Twins sign former rival closer Alex Colome in huge bullpen addition

The Minnesota Twins bolster their bullpen by signing former Chicago White Sox closer Alex Colome.

Alex Colome’s time with the Chicago White Sox reached its end this offseason after the team signed former Oakland Athletics closer Liam Hendriks to a three-year, $54 million contract. Colome was the next-best closer on the market, and a rival of the White Sox swooped in to sign him.

According to MLB Network insider Mark Feinsand, the Minnesota Twins are signing Colome to a one-year, $6.25 million contract.

Twins continue strong offseason with Colome signing

The Twins have had an eventful week in terms of player signings. The team signed former Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons to a single-season pact and re-signed slugger Nelson Cruz to a one-year deal on Tuesday. The bevy of moves the Twins have completed this offseason are a clear sign that they don’t plan on conceding the AL Central crown to the White Sox. So, they took their closer.

Colome arrived in the Windy City back in the winter of 2018 n a trade with the Seattle Mariners. The right-hander was solid in his first campaign, as he posted a 2.80 ERA, a1.07 WHIP and 30 saves in 62 games. Colome was even better with the White Sox in 2020. In 21 games with the White Sox this past season, Colome recorded a 0.81 ERA, a 0.940 WHIP, 12 saves and 16 strikeouts over 22.1 innings of work.

Now with the Twins, Colome slots in as the team’s undisputed closer and joins a bullpen of Tyler Duffey, Hansel Robles and Taylor Rogers. With the division coming down to a single game this past season, the Twins hope that this addition will help them clinch the division once again and help them advance to the ALCS for the first-time since 2002.