Over the past few seasons there have been more than a few
guys signed that have drawn a groan from Twins Territory. What the initial
analysis doesn’t take into account is that the Twins have generated a juggernaut
in terms of infrastructure, and it's paid dividends in recent seasons. This time
around, it’s Matt Wisler looking to generate a return.
Early on this winter the front office tabbed former Top 100 prospect
Matt Wisler as being worthy of a major league deal. He combined to throw just
over 50 innings in the majors last season, and the results generated a 5.61 ERA.
Giving up nearly two homers per nine innings, the counting stats were hardly
enticing. But then you take a look under the hood.
Wisler posted a 4.23 FIP and an even better 3.83 xFIP. His
14.9% whiff rate and 37% chase rate were career highs, and his 11.0 K/9 wasn’t
far off from doubling his career averages. The longball has been an issue for a
while, but it’s certainly plausible to see what the Twins like.
A season ago Wisler had his slider averaging nearly 84 mph
(you guessed it, a career high) while flipping it a whopping 70% of the time.
He’s abandoned the sinker, went to a four-seam, and became a two-pitch pitcher.
In targeting Sergio Romo again for 2020, as well as bringing in Jhoulys Chacin,
it seems pitching coach Wes Johnson is looking to tinker with slider-dominant
arms.
Minnesota is not some sort of a magic cure for the average
pitcher, but the infrastructure now in place has produced. Ryne Harper was a
30-year-old rookie when he put up a 3.81 ERA a year ago, and he may be on the
outside looking in because of the overall strength shown by the current relief
corps. Matt Magill turned sporadic Show time into two consistent years of big-league
run. Although he fizzled down the stretch for the Twins, Magill is now in line
to be the Seattle Mariners closer after a strong finish.
Things don’t always work out the way you plan. Anibal
Sanchez was jettisoned after Lance Lynn was signed, and he went on to have a
career year with the Atlanta Braves in 2018. Nick Anderson was never given a
shot internally and now is one of the best relievers in baseball. The process
being in place does not guarantee a no-fault result. What is true though, is
that Minnesota can now be seen as a destination for arms to thrive.
Maybe Matt Wisler will be a slider-fastball pitcher that can’t
keep the pill in the yard and the next step won’t be taken. In a bullpen that
should be expected to be among the better units in baseball though, it’s worth
finding out if he can’t be a dominant middle relief option and venture down that
path under the tutelage of Johnson.
We’ve reached the point that assessment of acquisitions
shouldn’t be based around what a player was before coming to the Twins
organization, but instead what they will become after getting here.
