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  • Minnesota Twins Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits

    The latest Minnesota Twins free agent and trade rumors, along with notes and tidbits about the team.
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    Andrew Wright
    The Minnesota Twins have selected Tommy LaPour with the 107th overall pick in the MLB Draft. Slot value for the pick is $733,100. LaPour, a right-hander out of TCU, will join a Twins organization that lacks elite right-handed pitching prospects.
    Here's what our draft expert Jamie Cameron has to say about LaPour.
    Tommy LaPour was a decorated athlete out of high school in Missouri (football, baseball, wrestling). After spending a season at Wichita State, he transferred to TCU ahead of the 2025 season and put together a 4.01 FIP in over 90 innings of work in the Horned Frogs' rotation. LaPour has excellent arm talent, throwing his fastball in the 95-98 mph range, although it's been up to triple digits. It tends to perform poorly, due to its ordinary shape and spotty control and command. There's an above-average two-plane slider and a solid changeup to round out his mix. LaPour was limited to just 17 innings in 2026, missing a ton of time due to elbow soreness. He managed a 6.46 FIP while striking out 21.3% of hitters and walking 12.5%. This is a prospect for whom recent performance and arm talent didn't align. The right pro system and development could see him develop into a starter, with a high-leverage reliever as a fallback option.
    Andrew Wright
    The Minnesota Twins have selected Ethan Wachsmann with the No. 79 overall pick in the MLB Draft. Slot value for the No. 79 pick is $1,052,700. 
    Wachsmann, a Wake Forest commit, may garner over slot value, according to MLB Draft experts. The right-hander had an outstanding senior season at Grandview High School, posting a 6-2 record with a 2.10 ERA and 66 strikeouts across 36 2/3 innings. Here's what our draft expert Jamie Cameron had to say about Wachsman.
    Wachsmann is a sharp riser on the draft board this spring. A CO prep arm hailing from the same high school program as Kevin Gausman, it's a fascinating blend of size and stuff, with plenty of rawness still present. Wachsman's fastball has touched triple digits already; it'll more routinely sit in the 94-96 mph range in the middle innings. He's added a cutter that sits in the high 80s this season as a bridge to the rest of his arsenal. While the velocity is excellent, there's work to do on both the control and command of his arsenal, which are currently fringe-average. Wachsman will fire off a breaking ball that can be slurvy but exhibits good spin rates. There's a changeup that he sells well with good arm speed and velocity separation from his fastball. It'll be worth monitoring the strike-throwing if a team can pry him away from his Wake Forest commitment, but if he can round out his arsenal with better breaking pitch shapes, he'll be a tough look for hitters.
    Seth Stohs
    Jack Anderson became available when the Red Sox DFAd him earlier in the week. He debuted for Boston in mid-April and pitched in three big-league games. He had two walks and six strikeouts, along with three earned runs over eight innings. At Triple-A Worcester, he was 2-4 with a 4.81 ERA this year. In 58 innings, he walked 21 and had 51 strikeouts. 
    Anderson grew up in Tampa. He was the 16th round pick of the Detroit Tigers in 2021 after playing at Florida State. He spent four seasons with the Tigers organization and the 2025 and 2026 seasons with the Red Sox. 
    Fun Fact: He pitched three innings in the 2026 World Baseball Classic for the team from Great Britain. He struck out three batters and gave up one run over three innings. 
    He will start by being optioned to the Saints. 
     
    Lefty Anthony Banda was moved to the 60-Day Injured List to make room for Anderson on the 40-man roster.  Banda had surgery recently on his left lat. Very likely to miss the remainder of the season. 
    Anderson throws five pitches. He throws a four-seam fastball 36.3% of the time. It averages just 90.4 mph. He throws a split finger (22.6%, 81.4 mph) and a slider (21%, 82.6mph). He also throws a sweeper (12.1%, 78.1 mph) and a curveball (8.1% 77.2mph). 
    John Bonnes
    The Minnesota Twins have optioned right-hander Eric Orze to Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday, clearing space on the active roster for Tommy Nance, acquired Friday from the Blue Jays. The Athletic's Dan Hayes first reported the move.
    Only a handful of Twins relievers have been leaned on more heavily than Orze, who has appeared in 35 games and thrown 41 ⅓ innings. But the results have lagged behind the workload. Orze carries a 5.27 ERA and 1.49 WHIP, with 36 strikeouts against 21 walks. What’s more, he’s been trending in the wrong direction, posting a 9.00 ERA and 1.78 WHIP since June 1st. 
