Twins end disappointing Edouard Julien experiment with unexpected trade

Twins trade infielder Edouard Julien, righty reliever Pierson Ohl to Rockies for righty pitching prospect Jace Kaminska

The Minnesota Twins announced this on Wednesday they traded infielder Edouard Julien and righty Pierson Ohl to the Colorado Rockies for righty pitching prospect Jace Kaminska and cash considerations. The Twins now have an open spot for 40 men.

Not long ago, it looked like Edouard Julien would be the Twins’ primary second baseman for a long time. During his rookie season, 2023, he posted 2.6 bWAR and a .263/.381/.459 (130 OPS+) slash line with 16 home runs, 16 doubles and 37 RBI in 408 plate appearances in 109 regular season games. He also performed well during the 2023 playoffs, going 5-for-17 with one home run and five walks.

Unfortunately, Julien struggled significantly after the 2023 season, which led to him being demoted to Triple-A St. Paul twice during the 2024 season. He also spent most of the 2025 season in Triple-A St. Paul. He posted -0.2 bWAR and a 74 OPS+ in 94 MLB games in 2024, and -0.8 bWAR and a 76 OPS+ in 64 games with the Twins in 2025. He also regressed defensively last season, going from -4 outs above average in 2024 to -8 outs above average in 2025.

It made sense for the Twins to part ways with Julien, who is out of options. Even if he can return to the 2023 version of himself, the Twins’ infield is too crowded to give him another shot in the major leagues. Minnesota’s starting infield next season will likely consist of Royce Lewis, Brooks Lee, Luke Keaschall and some combination of Josh Bell, Kody Clemens, Victor Caratini and possibly Eric Wagaman at first base. Additionally, highly touted outfielder Kaelen Culpepper will likely be ready to make his MLB debut sometime in the 2026 season.

The Twins’ surprise trade with the Rockies frees up room for another reliever

Ohl’s move was a bit surprising, though. The Twins designated him and catcher Jhonny Pereda for assignment last week to free up space for Caratini and lefty reliever Taylor Rogers. It made sense why the Twins lost Pereda, but Ohl showed promise late in the season, throwing eight scoreless innings with nine strikeouts across six appearances.

Trading Ohl indicates that the Twins plan to add another reliever, either through free agency or the trade market. Matthew Leach of MLB.com confirmed that Minnesota is looking to add another legitimate reliever. Now the Twins can add another reliever without having to make a corresponding move, as they have a vacant 40-man spot on the roster. Still, it’s a bit surprising that the Twins moved on from Ohl instead of righty Travis Adams.

Jace Kaminska could be the future impact arm for the Twins

Although Kaminska is 24 and has yet to surpass Single-A, he still has a lot of potential. He missed the entire 2025 season due to Tommy John surgery, but he posted a 2.78 ERA with 104 strikeouts in 87 1/3 innings en route to being named Cal League Pitcher of the Year in 2024.