Twins Add Veteran Relief Depth with Pair of Minor League Signings

[Cody Christie]

Organizational depth matters in March, even if it rarely grabs headlines. The Minnesota Twins made a pair of under-the-radar moves aimed at bolstering that depth, signing right-handers John Brebbia and Drew Smith to minor league deals. Both pitchers arrive with big-league experience and something to prove, offering the Twins low-risk options as the season begins.

Brebbia, who will turn 36 next month, is the more established of the two. Not long ago, he looked like a steady late-inning option. From 2022 through 2023, he posted a 3.47 ERA and 3.54 FIP across 106 1/3 innings, leaning on a deep arsenal even as his strikeout rate dipped to 22.5%. That stretch with San Francisco positioned him well for a return to free agency.

The right-hander cashed in with a one-year deal from Chicago ahead of the 2024 season, but things unraveled quickly. Brebbia was tagged for a 6.29 ERA across 54 appearances with the White Sox, and while his 26.9 K% and 7.7 BB%  were respectable, he was undone by the long ball. Nine home runs allowed in just under 49 innings proved too much to overcome, and Chicago moved on.

Last season, his opportunity came in Detroit, but injuries and ineffectiveness limited him to just 18 appearances. A triceps strain interrupted his season, and when he did take the mound, the results were rough. Brebbia posted a 7.71 ERA, continuing a downward trend that forced him into a minor league pact this offseason.

He initially latched on with Colorado but did not make the club out of camp after a difficult spring (7.00 ERA in 9 IP). Now with Minnesota, Brebbia will look to rediscover the form that once made him a dependable bullpen piece. If he can limit the home run damage, there is still enough swing-and-miss in his profile to make him a viable option.

Smith presents a different kind of upside. The 32-year-old has spent his entire major league career with the Mets, quietly building a track record as a useful middle reliever. His 2023 campaign marked a high point, as he set career bests in both innings and appearances while also recording his first three saves.

He appeared to be building on that success early in 2024. Smith posted a career-best 29.1 K% and picked up a pair of saves before an elbow sprain in July derailed his season. That injury ultimately led to his second Tommy John surgery, wiping out his entire 2025 campaign and prompting New York to decline a club option for 2026.

Despite the long layoff, Smith showed encouraging signs this spring with Washington. He tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings and struck out 35% of the batters he faced, looking like a pitcher who could contribute sooner rather than later. Even so, the Nationals opted to move in a different direction, giving the Twins an opportunity to bring him into the fold.

For Minnesota, both signings fit a familiar mold. These are experienced relievers with clear flaws but also identifiable paths back to usefulness. Brebbia needs to keep the ball in the yard. Smith needs to prove his health and durability after multiple elbow procedures.

Neither move will define the Twins' season, but both could matter more than expected. Bullpens are fluid, and the line between Triple-A depth and meaningful innings at Target Field is often thin. If even one of these veterans finds his footing, this will look like a quietly effective bit of roster building.

At this time of year, that is exactly the kind of gamble worth making.

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[nicksaviking]

I'd like to be excited about Smith, but I'd like to hear reports about where his velocity is now sitting. We've seen several of these situations, including with Liam Hendricks, were guys coming off of serious injuries were having 'nice' spring trainings that were masking significant physical concerns. It's not as though Washington is in position to be turning away good relief pitchers.

[LambchoP]

Seems our bullpen rebuild plan is just sign as many minor league guys as we can and see if any can stick as a serviceable big league arm. Would be nice if we'd swing a trade or something to get at least one legit MLB late inning arm. Relying on Sands, Topa and Rogers to consistently close games is pretty laughable...

[DocBauer]

I have zero interest in Brebbia due to age and a pair of mediocre seasons in '22 and '23.

But I could be convinced that the Smith signing is smart. 32 isn't ancient for a reliever. And while he's never been a stud pen arm, he was really solid for the Mets from 2021 though 2023-24 before injury set in.

Recovering from his 2nd TJ, he's cheap to sign as a flier that might help at some point. And he's an easy cut if not.

Personally, I might have more faith in Altavilla coming up before either of these arms. But St Paul needs depth as well.

I was pleasantly surprised the Twins stuck with Funderburk, and Orze, even though Orze didn't provide good numbers in ST. At least, they kept a couple of "young" arms for the pen to begin 2026. I had HIGH HOPES Festa would be 100% and they'd convert him to the pen. I still think that's his ultimate destination. But despite the idea of converting other young arms to the pen, I really never expected Raya, Klein, or Lewis to be immediate contributors. I always felt they needed time to adjust and prepare.

All of which made me that more disappointed in how they approached the bullpen rebuild this offseason.

I do think Smith has a chance to be a lesser version of Stewart who could contribute in the 1st half.

But I'm really waiting for Raya to get his s**t together as a power arm, and for Klein to keep up his high K numbers, and for Lewis to get healthy and throw his stuff as hard as he can for 1-2 innings and then throw that crazy Knuckleball and drive ML hitters crazy.

The problem is, those wishes are all 2-3 months away. 

[Doctor Wu]

Bullpens are fluid, and the line between Triple-A depth and meaningful innings at Target Field is often thin. If even one of these veterans finds his footing, this will look like a quietly effective bit of roster building.

That pretty much says it. Some low risk signings that could actually be beneficial before the season is finished. 

[ashbury]

Every signing at this time of year is an extreme long shot to contribute meaningfully to the major league club.  Best case is they will fill some innings during the long AAA season and maybe earn a short call-up.  Likely case is a quiet parting of ways in six weeks.  Signings like these are routine every year for most franchises.

[stringer bell]

Add these two to Altavilla and Bowman and you have four thirty-something relievers with big league experience. I'm sure the idea is for lightning to strike once or twice and all four guys have something that can give hope, but the likely outcome is release at a predetermined opt-out date. 

[KBJ1]

Hmm, for all that excellent pitching we traded away, weren't we supposed to get some good, young, potential stars in return? The only player of note we got was the 18 yr. old catcher - and he is still a long shot. The whole rest of the catch is crappies & sunfish - no Walleyes. So now we scrape the bottom of the barrel, yet again.