The Minnesota Twins have already started reshaping their bullpen this offseason, bringing in veteran right-hander Matt Bowman on a minor league deal. At 34, Bowman’s experience and pitch mix make him an intriguing depth piece, and there’s reason to believe he could bounce back in 2026. But if Minnesota is serious about fortifying its relief corps for Opening Day, they’re going to need more than just upside in Triple-A-they need a proven big-league arm.
Enter Michael Kopech.
Kopech, the former Dodgers fireballer and 2024 World Series hero, is still on the free-agent market. And at this stage of the offseason, he might be the best right-handed reliever still available.
Yes, there are injury concerns-there always have been with Kopech-but when he’s healthy, he’s a legitimate difference-maker out of the bullpen. For a Twins team looking to round out its relief unit with swing-and-miss stuff and postseason experience, Kopech checks a lot of boxes.
Let’s rewind for a moment. Kopech’s 2025 season was cut short by a torn meniscus and knee inflammation, limiting him to just 14 appearances with Los Angeles.
He missed the postseason entirely, but in the 11 innings he did pitch, he posted a 2.45 ERA with 12 strikeouts-though the 13 walks were a red flag. Still, the stuff was there, and that’s what makes Kopech so intriguing.
This isn’t a one-year flash of potential, either. Kopech’s career has been a rollercoaster since his debut with the White Sox in 2018.
He missed all of 2019 recovering from Tommy John surgery and sat out the shortened 2020 season during the pandemic. But when he’s been on the mound, the talent has always been evident.
It wasn’t until 2024 that Kopech made a full-time move to the bullpen, and that’s when things started to click. While his numbers with the White Sox that season were uneven-4.74 ERA over 43 2/3 innings-he turned a corner after being traded to the Dodgers in a three-team deal that also involved the Cardinals.
Once in L.A., Kopech became one of the most electric arms in the league, allowing just three earned runs over 24 regular-season innings while striking out 29. He followed that up with a 3.00 ERA and 10 punchouts in nine postseason innings, helping the Dodgers capture their first title since 2020.
That version of Kopech-the one with a high-90s fastball, a sharp cutter, and the ability to dominate in October-is exactly what the Twins could use.
In 2025, Kopech leaned heavily on his four-seamer, throwing it 82.7% of the time, while mixing in a cutter (16.5%) and the occasional changeup. The fastball still plays at the big-league level, and when his command is dialed in, he’s tough to square up. The control issues are real, but that’s part of the package-high risk, high reward.
From a roster-building standpoint, the timing makes sense for Minnesota. Kopech is likely looking for a one-year deal to reestablish his value before hitting the market again next winter.
That’s a gamble the Twins should be willing to take. They might have to outbid a few teams to lure him to Target Field, but the upside justifies the investment.
If he stays healthy and returns to form, he could be a high-leverage weapon in the late innings. And if the Twins find themselves out of contention by midseason, Kopech becomes a valuable trade chip who could bring back prospect capital at the deadline.
For a team that’s already made quiet but calculated moves this winter, adding a pitcher like Kopech would be a bold step toward completing a bullpen that could surprise people in 2026. The talent is there.
The opportunity is there. Now it’s just a matter of whether the Twins are ready to roll the dice on a high-octane arm with something to prove.