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Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCredit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Minnesota Twins pitchers and catchers have already officially reported<\/a> down in Fort Myers, FL for the start of 2026 Spring Training<\/a>, but the front office has made it very clear the past week or two that they are nowhere near done building the Opening Day roster.<\/p>\n Entering camp, there wasn\u2019t a group on the depth chart more desperate for big league talent than the bullpen \u2014 which remains the team\u2019s biggest weakness going into Monday\u2019s first full-squad practice. <\/p>\n Since the start of the offseason, Minnesota has acquired a handful<\/a> of semi-intriguing relievers both on major and minor league deals, with hopes that a few of them will exceed their 2026 expectations, a few of which have been left-handed.<\/p>\n The Twins\u2019 run on lefties began back in January, with a Taylor Rogers reunion<\/a>. It continued earlier this week when GM Jeremy Zoll swung a deal with the LA Dodgers to acquire yet another southpaw<\/a> \u2014 32-year-old veteran Anthony Banda \u2014 in exchange for some international signing pool money.<\/p>\n Minnesota Twins sign left reliever Andrew Chafin<\/p>\n On Saturday, just a few days after dealing for Banda, the Minnesota Twins went back in on their newfound infatuation for 30-something lefty relievers, inking 35 y\/o Andrew Chafin to his own MiLB deal.<\/p>\n #MNTwins<\/a> add LHP Andrew Chafin on a minor-league deal with an invite to camp.<\/p>\n \u2014 DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) February 14, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Chafin isn\u2019t the only intriguing minor league bullpen invite who landed in Fort Myers this week. On Thursday, the Twins announced the signing<\/a> of once-dominant right-handed closer, 37 y\/o Liam Hendriks on the same type of deal.<\/p>\n Chafin \u2014 who has never made an All-Star game and won\u2019t be mentioned in future Hall of Fame discussions \u2014 was one of the best lefty relievers in baseball just a few seasons ago (keep reading).<\/p>\n He was pretty good in limited 2025 action<\/a> as well, pitching just 33.1 innings but posting a 2.41 ERA, 3.46 FIP, 177 ERA+ and 1.426 WHIP in those 42 appearances. That\u2019s not bad for a guy who\u2019s not even taking up a 40-man spot roster spot especially given how badly the MN Twins need reliever help.<\/p>\n Here’s a nasty slider from Andrew Chafin in the 1st game of the NYM\/DET doubleheader pic.twitter.com\/rwApGq0znE<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ben Brown \ud83c\udf3b (@BenBrownPL) April 4, 2024<\/a> <\/p>\n So, what should we realistically expect from Chafin? Well, if the Minnesota Twins didn\u2019t already have FOUR left-handed relievers on the 40-man (all of whom have a legitimate shot to make the 26-man Opening Day roster) he\u2019d probably be a lock.<\/p>\n Not only does the veteran journeyman come into camp with more big league experience than most of the other pitchers in Minnesota\u2019s bullpen, but the 2011 Arizona Diamondbacks first round draft pick (No. 43 overall)<\/a> is arguably the most accomplished.<\/p>\n Chafin should be a lock to make MN Twins bullpen\u2026 if healthy<\/p>\n Over the course of his 12 year MLB career<\/a>, Chafin has played for eight teams before the Twins. He\u2019s thrown a total of 542 total innings over 643 games, posting a 3.35 ERA, 3.30 FIP, 127 ERA+, 1.284 WHIP and 9.8 SO\/9.<\/p>\n Better yet, the Kenny Powers<\/a> lookalike gets better with age. Since 2021, Andrew Chafin has averaged 53.4 innings per season, with a 3.03 ERA, 137 ERA+, 3.37 FIP and 10.1 SO\/9.<\/p>\n Offense aside, Andrew Chafin has pitched excellently. He owns a 3.02 ERA and a 2.34 xERA and one of the very best sliders in the game right now. Chafin’s slider currently is holding batters to a .067 BAA and a 60.8% Whiff Rate. pic.twitter.com\/GhFfgtWEFG<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) August 25, 2022<\/a> <\/p>\n Related: Joe Ryan Just Wanted the Twins to Try<\/a><\/p>\n The only thing holding Chafin back in recent seasons has been his own health. Last year, missed over five weeks<\/a> of the season with left tricep and right hamstring injuries.<\/p>\n After Derek Falvey\u2019s departure<\/a>, the pressure is on both GM Jeremy Zoll and new top dog Tom Pohlad<\/a> to plug holes that remain across the roster, but especially the bullpen. After all, Tom is the one who wants us to focus on the results, not the payroll.<\/p>\n That\u2019s easy to say when games aren\u2019t being played. Come March, there will be no more hiding whatever warts the 2026 Minnesota Twins have bubbling underneath their pores. 162 games<\/a> will show even the most modest blemishes.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMentioned in this article: Andrew Chafin<\/a> Spring Training<\/a> <\/p>\n More About:Minnesota Twins<\/a><\/p>\n Add MinnesotaSportsFan as a preferred source on Google. \t\t\t![\"Add](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/google_preferred_source_badge.png\"){kind=icon}
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