The Twins have inked right-hander Connor Sadzeck and left-handers Tyler Webb and Sean Nolin to minor league deals, as per the team’s MLB.com transactions page. It wasn’t specified if any of the deals contained invitations to Minnesota’s big league Spring Training camp.
Sadzeck is the only member of the trio who pitched in the majors in 2022, albeit in cup-of-coffee fashion — Sadzeck tossed three innings over two games with the Brewers last season. The righty spent much of the season at the Triple-A level, with an impressive 2.20 ERA and 27.86% strikeout rate over 49 combined innings with the Brewers’ and Nationals’ top affiliates. Perhaps most importantly, Sadzeck’s walk rate was a palatable 9.95%, which represents an improvement over the control problems that plagued him in his last few seasons in the majors and minors.
Prior to 2022, Sadzeck’s MLB experience consisted of 9 1/3 innings with the Rangers in 2018 and 23 2/3 innings with the Mariners in 2019, with the latter season cut short by elbow problems. His 2.18 ERA over those 33 frames was perhaps a little lucky considering his elevated walk rate, though Sadzeck’s high velocity and ability to miss bats was enough to catch the eye of the White Sox, Brewers, and Nationals over the last two seasons.
Webb returns to affiliated baseball after posting a 2.93 ERA, 28.81% strikeout rate, and 5.5% walk rate over 55 1/3 innings with the independent Long Island Ducks in 2022. It was a nice rebound for the southpaw after a very rough 2021, as Webb had more walks (19) than strikeouts (14) while posting a garish 13.22 ERA over 16 1/3 innings with the Cardinals. More control problems followed Webb to Triple-A (a 14.33% walk rate and a 5.82 ERA over 21 2/3 innings with Louisville) after St. Louis outrighted him off its 40-man roster, and Webb chose to become a free agent after the season.
It wasn’t long ago that Webb seemed to be establishing himself as a fixture in the St. Louis bullpen, as he posted strong numbers after being claimed off waivers from the Padres in June 2018. Over his first 92 innings with the Cardinals from 2018-20, Webb had a 3.03 ERA, though his secondary metrics were much less flattering. Never much of a strikeout pitcher at the MLB level, Webb had limited the damage with strong hard-hit ball rates, but his big spike in walks (and a .362 BABIP) contributed to his brutal 2021 numbers.
Nolin had a 4.39 ERA over 26 2/3 innings with the Nationals in 2021, which represents his only MLB action since the 2015 season. Injuries sidelined him entirely for the 2016-17 seasons, and Nolin has since bounced around the minors, indy leagues (Nolin also pitched for the Long Island Ducks in 2019), and international leagues. The left-hander spent the 2020 season in Nippon Professional Baseball, and after returning to North America to pitch in the Nationals organization, Nolin headed back overseas for a one-year stint with the KBO League’s Kia Tigers. Nolin had a strong 2.47 ERA in 124 frames with the South Korean club, but the Tigers moved on from pursuing another contract with Nolin for 2023.
Maybe one year they’ll make actual bullpen acquisitions instead of moves they call minor league “depth moves”, that are actually Hail Mary attempts to find something that sticks
They did go out and get Michael Fulmer and Jorge Lopez at the trade deadline, the latter of whom will return next year, alongside Jhoan duran, Griffin Jax, Caleb Thielbar, and Jovani Moran. They also have Jorge Alcala and Ronny Herquiez. Seems like the bullpen wasn’t a major need for the Twins heading into this off-season.
Their bullpen was a disaster last year and they rely on Emilio pagan a lot. And they refuse to let pitchers go more than 4. Having a decent batch of ok arms and rehab projects doesn’t cut it when your bullpen throws as many innings as your starters.
I wouldn’t really call Duran, Moran, Jax, Thielbar, Heriquiez, or Alcala just okay arms. All had an ERA+ of 111 or greater and most had a very low FIP. While they still have Pagan, they got rid of Duffey. Plus next year, you’re getting a full season from guys like Bailey Ober, Joe Ryan, Tyler Mahle. Plus they added Pablo Lopez and are getting Kenta Maeda back.
Refuse? Its been Archer and Bundy for 2022 and Happ and Shoemaker for 2021. Would you keep them for 6 innings? The other guys have the major league average. It’s a new era, check out other teams average innings for starters and you will see it’s not a Twins thing. Like it or not unless you have a legit #1, its what everyone is doing.
Twins starters threw the second fewest innings of any team, they were one of 6 that didn’t have any starters qualify with enough innings. The other 5 are all in full rebuild mode. It’s absolutely just a twins thing
Webb pitched well at times for the Cardinals
Tyler Webb is good for depth.
Until the Twins show confidence in any pitcher, there’s no point in trying to make significant additions.
What?
Every major league team should consider, and execute, moves to improve their roster.
This was not a “The Twins finally got rid of Emilio Pagán” news thing and I’m sad.
Yeah, was hoping Emilio was gone and re-sign Fulmer. At least Columbe isn’t still here.
The Twins did re-sign him on a minors deal as an NRI. I think that was a few weeks ago. He was actually doing pretty well last year before he got injured.
Huh looks like they signing ex Brewers lol