The Minnesota Twins continued to fortify their rotation for 2014, re-signing Mike Pelfrey to a two-year contract worth $11 million. Pelfrey can also earn up to $3.5 million in bonuses over the life of the contract. Pelfrey had a mediocre year for Minnesota in 2013 after missing nearly all of 2012 following Tommy John surgery, pitching to a 5.19 ERA in 152 2/3 innings.
The Twins have already added Ricky Nolasco and Phil Hughes to their rotation this winter, and retaining Pelfrey should put them in decent shape for 2014. Despite his poor ERA, Pelfrey paced the Twins' staff with 2.1 fWAR, and his 3.99 FIP was bested by only Andrew Albers in ten starts for Minnesota. Nolasco, Hughes, and Pelfrey will form the core of the Twins rotation next year, with Kevin Correia and (probably) Albers filling out the back end. Considering their league-worst 5.26 rotation ERA a year ago, the upgrades were much-needed for Minnesota.
But the Twins may not be done with Pelfrey, Nolasco, and Hughes. The team is reportedly still interested in former Red Bronson Arroyo, who fits their ridiculous pitch to contact mantra to a tee. While the Twins' revamped rotation would be an improvement over last year's mess, it would still probably rank near the middle of the American League at best. I'm really not sure if they're a 75 win club, let alone a contender despite all of the money they've dropped this winter.
