Minnesota Twins News

The Minnesota Twins have hinted that second baseman Luke Keaschall could make some appearances in the outfield during the 2026 season, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic. Keaschall was used solely at second base last season, largely because it was his first MLB campaign and he was coming back from Tommy John surgery. Now, though, he's 16 months removed from the operation and "feels much more confident in his arm strength and being smoother with his throwing actions than he was during the 2025 season," Hayes writes. A 2023 second-round pick out of Arizona State, Keaschall wasted no time making an impact at the plate during his debut season. He played in 49 games before injuring his thumb last year, slashing .302/.382/.445 with a 9.2% walk rate, a 14% strikeout rate, 134 wRC+, and 14 stolen bases. Given that he was one of the few bright spots of the Twins' 2025 season and is now fully healthy, he should work his way into the lineup on a near-everyday basis in 2026, even if he moves around defensively. He currently ranks as the #7 second baseman in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings for 2026.

The Minnesota Twins and right-hander Joe Ryan avoided salary arbitration on Monday by agreeing to a one-year, $6.1 million deal that includes a mutual option for the 2027 season, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Ryan will earn $6.1 million in 2026. His 2027 option will be worth $13 million with a $100,000 buyout. Ryan had filed for $6.35 million in arbitration, with the Twins countering at $5.85 million. The 29-year-old is likely to open the 2026 regular season in Minnesota, but that doesn't mean the Twins won't consider dangling him during this summer's trade deadline. Ryan was a first-time All-Star in 2025 in his fifth year in the big leagues with the Twins, going 13-10 with a career-best 3.42 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 194:39 K:BB in 171 innings over 30 starts. Despite below-average velocity, Ryan excels via deception and is fantasy relevant in all leagues with a strong strikeout rate and excellent control. His weakness is that he's a fly-ball pitcher, but that is mitigated at pitcher-friendly Target Field.

Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez is a name to closely monitor during spring training as he could crack the Opening Day roster. According to MLB.com, Rodriguez is viewed as the No. 69 overall-ranked prospect in the sport and the No. 4-ranked in the Minnesota system. Rodriguez has battled numerous injuries during his minor league career, but has flashed immense upside when on the field. Last summer, the 22-year-old appeared in only 65 games in the minor leagues. He spent most of the year with Triple-A St. Paul (52 games), where he held a .258/.429/.423 line with seven doubles, six home runs, and nine stolen bases. While Byron Buxton is slated to cover center field, the corner outfield positions could be open for Rodriguez to claim. Managers in deeper five-outfielder leagues should keep a close eye on Rodriguez during spring training.

Free-agent relief pitcher Taylor Rogers is coming back to Minnesota after agreeing on a one-year, $2 million contract with the Twins. Rogers spent the first six seasons of his MLB career with the Twins, posting a career-high 30 saves in 2019 and earning an All-Star selection in 2021. He spent time with the Padres, Brewers, Giants, Reds, and Cubs in the four seasons since his departure, and last year, he had a 3.38 ERA and a 4.38 FIP in 50 2/3 innings with the Reds and Cubs. The 35-year-old lefty could be a key part of the Twins' bullpen in 2026, and he could even be in the mix for saves since the rest of the bullpen is relatively inexperienced.

The Minnesota Twins have acquired infielder Tristan Gray from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for catcher Nate Baez, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.com. Gray, 29, was the Pirates' 13th-round pick out of Rice University in 2018. He was later traded to the Rays and made his MLB debut with Tampa Bay in 2023. He split 2024 with the Marlins and Athletics before returning to the Rays for the 2025 campaign. This offseason, Tampa Bay traded him to the Red Sox in exchange for reliever Luis Guerrero. Now, he's on the move once again, despite never playing in a game for Boston. In 30 big-league games last year, he slashed .231/.282/.410 with a 7.0% walk rate, 22.1% walk rate, and an 89 wRC+. He produced 0.1 fWAR and played all four infield positions, but most of his reps came up the middle. The catching prospect headed back to Boston is Baez, who was drafted by the Twins out of Arizona State in 2022. He slashed .278/.371/.423 with eight home runs between High-A and Double-A, amassing a wRC+ of 124. He'll offer minor league depth for a Red Sox organization that could be looking to replace backup catcher Connor Wong in the future.

The Minnesota Twins have agreed to a deal with free-agent catcher Victor Caratini on Friday. They've agreed on a two-year, $14 million deal, according to Robert Murray. At first glance, this seems like an odd fit given the Twins already have Ryan Jeffers. There's still a scenario that the rebuilding Twins trade Jeffers and use Caratini as the starting catcher. The 32-year-old has posted back-to-back strong campaigns with the Houston Astros. Last season, Caratini slashed .259/.324/.404 with 12 home runs and 46 RBI across 114 games. It seems unlikely that Caratini would play over 100 games in Minnesota, assuming Jeffers remains in the picture. His fantasy value will be dependent on his playing time, but Caratini isn't likely to be a strong fantasy option anyway.

