Mets Claim Twins Reliever Jack Anderson Off Waivers

[Cody Christie]

The Minnesota Twins are losing another piece of organizational pitching depth. The New York Mets have claimed right-handed pitcher Jack Anderson off waivers, according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. Anderson had not previously been reported as removed from Minnesota's 40-man roster, but the Twins evidently designated him for assignment and exposed him to waivers in recent days.

Anderson's departure comes during one of the busiest stretches of the offseason transaction calendar. Teams are beginning to make difficult decisions about their 40-man rosters, and fringe players are often the first to feel the pressure.

November 2nd marks the deadline for the 60-day injured list to go away, forcing teams to find room for players returning to the 40-man roster. The next major date arrives November 17, when organizations must protect eligible prospects from the Rule 5 Draft. Those upcoming decisions leave limited room for players who haven't established themselves as regular contributors at the major league level. For Minnesota, Anderson became expendable as the organization prepares for those roster decisions.

A Short Minnesota Stint

This marks the second time Anderson has been claimed off waivers during the 2026 season. He began the year in the Boston Red Sox organization and made his major league debut in April. His opportunity with Boston was brief, appearing in three games before being sent back to the minors.

Boston eventually placed Anderson on waivers in July, allowing Minnesota to bring him into its organization. The Twins moved him between Triple-A and the big league roster throughout the remainder of the season, giving him occasional opportunities to contribute to the pitching staff.

Anderson's major league numbers were encouraging in a limited sample. Across seven appearances, he allowed three earned runs in 12 1/3 innings. Those results gave Minnesota a useful depth option, although his limited experience made it difficult to determine what kind of role he could handle over a full season.

Anderson has also demonstrated some versatility in the minor leagues. He has worked as both a starter and reliever, accumulating 180 innings across the 2025 and 2026 seasons. During that stretch, he posted a 4.75 ERA while striking out 23.3% of opposing hitters and walking just 6.7%. The strikeout numbers aren't particularly overwhelming, but his ability to limit walks could make him an intriguing organizational option.

Another Bullpen Depth Piece Moves On

The Mets have some flexibility with Anderson because he still has multiple minor league option years remaining. That gives New York the opportunity to keep him as organizational depth without immediately committing a spot in its major league bullpen.

Anderson could spend much of next season at Triple-A, waiting for an opportunity when the Mets need another arm. His experience working in different roles could also make him useful when injuries or workload concerns create openings on the pitching staff. There is also the possibility New York eventually exposes Anderson to waivers again. If he clears, the Mets could potentially retain him as non-roster pitching depth.

For the Twins, this is another example of how quickly the edges of a 40-man roster can change during the offseason. Anderson showed some promise during his brief time in Minnesota, but the organization evidently believes other players deserve those roster spots heading into the winter.

With the Rule 5 Draft deadline approaching, Minnesota will have plenty of additional decisions to make. Anderson is moving on, and the Twins can now focus on which players they want to protect for the future.

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[mrguy]

This one is a little surprising but not, I figured he looked solid enough to keep around as an option over guys like Sands, so to see him already shipped off is kind of strange. At the same time though, his time was so short that it's not surprising they just don't want to bother keeping him around, so whatever.

[Vanimal46]

Wish he got a longer look here. He seemed like a keeper in the limited times I saw him play 

[Cory Engelhardt]

Mets also claimed Pierson Ohl from the Rockies. Derek Falvey knows some pitchers he wanted to bring to the Mets today.