MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins signed reliever Addison Reed to a two-year deal worth $16.75 million, the team announced on Monday.
The move comes as a surprise, as the Twins had already signed Fernando Rodney and Zach Duke to one-year deals to fortify the bullpen this offseason. But Reed has a strong track record, coming off a solid season that saw him post a 2.84 ERA with 76 strikeouts and 15 walks in 76 innings with the Mets and Red Sox.
To make room on the 40-man roster, the Twins designated left-handed pitcher Player Page for Buddy Boshers for release or assignment.
Reed, 29, has closing experience with the White Sox, D-backs and Mets, totaling 125 career saves, but he is expected to be the club's top setup man to Rodney, who was told by the front office that he'll open the season as the closer. Reed joins sidearmer Trevor Hildenberger and lefty Taylor Rogers as primary relievers along with Duke.
Reed has a career 3.40 ERA with 425 strikeouts and 104 walks in 402 2/3 innings across seven big league seasons. He's worked to cut his walk rate the past two seasons after struggling with control early in his career.
Reed relies heavily on his slider, throwing it nearly a third of the time, while also leaning heavily on a fastball that averages 92.3 mph. His ability to generate strikeouts is a boost to a bullpen that struck out the fifth-fewest batters in baseball this past season.
The signing of Reed doesn't preclude the Twins from signing a frontline starter, which remains their top priority this offseason. It's been a slow-moving market for starters, but Minnesota still has interest in the top arms available, like Yu Darvish, Alex Cobb, Lance Lynn and Jacob Arrieta.