Twins add pitcher Cole Irvin to the mix

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Twins added another pitcher to the mix on Monday. Now they have to figure out the best way to use him. The Twins on Monday claimed veteran Cole Irvin off of waivers from the Baltimore Orioles, who had recently designated him for assignment.

He is expected to join the team in Cleveland, at which point the Twins will need to make a move to add him to the 28-man roster. ADVERTISEMENT Irvin has been used as both a starter and reliever this season in Baltimore, last starting on Aug. 27, and the Twins could opt to use him in either role.



“I could see him pitching in different roles for us,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “I could see him sometimes giving us an inning or giving us five innings. I can’t tell you exactly when we’re going to use him and what that role will be in that first game.

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But he’s definitely a guy that is versatile. He’s definitely a guy that has been through and experienced a lot of different things in the game.” The lefty, who has pitched for parts of six seasons in the majors, had a 4.

86 earned-run average this season with the Orioles across 107 1/3 innings. Though Irvin was added to the organization too late to potentially help in the postseason, the Twins believe that he can help them down the stretch. ADVERTISEMENT “When we made the claim, looking at our group, we were thinking how do we lengthen out what we already have?” president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said.

“He’s a guy with starting experience and bullpen experience. He knows how to pitch in both roles. He has pitched in both roles.

His makeup is really good. ..

. It just gives us another option.” The Twins of late have been rolling out a rotation with three rookie starters — Simeon Woods Richardson, Zebby Matthews and David Festa — along with veterans Pablo López and Bailey Ober.

As the trio of rookies pitch deep into September, they’re into territory where they’ve taken on a heavier workload than ever, surpassing the most number of innings they’ve ever thrown in a professional season. Lately, none have been working more than five innings. ADVERTISEMENT “We’re going to have to talk to him and see what he’s really capable of before we can even assess what Cole’s role is going to be,” Baldelli said.

“We have three young starters ...

who are going through September for the first time, too, and they’re guys that we’re going to have to find way to put in the right spots to succeed. We’ll assess over the next day or two.” As he carefully approached second base on Sunday after hitting a double, it was clear Trevor Larnach was slowed by something.

That something, Baldelli said, is hamstring soreness, which is preventing him from running at 100 percent. Larnach, who did not start on Monday with a left-hander on the mound, has not played in the outfield in a game since Sept. 10, but he has still been out there DHing for the Twins.

“It’s not affecting his swing,” Baldelli said. “A lot of the times if you know a guy is dealing with a muscle injury and it’s affecting his swing, you’re going to slow things down. You’re going to have to give him a little bit of time.

He’s still putting really good at-bats together, having really good swings.” ADVERTISEMENT To make room on the 40-man roster for Irvin, the Twins designated Randy Dobnak for assignment. .

.. The Twins promoted pitching prospects Marco Raya and Cory Lewis from Double-A to Triple-A, where they will get a brief taste of the highest level of the minor leagues before the Saints’ season ends on Sunday.

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