Minnesota Twins top outfield prospect Walker Jenkins made his Triple-A debut late in the second half of the 2025 season and could be in the mix for his MLB debut sooner than expected. He began the 2025 season with Double-A, where he continued to perform at an elite level, carrying a .309/.426/.487 line with 11 doubles, seven home runs, and 11 stolen bases. He then earned the call to Triple-A St. Paul, where Jenkins took a bit of a step back, carrying an overall .242/.324/.396 line through 23 contests. However, the former fifth-overall pick from the 2023 MLB Draft showed significant progress over his last 16 games as he posted a much-improved .273/.333/.439 line, suggesting he had already begun to take strides forward. While managers should expect Jenkins to open the season at Triple-A, he may only need a brief stint before proving he is ready to join the MLB roster. Given his ability to get on base at an elite rate while showing nearly 20-SB upside in each season, he is a prime early-season stash option in deeper redraft leagues.

The Minnesota Twins have claimed utility man Vidal Brujan off waivers from the Atlanta Braves, designating catcher/utility man Mickey Gasper for assignment as the corresponding move. Brujan, who will turn 28 in February, has already appeared for five different MLB teams across five seasons in the big leagues. Across 94 plate appearances split between the Braves, Chicago Cubs, and Baltimore Orioles in 2025, Brujan posted a .253/.305/.310 slash line with zero home runs, eight RBI, 14 runs scored, and two stolen bases. Brujan's main appeal at this point in his career is defensive versatility, as he spent time at every position other than first base and catcher this past season. If he's able to stick on the Twins roster, Brujan is likely headed for a bench role. Neither Brujan nor Gasper, who has a career .133 batting average across 133 big-league plate appearances, projects to carry much fantasy value in 2026.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton has been added to the roster for Team USA in the upcoming 2026 World Baseball Classic, according to Thomas Harrigan of MLB.com. The 32-year-old Buxton will join a talented group of outfielders for Team USA that includes Aaron Judge, Corbin Carroll, and Pete Crow-Armstrong. The former second overall pick by the Twins back in 2012 is coming off one of his best seasons as a pro in 2025, when he slashed .264/.327/.551 over 126 games. Buxton set career highs in home runs (35), RBI (83), and runs scored (97) while also stealing 24 bases despite missing some time with a concussion and rib-cage inflammation. He played more than 125 games for the first time in eight years. We always knew Buxton had the ability to put up these kinds of numbers, but durability has been his biggest issue. Buxton showed elite hard-hit rates, exit velocity, and speed, but fantasy managers probably shouldn't be banking on another fully healthy season in 2026.

According to Matt Gelb and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Philadelphia Phillies have shown interest in Minnesota Twins backup catcher Ryan Jeffers on the trade market. The Phillies are currently in discussions to re-sign catcher J.T. Realmuto, but have been unable to agree on a contract. Additionally, Gelb and Rosenthal noted that they could also look to sign free agent Victor Caratini if they cannot reach an agreement with Realmuto. Jeffers has spent his entire six-year MLB career with the Twins. Last season, Jeffers posted a .266/.356/.397 line with 26 doubles and nine long balls. In 2024, Jeffers hit a career-best 21 home runs. Jeffers could be worth a look in deeper two-catcher leagues if he were to sign in Philadelphia, as he would be joining a deeper lineup, which could boost his counting stats.

According to Joel Sherman of The New York Post, free agent right-handed pitcher Erasmo Ramirez is set to throw for interested clubs on Wednesday in Tampa Bay. Sherman noted that the 35-year-old pitcher has been training as a starting pitcher in the offseason and hopes to transition from being a primary relief option. Ramirez began his career as a starter but has been shifted to the bullpen for most of his last seven campaigns. In 2025, Ramirez logged 11 innings of relief with the Twins and held a 2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, with one save. Since 2022, he has only eclipsed the 65.5 inning mark in one season and has held a modest 4.24 overall ERA during this four-year stretch. Given that he has not been used as a full-time starter in several seasons, Ramirez will likely have to open the 2026 season in the minor leagues.

The Minnesota Twins have signed free-agent shortstop Orlando Arcia to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training. Arcia will look to bounce back after an ugly season in 2025. He slashed .202/.238/.291 with three home runs and 13 RBI across 76 games with the Atlanta Braves and Colorado Rockies last year. Arcia is only a few years removed from an All-Star campaign he had with the Braves in 2023. It's a low-risk gamble for the Twins, who could potentially be getting a quality backup infielder in Arcia.

The Minnesota Twins acquired infielder Eric Wagaman from the Miami Marlins on Friday in exchange for left-hander Kade Bragg, according to the Marlins. Wagaman will head to the American League Central after the Marlins designated him for assignment earlier in the week. The 28-year-old made his big-league debut in 2024 with the Los Angeles Angels and went 18-for-72 (.250) with two homers and 10 RBI in just 18 games played. He appeared in 140 games for the Fish in 2025, slashing .250/.296/.378 with a .674 OPS, nine home runs, 54 RBI, 56 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 514 plate appearances. In Minnesota, Wagaman will most likely compete for a platoon job against lefties in a corner outfield spot or at first base. Wagaman had a .783 OPS against southpaws. At best, he'll be a bench bat in AL-only leagues in 2026.

