BREAKING: Twins Sign Left-Handed Reliever Taylor Rogers to One-Year Deal

[Dawgzilla]

22 minutes ago, Brandon said:

They have a good rotation and slightly above average offense. Probably in the 5-7 ranking in runs scored in the league this year....  And with another good reliever they will have an ok pen.  To me they should be able to win in the 82-85 range and depending on rookies maybe a little more.

Never happen....they will be under .500.  The only saving grace is this division is the weakest, with Tigers being best followed by Royals, Indians, Twins and White Sox in order of 2026 finish.

[TJSweens]

Give me your has beens, your never weres.

Your rag arms yearning to earn major league minimum,

The wretched refuse of your teeming minor leagues.

Send these, the DFA'd, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my pen and a minor league contract beside the golden door!

[CRF]

That'll help a little bit. Get a few more guys out there in the pen. 

[bunsen82]

6 minutes ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

In no particular order...

Cole Sands

Kody Funderburk

Justin Topa

Taylor Rogers

Eric Orze

That's five. Need to get to eight. Presuming Ohl is one of those. 

Those fighting for the role 

- on 40 man - Ohl, Adams, Klein  

- AAA invitees -  Bash (Numbers pretty Solid), Hartwig, Altavilla

Converted Starters - Festa, Matthews, Priellip Raya ?????

I expect 1 more signing for the closer leverage position,  you have 2 options  - Dominguez and Kopech

I still think we have potential trade avenues as well.  

You can build a pen if we sign 1 more pretty solid arm or get 1 in a trade.  

 

[Russ]

It wasn't so hard to make a deal like this.  Need more.

[IndianaTwin]

I like it. 

I'd still be glad to have a reunion with Coulombe as well, even though he's another lefty. And with Kopech or Dominguez.

 

Another brainstorm -- here's a conversation I'd also love to see.

"Is this Buehlers? Could I speak to Walker? This is him? Great.

"Walker, I'm sorry that injuries have done a number on your career, but you're still just 31.

"We've loved you for a while -- tried to get you in the Brian Dozier deal. But you haven't been able to get past 126 innings in a season since 2021. The low guys on MLBTR's prediction list were getting contracts around $7M per year and you were in the Honorable Mentions. Nobody has called you yet, inviting you to be a starter.

"How about if, instead of signing a minor league contract somewhere, you sign with us for $3M. We'll give you a legit chance to transition to being our closer, with incentives that can easily get you to $5M and potentially even to $7M. Plus $500k for an option year at $7M.

"We've got LaTroy Hawkins on staff to help you transition to the bullpen. We've got Ryan Pressley helping at spring training and Joe Nathan on speed dial, plus Glen Perkins hangs around as well. Out of the bullpen, we'll get you back to that 100 mph you've touched in the past. We've got a great collection of music on Spotify to use as your entrance music.

"Whaddaya say, friend? Can I send you the contract?" 

 

[bunsen82]

22 minutes ago, rv78 said:

What I wrote in reply in another article

In years past we were told the bullpen was possibly the best in baseball, yet it was the first thing Falvey disposed of at the deadline. You think it's middle of the road? I believe it will be one of the worst in baseball. Especially if they don't add anyone with at least a year or two of high leverage experience in the prime of their career. Knowing Falvey, he'll go for someone that is at the end of his career and has his best days behind him. Hoping to catch a star as it fades into darkness. A Taylor Rogers or Caleb Theilbar, maybe Liam Hendriks or some other washed up former Twin. This is the Falvey way. 

 

bunsen82 .... I think I nailed it.

Considering  Rogers or Thielbar was part of a pen I would have built even when I was spending crazy money - I was spending 25 million plus on a bullpen -  this is a really good signing for 2 million.   Why did we blow so many leads last year after the deadline - because if we weren't throwing Sands, Topa and Funderburk you were going to lose.   When we have 7 reliever arms - you only really need 1 to be really high leverage to make it work.   Maybe we can home grow it.  As of now it appears Dominguez or Kopech is on deck.  If we are one of the last primary landing spots and we got Rogers for $2 million (expected $3.5) -  We have $5.5 million left of the original $20 million budget we had to spend plus or minus whatever we do with Larnach.  

If we end up with a Dominguez, Rogers, Sands, Topa, Orze, Ohl, Klein Festa  bullpen -  I can think its a pretty solid bullpen - with minor league options of Altavilla, Bash and Hartwig.      By mid season we may switch Priellip to a reliever as well.   

[mickster]

46 minutes ago, Brandon said:

They have a good rotation and slightly above average offense. Probably in the 5-7 ranking in runs scored in the league this year....  And with another good reliever they will have an ok pen.  To me they should be able to win in the 82-85 range and depending on rookies maybe a little more.

82-85 could win the division

[sampleSizeOfOne]

30 minutes ago, TJSweens said:

Give me your has beens, your never weres.

