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  • MLB Notes

    Read quick notes on the Minnesota Twins big league club, including injuries, lineup changes and roster moves.

    235 rumors in this category

      Cody Christie

      Joe Ryan is finally getting closer to a return, but the most important part of Tuesday’s rehab start in Omaha won’t necessarily be the results. It will be how he feels. Ryan is scheduled to pitch for Triple-A St. Paul as they begin a road series in Omaha after receiving the all-clear following a brief bullpen session Sunday morning. The right-hander has been on the 15-day injured list since Aug. 6 with a mild left glute strain.

      That injury is likely the cause for Ryan’s second half struggles, but it also gives the Twins an opportunity to reset one of their most important players before the final month of the season.

      The right-hander had struggled through three starts following the All-Star break and acknowledged that he was having difficulty repeating his delivery. That was the bigger concern.

      Ryan wasn't simply getting hit harder than usual. Something didn't look right. His mechanics weren't as consistent, his velocity dipped and the results quickly followed.

      Now, he believes he's moving in the right direction.

      "Facing hitters was the biggest one, right?" Ryan told reporters after Wednesday's live batting practice. "I haven't done that in a second, and then I haven't really done that feeling like I have control over my body and not compensating for a couple, a little bit longer than that. So good to just get out there and feel a little bit more free."

      That feeling of freedom might be the most important statistic for Ryan right now.

      A Dramatic Second-Half Turn

      Ryan looked like an ace during the first half of the season. He posted a sub-3.00 ERA and earned his second All-Star selection, continuing to establish himself as one of the most reliable pieces of Minnesota's rotation.

      Then the calendar flipped. Ryan has allowed 17 runs over his last 15 1/3 innings. He has struck out just 10 of his last 73 opponents. The Twins lost all three of his starts following the All-Star break.

      His fastball told part of the story. Ryan's four-seam fastball averaged just 92.1 mph in his final start before landing on the injured list. That's his lowest average in a start since early May and more than a full mile per hour below his 93.4 mph season average.

      For a pitcher who relies heavily on command and deception, even a small decline in velocity can make a significant difference. When that velocity drop comes alongside trouble repeating a delivery, it becomes much easier to understand why Ryan wasn't producing the same results.

      Another Test for Ryan

      There have been a few warning signs surrounding Ryan's health this season.

      He missed time during Spring Training because of lower back discomfort. In May, he exited a start after just one-third of an inning because of elbow pain. Six days later, he returned to pitch one of his best games of the season. His most recent start before going on the injured list was also pushed back three days because of what was described as arm fatigue. 

      None of those situations necessarily point to one major problem. But taken together, they make Ryan's current recovery more important than simply getting him through a minor-league outing.

      The Twins need to know that Ryan's body is allowing him to execute the delivery he has used so effectively throughout his career. Tuesday's game in Omaha should provide that opportunity.

      The results won't matter nearly as much as the process. Can Ryan repeat his delivery? Does his fastball have its usual life? Can he attack hitters without compensating for his lower body? Most importantly, does he finish the outing feeling like himself?

      Ryan appears to be making progress, and his comments after facing live hitters suggest he finally feels more in control of his body. That's encouraging. Now, the Twins need to see that feeling translate to the mound in Omaha.

       

      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). 

      Cody Christie

      The revolving door in the Minnesota Twins bullpen kept spinning on Tuesday. Minnesota optioned right-hander Woo-Suk Go to Triple-A St. Paul and recalled Jack Anderson, the organization's newest bullpen addition. It's another move that highlights the reality of the Twins' season: they're still searching for anyone capable of providing consistent innings out of one of baseball's least reliable bullpens.

      Go's latest opportunity came to an abrupt end after Monday's outing, when he surrendered three runs on four hits while recording just three outs. It was another reminder that, despite the intriguing upside that made him worth acquiring, the results simply weren't there.

      When Minnesota initially acquired Go, the club was required to place him on the active roster because of a clause in his contract. That requirement never meant the Twins had to keep him in the majors indefinitely, and after four appearances, they decided it was time for him to continue working at Triple-A.

      The numbers made that decision relatively straightforward. Over four innings with Minnesota, Go allowed four earned runs on eight hits while posting a 5-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The strike-throwing wasn't necessarily the issue. Instead, opposing hitters consistently squared him up.

      A 53.5% hard-hit rate paired with a 94.9 mph average exit velocity tells the story. Big league hitters were making loud contact and that's a difficult formula for any reliever to survive, especially one trying to establish himself with a new organization.

      The Twins clearly still believe there's something to work with. Otherwise, they wouldn't have targeted him in the first place. But for now, Triple-A offers a better environment to make adjustments without the pressure of protecting late leads in the American League playoff race.

      His departure opens the door for another fresh arm. Minnesota claimed Anderson from the Boston Red Sox organization just over a week ago, and Tuesday marks his first opportunity with his new club.

      The 27-year-old already checked one milestone off his list this season by making his major league debut with Boston. He also represented Great Britain during the World Baseball Classic, where he threw three innings, allowing one earned run while striking out three.

      In limited major league action with the Red Sox, Anderson logged eight innings across three appearances, allowing three runs on eight hits with six strikeouts and only two walks. It's a small sample, but one that showed enough promise for Minnesota to take a chance. His Triple-A numbers were more modest, posting a 4.57 ERA while striking out 20.0% of opposing hitters and walking 8.1%.

      Anderson isn't going to overpower hitters. His fastball sits just above 90 mph, but his arsenal relies more heavily on movement than velocity. He leans on an 81.4 mph sinker and an 80.9 mph slider, giving hitters a different look than many of the power arms found throughout today's game.

      Whether that profile translates consistently at the major league level remains to be seen. For the Twins, though, this isn't about finding the next All-Star closer. It's about finding competent innings.

      The bullpen has been one of the organization's biggest weaknesses throughout the season, forcing the front office to cycle through waiver claims, internal promotions, and role changes in hopes of uncovering a reliable contributor. Anderson becomes the latest pitcher to receive that opportunity.

      Sometimes those moves produce unexpected success stories. Other times, they're simply placeholders until someone else earns the next chance. Minnesota hopes Anderson falls into the first category.

      For now, the latest bullpen shuffle reflects where the organization is today: rebuilding relief depth one roster move at a time.

      Cody Christie

      Major League Baseball spent years testing the automated ball strike system in the minors before finally rolling it out at the big league level in 2026. The early days of any new rule come with a learning curve, and on Sunday, that adjustment period produced a moment that will live in the record books.

      Twins manager Derek Shelton became the first manager to be ejected in Major League Baseball history over an ABS-related dispute. The moment came in the ninth inning of Minnesota’s 8-6 loss against Baltimore, and it unfolded in a way that perfectly captures both the promise and the confusion surrounding the league’s newest technology.

      With two outs and the Twins mounting a potential rally, Ryan Helsley appeared to issue a walk to Josh Bell. That would have brought the tying run aboard and shifted the pressure squarely onto Baltimore. Instead, Helsley signaled for a challenge, tapping his hat to trigger the ABS system. The call was overturned to a strikeout, abruptly ending Bell’s plate appearance and changing the complexion of the inning.

      Shelton immediately took issue, not necessarily with the result of the challenge, but with its timing. Under MLB’s ABS guidelines, players must initiate a challenge almost instantly after the umpire’s call. The unofficial benchmark has been about two seconds, leaving little room for hesitation. In real time, Helsley’s motion looked quick, but Shelton clearly saw it differently from the dugout.

