Twins add much-needed bullpen depth by reuniting with former All-Star closer

The Twins’ biggest need this season is to rebuild their bullpen. They began their bullpen rebuild with the acquisition of Eric Orze from the Tampa Bay Rays in November, but fans wondered when they would add another reliever.

Twins add much-needed bullpen depth by reuniting with former All-Star closer Taylor Rogers

The Twins signed lefty Taylor Rogers to a one-year deal$2 million deal, according to Aaron Gleeman and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Rogers joins a bullpen that will most likely include righties Orze, Cole Sands and Justin Topa and lefty Kody Funderburk. That leaves three open bullpen spots. Most of those spots will likely be filled by internal options like David Festa, Marco Raya and others. However, the Twins can still acquire one established reliever, which would be in their best interest if they want to be competitive in 2026.

Rogers, 35, posted a 3.38 ERA with 53 strikeouts and 23 walks over 50 2/3 innings last season for the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds. He started the season with the Reds and was dealt to the Cubs at the trade deadline. He mainly throws a sweeper in the high 70s and a sinker in the low 90s, and also mixes in the occasional four-sifter in the low 90s.

Twins fans are happy that Minnesota is reuniting with Rogers, who was the team’s former closer

The Twins selected Rogers in the 11th round of the 2012 MLB Draft out of the University of Kentucky. He made his MLB debut in 2016 and remained with the Twins through the 2021 season. He became Minnesota’s closer in 2019 and represented the Twins in the 2021 All-Star Game. In his six seasons with the Twins, he posted a 3.15 ERA with 361 strikeouts, 76 walks and 50 saves over 314 2/3 innings.

The Twins traded Rogers and outfielder Brent Rooker to the San Diego Padres on April 7, 2022, in exchange for right-handers Chris Paddack, Emilio Pagan and Brayan Medina. After posting a 4.35 ERA in 41 1/3 innings with San Diego, Rogers was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers on August 1, 2022. In the deal, the Padres sent Rogers, righty Dinelson Lamet, infielder Esteury Ruiz and left-hander Robert Gasser in exchange for left-hander Josh Hader.

After the 2022 season, Rogers signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the San Francisco Giants. He had a 3.06 ERA in 111 2/3 innings across two seasons with the Giants before being traded to the Reds for righty Braxton Roxby in the 2024-25 offseason.