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Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Twins sign former Angels closer Hansel Robles

Hansel Robles, who served as the Angels’ closer in 2019 before a loss of velocity and a flurry of home runs cost him the job in 2020, will attempt to revive his career in the Twins’ bullpen.

Robles became the first major league free agent signing of the offseason for Minnesota, agreeing to a one-year free agent contract worth $2 million on Tuesday.

The Twins have subtracted four righthanded relievers since the 2020 season ended. Robles represents the first step in replenishing their bullpen for 2021, though it likely hinges upon the 30-year-old Dominican recovering some of the fastball velocity he lost during the pandemic-shortened season.

Robles’ fastball averaged 97.3 mph during his stint as Angels closer in 2019, but dipped to 95.7 during his disastrous 2020. Robles, using a changeup more frequently to compensate, allowed 19 hits, including four home runs, and 10 walks in just 16⅔ innings, and his 10.26 ERA made it easy for Los Angeles to non-tender him this offseason.

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: December 30, 2020 at 09:55 AM | 5 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: hansel robles, twins

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1. The Gary DiSarcina Fan Club (JAHV) Posted: December 30, 2020 at 12:45 PM (#5996615)

He was a lot of fun in 2019. He has some pitching quirks (he'll vary his leg kick, including using a triple kick from time to time), and his entrance music and video were highly amusing. It's hard to completely cut bait on a guy based on 17 innings, but he was truly awful, and it's not like he was just unlucky. The stuff was bad.

2. Rally Posted: December 30, 2020 at 01:26 PM (#5996623)

Easy come, easy go. Angels picked him off the waiver wire and he immediately became an excellent reliever for a year and a half. And just as suddenly, he lost it.

3. CFBF's Results are Certified Posted: December 30, 2020 at 01:29 PM (#5996625)

It's kind of surprising that a drop in velocity of less than 2 MPH could prove so catastrophic.

4. Joyful Calculus Instructor Posted: December 30, 2020 at 02:13 PM (#5996640)

They signed Hansel, but if he does poorly, they'll end up with regretel.

5. Walt Davis Posted: December 30, 2020 at 05:21 PM (#5996701)

Tendering Robles would have cost the Angels $3-4 M (at least) so they seem to have made the right decision on that but possibly should/could have re-signed him to this deal.

It's kind of surprising that a drop in velocity of less than 2 MPH could prove so catastrophic.

Possibly either he never had much movement and needed the extra velocity or maybe there was also a loss of movement. It also could be an extra unlucky 17 IP. The BB rate ballooned and the 2.2 HR/9 looks horrific but it's also just 4 HR (in 17 IP) that might have gotten balanced out by a hot stretch later. But #1 is right, it was truly awful -- a 284/380/537 line despite a 25% K-rate. On-contact, batters hit about 400/750. It was a somewhat similar stretch (7 HR in 20 IP!) that got him released by the Mets in 2018 which followed a season with a FIP over 5 and an ERA near 5.

Again, teach your babies to throw 98 for 4-5 batters. 110 innings of really good pitching, 220 innings of pretty bad pitching, now >$9 M in career earnings.

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Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Twins sign former Angels closer Hansel Robles

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