TRADE: Twins Acquire Left-Handed Reliever Anthony Banda from Dodgers

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, bunsen82 said:

I understand the theory,  but we didn't use our full allotment.   

Which seems bad. There must be someone to sign if the dodgers want money?

[Western SD Fan]

1 hour ago, Rigby said:

Much rather enhance the international scouting and development.

Fully agree with you that the Twins need to do a better job in scouting and development throughout the system but revamping that will take a year or two.  In the meantime, if the Twins have extra pool money and need bullpen help, it seems like a win-win trade for the moment.

[Permanent Twins Fan]

1 hour ago, bunsen82 said:

To be fair we got a lot more in return than a little international money.  It appears though that itch hasn't been fully scratched for you yet.  

I think it was a great return for a reliever that had only really been good for a few months. It just didn't seem that there was any reason to trade him, especially with the many years of club control he had left. 

[Brandon]

I'm happy with this move.  He will be a solid reliever for us and give us another reliever we can count on.now we can focus on developing our relievers and bringing them up one at a time.  We can still sign Kopech or trade Larnarch for a good reliever.  But now the need is not so dire.

[bunsen82]

38 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Which seems bad. There must be someone to sign if the dodgers want money?

Someone that the Twins likely wouldn't have access to.  More likely than not,  Dodgers will move one of their signees that qualify for the 2026 year rather than run them through their 2027 allotment.  It was 500k,  which was higher than I expected.    In either case we had 4-5 signees this year for that amount I would have traded for Banda straight up.  

[jorgenswest]

In assessing the international draft you probably need to go back 7 years. By now that player will be on the 40 using their last option or been exposed to rule 5. Diego Cartaya was one of the big signings in 2018. He had last year to either make it or not with the Dodgers so the 2025 season was the year to check on him.

The Twins used most of their pool money in 2019. That group is really at a key moment this year to make an impact on the Twins. One of the players is on the 40 in Emmanuel Rodriguez (on his last option). Others like Ricardo Olivar have been exposed to rule 5. Emma Rodriguez was given the 8th most bonus money. The Dodgers Luis Rodriguez was right behind in 9th. He was released after the 2024 season. The Dodgers have a few others that remain in the organization. All have passed through rule 5. 

Look at the list provided by Spotrac. Do you recognize most of the names at the top of the list? I would absolutely trade international money. The players are so young when they are acquired and get to the point where they need to be on the 40 or exposed in rule 5 at a very young age. 

[Sjoski]

Q: Why did the Banda start swearing when he saw the Twins lineup card?

A: Because he realized the ShortStop behind him went from "Mookie" to "Brookie." 

[OregonTwinsFan]

Woohoo!!! He becomes the best reliever in the pen. Also means that Prielipp won't be rushed to make the team out of spring training.

[Danchat]

Not a surprising move, that's probably it for the bullpen additions. Also not exciting, given he was primed for regression with his high walk rate and his FIP implied his defense was saving him runs. Looks like during the playoff run he was pitching in low leverage, and was downright terrible in the World Series. Small sample size of course, but I can see why the Dodgers are moving on from him.

One thing I will note is that I appreciate that there are actually multiple rosterable left-handed relievers in the bullpen this year. But still, long term I wouldn't be shocked if Sands is the only reliever in the 2027 pen that is currently slated to make the 2026 roster.

[jorgenswest]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

Which seems bad. There must be someone to sign if the dodgers want money?

They had to take the best offer or lose him to waivers. Maybe no one offered them a prospect with any chance to make it to the majors.

[The Great Hambino]

Clearly a good value, but at first glance it seems like an odd profile in that in comparing his 2023 2022 to his 2025, he cut his ERA in half (6.75 to 3.18) while his FIP actually got worse (4.50 to 4.52).   It does look like he did well in his limited high-leverage opportunities.  Hopefully can sustain that because he's probably the #1 high-leverage option now

So now Banda, Sands, Rogers, Funderburk, Orze are probably veteran locks, which would leave three spots to be filled by failed starter prospects and non-roster camp invites.  Will it be 1 and 2 or 2 and 1?  My guess right now assuming full health (LOL) would be Festa, Altavilla, and Hendriks.  Maybe one of Adams/Klein/Morris take one/both of the NRI slots.  I'd prefer Raya show some degree of competence at AAA before getting a shot in the bigs, even if they've already decided to transfer him to relief

EDIT: 2022, not 2023. In my defense, his BBRef page is a mess

[bean5302]

Jeremy Zoll can get canned any time now. Any fan in the forum is apparently just as skilled as he is at identifying talent. The maximum amount of "mid" allowed for a move I can possibly generate.

