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

[arby58]

1 hour ago, Brandon said:

So they were 10th in the league and can get improvement from Wallner and Lewis and a full season of Keaschal and 1B is improved.  That is 4 out of 9 positions plus C is improved with Vazquez replacement is a much better hitter.  Are you sure that won't move the needle to slightly above average?  That is a lot of improvement and we have several prospects ready to jump in as a plan B or in case of injury..

That is IF they get improvement from Wallner and Lewis AND a full season of Keaschall. I'm fine with the Bell signing, but he's not going to get them there by himself. You also had a career year from BB last year. Besides the offense and pitching, I'm not sold on a defense with Lee full time at SS, Keaschall at 2B and either Bell regularly at 1B or Wallner regularly in RF. None of them is even league average. That's why I hope Emma (or Jenkins, I suppose) can play regularly in the OF and hope of all hopes, Culpepper becomes the second half starting SS. 

[twinstalker]

4 hours ago, AceWrigley said:

 

 

[twinstalker]

4 hours ago, AceWrigley said:

He looks a lot like Tyler Rogers, doesn't he?

In the mirror.

[twinstalker]

I'm sure there's speculation, but I wonder which Twin loses his 40 man spot.  I always like it when it's a guy we just traded for.

[Sjoski]

3 hours ago, rv78 said:

This is the Falvey way. 

 

Ha!

Falvey Way:

If your best years are behind you, your future is here!

[LastOnePicked]

1 hour ago, amjgt said:

I look forward to every new signing article, so the same 5 users can reiterate to all of us how certain they are that the Twins are going to suck in 2026.

That's fair. It's also fun to read comments from others how each of these low-wattage nibble moves magically keep us right in the playoff hunt.

[twinstalker]

I've started reading the comments, and I'd like to add something to the beginning of everyone's comment:

Quote

Given how absolutely horrible this organization is and has been and how they're not at all really trying to win this year... [follow with comment]

I mean, are we happy we might suck just a little itty bitty less than before?  The Twins are convincing themselves that this sort of a deal counters any argument that they're making a mockery of their baseball operations and this offseason.

So, anyway, comments like "Good move" or "only cost $2 million" make zero sense to me.  Give someone the minimum salary and unapologetically save $1.25 million toward the $450 million you think or say you owe.

[Twinsrtheworst]

4 hours ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

Exactly. I like signing Rogers but this is still a very bad team. A 60 win team until they prove otherwise. Nothing to lose signing Rogers for 2mil, but he's right at the head of the line for a July trade. The roster construction is still very bad. The offense bad. The defense bad. Rogers fills a whole in the BP but it's still not a position of strength. 

Care to place a bet on your 60 win team projection?  I mean you sound pretty confident. 

[Road trip]

4 hours 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'll agree with the rotation, if the top guys stay healthy (coin-flip).  But they ranked 23rd in MLB in runs scored last year.  23rd.  I think we could make a case that the offense could be worse this year unless some of the current minor leaguers make a sudden and unexpected impact.  Bader's unexpected production is gone and not really replaced.  Same with Willi Castro.  Jeffers is potentially on the trade block.  It could get really ugly if Buxton reverts to his career average of ~340 PA's instead of last year's 540.

I'm good with the Rogers signing, but it looks like a 70 win team to me.  Hope I'm totally wrong on that...

[sweetmusicviola16]

59 minutes ago, se7799 said:

Care to place a bet on your 60 win team projection?  I mean you sound pretty confident. 

Right now how the team stands? Yeah I would. This team played at a pace of a 55 win team the last half of 2025. What have they done to change that? Added some fringe players, Orze, Jackson, Kreidler, Waggaman, etc. No gains here. Added Bell, Caratini and now Rogers. These guys produced 1.7 WAR in 2025. At 60 I'm giving them more. Bell and Caratini their added offense improve us. Now, their defense is actually worse. But I'll stand by 60 for the moment and give them some improvement. I'm willing to evaluate piece by piece what they do between now and opening day but as of yet I call it like I see it.

[bunsen82]

2 hours ago, Sjoski said:

Ha!

Falvey Way:

If your best years are behind you, your future is here!

Nelson Cruz (8.3 War),  Solana (1.6), Bader (2.7), Santana (2.5)   say hi.     

[sampleSizeOfOne]

4 hours ago, DJL44 said:

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.

 

Maybe Kody's veteran presence will rub off on Taylor?