    The 28-year-old came to Minnesota from Tampa Bay in a November trade for minor-league pitcher Jacob Kisting, following a promising 2025 in which he posted a 3.02 ERA over 41.2 innings for the Rays. Because he still has minor-league options, he was the path of least resistance when the front office needed a spot for Nance.
    Nance, 35, cost the Twins minor-league catcher/third baseman Ryan Sprock, last year's eighth-round pick. The veteran right-hander owns a 3.82 ERA over 33 innings for Toronto this season with a 24.5% strikeout rate, and he comes with three additional years of club control beyond 2026. 
    Orze figures to be a candidate to return quickly whenever the bullpen needs reinforcements. For now, he'll try to rediscover his 2025 form with the Saints.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    The Minnesota Twins, who had a massive sell-off at last year's trade deadline, appear to be a buyer this year.
    The Twins on Friday acquired right-handed reliever Tommy Nance from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for minor-league catcher-third baseman Ryan Sprock.
    Nance is a 35-year-old who has appeared in 32 games this year for the Jays, posting a 4.20 FIP (3.82 ERA) in 33 innings, walking 9.4% of batters, while striking out 24.5%. Nance made his MLB debut in 2021 and has appeared in 144 games, all but two in relief, with a 3.72 FIP (4.25 ERA). He has a 9.3% career walk rate and 25.3% strikeout rate.
    Nance is making $809,700 this season and is under club control for another three seasons.
    Sprock, 21, was an eighth-round draft choice a year ago out of Elon. He was just promoted to High-A Cedar Rapids, where he played two games, going 0-for-7. He had been at Low-A Fort Myers, where he had a .306/.436/.441 slash line with five homers and 37 RBIs in 65 games. He also had 14 stolen bases. Sprock is not on Twins Daily's Top 20 prospects list. He made 31 starts at catcher, 18 at third base and five in left field in addition to 11 as a designated hitter.
     
    Cory Moen
    The Twins have optioned outfielder Kyler Fedko to Triple-A after Thursday's loss against Cleveland. This likely makes room for Ryan Jeffers to return from the injured list in the upcoming series against the Angels.
    Fedko was on the major league roster for about three weeks, where he played in 14 games, going 0-16 with eight strikeouts. His first major league hit will have to wait, as he will be back with Triple-A St. Paul this weekend. He was mostly used as a pinch runner and defensive replacement in his appearances with the Twins. 
    Cody Christie
    The MLB trade deadline is quickly approaching, but identifying buyers and sellers has rarely been more difficult. With the American League playoff picture packed tightly together, a single hot streak can transform a fringe contender into a postseason favorite. That uncertainty has made projecting deadline moves especially challenging, and the Twins are one of the biggest surprises in the mix.
    After a disappointing start to the season, Minnesota has clawed its way back toward the .500 mark and remains firmly in the Wild Card conversation. Even with obvious flaws, the Twins have stayed within striking distance in an American League that has lacked dominant contenders beyond the top teams.
    With that in mind, ESPN's Jeff Passan recently outlined the ideal deadline additions for playoff hopefuls, and he believes Minnesota's biggest need is clear: starting pitching.
    The most realistic fit on Passan's list is Nationals left-hander Foster Griffin, a pitcher who has quietly become one of baseball's better breakout stories.
    After spending the previous three seasons pitching in Japan, Griffin returned to Major League Baseball by signing with Washington before the 2026 season. The results have been outstanding. Across 110 1/3 innings, the left-hander owns a 2.77 ERA while pairing it with a 4.04 FIP, a sparkling 1.02 WHIP, a 24.5% strikeout rate, and an excellent 5.8% walk rate.
    Just as importantly for Minnesota, Griffin isn't simply a rental. He won't be eligible for arbitration until 2028 and isn't scheduled to become a free agent until after the 2030 season. That type of club control would make him valuable beyond this year's playoff race and could help stabilize a rotation that has battled inconsistency and injuries throughout the season.
    Adding Griffin would also fit the Twins' typical approach under their front office. Rather than paying premium prospect prices for a short-term acquisition, Minnesota has often targeted controllable players who can contribute for multiple seasons.
