Twins Trade For Yoendrys Gomez In Bid To Bolster Bullpen

[Steve Drumwright]

 

Looking for any solution in the bullpen, the Minnesota Twins have made another addition.

The Twins on Wednesday acquired right-handed reliever Yoendrys Gomez from the Tampa Bay Rays for cash considerations. Right-handed reliever Christian Roa, who was at Triple-A St. Paul, was designated for assignment to make room for Gomez on the 40-man roster. Another move will have to be made in the next day or two to add Gomez to the 26-man roster.

Gomez had been DFA'd by the Rays after making nine appearances and posting a 6.23 ERA in 17⅓ innings, walking 10 and striking out 13. He allowed runs in seven of his outings, ironically not in his last game a week ago Wednesday when he went two scoreless innings against the Cleveland Guardians.

Roa had been claimed off waivers April 23 by the Twins following being DFA'd by the Houston Astros. In three appearances at St. Paul, he allowed two runs on two hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 2⅓ innings. That came after seven games with the Astros in which he allowed five runs in 8⅔ innings with seven walks and six strikeouts.

 

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[tarheeltwinsfan]

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results.

[Fire Dan Gladden]

What is the over/under on pitchers used by the Twins this year (not including position players)? 40?

[USAFChief]

9 minutes ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

What is the over/under on pitchers used by the Twins this year (not including position players)? 40?

Define "pitcher."

[karcherd]

Where do order our World Series champion shirts?

[CRF]

Another bum to add to the bums we already have. Bummer!

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Sounds like a lot of the other relievers they've added...

[twinstalker]

My opinion is that the next wave of relievers will include Morris, Gallagher, and CJ Culpepper, and maybe Prielipp if he struggles to stay healthy on a starter's workload.

[IndyTwinsFan]

Yawn!

[karcherd]

23 minutes ago, twinstalker said:

My opinion is that the next wave of relievers will include Morris, Gallagher, and CJ Culpepper, and maybe Prielipp if he struggles to stay healthy on a starter's workload.

If that is true, why the need to trade for this guy.  They are going to keep rotating in the AAAA types and washed up vets, I don't see much changing there.

[rv78]

Who else is available in the dumpster bin? The theory behind moves like this is that they might hit that 1 in a million that becomes a miracle. The Terry Ryan "Hope and A Prayer" has never been discarded with this organization.

[arby58]

15 minutes ago, karcherd said:

If that is true, why the need to trade for this guy.  They are going to keep rotating in the AAAA types and washed up vets, I don't see much changing there.

Usually, this type of pick up is for cash considerations. I doubt there is much involved.

[karcherd]

7 minutes ago, arby58 said:

Usually, this type of pick up is for cash considerations. I doubt there is much involved.

But how many reclamation projects do they need, they have 5 or 6 already in St. Paul and a couple on the major league roster.  Churn thru those first rather than constantly acquiring more of the same.

[Mike Sixel]

Wtaf? This team should be building for the future, not this year. They have no idea how to run this team. 

[LakesPibble]

51 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Wtaf? This team should be building for the future, not this year. They have no idea how to run this team. 

I feel like we'll be trotting out WTAF a lot this year.

[Rosterman]

6 hours ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

What is the over/under on pitchers used by the Twins this year (not including position players)? 40?

33 pitchers (not counting position players) were used last season. 

 

Let's see if the Twins cane top that this year!

[DocBauer]

I'm at the point where I am just DONE with blasting ownership BLOWING the entire offseason with incompetence. I am NOW only focused on 2026.

The "good news" is that Gomez is still only 26yo...not a 33yo PLUS...and actually has a pretty solid MILB set of numbers. His MILB numbers indicate too many BB per 9, but good HITS per 9 and good K per 9. When you're scrambling, you look for positives. Over the years, including current leadership, they HAVE found a few arms here and there that either provided quality pen production for a few years, or even a single season. MAYBE the Twins unlock something in the 26yo Gomez, or maybe he's gone in a couple weeks. I think I'd rather take a shot on a 26yo who MIGHT have found the right team, at the right time, and maybe something "clicks" vs another 39yo has been.