 

One can only hope... (unless of course i'm talking about either of them, then well... one can do something about it)

[bunsen82]

23 minutes ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

Right now how the team stands? Yeah I would. This team played at a pace of a 55 win team the last half of 2025. What have they done to change that? Added some fringe players, Orze, Jackson, Kreidler, Waggaman, etc. No gains here. Added Bell, Caratini and now Rogers. These guys produced 1.7 WAR in 2025. At 60 I'm giving them more. Bell and Caratini their added offense improve us. Now, their defense is actually worse. But I'll stand by 60 for the moment and give them some improvement. I'm willing to evaluate piece by piece what they do between now and opening day but as of yet I call it like I see it.

1. Won't be playing 3 subpar batters every lineup -  I went through Vazquez, Outman, Julien, Fitzgerald, Gasper,  I still am not sold on Roden either.   We have dumped everyone on the first list except Outman and Julien - and Julien is probably going to get bumped off the 40 man shortly in my opinion.  

The bullpen we effectively ran with 3 bullpen arms.  Sands, Topa, and discovered Funderburk.   We have Rogers and Orze and hopefully 1 more signing.   I don't mind Ohl as a 7-8 option and I think from the AAA signings and converted starters we can find 1-2 more solid options.  The performance will be so much better than what we were throwing in August and September.  That staff blew 18 leads - in 55 games.  Just crazy stuff.  But when you intend to lose you don't care.   

Ill make a bet with you with the over under being 60.     

[ashbury]

18 hours ago, se7799 said:

Care to place a bet on your 60 win team projection?  I mean you sound pretty confident. 

 

18 hours ago, Road trip said:

I'm good with the Rogers signing, but it looks like a 70 win team to me.  Hope I'm totally wrong on that...

This is not the kind of discussion I was hoping for in Year 10 of the Falvey Era, parsing whether 60 or 70 wins is where to set the bar.

[Linus]

12 minutes ago, ashbury said:

 

This is not the kind of discussion I was hoping for in Year 10 of the Falvey Era, parsing whether 60 or 70 wins was where to set the bar.

Boy does this sum up the situation nicely. 

[Linus]

Rogers is basically Funderburk and that ain’t no compliment. 

[KirbyDome89]

2 hours ago, bunsen82 said:

1. Won't be playing 3 subpar batters every lineup -  I went through Vazquez, Outman, Julien, Fitzgerald, Gasper,  I still am not sold on Roden either.   We have dumped everyone on the first list except Outman and Julien - and Julien is probably going to get bumped off the 40 man shortly in my opinion.  

The bullpen we effectively ran with 3 bullpen arms.  Sands, Topa, and discovered Funderburk.   We have Rogers and Orze and hopefully 1 more signing.   I don't mind Ohl as a 7-8 option and I think from the AAA signings and converted starters we can find 1-2 more solid options.  The performance will be so much better than what we were throwing in August and September.  That staff blew 18 leads - in 55 games.  Just crazy stuff.  But when you intend to lose you don't care.   

Ill make a bet with you with the over under being 60.     

They'll be playing more than 3...

3B, SS, 1B, LF, and DH are all below average bats right now and that's assuming Wallner ticks upwards in RF. No permutation of bench players changes the fact that this club is currently locked into at least half of their lineup being below average on any given day.  

[Riverbrian]

A bullpen move. At Last. Thank You

[Permanent Twins Fan]

The Twins needed to do this. For a bit I was worried that they were just going to leave the bullpen without any additions. I still think they need to bring in another reliever, preferrably a righty to further bolster the bullpen. Evan Phillips and Seranthony Dominguez are names I would target. As it stands right now, my choice for bullpen would be Funderburk, Sands, Orze, Topa, Rogers, Adams, Festa, and Klein. 

[Sjoski]

4 hours ago, bunsen82 said:

Nelson Cruz (8.3 War),  Solana (1.6), Bader (2.7), Santana (2.5)   say hi.     

For every Cruz, there’s a dozen Logan Morrisons, Matt Shoemakers, and Alex Colomés, guys we’re still trying to scrub out of our memory...how quickly we forget ....J.A. Happ, Addison Reed , Dylan Bundy, Chris Archer...my favorite....Joey Gallo.

Even a broken watch is right twice a day.

 

[DocBauer]

Look, it's been a long day for me, and I'm tired. So I'm not going to get in to some long debate with anyone about value vs age and performance and cheap Pohlads. And since this is page 4 already, I don't even know who's going to read this.

Rogers was putting up some really good numbers with the Reds before being traded to the Cubs. For WHATEVER reasons, he didn't perform well after the trade. STILL, his OVERALL numbers, even post trade, were still pretty solid:

3.38 ERA/ 1.382 WHIP/ 47 hits in 50 IP/ 9.4K per 9 IP.

NOT the Rogers we all knew and loved back in the day, but solid numbers. (Better before the trade).

