Twins Add Dean Kremer to Active Roster, Option Jack Anderson

[Matthew Taylor]

The Minnesota Twins officially added newly acquired right-handed starting pitcher Dean Kremer to the active roster on Sunday, optioning right-handed reliever Jack Anderson to Triple-A St. Paul in the corresponding move.

Minnesota acquired Kremer from the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night in exchange for 18-year-old outfield prospect Jhomnardo Reyes, and this move confirms the club's intention of immediately inserting him into the major league rotation. Combined with Saturday's decision to option Zebby Matthews to St. Paul, Kremer is now expected to take over Matthews' spot in the rotation. If that lines up as expected, Kremer will make his Twins debut on Thursday, August 6, in Kansas City. Kremer last pitched for Baltimore on July 28 when he allowed eight earned runs against the Detroit Tigers.

The decision to option Anderson is a logical one. The Twins claimed the right-hander off waivers from the Red Sox earlier in July, and while he impressed during his brief stint in Minneapolis by tossing 4 1/3 scoreless innings, most of his appearances came in low-leverage situations. With Kremer needing a roster spot, Anderson was the easiest move.

The more intriguing question is what comes next for Matthews. Will he remain stretched out as rotation depth at Triple-A? Could he replace Connor Prielipp in the Saints' rotation if the organization wants to manage Prielipp's workload after the heaviest season of his professional career? Or do the Twins see Matthews as a potential bullpen option down the stretch? Those answers should become clearer over the next few weeks.

What do you expect to see from Dean Kremer in the Minnesota Twins' rotation? Leave a comment below and start the conversation!

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[Mike Sixel]

I expect a pretty bad pitcher, given what he's been this year. 

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

I actually expect we will get a pretty solid pitcher.  He is more working of the rust.  He is also a very similar pitcher to Bradley.  Multiple 0 or 1 run outings followed by 6 or 7 runs.  Its been the blowouts and home runs that have hurt him. We were able to help Bradley with pitch sequences and improving his stuff.    Honestly I think Ober is about finished and Kremer will solidly slot in as a #3, #4 pitcher that will keep you in most games with the occasional blow out.   

[JD-TWINS]

5 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I expect a pretty bad pitcher, given what he's been this year. 

3 HR’s per 9 innings - 2.8 walks per 9 innings - 1.38 WHIP ……..he was hurt, only 36 innings in ‘26. Nothing here to get excited about, for sure!

🤞🤞🙏🤞 ……. previous 4 seasons, he threw 125 innings plus twice and 171 innings plus twice. ‘22 - ‘25 ERA’s of 3.23 - 4.12 - 4.10 - 4.19. He’s been rough in ‘26 but there is some reason to think this could still be a positive move, eventually. Not very confident anything in ‘26 other than an innings eater. 🤞

 

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, JD-TWINS said:

3 HR’s per 9 innings - 2.8 walks per 9 innings - 1.38 WHIP ……..he was hurt, only 36 innings in ‘26. Nothing here to get excited about, for sure!

🤞🤞🙏🤞 ……. previous 4 seasons, he threw 125 innings plus twice and 171 innings plus twice. ‘22 - ‘25 ERA’s of 3.23 - 4.12 - 4.10 - 4.19. He’s been rough in ‘26 but there is some reason to think this could still be a positive move, eventually. Not very confident anything in ‘26 other than an innings eater. 🤞

 

Right. I think he might be healthy and good next year. This year? I have a lot less confidence.

[JD-TWINS]

12 minutes ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

I actually expect we will get a pretty solid pitcher.  He is more working of the rust.  He is also a very similar pitcher to Bradley.  Multiple 0 or 1 run outings followed by 6 or 7 runs.  Its been the blowouts and home runs that have hurt him. We were able to help Bradley with pitch sequences and improving his stuff.    Honestly I think Ober is about finished and Kremer will solidly slot in as a #3, #4 pitcher that will keep you in most games with the occasional blow out.   

He’s only started 7 games this year ….. 36 innings ……. can’t draw on anything positive other than his previous 4 years. …… O’s are still in Wildcard - seems with his history they would not move him for an 18 year old - right? He’s still got another year of control ……..seems they might think he’s washed?

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

16 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

He’s only started 7 games this year ….. 36 innings ……. can’t draw on anything positive other than his previous 4 years. …… O’s are still in Wildcard - seems with his history they would not move him for an 18 year old - right? He’s still got another year of control ……..seems they might think he’s washed?

No,  They have 6-7 starters.   They could get a high lottery ticket prospect for someone they may DFA after the season,  or lose immense value if they move him to the pen when some of their starters get healthy.  They have gone into full sellers mode now selling off multiple pieces.  

As to being in the wildcard,  they have now traded Ward and most likely Rutschmann.  They don't appear to be trying buy for the the playoffs.  

[JD-TWINS]

33 minutes ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

No,  They have 6-7 starters.   They could get a high lottery ticket prospect for someone they may DFA after the season,  or lose immense value if they move him to the pen when some of their starters get healthy.  They have gone into full sellers mode now selling off multiple pieces.  

