The Twins traded for an infielder Edouard Julien and the right hand Pierson Ohl to the Rockies, according to announcements from both clubs. A minor league right fielder Jace Kaminska and the consideration of money to the twins. The Rockies cleared two 40-man spots earlier today via trade Angel Chivilli to the Yankees and the pick Yanquiel Fernandez by share. Ohl was already out of this 40 man because he was selected for the job last week. Trading Julien drops Minnesota’s number to 39, as Kaminska is not needed anywhere.
Julien, 27 in April, has shown flashes of strength in a way that has three true consequences. His best game was in his first season with the Twins in 2023. He struck out 31.4% of 408 plate appearances but also drew walks at a huge 15.7% clip and hit 16 home runs. Even with all the punchouts, his .263/.381/.459 batting line resulted in a 134 wRC+, which is 34% better than the league average.
Most of that damage came with a platoon advantage, as he had a terrible .196/.229/.217 line against lefties, but it was still enough to finish seventh in the American League Rookie of the Year voting and promote a troubadour.
However, he hasn’t been at that level since. He has 509 plate appearances over the past two seasons with just 11 home runs. His 10.8% walk rate is still above average but not international, while his strikeout rate remains high at 32%. That led to a combined .208/.299/.324 line and a 79 wRC+ for that span. Julien has experience at second and first base but isn’t a strong outfielder at either position, which made the depleted offense more of a problem.
As he struggled, the twins often sent him to the children. He still hit well down there, with a .261/.406/.440 line and 125 wRC+ in Triple-A over the past two years, but he sapped his option seasons in the process. That would put him on the edge of the list going forward. The twins signed Josh Bell playing first base and it seems possible to give Luke Keachall run a second time. They have it Austin Martin, Eric Wagaman again Tristan Grey and in the mix.
Julien’s style of play in Colorado is much better. The Rockies don’t really have a clear option for first base or second base. First, the claim of abandonment Troy Johnston it’s the other way around but he only has 44 games of big league experience and could still be optioned to the minors. The Rockies just arrived TJ Rumfield in the Chivilli trade today but doesn’t yet have a roster spot or major league experience.
Since Julien is not a great defender, he will be better at starting. But if the Rockies are serious about playing him at the plate, there isn’t much in the way. The Rockies probably want to give him playing time Adael Amador but he has a .176/.242/.250 line in his career so far and could still be picked in the minors. Ryan Ritter is in the same situation. Willi Castro it can jump to other places.
Julien may play both positions, with each of his playing time determined by which other players on the roster are healthy and productive. He can be controlled for four full seasons, so the Rockies can keep him around if he returns to his 2023 form.
It also shouldn’t come as a shock if Julien ends up being traded again before those four years are up. Colorado has lost at least 101 games three years running, including a worst 43-119 season in 2025. That led to a reorganization of the organization, with Paul DePodesta taking over as the new leader of the office. It is likely that the party’s decision-makers do not expect to return to contention in the short term.
But it seems that they see the importance of buying low on the edges of other programs. Earlier this winter, the Rockies found out Jake McCarthy from the Diamondbacks. Like Julien, he has made the big leagues but is coming off a down year. With him out of power, the Snakes were going to have a hard time keeping him on the roster. The Rockies got him and his remaining three years of control. Since it will be difficult for Colorado to be good again in that window, the obvious hope is that McCarthy goes back and can be traded after some rebuilding. Julien is controlled one season longer than McCarthy but the conditions are the same.
As for Ohl, 26, he’s in a different boat. He made his major league debut last year and has 30 big league innings under his belt with a 5.10 earned run average. He can be controlled for six full seasons and has a full range of options, so he can be kept from children or closed up and down regularly.
He doesn’t throw particularly hard, averaging about 92 miles per hour with his four-seamer last year, but he has the interesting combination of having solid control over a diverse arsenal. He threw mostly four-seamers and a changeup last year but also mixed in a cutter, sinker, curveball and even a knuckleball. He threw 71 1/3 innings at multiple farm levels last year, making six starts and 18 relief appearances, with a 2.40 ERA, a 30.3% strikeout rate and a 3.9% walk rate.
The Rockies need to pitch more than any other team. Their collective 5.99 ERA was the worst in the majors last year. Since Ohl has experience starting and relieving, and has options, he can move around depending on the team’s needs. The Rockies probably want to give starts to young pitchers Chase the Dollar, McCade Brown again Carson Palmquist but Ohl can step up if those guys struggle or need more time in the minors. He can also eat innings out of the bullpen or hidden in the minors as a depth.
While those are impressive figures for the Rockies, the Twins probably feel they are giving up too many of their tight ends. As mentioned, Ohl had already been chosen for the assignment, while Julien had run out of options.
In return, they get a pittance and an unplanned death. Kaminska, 24, was a 2023 tenth-round pick of the Rockies. He never appeared on the top prospect list but has had good numbers the last few years. In 2024, he pitched 87 1/3 innings in Single-A with a 2.78 ERA, 29.5% strikeout rate and 3.4% walk rate. He required Tommy John surgery in March of 2025 and missed the entire season. The Twins will try to get him back on track whenever he’s healthy. He will be eligible for the Rule 5 draft in December of 2026 if he is not added to the 40-man roster.
Photo courtesy of Ken Blaze, Nick Wosika, Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images
