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Evaluating the Impact of the Minnesota Twins’ Midseason Acquisitions
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- Evaluating the Impact of the Minnesota Twins’ Midseason Acquisitions
(Brian Bradshaw Sevald - Imagn Images)
Minnesota bolstered their pitching depth at the trade deadline and it ultimately paid off.
While the Minnesota Twins fell short of their contention goals in 2026, the team did take a significant step forward as they are in a position to grow this upcoming year.
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When Minnesota was in the thick of the season and the trade deadline came around, the Twins knew they wanted to reinforce their roster with additions that would contribute going forward. The team's decision to buy was already a significant development considering their fire sale at the 2025 trade deadline, as things were different this time around.
The Twins had seen some injuries hurt their pitching, so they decided to add to their depth by adding three pitchers. Minnesota traded for Dean Kremer from the Baltimore Orioles to add to their rotation, while also trading for relievers Jeff Hoffman and AJ Minter to bolster their bullpen.
Hoffman, who the Twins acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays, had declined from the closer role he dominated in 2025, so the Twins opted to bank on his potential upside in high-leverage. Minter, acquired from the New York Mets, had long been one of the league's most consistent lefty relievers, meaning the makings of an improved pitching staff are what the Twins were banking on at the deadline.
Upon the trade, Kremer's struggles in Baltimore had reached a new low in their rotation. He had allowed 26 earned runs in the 36 innings of work he had prior to the trade. He dealt with a quad strain, but the concerns grew quickly for the Orioles.
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The Twins had hoped that a change of scenery could turn things in the right direction for Kremer, and that ended up being the case in the second half of the year. Kremer posted a 3.48 ERA in 10 starts with Minnesota, giving them a much-needed starter to rely on down the stretch of the season, proving himself as a great bargain for the Twins at the deadline.
Hoffman had followed a similar trajectory as Kremer in regards to the struggles, but his were of a much different kind. The right-hander had lost his status at the Blue Jays' closer, which stemmed from early-season struggles and ultimately since he had allowed the game-tying home run in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the World Series last year.
But in Minnesota, Hoffman began to find his footing as an efficient relief arm. Though he also saw one save opportunity, in which he converted, he was consistently used as a high-leverage arm and produced a 2.50 ERA in 20 appearances with the Twins.
On the other hand, Minter joined the Twins after having posted solid numbers with the Mets prior to the trade. That same productivity continued as he thrived with the Twins, as he had a 2.78 ERA across 22 ⅔ innings in 25 appearances in Minnesota.
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Overall, the Twins' midseason acquisitions gave the Twins what they were hoping for when they traded for them. Though the Twins were unable to find their way into a postseason spot, it was encouraging to see Minnesota spend and succeed at the trade deadline in 2026.
