3 Triple-A Veterans Whose Contracts Minnesota Twins Could Purchase in a Pinch

[Cody Schoenmann]

The Twins roster multiple veterans at Triple-A with major-league experience. Which of them are most likely to join the parent club in a pinch?

Image courtesy of © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Fewer than 10 games into the 2025 MLB regular season, the Minnesota Twins have already engaged in some desperate roster machinations. Upon tossing 5 1/3 innings on 79 pitches in mop-up duty during the club's third game of the season against the St. Louis Cardinals, veteran pitcher Randy Dobnak was designated for assignment to roster a fresh arm in the eighth bullpen spot. Darren McCaughan was handed Dobnak's spot on the roster. Despite generating a 0.00 ERA and 0.37 FIP through his first 4 2/3 innings pitched, there is reason to suspect the 29-year-old journeyman reliever's days on Minnesota's 26-man roster are numbered.

Promoting young, intriguing players on the 40-man roster (like Emmanuel Rodriguez or Travis Adams) would be fascinating. However, the organization values these blossoming talents' long-term outlooks and would prefer not to promote them to inhabit short-term bench or low-leverage relief roles. That being the case, expendable veterans like Dobnak and McCaughan will continue to receive opportunities with the parent club, especially early in the season.

Interestingly, the organization possesses several veterans with major-league experience at Triple-A St. Paul, whose contracts could get purchased to inhabit a roster spot with the parent club if injury or emergency depth concerns arise. Which fringe veteran is most likely to join the club in a pinch? Let's take a look:

Huascar Ynoa
As mentioned earlier, despite impressing early in his 2025 campaign, McCaughan could soon get designated for assignment to make space for a fresh arm in the eight-pitcher bullpen. Veteran relievers Scott Blewett and Anthony Misiewicz are the most talented arms in St. Paul's bullpen. That said, the organization prefers not to purchase either of their contracts until one of their top seven relievers undergoes extended performance concerns or is forced to miss time due to injury. Misiewicz also pitched Sunday for the Saints, so he's not fresh at the moment.

The next pitcher who could inhabit the mop-up role in Minnesota's bullpen could be Ynoa. Signed as part of Minnesota's 2014 international signing pool, Ynoa was eventually traded to Atlanta as part of the deal that brought veteran left-handed reliever Jaime García for one (celebrated) start. The young righty would go on to be part of Atlanta's 2021 World Series-winning club, before falling from grace due to extended injury and performance concerns. The now-26-year-old has returned to the Twins organization, albeit in a role with much lower expectations.

Given his prior experience as a starter, Ynoa would be able to eat multiple innings in a stretch relief role. Like Dobnak recently did, Ynoa could go unclaimed in the event he is placed on waivers, meaning the club could retain his services throughout the season. The hard-throwing righty's days as a promising starter are behind him. However, there is reason to believe he could transition into a viable major-league reliever, health permitting. Despite not having pitched in the majors since Apr. 18, 2022, Ynoa could make his long-awaited return with the organization that provided him his first affiliated-ball opportunity.

Ryan Fitzgerald
Last week, Twins Daily's Nick Nelson published an article touching on the club's lack of shortstop depth. In his piece, Nick noted that if Carlos Correa or Willi Castro sustained a substantial injury that forced them to be placed on the injured list, Minnesota would likely be forced to purchase Fitzgerald's contract from the Saints.

On Sunday, the club announced that infielder Brooks Lee would begin a rehab assignment with Low-A Fort Myers. Lee will have 20 days to rehabilitate from a lower back issue that kept him off the 26-man Opening Day roster. Yet, he could rejoin the team within the next week-and-a-half to two weeks. Thus, there is a finite window where Fitzgerald could join the Twins and make his MLB debut. Given that Correa or Castro would need to be sidelined for it to occur, those who follow the team would prefer his debut to be delayed as long as possible.

Fitzgerald joining Minnesota is an undesirable outcome. That said, there are worse options, and there is reason to believe the 30-year-old career minor-leaguer could patrol shortstop in a pinch. Spending the first five seasons of his professional baseball career in the Boston Red Sox's minor league system, Fitzgerald netted significant playing time at shortstop. He also netted 217 1/3 innings at the position with Kansas City's Triple-A affiliate last season. Again, much would have to go wrong for Fitzgerald to join Minnesota. Yet, if Correa, Castro, or another infielder were forced to miss time in the immediate future, he could join the club until Lee completes his rehab assignment.

