The Twins’ clearest answer for 2027 is sitting right in the middle of their rotation.
Taj Bradley has already shown Minnesota exactly why he belongs at the center of the club’s next push. In 2026, he put together a breakout season that gave the Twins something hard to find and even harder to replace: a young starter who can miss bats, take the ball often, and handle a real workload.
Bradley’s numbers tell the story. He finished with a 3.73 ERA, 205 strikeouts, and 178 1/3 innings across 31 starts.
The Pitcher of the Year recognition he earned matched what he meant to the Twins last season. The challenge now is turning those outings into more wins.
At 25, Bradley has already done something plenty of younger arms still haven’t proven they can do - deliver a full season. His cutter was a major part of that success, holding hitters to a .179 average and giving him another sharp weapon to pair with his fastball and splitter.
Minnesota also has the kind of control that makes him even more valuable. The Twins control Bradley through 2029, and that lines up well with a roster that could look different soon. Four veteran starters could hit free agency after 2027, which only increases the importance of having Bradley as a stable presence in the middle of the staff.
That stability matters because Minnesota is trying to build around a young core. Luke Keaschall posted a .374 on-base percentage, while Walker Jenkins and Kaelen Culpepper add more upside to the picture.
But Bradley is the rare piece who already has the production to match the promise. That makes him a natural starting point.
The Twins acquired Bradley from Tampa Bay for Griffin Jax at the 2025 trade deadline, and that move is now paying off in a big way. His development has given Minnesota a chance to turn that deal into years of rotation security. The next move is making sure the environment around him is strong enough to maximize what he already does well.
There’s still work to do with Bradley himself. He walked 76 batters in 2026, and trimming that number would help him pitch more efficiently. The new pitching staff Minnesota is putting together needs to emphasize strike throwing without stripping away the stuff that drove his strikeout totals.
General manager Jeremy Zoll should also look into an extension that buys out some of Bradley’s free-agent years. Arbitration starts in 2027, so the Twins have a window to talk about cost certainty before another strong season pushes his price higher. Any long-term deal would still have to reflect the injury risk that comes with committing to a pitcher.
Bradley would also benefit from more help around him in the rotation. Keeping Joe Ryan would give Minnesota another proven arm and take some of the load off Connor Prielipp and Zebby Matthews. That kind of depth would let the Twins give younger pitchers chances without asking too much of them too soon.
Behind the plate, catching has to be near the top of the list. Ryan Jeffers is nearing free agency, and Minnesota has a significant decision to make about who will split the workload with Victor Caratini. Offense matters, but so do pitch receiving, blocking, and game preparation.
The bullpen needs attention too. Twins relievers posted a 4.74 ERA, which undercut the value of the leads the starters worked to build. More dependable relief arms would give Derek Shelton the freedom to pull Bradley when the situation calls for it without handing the late innings over to trouble.
Defense should factor into the rest of the roster construction as well. Minnesota needs reliable gloves in supporting roles so routine balls in play do not turn into long innings. At the same time, the Twins still need room for their young hitters to play.
Bradley gives them a place to start. If Minnesota can pair him with an extension, steadier catching, better bullpen support, and cleaner defense, it can make the most of his best starts. That’s the path the Twins should be aiming for as they head toward 2027.
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