Free-agent first baseman Josh Bell agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal that includes a mutual option for 2027 with the Minnesota Twins on Monday, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. The 33-year-old switch-hitter will play first base and designated hitter for the Twins next season. This is the first big-league signing of the offseason for the rebuilding Twins. Barring more offseason moves, Bell should see the majority of playing time in Minnesota in 2026 after slashing .237/.325/.417 with 22 home runs, 63 RBI, and 54 runs scored in 140 games with the Washington Nationals. The 6-foot-3, 261-pounder still brings some pop from both sides of the plate, but he has only reached the 30-homer mark once (back in 2019 with the Pittsburgh Pirates), and he doesn't contribute really anywhere else for fantasy managers. Bell will be corner-infield depth in fantasy leagues in 2026 in his first year with the Twins. UPDATE: Bell's one-year deal is worth $7 million.

The Minnesota Twins do not expect to move center fielder Byron Buxton or right-handers Joe Ryan or Pablo Lopez this offseason, league sources told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Rosenthal adds that the Twins' goal is to keep those three players, build around them, and compete in 2026. Minnesota tore down its roster in July and faces an uncertain future as they look to pay down $425 million in debt. Finances will likely continue to be an issue for the Twins, but they don't want to alienate their fan base by trading players lIke Buxton and Ryan. The 32-year-old Buxton has three years and $45 million left on his contract with a full no-trade clause that extends through next year. Ryan, 29, is projected to earn $5.8 million in the next-to-last year of arbitration. Lopez, 29, has two years and $43 million left on his contract. After trading away most of their bullpen in the summer, the Twins could desperately use some additions to their relief corps.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton wants to play for a winner and may reconsider his stance for certain teams if the Twins continue to break up their roster, a major-league source told The Athletic's Dan Hayes. Buxton, a two-time All-Star, has three years and $45 million left on his current contract. He also has full no-trade protection through next season and the ability to block trades to five teams in 2027 and 2028. The Twins organization is in a precarious state this offseason after trading away shortstop Carlos Correa and most of their bullpen over the summer. Baseball Prospectus estimates the team's current payroll at $95 million, which is a steep drop-off from where the Twins have been the last five seasons. Buxton's decision on whether to waive his no-trade clause could depend on whether Minnesota trades away one or both of starting pitchers Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez.

The rebuilding Minnesota Twins have two of the best trade chips in right-handed starting pitchers Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez, and could continue their aggressive rebuild by trading them away this offseason, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports. Lopez is under team control for two more years at $21.5 million per year, while Ryan has two years of club control and is salary-arbitration eligible after making $3 million in 2025. Ryan, 29, ended his season by giving up five or more runs in four of his last seven outings, but overall, he had a career-best 3.47 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 194:39 K:BB over his 171 innings in his fifth big-league season. Ryan was an All-Star for the first time in his career. Lopez, meanwhile, had an injury-plagued campaign, missing two months early in the year with a Grade 2 teres major strain before being shut down with a right-forearm strain in late September. The 29-year-old is already considered fully healthy, though, and should be a full-go in spring training.

Minnesota Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said on Tuesday that right-hander Pablo Lopez (forearm) is "fully healthy" and will "be able to have a normal offseason routine," according to Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic. Lopez missed time early in the 2025 season with a Grade 2 teres major strain and was shut down in late September due to a mild right-forearm strain. The 29-year-old has since recovered and should be a full-go for spring training and the 2026 regular season next year. It's great news for the Twins, as Lopez was pitching like a top-of-the-rotation starter when he was healthy. The Venezuelan hurler finished his third year in Minnesota with a 5-4 record, career-low 2.74 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 73 strikeouts, and 20 walks in 75 2/3 frames over his 14 starts. Lopez is a peg below a true ace for fantasy purposes, and his home ballpark should continue to be a plus for his 2026 value if he remains with the Twins.

Minnesota Twins rookie second baseman Luke Keaschall (thumb) will miss the rest of the season with a sprained left thumb. The 23-year-old will visit a specialist next week to determine whether he'll require surgery. A second-round pick in 2023, Keaschall rose quickly through the Twins' system and debuted with the club on April 18. Keaschall's career got off to a rough start, though, as he suffered a broken bone in his right arm in his seventh game and didn't return until the first week of August. Injuries aside, Keaschall's performance was one of the few positives to take from an awful season for the Twins. In 49 games and 207 plate appearances, he slashed an outstanding .302/.382/.445 with four homers, 28 RBI, 25 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases.

Minnesota Twins infielder Luke Keaschall (thumb) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Texas Rangers. This doesn't come as a shock after Keaschall was removed from Tuesday's game. Keaschall suffered a left thumb injury while stealing second base. For now, Keaschall should be considered day-to-day, but this injury could end his season. The rookie infielder has been solid at the plate during his 200-plus plate appearances in the big leagues. He's slashing .302/.382/.445 with four home runs, 28 RBI, and 14 steals in 49 games. Fantasy managers should check back on Thursday for another update on his status.