Story by
Minnesota Twins Add 11-Year Starter to Organization After Brief Stint With Padres
- Story by
- Minnesota Twins Add 11-Year Starter to Organization After Brief Stint With Padres
(William Liang-Imagn Images)
The Minnesota Twins ' starting rotation has been ravaged by injuries this season. It began with right-hander Pablo Lopez undergoing an internal brace procedure on his right elbow.
Promising young arm Mick Abel has been sidelined with right elbow inflammation on the 60-day injured list since April. David Festa has also been unavailable.
Advertisement
And most recently, ace Joe Ryan landed on the injured list with a mild left glute strain. As a result, Minnesota has had to dip deep into their farm system for starters, and their depth has taken a significant hit in the process.
To address the need, the Twins decided to take a flier on an 11-year starter.
"MNTwins signed pitcher Germán Márquez to a minor league deal," reported Dan Hayes of The Athletic .
Marquez will report to Triple-A St. Paul. The 31-year-old veteran also has an opt-out in August and another in September, giving him flexibility if a better opportunity presents itself elsewhere.
Advertisement
Marquez was once a reliable big-league starter during his time with the Colorado Rockies . Over 10 years with the Rockies, he made 203 appearances.
His 4.67 ERA during that stretch looks unimpressive on the surface, but context matters given that he was pitching half his games at Coors Field, one of the most offense-friendly environments in the sport.
The road back to being a reliable starter since 2022 has been difficult. Tommy John surgery wiped out most of his 2023 and 2024 seasons. He made just five starts in that span.
He made 26 starts last year but posted a 6.70 ERA bringing his time in Colorado to an end.
Advertisement
The San Diego Padres signed him this past offseason on a one-year deal worth $1.75 million, but he posted a 5.26 ERA across 13 appearances with concerning walk and strikeout numbers before being designated for assignment and released last week.
For the Twins, there is no real downside to a minor-league deal. The Padres remain on the hook for what is left of his salary, meaning Minnesota would only pay the pro-rated league minimum if he ever makes the big-league roster.
With the rotation currently featuring Taj Bradley , Connor Prielipp, Dean Kremer , Bailey Ober and Zebby Matthews , Marquez gives them another name to call on if another injury strikes or a spot start is needed down the stretch.
The Twins are currently three games under .500 and f ighting for the final American League Wild Card spot .