As to being in the wildcard,  they have now traded Ward and most likely Rutschmann.  They don't appear to be trying buy for the the playoffs.  

Rutschman has underperformed with the bat - they extended their other young Catcher last year (Bassallo?) …….. Kremer was under control for next year ……. Ward is on the periphery of their core guys.

I don’t think they believe Kremer can help them ……. is it a crowded staff or his cost-performance ratio or do they think he’s toast?

A starter that had 4 respectable seasons in a row being traded for an 18 year old ….. it doesn’t track.

[IndianaTwin]

On 8/3/2026 at 3:14 PM, JD-TWINS said:

Rutschman has underperformed with the bat - they extended their other young Catcher last year (Bassallo?) …….. Kremer was under control for next year ……. Ward is on the periphery of their core guys.

I don’t think they believe Kremer can help them ……. is it a crowded staff or his cost-performance ratio or do they think he’s toast?

A starter that had 4 respectable seasons in a row being traded for an 18 year old ….. it doesn’t track.

I heard it was all the voices on Orioles Daily yelling, “He’s only got 1.5 years of control left. We can’t afford to lose him for nothing.” 😀

[nicksaviking]

On 8/3/2026 at 1:28 PM, Mike Sixel said:

Right. I think he might be healthy and good next year. This year? I have a lot less confidence.

Healthy, not sure about good. I just think the ceiling is so low.

And that's my real frustration with this move. Because if the Twins have/will spend some amount of money next year, I really only want them to use it to get a legit middle of the order bat, not a Josh Bell or Carlos Santana, but someone who real contenders would want to use in the middle of the order (and that seems very unlikely) OR to get another top of the rotation arm. Like they did with Lopez, Gray, Maeda and Odorizzi. That does NOT sound unlikely as the Twins have done this many times.

So that rotation would be looking at Ryan, New Guy, Lopez, Bradley and ..... Kremer? Hell no. I don't even want him as an option. They have to at least leave one spot for a higher ceiling arm who could can develop into a Ryan/Lopez when they're gone the following year. Abel, Rojas, Prielipp, out of the equation again? 

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

Healthy, not sure about good. I just think the ceiling is so low.

And that's my real frustration with this move. Because if the Twins have/will spend some amount of money next year, I really only want them to use it to get a legit middle of the order bat, not a Josh Bell or Carlos Santana, but someone who real contenders would want to use in the middle of the order (and that seems very unlikely) OR to get another top of the rotation arm. Like they did with Lopez, Gray, Maeda and Odorizzi. That does NOT sound unlikely as the Twins have done this many times.

So that rotation would be looking at Ryan, New Guy, Lopez, Bradley and ..... Kremer? Hell no. I don't even want him as an option. They have to at least leave one spot for a higher ceiling arm who could can develop into a Ryan/Lopez when they're gone the following year. Abel, Rojas, Prielipp, out of the equation again? 

I also see no ceiling to this move, and would not have done it. 

[laloesch]

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

Healthy, not sure about good. I just think the ceiling is so low.

And that's my real frustration with this move. Because if the Twins have/will spend some amount of money next year, I really only want them to use it to get a legit middle of the order bat, not a Josh Bell or Carlos Santana, but someone who real contenders would want to use in the middle of the order (and that seems very unlikely) OR to get another top of the rotation arm. Like they did with Lopez, Gray, Maeda and Odorizzi. That does NOT sound unlikely as the Twins have done this many times.

So that rotation would be looking at Ryan, New Guy, Lopez, Bradley and ..... Kremer? Hell no. I don't even want him as an option. They have to at least leave one spot for a higher ceiling arm who could can develop into a Ryan/Lopez when they're gone the following year. Abel, Rojas, Prielipp, out of the equation again? 

It's hard to get excited about Dean Kremer.  Is he better than Matthews?  Possibly.  But he hasn't pitched a whole lot this year.  I'm not sure it's gonna matter anyways with Ryan looking gassed coming out of the all-star break.  This move reminds me of when the Twins tried to start Matt Shoemaker or J.A. Happ to just put bodies in the rotation.

[twinfan]

I don't expect much this year and we may be in great shape with starters next year. I've never thought much of Kremer and Anderson seemed like he was going to do well. I'd have kept Matthews up here to keep him getting experience vs major league hitters. I have hope that he can become a good SP. 

BTW- Kremer is wayyyyy better than Shoemaker ever was. Happ? maybe not overall or even.

[Danchat]

12 minutes ago, twinfan said:

I don't expect much this year and we may be in great shape with starters next year. I've never thought much of Kremer and Anderson seemed like he was going to do well. I'd have kept Matthews up here to keep him getting experience vs major league hitters. I have hope that he can become a good SP. 

BTW- Kremer is wayyyyy better than Shoemaker ever was. Happ? maybe not overall or even.

Uh, Shoemaker's career ERA is lower than Kremer's...

[RpR]

2 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

I also see no ceiling to this move, and would not have done it. 

A lot of happy talk from Leach about this move over at MLB.com

[laloesch]

48 minutes ago, RpR said:

A lot of happy talk from Leach about this move over at MLB.com

definitely happy talk.