Late-Inning Questions Remain, but Twins Bullpen Picture Is Getting Clearer

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of William Parmeter

When the Minnesota Twins walked out of last year’s trade deadline having dealt away essentially their entire late-inning infrastructure, the message was clear. This bullpen was going to need a complete rebuild.

Jhoan Duran was gone. Griffin Jax was gone. Louis Varland was gone. Brock Stewart was gone. Even depth arms who had soaked up meaningful innings were moved as the front office pivoted toward future flexibility. By the time the dust settled, Minnesota was left with a relief corps that resembled more of a tryout list than a functional major league unit.

Fast forward to the first official week of spring preparations, and the picture is beginning to sharpen. A handful of additions have quietly transformed what once looked like an organizational weakness into a group with at least some defined roles.

Closer: Taylor Rogers
It is a familiar face stepping back into the ninth-inning conversation. Rogers returns to Minnesota for the first time since being dealt away four seasons ago and immediately becomes one of the most experienced late-inning options in the room. While he no longer features the upper-tier velocity that earned him All-Star recognition earlier in his career, he still offers steady command from the left side and a track record of handling pressure situations. On a modest one-year commitment, he projects as the bullpen’s primary southpaw and the most logical candidate to handle save opportunities as the season begins.

Set Up Options: Cole Sands, Justin Topa, Anthony Banda
Sands enters camp looking to rebound from a frustrating follow-up to his breakout 2024 campaign. His swing-and-miss ability dipped noticeably last season (K% dropped 7.7%) while his walk rate trended in the wrong direction (BB% increased by 3.3%), resulting in more traffic and more damage. Even so, his pitch mix and prior success suggest there is still legitimate upside here. Minnesota will likely lean on him in meaningful innings while hoping the sharper version of his arsenal returns.

Topa was able to stay on the mound more consistently after injuries derailed the previous year and ultimately logged one of the heavier workloads of his career. He does not overpower hitters but keeps the ball on the ground (47.7 GB%) and limits loud contact when he is right. Asked to take on larger leverage responsibilities late last season, he showed some volatility. With the current roster construction, however, he may again find himself pitching in key spots by necessity.

Banda joined the organization shortly after camp opened, following a move that brought him over from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The veteran left-hander has quietly posted strong run prevention numbers over the past two seasons thanks to improved fastball location and a willingness to challenge hitters inside. He is better suited for matchups against left-handed bats but has proven capable of covering multiple innings when needed. He is due to make $1.6 million this season, so he is nearly guaranteed to break camp with the club.

Middle Relief Mix: Eric Orze, Travis Adams, Kody Funderburk, Andrew Chafin
Acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays earlier in the offseason, Orze brings a mid-90s fastball and a splitter that has generated consistent strikeouts throughout his professional career (31.8 Whiff%). He translated that swing and miss ability into solid results during his first extended big league look last season and could quickly climb the trust ladder if that continues.

Adams appears ticketed for bullpen work full-time after Minnesota shifted away from developing him as a starter. Last season, his results in relief were uneven overall, but there were encouraging signs late in the year when his velocity ticked up in shorter appearances. In his final eight appearances (8 1/3 innings), he had a 3.02 FIP and an 8-to-5 strikeout-to-walk rate. The Twins will be watching closely to see if that version of Adams becomes more consistent.

Funderburk made perhaps the strongest late-season impression of anyone remaining in house after the deadline teardown. In 24 innings following the trade deadline, he posted a 0.75 ERA with 28 strikeouts.  That extended opportunity down the stretch forced his way back into the club’s future plans. Entering spring, he looked like the clear secondary left-handed option, though Banda and Chafin’s arrival adds new competition to that role.

Chafin enters his age-35 season, and what would be his 13th year in professional baseball. While the deal does not guarantee him a spot on the Opening Day roster, it immediately throws him into legitimate competition for a role. Last season, the veteran posted a 2.41 ERA across 33 2/3 innings. He struck out 36 hitters against 19 walks and limited left-handed batters to a .136 average. That type of platoon effectiveness remains especially valuable even with other lefties on the roster.  

The names above leave out Liam Hendriks, whose return to the organization reads like something out of a baseball time capsule. Originally signed by Minnesota as a teenager out of Australia, he later developed into one of the sport’s most dominant closers after departing the system before the Twins gave him a chance to be a reliever. Now nearing 37 and working back from multiple health setbacks, he arrives on a minor league deal as a long-term upside play rather than an immediate solution.

