Twins rejects Justin Topa’s 2026 option
The Minnesota Twins have declined righty reliever Justin Topa’s $2 million club option for next season. according to Bobby Nightengale of the Minnesota Star Tribune. He will receive a $225,000 buyout and will remain with the organization for the time being and be eligible for arbitration.
Topa, whom the Twins acquired in the 2023-24 offseason as part of the Jorge Polanco trade, posted a 3.90 ERA with 49 strikeouts and 18 walks in 60 innings last season. He wasn’t great, but he was certainly worth more than $2 million, which made the Twins’ decision to decline his option somewhat confusing, especially considering the team traded five relievers this past summer. Now, if Topa can receive more than $2 million in arbitration, Minnesota will let him sign with another team.
Luis Ramirez and Ramon Borrego return to the Twins technical staff
Like Pete Maki, Luis Ramirez and Ramon Borrego will return to the Twins’ coaching staff in 2026. according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic. Ramirez will continue to serve as infield coach, while Borrego will replace Sammy Watkins, who recently joined the Atlanta Braves coaching staff, as third base coach. The Twins have yet to announce who will serve as the team’s hitting and quality control coaches next year. So far, the only other reported additions to Derek Shelton’s staff are LaTroy Hawkins as bullpen coach and Grady Sizemore as outfield/baserunning/first base coach.
Former Twins ALDS starting pitcher Randy Dobnak signs a minor league deal with Mariners
The Seattle Mariners signed former Twins right-handed pitcher Randy Dobnak to a minor league deal with an invitation to big league camp. according to ESPN’s Jeff Passanafter the Detroit Tigers declined the former Uber driver’s $6 million option for 2026. Dobnak, whom the Twins traded to the Tigers along with Chris Paddack last summer in exchange for catching prospect Enrique Jimenez, received a $1 million buyout from Detroit.
Dobnak signed a five-year, $9.25 million extension with the Twins in March 2021 after posting a 3.12 ERA (3.56 FIP) with 50 strikeouts and 18 walks over 75 innings spanning parts of two seasons (2019-2020). Dobnak made a start during Game 2 of the 2019 ALDS against the New York Yankees and suffered the loss after allowing four earned runs on six hits and two walks in two innings. The extension did not go as planned, as Dobnak spent more time with Triple-A St. Paul than Minnesota after signing the five-year contract.
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