What really FRUSTRATES me is woulda-coulda-shoulda. The injury to Lopez has actually been mitigated by Bradley. And Abel has shown he's ready to advance. HOPEFULLY he's back relatively soon. Prielipp has looked surprisingly ready, though I expect a few clunkers along the way. SIM is WAY BETTER than what we've seen so far.

But there is a "trickle down" affect to injuries that has hurt an already questionable bullpen. Imagine a BP where a healthy, and experienced, Festa is cranking 99mph FB with his other pitches. MAYBE Lewis is shoving 94mph, tossing a few breaking pitches, and then freezing batters with that CRAZY Knuckleball ball for 1-2 innings.  How about Morris NOT still being stretched out "just in case" but being allowed to throw MAX for 1 IP? And the same with the newly promoted Klein? I could be wrong, but when I read the MILB reports, look at his numbers, it sure seems like he's good for 1-2 IP before he gives up runs. The K numbers are still good. And while I still have questions about what a healthy Adams might do at the ML level, MAYBE he learned a thing or two in his rookie debut in 2025 where he could MAYBE be a 1-3 middle man who doesn't stink.

Lopez's injury didn't destroy the rotation, thankfully. But injuries to Festa, maybe Lewis and Adams, changed the possible complection of the bullpen. 

I understand not wanting to convert Morris to a high velocity late inning arm right now based on "we might need him" in the rotation. The same might be said in regard to Klein.

But at what point do you just realize the Twins would be above .500 and leading the ALC if the pen wasn't the worst in all of MLB?

I don't think Morris couldn't be a solid #4 or #5 rotation option. The potential is there. But he and Klein have "Jax" potential. By that I mean they can crank a FB in the high 90's, but also have another 2-3-4 offerings to confuse batters.

So what's more important NOW? We hold on to rotational depth for a season that is a work in progress? Or we just  say "the hell with it" and stop playing games.

I'm ready to let Morris and Klein just cut loose. I'm OK with Gomez as I've stated because he's got a decent arm. Why not? But STOP ignoring the arms on hand! Free them and let them throw the hardest and the best they can!

 

[jaimedude]

At least he isn't  39 years old like Garcia. The Mets saw that he was washed up and no longer effective. Guess the Twins had to  squeeze the rag some more to seecany juice left. Those home run balls he gave up tonight still have not landed. 

[dxpavelka]

2 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Wtaf? This team should be building for the future, not this year. They have no idea how to run this team. 

Frankly I'm shocked they haven't hired you.

 

[big dog]

14 hours ago, USAFChief said:

Define "pitcher."

And define "addition". Sounds like if you use WAR we might have another "subtraction".

[Coach JT]

Please stop !!! Just call up the young guys!!!!!!!! Cut the whole bullpen of retreads and trade Topa for a bag of chips .

[Jeff K]

800-WHATEVER!

[JD-TWINS]

15 hours ago, twinstalker said:

My opinion is that the next wave of relievers will include Morris, Gallagher, and CJ Culpepper, and maybe Prielipp if he struggles to stay healthy on a starter's workload.

Morris has a decent fastball!

Location of that and his change-up? Entered giving up a double and soon after a triple ……. the presence of Kerosene on to Ober’s fire.

[tony&rodney]

Never hurts to see what a pitcher can do with another opportunity if the guy has decent stuff. This guys does have stuff. Let's see what he does for St. Paul.

[karcherd]

1 minute ago, tony&rodney said:

Never hurts to see what a pitcher can do with another opportunity if the guy has decent stuff. This guys does have stuff. Let's see what he does for St. Paul.

He's not going to St. Paul, he will be in Cleveland tomorrow night.

[tony&rodney]

20 minutes ago, karcherd said:

He's not going to St. Paul, he will be in Cleveland tomorrow night.

Ok. Trial by fire. Seems like he could not be as flat as Garcia. The Twins are looking for answers. I can't blame them for trying out arms. Wish Gomez the best.