      "I didn't think Helsley tapped his hat quick enough," Shelton said after the game. "Maybe he did, maybe he didn't. But I didn't feel he did. I feel it's gotta be something that's in the three seconds and I didn't think it was there. But the umpiring crew thought it was."

      The disagreement escalated quickly, and Shelton was tossed, cementing his place in MLB history as the first casualty of the ABS era.

      From Helsley’s perspective, the sequence was not as clear-cut either.

      "I understood where he was coming from, because I felt like the umpire didn't see me right away and so I was kind of confused," he said after the game. "(Home plate umpire Laz Díaz) behind me kind of took up for him. He was like, 'He did it right away,' which I know we're probably going to go through some growing pains with this since it's so new and I think we saw that today. And I can respect Shelton for trying to not get him to do it there, because it did seem like it was a little long in that moment."

      That last part might be the most important takeaway. MLB’s ABS system is designed to eliminate missed calls, but it introduces a new layer of subjectivity in how and when challenges are initiated. What feels immediate to one person may look delayed to another, especially in a high-leverage situation with the game on the line.

      The inning did not end quietly after the ejection. The next batter reached on an error, briefly extending Minnesota’s hopes, but Helsley regrouped and induced a game-ending flyout to shut the door.

      MLB and the ABS system will have some kinks in the season’s early weeks. Shelton’s ejection might be just the first step as the league and teams adjust to a new normal.

      Cody Christie

      The Minnesota Twins are getting a useful piece of their roster back at an important time of the season. The Twins activated Austin Martin from the 10-day injured list Thursday afternoon, putting the versatile outfielder back in the lineup after he missed nearly a month with a left hamstring strain.

      Martin's last appearance came on August 16, when he injured the hamstring trying to track down a fly ball near the left-field line. The Twins appear satisfied that he is ready to return after a brief rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul.

      Martin appeared in two games for the Saints earlier this week, going 3-for-8 with a triple and three RBIs. Rehab statistics don't carry much weight when evaluating a player, but seeing Martin run the bases and play in games without an apparent setback was an important step following a hamstring injury.

      Now, the Twins need to figure out how to use him. Martin isn't going to transform the Minnesota offense by himself. He is hitting .241 with three home runs, 21 RBIs and a .686 OPS, good for a 95 OPS+, across 110 games this season.

      Finding Martin At-Bats

      The Twins already have a crowded outfield, which means bringing Martin back creates another roster puzzle for Shelton.  One potential solution is splitting time between Martin and Trevor Larnach. Larnach has been mired in an extended slump that dates back roughly a month, making it difficult to justify running him out there every day regardless of the matchup.

      Martin's return gives Shelton the ability to mix and match. That doesn't mean Martin needs to become an everyday player. His defensive versatility allows him to move around the outfield, and his ability to handle multiple spots gives the Twins flexibility from one game to the next.

      At this point in the season, that flexibility matters. Martin may not be the answer to all of those problems, but getting him healthy gives Minnesota another competent option and lengthens the lineup. The hope is that Martin can find a rhythm quickly and provide a spark over the final weeks.

      Gonzalez Heads Back to St. Paul

      To make room for Martin, the Twins optioned outfielder Gabriel Gonzalez to Triple-A St. Paul. Gonzalez appeared in seven games with Minnesota this season but received only eight at-bats. He went 2-for-8, with his other plate appearance resulting in a hit by pitch.

      That's hardly enough time to make a meaningful evaluation. Sending Gonzalez back to St. Paul makes sense if the Twins aren't going to give him regular playing time. Sitting on the bench at the major-league level doesn't do much for a young player who needs consistent at-bats.

      Gonzalez remains an interesting piece for the Twins moving forward. He could potentially compete for a fourth-outfielder role next season, or find himself in the mix for a larger role if injuries or poor performance create an opening. But the Twins need to see more from him before making that decision. The final games of the season should give Gonzalez an opportunity to play regularly and show the organization what he can do. Strong performance could strengthen his case for a role in Minnesota. 

      For now, though, the focus returns to Martin. The Twins have another versatile defender, another left-field option and another bat capable of moving around the lineup. Martin may not be a star, but players who can do a little bit of everything become especially valuable when a team is trying to navigate the final stretch of a long season.

      Getting him healthy was the first step. Now Shelton needs to find a way to put him to work.

       

      Cody Christie

      On Monday, the Twins returned Joe Ryan from his rehab assignment and reinstated him from the 15-day injured list, officially putting one of their most important starting pitchers back on the active roster. To make room, Minnesota optioned right-handed reliever Garrett Acton to Triple-A St. Paul.

      Ryan's return comes at a time when the Twins don't have much left to play for in the standings, but there is still plenty of value in getting their All-Star right-hander back on the mound before the season comes to an end.

      Ryan completed a three-inning rehab start for St. Paul on Tuesday night in Omaha. He threw 42 pitches, with 29 finding the strike zone. He also threw roughly 10 additional pitches in the bullpen after completing his scheduled work. That was enough for the Twins to feel comfortable moving forward.

      Ryan also threw a bullpen session over the weekend in Chicago, and the organization ultimately gave him the green light to return to the roster for the team's series against Detroit. The Twins have a TBD scheduled for Monday’s afternoon game in Detroit, so Ryan could take that spot in the rotation. 

      The rehab outing certainly wasn't perfect, but it accomplished what Ryan and the Twins wanted. He got back on the mound, worked through multiple innings and came out of the outing feeling good.

      Ryan's fastball velocity sat around 91-92 mph in Omaha. That's noticeably below the 93.4 mph average he has carried this season. For a pitcher like Ryan, whose effectiveness comes from command, deception and the ability to locate his pitches rather than overpower hitters, a drop in velocity is worth monitoring.

      The conditions in Omaha were extremely hot, and Ryan acknowledged that he wasn't trying to reach back for the same velocity he would during a regular-season Major League start. The goal was to work through his pitches and make sure his body responded well to the outing. More importantly, Ryan came away encouraged by the quality of his pitches. That's the part the Twins should care about most.

      And the Twins could certainly use him. Getting him back gives the organization another opportunity to evaluate what its pitching staff can look like heading into 2027. It also provides Ryan with a chance to finish his season on a positive note after an interrupted campaign.

      Acton's departure is the corresponding roster move. He appeared in seven games for Minnesota this season, allowing seven earned runs across 11 innings. He struck out 14 batters but also issued six walks.

      His numbers in Triple-A tell a different story. Acton owns a 2.55 ERA with 23 strikeouts and just eight walks across 17 2/3 innings for St. Paul. He has shown enough there to remain a potential bullpen option for the Twins, particularly as the organization continues evaluating its pitching depth.

      For now, though, the attention shifts back to Ryan. And after watching the Twins navigate the final stretch of the season without one of their best starters, that return can't come soon enough.

      Cody Christie

      The Minnesota Twins are continuing to reshape their front office. According to Bobby Nightengale Jr. of the Star Tribune, assistant general manager Daniel Adler is no longer with the organization. A source confirmed that the two sides mutually agreed to part ways, bringing an end to Adler’s nearly 10-year run with the Twins.

      Adler joined Minnesota in 2017 as the club’s director of baseball operations. He was promoted to assistant general manager in November 2019, moved up to vice president in 2021 and became an executive vice president in February 2025. His responsibilities eventually stretched well beyond traditional baseball operations, as he worked on both the baseball and business sides of the organization.

      On the baseball side, Adler oversaw areas including research and development, salary arbitration and rules compliance while remaining involved in roster construction, player acquisition, player development and athletic performance. His business responsibilities included information technology, human resources and business strategy and analytics.