Taken together, this group lacks the established star power that defined Minnesota’s bullpen in recent seasons. There is no single arm capable of dominating the ninth inning the way fans had grown accustomed to before last summer’s reset. What it does have is variety, flexibility, and multiple pitchers with something to prove.

That reality may ultimately define the Twins' early season. Without a traditional late-inning hierarchy carved in stone, matchups and hot hands are likely to dictate usage patterns as the coaching staff evaluates who can handle higher-leverage moments. It is not the most glamorous approach, but it is often how new bullpen cores are formed.

If even two or three of these arms outperform expectations, Minnesota could find itself with legitimate trade chips or a surprisingly stable back end by midseason. For now, the bullpen remains a work in progress, but for the first time since the deadline fire sale, it at least resembles a group with direction rather than one simply filling innings.

What will change with this bullpen group before Opening Day? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

 

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[OregonTwinsFan]

I find it hard to believe they will carry four left-handers on the opening day roster. I would guess that Chafin and Funderburk are competing for a spot...

[Cory Engelhardt]

I think they still bring in another arm to bump either Funderburk or Adams back to St. Paul. I also think there is a CHANCE that Liam Hendriks could bump one of them anyway. I mean, if they already have Rogers AND Chafin AND Banda, is Funderburk really making the team opening day?

Also, with that, the train from St. Paul to Minneapolis will run hot this year I'd imagine for the bullpen again.

[DJL44]

Why would we want Adams in the bullpen when we could use Festa instead?

I'm not super worried right now about having 4 lefties in the bullpen. They're all better pitchers than the next available AAA reliever. Plus, odds are high one of them will be injured at any given time. Always plan that one of your top 8 relievers will be on the injured list.

If Hendriks is worth keeping, then he probably shares the closer role with Rogers.

[KirbyDome89]

You can't have 3 guys, all of whom are unusable against RHs, in the same pen and expect to get away with it. It's the equivalent of trying to platoon your entire OF. 

[howeda7]

If Rogers is the closer, doesn't that sort of take him out of the "lefty" equation? At current I think all four of them make the team. 

[Rod Carews Birthday]

I'm not sure there's really that much clarity at this point.  Someone will bomb.  Someone else will get injured.  Someone will surprise.  One of the veteran signees will be cooked.  One of the veteran signees will flash the upside.  Some unknown will appear out of nowhere and become the Sire of Fort Myers.  Give spring training a couple of weeks and we'll know a bit more than we do now.  Version 2.0 will likely look pretty different.  

[LewFordLives]

Does anyone know if Chafin has an opt out if he isn't added to the roster by a certain date? If Funderburk looks to be in good form during spring training it would be criminal to send him to St. Paul.

[mark allen]

3 hours ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

I think they still bring in another arm to bump either Funderburk or Adams back to St. Paul. I also think there is a CHANCE that Liam Hendriks could bump one of them anyway. I mean, if they already have Rogers AND Chafin AND Banda, is Funderburk really making the team opening day?

Also, with that, the train from St. Paul to Minneapolis will run hot this year I'd imagine for the bullpen again.

not sure they can sign more with the 40 man being full of prospects on the pitching side they wouldn't want to lose

[twinstalker]

All fine and good, but hardly any of those names should be in an opening day bullpen.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

5 minutes ago, twinstalker said:

All fine and good, but hardly any of those names should be in an opening day bullpen.

Yup exceptionally bad bullpen. While I realize Adams is sort of a converted “bulk pitcher” the reality is if this is the opening day bullpen, this team isn’t trying to develop high leverage arms and rebuild a good bullpen. This would be a punt on 2026

[DocBauer]

I'm not sure if I read it, or heard it, but I recall Hendricks doing a showcase of sorts before the Twins signed him that seemed to indicate he was healthy and throwing around 95-96 again again. Something to that affect. Am I betting on him? No. But the ML portion of his deal maxes out. around $4M. If he has a good ST, he makes the club. If he's around 85-90% of his old self, he becomes a cheap, smart signing. If he doesn't look good, he's only a MILB invite. But it's not hard to hold out at least a little bit of hope.

I'd still like to see Kopech on a 1yr make good deal and hope we get the GOOD version of him, rather than cling to hope. But I'm ALMOST betting on Hendricks making it on experience, guys and guile if he looks anything close to being back. He's over a year removed from TJ surgery. And his problem in 2025 was numbness in his fingers from a nerve being pinched. So his second surgery was to free up a nerve that was being pinched. So it wasn't a second TJ surgery. 

So for now, I'm going to say he surprises enough to make the club.

Rogers is just not the old friend we love and remember. But while his time with the Reds post deadline trade wasn't very good, he was quite good with the Cubs up until then. I think he's got some gas left in the tank to help with some late IP work as a set up, and maybe occasional closer with Hendricks to at least start the season.

