The Minnesota Twins added to their bullpen on Tuesday afternoon as the team announced the signing of Hansel Robles to a one-year deal.
We have signed right-handed pitcher Hansel Robles to a one-year contract through the 2021 season. #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/jVsyHAE5jh
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) December 29, 2020
The signing of Robles won’t make any Twins fans rush to order season tickets, but is the kind of move that President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey and General Manager Thad Levine have made during their time in Minnesota.
Last season did not go well for the right-hander, allowing 19 earned runs in 16 2/3 innings for the Los Angeles Angels. However, the Twins likely saw potential in what he did before last season, posting a 2.64 ERA in 109 innings after joining the Angels midway through the 2018 season. Robles also served as the team’s closer, saving 23 games in 27 attempts in 2019.
While last year was a disaster, it was also a small sample size in the pandemic-influenced 2020 season. Despite the overall results, Robles showed some positives including a career-high 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings and threw a 95.5 MPH fastball.
That stuff could help a Twins bullpen that has had several departures including Trevor May and Sergio Romo. If pitching coach Wes Anderson can coax a turnaround similar to the one Matt Wisler experienced in Minnesota last season, Robles could at least be a viable arm in the bullpen in 2021.
