Twins agree with Cody Allen on Minors deal

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins have agreed to sign right-handed reliever Cody Allen to a Minor League contract.

Formerly a dominant closer for the Indians, Allen was released by the Angels on Tuesday after signing a one-year, $8.5 million contract during the offseason. He had a 6.26 ERA with 29 strikeouts and 20 walks in 23 innings this season and had missed some time earlier in the year with a lumbar spine strain.

The 30-year-old Allen could serve as a low-risk acquisition for a Twins bullpen that is likely to need help in order to compete with the pitching staffs of other elites in the American League in October.

The Twins' bullpen entered Saturday eighth in the AL with a 4.47 ERA, and despite a strong campaign from Taylor Rogers and pleasant surprises from Ryne Harper, Tyler Duffey and Mike Morin, the struggles of Trevor Hildenberger, release of Addison Reed and growing pains from Fernando Romero have presented the need for additional experienced arms to round out the club's relief depth.

That's where Allen could come in. Despite his struggles this season and his 4.70 ERA last season, he posted 147 saves and a 3.03 ERA with 449 strikeouts in 341 1/3 innings as the Indians' closer from 2014-18. Though his walk and homer rates have ballooned in the last two seasons, his strikeout rates have remained high, and chief baseball officer Derek Falvey has familiarity with Allen from their time together in Cleveland.