The Twins have done very little to address their significant holes in the bullpen. The hope was that they would be able to bring in at least one proven relief arm from the high end of free agency. As we head into the new year, it appears unlikely that they will do so, as options are becoming scarce. It looks like they’re going to wait out the market once again and continue seeing just how little a team can value relief pitchers while still trying to compete. Luckily, the remaining free-agent pool is not without options capable of putting up elite seasons in the bullpen.

Evan Phillips
Phillips was a legitimate high-end reliever before Tommy John surgery cut his season short in May. At 31 years old, Phillips may not be quite ready to start the season, but he may match up well at the top of the Twins bullpen hierarchy as he looks to prove to the league that he’s healthy and deserving of a bigger deal in 2027.

When last healthy in 2024, Phillips was solid, posting a 3.62 ERA in just under 55 innings. However, he was flat-out dominant during the 2022-2023 seasons, striking out around 30% of hitters and posting a sub-2.00 ERA across 124 innings in the Dodgers’ bullpen. His velocity had dipped just a touch before injury, which begs the question as to whether he can once again average above 96 mph on the fastball now that the elbow is fixed.

Evan Phillips would be a proven name to lead the Twins’ bullpen, as he is inarguably better than any of their other options if healthy. His health will be the main question. At this point, we have no reason to believe there are any unforeseen concerns heading into 2026. If he’s willing to take a prove-it deal, Phillips and the Twins would be an excellent match for a mutually beneficial 2026 season.

Seranthony Dominguez
Though far from consistent in his career, Seranthony Dominguez has the big-time stuff the Twins bullpen is lacking, and 2025 was something of a breakout. The fact that he’s still available says the league may be skeptical. This may lead to a prime opportunity for the Twins to take a gamble.

Dominguez had a few dominant seasons with the Phillies at the start of his career, then spent 2025 with the Orioles and later with the World Series runner-up Blue Jays. He posted a 3.16 ERA overall across 62 innings, with the second-best strikeout rate of his career. He developed a devastating splitter, which posted a near-50 % whiff rate, along with a dominant slider to match, as well as his usual high-90s fastball. It’s easy to see how Dominguez could dominate at the back end of games.

The primary concern is the control, as his 13.8% walk rate was borderline untenable. It’s worth noting that this was the worst rate of his career, and was really the only red flag in his profile. Perhaps teams are wary of him for this reason, but for a team  in need of upside, Dominguez is a terrific fit. The longer he stays available, the more likely their price points will match.

Jose Leclerc
Falling into a similar bucket to Evan Phillips, Lecerc suffered a lat strain early in the 2025 season, which required surgery. As a result, teams haven’t been quick to sign him despite his career stretches of success and strong raw stuff. For this reason, he’s another potential high-end reliever who could benefit from a one-year prove-it deal at the top of a needy bullpen.

Leclerc has a solid 3.34 ERA across 370 innings with an exceptional 30.8% strikeout rate. Walks are the big concern for him, and at times, they have kept him out of the closer role with the Rangers. With a mid to high-90s fastball and a dominant slider, he’s shown the ability to overcome the walks, making him another option to likely slot in at the very top of the Twins’ bullpen depth chart.

Teams are unlikely to overpay for Leclerc, given concerns about his control and his significant injury last season. Unlike Phillips, he also lacks a sustained stretch of high-end production at the MLB level. That being said, the Twins can’t be too picky. His stuff is good enough to make him a worthwhile gamble, and if he continues to hang around on the market, the Twins would be wise to check in.

It’s easy to get panicked watching the high-end relief options fly off the board, but it’s important to note that there are plenty of legitimately good relievers still on the market. The Twins are still in need of at least two additions to the group, but time remains on their side.

Do any of the listed options interest you? Are there any other free agent relievers you feel could be legitimately dominant options for 2026? Let us know below!