Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said last week after reuniting with the lefty Taylor Rogers that the next bullpen additions may be on the horizon. Executive chairman Tom Pohlad was more specific over the weekend, telling fans at the team’s annual TwinsFest event (link via Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune):
“Yeah, we’re going to keep going, the clock doesn’t stop until Opening Day, right? [Falvey] again [GM Jeremy Zoll] you have a history of adding pieces late. I am sure you will continue to see that. We know we have to continue to improve the bullpen.”
Minnesota’s current payroll of $108MM remains about $30MM higher than last year’s figure. The team has made no secret of its plans to shed salary after sitting between $130-160MM per season from 2022-25, but there is room to shed one or two while still keeping the 2026 figure below the levels we’ve seen the past four seasons. Even with additions seemingly imminent, Falvey indicated last week that the Twins will rely on young, inexperienced pitchers to step up and establish themselves as viable bullpen options this coming season.
Entering the season, the Twins have four Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan again Bailey Ober confined to rotational positions. Simeon Woods Richardson out of minor league fees and pitching well in 2025 after minor cuts; he finished the year with a 4.04 ERA in 111 1/3 frames but was much sharper when he returned from Triple-A. In his final 14 starts of the season, Woods Richardson went 69 innings with a 3.00 ERA (4.16 FIP, 4.37 SIERA), a 24.4% strikeout rate and a 10.4% walk rate. That finish and his lack of minor league options make him the clear favorite at fourth on the staff.
Fifth place will likely be a battle of several promising young arms. Right-handed Hello Bradley, Mick Abel, David Festa again Zebby Matthews they are all in the mix of that opening. All four were ranked among the game’s top 100 prospects before their MLB debuts. All four showed success but also failed. Bradley has one minor league option remaining. The other three all have a pair of options left. Any of that quartet could emerge as a bullpen option, too, as is likely Connor Prielipp again Marco Raya.
At the moment, Rogers is the most experienced arm and the de facto backup favorite, but the next addition could push him further down. The 35-year-old southpaw was an All-Star closer in Minnesota back in 2021 but has struggled over the past two seasons amid a decline in his fastball and slider.
Reuniting with the twins was something Rogers was pushing for, it seems. The left-hander told the Twins beat that he instructed his supervisors at Frontline Athlete Management to make it clear to Minnesota’s front office at the Winter Meetings that he would be open to a reunion (link via MLB.com’s Matthew Leach). That didn’t lead to an immediate deal, but the Twins contacted Rogers’ camp again in January and the deal came together within days. Appointing new manager Derek Shelton, predecessor Rocco Baldelli‘Bench coach for a few years when Rogers was playing for the Twins, it was a big deal.
“I told Shelty on the phone that if he runs a team in Fargo, North Dakota, I would like to go there,” said Rogers. “It’s the same as an opportunity to work with [new bullpen coach LaTroy Hawkins].”
On the position player side of the roster, the Twins could shake up a top second baseman Luke Keachall around the diamond a little more this season. The former second-round pick and top prospect underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024, and Minnesota kept him at second base and DH this past season. Dan Hayes of The Athletic writes that now that Keaschall is more than 16 months removed from surgery on his throwing arm, he is more confident in his throws and his power is improving. Keachall played center in the minors and left the field in college and summer ball before being drafted.
The 23-year-old Keaschall had a breakout season for the Twins. He made his major league debut in mid-April and slashed .302 / .385 / .445 with four home runs, 14 doubles, 14 stolen bases (in 17 attempts), a 9.2% walk rate and just a 14% strikeout rate in 207 trips to the plate. If he hadn’t broken his arm in late May and been on the shelf in early August, it’s not unreasonable to think that Keachall might have been in the running for Rookie of the Year in the American League.
Minnesota Stadium currently has Byron Buxton locked in the center. He will be flanked by a combination of Matt Wallner, Alan Roden, Trevor Larnach again Austin Martin. Roden, Wallner and especially Larnach will benefit from platoon partners on the right. Martin is another way to fill that role, and if Keachall looks comfortable on the grass during spring training, he could add to that team as well. Hopes are high Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez again Gabriel Gonzalez they can all play at some point this season too; the first two are left-handed bowlers, while the latter bat from the right. Wherever Keaschall lines up defensively, his bat will always be on the line based on last year’s strong rookie showing and his minor league record (.294/.411/.458 over three seasons).