      That makes his departure another notable change for an organization that has already undergone a significant leadership transition in 2026. The Twins parted ways with Derek Falvey earlier this year, leaving Jeremy Zoll to oversee baseball operations as the team's general manager. At the time, Zoll said the organization was still working through how responsibilities would be structured, while identifying Adler, Alex Hassan and Josh Kalk as key members of the leadership group.

      Now, one of those three assistant general managers is gone. Adler's background made him an unusual and highly qualified member of the Twins' front office. Before joining Minnesota, he worked for Boston Consulting Group and launched the Jacksonville Jaguars' football research department. He also spent time interning with Major League Baseball's labor relations department. Adler earned an economics degree, law degree and MBA from Harvard.

      The timing also creates an interesting opportunity for Adler. With his extensive experience across analytics, roster construction, arbitration and organizational strategy, he could draw interest from other clubs searching for front-office leadership. Houston, Anaheim and Sacramento are among the organizations with general manager openings, although it remains to be seen whether Adler will pursue one of those opportunities.

      For the Twins, the more immediate question is what comes next. Zoll is now firmly in charge of baseball operations, and Minnesota has already begun reshaping its leadership structure following Falvey's departure. Adler's exit adds another major piece to that transformation.

      The Twins' front office is going to look considerably different when the 2027 season begins.

       

      Cody Christie

      The 2026 season did not end where the Minnesota Twins wanted it to, but the organization still has five players receiving recognition from Major League Baseball as All-MLB Team nominees. Kody Clemens, Brooks Lee, Ryan Jeffers, Byron Buxton, and Taj Bradley are all on the ballot. Fans can vote once per day at MLB.com through Friday, October 9, giving Twins fans an opportunity to make their voices heard and reward several players who made significant contributions during the season.

      Clemens was one of the year's biggest surprises. He appeared in 145 games and provided a power boost that few could have predicted, launching 27 home runs and driving in 81 runs. His ability to move around the diamond also made him a valuable piece of the roster. Lee supplied plenty of power of his own. The young infielder hit 24 home runs with 83 RBI while batting .253 over 156 games. He spent 110 games at third base, continuing to establish himself as an important part of Minnesota's future.

      Bradley arguably has the strongest case among the five nominees. Acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays at the 2025 trade deadline, he took another step forward in his first full season with Minnesota. Bradley went 12-6 with a 3.73 ERA and 205 strikeouts across 178 1/3 innings in 31 starts. He also established personal bests in several categories while becoming a dependable piece of the Twins' rotation.

      Jeffers and Buxton were two of Minnesota's most valuable players when healthy. Jeffers hit .256 with a .353 on-base percentage, 14 home runs and 56 RBI in just 92 games. His season was interrupted by a broken left hamate bone that kept him on the injured list from May 19 until July 10, making his production even more impressive.

      Buxton hit 25 home runs and posted an .830 OPS in 93 games. Unfortunately, his season ended prematurely because of a right hip impingement, and he has not played since late August.

      How the Voting Works

      The All-MLB Team includes a first team and second team, with each featuring a catcher, every infield position, three outfielders, a designated hitter, five starting pitchers and two relief pitchers. Selections are made without regard to league.

      Fans and a panel consisting of media members, broadcasters, former players and other officials each have an equal say in the final results. The winners will be announced November 11 at the MLB Awards in Las Vegas.

      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

      Minnesota's roster makeover continued Saturday. Less than 24 hours after adding another starting pitcher before the trade deadline, the Twins announced another round of transactions ahead of their matchup with the Seattle Mariners. The headline move was expected: newly acquired left-handed reliever A.J. Minter was officially activated. 

      To make room on the 26-man roster, the Twins optioned right-hander Zebby Matthews to Triple-A St. Paul. The move isn't necessarily an indictment of Matthews' performance on Friday night. He gave Minnesota five innings, allowed three earned runs, and struck out an impressive 10 hitters against Seattle. However, his overall July results painted a different picture. Across 24 2/3 innings, Matthews posted a 7.66 ERA and 5.69 FIP while recording 23 strikeouts against 14 walks.

      With Dean Kremer acquired to bolster the rotation, Matthews became the logical candidate to head back to Triple-A. The timing gives the Twins a fresh bullpen arm in Minter while creating what appears to be a clear opening for Kremer to slide into the starting rotation.

      Minnesota also made a change to its 40-man roster, designating right-hander Cody Laweryson for assignment. Laweryson appeared in 15 games for the Twins this season, logging 16 2/3 innings with a 4.86 ERA and 5.08 FIP while striking out 18 and walking eight. Although he flashed intriguing stuff at times, injuries have impacted him this season. A right forearm strain sidelined Laweryson for much of April and May, and after he was optioned to Triple-A in early July, Laweryson has been on the St. Paul injured list since July 19.

      His departure immediately created room for another pitcher. Right-hander Garrett Acton was reinstated from the 60-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A St. Paul. Minnesota acquired Acton from the Miami Marlins this spring in exchange for Logan Whitaker, but he has been limited to four appearances after suffering a right shoulder strain that landed him on the injured list at the end of April.

      Acton's rehab assignment offered plenty of encouragement. In six innings for St. Paul, he surrendered just one earned run while striking out eight and walking only one. Opponents managed just a .053 batting average against him during that stretch. If the shoulder continues to respond well, Acton could quickly emerge as another bullpen option for a Twins club that has spent the past week aggressively reshaping its pitching staff.

      With Minter now in the bullpen, Kremer expected to join the rotation, and additional depth returning from injury, Minnesota's pitching staff looks noticeably different than it did just a few days ago, and the Twins might not be done adding before Monday’s deadline. 

      Seth Stohs

      Two years ago, the Twins signed a 32-year-old Matt Bowman to a minor-league contract. He began the season with the Saints, but after a handful of games, he was called up to the Twins. He pitched in five games for the Twins and gave up two runs over 7 2/3 innings. In a numbers game, he was DFAd by the Twins before the end of April and claimed by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He worked in five games for them before again being DFAd. The Mariners claimed him, and he pitched in one game for Seattle. He was released. Early in July, the Twins re-signed him and he spent the next five weeks with the Saints. In mid-August, he was released and signed with the Baltimore Orioles. He pitched well in 15 games down the stretch for the O's. Four teams in one season. A wanted man!

      He struggled in 20 games with Baltimore in 2025 and ended the season in the Astros minor leagues. 

       

      Now 34, Bowman signed a minor-league contract this week to pitch in the Twins organization in 2026. He will report to Fort Myers next week as a non-roster invitee to spring training. He will certainly have an opportunity to compete for a spot in the Twins bullpen on Opening Day. 

      A graduate of Princeton, he was drafted by the Mets in the 13th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He made the Opening Day roster of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2016. Over the next three seasons, he pitched in 156 games out of the Cards bullpen. He spent most of 2019 with the Reds and then didn't pitch at all in 2020. However, in September of 2020, he had Tommy John surgery and didn't pitch again until 2023 when he worked in three games for the Yankees.

      The Twins have been quieter than usual in terms of minor-league free agent signings. However, I could make a case that three minor-league free agents could make the Twins roster.     

       

      Veteran infielder Orlando Arcia signed with the Twins last month. It would be surprising if he isn't on the Opening Day roster. The 31-year-old infielder debuted in 2016. He had some decent years in Milwaukee, and a couple of solid seasons in Atlanta where he played in his lone All-Star game. 

      Dan Altavilla is a 33-year-old right-handed pitcher who, you might be surprised to learn, made his big-league debut in 2016. He's mixed in some good years with some bad years. He's had some injuries. Last year with the White Sox, he had a 2.48 ERA over 25 games and 29 innings. The peripherals weren't great (or even particularly good), but if the Twins wanted another veteran in the bullpen, he could see time there.     