Banda isn't exactly "impressive" against lefties. He was downright abysmal vs. righties. A 5.66 BB/9? That 5.54 FIP and 5.07 xFIP are generous.

[old nurse]

2 hours ago, DJL44 said:

International bonus money can be dealt in increments of $250,000

Yup, saw that. Twins gave them 500,000. 

[Rufus]

This team could trade a bag of used balls for the entire Dodger team and someone would find fault with the deal.

[AceWrigley]

Andrew Friedman: Oh hey Tony, I know we DFA'd you, but we just made a deal and you're on your way to the Minnesota Twins.

Tony:

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, Danchat said:

Not a surprising move, that's probably it for the bullpen additions.

I really hope not. This roster still has some easy upgrades left to make.

[bunsen82]

They have stated they were willing to add 2 additions to the bullpen and were willing to spend up to $10 million.  I still think there is 1 more reliever yet to come, and with paying minimal for Banda,  I think Kopech is the target.  

[LA Vikes Fan]

1 hour ago, The Great Hambino said:

Clearly a good value, but at first glance it seems like an odd profile in that in comparing his 2023 2022 to his 2025, he cut his ERA in half (6.75 to 3.18) while his FIP actually got worse (4.50 to 4.52).   It does look like he did well in his limited high-leverage opportunities.  Hopefully can sustain that because he's probably the #1 high-leverage option now

So now Banda, Sands, Rogers, Funderburk, Orze are probably veteran locks, which would leave three spots to be filled by failed starter prospects and non-roster camp invites.  Will it be 1 and 2 or 2 and 1?  My guess right now assuming full health (LOL) would be Festa, Altavilla, and Hendriks.  Maybe one of Adams/Klein/Morris take one/both of the NRI slots.  I'd prefer Raya show some degree of competence at AAA before getting a shot in the bigs, even if they've already decided to transfer him to relief

EDIT: 2022, not 2023. In my defense, his BBRef page is a mess

Disagree with you on Banda, but time will tell. I think the Bullpen is now pretty much set except for two spots. The group is Sands, Topa, Rogers, Funderburk, Banda, and Orze (3 RH, 3 LH), plus two of Dan Altavilla, Liam Hendricks, David Festa, and Connor Preilipp. It also would not surprise me if the Twins made one more trade for a decent but not great reliever by trading Larnach, or signed a still available FA like Coulombe, Beeks, or even a reunion with Jorge Lopez. If things stay as they are, the most likely result, Altavilla makes the team with a decent ST given his 2.48 ERA last year in 28 appearances with the White Sucks. Hendricks will make the team if he shows something in the WBC and/or ST and we're done. Festa and Prielipp start in AAA and are available when one of the vets stinks or gets hurt along with Adams, Klein, Bowman, Raya, Morris, etc.  Sands is the initial closer but more of a closer by committee with Sands, Rogers, Topa, and Funderburk getting most of the late inning work. 

Not a great bullpen by any stretch, but possibly functional and with at least some depth. We could use one more proven guy - Coulombe is still out there - and it's a top 2/3 but not top 1/2 bullpen. You know, kind of like the rest of the team. Now to find a shortstop . . .

[bunsen82]

1 hour ago, bean5302 said:

Jeremy Zoll can get canned any time now. Any fan in the forum is apparently just as skilled as he is at identifying talent. The maximum amount of "mid" allowed for a move I can possibly generate.

Banda isn't exactly "impressive" against lefties. He was downright abysmal vs. righties. A 5.66 BB/9? That 5.54 FIP and 5.07 xFIP are generous.

At least you are consistent.   Banda was obviously in decent demand to get 500k in international money.  These types of relievers just don't fall out of trees like you stated (fyi I haven't seen another reliever of Banda's level get dfa'd in the last week,  still waiting on these relievers dfa'd all the time)  and I do think the Twins are going to tryin to improve his arsenal.  In either case he was utilized in more leverage situations and other than Sands - and previously Rogers no one else is likely fully up to the task.   

In my opinion we are up to 2 leverage arms,  assuming a step up by Sands.  In my opinion you need 1 more and I would prefer to take the chance on Kopech who can be your high velocity closer.   Its a chance but at this point,  this is a bullpen that can be decent and possibly overperform.   

[bunsen82]

54 minutes ago, old nurse said:

Yup, saw that. Twins gave them 500,000. 

I am wondering if there is a secondary trade coming.  

[arby58]

4 hours ago, bunsen82 said:

Granted its self inflicted,  but he goes from being the #4 LH  although 1 of them is purely due to money,  to likely being the #1 left hander  for the Twins.  That pecking order could change.  

My guess is the Twins would slot him second at the moment.