Your rag arms yearning to earn major league minimum,

The wretched refuse of your teeming minor leagues.

Send these, the DFA'd, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my pen and a minor league contract beside the golden door!

Gettin' the band back together.

We're on a mission from god.

[Whitey333]

I think it's a great and affordable signing.  Do I think this makes them a 500 team?  No way, not close.  Way too many holes on this team.  To many top expectations from either unproven or oft injured players.  Same old hope and hype.  I want it all to work but for the first time in decades I'm not going to be so gullible to believe all the bs from Falvey.  They are going to have to prove it to me.  Attendance?  I'm sure down again this year.  Of the 81 home games 17 of them are in April.  Not the best drawing month for the Twins.  

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

The Twins have upside - Lee, Keaschall, Lewis, Wallner - if those four could stay healthy and reach or come close to their respective ceilings, it will be a competitive team. Admittedly, it is a giant IF. 

[Cris E]

4 minutes ago, Whitey333 said:

Attendance?  I'm sure down again this year.  Of the 81 home games 17 of them are in April.  Not the best drawing month for the Twins.  

I had not heard this before.  Those are going to be tough tickets to sell. 

[LA Vikes Fan]

37 minutes ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

In no particular order...

Cole Sands

Kody Funderburk

Justin Topa

Taylor Rogers

Eric Orze

That's five. Need to get to eight. Presuming Ohl is one of those. 

Add David Festa, closer in waiting. Add Connor Preilipp. Both guys are good but have arm issues that make pitching over 100 innings unlikely. Add a quality RH reliever and we're done. If not, last spot is Ohl. 

[IndyTwinsFan]

1 hour ago, Dman said:

As others have stated for 2M what's not to like.  Will be interesting to see what 40 man moves get made to make this work.

Lots of viable options for that.  Any of the offseason middle infield waiver claims, or Julien, would be good choices.  Other options also exist. 

[jmlease1]

I don't mind this move. Hopefully he's still got something left (late career LHP...with the small sample sizes they can really bounce around a bit on their effectiveness year over year) but his veteran status and experience in closing games and filling other relief roles should be of use to the inexperienced twins bullpen as well.

He was very good for SF in 2024 and effective for the Reds in 2025 (less so for the Cubs). The K's have dipped a little, but he's still able to get outs when he hits his spots for guys on both sides of the plate. I wouldn't be shocked to see him finishing some games early in the season as the Twins shake out who from their younger pitchers is ready for higher leverage roles.

I'd still love for them to get someone with a little more upside, someone who has a little more dominance in them to reinforce the bullpen (probably right-handed), but this fits one of the slots I was hoping they might fill, so no complaints from me about this signing.

[DJL44]

FIP	WHIP	H9	HR9	BB9	SO9	SO/BB

4.38

1.382

8.3

1.2

4.1

9.4

2.30

3.35

1.512

9.7

0.4

4.0

8.8

2.22

The difference between Taylor Rogers and Kody Funderburk is Rogers gives up more dingers.

Statcast has Taylor Rogers with a 8th percentile fastball, 20th percentile for hard hit. He's a sinker/slider guy now and his sinker gets hit really hard (.403 WOBA).

It's an upgrade on Genesis Cabrera, but I don't want Taylor Rogers anywhere near a close game in the late innings.

 

[arby58]

1 hour ago, Brandon said:

They have a good rotation and slightly above average offense. Probably in the 5-7 ranking in runs scored in the league this year....  And with another good reliever they will have an ok pen.  To me they should be able to win in the 82-85 range and depending on rookies maybe a little more.

I'm in general not a pessimist about the Twins - I agree they will have a very solid starting rotation, and I think they can put together the pieces in the bullpen. That said, it is hard for me to agree they will be '5-7 in runs scored in the league this year.' Last year they were 10th in the AL and 23rd in MLB. Sure, maybe they get bounceback years from Lewis and Wallner and a full year from Keaschall, but otherwise they aren't notably better, other than maybe 1B, and their defense is still questionable. 

I'm already on record taking the under on 91 losses, but I think they'll be slightly below .500 on the year. That said, if Culpepper, Jenkins, and Emma make regular progress, I like the looks of the team in 2027 - even if it is a shortened season.

[Danchat]

He'd be a solid addition as a middle innings reliever, but given how shallow this pen is he may just be the closer. I'd have preferred one of the better (and younger) FA options on the market, but $2M is a nice pricetag.

[Rufus]

For $2 million what the hey.  He is only 35 and coming back to the Twins may be just what he needs.  Theilbar looked washed up after 24 and he resurrected his career with the Cubs and he is older the Rogers.  I would like to see them get Coulumbe (SP?) too,  he is still available and threw some nice innings for the Twins last year.  Also a nice power arm would be nice...trade Larnach and a prospect?  

