Two-time All-Star Tyler Clippard, a veteran middle reliever, signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Twins on Friday.
Two-time All-Star reliever Tyler Clippard signs with Twins
After spending 2019 with rival Cleveland, 13-year veteran landed a one-year deal worth $2.75 million.
December 21, 2019 at 7:10AM
The Twins will be his 10th major league team in his 14th season.
The 34-year-old righthander had a 2.90 ERA in 53 games for Cleveland in 2019, striking out 64 and walking 15 in 62 innings. He has appeared in 751 major league games, third most among active pitchers.
After debuting for the Yankees in 2007, Clippard played seven seasons with Washington, where he was an All-Star in 2011 and 2014. He has a career record of 53-46 with a 3.14 ERA and 905 strikeouts in 816 innings. Clippard has also pitched for the A's, Mets, Diamondbacks, White Sox, Astros and Blue Jays.
He holds the major league record for most games pitched (680 from 2008 to 2018) between starts.
Clippard was on the Houston roster when it won the 2017 World Series, but he did not play in the postseason. He signed minor league contracts at the start of the past two seasons; in 2018 he signed with Toronto and made the Opening Day roster, and last season he joined the Indians under a similar arrangement, making his debut April 25 after starting at AAA Columbus.
The Twins also announced the official re-signing of reliever Sergio Romo on Friday. They have 38 players, two short of the maximum, on their major league roster.
The addition of the two relievers gives the Twins an experienced bullpen that includes projected closer Taylor Rogers, Tyler Duffey and Trevor May. Zack Littell, a rookie last season, is also expected to be a bullpen factor in 2020, with Brusdar Graterol another strong possibility.
A major league source confirmed the Twins are still in the hunt for free agent third baseman Josh Donaldson, who could make his decision as soon as today.
Donaldson, 34, signed a one-year deal with Atlanta before last season and hit .259 with 37 home runs and 94 RBI in 155 games. The nine-year veteran was the American League MVP in 2015 and is a three-time All-Star.
The Twins non-tendered first baseman C.J. Cron after last season and would likely move Miguel Sano to first base to make room for Donaldson if he is signed.
Other suitors for Donaldson are the Braves, Dodgers and Nationals, who lost Anthony Rendon in free agency.
On Tuesday, the Twins dealt lefthanded reliever Jovani Moran, who missed the entire 2024 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, to Boston in exchange for catcher/infielder Mickey Gasper.
