If Addison Reed was your preferred remaining addition to the Cubs’ bullpen, you are not alone.
But you are now disappointed:
Free-agent reliever Addison Reed in agreement with #MNTwins on two-year deal for slightly under $17M, sources tell The Athletic. Pending a physical.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 13, 2018
Without more context, that looks like an enormous steal for the Twins, as Reed was expected to command a three or four-year deal heading into the offseason. But, as we know, the market has taken some wonky turns, and if Wade Davis lands only a three-year deal, then Reed getting only two years makes more sense.
The signing would leave Greg Holland, to whom the Cubs have been attached, as the last remaining back-end-type reliever in free agency. Attached to draft pick compensation, Holland may struggle to get a significant multi-year deal at this point.
Perhaps the Cubs are saving those under-the-luxury-tax bullets for their starting pitcher addition, or at least want to have the maximum available to offer Yu Darvish and/or Jake Arrieta (Alex Cobb could presumably have fit even if the Cubs added someone like Reed or Holland). As for the Twins, they will likely turn their focus to starting pitching now, and they are in on the same names as the Cubs, together with many other teams.