    Of course, Passan also included a much bigger name. His "dream" acquisition for the Twins is veteran right-hander Kevin Gausman of the Blue Jays. On paper, it's easy to understand why. Gausman has the experience and swing-and-miss arsenal to front a postseason rotation despite a somewhat uneven regular season.
    Through 106 1/3 innings, Gausman has compiled a 4.32 ERA, but his underlying numbers remain encouraging. He owns a 3.77 FIP, a 1.22 WHIP, a 24.3 percent strikeout rate, and a 6.5 percent walk rate while heading toward free agency this winter.
    Passan summed up the appeal simply: "If Toronto does wind up dumping its impending free agents, Minnesota adding Gausman to (Joe) Ryan and Taj Bradley in a three-game wild-card series certainly would play."
    The obstacle, however, is obvious. Toronto sits only a couple of games behind Minnesota in the standings and is chasing a postseason berth of its own after falling just short in last year's World Series. Unless the Blue Jays suffer a significant collapse over the next few weeks, it is difficult to imagine them moving one of their veteran starters to a direct Wild Card competitor. That makes Griffin feel like the more attainable target.
    Whether the Twins ultimately pursue Griffin, aim higher for a bigger name, or stand pat will depend on where they sit as August 3 approaches. But if Minnesota intends to capitalize on an unexpectedly competitive season, improving the rotation should be at the top of the priority list. Griffin may not be the flashiest deadline acquisition, but he could be exactly the type of move that helps the Twins turn a surprising season into a legitimate playoff run.
    Cody Christie
    The Twins will have to finish the 2026 season without one of their veteran left-handed relievers. Anthony Banda told reporters that he recently underwent surgery to repair his injured lat, ending his season. The veteran southpaw expects to be fully recovered in time for spring training next February.
    While the news isn't entirely surprising, it officially closes the door on any chance of Banda returning for a late-season playoff push.
    Banda was placed on the 15-day injured list earlier this month with what the Twins initially described as a lat strain. At the time, manager Derek Shelton acknowledged the injury was significant and suggested Banda's recovery would be measured in months rather than weeks. There was still some optimism that he could return, but this specific surgery eliminates that possibility. Minnesota will eventually transfer him to the 60-day injured list once it needs another spot on the 40-man roster.
    Although Banda's overall numbers don't jump off the page, he had quietly become one of the Twins' more dependable relievers before getting hurt. He finished the year with a 4.46 ERA across 34 1/3 innings, but those numbers were heavily skewed by a difficult start to the season. Beginning on May 5, Banda posted a 1.33 ERA over his final 20 1/3 innings. That stretch came with some favorable fortune, including a .259 batting average on balls in play and a 90.6% strand rate, but he consistently gave the Twins quality innings during that stretch.
    That's a difficult arm to lose for a bullpen that has struggled to find consistency all season. Minnesota's relievers own a collective 5.24 ERA, tied with the Royals for the worst mark in Major League Baseball. Even if Banda's dominant stretch wasn't completely sustainable, his absence leaves the Twins with even fewer reliable late-inning options as they continue to chase a postseason berth.
    Despite those bullpen struggles, Minnesota remains in the thick of the American League playoff race, sitting just a half-game out of a Wild Card spot. For now, Taylor Rogers and Kody Funderburk become the club's primary left-handed relief options, while Kendry Rojas was recalled to provide additional length out of the bullpen. If the Twins remain in contention over the next few weeks, adding another bullpen arm could become an even bigger priority before the trade deadline.
    For Banda, the injury comes at an unfortunate time in his career. After spending 2025 with the Dodgers, Banda struggled during the postseason and found himself designated for assignment in February because he was out of minor league options. The Twins acquired him by sending international bonus pool space to Los Angeles, hoping his recent success would carry over to Minnesota.
    Financially, the Twins still have a decision looming this offseason. Banda is earning $1.625 million this season and remains arbitration eligible for 2027. Minnesota will need to determine whether to tender him a contract before November, and the progress of his recovery will likely factor into that decision.
    Unfortunately for both Banda and the Twins, they'll have to wait until 2027 to find out whether he can continue building on his success with the club.
     
    Cory Moen
    Bailey Ober has completed his rehab assignment and been returned to the active roster prior to the finale against the Guardians. He threw 8 1/3 innings in two rehab starts with Cedar Rapids and St. Paul. Prior to going on the injured list, Ober had 12 starts for the Twins, with a 4.59 ERA and 4.98 FIP. He's had his ups and downs but the hope is that he can provide some veteran depth in a rotation that has showed promise at times.