I don't even know if there was a truly great LHRP on the market out of the Twins price category or not right now. And if there were, it's a moot point. But there were FOUR LHRP at age 35 or older available who had really solid 2025 seasons: Rogers, Coulombe, Chaffin, and Thielbar.

Old friend Thielbar, the eldest of the 4 options, had a great rebound season and turned it in to a $4.5M re-sign with the Cubs. Not sure that makes sense for a soon to be 39yo, but good for him! Rogers was expected to be signed for at least $4M based on productions. I remain surprised by his deal. I would have been happy with a return of Coulombe for $3M. Who is the better pitcher is debatable. 

Rogers is NOT a pen savior. And nobody should be expecting that. BUT he IS, presumably, still a solid LH option with TONS of experience coming off a solid 2025, even with a bad Cubs experience. Is he better than Funderburk? Do we care?

So let's rewind for a moment. I've been following Funderburk especially close since he transitioned to a RP. He's got solid stuff. He's flashed at times. He's also stunk at times. You can either look at his last 2 months of 2025 as a brief flux in his career, or, you can say that when given a 3rd chance in his ML career, he FINALLY started to figure some things out.

I am NOT projecting Funderburk to be anything special, but it IS interesting that when the pen was imploded, and he got an opportunity, he suddenly looked better. Did maturation happen before our eyes?

I also have to respond to Prielipp expectations. Falvey is a master at GM and "coach" speak. But he doesn't lie. When he speaks about Prielipp as a potential BP arm, we should listen, even if our heart wants him to be a STUD SP. Were I to bet $, he wouldn't break camp with the Twins. I'd expect him to get IP to WORK on his stuff and get ready for a ML debut out of the pen. A few lower leverage innings at first, just to get settled. Let's just say June 1st for giggles. And there would be NO REASON why the Twins couldn't have 3 LH RP. 

What's really important, IMO, is the next move. There is no bad 1yr deal. And the FO NEEDS that ONE MORE quality signing from the RH side. And I'm sure who that is, but damn, it sure makes sense to bring in a power arm like Dominguez for around $7M ish. Why is he still available? He'd a perfect, hard throwing RH option who could help bridge the younger RH arms in the system to larger roles. Leclerc and Phillips are also available as viable options, I just like Dominguez better.

I still believe in my heart of hearts that Festa should be in the pen for all the reasons we've all discussed and debated, despite the Twins not saying so yet. But it would be silly to put Festa in to a closer role Opening Day, when you could have a veteran to take on a bigger role Day One. Rogers and whoever is signed next...and I absolutely believe there is another signing coming...aren't BP saviors. They are solid place holders to lean on early for the younger arms to settle in and grow in their role.

Nothing is guaranteed for sure, but I can see a method to the madness with Rogers and another quality RH being added BEFORE Prielipp, Raya, Festa, Lewis, and Klein are put in to tough positions. 

[bunsen82]

10 hours ago, Sjoski said:

For every Cruz, there’s a dozen Logan Morrisons, Matt Shoemakers, and Alex Colomés, guys we’re still trying to scrub out of our memory...how quickly we forget ....J.A. Happ, Addison Reed , Dylan Bundy, Chris Archer...my favorite....Joey Gallo.

Even a broken watch is right twice a day.

 

 

The statement was if your best years are behind you,  implying we are looking for players that will underperform like a Colome and running on prior name recognition.  

To me we have done the cheap signings in 3 specific areas -

1. SP - absolutely does not work.  The only one that was a so-so that worked well later is Martin Perez (holy crap $66 million in career earning).   Our Starting pitching and depth is a completely different ball game.  We don't have to take chances.  

2. 1st baseman - for the most part has worked.  Cron 1.6 Solana 1.6 Santana 2.5 France .8  Gallo .5. Morrison -.2.    Also Gallo wasn't dumpster diving - that was a $10 million contract.  

3. RP (signed acquired) - mixed bag - Pagan (roller coaster), Topa (ok, not great), Stewart (really good when health),  Coloumbe (good),  Jorge Lopez (ugh), Colome (yuck), Robles (nothing), Clippard (ok). Rodney (decent), Thielbar (really really good, twice)

So if we are dumpster diving - 1st base is the place to do it -  Starting pitching is an absolute no go - relief pitching seems to work out ok for taking chances.       

[bunsen82]

10 hours ago, DocBauer said:

Look, it's been a long day for me, and I'm tired. So I'm not going to get in to some long debate with anyone about value vs age and performance and cheap Pohlads. And since this is page 4 already, I don't even know who's going to read this.

