The Twins first move early this off-season was on November 18th when they traded with Tampa Bay to acquire 6’4″ right-handed reliever Eric Orze and sent minor league pitcher Jacob Kisting a 6’5″ right-hander to Tampa in return. Kisting was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 14th round of the 2024 MLB June Amateur Draft from Bradley University (Peoria, IL). Trading Jacob Kisting shows the Twins are willing to move younger assets for immediate bullpen help. Tampa Bay acquired Orze from the Mets last winter in the trade that sent center fielder Jose Siri to New York. Tampa used Orze as an up-and-down middle innings arm. The former fifth-round pick tossed 41 2/3 innings of 3.02 ERA ball across 33 appearances. His 22.5% strikeout percentage and 10.7% walk rate weren’t as impressive, but he missed bats on a strong 13.2% of his offerings overall. Orze’s profile—solid ERA, decent bat-missing ability, but middling strikeout/walk rates—suggests he’s more of a depth stabilizer than a high-leverage arm. This is probably just the first of many moves the Twins will make to try to rebuild a bullpen they decimated when they traded off Griffin Jax, Louis Varland, and Jhoan Duran at the trade deadline this past season.
Additionally, the Twins acquired veteran catcher Alex Jackson from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for minor league infielder Payton Eeles. Jackson presumably becomes part of the mix for the club’s backup catcher role, an opening that results from Christian Vazquez‘s free agency.
The Twins have cut payroll so there is no reason to think they will spend money now, but, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the payroll between $120 million-$130 million going into the 2026 season. The two early moves might be a sign the Twins are diving in the pool earlier this season to try to acquire players. Relievers without big league deals and something to prove should be standing in line to sign with Minnesota. If the Twins hit on some relievers and the team struggles they can flip these guys and get something in return.
The Twins still have a hole to fill at first and I would like to see them go after Lewin Diaz (who just turned 29) who was in the Twins minor league system before being traded Miami in 2019 at the trade deadline for Sergio Romo, Chris Vallimont and a PTBNL. Since then he was picked up by the Pirates, Orioles, Braves and Nationals but he has not played in he big leagues since he left Miami. After being cut lose by the Orioles he has played in Mexico and Korea. This past season in Korea in 629 PA’s he hit .314 with 50 home runs and 158 RBI while walking 60 times while striking out 100 times. He committed just 4 errors.
I am disappointed that the Twins have not yet named who their two new investor groups are. It will be interesting to learn who they are and what they have to say about the state of the Twins. It might be some time before we learn what impact these two new ownership groups have on how the Twins are run and if they are in this for the long haul or just in it to get a quick return on their investment when the Twins do get sold. Their intentions—long-term stewardship vs. short-term profit—could shape the franchise’s trajectory more than any single roster move.
