The Minnesota Twins agreed to a two-year deal with 29-year-old reliever Addison Reed on Saturday, according to multiple sources.
While the Twins have yet to confirm the deal, pending physical, Reed is assumed to be the teams primary setup man for the next two seasons.
While Reed saw some action closing out games last season with the Mets, he was used primarily in a setup role once he was traded to the Red Sox mid season. He finished 2017 with a 2.84 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and healthy K/9 of 9 splitting his time in Queens, N.Y. and Boston.
Reed’s career numbers are solid, with a 3.40 ERA and even better 3.18 FIP, but his biggest asset is his ability to mow batters down. With a career 9.50 K/9, combined with an incredibly low walk rate of 2.3 percent, Addison Reed attacks hitters and forcing them to hit his pitch.
Reed is the third reliever Minnesota has added with closing experience, signing veteran closer Fernando Rodney, and lefty Zach Duke earlier this offseason. And while the club has already confirmed Rodney will open the season as the team’s closer, adding Reed to the mix gives the club solid insurance to Rodney – who has been shaky in recent memory.
Reed, 29, has spent time with the White Sox, Red Sox, Mets and Diamondbacks during his 7-year major league career.
Reed becomes the first outside free-agent reliever signed to a multiyear deal in Twins’ history. Almost exactly one month ago, they agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million deal with Fernando Rodney to be their closer, but Rodney has struggled to 15.00 earned run average through four outings in the Dominican Winter League.
Rodney, who turns 41 in March, said upon signing the Twins had promised him he would be their closer, causing him to choose their offer over fellow suitors such as the Detroit Tigers and the Mets. There’s also up to $1.5 million in additional bonuses based on games finished or appearances.
