Tommy Milone hits free agency

Houston Astros v Minnesota Twins - Game Two
Tommy Milone hits free agency
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 11: Tommy Milone #33 of the Minnesota Twins delivers a pitch against the Houston Astros during the first inning of game two of a doubleheader on August 11, 2016 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

The Twins aren’t waiting around for Derek Falvey. He’s going to be a few more days, as the Indians have reached the World Series. To prepare for his arrival, the Twins have opened up some roster spots. They outrighted a handful of players, and while many of them, like Pat Dean and Logan Schafer might opt to go to Rochester, Tommy Milone has decided to leave the team. It’s hard to say I blame him.

Milone has a career ERA of 4.14, which is only a little over a run higher than the ERA that claimed the title in the American League this year. Despite concerns about his low velocity, high fly ball rate, he’s also been very consistent. Until 2016, he never had an ERA higher than 4.19. This year, his HR/FB rate got a little sideways on him,and he posted, by far, his worst numbers of his career.

Milone was just one of the players that struggled with the Twins this year, particularly those within the rotation. Milone is 30, so it’s unlikely that this is his last rodeo, but he’s also too old to really have a future with the Twins. Even if he had performed at a rate commensurate with his career numbers, he likely would be a trade candidate. Now, he is a low cost option for a team looking to fill the back of their rotation this off-season, especially for a team that thinks 2016 was a fluke. The Twins won’t regret his departure, because he couldn’t be in their long term plans, but from a distance, they may admire his future success.

Arrow to top