A handful of former Twins from the 2026 Opening Day roster are already trying to find their footing in new places, and the early returns have been mixed.
James Outman is now with the Tigers after Detroit claimed him off waivers from Minnesota about a month ago. His time with the Twins never got going offensively - he hit .156/.229/.250 with no home runs and three RBI in 70 plate appearances across 49 games - and he hasn’t exactly taken off in Detroit either.
Outman is batting .148/.212/.328 in 66 plate appearances for the Tigers, but he has at least brought some pop with three home runs. He’s also been especially effective against lefties, going 5-for-8 with one home run, one triple, two walks and six RBI.
With Parker Meadows and Javier Báez dealing with injuries, Outman has been Detroit’s primary center fielder since arriving.
Justin Topa’s path has been even more winding. The Twins designated him for assignment on May 19 and released him four days later after he put up an 8.05 ERA over 19 innings.
He caught on with the Blue Jays on a minor-league deal in late May, but Toronto let him go on July 4. Three days later, he landed with the Royals on another minor-league contract.
Topa threw eight innings over eight outings for Toronto’s Triple-A club, giving up four runs, three earned, on 11 hits and three walks while striking out four. He has since made two appearances for the Omaha Storm Chasers, working three scoreless innings with three hits, one walk and one strikeout allowed.
Simeon Woods Richardson also moved on from Minnesota after a rough stretch. The right-hander, who had been a solid back-end rotation piece over the previous two seasons, struggled to a 7.74 ERA in 47 2/3 innings this year, which led the Twins to designate him for assignment in late May.
Minnesota then traded him to Toronto for cash in early June. Woods Richardson responded with 10 scoreless innings for the Blue Jays before being designated for assignment again and outrighted to Triple-A Buffalo.
Since then, things have gone sideways in the minors: in two starts with the Bisons, he has allowed eight earned runs on 14 hits, including five home runs, plus three walks over eight innings.
Zak Kent has also bounced around. Minnesota claimed him off waivers from the Cardinals in late February, and he made only two appearances for the Twins, allowing five runs, two earned, on four hits and five walks in 3 2/3 innings before being optioned to Triple-A St.
Paul in early April. The Twins designated him for assignment in late April.
Kent is now with Triple-A Rochester, where he has a 4.86 ERA in 16 2/3 innings. He has also logged 10 2/3 innings with the Nationals, posting a 6.75 ERA with nine strikeouts and two walks.
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Buxton, though, made it clear where he stands on the matter, and that matters more than any rumor mill buzz. For Minnesota, it is another reminder that the conversation around its most dynamic player may be louder outside the clubhouse than inside it, while the Phillies may have to turn their attention to other options if they want to upgrade that part of the roster. [Read more 🡒]