    Along with Ober being reinstated, LHP Kendry Rojas was recalled from Triple-A. He's bounced between the majors at Triple-A this year. In his time in the majors, he has looked promising, throwing 16 1/3 innings over six appearances. In that time, he has struck out 18 hitters, but also walked 13. If he can improve the walk rate, there is plenty of promise in the young lefty, either as a starter, or more likely as a relief option going forward.
    The last move made was that Connor Prielipp has been placed on the 15-day injured list with a finger blister on his left middle finger. Prielipp has been solid in the rotation this year, most recently pitching on Wednesday, giving up three runs over five innings pitched in a game the Twins won in walk-off fashion. On the year, Prielipp has a 5.00 ERA and a much better 3.90 FIP. In 66 2/3 innings, he has recorded 71 strikeouts over 13 appearances. The timing of the injured list stint could be beneficial with the All-Star Break right around the corner, so Prielipp could miss fewer games as long as the blister doesn't turn into a longer-lasting issue. He was not scheduled to start until after the break, so he won't miss a start until after the All-Star break is finished. 
    Cody Christie
    The Minnesota Twins have spent much of the 2026 season searching for stability at shortstop. Veterans have cycled through the position, prospects have generated excitement, and many fans have circled one name as the long-term answer: Kaelen Culpepper. That future still appears bright, but it will have to wait a little longer.
    Triple-A St. Paul placed Culpepper on the 7-day injured list Tuesday because of a recurring glute injury, another frustrating setback in what has otherwise been an impressive second full professional season. While Culpepper hadn't appeared in a game since taking a pitch off his hand late last month, the hand injury wasn't the reason for his latest IL stint. Instead, it's the same glute injury that first surfaced in mid-June and has continued to linger.
    Recurring soft-tissue injuries are rarely resolved quickly, making it possible that Culpepper's absence extends beyond the seven-day minimum. That timing is unfortunate because the 23-year-old has done everything possible to put himself on the doorstep of the major leagues.
    After a slow start, Culpepper caught fire offensively, hitting .272/.376/.492 (.868) with 14 home runs, 43 RBI, and 15 stolen bases in 17 attempts across 63 games. His combination of power, athleticism, and defensive versatility has only strengthened the belief that he's Minnesota's shortstop of the future.
    The injuries, however, have interrupted that momentum. The glute issue originally sidelined Culpepper after June 13 and limited him to just two games following his return on June 28. He went 1-for-8 in those contests before being hit on the hand by a pitch on June 30. While the hand initially appeared to be the biggest concern, the recurring glute injury ultimately proved to be the issue that forced another trip to the injured list.
    Unfortunately for the Twins, Culpepper isn't the only top prospect whose season has been interrupted by injuries.
    Walker Jenkins, the organization's top prospect, missed significant time earlier this year after suffering a Grade 2 AC joint sprain in his left shoulder when he crashed into an outfield wall in early May. Since returning, Jenkins has looked like himself again, collecting hits in seven of his first nine games back and launching a home run on Friday. His recent production has renewed optimism that he could make his major league debut before the season ends.
    The Twins have seen several of their highest-ranked prospects lose valuable development time over the past couple of seasons, making Culpepper's latest setback feel all too familiar.
    Still, there's plenty of reason for optimism. Nothing about this injury changes Culpepper's long-term outlook. He has already demonstrated he can handle Triple-A pitching and possesses the complete skill set Minnesota envisioned when it selected him in the first round. The only question now is when he'll be healthy enough to resume building toward his first call to the majors.
    Twins fans may have to wait a little longer for the organization's future shortstop to arrive, but if Culpepper returns healthy and picks up where he left off, that wait should still be well worth it.
    Seth Stohs
    Darrell Jackson overcame several obstacles throughout his life, but on Sunday, he lost his battle with lung cancer, passing away at the age of 70. 
    Jackson grew up in Los Angeles in the '60s and early '70s. He and his family were affected by the Watts riots in the mid-to-late-'60s. He attended Locke High School which was established in 1967 to be a safe place for children and families, but they were unable to keep the race issues from coming in. There were frequent fights, and during Jackson's senior year, two people were shot in a targeted gang attack. The following January saw an 18-year-old student killed on the school jogging track in a gang-related shooting. He was just an innocent bystander. 
