The Twins didn’t get a perfect version of A.J. Minter after landing him from the New York Mets at the trade deadline, but they may have gotten enough to keep the conversation going for 2027.
Minnesota added a left-handed reliever with experience, and the numbers from his time in the Twin Cities give the front office something real to weigh. In 25 games, Minter went 1-1 with a 2.78 ERA, struck out 21 batters in 22 2/3 innings and held opponents to a .218 batting average. He also posted 0.6 bWAR, which shows he wasn’t just filling a spot.
That said, the late-season rough patches matter. Pitchers get defined by what happens most recently, and Minter had a few outings that made the finish look shakier than the overall body of work. The question for Minnesota is whether those struggles were just part of a tough stretch or a sign of something deeper.
The advanced numbers add more complexity. Minter’s 4.91 FIP sits well above his ERA, and he also had trouble against lefties. That gap is one reason there’s skepticism about how sustainable the run prevention really was.
There’s also the velocity issue. Fans have pointed to the drop in his stuff as a reason to doubt the ERA, especially after a season in which he was working back from a torn left lat and prior hip labrum microfracture surgery.
Before the surgery, his fastball had sat at 96.7 mph in 2022; this season it was down to 92.5-93.7 mph. That kind of dip stands out.
Even so, Minter did show he could handle pressure. Over 22 innings, he walked only eight hitters, and his walk rate was cited at 4.3% compared to the league average of 9.9%. The late-season fade is part of the evaluation, but so is the way he responded while working through a difficult physical situation.
His value isn’t limited to what happened in Minnesota, either. With Atlanta, Minter pitched in big postseason moments, including the Braves’ 2021 World Series championship run. That experience carries weight for a Twins bullpen trying to get better.
There’s also a price point element here. Minter’s walk rate was compared to Robert Suarez, which bolsters the case for him as a high-leverage arm if the money is right. At the same time, Minnesota has to factor in his medical history, his lower velocity and what that means for the length and value of any new deal.
Minter. who will be 33 years old until next September, has shown enough to stay in the mix, but not enough to erase the caution flags. The Twins should not overpay just because he’s familiar, but they also shouldn’t dismiss a useful arm without measuring what it would cost to replace him.
LaTroy Hawkins, who has been in the bullpen coach role since joining the staff a year ago, has helped pitchers find their “new normals,” and that includes Minter. For him, that has meant adjusting his fastball usage, leaning more on his cutter and operating with the lower velocity.
Minter doesn’t need to be perfect to make sense for Minnesota. He just needs to be the right fit at the right price. If the medical exam checks out and the terms are acceptable, bringing him back for 2027 could be a sensible move.
In Other News...
Twins Could Raid AL Central Rivals To Fix Multiple Needs This Winter
With the World Series about to get underway, the Twins are already looking ahead to an offseason that could be more aggressive than usual. Minnesotas front office has reason to believe it can shop a little higher on the market this winter, thanks to Tom Pohlads indication that payroll is slated to rise, and that changes the conversation from simply filling holes to considering where real upgrades might come from.
One angle worth watching is how often those fixes could come from inside the AL Central. The Twins have clear needs to address, and the early read is that the division itself offers a few plausible fits if Minnesota wants to go shopping close to home. Whether it is a starter, bullpen help or another bat, the club has been connected to several names from rival rosters, giving this winter a chance to feel a little more targeted than the usual free-agent scramble. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Fans Just Got A Reminder Of How Much Has Changed
Paul Molitor is set to throw out the first pitch before Game 2 of the World Series at American Family Field in Milwaukee, a neat reminder of an older era for Twins followers who remember his place in the organization well. It also lands at a time when the franchise keeps showing how much has shifted around the edges of the roster and staff, with familiar names from past seasons now popping up in very different contexts.
The churn has continued on the baseball side, where Minnesota has turned to Brian Reith as its new pitching coach after parting ways with Pete Maki. And for another former Twin, the news this week carried a more personal note, as catcher Mitch Garver announced his retirement after a 10-year MLB career, another familiar face from a different chapter now closing the book. [Read more 🡒]
Pablo Lopez Recovery Could Change The Twins Rotation Sooner Than Expected
Pablo Lopezs rehab has become one of the more closely watched storylines around the Twins, not just because of who he is, but because of what his recovery could mean for the rotation. The right-hander underwent an elbow procedure in February and has since been working his way back, resuming catch in August as he continues the long climb toward pitching again.
What makes the situation especially noteworthy is the timeline, which is more encouraging than a full Tommy John recovery and could put Lopez back in the mix sooner than usual. He is aiming to be ready by Spring Training, with a chance to push for the Opening Day roster if everything keeps moving in the right direction, a development that would give Minnesota an important arm back ahead of schedule. [Read more 🡒]