[karcherd]

8 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Ok. Trial by fire. Seems like he could not be as flat as Garcia. The Twins are looking for answers. I can't blame them for trying out arms. Wish Gomez the best.

At some point, have some belief in the arms that you have developed as well.  If this move is at the expense of Klein then I really don't know what they are doing.  They have plenty of reclamation projects, move on from one of them if you make this move.

[djvang]

Are they dumping Garcia?

[JD-TWINS]

11 hours ago, DocBauer said:

I'm at the point where I am just DONE with blasting ownership BLOWING the entire offseason with incompetence. I am NOW only focused on 2026.

The "good news" is that Gomez is still only 26yo...not a 33yo PLUS...and actually has a pretty solid MILB set of numbers. His MILB numbers indicate too many BB per 9, but good HITS per 9 and good K per 9. When you're scrambling, you look for positives. Over the years, including current leadership, they HAVE found a few arms here and there that either provided quality pen production for a few years, or even a single season. MAYBE the Twins unlock something in the 26yo Gomez, or maybe he's gone in a couple weeks. I think I'd rather take a shot on a 26yo who MIGHT have found the right team, at the right time, and maybe something "clicks" vs another 39yo has been.

What really FRUSTRATES me is woulda-coulda-shoulda. The injury to Lopez has actually been mitigated by Bradley. And Abel has shown he's ready to advance. HOPEFULLY he's back relatively soon. Prielipp has looked surprisingly ready, though I expect a few clunkers along the way. SIM is WAY BETTER than what we've seen so far.

But there is a "trickle down" affect to injuries that has hurt an already questionable bullpen. Imagine a BP where a healthy, and experienced, Festa is cranking 99mph FB with his other pitches. MAYBE Lewis is shoving 94mph, tossing a few breaking pitches, and then freezing batters with that CRAZY Knuckleball ball for 1-2 innings.  How about Morris NOT still being stretched out "just in case" but being allowed to throw MAX for 1 IP? And the same with the newly promoted Klein? I could be wrong, but when I read the MILB reports, look at his numbers, it sure seems like he's good for 1-2 IP before he gives up runs. The K numbers are still good. And while I still have questions about what a healthy Adams might do at the ML level, MAYBE he learned a thing or two in his rookie debut in 2025 where he could MAYBE be a 1-3 middle man who doesn't stink.

Lopez's injury didn't destroy the rotation, thankfully. But injuries to Festa, maybe Lewis and Adams, changed the possible complection of the bullpen. 

I understand not wanting to convert Morris to a high velocity late inning arm right now based on "we might need him" in the rotation. The same might be said in regard to Klein.

But at what point do you just realize the Twins would be above .500 and leading the ALC if the pen wasn't the worst in all of MLB?

I don't think Morris couldn't be a solid #4 or #5 rotation option. The potential is there. But he and Klein have "Jax" potential. By that I mean they can crank a FB in the high 90's, but also have another 2-3-4 offerings to confuse batters.

So what's more important NOW? We hold on to rotational depth for a season that is a work in progress? Or we just  say "the hell with it" and stop playing games.

I'm ready to let Morris and Klein just cut loose. I'm OK with Gomez as I've stated because he's got a decent arm. Why not? But STOP ignoring the arms on hand! Free them and let them throw the hardest and the best they can!

 

PEN certainly has its faults! However, they have given up a whole bunch of runs in games when the offense scored 1-2-3 runs. The offense scores 11 one day and 2 the next and their “Runs/9” & BA all look OK …….. a reliever pitches 4 good outings and then gets lit up over 2/3 of an inning and the ERA is 7.00 or whatever.

The PEN needs to be addressed - in a minimum of 2 spots. The offense too needs to be addressed, regardless of emotions, if not now at least at some point soon.

[Bangkok Twins Fan]

The merry-go-round continues. It's not like we expected much else in the way of transactions this season, so I can't worry too much about it all. Keep on claiming these guys and hope that maybe one or two are stable enough to provide some upside before the season is over.