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He’s far from a star, but could a late-blooming Mets setup man become the next bright light in the Twins bullpen?
Since Derek Falvey took over as the Minnesota Twins’ President of Baseball Operations after the 2016 MLB season, he’s traded for the following MLB-caliber relievers at the Trade Deadline:
- 2017: Gabriel Moya
- 2018: N/A
- 2019: Sergio Romo, Sam Dyson
- 2020: N/A
- 2021: John Gant (technically a reliever, but started seven of the 14 games he pitched with Minnesota)
- 2022: Jorge López, Michael Fulmer
- 2023: Dylan Floro
The Twins have traded for a reliever in five of Falvey’s first seven seasons, targeting high-leverage, late-inning arms like Romo, Dyson, Fulmer, and López. Floro wasn’t exactly a high-profile acquisition, but the team hoped he would evolve into a steady arm for mid-to-high leverage moments as they pursued their third American League Central title in five seasons.
Despite being five games behind the Cleveland Guardians, the Twins hold the second Wild Card spot, with the Boston Red Sox and Kansas City Royals trailing by two games. In this advantageous position, the front office will likely scour the relief market over the next month to bolster their bullpen, which is ranked seventh in MLB according to FanGraphs’ Wins Above Replacement (fWAR). New York Mets right-handed reliever Reed Garrett could be a prime target.
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Garrett, 31, was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 16th round of the 2014 MLB Draft out of Virginia Military Institute (VMI). He progressed through Texas’s farm system from 2014 to 2018, reaching Triple-A before being selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 2018 Rule 5 Draft. Garrett struggled in Detroit, posting an 8.22 ERA, 7.19 FIP, 59 ERA+, and a 10-to-13 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 15 1/3 innings, leading to his designation for assignment in mid-May.
Returned to the Rangers organization, Garrett finished the 2018 season with their Triple-A affiliate before facing a career crossroads. He signed with the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in 2019 and returned to the United States in 2022 with a minor-league deal with the Nationals. After brief stints with Washington and the Orioles, Garrett was claimed by the Mets in 2023.
Garrett finally turned things around in early 2024, starting the season with a 0.57 ERA, 1.94 FIP, and 2.21 xFIP while striking out 28 and walking seven over 15 2/3 innings in April. Although his ERA rose to 4.56 since May, his strikeout rate remains strong at around 29%.
Garrett has taken on a prominent role in the Mets’ bullpen, competing with set-up relievers Adam Ottavino and Dedniel Núñez for high-leverage opportunities. Despite the Mets’ resurgence in June with a 16-8 record, FanGraphs gives them only a 36% chance of earning a Wild Card spot. If the Mets falter, they might trade veteran players like Garrett for controllable prospects.
With closer Jhoan Durán experiencing a dip in fastball velocity and uncertainty surrounding the return of set-up relievers Brock Stewart and Justin Topa, the Twins could benefit from adding another high-leverage right-handed arm. Garrett’s impressive strikeout rate comes from a diverse five-pitch repertoire, including:
- Splitter: 24.6%
- Cutter: 24.2%
- Sweeper: 22.8%
- Four-seam fastball: 18.4%
- Sinker: 10%
Garrett’s mix of pitches aligns with the Twins’ preferences, making him an appealing option for their bullpen. Acquiring him could be a cost-effective move that fits even the Twins’ frugal ownership.
It will be interesting to see if the Twins can secure Garrett in the coming weeks.
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