Coming into the offseason, the Twins had three major needs to fill. First base has been, at least temporarily, filled after Josh Bell agreed to take his talents to the Twin Cities. They started to shore up the bullpen by acquiring Eric Orze from the Rays last month, but could still use 2-3 reliable arms and anyone capable of pitching with their left hand. And, as they have for seemingly 8 straight seasons, the Twins could use right-handed hitting outfielder/first baseman to pair with their plethora of left-handed options in Matt Wallner, Trevor Larnach, Alan Roden, James Outman, Kody Clemens, prospects Emmanuel Rodriguez and Walker Jenkins, and even Bell who has better splits against righties.
Some of these roles, namely the bullpen, will likely be filled via internal promotions (Prielipp, Rojas, Raya) or trade, but those are much harder to predict. With the Twins reportedly still having somewhere between $10M and $20M to spend this offseason and avenues to create more payroll flexibility, here are a few players that fit well in Minnesota.
KANSAS CITY, MO – JULY 30: Kansas City Royals pitcher Hunter Harvey (56) pitches in the sixth inning of an MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and Kansas City Royals on July 30, 2025 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
As I was writing this piece, Pete Fairbanks signed with the Marlins, leaving Hunter Harvey as the last high-ish end arm on the market. Since being acquired by the Royals midway through the 2024 season, Harvey has thrown just 16.1 innings, missing extended time with back, shoulder, and abductor injuries; the trifecta for concern among high-velocity pitchers. However, those injuries mean he could find himself in the Twins’ price range and should be gettable for around $5M or so on a 1-year pact.
Seranthony Dominguez, RHP
Dominguez was a key member of the Blue Jays’ piecemeal bullpen throughout their World Series run and fans got to experience both ends of the Dominguez experience. He has some of the best stuff in baseball, but can’t keep it in the zone for the life of him, sometimes going from untouchable to unplayable in the same inning. The results have been mixed, but he’s coming off of his best season with a 3.16 ERA and peripherals to match. He’ll have plenty of suitors and might be outside of Derek Falvey’s budget, but the potential is extremely high if Pete Maki can help him keep the ball in the zone.
Why mess with a good thing? Coulombe has done nothing but post great numbers in a Twins uniform. He wasn’t nearly as good after being traded to the Rangers in Minnesota’s midseason blowup, and he also has plenty of his own injury concerns, but Coulombe is effective and cheap. Given the Twins’ current payroll constraints, a third reunion with Coulombe is probably worth the gamble.
Moreta was somewhat of a surprise DFA by the Pirates earlier this offseason. He struggled a bit last year in his return from Tommy John Surgery, but looked to be Pittsburgh’s closer of the future in 2023. The stuff is great, he limits walks, and is still in his arbitration years so he should relatively affordable compared to other targets. Plus, he probably has one of the best closing celebrations in the league.
Honorable Mentions: Justin Wilson, David Robertson, Kirby Yates, Scott Barlow, Twins legends Ryan Pressly and Tyler Kinley, any other mid-to-late 30s pitcher who still has some juice.
Right-Handed Hitters with a Pulse
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 30: Miguel Andujar #38 of the Cincinnati Reds bats in the first inning during Game One of the National League Wild Card Series between the Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, September 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) MLB Photos via Getty Images
That’s right, folks. We’re back and our standards are lower than ever! Can you put up league-average numbers against left-handed pitchers? Can you hit one (1) big home run in the eighth inning at some point this season? Can you avoid embarrassing yourself in left field (sorry Manny Margot)? If you answered yes to these questions, YOU could be the next short-sided platoon outfielder for the Minnesota Twins.
The former Yankees top prospect has quietly put together a solid career as a role player over the past few seasons. He’s a terrible defender anywhere you put him, but has an elite arm and can stand in the corner outfield, first base, and maybe even third in a pinch. Most importantly, Andujar had a 171 wRC+ against lefties last season and 121 wRC+ for his career. His limitations and lack of ability against righties has FanGraphs projecting him for only $5M next season, right in the Twins’ wheelhouse. He would be my top realistic target.
Another former Red, Hays has been the talk of major-market teams needing righty bats, which may mean he’s getting priced out of the Twins’ market. He doesn’t have the best track record, but Hays is coming off of a career-best season in Cincinnati and has bit more juice than Andujar against right-handed pitchers. As such, the biggest thing keeping him from Minnesota might be the lack of a starting role. The Twins’ roster is chock full of corner outfielders with top prospects on the way, so Hays might not make sense unless there’s a few trades to clear out a role for him.
A flamed-out former top prospect, Carlson is still only 27-years-old and is the best defender of the bunch by a wide margin. He’s coming off the worst season of his career where he struggled across the board, but he still has a 117 career wRC+ against lefties. Carlson is a switch hitter with enough speed to at least be a threat on the bases. He’s also the cheapest option and might even settle for a minor league deal. As long as the front office is willing to cut ties if he doesn’t work, Carlson is a Willi Castro-esque signing that could pay off in spades if the Twins help him rediscover his swing.
Utility options: Dylan Moore, Jorge Mateo, Santiago Espinal, Legendary Twins All-Star Willi Castro
Honorable Mentions: Austin Slater, Chas McCormick, Starling Marte, and the veterans I’ve been begging the Twins to target the entire time I’ve been at Twinkie Town (Randal Grichuk, Tommy Pham, Mark Canha)
Again, pulse + league-average production against righties. That’s all. This should be so easy to fix yet here we are for the 5th season in a row.