    Tyrese Gibson graduated from Locke in 1996, just two years before being signed by RCA Records. He has spent lots of time on Billboard Top 100 lists, and many now may know of him from his roles in the Fast & Furious and Transformers series of films. 
    Jackson played on a pretty good baseball team in high school. He pitched well, and the Twins made him their sixth-round draft pick in 1973. Fellow 1973 Locke High School grads included future Hall of Famers Eddie Murray and Ozzie Smith. Murray was a third-round pick by the Orioles and signed right away. Smith went undrafted out of high school, went to Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo on an academic scholarship and walked onto the baseball team. The Tigers drafted him in the seventh round in 1976, but he didn't sign. The Padres signed him after making him their fourth-round pick in 1977. 
     
    Jackson certainly could have signed out of high school. He didn't, opting to attend Arizona State University. He pitched there for four years and won three College World Series championships. 
    His time in the minor leagues was very short. His first professional start came in 1978 for the Orlando Twins, the team's Double-A affiliate at the time. He tossed nine no-hit innings. He made 10 starts and was 4-3 with a 1.80 ERA. In 75 innings, he gave up 52 hits, walked 32 and had 68 strikeouts. 
    On June 16, 1978, Jackson made his MLB debut at Met Stadium against the Detroit Tigers. The southpaw tossed 7 1/3 innings and gave up just one run despite giving up seven hits, walking four, and having seven strikeouts. Veteran Mike Marshall got the final five outs in a 5-2 win. The bottom three hitters in the Tigers lineup that day were all rookies, catcher Lance Parrish, shortstop Alan Trammell, and second baseman Lou Whitaker. 
    July 7th, he made his fourth career start at Oakland. He tossed a complete game shutout. In nine innings, he gave up just three hits and one walk, while striking out seven batters. 
    In a start on May 10, 1980, at Yankees Stadium. He tossed 10 scoreless innings. He gave up five hits and walked one batter. The Bronx Bombers lineup including Willie Randolph, Reggie Jackson, Lou Pinella, Graig Nettles, he gave up a double to Bucky Dent, and Bob Watson went 4-for-4 with a double. Doug Corbett got the final three outs for the save. 
    He went 0-5 with a 6.25 ERA in mid-June of 1982. The Twins released him. He pitched in Mexico briefly in 1983 but at that point, his career was complete. 
    Jackson pitched for the Twins in parts of five seasons. He went 20-27 with one save. He posted a 4.38 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. 60 of his 102 career games pitched were starts. He certainly had flashes of greatness at times. 
    Later, Jackson acknowledged that there was a lot more going on in his life and in his body. He talked about drinking too much starting in college and then drank even more once he became a pro ballplayer. Like so many pro athletes in that era, Jackson struggled with cocaine and its addictive qualities. He said in a 2022 interview that he had mistaken money, drugs, women and attention for success. 
    When his baseball career ended, he continued to abuse alcohol and drugs. And at that point he found himself really fighting depression.  He went to treatment and rehab a few times. It didn't take. He happened to meet former big league pitcher Dock Ellis, who coincidentally is best known for pitching a no-hitter while tripping on LSD. He encouraged Jackson to keep going back to treatment. It didn't work, he would relapse, but finally, it took. Had he lived about three more months, he would have reached 40 years of sobriety. 
    And in that time, he has done a ton in the Los Angeles area to help kids and families. He led the 10-20 Club. He worked with a treatment center and others to create scholarships for young people who could not otherwise afford it or have the insurance to do so. As the name suggests, the intended audience for the program is between 10- and 20-year-olds. 
    Beyond working with communities and organizations and law enforcement and others to help fund the program, he was often there for the kids himself. He met with the kids, told his story, and offered his contact information to the kids with the OK to call him whenever necessary, any hour of the day. 
     
     
       
    Best wishes to the friends and families of Darrell Jackson! 
    Matthew Lenz
    Trevor Larnach is in the midst of a career year, having gone from non tender candidate to an above average hitter and serviceable left fielder in a matter of months. Is now the right time to move on from him and create an opening for a top prospect?
    Chandler Rome of The Athletic is reporting that the "[Houston] Astros focus at the trade deadline is a left-handed hitting outfielder." While their farm system isn't strong, the Astros have a bevy of southpaw relievers that they could look to move...something the Minnesota Twins are in need of.