       

      29-year-old Andrew Bash signed with the Twins earlier this month. He was the Angels 30th round pick in 2019 out of California Baptist. The Angels released him in 2020, and he signed with the Blue Jays. He spent the past six seasons working his way up the Jays' ladder. Last year in Triple-A Buffalo, he went 6-2 with a 2.57 ERA. He made five starts but came out of the bullpen 35 times. He has jumped back-and-forth between Double-A and Triple-A and hasn't had an ERA over 3.00 at either level since the 2022 season. 

      The Twins signed right-hander Luis Quinones to a minor-league deal in December. Originally drafted in the 34th round by the Blue Jays in 2019, he's slowly worked his way up the ladder showing glimpses of really good stuff. He has also missed a lot time with injuries. In fact, in 2025, he pitched in just three rehab games, rehabbing in the FCL. However, he played winter ball in Puerto Rico and went 4-0 with a 0.00 ERA, a 0.69 WHIP, and two Saves. In 26 innings, he gave up nine hits, walked nine and had 36 strikeouts.

      After five years at Miami (Ohio), Grant Hartwig signed as an undrafted free agent with the New York Mets in 2021. Two years later, he debuted and pitched in 28 games for the Mets. In 2024, he made just four appearances. He joined Hanshin in Japan during the 2025 season. His season ended a little early with an oblique injury. The 28-year-old returned to the States and signed with the Twins just a couple weeks later. 

      Matthew Trueblood

      Joe Ryan's MRI Sunday came back clean, a Twins source confirmed to Twins Daily Tuesday. As first reported by Dan Hayes of The Athletic, Ryan played catch Tuesday and will throw a bullpen session Wednesday, after which the team will evaluate when he might make his next start. 

      Ryan left his last start Sunday after just two batters faced, with what the team called "elbow soreness". His scan revealed no damage to his UCL, but until he gets back onto a mound and pitches pain-free, the next steps in getting him back into the starting rotation will not become clear. Wednesday is the last day on which the team can make an injured list stint retroactive to Sunday, so the bullpen session will be important. If it goes well (and Ryan recovers from it well), the team might choose to skate by without placing him on the injured list. If, however, there's any lingering discomfort, a stint on the IL is likely.

      Cody Christie

      For much of the 2026 season, the Twins have been forced to navigate an endless stream of injuries. While the club continues to battle through those setbacks, Friday brought several pieces of positive news.

      Three notable names—top prospect Walker Jenkins, right-hander Mick Abel, and left-hander Kendry Rojas—are all progressing toward returns. Each player reached a significant checkpoint in his recovery process this weekend, offering hope that reinforcements could soon be on the way.

      Walker Jenkins Nearing Return to Game Action

      The Twins expect Jenkins to begin a rehab assignment with Low-A Fort Myers on Saturday, marking his first game action since suffering a Grade 2 AC joint sprain in his left shoulder on May 5. The injury occurred while he crashed into an outfield wall while making a catch for Triple-A St. Paul.

      Minnesota's top prospect was still finding his footing early in the season after arriving at Triple-A, but he entered the injured list on a much stronger note than he started. Before getting hurt, Jenkins had improved his season line to .256/.396/.389 (.785) across 111 plate appearances. That followed a 2025 campaign in which he posted a .286/.399/.451 (.850) slash line while climbing all the way to Triple-A.

      Since being selected fifth overall in the 2023 MLB Draft, the 21-year-old has dealt with a series of injuries. A hamstring strain cost him significant time in 2024, while an ankle sprain sidelined him for nearly two months in 2025. He also battled another hamstring issue during spring training this year.

      When healthy, Jenkins has consistently looked like one of baseball's premier prospects. If he returns from this latest injury and performs well at Triple-A, the possibility of a major-league debut later this season remains very much alive. At minimum, he appears poised to put himself in a position to contribute in Minnesota sometime during 2027.

      Mick Abel Closing In on Return to Rotation

      Abel's next step comes Saturday when he is scheduled to throw a light bullpen session following an impressive rehab outing earlier this week.

      Pitching for Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday, Abel tossed three scoreless innings, striking out five while allowing only two hits. Perhaps most encouraging was the quality of his stuff. His fastball averaged 96.3 mph and topped out at 97.9 mph, looking much like the weapon that helped him dominate before landing on the injured list.

      The Twins shut Abel down on April 20 because of inflammation in his right elbow. His recovery appeared to be nearing completion in early May before lingering soreness in his right triceps after a simulated bullpen session temporarily halted his progress. The setback eventually led to a cortisone injection and additional recovery time.

      Before the injury, Abel was pitching some of the best baseball of his young career. He had thrown 13 consecutive scoreless innings over his final two starts and looked increasingly comfortable against major-league hitters.

      His return would arrive at an ideal time for Minnesota. Bailey Ober remains sidelined with a right flexor strain, leaving the Twins scrambling to piece together a rotation. The club has relied on multiple bullpen games in recent weeks, with Joe Ryan, Taj Bradley, Connor Prielipp, and Zebby Matthews carrying the workload. If Abel continues progressing without issue, he could soon provide the stability Minnesota desperately needs in the fifth spot.

      Kendry Rojas Taking Another Step Forward

      Rojas is scheduled to face hitters in a live batting practice session Saturday in Fort Myers as he works his way back from left triceps inflammation. The 22-year-old has been sidelined since May 29.

      Few pitchers have exceeded expectations this season the way Rojas has. He quickly established himself as a valuable multi-inning weapon. In 14 1/3 innings, Rojas has posted a sparkling 1.26 ERA while striking out 14 hitters. He has also demonstrated the flexibility to help in multiple roles. Earlier this season, Rojas made a spot start against the Houston Astros and responded by throwing four scoreless innings at Target Field.

      That versatility has become increasingly important as injuries continue to pile up throughout Minnesota's pitching staff. Whether he returns as a long reliever, spot starter, or bulk innings option, Rojas would give the Twins another reliable arm capable of reducing the burden on an already stretched pitching corps.

      After weeks of discouraging injury news, Minnesota finally has reason for optimism. None of these returns is guaranteed to happen immediately, but the progress of Jenkins, Abel, and Rojas offers a reminder that help may finally be on the horizon.

       

      Cody Christie

      For a brief moment, it looked like the Twins were about to get one of their most important reinforcements back. Instead, Mick Abel's return to Minnesota's rotation is on hold once again.

      According to the Minnesota Star Tribune's Bobby Nightengale Jr., Abel experienced a setback in his recovery process after throwing a 20-pitch bullpen session on Friday. The right-hander will not return from the injured list this week and is scheduled to undergo an MRI when the club gets back to Minnesota. That's an unwelcome development for a pitching staff that has already spent most of the season patching together innings.

      A Promising Rehab Assignment Takes a Turn

      Abel has been sidelined since April 20 after being placed on the injured list with right elbow inflammation. The injury interrupted what had been an encouraging first season in the Twins organization after arriving as part of last summer's trade deadline haul. 

      The 24-year-old finally began a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul earlier this month, and the early results couldn't have gone much better.

      In his first outing on June 10, Abel tossed three scoreless innings while allowing only two hits and striking out five batters. He followed that performance six days later with an even longer outing, surrendering one run across five innings while once again recording five strikeouts.

      Those appearances appeared to put him on the doorstep of a return to the major league rotation. Instead, the Twins are back in wait-and-see mode.

