The Twins’ bullpen is in a far better place than it was a year ago, and that alone changes the conversation heading into 2027. Last offseason, Minnesota watched five relievers get dealt away at the 2025 trade deadline, then didn’t do much to patch the holes. The result was a unit that spent much of the year looking like one of the weakest in baseball.
This time, there’s real reason for optimism. Young pitchers have stepped forward, the trade deadline brought in help, and after the Aug. 3 deadline, Minnesota’s bullpen ranked eighth in FIP at 3.75.
Even so, the work is far from done. A.J.
Minter and Taylor Rogers are both set to hit free agency, and the Twins are expected to add more relief help before Opening Day. So the current picture is only a starting point.
Right now, the arms that look safest for the 2027 bullpen are RHP Yoendrys Gómez, RHP Jeff Hoffman, RHP Andrew Morris, RHP Tommy Nance, LHP Anthony Banda and RHP Cole Sands.
Behind that group, the competition gets crowded fast. RHP David Festa, RHP Garrett Acton, RHP Travis Adams, RHP Jack Anderson, LHP Kody Funderburk, RHP Eric Orze and RHP Marco Raya are all in the mix for the final spots.
There are a couple of other names worth watching, too. Kendry Rojas could factor into the bullpen conversation, but since he finished the season in the St.
Paul Saints’ rotation, Minnesota appears to want him starting next year. If Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober leave this offseason, Rojas could have a path to the 26-man roster as a starter.
Zebby Matthews is another possible relief option, especially because his stuff could fit well in shorter outings even though he has struggled as a major league starter.
Minter, though, stands out as the obvious name the Twins should try hardest to keep. Minnesota got him from the New York Mets at the trade deadline, and he made an immediate impact with a 2.78 ERA and 21 strikeouts over 22 2/3 innings. He also brings 10 years of big-league experience and a World Series ring.
If the Twins want to chase bigger names, David Bednar of the New York Yankees and Raisel Iglesias of the Atlanta Braves are two more relievers to watch. Both are proven late-inning options, and Tom Pohlad has said he is ready to provide the front office with the financial resources it needs to compete next year.
Bednar, who is in his early 30s, would likely be looking for at least a four-year deal. Iglesias, who is nearing his late 30s, might be more likely to settle for a one- or two-year contract.
This season, Bednar posted a 2.47 ERA with 35 saves and 76 strikeouts over 69 1/3 innings. Iglesias finished with a 2.55 ERA, 34 saves and 64 strikeouts over 60 innings.
In Other News...
Twins Roster Shift Could Put Josh Bell In A Tough Spot
The Twins are starting to think long term with Luke Keaschall, and that has a ripple effect well beyond one lineup spot. If the young outfielder develops the way the organization hopes, he could settle in as a future leadoff hitter and a regular in the outfield, giving Minnesota a player to build around at the top of the order and in the field.
Josh Bell, meanwhile, could wind up squeezed by the numbers. With several outfielders and prospects competing for playing time, the roster is getting crowded fast, and Bells value comes mostly as a designated hitter. In a setup like that, there may not be enough room to bring him back, which makes his situation one of the quieter but more interesting questions hanging over the Twins offseason plans. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Face Tough 2027 Calls On Several Familiar Names
The Twins are already staring at a busy arbitration picture for 2027, and MLB Trade Rumors latest projections put a familiar group of names in the spotlight. The list spans 10 players, with the analysis pointing toward likely stays for pieces such as Anthony Banda, Dean Kremer, Taj Bradley and Kody Clemens while sorting out the rest of the group by projected salary and recent performance.
For Minnesota, the more interesting part may be the names that sit closer to the trade or non-tender line. Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober and Royce Lewis are among the players the projections flag as more complicated decisions, which gives the front office another reminder that roster building in the years ahead will not be simple even for a club trying to keep its core intact. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Face A Roster Defining First Base Decision This Offseason
The Twins are heading into an offseason where first base looks like one of the clearest spots for change, and the conversation starts with Royce Lewis. His underperformance has left Minnesota without the middle-of-the-order production it hoped to get from that spot, which is why the search has expanded beyond simple internal fixes. The market offers a few different paths, from established bats to younger players who could be available in a trade, but none of them comes with an easy answer.
Yandy Daz, Alec Burleson, Spencer Steer, Triston Casas and Ryan Mountcastle all surface as possible fits, each with a different mix of upside and availability. Minnesota is also said to be open to dealing from its pitching depth in order to land an impact bat, a sign that this could become more than a routine offseason tweak. The complication is that the free-agent class at first base is viewed as thin, which could push the Twins toward a trade if they want real change rather than another stopgap. [Read more 🡒]