Sands just wasn't the same in 2025 as the arm we saw in 2024. He was uneven to be sure. SOMEONE posted his August and September numbers...and I wish I could remember who and where to find them...that showed he threw really well in those final 2 months, with the exception of a really bad 10 game stretch. Based on stuff, his 2024, and most of his late 2025, he's got the potential to make a difference for the '26 pen. I see him in a potential Jax role as a fireman, but not the closer. Now, he still has to go put there and DO IT, but the potential is there.

Despite the Twins being silent on the idea, I really believe Festa is destined for the pen. I think most of us agree on that. He's got a history of being very good 1 time through the order. There's always been concerns about his durability physically as a SP. His recent shoulder scare...supposedly mild, fixed, and ready to go...would seem to further advocate his move. Again, we've all discussed this previously. I think he starts out behind Hendricks, Rogers, and Sands initially, and then starts seeing more late IP work after a month or so.

So you kinda have a top 4 there. Not exactly what you want, no extreme confidence, but a 4 arm mix of experience and youth that might get the job done most days. 

Not great, but not bad either.

The Topa we have is just not the guy who was so damn good for Seattle in 2023. But he's not bad as a 6-7th IP guy to come in to start an inning. He's got some experience, and that helps. Not great, not bad.

I just can't put a ton of faith in the 28yo Orze. Except, there's at least something to work with there in regard to velocity, good MILB K numbers, and a decent/solid 2025 rookie debut with the Rays. I wouldn't bet against Maki and Hawkins working with him and he overtakes Topa by June in the pen hierarchy. 

So now we're at 6 for 8 spots. Again, not great, not bad.

Sorry, but there is NO WAY the Twins have 4 LH arms in their pen! THREE CAN BE AN ADVANTAGE if used properly. We've seen other teams do that, including a couple of Twins teams in the early '00's. I like the Banda pickup. He's not great, but he's solid, and experienced. I also like Chaffin on a MILB deal. And Funderburk, I believe, has an option left. BUT, not only does Funderburk have little to nothing to prove at AAA any longer, pressed in to more late IP action in 2025, he looked like a guy who has FINALLY turned a corner in trusting his stuff to be a legitimate MLRP worthy of being on the 26 man roster.

I really like Chaffin. But I honestly think he's been signed in case Funderburk's sudden rise was an illusion. And I don't know if he's got some automatic OUT in his deal or not. But I'm going to put my $ on Funderburk FINALLY figuring it out late in '25 and it's not an illusion. He FINALLY realized his stuff can play, and he's learned how to sequence properly. 

So Funderburk is IN, and Chaffin will hopefully stick around in St Paul waiting for opportunity. 

That's an 8 man BP that isn't great, but might be OK.

You notice what's missing? Other than Festa, there aren't the recent conversions. But that's not a bad thing. It means Lewis...a hopeful small shoulder issue...and Raya, Adams, and Klein get TIME in St Paul to make their adjustment to the PEN without being thrust to ML duty immediately. 

Even though I just made an 8 man pen that actually makes some sense based on talent, experience, and projections, let us not forget that guys get injured. And somehow, someway, the Twins ALWAYS seem to uncover a SOMEONE who is just ready to change their career, so a Hartwig, or Bash, or Altovilla could suddenly surprise as mid pen options at least. And that is NEVER a bad thing.

I DON'T want to DREAM on a 85-90% version of Hendricks! But dammit, if we DO, it changes the whole dynamic of the pen to have a "decent" closer to work with other potential arms to make a "competent' BP. Even if said BP is just waiting for Festa, Sands, Raya, Lewis, and Klen, and a few others to debut and take things over later. 

The bullpen isn't exactly strong to begin 2026. But there is potential to not exactly such either. 

[Vanimal46]

2026 age seasons in this Version 1.0 Bullpen:

37: Hendriks

36: Chafin

35: Rogers and Topa

32: Banda

29: Funderburk

28: Orze, Sands

26: Adams

Wow, talk about a youth movement building a bullpen from scratch. 4 out of 9 names 35 or older.

[RaoulDuke]

This pen is built on dudes that max out at 7th inning guy at best.  This season is going to be a lot of figuring out who in the glut of prospects near or in the MLB are pieces to build a pen on.  I think they have front loaded it with all the vets to offer more stability so the disaster that was the post deadline pen was is less likely to happen but all are questionable and replaceable.  

If any of Rogers/ Hendriks/ Chafin/ Topa can turn back the clock and be effective they are prime trade bait at the deadline.   

