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MN Twins Chances Hang on Bullpen Effectiveness
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- MN Twins Chances Hang on Bullpen Effectiveness
Nick Wosika-Imagn Images Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
The hot stove has been all but turned off at this point of the offseason. The Minnesota Twins didn't go Christmas shopping, and they haven't made a roster move since signing Josh Bell .
There has been no shortage of comments surrounding a need for bullpen reinforcements . Derek Falvey gutted the unit during the trade deadline , and Derek Shelton will be hard-pressed to put together gameplans with the group he currently has.
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Bullpen pieces remain the key for Minnesota Twins
Derek Shelton inherits a group of relievers that present more questions than answers. Cole Sands , Justin Topa , and Kody Funderburk are functional cogs, but they shouldn't be near leverage roles. Those types of arms were all moved, and ESPN's David Shoenfield sees the reconstruction as the one place that defines the 2026 season .
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The Twins ranked 28th in the majors in bullpen win probability added — better only than the Arizona Diamondbacks and White Sox and an explanation of why the Twins went 4-11 in extra-inning games. Overall, the Twins ranked 27th in bullpen ERA, 23rd in strikeout rate and 28th in batting average allowed. Now for the bigger issue concerning 2026: Jhoan Duran (2.01 ERA), Louis Varland (2.02 ERA), Brock Stewart (2.38 ERA) and Griffin Jax (72 strikeouts in 46 innings) were all traded in the deadline dump, leaving Justin Topa, Cole Sands and Kody Funderburk as the top holdovers.
Successful bullpens can often materialize out of nowhere and in a winnable AL Central, that's what will have to be the case with the Twins. Maybe some of the pitchers who don't make the rotation — David Festa , Taj Bradley, Mick Abel, Marco Raya — end up as relievers. Sands has a five-pitch mix, including a plus splitter and curveball, that could make him an effective closer, but the Twins lack guys who throw in the upper 90s. The Twins have a potentially good rotation and a sleeper lineup with some top prospects on the way. The bullpen might tell the story of where the 2026 team ultimately finishes though.
Minnesota did sign 33-year-old veteran Dan Altavilla to a minor league deal . He will certainly push for an Opening Day roster spot. Altavilla owned a 2.48 ERA in 29 innings last year for the White Sox, but his 5.45 FIP was reflective of the mediocrity that propped up the output.
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It's possible that one of the converted starters, someone like Marco Raya, David Festa, or Connor Prielipp wind up working their way into Griffin Jax levels of effectiveness in relief. Expecting them to immediately assume that role would be poor planning however.
Falvey has shown an ability to construct effective bullpens. Outside of Addison Reed's contract , he has never spent substantially on the area either. Both of those things lend themselves towards a logical path forward.
The MN Twins lost 92 games last year. It would be entirely disappointing to see the rotation and lineup experience a turnaround only for the bullpen to provide nothing of substance. It's time to start making additions.
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