      Rotation Questions Continue to Mount

      Minnesota's pitching depth has been tested all season, and Abel's setback only adds another layer of uncertainty. Pablo López is already lost for the remainder of the year. Bailey Ober remains on the injured list with a flexor strain, though the organization remains optimistic that his absence won't be a lengthy one. Simeon Woods Richardson was moved to Toronto after struggling to establish himself in the rotation.

      That leaves the Twins leaning heavily on Joe Ryan and Taj Bradley at the top of the staff while searching for consistency from a younger group of arms.

      Connor Prielipp has shown flashes of why the organization remains excited about his future. Zebby Matthews continues to work through the ups and downs that come with gaining major league experience. Mike Paredes has also been asked to shoulder a larger role than originally anticipated. The group has managed to keep Minnesota competitive, but the margin for error continues to shrink.

      Every Game Matters

      The timing of Abel's setback couldn't be much worse. Entering Saturday night's action, Minnesota sat 4.5 games behind Cleveland in the American League Central and 2.5 games out of the final Wild Card position. The Twins remain firmly in the postseason conversation, but they can ill afford to lose additional rotation depth for an extended period.

      If the MRI reveals only a minor issue, Abel could still rejoin the club relatively soon. However, if the setback leads to another lengthy shutdown, Minnesota may need to explore external options before the trade deadline or continue relying on inexperienced pitchers to navigate meaningful games down the stretch.

      The Twins have spent much of the season waiting for reinforcements, and Abel looked poised to become one of the most significant additions to the roster. His strong rehab outings offered hope that help was finally on the way.

      Now, the organization is once again waiting on medical results. For a team trying to chase down a division title and climb back into a playoff spot, the news serves as another reminder of just how thin the line can be between contention and crisis. The Twins have survived plenty of pitching injuries already in 2026. Whether they can continue doing so may depend on what Abel's MRI reveals in the coming days.

      Cody Christie

      Minnesota Twins fans can officially stop refreshing trade rumor websites looking for Byron Buxton updates. On Tuesday, Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll delivered something front office executives rarely offer: a definitive answer.

      "We have no plans to trade Byron," Zoll said. "It's not something we're exploring. It's not something we plan to explore."

      That statement alone carries significant weight. Front offices are typically careful with their wording, especially as the trade deadline approaches. Executives often leave themselves flexibility, speaking in vague terms about listening on players or evaluating opportunities. Even when a team has little intention of moving a player, they rarely remove the possibility altogether.

      Zoll did exactly that. With the August 3 trade deadline approaching and Minnesota sitting in the middle of a crowded American League playoff race, recent speculation had connected Buxton's name to potential trade discussions. A national report from ESPN even suggested he could become the second best player traded if the Twins decided to pivot toward selling. Zoll's comments leave little room for interpretation.

      Buxton Has Been Carrying the Twins

      Part of the reason trade rumors gained traction is because Buxton's value has never been higher. Through 306 plate appearances, the Twins center fielder owns a .275/.333/.596 slash line with an American League-leading 25 home runs. When healthy, he's playing like one of the best players in baseball and has positioned himself squarely in the MVP conversation.

      Of course, health remains the lingering question. Durability has followed Buxton throughout his career, and it's impossible to discuss his value without acknowledging that reality. However, when he's on the field, few players impact a game the way he does.

      The Twins know that. Even though Minnesota sits four games below .500, they remain very much alive in both the AL Wild Card race and the AL Central. They're only two games out of a playoff spot and 3.5 games behind both Chicago and Cleveland in the division standings.

      Trading Buxton would signal a dramatically different organizational direction. Instead, Zoll made it clear the Twins aren't interested in taking that path.

      A Different Tone Than Last Year

      What's perhaps most interesting about Zoll's comments is how different they are from the organization's approach a year ago. Last summer, rumors circulated around several veteran players as Minnesota struggled to find consistency. While there was never any concrete indication that the Twins seriously considered moving Buxton, the organization never publicly dismissed the possibility either.

      That silence didn't go unnoticed. When Buxton arrived at spring training, he acknowledged some frustration with how the situation had been handled.

      "All it takes is for somebody at the top to go to the media, 'We're not trading you,'" Buxton said in February. "Trade rumors stop and now we don't have those conversations. That's how simple this could get."

      At the time, the comments stood out because Buxton rarely speaks publicly about front-office matters. While the situation clearly didn't damage the relationship between player and organization, it offered a glimpse into how unnecessary speculation can affect even veteran stars.

      Fast forward a few months and Zoll essentially provided the exact public backing Buxton had requested. Whether intentional or not, the message was received.

      Looking Beyond the Deadline

      The bigger story may not be whether Buxton gets traded, but whether the Twins eventually explore keeping him in Minnesota beyond his current contract.

      If both sides remain aligned, this offseason could present an opportunity to discuss an extension that allows Buxton to finish his career where it started. That's still speculative, but it's a far more realistic conversation than trade rumors at this point.

      For now, both the player and the organization are delivering the same message. Buxton said he isn't interested in leaving. The Twins say they aren't interested in moving him.

      Trade rumors may never completely disappear when a star player is involved, but Zoll's comments are about as close to a final answer as a front office executive can provide.

       

      Cody Christie

      Few decisions in life are bigger than choosing who (and when) you'll marry. For four Minnesota Twins players, that milestone will arrive on the exact same day this offseason. Brooks Lee, Luke Keaschall, Ryan Kreidler and Cole Sands are all scheduled to say "I do" on Saturday, November 14, creating one of the most unusual offseason coincidences in recent baseball memory.

      Even more remarkable, none of them coordinated the date. The players planned their weddings independently before discovering during Spring Training that they had all landed on the same weekend. Major League Baseball highlighted the unusual coincidence in a July 22 post on X, jokingly asking, "Poor wedding planning?"

      The reality is much less dramatic. For baseball players, the offseason calendar leaves a relatively small window to plan major life events. Waiting until after the World Series avoids conflicts with the postseason, while pushing too deep into November starts running into the holiday season and offseason training schedules.

      Lee said that made mid-November the obvious choice.

      "You don't want to be too close to the end of October, and don't want to be too far [into November] because Thanksgiving is coming up. Seemed like everyone is going to choose that date."

      That explanation also made perfect sense to manager Derek Shelton, because he is a baseball lifer and his own wedding anniversary falls the following day. Shelton also won’t be attending any of the weddings, because he and his wife already have a Napa Valley trip planned.

      The overlapping guest lists extend beyond the clubhouse. Lee and Keaschall share the same agent, Adam Karon, creating a unique logistical challenge. Fortunately, both weddings will take place in central California, making it possible to attend portions of each celebration.

      "I think he's going to go to Keaschall's first and then ours," Lee said. "But they're both early in the afternoon because the sun sets so early."

      Kreidler's ceremony will take place in Southern California, while Sands will celebrate near his home in North Florida.

      Despite the scheduling conflict, none of the four players appear overly concerned. No current Twins players are expected to be in each other's wedding parties, making it easier for teammates and staff to choose whichever event best fits their travel plans.

      Keaschall said there was some humor in how everyone eventually realized they had picked the same date.

      "When you find out somebody's getting married," he said, "you ask when."

      Before this quartet celebrates one of the biggest days of their personal lives, Twins fans hope they'll have another reason to celebrate. If Minnesota can make a deep postseason run, the weeks leading up to November 14 could be filled with October memories instead of an early offseason. Then, after chasing a championship together, the four teammates can begin the next chapter of their lives on the very same day.

      Cody Christie

      When Tom Pohlad stepped into the role of Twins chairman last winter, he promised that the organization would provide the resources necessary for the front office to build a sustainable contender. For much of the season, those comments were met with skepticism after years of payroll criticism. The 2026 trade deadline offered the first tangible evidence of that commitment.