Banda/ Orze are locks and should contribute.  Sands/ Funderburk get a long leash because of youth and control but neither likely setup guys long term.  Then you see what you can get out of prospects and starters transitioning to build the back end.

Festa/ Prielipp could both be very interesting turning their stuff loose in short stints.  Raya has transitioned and could excel in the role.  I think Bradley will be given a lot of opportunity to start but he could also be a very interesting conversion case if that goes poorly.

[Danchat]

58 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Wow, talk about a youth movement building a bullpen from scratch. 4 out of 9 names 35 or older.

Yup, and the one guy under 28 years old didn't look like he belonged in the majors in his first stint. They need to get some young arms going in the AAA pen to prep for the majors or we are going to be inking more 33+ year old relievers to one year deals again in 2027.

[IndianaTwin]

3 hours ago, mark sills said:

not sure they can sign more with the 40 man being full of prospects on the pitching side they wouldn't want to lose

Unfortunately, they now have an opening with Lopez almost certainly being on the 60-day IL. 

[DarrenPS]

It was already said multiple times but there's no chance they keep 4 lefties to start the season. Kody imo starts in St Paul. I also would expect more of a closer by committee than expecting Rodgers to get handed the ball every time. Sands & him should split while riding the hot hand

I am once against asking for a Michael Kopech signing 

[CRF]

I have a real bad gut feeling that the pen is gonna be a total train wreck. It's gonna be fire, after fire, after fire. Closer? What do we need one of those for? 

[miracleb]

I don't see any way possible that Rogers is the closer by mid-season (although, I don't think he will even start the season as the closer.)   Facing three, right-handed bats every single time he pitches....is a recipe for disaster for him!
Also, Adams was forced into action last year.  I don't see him breaking camp with the big league team this year,

[Whitey333]

Interesting group of bullpen candidates.  Im sure one or two of them will be ok.  Not overly impressed with the large number of experienced pitchers that were rejected by most of all the rest of the league.  But some one will make it at least through attrition.  Twins philosophy in vogue here:  hope and hype

[DJL44]

15 hours ago, KirbyDome89 said:

You can't have 3 guys, all of whom are unusable against RHs, in the same pen and expect to get away with it. It's the equivalent of trying to platoon your entire OF. 

The other option seems to be guys who are unusable against RHB and LHB - like Travis Adams.

[KirbyDome89]

7 hours ago, DJL44 said:

The other option seems to be guys who are unusable against RHB and LHB - like Travis Adams.

Eh, I don't think it was binary. 

[jorgenswest]

19 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

2026 age seasons in this Version 1.0 Bullpen:

37: Hendriks

36: Chafin

35: Rogers and Topa

32: Banda

29: Funderburk

28: Orze, Sands

26: Adams

Wow, talk about a youth movement building a bullpen from scratch. 4 out of 9 names 35 or older.

I wonder if this is the shift that Joe Pohlad and Zoll have taken. They have signed 6 relievers since Falvey left. Even the signing of Rogers just prior to his leaving might not be Falvey’s direction. I only see quotes for Shelton and Zoll about that signing when announced. Falvey may have been planning to have some of the young starters in the bullpen. Things have shifted quite a bit since. Starter certainly became thinner this week so maybe they are better off this year and in the long run. I would not have signed so many aging relievers. Even if they are league average you still have the same problem next year.

[PerfectGame]

I can't see Taylor Rogers winning the closer job unless Hawkins can unlock some magic out of him. In the recent interview this site did with him, he really sounded like a guy who didn't trust his stuff and sounded resigned to a middle relief role. I don't want a closer who lacks confidence and only has one effective pitch (sweeper). It looks like he had problems with walks in Cincy, and homers in Chicago. Maybe he finds the best of both worlds here, but I would start him out in middle relief and let him prove it.

Banda is good but has extreme splits. Due to the lack of righties, I think they should keep Sands as a setup option. If it were up to me, the bullpen would look like this on opening day:

 

CL Funderburk

SU Sands

SU Banda

MR Topa

MR Rogers

MR Hendricks

MR Festa/Orze

LR Klein/Lawyerson

 

Hopefully by the middle or end of the year Festa or Raya are ready for high leverage roles.

[The Great Hambino]

Certainly starting to look like "none of the above" is the likeliest closer.  This bullpen screams closer by committee

The plan must be to keep it all together with smoke and mirrors and bubble gum and duct tape in the first part of the year and hope a converted starter or two with upside can transition to high leverage roles by the end of the year.  That's not a good plan if you're truly expecting to compete