The Minnesota Twins have continued to add to their bullpen as pitchers and catchers reported to spring training on Thursday. The Twins sent future international bonus pool money to the Los Angeles Dodgers for LHP Anthony Banda. They also designated RHP Jackson Kowar for assignment to clear a 40-man spot for Banda.

The Dodgers designated Banda, 32, for assignment on February 6 after claiming former Twins catcher Ben Rortvedt off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds. Banda has been a core part of LA’s bullpen during the last two seasons. He’s combined for a 3.14 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 4.15 FIP, 23.3% strikeout rate, 10.9% walk rate, 130 ERA+, and has allowed 13 home runs in 114 ⅔ innings of work over 119 games between 2024 and 2025.

However, he’s had diametrically opposed performances in the past two seasons. In the 2024 World Series run for the Dodgers, Banda was elite, pitching to a 1.13 ERA, 28.9% strikeout rate, and 3.42 FIP in 10 outings. 2025 was a much different story, as he had a 9.53 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 7.72 FIP, 11.5% strikeout rate, and 7.7% walk rate in seven relief appearances.

Despite the bad playoff performance, Banda was a pitcher the Twins couldn’t pass up the opportunity to acquire on the waiver wire. Banda has excellent velo on his fastball for a left-handed reliever, averaging 95.9 MPH, mixed in with a sinker, slider, and changeup.

In 2025, his strength was limiting hits, with a .194 opponents’ average and a .227 BABIP, and he left 83% of runners on base. However, Banda struggled the most with his command of the strike zone, jumping from a 8.6% walk rate in 2024 to a 12.7% in 2025.

Banda’s command issues have fluctuated throughout his career, but given that he threw a career-high 71 games in 2025, his increased walk rate is somewhat expected and shouldn’t cause alarm.

However, Banda had separate issues in the postseason. He allowed seven hits in 5 â…” innings and allowed just two walks. His biggest struggle came in Game 1 of the World Series, when he allowed two home runs to Addison Barger and Alejandro Kirk.

Adding Banda provides some clarity on how the bullpen will shake out for the first half of the season. He’s now the third MLB lefty in the bullpen alongside Taylor Rogers and Kody Funderburk. That all guarantees that top pitching prospect Connor Prielipp will begin 2026 in the St. Paul Saints starting rotation.

As things stand right now, adding Banda means the Twins will have three lefty relievers in their projected Opening Day bullpen. Minnesota had needed another right-handed reliever as camp opened, and they added two on minor-league deals with Liam Hendriks and Julian Merryweather. However, as camp officially opens, Eric Orze is the only RHP they’ve added to the 40-man roster this offseason. They acquired him in a November trade with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Like they’ve been with their plethora of left-handed hitting outfielders in the Falvey/Levine-led front office, the Twins are now tripling down on having three left-handed relievers for their bullpen. It’s not uncommon in baseball for a team to run with three lefties in a bullpen at any given time. Still, it will limit some of the match-up options Derek Shelton can use in-game against opposing lineups.

On the positive side, Minnesota’s starting rotation is made up entirely of right-handed pitchers. So, if any opposing team goes as heavy as they can with left-handed hitters in their lineup against them, they should theoretically have at least one of their three lefties available any given night.

The usual injuries and roster cuts will sort out Minnesota’s bullpen as camp goes on. Still, regardless of what side of the mound Banda throws from, he’s a good addition for the Twins’ bullpen as spring training begins.

He may not throw up to 71 games again this season. However, if he’s fully healthy, he can expect to be used as Minnesota’s primary left-hander in any situation he’s needed.