The Twins added Marco Raya to the 40-man roster a few offseasons ago, to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. It was well known that he was likely still a reasonable distance away from the big leagues, but it was a small move to make to ensure opposing teams didn’t snatch him away. Fast-forward to 2025, and Raya, the starting pitcher, does not look poised to make an impact on the big-league roster. It may be time for a change.

Raya was drafted out of high school in 2020 during the shortened draft and received mixed reviews from scouts. He wasn’t able to burnish his resume much that spring, due to the pandemic. He then suffered a shoulder injury during his first full season of pro ball in 2021, and the Twins have handled him very carefully during his ascent through the minor leagues ever since.

Because of Raya’s limited workload, his ability to become a big-league starting pitcher has been in question for some time. He has showcased the talent that led to his original selection, but has yet to integrate it as a starting pitcher above A-ball. As his time on the 40-man roster adds up and Raya’s inconsistencies continue, it’s approaching time to try something new.

The 2025 campaign has been a particularly trying one for Raya. His ERA is over 10.00 for the St. Paul Saints, and he’s walked 20 in 26 innings pitched. He’s also struck out 38 and has mixed in some outings that were downright dominant along the way.

Unfortunately, this isn’t enough to feel good about dropping him into the Twins rotation. Even with the recent injuries the big-league roster has sustained, it’s hard to imagine Raya getting the call ahead of someone like Randy Dobnak. Raya’s prospects as a big-league starter are currently murky, to say the least. In the best-case scenario, it’s hard to see a path this season, given how he’s started. Because of this, it may be worthwhile to consider moving him to the bullpen.

Raya’s mid- to high-90s fastball and range of secondary pitches should play incredibly well in short stints. It’s possible that his walk issues aren’t physical or mechanical, and that a change in role could help resolve them. He’s already only a nominal starter in most of his outings due to his short leash, which could make a shift to a multi-inning relief role relatively smooth. Such a change is far from a sure thing, but Raya appears to have stalled out with the current plan for him, and it may be worth shaking things up.

The Twins need a role player like this. Travis Adams was recently promoted (and promptly demoted) to fill a multi-inning relief role. With several question marks in the rotation, a reliever who can throw more than one inning at a time is extremely valuable. While the Twins could use Adams to fill this spot, Raya has the upside to not only fill innings but dominate opposing lineups while doing so, if all goes well. 

While it may seem odd to transition a starter to the bullpen while the Twins’ rotation depth dwindles, such a gamble could be the best move for all parties involved. The clock is ticking on Raya, who has yet to make an impact on the MLB roster. His innings are going to be limited this season anyway, and moving him doesn’t need to preclude him from starting games in the future. The Twins would also benefit from an added dimension to their bullpen mix, and Raya represents the most intriguing potential suitor. 

While Raya hasn’t panned out yet as a starting pitcher, his ability to become an impact pitcher for the big-league roster remains, even if the Twins need to get creative to find it. Should Marco Raya make a move to the bullpen?