Mike Ford
Having played for three National League and three American League teams over the past six seasons, Ford has generated interleague folk hero status. However, despite being a lovable personality, Twins fans would prefer if the 32-year-old left-handed hitting first baseman/designated hitter never made an appearance with the club.

Luckily, those who follow the club will likely get their wish—as long as primary first baseman Ty France remains healthy. Backup first baseman José Miranda has been forced to play exclusively third base or designated hitter to begin the season due to Royce Lewis opening the season on the 15-day IL due to a hamstring strain. Miranda will continue to occupy that role until Lewis returns around mid-May, but having Castro and Edouard Julien around gives him some freedom to slide over to first or be the DH.

Switch-hitting infielder Mickey Gasper has become the backup first baseman. If Gasper were to miss time in the immediate future, Julien or Miranda could receive more opportunities at first base. Yet, the club likely wouldn't want to sacrifice the versatility these two bats present at their respective infield positions (second base and third base) and designated hitter. Austin Martin would be a viable candidate to take Gasper's spot. However, if Gasper were expected to miss minimal time or Lee were on the precipice of returning, the club could purchase Ford's contract and reward him with a briefly occupied 26-man roster spot.

View full article

[tony&rodney]

There is not a need to replace any players. The players on the roster need to make the plays and perform. No offense to either the suggestions or the players but the three noted are lesser options that the current guys. 

When and if the time comes for wholesale changes, the Twins will need to make significant trades and promote prospects. Does anyone see that occurring? I don't see that happening. The team is still expecting to win half or better of their games.

Is it too early to be pessimistic for the Twins to be a contending team? That elusive opportunity dissolved several years ago when the current roster plans were birthed by the current front office. The Twins can potentially still contend in the AL Central and 84 wins is still a reasonable forecast.

[LambchoP]

Wow, none of these guys would look good on a major league roster. Hopefully Lee and Lewis will be back soon to replace Julien and Gasper. That'd be a start. Then, if Paddack continues to struggle I'd put him in the pen as a long man and give his rotation as spot to Zebby. 

[Karbo]

I have a feeling they will need a relief picture starting today due to the over usage so far of the pen. Seems like Ynoa would be the logical choice. I doubt they would lose him if they had to DFA him

[thelanges5]

Blewett contract selected with McCaughan DFAd

[Bodie]

4 hours ago, LambchoP said:

Wow, none of these guys would look good on a major league roster. Hopefully Lee and Lewis will be back soon to replace Julien and Gasper. That'd be a start. Then, if Paddack continues to struggle I'd put him in the pen as a long man and give his rotation as spot to Zebby. 

Why on God's green earth would you keep Paddack????

Only "good" thing about him now is his injury history... at least he won't be a disaster on the mound for too long!

[LA Vikes Fan]

4 hours ago, thelanges5 said:

Blewett contract selected with McCaughan DFAd

Makes sense. This was the logical move. 

[DocBauer]

I can easily Ynoa,  Dobnak and McCaughan being 8th man shuttle candidates at various times this season. 

I don't know if Fitzgerald has the bat to play at the ML level after all this time. But I liked his glove in ST.

I just don't see a fit for Ford unless he gets massively hot and there's an injury. I think we have to hope France is his "old self" from a couple years ago and Miranda starts to hit.

[JD-TWINS]

On 4/7/2025 at 10:59 AM, Karbo said:

I have a feeling they will need a relief picture starting today due to the over usage so far of the pen. Seems like Ynoa would be the logical choice. I doubt they would lose him if they had to DFA him

Seems they’ll be OK if Pablo can go 6 innings or close to it this evening. 7 guys had Monday off …….. 4 more should be off tonight as well.

Alcala & Jax have been disappointing (doubt seriously this continues) and the PEN has a 2.75 ERA over 39 1/3 innings………..didn’t count Castro’s 1 inning. They’re doing OK.