The Twins’ bullpen has been trending in the right direction this month, but that doesn’t mean Minnesota should stop looking for help. Pittsburgh just opened a door by designating right-hander Dennis Santana for assignment after bringing in right-hander Ron Marinaccio from the San Diego Padres, and Santana now looks like an obvious arm for the Twins to consider.
On paper, the fit comes with risk. Santana signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Pirates this past offseason, and this year has been rough: a 6.05 ERA, a 1.51 WHIP and 37 strikeouts across 41 2/3 innings. Those numbers are enough to make plenty of Twins fans hesitate.
But there’s another side to the profile. Santana was excellent last season, putting up a 2.18 ERA with a 0.87 WHIP and 60 strikeouts in 70 1/3 innings.
His walk and hit rates have climbed since then, and even during his best stretch, he was never a big strikeout arm. Still, he does bring one eye-catching trait this season: an elite 34.6% chase rate, which ranks in the 89th percentile.
That’s why Minnesota could make sense as a landing spot. Santana would come cheap, and the Twins wouldn’t be paying for a fantasy bullpen upgrade they can’t realistically land.
A reliever like Mason Miller would be the splashier name, but that kind of move isn’t happening. Santana is the more practical swing.
He’s also a pitcher with a full mix. Santana works with five pitches: a mid-80s slider, mid-90s four-seamer, high-80s changeup, mid-90s sinker and low-90s cutter. This year, his slider and four-seamer have made up 65% of his pitches.
Santana also drew attention earlier this week for an on-field confrontation with Yankees infielder José Caballero. Santana took issue with Caballero working the pitch clock against him, and after Caballero grounded out, Santana made multiple gestures in his direction. The two moved toward each other, benches emptied, and the situation escalated before the players could get to one another.
The 30-year-old right-hander also brings plenty of experience. Santana has nine years of big-league service, debuting with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2018. He stayed in the Dodgers organization until a trade to the Texas Rangers in June 2021, then spent 2022 with Texas, pitched for the New York Mets in 2023, and appeared for both the New York Yankees and Pirates in 2024.
In Other News...
Twins Make A Sudden Infield Decision That Raises Bigger Questions
Orlando Arcias time in the Twins organization has come to an abrupt end, closing a stretch that began when Minnesota brought him up after Royce Lewis was sent down and then cycled him back to Triple-A in mid-June. The veteran infielder got into 19 games with the big club this season and offered the kind of depth the Twins have leaned on all year, moving around the infield and giving the staff another experienced option when the roster needed one.
Now Arcia is out of the picture entirely, leaving Minnesota to sort through its infield depth without him. The Twins have been leaning on Brooks Lee, Ryan Kreidler and Kody Clemens, and the bigger question is how they want to cover the middle of the diamond from here with no true middle infielder waiting on the bench. [Read more 🡒]
Former Twins Fan Favorite Has Fans Doing A Double Take Again
Max Kepler has turned into one of those familiar names Twins fans cant help checking on, and his latest stop in Arizona has given them reason to look twice. The former Minnesota outfielder, now with the Diamondbacks after a stint with the Phillies, has settled in well enough to help fuel a recent surge that has pushed Arizona into a National League Wild Card spot.
Its a reminder of how quickly a players story can change once he leaves the Twin Cities. Keplers path has already included a mixed run in Minnesota and a suspension that kept him out for a stretch, but his current form has added another layer to an already unusual career arc. The only catch for Arizona is that his impact has come with one significant limitation still hanging over the rest of the season. [Read more 🡒]