The Twins made a move to bolster a thin bullpen on Monday, acquiring veteran left-hander Anthony Banda from the Dodgers in exchange for $500,000 in international bonus pool space. It’s a low-risk, potentially high-reward deal for Minnesota, which continues to reshape its relief corps after last summer’s fire sale.
Let’s break it down.
Banda Brings Experience-and a Live Arm
Banda, 32, was designated for assignment by the Dodgers last week, but don’t let that fool you-he’s still got plenty to offer. Since joining L.A. early in the 2024 season, Banda turned into a dependable piece out of the bullpen for Dave Roberts.
Over the past two seasons, he pitched 114 2/3 innings with a 3.14 ERA, a solid 23.3% strikeout rate, and a respectable 41.6% ground-ball rate. His walk rate crept up to 10.9%, but he kept hitters off balance with a fastball that averaged 96 mph and a 13.2% swinging-strike rate-numbers that suggest he’s capable of missing more bats than his strikeout totals show.
He also logged 19 holds and a pair of saves in that span, proving he can handle leverage when called upon.
Still, 2025 wasn’t quite as sharp as 2024. Banda’s strikeout rate dipped slightly, and his walk rate jumped from 8.6% to 12.7%.
Despite that, he still managed a 3.18 ERA over a career-high 65 innings. The Dodgers, deep in bullpen options and always looking to optimize the margins, decided to move on from his $1.625 million salary.
A Fit in Minnesota’s Rebuilt Bullpen
For the Twins, Banda is more than just a depth piece-he could be a key late-inning option. Minnesota tore down what was once one of the league’s best bullpens at last year’s deadline, dealing away Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Louis Varland, Brock Stewart, and Danny Coulombe. That left a group in need of both experience and stability.
Banda brings both.
He also reunites with manager Derek Shelton, who managed him back in Pittsburgh during the 2021-22 seasons. That familiarity could help fast-track his comfort level in a new clubhouse-and possibly earn him trust in high-leverage situations right out of the gate.
And the Twins aren’t just thinking short-term here. Banda comes with team control through the 2027 season, thanks to his 4.135 years of MLB service time.
He’ll be arbitration-eligible next winter, but even a strong season in 2026 won’t make him prohibitively expensive. For a team that’s been focused on affordable, controllable talent, this is a savvy pickup.
The Current Bullpen Picture
Banda joins a group that includes Taylor Rogers, Justin Topa, and Cole Sands as the only relievers on the roster with more than three years of big league experience. The Twins also added righty Eric Orze in a smaller deal with the Rays earlier in the offseason and got strong late-season work from lefty Kody Funderburk, who posted a 0.75 ERA and a 28-to-10 K/BB ratio over 24 innings after the trade deadline.
There’s also some veteran upside in camp. Liam Hendriks and Julian Merryweather both signed minor league deals just yesterday and could be factors if they prove healthy and effective. Plus, with a crowded rotation picture, some young starters could shift into bullpen roles if they don’t crack the starting five.
Pablo López, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, and Simeon Woods Richardson (who’s out of minor league options) are the likely rotation locks. Behind them, former top prospects Taj Bradley, David Festa, Zebby Matthews, and Mick Abel are all in the mix for the fifth spot-or a bullpen role if they don’t win it.
Twins GM Jeremy Zoll has been actively looking for bullpen help throughout camp, and this move signals that the front office sees Banda as more than just a stopgap.
The Jackson Kowar Roster Shuffle
To make room for Banda on the 40-man roster, the Twins designated right-hander Jackson Kowar for assignment. Kowar, 29, had just arrived via waivers from the Mariners eight days ago. Once a top prospect and first-round pick out of Florida, Kowar has struggled to find his footing in the majors, posting an 8.21 ERA over 91 career innings between Kansas City and Seattle.
That said, he still throws upper-90s heat and has flashed bat-missing potential. He had a 4.24 ERA in 17 innings with the Mariners last year and a 2.81 ERA in 16 Triple-A innings. But command issues and hard contact have been persistent problems.
Kowar is out of minor league options, so if he clears waivers, the Twins could stash him as depth in the upper minors. Otherwise, another team could take a flier on his arm, but they’d need to keep him on their 40-man roster or risk losing him again.
Either way, we’ll know his fate soon-waivers are a 48-hour process, and the Twins have five days to trade him.
Bottom Line
This is a smart, low-cost move for a Twins team that’s still piecing together its bullpen puzzle. Banda isn’t a game-changer, but he’s a proven big leaguer with high-leverage experience, a live arm, and team control through 2027. In a bullpen that’s short on veterans and long on question marks, that kind of stability matters.
The Dodgers had the depth to let him go. The Twins didn’t-and they may have just found a key piece for their 2026 bullpen in the process.