The Minnesota Twins made it clear this past summer that they were shifting gears. Trading away key bullpen arms like Jhoan Durán, Griffin Jax, Brock Stewart, Louis Varland, and Danny Coulombe signaled a reset - or, at the very least, a retooling. Now, the front office is working to rebuild what they dismantled, and the recent signing of Josh Bell is the first real step in that direction.
Bell brings the big bat the Twins were after - a middle-of-the-order presence who can drive in runs and give the lineup some much-needed thump. But while the offense just got a boost, the bullpen still has some glaring holes.
Minnesota president of baseball operations Derek Falvey has acknowledged as much. The bullpen needs reinforcements, and with roughly $13 million left to spend in free agency - after committing $7 million to Bell - there’s room to make a couple of meaningful additions.
That kind of budget isn’t going to land a top-tier closer, but it’s more than enough to bring in two or three solid relievers - the kind of arms who can bridge the gap between the starter and the ninth inning, or step into high-leverage spots when needed. And right now, the Twins need exactly that: reliable, experienced bullpen depth.
One name who could’ve fit that bill? Brad Keller.
Keller just signed a two-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, but before that, he was on the Twins’ radar. According to MLB insider Jim Bowden, Minnesota had interest in the right-hander - and for good reason.
Keller is coming off a breakout season with the Chicago Cubs, where he posted a 2.07 ERA and a 0.962 WHIP across 69 2/3 innings. He struck out 75 and walked just 22, showing command and poise that hadn’t always been there earlier in his career.
He also showed up in the postseason, delivering 5 2/3 strong innings against the Padres and Brewers, allowing just one earned run on two hits and two walks while striking out five. For a team like the Twins, who will need dependable arms in tight games, Keller would’ve been a strong addition.
Keller’s success wasn’t a fluke. His pitch mix is deep and effective.
He leans heavily on a high-90s four-seam fastball (42.2%) and mixes in a sinker (14.4%), slider (17.3%), sweeper (14.5%), and changeup (92.7 mph average velocity). That arsenal gives him the ability to keep hitters off balance and work through both lefties and righties.
Twins fans will remember Keller from his time with the Kansas City Royals. He broke into the league in 2018 and had a strong rookie year, posting a 3.08 ERA over 140 1/3 innings.
But as the Royals continued to use him as a starter, the results were mixed. Over six seasons in Kansas City, he logged a 4.27 ERA across 679 innings.
The stuff was always there, but the consistency wasn’t - at least not in a starting role.
After hitting free agency following the 2023 season, Keller bounced around in 2024. He had brief stints with the White Sox and Red Sox, even spending some time in the minors.
But once he landed with the Cubs, everything clicked. He found his groove in the bullpen and turned in the best season of his career.
It’s fair to say Keller would’ve been a great fit in Minnesota. He’s familiar with the AL Central, has proven he can handle big moments, and brings a versatile pitch mix that plays well in relief. But with him now off the board, the Twins will have to look elsewhere to fortify their bullpen.
The good news? There’s still time, and there are still options.
With $13 million to work with, Falvey and the front office have the flexibility to add multiple arms - whether that’s a veteran setup man, a high-upside project, or a mix of both. The key will be finding relievers who can step into meaningful innings right away, especially after losing so many key contributors at the deadline.
The Twins have already started to reshape their roster. Josh Bell gives them power. Now it’s time to give their bullpen some punch, too.