The Twins have added another arm to the organizational mix, agreeing to a minor-league deal with right-handed reliever Jose Espada, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman.
Espada brings a long track record of grinding through pro ball and a brief big-league résumé. Over three major-league seasons, he has thrown five scoreless innings. The 29-year-old also pitched for Team Puerto Rico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, where he allowed one unearned run on two hits and two walks in 2 2/3 innings across two outings while striking out two.
Minnesota is getting a pitcher who leans on three offerings: a low-80s slider, a low-to-mid 90s four-seamer and a low-to-mid 90s splitter. This season at Triple-A Norfolk, Espada put up a 2.77 ERA with 50 strikeouts and 28 walks in 48 2/3 innings.
His path to the Twins has been anything but direct. Toronto drafted him in the fifth round in 2015 out of Jose Collazo Colon High School in Juncos, Puerto Rico. The Blue Jays later lost him on waivers to Boston in the 2019-20 offseason, and he stayed in the Red Sox system through 2021 before choosing free agency.
Espada opened the 2022 season in independent ball, then signed with the Padres in July of that year. He reached the majors with San Diego in 2023.
The Padres released him during the 2025 season, and he then landed a minor-league deal with the Orioles. Baltimore used him once in 2025 and once again in 2026.
Across his minor-league career, Espada has logged a 3.90 ERA with 551 strikeouts and 200 walks in 478 innings.
For now, the move looks like pure bullpen insurance. Espada’s chances of making Minnesota’s Opening Day roster are described as low because of his limited big-league experience, but he could still surface in the Twins’ bullpen later if the club needs a fresh arm. That’s the kind of role this signing appears built for.
If he does break camp with the team, it would point to either an underwhelming offseason effort to upgrade the bullpen or injuries piling up during spring training. Either way, the expectation is clear: Espada is depth, not a pitcher Minnesota should be leaning on often in the majors.
There’s also the broader wrinkle of the looming Dec. 1 lockout. If it stretches into the regular season, Espada would still be able to pitch in the minors.
And if MLB games are canceled, the minor-league season would still go on. The source notes that many believe the lockout could wipe out games because owners want a salary cap and the players have said they won’t accept one.
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