guarantee they will get a couple more relievers (maybe just one more if Allen rights the ship) and a high-end starter.
Nice pickup, but if he can’t put it together in AAA, I wouldn’t call him up. If anything, Allen should be working on getting his velocity back to the mid-nineties, even if that means spending the rest of the regular season in AAA to do so, because his career truly depends on it.
Maybe Wes Johnson can work his magic with him….if he makes it that far.
Correction….record is 50-26.
Although I believe that Allen’s better days are behind him, this was a low-risk, interesting, and intelligent move by the Twins deep thinkers. They have little to nothing to lose as Allen tries to get it back together in the minor leagues.
This also makes me nervous because I am an avid Tribe fan. What if he succeeds?
Dombrowski asleep again…
Saw this one coming, who else is on the scrap heap that Falvey can sign?
I honestly thought he was going to go back to the pitching coach that was most successful with him – Mickey Callaway – but the playoffs are virtually guaranteed in Minnesota.
For the complainers you need to remember we have won a couple world series. Yes it’s been a while but that was 2 great years. When it comes to signing Allen that was a great move. Don’t have to pay him much and if he gets his act together he could help our weak bull pen. We can still go after a really good closer which I expect them to do unless one of our guys all of a sudden turns into a Jeff Reardon or Rick Agulara.. Picking up another starter isn’t as big of a concern because we only need 3 starters in the playoffs (knock on wood).
Here’s to hoping he can rebound, nice low risk move
Who among us, upon hearing of Allen’s release, did not IMMEDIATELY say to oneself, “This Guy will definitely be a Twin!”
I don’t hate this signing, but this move is 500% Twins-like.
I hope it turns out!
Trevor Rosenthal is next.
Krol, Allen and Hutchinson sounds like a terrible law firm. Has beens and wanna be’s!!
Good Luck Cody – You’re a Solid Team Player – You gave Tribe Everything You Had Daily!
Have fun with that twins fans there’s a reason why angels fans we happy when he was DFA
Plenty of UPSIDE and didn’t eat up a 40 man roster spot. Both the Cody Allen and Drew Hutchinson signings are STRONG AAA signings, especially with the weakness in Red Wing pitching this season. Either one or both could end up contributing, cost nothing if they don’t. Best of luck to BOTH Allen and Hutchinson in finding themselves with the help of Twins pitching coaches. May they BOTH make it back to the Big Leagues in meaningful ways for the Twins in 2019! Go Twins! (By the way, we get to let the ANGELS pay for Allen’s salary).