      Minnesota aggressively upgraded its roster by acquiring A.J. Minter, Dean Kremer, and Jeff Hoffman, adding impact talent while taking on more than $8 million in prorated salary for the remainder of the season. The moves also created meaningful financial obligations beyond 2026, with Hoffman owed $11 million next season and Kremer expected to receive another raise through arbitration after earning $5.75 million this year. Although Toronto will cover $3.75 million of Hoffman's 2027 salary, the Twins still accepted a larger financial commitment than many expected.

      According to Pohlad, that willingness to spend was intentional.

      “I, and we as an ownership group, were committed to giving [general manager Jeremy Zoll] the financial flexibility to make this team better,” Pohlad said. “I think the results of what happened at the Trade Deadline were in no small part a function of having that financial flexibility and that clarity at the outset. Now, somebody has to go out and execute that, and that is a very hard thing to do, and he did that masterfully.”

      The deadline additions addressed immediate needs while also strengthening the roster beyond this season. More importantly, they represented a shift from simply managing payroll to actively investing in a club that believes it can contend over multiple years.

      Pohlad made it clear those deadline moves were not a one-time exception. When asked whether Minnesota's willingness to add salary at the deadline signaled an increase in payroll for 2027, he didn't hesitate.

      “I’m not hoping -- it will be higher,” he said. “I’ve been consistent, right? For us to accomplish the things that we want to accomplish, and be a consistently competitive team in the playoffs, and going deep, we have to make an investment into this team. We did that in a small way at the Trade Deadline. You’ll see more of it next year.”

      That statement could become one of the organization's most significant developments of the season. The Twins have spent the last several years answering questions about shrinking payrolls and financial limitations. Now, ownership is publicly committing to moving in the opposite direction.

      Of course, words alone won't erase years of frustration among the fan base. The real test will come this offseason as Minnesota looks to supplement a roster that already appears capable of competing in the American League. If Pohlad follows through on his promise, Jeremy Zoll could have considerably more flexibility to address remaining needs instead of relying solely on internal improvements.

      The trade deadline showed the Twins are willing to spend when they believe they have a chance to win. Pohlad's latest comments suggest that philosophy won't end with this season. Instead, they could mark the beginning of a new financial approach—one designed to keep Minnesota in contention not only for the rest of 2026, but well into 2027 and beyond.

      Cody Christie

      The Minnesota Twins have spent much of the season searching for answers on the pitching staff. Injuries and inconsistency have forced the organization to move pitchers between the rotation, bullpen, and minor leagues, creating plenty of roster movement along the way.

      Kendry Rojas could soon give the Twins another option. Rojas suffered a mild right oblique strain on August 21 during a start for the St. Paul Saints. He exited after just two innings, creating some concern about whether the injury would end his season. However, general manager Jeremy Zoll provided encouraging news over the weekend.

      Rojas could throw a bullpen session as early as this week, with the Twins hopeful that he can return to game action by the middle of September. There is one significant change coming, though. The organization doesn't expect him to have enough time to build back up as a starting pitcher.

      “Where we're at calendar-wise, not expecting to be able to stretch him back out at this point,” Zoll said. “If he does get back into game action, it'll probably be a two-inning outing for his first go, and we'll go from there.”

      That could still be valuable for the Twins.

      Rojas Has Already Shown Enough

      Rojas has made a strong first impression during his first taste of the major leagues. Across 12 appearances, including four starts, he has posted a 3.34 ERA with 34 strikeouts over 29 2/3 innings. His 26.2% strikeout rate is particularly encouraging. Rojas has shown the ability to miss bats against major-league hitters, and Minnesota has already demonstrated its willingness to use him in different roles.

      The biggest concern has been his control. Rojas has issued 22 walks in his limited major-league sample, resulting in a 16.9% walk rate. That's a number the Twins will want to see improve, especially if he's going to work in shorter outings where free passes can quickly create problems.

      Still, the walk issues haven't been nearly as pronounced throughout his minor-league career (8.3 BB% in 2026). That gives Minnesota some reason to believe the major-league number isn't necessarily representative of what Rojas will become. More importantly, the Twins have already seen that he can provide length.

      Another Multi-Inning Option

      Rojas returned to Triple-A following the trade deadline after Minnesota acquired Jeff Hoffman and added A.J. Minter to its pitching staff. Those additions created some difficult roster decisions, and Rojas ultimately went back to St. Paul.

      He resumed working as a starter, but that role is unlikely to continue if he makes it back to Minnesota this season. Instead, Rojas could become another multi-inning weapon for a pitching staff that has needed plenty of them.

      That type of role would also allow Minnesota to manage his workload carefully. Rather than immediately asking him to handle a starter's workload after an oblique injury, the Twins can ease him back into competition while still getting meaningful innings from his arm.

      September rosters aren't what they used to be, but every healthy arm can matter during the final weeks of a season. The key will be making sure the oblique injury doesn't linger. Rojas has already shown he can handle multiple innings in the majors. If his oblique cooperates, the Twins could see what he looks like in shorter outings where he can amp up his velocity.

      Cody Christie

      Joe Ryan’s return to the Minnesota Twins’ rotation may be close. After completing a three-inning rehab start with Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday night, Ryan appears to have put himself in position to potentially make his return to the Twins before the middle of September. Manager Derek Shelton acknowledged Wednesday that the possibility of Ryan starting during the team’s upcoming road trip to Chicago and Detroit is being discussed.

      “I think it’s on the table,” Shelton said. “I wouldn’t say 50-50, one way or another, but I don’t think it’s completely off the table.”

      That represents a significant step forward for a pitcher the Twins have been without since early August.

      Ryan threw 42 pitches during Tuesday’s outing in Omaha, with 29 of those pitches finding the strike zone. He then added roughly 10 additional pitches in the bullpen. If everything continues to progress as planned, Ryan could be stretched beyond 60 pitches and potentially work four or five innings in his next appearance.

      Before that happens, Ryan is expected to throw a bullpen session this weekend, most likely while the Twins are in Chicago. His next competitive outing would then likely come either with St. Paul or with Minnesota a couple of days later. That timeline could put a Major League return firmly within reach.

      The Velocity Question

      One of the most notable aspects of Ryan’s rehab appearance was his fastball velocity. Ryan sat around 91-92 mph with his fastball in Omaha, well below his 93.4 mph average for the season. On the surface, that could be viewed as a potential concern for a pitcher whose margin for error is already relatively small.

      Neither Ryan nor Shelton seemed particularly worried about the radar gun, however. The conditions in Omaha were extremely hot, and Ryan acknowledged that he wasn't trying to reach back for the same kind of velocity he would during a regular-season Major League start. More importantly, he came away encouraged by the overall quality of his pitches.

      That will be the bigger takeaway as Ryan continues building back toward a full workload. After all, velocity wasn't the only issue Ryan was dealing with before landing on the injured list.

      A Tale of Two Seasons

      Ryan's first half was everything the Twins could have hoped for. He looked like a legitimate frontline starter, posting an ERA below 3.00 and earning his second career All-Star selection. Then something changed after the All-Star break.

      Ryan lost all three of his starts following the break and allowed 17 runs over his final 15 1/3 innings. His strikeout numbers also dropped considerably, with just 10 strikeouts against his final 73 batters faced.

      His final start before the injured list provided another clue. Ryan's four-seam fastball averaged just 92.1 mph that day, his lowest average in a start since early May and more than a mile per hour below his season average.

