Hendriks and Merryweather Bolster Minnesota’s Bullpen Options

Fort Myers – Late Wednesday night, the Minnesota Twins continued with their recent tradition of signing players as spring training opens. They signed two free-agent relievers to minor-league deals. Fans are familiar with Liam Hendriks. The other, RHP Julian Merryweather, has spent parts of the last six seasons with the Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays.

FanSided’s Robert Murray first reported that Hendriks signed with the Twins. He returns to the organization that signed him as an international free agent from Australia in 2007. Since he left Minnesota on a waiver claim in December 2013, Hendriks has performed as an elite closer with the Oakland Athletics and Chicago White Sox from 2016 to 2022.

Hendriks has also had many challenges off the field. He was diagnosed with Stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma at the beginning of 2023. Just three and a half months later, on April 20, 2023, Hendriks announced on Instagram that the cancer was in remission. That brought about a heartwarming return to the mound with the White Sox on May 29, 2023, for Hendriks and all those in attendance at Guaranteed Rate Field.

However, Hendriks has been limited to 19 relief appearances over the last three seasons due to other on-field injuries. He missed the second half of 2023 and all of 2024 due to a torn ulnar collateral ligament. In 2025, he was limited to 14 appearances with the Boston Red Sox due to right hip inflammation in late May and right elbow ulnar nerve transposition with posterior interosseous nerve release surgery in September.

The timeline for recovery from right elbow ulnar nerve surgery is anywhere from three to six months, which Hendriks should be healing from on the later end as he signs this deal with the Twins.

Given he’s had two arm surgeries in the last three seasons, Hendriks sample size of 18 ⅔ innings might not be the best metric to judge the pitcher he could be in 2026 with the Twins. His poor numbers could be a result of his arm injuries, including a 6.27 ERA, 5.10 FIP, 10.1% walk rate, and 19% strikeout rate in 18 ⅔ innings.

On the other hand, it’s unlikely Hendriks would produce a season as he had in 2022. That year, he made his third AL All-Star team, pitching to a 2.81 ERA, 2.68 FIP, recorded 37 saves, a 1.04 WHIP, 6.8% walk rate, and 36.2% strikeout rate in 57 ⅔ innings over 58 relief appearances.

Ideally, if Hendriks remains healthy and can pitch in 40 games out of Minnesota’s bullpen, with an ERA hovering around 3.50, a walk rate below 10%, and a strikeout rate over 20%, then this reunion will prove to be more than worthwhile on a minor-league deal.

Beyond on-field performance, Hendriks’ addition is an excellent move for veteran leadership. He would pair well with Taylor Rogers and LaTroy Hawkins as the leading voices in the Twins bullpen, and he would also help the younger arms adjust to their new roles.

Merryweather joins Hendriks as a non-roster invitee. The Athletic’s Dan Hayes detailed the last three years Merryweather spent in the majors with the Chicago Cubs. Merryweather has had mixed results on the mound in the past three seasons, totaling a 4.26 ERA, 3.75 FIP, 1.46 WHIP, 27.3% strikeout rate, and 12% walk rate over 102 relief appearances.

The Cubs released Merryweather on May 30, 2025, and he bounced around in the New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers farm systems for the remainder of the year, where he continued to produce mixed results on the mound. However, what Merryweather lacks in command, he makes up for with velocity on his fastball, averaging around 96 MPH.

Minnesota is desperate for high-velocity pitchers since trading away Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, and Louis Varland in the trade deadline fire sale. Merryweather’s fastball velo is now the second fastest in camp among relievers, sitting behind Jackson Kowar’s 97.3 MPH.

Before his two arm surgeries, Hendriks’ fastball velo was sitting around 97.6 MPH in 2022, but had dropped to 94.9 MPH in his brief time with the Red Sox last season. Hendriks’ velo may increase if he returns from surgery fully healthy. Still, it’s unlikely to reach the high velo average he posted nearly four years ago.

While they are not arriving on major-league deals, signing Hendriks and Merryweather bolsters the options the Twins have in spring training for the bullpen. Everyone, aside from RHP Matt Canterino, has been reported as healthy in camp. However, injuries and roster cuts will sort out the makeup of Minnesota’s bullpen for Opening Day 2026.

As those go on, Hendriks and Merryweather provide veteran experience, high velo, and are strong candidates for bounce-back seasons if they make the Twins bullpen. There are only four spots guaranteed to the Rogers, Cole Sands, Justin Topa, and Kody Funderburk. So the opportunity is there for the taking this spring for Hendriks and Merryweather to join the Twins bullpen for Opening Day 2026.