Rogers was putting up some really good numbers with the Reds before being traded to the Cubs. For WHATEVER reasons, he didn't perform well after the trade. STILL, his OVERALL numbers, even post trade, were still pretty solid:

3.38 ERA/ 1.382 WHIP/ 47 hits in 50 IP/ 9.4K per 9 IP.

NOT the Rogers we all knew and loved back in the day, but solid numbers. (Better before the trade).

I don't even know if there was a truly great LHRP on the market out of the Twins price category or not right now. And if there were, it's a moot point. But there were FOUR LHRP at age 35 or older available who had really solid 2025 seasons: Rogers, Coulombe, Chaffin, and Thielbar.

Old friend Thielbar, the eldest of the 4 options, had a great rebound season and turned it in to a $4.5M re-sign with the Cubs. Not sure that makes sense for a soon to be 39yo, but good for him! Rogers was expected to be signed for at least $4M based on productions. I remain surprised by his deal. I would have been happy with a return of Coulombe for $3M. Who is the better pitcher is debatable. 

Rogers is NOT a pen savior. And nobody should be expecting that. BUT he IS, presumably, still a solid LH option with TONS of experience coming off a solid 2025, even with a bad Cubs experience. Is he better than Funderburk? Do we care?

So let's rewind for a moment. I've been following Funderburk especially close since he transitioned to a RP. He's got solid stuff. He's flashed at times. He's also stunk at times. You can either look at his last 2 months of 2025 as a brief flux in his career, or, you can say that when given a 3rd chance in his ML career, he FINALLY started to figure some things out.

I am NOT projecting Funderburk to be anything special, but it IS interesting that when the pen was imploded, and he got an opportunity, he suddenly looked better. Did maturation happen before our eyes?

I also have to respond to Prielipp expectations. Falvey is a master at GM and "coach" speak. But he doesn't lie. When he speaks about Prielipp as a potential BP arm, we should listen, even if our heart wants him to be a STUD SP. Were I to bet $, he wouldn't break camp with the Twins. I'd expect him to get IP to WORK on his stuff and get ready for a ML debut out of the pen. A few lower leverage innings at first, just to get settled. Let's just say June 1st for giggles. And there would be NO REASON why the Twins couldn't have 3 LH RP. 

What's really important, IMO, is the next move. There is no bad 1yr deal. And the FO NEEDS that ONE MORE quality signing from the RH side. And I'm sure who that is, but damn, it sure makes sense to bring in a power arm like Dominguez for around $7M ish. Why is he still available? He'd a perfect, hard throwing RH option who could help bridge the younger RH arms in the system to larger roles. Leclerc and Phillips are also available as viable options, I just like Dominguez better.

I still believe in my heart of hearts that Festa should be in the pen for all the reasons we've all discussed and debated, despite the Twins not saying so yet. But it would be silly to put Festa in to a closer role Opening Day, when you could have a veteran to take on a bigger role Day One. Rogers and whoever is signed next...and I absolutely believe there is another signing coming...aren't BP saviors. They are solid place holders to lean on early for the younger arms to settle in and grow in their role.

Nothing is guaranteed for sure, but I can see a method to the madness with Rogers and another quality RH being added BEFORE Prielipp, Raya, Festa, Lewis, and Klein are put in to tough positions. 

I couldn't love this post more.  

Dominguez is someone the Twins absolutely need at this point.  Power arm that has had leverage experience.  He would likely be the fireman arm we need.   As of now Sands is your next arm and then Funderburk.   Topa and Rogers based on the situation.  Orze has some upside will have to see what we have there.  Then work the young kids in and see if they stick.    Of our arms Festa seems to be the best fit for the bullpen.  I could also see Matthews being a monster - but would prefer to keep him as a starter.  

[BillyBallLives]

2 hours ago, bunsen82 said:

The statement was if your best years are behind you,  implying we are looking for players that will underperform like a Colome and running on prior name recognition.  

My concern is when cheap becomes the strategy rather than a complement.

Colomé is a perfect example, not because he was inexpensive, but because the warning signs were already flashing red, yet the gamble was made anyway.

As Twins fans {assuming one still chooses to be one} we ultimately have to accept how this organization does business, whether we like it or not. After all, this has been standard procedure for 65+ years.

So, as rv78 put it: it’s "the Falvey Way" … or the highway for Twins fans.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

14 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

A bullpen move. At Last. Thank You

Now the bullpen is somewhere else?

 

(oh, and in case no one else says it) You are welcome.

[stringer bell]

A lot of topics covered here, I'll weigh in on a few:

1) Funderburk looked very good when given a chance to pitch high leverage innings in August and September. Yes, it's a small sample, but the command was much better. His delivery is funky, and if he hits his spots, he's pretty good. Will he sustain this? You never really know with relief pitchers.

