Following Minnesota outrighting veteran relievers Michael Tonkin, Thomas Hatch, Génesis Cabrera, and Anthony Misiewicz off the 40-man roster, declining Justin Topa’s $2 million team option, and losing Cody Laweryson off waivers to the Los Angeles Angels last week, only two relievers can be penciled in as anticipated members of the club’s Opening Day bullpen: Cole Sands and Kody Funderburk.

Topa remains in the organization and could still be a member of Minnesota’s bullpen at a more team-friendly rate, which MLB Trade Rumors projects to settle at $1.7 million. Young arms like Travis Adams, Pierson Ohl, Marco Raya, and Connor Prielipp could quickly become high-leverage relievers early next season. Still, the unit is entering the offseason with little depth or experience.

Minnesota’s front office will need to acquire multiple veterans to fill out the eight-pitcher unit. Yet, given that the front office is expected to operate under significant spending restrictions, they might be unable to sign any sought-after veterans on the free-agent market. That being the case, team decision-makers could scour the minor-league free agent market for relievers this winter. Which arms should they pursue? Let’s take a look.

Justin Yeager
Drafted in the no-longer-existent 33rd round of the 2019 MLB Amateur Draft, Yeager spent his first three seasons of affiliated ball in the Atlanta Braves minor league system before being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers alongside All-Star catcher William Contreras and reliever Joel Payamps in December 2022. The righty excelled with Milwaukee’s Double- and Triple-A team, generating a combined 2.85 ERA, 3.33 FIP, and 108-to-47 strikeout to walk ratio over 110 ⅔ innings pitched. However, the Brewers never rewarded the now-27-year-old with a 40-man roster spot, leading him to elect minor-league free agency this offseason. 

Yeager worked exclusively as a reliever in Milwaukee’s minor league system, sporting two fastball variations (four-seam and cutter) that top out at 94 MPH and a plus sweeper. If Minnesota signed Yeager, he would mix in with the collective of Adams, Ohl, Raya, and Prielipp as young arms competing for bullpen spots. The SIU-Carbondale product excels at suppressing hard contact and missing barrels, a skillset the front office would be wise to seek out when pursuing bullpen acquisitions. Given his success in the highly respected Brewers minor league system, Minnesota would be wise to pursue the 27-year-old right-handed reliever. 

Ryder Ryan
Drafted by the Cleveland Baseball Club in the now-extinct 30th round of the 2016 MLB Amateur Draft, Ryan has been a minor-league journeyman over the course of his nine-season career, jumping between Cleveland, New York (Mets), Texas, Seattle, and Pittsburgh minor league systems. The now 30-year-old has also made major league appearances for the Mariners and Pirates, netting a 5.40 ERA and 4.71 FIP over 21 ⅓ innings pitched. 

Ryan has operated exclusively as a reliever in the minors and majors, primarily using a slider and two fastball variations (four-seam and sinker) over the course of his career. The right-handed arm altered his slider into more of a sweeper last season, resulting in the pitch developing more effective horizontal movement. Given Minnesota’s proclivity for pursuing relievers who possess Ryan’s arsenal, there is reason to believe team decision-makers could sign him to a minor-league deal this winter, with an opportunity for the veteran to make his first Opening Day 26-man roster.

Ryan Borucki
The next pitcher on this list comes in the form of another former Pirate. Borucki, 31, is entering his ninth major league season, having previously pitched for the Blue Jays, Mariners, and the aforementioned Pirates. Despite Jon Heyman incorrectly reporting Borucki had signed a one-year deal with the Twins late last January, the soft-tossing lefty began last season with Pittsburgh, netting a 5.28 ERA and 4.34 FIP over 30 ⅔ innings pitched for the Pirates. 

Pittsburgh released the southpaw in mid-August. However, he quickly signed a minor-league deal with Toronto one week later, generating 0.00 ERA and 3.60 FIP over 4 ⅓ innings pitched for the AL East-winning Blue Jays. The veteran was later released by Toronto, entering free agency for the second consecutive offseason. Primarily throwing a slider and sinker, Borucki’s arsenal is similar to Funderburk’s. Still, Minnesota would be smart to round out its bullpen with veteran arms, with Borucki being one of the more realistic options. 

Collin Snider
Like Borucki, Snider has multiple seasons of major league experience, and also pitched for Seattle. Yet, like Borucki, he is not expected to net a major league deal this winter, after posting a lackluster 5.47 ERA and 3.70 FIP over 26 ⅓ innings for the Mariners in 2025. Leaning heavily on a sweeper/fastball mix (again, a pitch combination Minnesota’s front office adores), the right-handed reliever broke out with Seattle in 2024, generating a 1.94 ERA, 3.94 FIP, and a 47-to-13 strikeout to walk ratio over 41 2/3 innings pitched.

Pitching like one of the most effective relievers in baseball, Snider made the Mariners’ 2025 Opening Day 26-man roster. Unfortunately, his production quickly diminished, resulting in him being designated for assignment on July 30 after posting a 5.70 ERA and 3.70 FIP over 26 1/3 innings pitched. Snider remained in the Mariners organization for the rest of the season. However, after struggling mightily in Triple-A (8.06 ERA and 8.21 FIP over 25 2/3 innings pitched) and not being part of the club’s magical postseason run, the now 30-year-old has entered minor-league free agency, hoping to return to the majors with a different organization.

A possible explanation for the stark season-over-season contrast in Snider’s performance could be that he suffered a right forearm flexor strain in early June, sidelining him for over a month. That said, his 2024 campaign could be an outlier, given that he also struggled in 2022 and 2023 with Kansas City. Still, the former Mariner is an interesting buy-low veteran candidate that Twins decision-makers could take a flier on, with intentions of guiding him back to being the above-average reliever he was with Seattle in 2024.

Parker Mushinski
Mushinski, 29, pitched in part of three seasons for the Houston Astros from 2022 to 2024, generating a 4.05 ERA and 4.31 FIP over 33 innings pitched. The soft-tossing lefty was unable to find a solidified role in Houston’s bullpen, resulting in him electing minor-league free agency after the 2024 season and signing with the Cleveland Guardians last offseason.

Unfortunately, the Texas Tech product didn’t reach the majors last season. However, he performed exceptionally well in Triple-A Columbus, netting a 3.78 ERA, 3.42 FIP, and a 40-to-19 strikeout to walk ratio over 50 innings pitched. Sporting a four-seam fastball that hovers around 93 MPH, an above-average curve, and an adequate cutter and sweeper, Mushinski possesses the diverse arsenal and plus stuff necessary to succeed in a major league bullpen in 2026.

Again, Minnesota already has its number one left-handed relief option on its 26-man roster in Funderburk. Yet, given that Mushinski prefers to attack hitters vertically (as opposed to Funderburk operating east-to-west with his sinker and cutter), the 29-year-old would function as a viable complementary southpaw to Funderburk, unlike Borucki and his previously redundant skillset. Arsenal aside, Muchinski also possesses the skill necessary to usurp Funderburk on the organizational depth chart, based on results alone.

Do any of these names do anything for you? Are there any overlooked relievers on the market this offseason who strike your fancy? Sound off in the comments section.