The Minnesota Twins are heading into the 2026 season with a clear goal: put the past two playoff-less years behind them and reassert themselves as contenders in the American League. After a 2025 campaign that started with promise-including a 13-game winning streak in May-but fizzled out down the stretch, the front office knows there’s work to be done, especially on the mound.
On Tuesday, the Twins took a step toward bolstering their pitching depth by signing right-hander Eduardo Salazar to a minor league deal. The agreement includes a foreign team inquiry clause, giving Salazar some flexibility if international opportunities arise.
Salazar, a Venezuelan-born veteran, has bounced around the majors in recent years, suiting up for the Reds, Dodgers, Mariners, and most recently, the Nationals. He’s shown flashes of promise-particularly in 2024 with Washington, when he posted a 2.96 ERA and struck out 24 batters over 27.1 innings. That kind of efficiency and command from the bullpen can be a real asset, especially for a team looking to stabilize its pitching staff.
But 2025 told a different story. Salazar struggled to find consistency, finishing the season with an 8.38 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 29 innings. Whether that was due to mechanical issues, command problems, or simply a tough stretch, the Twins are clearly betting that a change of scenery and a fresh start in camp could help him rediscover his form.
From the Twins’ perspective, this is a low-risk move with potential upside. Their pitching depth was tested last year, and bringing in a veteran with major league experience adds another option to the mix as spring training approaches. If Salazar can tap into the version of himself that showed up in 2024, he could be a valuable piece in the bullpen puzzle.
Of course, there’s no guarantee he’ll break camp with the big league club. But with innings to be earned and roles up for grabs, Salazar will have a chance to make his case once pitchers and catchers report later this month. For a Twins team that’s hungry to return to October baseball, every arm counts-and this one could be worth keeping an eye on.