    Though the Minnesota Twins may not be true "buyers" at the deadline, they will seemingly be in the playoff hunt in the second half of the season. If they were to make a move, it would make sense for them to deal from a position of depth to strengthen the weakest position group on the roster. 
     
    For Larnach, he is currently slashing .247/.326/.412 with 13 home runs and a pair of stolen bases across 75 games. Though it's still not great, he has improved his defensive contributions this season to a more serviceable level. Having been a league-average (or slightly better) hitter for years now, the improved defense has made him a more reliable everyday player. He is controllable through 2027.
    Should the Minnesota Twins look to trade Trevor Lawrence? Join the conversation in the comments!
    Steve Drumwright
    One of the Minnesota Twins' All-Stars won't be going to Philadelphia after all.
    The Twins on Tuesday placed center fielder Byron Buxton on the 10-day injured list due to an ailing right hip. Outfielder Alan Roden was called up from Triple-A St. Paul. Also, the Twins officially added right-handed reliever Woo-Suk Go, acquired in a cash trade Sunday with the Detroit Tigers, to the roster. He will be making his MLB debut.
    Buxton was selected Saturday to his third All-Star Game, but will not be playing in the game due to his injury. He has a .271/.328/.575 slash line and is among the AL leaders with 25 homers. He hit a career-high 35 homers a year ago. Buxton's career is littered with injuries that have prevented him from consistently putting up monster numbers.
    Roden has been having a good season at St. Paul this year, slashing .272/.397/.512 with eight homers and 24 RBIs in 33 games. Roden spent time on the injured list this season due to a labrum tear. He appeared in 55 games last year between the Twins and Toronto Blue Jays, with a .191/.261/.294 slash line, hitting two homers and driving in nine. Roden and left-hander Kendry Rojas were the return in the trade with the Jays for right-handed reliever Louis Varland and first baseman Ty France.
     
    Cody Christie
    Just a couple of weeks ago, it felt inevitable that the Minnesota Twins would spend the trade deadline moving veteran pieces for future assets. Hovering below .500 and struggling to gain ground in the American League Wild Card race, Minnesota looked like a team headed toward another disappointing finish. Then the script changed.
    A series victory at Yankee Stadium, Minnesota's first since 2014, continued a stretch of improved baseball that has put the Twins squarely back in the postseason conversation. They aren't leading the division, but they're close enough to the final Wild Card spot that selling no longer feels like the obvious path.
    According to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, that's exactly how the Twins are approaching the deadline.
    "The Minnesota Twins... look increasingly unlikely to sell. They are only 1 1/2 games back in the race for the third AL wild card, and their new control person, Tom Pohlad, is motivated to win over his players and win back fans."
    That represents a significant shift from where things stood just days ago. Minnesota has played itself back into contention, and with roughly three weeks remaining before the trade deadline, every win makes it more difficult to justify subtracting from the major league roster. Even so, standing pat doesn't necessarily mean every veteran is untouchable.
    Ryan Jeffers Still Makes Sense as a Trade Chip
    Rosenthal also noted that catcher Ryan Jeffers remains one player who could be moved regardless of where Minnesota sits in the standings.
    "One player the Twins could move regardless of their standing is catcher Ryan Jeffers, who is on a rehabilitation assignment as he works his way back from a left hamate fracture. Jeffers is a potential free agent who could bring back bullpen help, and the Twins could replace him with Victor Caratini and Alex Jackson."
    That possibility has become much more realistic over the past month. When Jeffers went down with a fractured hamate bone, Minnesota turned to Victor Caratini for an increased workload. Rather than simply filling in, Caratini has become one of the club's most productive hitters while continuing to provide quality defense and veteran leadership behind the plate.
    His emergence has changed the equation. Earlier this season, trading Jeffers would have left a significant hole at catcher. Now, Caratini has shown he is capable of handling everyday duties, while Alex Jackson gives Minnesota another defensive-minded option to round out the catching tandem.
    The Market Could Work in Minnesota's Favor
    Rosenthal also identified two clubs that continue to monitor the catching market.
    "Speculation persists that the New York Yankees will pursue Jeffers. The Tampa Bay Rays are another team interested in catching help, creating the possibility of an AL East bidding war."
