Veteran relievers Liam Hendriks, Andrew Chafin opt out of contracts with Twins
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Asked Thursday if he was near clarity on the bullpen with just days left before the team heads north for Opening Day, Twins manager Derek Shelton had a simple answer: “No. Are you?”
The Twins did clarify things a little bit a day later, though, granting veteran relievers Liam Hendriks and Andrew Chafin their releases on Friday after they exercised their contractual opt outs.
“Both guys were great in camp in terms of the way they were in (the clubhouse), and the way they were on the field and in doing all their stuff,” Shelton said. “We could not have asked for two better veteran guys. I think the consistency of the stuff didn’t get to the point where we were hoping it would get to.”
Hendriks, 37, is a three-time all-star closer, but the last few years of his career have been waylaid by injuries and a cancer diagnosis. The veteran pitched in just 14 games last season and underwent an elbow procedure near the end of the season.
He signed a minor league deal with the Twins — the team that he debuted with back in 2011 — this spring hoping to revive his career, but he was not on track to make the Opening Day roster.
“He was certainly working his way back, but whether it’s things like fastball swing and miss, or overall sharpness and command, just felt like it was not in a spot to make the call and put him on the team,” general manager Jeremy Zoll said.
Chafin, 35, is a 12-year major league veteran who has bounced around in recent years, but the Twins have fellow southpaws Taylor Rogers and Anthony Banda in the bullpen, and Kody Funderburk seems poised to make the team, as well, making the roster math hard for Chafin.
“Just weren’t in a spot to go with four lefties at this time, so felt like that was going to be a tricky bullpen to navigate,” Zoll said. “The other guys have ultimately stayed healthy in camp and didn’t think that made the most sense from a bullpen management perspective.”
Even with Hendriks and Chafin out of the equation, there’s still spots to be locked in in the bullpen.
If the Twins have six spots, more or less, settled — Banda, Rogers, Funderburk, Cole Sands , Justin Topa and Eric Orze — that still leaves two remaining. Zak Kent , who is on the 40-man roster, and non-roster invite Dan Altavilla look to be in a good position to grab spots out of camp at this point.
Asked if he had clarity on the bullpen on Friday, Shelton responded by saying “more.”
“But still not there,” he said. “I wish there was an easier answer for that and a clearer answer for that, but I think there’s still questions to be figured out.”
Briefly
In addition to the bullpen moves, veteran infielder Gio Urshela , who played for the Twins in 2022, was also granted his release. Fellow infielder Orlando Arcia did not exercise his opt-out and remains in major league camp. … Additionally, catcher Noah Cardenas was reassigned to minor league camp. … Starter David Festa (shoulder impingement) is in the early stages of a throwing program. He threw Thursday at 60 feet and Friday at 75. … The Twins fell 2-1 to the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday at Hammond Stadium. In his first game since returning from the World Baseball Classic, Byron Buxton started in center field and went 0 for 3. Simeon Woods Richardson gave up two runs on nine hits in five innings pitched.
