The Minnesota Twins Might Have a New Closer

[Cody Schoenmann]

Image courtesy of © Pablo Robles-Imagn Images

Last Wednesday, the Minnesota Twins traded for Yoendrys Gómez from the Tampa Bay Rays, for cash considerations. Bouncing between the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, Tampa Bay, and now Minnesota since the beginning of the 2025 season, Gómez has embodied the nomadic reliever trope, being vaguely desired by many clubs but rostered long-term by none. Despite hopping between clubs, the 26-year-old finished his 2025 campaign relatively strongly, netting a 4.84 ERA, 4.85 FIP, and 22.6% strikeout rate over 48 1/3 innings pitched for the White Sox. Chicago flipped Gómez to the Rays this offseason alongside fellow right-handed reliever Steven Wilson, for outfielder Everson Pereira and utility prospect Tanner Murray.

Unfortunately, he struggled to begin his 2026 campaign with Tampa Bay, posting a 6.23 ERA, 7.28 FIP, and a less impressive 15.9% strikeout rate over 17 1/3 innings. Tampa Bay had Gómez using a five-pitch mix, which isn’t unique for a right-handed reliever. The righty primarily utilized his four-seam fastball and sweeper, both of which graded out as true plus pitches. Yet, he also often used his sinker, cutter, and changeup, all of which graded out below average. Opposing hitters generated a 142 wRC+ against his sinker this season and a 303 wRC+ against his cutter while Gómez was with Tampa Bay.

 

To preface, hitters also excelled against Gómez’s four-seamer when he pitched for Tampa Bay, with a 186 wRC+. As noted earlier, the pitch graded out well above average (121 Stuff+ at FanGraphs), suggesting his struggles were the product of bad luck rather than a low-quality pitch, but there are things to clean up. Command will be crucial.

 

Gómez did, however, excel at throwing his sweeper with Tampa Bay, netting an elite -100 wRC+ and 125 Stuff+ at FanGraphs with the pitch. So far, albeit in a sample so small as to be almost meaningless, Minnesota has effectively cut his sinker, cutter, and changeup from his repertoire entirely, with him using his four-seamer and sweeper in 14 of his 17 pitches thrown with the Twins.

 

Again, I am analyzing a 17-pitch sample. Still, Gómez has excelled with a two-pitch mix for the Twins, posting a 0.00 ERA, 3.13 FIP, and plus grades on both pitches through 1 2/3 innings. Gómez also earned his first save with the club on Sunday, mowing through Daniel Schneeman, Angel Martínez, and Travis Bazzana on 10 pitches. The newly acquired relief arm has been stellar in his first three appearances for Minnesota, functioning as a breath of fresh air for what has been the fourth-worst bullpen in baseball, according to Wins Above Replacement at FanGraphs (fWAR).

Given that Cody Laweryson, Garrett Acton, and Cole Sands are on the 15-day IL; Kody Funderburk was surprisingly demoted to Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday; and Justin Topa, Taylor Rogers, and Anthony Banda have struggled mightily to begin their respective 2026 campaigns. Minnesota’s bullpen is arguably the most volatile in the sport. Yet, with volatility comes opportunity.

 

Andrew Morris has capitalized on his opportunities in various roles. Eric Orze has impressed despite blowing a save against the Seattle Mariners in late April. And 39-year-old Luis García has been thrust into high-leverage situations despite joining the club on Apr. 28. Given that Minnesota targeted Gómez from Tampa Bay and that he has immediately succeeded in high-leverage situations, the 26-year-old could quickly become Minnesota’s preferred high-leverage arm.

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[Vanimal46]

I'd much rather give the late inning opportunities to a 26 year old with a potential future than the three 35+ year old pitchers we're keeping around for whatever reason. The Twins should be claiming guys like Gomez on the waiver wire as much as possible. Let's start building something instead of treading water at best with guys who won't be a part of the 2027 Twins and beyond (looking at you, Garcia, Topa, Banda, and Rogers). 

[Exiled in Illinois]

My, don't we all like grasping at straws:)

[mike8791]

You've got to be kidding!!  Either that or desperate.

[Major League Ready]

I would be thrilled with this acquisition if Gomez became a reliable 7th inning option.

[bunsen82]

Tampa Bay -  Gomez you are not good enough to be in our bullpen.  DFA

Twins -  1 week later . . . Gomez you are our closer.   

LOL -  you can't make this stuff up.  Even still Gomez has a spark that could be something, but it shows how little actual relievers we currently have in the bullpen.  

[Road trip]

Sure... roll the dice, Gomez appears to be able to clear the low bar of "better than Luis Garcia".

I've still got some emotional scars from the Ron Davis years, but I have little doubt that this collection of relievers has a good chance to go down in history as "Worst Twins Bullpen".

[Craig Arko]

Gondor has no closer. Gondor needs no closer.

[Danchat]

27 minutes ago, bunsen82 said:

Tampa Bay -  Gomez you are not good enough to be in our bullpen.  DFA

Twins -  1 week later . . . Gomez you are our closer.   

LOL -  you can't make this stuff up.  Even still Gomez has a spark that could be something, but it shows how little actual relievers we currently have in the bullpen.  

Kinda reminds me of the excitement around trading for Banda after the Dodgers DFA'd him... he was unironically called "elite" by some. Let's give Gomez a shot but it's way too early to have an article like this. 

[darwin22]

12 minutes ago, Road trip said:

Sure... roll the dice, Gomez appears to be able to clear the low bar of "better than Luis Garcia".

I've still got some emotional scars from the Ron Davis years, but I have little doubt that this collection of relievers has a good chance to go down in history as "Worst Twins Bullpen".

You definitely are 1 of many longtime Twins fans that still have emotional scars 40+ years after "RD experience"-- I still seem to remember, cant remember the year, but I think it was 1984 that RD, with his family in tow, at the home opener with a full house at the Dome getting booed mercilessly by the capacity crowd as he had blown at least a couple of games on a west coast road trip to start the season. That was classic!   Who knows how things will turn out with Gomez moving forward.  You'd think that possibly the "baseball gods" will throw us fans a bone that he at least can be serviceable.

[jkcarew]

It’s an embarrassment of riches is what it is. The only problem now is for Shelton to figure out how to distribute the oncoming avalanche of save opportunities in a fashion that keeps all these stallions happy.

[jmlease1]

54 minutes ago, bunsen82 said:

Tampa Bay -  Gomez you are not good enough to be in our bullpen.  DFA

Twins -  1 week later . . . Gomez you are our closer.   

LOL -  you can't make this stuff up.  Even still Gomez has a spark that could be something, but it shows how little actual relievers we currently have in the bullpen.  

it also shows how fungible relievers are; Gomez was poor for Tampa, but might go on a run where he's more than adequate for us. The samples will be small even when you throw together a whole season.

Of course, I don't see a lot of good reasons to dub Gomez a "closer" of any kind; he just looks like a guy that might reasonably pitch close & late or take over as the designated 9th inning guy. We need both so...

[shimrod]

If he can just not walk the leadoff hitter he'll be better than anyone else in the pen.