    That's encouraging news if Minnesota ultimately decides to move Jeffers. Quality catching is always difficult to acquire in July, and multiple playoff contenders searching for upgrades could drive up the asking price. Rather than simply receiving a lower-level prospect, the Twins could target an area of greater need.
    The Twins no longer appear headed for a traditional sell-off. If they continue to play winning baseball, adding complementary pieces may become just as likely as subtracting veterans. But that doesn't eliminate the possibility of making calculated moves that improve both the present and the future.
    The next few weeks will determine whether the Twins become buyers, sellers, or something in between. Based on their recent play, the most likely outcome is a club that tries to thread the needle by competing for a postseason berth while taking advantage of opportunities to improve the roster.
    Cody Christie
    The Twins made a low-risk addition to their bullpen depth on Sunday, acquiring right-handed reliever Woo-Suk Go from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for cash considerations. While the move won't generate significant excitement, it gives Minnesota another intriguing arm to evaluate as the club continues to fight for an American League Wild Card spot.
    Because Go had an assignment clause in his contract, the Twins must add him to the 40-man roster. Fortunately, Minnesota already had an open 40-man roster spot, so no corresponding move was necessary.
    Go signed a minor league contract with Detroit last December after spending the 2024 season in the Miami Marlins organization. The Tigers never promoted him to the major league roster, despite an impressive first half with Triple-A Toledo.
    Across 27 2/3 innings this season, Go posted a 2.60 ERA while striking out 29.1% of opposing hitters. He also has yet to surrender a home run. Some of those numbers have been helped by a favorable .239 batting average on balls in play, but the underlying traits remain appealing. His ability to miss bats and keep the ball on the ground gives the Twins another bullpen option with upside. That profile is especially valuable considering Minnesota's struggles to find consistency in relief.
    Outside of Yoendrys Gómez and Andrew Morris, few Twins relievers have provided dependable production throughout the first half. Morris owns an above-average 17.1 K-BB% rate and a 3.04 xERA over 40 innings. Gómez has taken on the closer role and has posted a 234 ERA+ with a 15.6 K-BB%. 
    As a unit, Minnesota's bullpen has posted a 5.28 ERA with a 19.9% strikeout rate, an 11.5% walk rate, and a 39.7% ground-ball rate. All four marks rank among the bottom ten bullpens in Major League Baseball. Only five teams have a lower fWAR total, and their -1.2 WPA ranks 23rd overall. 
    Adding Go doesn't solve those issues overnight, but it represents another attempt by the front office to uncover value without sacrificing future assets. The 26-year-old arrives with an impressive résumé from Korea. Before coming to Major League Baseball, Go was one of the KBO League's top closers, relying on a lively fastball and swing-and-miss slider to pile up saves. His transition to affiliated baseball has been uneven, particularly with his command, but his strikeout ability has continued to show up whenever he's been healthy.
    Minnesota is betting that those traits can translate against major league hitters. The timing also makes sense. The Twins improved to 44-47 with Sunday's victory over the Yankees and remain only two games behind an American League Wild Card spot. With the trade deadline still several weeks away, the front office isn't locked into either buying or selling. Moves like this allow the organization to add potential contributors while maintaining payroll flexibility and preserving its prospect depth.
    According to reports, Go is expected to join the Twins on Tuesday and should have an opportunity to make his major league debut shortly thereafter. How long he remains in Minnesota may ultimately depend on both his performance and the club's direction over the next few weeks.
    If the Twins stay in the postseason race, Go will have to earn every appearance in a competitive bullpen. If Minnesota slips further behind before the trade deadline, he could receive a longer opportunity to prove he belongs as the organization evaluates arms for both the remainder of 2026 and beyond.
    Cory Moen
    Walker Jenkins was named to the MLB Futures Game, which will be played on Sunday, July 12, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. He will join fellow top prospect Kaelen Culpepper in representing the Twins in the game.
    Jenkins is clearly deserving of this honor, as he is the Twins' top prospect and has proved why thus far in 2026. This year has been slowed by injury, but he has looked the part of a top prospect at Triple-A, hitting .272/.390/.430 over 31 games played. His .820 OPS is solidly above average, and he has added two home runs with 11 RBIs as well. He's also shown his athleticism with seven stolen bases on the year as well.
    While many Twins fans are hoping he makes his Major League debut sooner rather than later, you will get your opportunity to see him on a Major League Field come July 12. 
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