      An Important Addition for September

      Minnesota's postseason chances may be slim, but Ryan's return still carries plenty of importance. The Twins need to determine what their rotation looks like moving forward, and getting Ryan back on the mound would provide valuable information heading into the offseason. 

      The immediate goal isn't necessarily to see Ryan return and suddenly become the first-half ace he was. It's to see the fastball tick back up, watch his delivery become more consistent and allow him to rebuild the foundation that made him so effective before the All-Star break.

      And if Ryan continues moving in the right direction, his return to the Twins' rotation may not have to wait as long as initially anticipated.

       

      Cody Christie

      The Minnesota Twins received an encouraging update on Joe Ryan’s recovery Monday, but there is still plenty of work to be done before their All-Star right-hander is ready to return to the mound.

      Ryan, who is on the injured list with a mild left glute strain, played catch on flat ground Monday. It was a small step, but it was an important one for a pitcher who has been dealing with physical issues that have impacted both his mechanics and his results since the All-Star break.

      Twins manager Derek Shelton said Ryan’s throwing session was a positive development.

      “I had a brief but very good conversation with him,” Shelton said. “I think we’re going to just have to see how it continues to progress. But the fact that he’s out there throwing is a very encouraging sign. It was flat ground, but he was still playing catch.”

      Ryan is not eligible to return from the injured list until August 20, but the Twins don't appear interested in treating that date as a target. Instead, the organization wants to see how Ryan responds as he progresses through his throwing program.

      Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll echoed Shelton’s optimism while emphasizing the importance of taking a measured approach.

      “We want to make sure we don't try to push him along, and end up on this spiral or hamster wheel,” Zoll said. “We're trying to thread the needle on not having him down too long, so it doesn't require too long of a buildup (to return). But we also want to make sure everything is resolved.”

      That last part is especially important. Ryan hasn't simply been dealing with the glute strain. He has also experienced tightness in his back, and the combination disrupted his mechanics. Once those mechanics became compromised, his performance took a significant downturn.

      Ryan went 0-3 with a 9.39 ERA across three starts following the All-Star break before landing on the injured list. The Twins don't want to see him return simply because he is technically healthy enough to pitch. They need him to feel like himself again.

      “We have to start with that to make sure he feels like that's resolved before being able to progress,” Zoll said. “Obviously these things work all in conjunction. If you feel off physically, it can impact you mechanically and performance-wise. ... First and foremost, we want to get him feeling symptom free to be able to progress.”

      That approach makes sense for a pitcher Minnesota cannot afford to get wrong. Ryan is one of the most important pieces of the Twins' rotation, and his importance only increases as the club tries to remain in the American League playoff picture. Minnesota has already made additions to its pitching staff, but replacing a healthy version of Ryan over the long term is not something the organization can realistically expect to do.

      The good news is that Monday's throwing session represents progress. The bad news is that it is only one step. Ryan still needs to progress to throwing off a mound, build his workload back up and demonstrate that the physical issues that disrupted his mechanics have been resolved. The Twins will need to balance urgency with patience, particularly with the season entering its most important stretch.

      If the Twins are going to stay in the playoff hunt, they need their All-Star starter back. More importantly, they need him back healthy and pitching like the version of Joe Ryan they know he can be. Monday provided a reason for optimism, but the next few weeks will determine whether that optimism turns into a meaningful return.

       

      Cody Christie

      Fresh off what has arguably been the most successful World Baseball Classic to date, Rob Manfred is already looking at ways to adjust the event’s future. That instinct is understandable given the tournament’s rapid growth, but it also raises a familiar question. Why fix something that is clearly working?

      Appearing on The Dan Patrick Show to discuss the beginning of the 2026 MLB season, Manfred was asked whether the WBC could become a more frequent event. His answer made it clear that Major League Baseball is seriously considering changes to the tournament’s cadence.

      “We’re gonna have a meeting on the WBC, which we always do after it is completed. I think the event was so successful this time that we need to talk about frequency, regularity of schedule,” Manfred said. “It’s one thing to not to do it every year, our problem because of COVID, labor negotiations, whatever, you can’t even say it’s every four years. It hasn’t been. Given how popular it is, we need to get into a regular rotation.”

      The desire for consistency is not unreasonable. Since its debut in 2006, the World Baseball Classic has never truly settled into a rhythm. It began on a three-year cycle before shifting to four years, only to see that plan disrupted by a six-year gap following 2017 due to the pandemic. When the tournament finally returned in 2023, it delivered one of the most iconic moments with a Japan versus the United States championship for the ages. That game alone proved the event had evolved far beyond exhibition status.

      By the time the 2026 tournament wrapped up, the momentum had only grown. Television ratings climbed, global interest surged, and the overall product felt bigger than ever. Fans were invested, players were all in, and the atmosphere carried a level of intensity that even October baseball sometimes struggles to match.

      That is exactly why Major League Baseball should proceed with caution. Manfred is correct in identifying the need for a clear and predictable schedule. A defined rotation benefits fans trying to plan around the event and gives broadcast partners something concrete to build around in future media negotiations. It is difficult to maximize value when networks are unsure when the next tournament will take place.

      However, consistency does not have to mean increased frequency. There has already been discussion of experimenting with more dramatic changes, including moving the WBC to the middle of the MLB season. That concept feels misguided. Players already balance a demanding 162-game schedule, and the mid-summer break serves a purpose. Asking them to replace rest with high-intensity international competition risks diminishing participation, which is the lifeblood of the tournament.

      Even a small adjustment, such as shifting to a two-year cycle, could have unintended consequences. Part of what makes the World Baseball Classic special is its rarity. When players know the opportunity only comes around every few years, the urgency is real. National pride carries more weight. The stakes feel higher. If the event becomes more frequent, that edge could soften.

      The World Baseball Classic absolutely needs structure. The past two decades have proven that a floating timeline creates confusion and limits its long-term growth. But structure does not require reinvention.

      Baseball finally has something that captures global attention in a meaningful way. The solution is not to tinker with its foundation, but to solidify it.

      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.

       

      Cody Christie

      The Twins have spent much of the 2026 season searching for answers in the bullpen. On Monday, they added another intriguing arm to the mix, acquiring right-handed reliever Taylor Rashi from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for cash considerations.

      Minnesota had room on its 40-man roster after designating outfielder James Outman for assignment over the weekend, making the move relatively simple from a roster-management standpoint. Rashi also has minor league options remaining, giving the Twins flexibility to stash him at Triple-A St. Paul while evaluating whether he can become a contributor at the major league level.

      The move fits a familiar pattern. Rather than investing heavily in relief pitching, the Twins have spent the season collecting arms with intriguing traits and hoping one or two emerge as reliable options. Earlier additions such as Yoendrys Gómez and Justin Lawrence followed a similar blueprint. Minnesota's front office has taken a quantity-over-certainty approach after dismantling much of its bullpen depth at last year's trade deadline.

      Rashi is the latest name to join that list. At 30 years old, he isn't a traditional prospect, but he has shown enough flashes to warrant attention. Over parts of the last two seasons, Rashi has appeared in 13 major league games, posting a 5.40 ERA while striking out nearly 30% of opposing hitters across 20 innings. The results have been uneven, but the ability to miss bats has remained consistent.

      His work at Triple-A Reno this season has been far more impressive. Rashi owns a sparkling 1.03 ERA in 26 1/3 innings while holding opposing hitters in check throughout the year. He has paired that success with a solid 25.5% strikeout rate, though his tendency to issue walks remains a concern after posting a walk rate near 12%.