[The Great Hambino]

16 minutes ago, LA Vikes Fan said:

Disagree with you on Banda, but time will tell. I think the Bullpen is now pretty much set except for two spots. The group is Sands, Topa, Rogers, Funderburk, Banda, and Orze (3 RH, 3 LH), plus two of Dan Altavilla, Liam Hendricks, David Festa, and Connor Preilipp. It also would not surprise me if the Twins made one more trade for a decent but not great reliever by trading Larnach, or signed a still available FA like Coulombe, Beeks, or even a reunion with Jorge Lopez. If things stay as they are, the most likely result, Altavilla makes the team with a decent ST given his 2.48 ERA last year in 28 appearances with the White Sucks. Hendricks will make the team if he shows something in the WBC and/or ST and we're done. Festa and Prielipp start in AAA and are available when one of the vets stinks or gets hurt along with Adams, Klein, Bowman, Raya, Morris, etc.  Sands is the initial closer but more of a closer by committee with Sands, Rogers, Topa, and Funderburk getting most of the late inning work. 

Not a great bullpen by any stretch, but possibly functional and with at least some depth. We could use one more proven guy - Coulombe is still out there - and it's a top 2/3 but not top 1/2 bullpen. You know, kind of like the rest of the team. Now to find a shortstop . . .

I completely forgot about Topa, he obviously takes one of my NRI slots

Where am I off on Banda?  Some are reflexively panning the move out of habit, while bunsen is ready to throw himself a victory parade.  I feel like I'm pretty lukewarm on him

[GNess]

Banda provides a RP withe significant experience at the MLB level including postseason. This type of addition was much needed to help stabilize the BP.

Should prove to be a good move.

[Blyleven2011]

Hard to believe a pitcher like banda falls into our lap ...

This acquisition moves the needle some , it was a no brainer to get him for the bullpen at a affordable price and just might be bullpen pitcher of the year  ...

[LA Vikes Fan]

7 minutes ago, The Great Hambino said:

I completely forgot about Topa, he obviously takes one of my NRI slots

Where am I off on Banda?  Some are reflexively panning the move out of habit, while bunsen is ready to throw himself a victory parade.  I feel like I'm pretty lukewarm on him

He's been better these last 2 years with the Dodgers and has successfully pitched some high leverage innings. You're right that his ERA and FIP was bad when he started and frankly his FIP still isn't that good. That could be a red flag given how poor our IF defense was last year. Still, he's shown himself to be a competent reliever which is a big plus for this bullpen, IMHO. 

[Joe A. Preusser]

If they throw a victory parade I'll pan it.

If they trade for a really nice pan I'll throw a victory parade. 

Now that you're rolling with laughter...I think we trade Larnach for another very decent bullpen arm, possibly a tick up from Banda.  Then they call the BP good.

In fact, at that point they might call the offseason good.  I don't think they believe they need another SS option.  I'm watching the usage of our depth starters very closely this spring to see who is stretching out and who is not.  

[soyouresayingtheresachance]

Now bring in Nick Castellanos on a Minor League deal with invitation to ST. 

 

Keep the pitchers coming. Odds are a few will work out!

[old nurse]

13 minutes ago, soyouresayingtheresachance said:

Now bring in Nick Castellanos on a Minor League deal with invitation to ST. 

 

Keep the pitchers coming. Odds are a few will work out!

Why would you want another bat first player who hasn’t hit in the last 4 years

[LastOnePicked]

The Twins gain a player and all they lose is the option to pay prospects more money? Tom P. must be in his glory. Zoll is getting a bonus $5 Starbucks gift card this week for sure.

[chpettit19]

I don't mind this deal. They likely weren't going to spend that pool money anyways and have been atrocious in the international market recently anyways. This isn't an exciting move, though. Banda being their "big" bullpen get is not impressive. He's not a closer. He's not a leverage arm. He's a lefty specialist. 

Gave up an OPS of .774 against righties last year and .739 the year before. I'm told Trevor Larnach OPSing .759 against righties is a sign he's a good hitter. Well, that's how Banda gets hit by righties. As others have pointed out, his FIP is well above his ERA and he has just gotten a significant downgrade in the talent behind him. 

This being a decent enough little upgrade to the pen just tells us how incredibly devoid of talent the pen was, and still is. But I think expecting him to be a leverage arm is a mistake. People are looking at his last 2 years with the Dodgers and seeing nice ERAs and getting excited. Is the team better now than it was yesterday? I think so. Is this actually a meaningful step towards a truly competent and competitive bullpen and team? I don't think so. This pen was, and still is, just so incredibly devoid of MLB talent. Another floor raising/setting move that doesn't even brush the ceiling, let alone move it.