2) Rogers isn't close to what he once was, but he got people out with the Reds, not so much the Cubs. He's now got Danny Coulombe stuff, so he has to pitch totally different from what he was in his first tour with the Twins. He's probably only 50-50 to be tradeable at the deadline if he lasts that long. Interesting that his twin is thriving in his mid-30s, but Tyler never threw hard like Taylor did.

3) The Twins offensive success depends on improvement from homegrown guys who have either flashed or have a good pedigree--Lewis, Lee and Wallner for starters. Having Caratini and Bell adds quite a bit of depth to the lineup, but they aren't going to carry the team. The three guys I mentioned plus Keaschall and Buxton will determine what kind of an offense they have.

4) Team speed might not be as bad as it might look. I am pulling for Martin to get regular duty and help the club with his legs. Add a healthy Keaschall and Buxton and rejuvenated Lewis with the prospect of adding fast guys like Jenkins, Rodriguez and Culpupper and speed might not be a big negative. 

[bunsen82]

I was hoping for pin action and another reliever to sign and hoping it was Dominguez.  He just signed with the White Sox.  Trades are still open but at this point it doesn't appear we are getting any high leverage reliever.  Going to ride or die with the young guns.    Some of the optimism I expressed in this thread,  has faded.   

[sweetmusicviola16]

Forget about Dominguez, he's going to the CWS. 5th place here come the Twins. Calling it like I see it.

[sweetmusicviola16]

19 hours ago, bunsen82 said:

1. Won't be playing 3 subpar batters every lineup -  I went through Vazquez, Outman, Julien, Fitzgerald, Gasper,  I still am not sold on Roden either.   We have dumped everyone on the first list except Outman and Julien - and Julien is probably going to get bumped off the 40 man shortly in my opinion.  

The bullpen we effectively ran with 3 bullpen arms.  Sands, Topa, and discovered Funderburk.   We have Rogers and Orze and hopefully 1 more signing.   I don't mind Ohl as a 7-8 option and I think from the AAA signings and converted starters we can find 1-2 more solid options.  The performance will be so much better than what we were throwing in August and September.  That staff blew 18 leads - in 55 games.  Just crazy stuff.  But when you intend to lose you don't care.   

Ill make a bet with you with the over under being 60.     

I appreciate you response and thoughts bro. Truly do. Your second to last sentence though strikes at me a bit. I believe it is true, but just rubs me. "But when you intend to lose you don't care." This. This was a horse crap way to reward the fans of your team who had pre bought tickets, and all other fans of the team,  to watch your team in 2025. Trying to lose, and I think that it would be unanimous agreement that this was the case. And they're still not "going big"  as they'd like the remaining gullible to believe. The 16mil they have spent thus far in FA this off season is throwing money away imo, though I suppose they'll manage to get a couple more borderline prospects for it later on so not a total waste. 

[bunsen82]

2 minutes ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

I appreciate you response and thoughts bro. Truly do. Your second to last sentence though strikes at me a bit. I believe it is true, but just rubs me. "But when you intend to lose you don't care." This. This was a horse crap way to reward the fans of your team who had pre bought tickets, and all other fans of the team,  to watch your team in 2025. Trying to lose, and I think that it would be unanimous agreement that this was the case. And they're still not "going big"  as they'd like the remaining gullible to believe. The 16mil they have spent thus far in FA this off season is throwing money away imo, though I suppose they'll manage to get a couple more borderline prospects for it later on so not a total waste. 

I can't disagree with you.   The trade deadline and the actions after,  lineup,  lack of help in the bullpen showed their actions.   They didn't actively try to make the team lose,  but they made it awfully hard for them to win.  The biggest issue with this strategy is destroying the confidence of your players.   

I continue to say, I would have rather, invested slightly in the team similar to the Braves.  Odd are you don't win,  but that was a team that could have if the bats got hot.   Chip and a Chair.  The only thing I will counter with that though,  I think the leaders in the clubhouse had quit on Baldelli.  Lewis, Correa, Jax.   

The going big comment that everyone is making a bigger deal about that it really is,  is dumb in my opinion.  He effectively said they would have to thread the needle this year to have a good team.  That seems an accurate portrayal.  He also stated as currently constructed this isn't a team you go all in with in trades or signings.   As of now there isn't anything wrong with that.  

They gave $20 million to sign prospects,  I thought they could build a solid bullpen but it was reliant on 1 high leverage arm,  and at this point I am not seeing it with Dominguez off the board going to the White Sox.