      Those command issues, combined with a lack of overpowering velocity, likely explain why Arizona was willing to part ways with him despite dealing with its own bullpen challenges. Rashi's fastball typically sits around 91 mph, well below the league average for modern relievers. Instead of relying on velocity, he attacks hitters with a deep secondary mix that includes a slider, curveball, and splitter.

      For the Twins, the appeal is easy to understand. Minnesota's bullpen has struggled for much of the season and currently ranks among baseball's least effective groups in ERA. While the relief corps has shown improvement during the past month, the underlying numbers still reveal concerns. The Twins continue to battle one of the highest walk rates in the league, creating frequent traffic on the bases and placing additional stress on the pitching staff.

      Recent success stories such as Gómez and Anthony Banda have demonstrated that imperfect relievers can still provide value when deployed correctly. The Twins have leaned heavily into matchup-based bullpen management, searching for favorable situations rather than relying on established late-inning options.

      Rashi now becomes the newest candidate in that experiment. The acquisition is unlikely to generate headlines, and there is no guarantee he ever throws a meaningful inning at Target Field. However, teams rarely build bullpens through blockbuster moves alone. Sometimes a successful relief unit is assembled through a series of small transactions that uncover unexpected contributors.

      The Twins are hoping Rashi becomes the next name on that list.

       

      Cody Christie

      Every franchise wants to believe it has been among baseball’s elite over the last quarter-century. A new set of rankings from The Athletic attempts to answer that question by putting a number on sustained success across Major League Baseball.

      Each year, the publication releases its MLB Franchise Rankings, measuring how teams have performed over the last 25 seasons. The system rewards postseason success while also accounting for division titles and long stretches of losing seasons. It is designed to measure consistency rather than simply rewarding a single championship window.

      The Athletic’s formula, adapted from Bob Sturm’s football system, fits baseball’s postseason: nine points for a World Series win, six for runner-up, three for losing in the Championship Series, two for Division Series, one for Wild Card loss. Additional adjustments include a point for division titles and a deduction for consecutive 90-loss seasons.

      Unlike many rankings that focus on recent performance, this system does not give extra weight to the most recent seasons. The goal is to capture the entire 25-year stretch from 2001 through today and determine which franchises have consistently found ways to stay competitive.

      Twins Land at No. 14
      Minnesota ranked 14th overall with 25 total points over the 25-year period. That position places them in the top half of baseball but just barely, reflecting a franchise that has experienced bursts of success mixed with frustrating postseason outcomes.

      Within the American League, only six teams ranked higher than Minnesota. The teams ahead of the Twins include the New York Yankees at second overall, the Boston Red Sox at fourth, and the Houston Astros at fifth. Those franchises have combined for multiple championships and deep playoff runs during the ranking period. A few more familiar American League rivals also finished ahead of Minnesota. The Cleveland Guardians ranked tenth, the Texas Rangers placed eleventh, and the Los Angeles Angels came in twelfth.

      For Twins fans, the ranking feels both fair and frustrating. Minnesota has been competitive in several stretches over the last two decades, but postseason success has been harder to come by. A few deeper October runs could have pushed the franchise comfortably into the top ten.

      A Steady Climb in Recent Years
      Even though the Twins sit in the middle of the pack today, the trend line has been moving in the right direction. The franchise ranked 14th in 2025 with 24 points. In 2024, Minnesota ranked 15th overall with 22 points. The year before that, they were down at 17th with 19 points. Just a short time ago, the franchise was much closer to the bottom half of baseball.

      The biggest jump came between 2022 and 2023. In the 2022 rankings, the Twins placed 22nd with only 11 points. At that point, the organization was still feeling the impact of several losing seasons and limited postseason success during the ranking window. Since then, the club has slowly climbed back toward the middle of the league. It is not a dramatic rise, but it shows that recent competitive seasons have helped stabilize Minnesota’s standing.

      What Comes Next
      While the recent climb is encouraging, these rankings may soon be challenging for the Twins. The system uses a rolling 25-year window, so Minnesota’s best seasons from the early 2000s will eventually drop out. When those years fall off, the Twins could lose points that now keep them mid-standings. The team will need new postseason appearances and division titles to maintain or boost its position.

      Fortunately for Minnesota, the path to those points might not be overly complicated. The American League Central has frequently been one of baseball’s most competitive but unpredictable divisions. No team has completely dominated the division in recent seasons, leaving opportunities for a club that gets hot at the right time.

      For now, the latest rankings paint a clear picture of the franchise over the last quarter-century. The Twins have not been among baseball’s true powerhouses, but they also have not fallen into the category of long-term struggling organizations. Instead, Minnesota sits right where the numbers say it belongs. Solid, competitive, and still searching for the October breakthrough that could change the entire conversation.

      Cody Christie

      Rick Renick, a former Minnesota Twins player and a key member of the coaching staff during the franchise’s first World Series championship, died Saturday, January 31, at the age of 81. Renick was living in Sarasota, Florida, at the time of his passing. His baseball life touched the Twins organization across multiple generations.

      Renick’s connection to Minnesota began on the field. Signed out of Ohio State University in 1964, he climbed the Twins minor league system and made his major league debut on July 11, 1968, at Metropolitan Stadium. The assignment was not an easy one, as he faced Detroit Tigers left-hander Mickey Lolich, who had led the American League in shutouts the previous season. Renick responded in memorable fashion, homering in his first major league at-bat and becoming the first Twins player to do so.

      Primarily a third baseman and left fielder, Renick played five seasons with the Twins from 1968 through 1972, appearing in 276 games. He finished his Twins career as a .221 hitter with 20 home runs and 71 RBI, and his best season came in 1970 when he set career highs with seven home runs, 25 RBI, 81 games played, and a .708 OPS. That season also coincided with a division title, giving Renick his first taste of an AL West championship.

      By 1973, Renick’s playing days in the majors had come to an end, but baseball was far from done with him. He transitioned into coaching, first as a coach in the Twins farm system before moving on to a long and winding second career that included stops with the Kansas City Royals, Montreal Expos, Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Florida Marlins. Along the way, he also managed nine seasons in the minor leagues and earned American Association Manager of the Year honors twice at Triple-A Nashville.

      Renick’s most enduring legacy in Minnesota came in 1987. After Ray Miller was fired late in the 1986 season, Tom Kelly took over as interim manager and was later retained for the following year. When assembling his staff, Kelly passed over ownership’s preferred candidate and instead chose Renick, his former minor league teammate who was then working in the Expos organization. Renick became the lone new coach on the staff, taking over duties at third base.

      The Twins defied expectations and captured their first division title since 1970, the last time Renick himself had been part of a championship team in Minnesota.

      The magic did not stop there. Minnesota went on to defeat the Detroit Tigers in the American League Championship Series and then beat the St. Louis Cardinals to secure the first World Series title in franchise history. Renick’s aggressive instincts at third base and his work with hitters were part of a coaching staff that maximized a roster few believed could reach that height.

      Renick remained with the Twins through the 1990 season, but after a last-place finish that year, he was let go by General Manager Andy MacPhail. He declined an opportunity to stay in the organization at the minor league level and instead continued his career elsewhere, returning to the majors in various roles through 2002.

      In total, Renick spent 13 seasons as a major league coach and left an imprint on multiple organizations. Still, his place in Twins history is unique. He was there for two AL West titles separated by 17 years, first as an underestimated utility player and later as a trusted voice on a championship coaching staff.

      Renick is survived by three sons, including Josh Renick , who was drafted by the Twins in 2001 and later played for the St. Paul Saints. His wife, Libby, passed away last March at the age of 80. For the Twins, Renick will be remembered as someone who helped guide one of the most improbable and beloved teams in franchise history to the top of the baseball world.

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