[chpettit19]

Same old. "Good deal." Just like France was a "good deal" at $1 mil, Rogers is a good deal at $2 mil. But it doesn't raise the ceiling in any meaningful way. Maybe 1 extra win? I don't mind this deal at all, but the fact that it's being treated as something of a significant move tells you all you need to know about this roster. Former closer who hasn't closed in 3 years. I think people are significantly understating how hard it is to build a truly meaningful pen.

The Twins still don't have anybody I trust to take the ball in the 8th or the 9th inning regularly.

[KnoblauchWasFramed]

A couple of guys in the Twins FO - probably;

"Wasn't he an All Star with us?"

"Sure was, he just can't strike anyone out anymore."

"Wish we had him 5 years ago..."

"We did have him 5 years ago."

"9 years ago then."

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

Adding another Topa-level arm to the bullpen. Another "floor" move that doesn't help the ceiling.

I hope all the thumbs-downs are from Topa fans who are upset that I compared him to Rogers. Topa performed much better than Taylor Rogers last season.

[DJL44]

I'm worried about the opportunity cost here. If they have Funderburk and Rogers as their lefties, then they probably won't add Prielipp because the pen would be "too lefthanded".

[nicksaviking]

50 minutes ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

In no particular order...

Cole Sands

Kody Funderburk

Justin Topa

Taylor Rogers

Eric Orze

That's five. Need to get to eight. Presuming Ohl is one of those. 

I'd like to have at minimum two of the starters-should-be-relievers in the bullpen. For the Twins, those are the guys who turn into lights out relief aces. Like Rogers did a decade ago. This current listed group doesn't look to have any and I don't need any more journeymen free agents who have a pattern of popping off one year and being DFA candidates the next.

[mikelink45]

All I can say is - at least we have another BP arm.  Not much else to add.

[bean5302]

Why would Rogers come to Minnesota at $2MM? I mean, it's probably pretty attractive to a guy who might be looking for a path back to closer money. The Twins have got just about nothing in the bullpen. Rogers had a nice rebound on the o-swing rate last year, but he might not be painting things quite as well as he was with a lack of called strikes. His slider velo has dropped way down, and that's hurt his high K rates.

Still fairly effective.

[nicksaviking]

2 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

I'm worried about the opportunity cost here. If they have Funderburk and Rogers as their lefties, then they probably won't add Prielipp because the pen would be "too lefthanded".

Funderburk was about an outing away from being DFA'd last year. He finished well, but I doubt he has a ton of job security based solely off of those last 24 innings. Or at least he shouldn't have much job security. 

[bunsen82]

2 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Same old. "Good deal." Just like France was a "good deal" at $1 mil, Rogers is a good deal at $2 mil. But it doesn't raise the ceiling in any meaningful way. Maybe 1 extra win? I don't mind this deal at all, but the fact that it's being treated as something of a significant move tells you all you need to know about this roster. Former closer who hasn't closed in 3 years. I think people are significantly understating how hard it is to build a truly meaningful pen.

The Twins still don't have anybody I trust to take the ball in the 8th or the 9th inning regularly.

1 win really?   We blew 18 leads down the stretch because we didn't have enough reliable arms (and we choose to go that route).   I'm not viewing it as a closer or reliever,  what he is, is an experienced reliever that can eat up some innings,  give us time to develop a younger player,  and at $2 million gives us the chance to go after someone with more upside.   

I think you need 1 high leverage reliever.  For me Dominguez is the most likely choice.  Kopech could but that comes with some health concerns.  We could try to convert a starter,  but I think that comes with its own questions.   

If we can build a pen of 7-8 solid arms, with some decent options in AAA or prospects converted,  as a whole yes this is 1 move,  as was Orze,  but in combination with 1 more leverage reliever the sum change could be a 10-15 swing on wins and losses based on the quality of our relievers.    

Sum of parts could be worth much more than the individual War calculations.  

[bunsen82]

1 minute ago, bean5302 said:

Why would Rogers come to Minnesota at $2MM? I mean, it's probably pretty attractive to a guy who might be looking for a path back to closer money. The Twins have got just about nothing in the bullpen. Rogers had a nice rebound on the o-swing rate last year, but he might not be painting things quite as well as he was with a lack of called strikes. His slider velo has dropped way down, and that's hurt his high K rates.

Still fairly effective.

Because we seemed to utilize him better than others and may be able to squeeze more juice out of him.  Here he will be given an opportunity to potential earn more next year or even convert to a 2 year $10 million contract.   

[DJL44]

3 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Funderburk was about an outing away from being DFA'd last year. He finished well, but I doubt he has a ton of job security based solely off of those last 24 innings. Or at least he shouldn't have much job security. 

And yet, Funderburk pitched better than Taylor Rogers did last season.

2 minutes ago, bunsen82 said:

I think you need 1 high leverage reliever. 

If they want to win in the playoffs, they need 4 or 5 of them.