Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
We are now just a week away from Minnesota Twins pitchers and catchers reporting to Fort Myers for Spring Training. Despite Tom Pohlad suggesting time to add more salary, the free agent market is all but drying up.
On that front, Minnesota has hardly overhauled a bullpen that was gutted at the trade deadline. Derek Falvey signed Taylor Rogers before leaving the organization. Jeremy Zoll grabbed Jackson Kowar off the scrap heap in his first move.
Derek Shelton still has plenty of unanswered questions in relief, and it appears we could be trending more towards role changes than anything.
Two Minnesota Twins starters project to the bullpen
Considering the landscape of the Minnesota Twins pitching staff, David Festa has appeared to be ticketed to the bullpen. It suits his three-pitch mix better, and the smaller workload could keep him more healthy. Dan Hayes (The Athletic) and Aaron Gleeman (The Athletic) dropped a new roster projection, and Festa isn’t the only former starter they placed in the bullpen.
Reuniting with the 35-year-old Rogers for $2 million is the Twins’ lone reliever move of note and the remaining free-agent market has been thoroughly picked over, suggesting they plan to rebuild the bullpen internally and cheaply. Which young-ish starters win the final two rotation spots, and which are shifted to the bullpen or the minors, could be the Twins’ biggest storyline of spring training.
Transitioning young arms to the bullpen is a massive challenge. It can be messy, and it takes time for pitchers to adapt, especially when they hit a physical wall. Yes, most of these guys have thrown a ton of innings in a season as a starter. But those totals were accomplished by throwing every fifth day and never pitching three days in a row in August when general soreness kicks in. We saw it with Varland last year and Griffin Jax in 2022.
Both Hayes and Gleeman note a level of concern regarding the bullpen as a whole. With Zebby Matthews joining their projection of Festa to be in the group, it’s two spots taken buy guys who have not traditionally worked as relievers.
Festa posted a 5.40 ERA (4.88 FIP) in 53 1/3 innings last year. His average velocity sits around 94 mph and he did carry an 8.9 K/9. Coming back from Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, it may be best to limit his workload, and Festa could turn into a two-pitch reliever.
Although Zebby Matthews had an ugly 5.56 ERA, his 3.79 FIP was strong. He strikes out a ton of batters, walks next to no one, and substantially dropped his home run susceptibility. The tougher thing to swallow with Matthews moving to the bullpen is what you may lose as a starter.
Minnesota has pushed Zebby’s velocity into the upper 90’s. He sat at 96.3 mph last season. That would probably take another jump when just letting it eat. He has a five-pitch mix though, and that truly profiles best for the rotation.
It’s possible that Matthews has the relief success in the breadth of Louie Varland or Griffin Jax. Moving him at the same time as Festa though doesn’t mean their situations are the same.
MN Twins rotation becomes clearer
If both Matthews and Festa are headed to the bullpen, then the starting rotation becomes more clear. Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan, and Bailey Ober are all locks. That leaves two spots.
Simeon Woods Richardson posted a 4.04 ERA (4.52 FIP) last season. The stuff isn’t exciting, and the results are average. As a back-end starter though, that works. He’s earned the leg up for a spot.
Simeon Woods-Richardson, Nasty Splitters. ✌️
5Ks thru 3 pic.twitter.com/vIL5uLLYG8
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 16, 2025
That means one remaining spot comes down to a fight between pitchers acquired at the deadline. Taj Bradley and Mick Abel both have minor league options, but Bradley has more time in the big leagues. The former Tampa Bay Rays pitcher gets the fifth spot in the rotation in this scenario.
Having Abel pitch alongside arms like Andrew Morris, Connor Prielipp, Kendry Rojas, and others at Triple-A generates a solid amount of depth. Hopefully the Twins won’t be forced to dip into it as quickly and consistently as they needed to a year ago.
Mentioned in this article: David Festa Zebby Matthews
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